Impact of Endocrine Disruptors on Vitellogenin Concentrations in Wild Brown Trout (Salmo trutta trutta).

The adverse effects of endocrine disruptors (EDs) on aquatic wildlife and human health represent a current issue of high public concern. Substantial knowledge of the level of estrogenic EDs in fish has accumulated from field surveys. For this purpose, a survey of wild brown trout (Salmo trutta trutta) was carried out to assess the incidence of EDs in the feral fish population living in the Liri river (Abruzzi, Italy). The results of this study show that this aquatic environment possesses an estrogenic potency that triggered the increase of vitellogenin levels in both female and male trouts. Fish exposed to different pesticides and urban waste in downstream river showed higher vitellogenin levels in comparison to the headwater site. Furthermore, some trouts coming from the downstream reported the presence of several pesticides and fungicides, some of these banned several years ago.

Pseudo-capsule "coffin effect": how to prevent penile retraction after implant of three-piece inflatable prosthesis.

OBJECTIVE: Following three-component implantation of a penile prosthesis, some patients are dissatisfied with their penile length. This may be due to the procedure by itself or pre-existing risk factors or psychological reasons. We supposed that formation of a restricted pseudo-capsule due to a late prosthesis activation can inhibit later system expansion. We aimed to identify the presence or absence of penile retraction after implant and to prevent it by immediate prosthesis activation after implantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-six patients operated with three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis (AMS 700 CX o LGX) were enrolled. In 27 patients prosthesis was first activated four weeks after surgery (NEA group) and in 19 patients prosthesis was activated immediately after surgery (DEA group). Length and girth of the penis was evaluated before (in DEA group) and after the surgical procedure. RESULTS: The average post implant dorsal length of the erect penis in group NEA was found 3.28 cm shorter than in group with early activation (DEA). In DEA group there was no lenght difference between pre-operative stretching (14.57 cm) and post operative erection (14.98 cm). When early activation was not performed, the clinical result was a smaller penis in erect phase. CONCLUSION: Reduced lenght of the penis after implantation can be caused by the presence of a pseudo-capsule that limits the elongation of the prosthesis and of the penis ("coffin effect"). Timing of first activation seems to be the key in order to prevent the risk of penile retraction after implantation. Early activation is identified as the best measure to maintain the length of the pre implant erect penis after the prosthetic hydraulic implant.

Microbiological and chemical profiles of naturally fermented table olives and brines from different Italian cultivars.

Six naturally fermented (Greek-style) table olives of cultivars Itrana, Peranzana, Cellina di Nardò, Nocellara del Belice and Bella di Cerignola, as well as their corresponding brines, were studied by a combined strategy consisting of chemical, microbiological and molecular analyses. In particular, organic acids, sugars, polyphenols, fatty acids, biogenic amines and cultivable microbiota were detected by standard methods. Moreover, tyramine and histamine producing bacteria were evaluated by an original approach consisting of Reverse-Transcription (RT)-qPCR. At the end of the fermentation process, mesophilic lactobacilli and yeasts in brine represented the dominating biota, ranging from 6.25 to 7.84 log CFU/ml and from 6.5 to 7.56 log CFU/ml, respectively. Enterobacteriaceae and pathogens were undetectable in all the samples. In general, table olive preparations differed in chemical composition. In particular, C16:0 and C18:2c9,12 concentrations ranged from 9.9 to 18.8 % and from 5.4 to 15.4 % of total fatty acids, respectively. The main fatty acid detected was C18:1c9 while CLAc9, t11 was present only in traces. Polyphenol concentrations greatly differentiated the final product, depending on the cultivar. A low quantity of biogenic amines was found in some samples and biogenic amines producing bacteria were rapidly detectable by RT-qPCR.

May antioxidant therapy improve sperm parameters of men with persistent oligospermia after retrograde embolization for varicocele?

We performed a randomized, prospective, controlled, intention to treat study in order to determine the effectiveness of an antioxidant therapy in improve the quality of seminal fluid parameters and the natural pregnancies in men with persistent oligospermia (5-20 million/ml) 6 months after retrograde embolization. Forty-two subjects were enrolled and randomized in the study. Treated group (20 subjects) was assigned to receive antioxidant therapy (NAC 600 mg and vitamins-minerals). Untreated group (22 subjects) received no adjunctive medical therapy and was used as controls. Our data were analyzed with an intention to treat strategy. A statistically significant increase in sperm count after antioxidant therapy was recorded (P=0.009). After this therapy, no statistical differences in percentage of WHO class A motile sperm (P=0.752) and typical forms (P=0.926) were found. The univariate logistic regression analysis showed that a man treated with antioxidant therapy presented a probability to have a normal sperm count 20-fold (OR=20.1; CI 95%=1.05-43.2; P=0.014) higher than a man who was untreated. No significant impact on spontaneous pregnancies was found after antioxidant therapy. Despite this preliminary data, we show that antioxidant therapy based on a combination of NAC and micronutrient supplementation can be helpful in improve the sperm count at least in a subset of oligospermic males. However, this improving in sperm count is not associated with a significant increase in spontaneous pregnancies after 12 months.