Actinic Keratosis in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Medical Literature Review. / Queratosis actínicas en pacientes trasplantados de órgano sólido: revisión de la literatura.

Pharmacological immunosuppression in solid organ transplant recipients is a significant risk factor in the occurrence of actinic keratosis (AK) and later progression into squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Treating clinical and preclinical lesions is mandatory in this group of patients due to the high changes of progression into SCC. On the other hand, prevention of AK should be considered because it plays a crucial role. Several studies have been published on immunocompetent patients, as well as on the management and prevention of AK, but not on immunosuppressed patients. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the management and prevention measures of AK in solid organ transplant recipients.

Effects of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery on Olfactory Function.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the effects of endoscopic sinus surgery and endonasal approaches to the skull base on olfaction. RECENT FINDINGS: Advancements in endonasal endoscopic approaches to the sinuses and skull base allow for direct treatment of a variety of sinonasal and skull base diseases. However, these extended approaches will often require manipulation of normal anatomical structures and the olfactory neuroepithelium. Depending on the planned procedure and extent of disease, the prognosis of olfactory perception can vary significantly among patients. Endoscopic sinonasal surgical procedures may impact olfaction. Optimizing olfactory function requires proper surgical techniques, gentle handling of tissue, and perioperative care. Surgeons must discuss objectives and manage patient expectations. Routine olfactory assessment is crucial in surgical work-up and follow-up. Preserving anatomical structures while addressing the obstruction of the olfactory cleft helps to prevent decreased olfactory threshold. However, smell identification and discrimination do not always correlate with sinonasal anatomy.

Bone regeneration at extraction sockets filled with leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin: An experimental pre-clinical study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to histomorphometrically evaluate the effects of Leucocyte-Platelet-Rich Fibrin (L-PRF), with and without the combination of a bone grafting material, for alveolar ridge preservation using an in vivo canine model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven dogs (Female Beagles, ~18-month-old) were acquired for the study. L-PRF was prepared from each individual animal by drawing venous blood and spinning them through a centrifuge at 408 RCF-clot (IntrasSpin, Intra-Lock, Boca Raton, FL). L-PRF membranes were obtained from XPression fabrication kit (Biohorizons Implant Systems, Inc., AL, USA). A split mouth approach was adopted with the first molar mesial and distal socket defects treated in an interpolated fashion of the following study groups: 1) Empty socket (negative control); 2) OSS filled defect 3) L-PRF membrane; and 4) Mix of Bio-Oss® with L-PRF. After six weeks, samples were harvested, histologically processed, and evaluated for bone area fraction occupancy (BAFO), vertical/horizontal ridge dimensions (VRD and HRD, respectively), and area of coronal soft tissue infiltration. RESULTS: BAFO was statistically lower for the control group in comparison to all treatment groups. Defects treated with Bio-Oss® were not statistically different then defects treated solely with L-PRF. Collapsed across all groups, L-PRF exhibited higher degrees of BAFO than groups without L-PRF. Defects filled with Bio-Oss® and Bio-Oss® with L-PRF demonstrated greater maintenance of VRD relative to the control group. Collapsed across all groups, Bio-Oss® maintained the VRD and resulted in less area of coronal soft tissue infiltration compared to the empty defect. Soft tissue infiltration observed at the coronal area was not statistically different among defects filled with L-PRF, Bio-Oss®, and Bio-Oss® with L-PRF. CONCLUSIONS: Inclusion of L-PRF to particulate xenograft did not promote additional bone heading at 6 weeks in vivo. However, we noted that L-PRF alone promoted alveolar socket regeneration to levels comparable to particulate xenografts, suggesting its potential utilization for socket preservation.

Oral complaints in patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia belongs to proliferative diseases of the hematopoietic system. It is currently the leading indication for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This study was designed to determine the most common subjective oral mucosa complaints in patients with acute myeloid leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, in relation to the type of conditioning used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia were assigned to two groups depending on the intensity of the conditioning regimen before transplantation: myeloablative and reduced-intensity chemotherapy. The oral symptoms were evaluated based on an authorial questionnaire designed for this analysis. The following oral mucosa subjective complaints were included: pain, paraesthesia, burning mouth sensation, taste disorders, excessive salivation, halitosis, and dryness of the oral mucosa. RESULTS: The most commonly reported subjective oral complaint in the examined patients was xerostomia, which was found in 92% of patients during the second visit, followed by spontaneous pain in the mouth (55%), burning (36%), and dysgeusia (20%). It occurred significantly more frequently in patients who underwent myeloablative conditioning. Moreover, it was observed that the frequency of complaints increased considerably after the transplantation, reaching a peak intensity during the second week following the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Oral complaints significantly decrease the patients' quality of life during the transplantation and may lead to premature termination of the treatment. As the number of transplantations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia increases, further investigations of oral complaints and symptoms induced by the disease itself and by the therapeutic approaches are required.

Pharmacokinetics of regional limb perfusion using a combination of amikacin and penicillin in standing horses.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the compatibility and the pharmacokinetic properties of combined amikacin and penicillin administration by intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) in horses. A tourniquet was applied proximal to the carpus of 7 clinically healthy adult horses and 2 g of amikacin and 10 × 106 IU of penicillin (100 mL total volume) were sequentially injected into the cephalic vein just distal to the tourniquet. Synovial samples were collected from the joint at several times after injection. All samples were analyzed for amikacin and penicillin concentration. The mean maximum concentration (Cmax) of both amikacin and penicillin was over 10-fold the relevant minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for all horses and remained above those MICs for at least 24 hours. The results of this study indicate that combining amikacin with penicillin during IVRLP in normal horses delivers high therapeutic synovial concentrations of both drugs.

Pharmacocinétique de la perfusion régionale des membres en utilisant une combinaison d'amikacine et de pénicilline chez des chevaux debout. Les objectifs de cette étude consistaient à évaluer la compatibilité et les propriétés pharmacocinétiques de l'administration combinée d'amikacine et de pénicilline par perfusion intraveineuse régionale des membres (PIRM) chez les chevaux. Un tourniquet a été appliqué proximalement au carpe de sept chevaux adultes en bonne santé clinique et 2 g d'amikacine et 10 × 106 UI de pénicilline (volume total de 100 ml) ont été injectés en séquence dans la veine céphalique légèrement distale au tourniquet. Des échantillons synoviaux ont été prélevés de l'articulation plusieurs fois après l'injection. Tous les échantillons ont été analysés pour la concentration d'amikacine et de pénicilline. La concentration maximale moyenne (Cmax) de l'amikacine et de la pénicilline était plus de 10 fois supérieure à la concentration inhibitrice minimale (CIM) pertinente pour tous les chevaux et est demeurée au-dessus de ces CIM pendant au moins 24 heures. Les résultats de cette étude indiquent que la combinaison de l'amikacine avec la pénicilline durant la PIRM chez des chevaux en santé offre des concentrations synoviales thérapeutiques élevées des deux médicaments.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Osteogenic parameters surrounding trabecular tantalum metal implants in osteotomies prepared via osseodensification drilling.

BACKGROUND: Surgical fixation of implants into bone for the correction of bone deformities or defects is a traditional approach for skeletal stabilization. Important measures of efficacy of implants include implant stability and osseointegration-the direct interaction between living bone and an implant. Osseointegration depends on successful implant placement and subsequent bone remodeling. This study utilized osseodensification drilling (OD) in a low bone density model using trabecular metal (TM) implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three osteotomy sites, Regular, OD-CW (clockwise), and OD-CCW (counterclockwise), were prepared in each ilium of three female sheep. Drilling was performed at 1100rpm with saline irrigation. Trabecular metal (TM) (Zimmer, Parsippany, NJ, USA) implants measuring 3.7mm in diameter x 10mm length were placed into respective osteotomies. A three-week period post-surgery was given to allow for healing to take place after which all three sheep were euthanized and the ilia were collected. Samples were prepared, qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using histology micrographs and image analysis software (ImageJ, NIH, Bethesda, MD). Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone area fraction occupancy (BAFO) were quantified to evaluate the osseointegration parameters. RESULTS: All implants exhibit successful bone formation in the peri-implant environment as well as within the open spaces of the trabecular network. Osseointegration within the TM (quantified by %BIC) as a function of drilling technique was more pronounced in OD samples(p>0.05). The %BAFO however shows a significant difference (p=0.036) between the CCW and R samples. Greater bone volume and frequency of bone chips are observed in OD samples. CONCLUSION: The utilization of OD as a design for improved fixation of hardware was supported by increased levels of stability, both primary and secondary. Histological data with OD provided notably different results from those of the regular drilling method.

Freeze-dried spermatozoa: A future tool?

Cryopreservation has been routinely used to preserve sperm of human and different animal species. However, frozen sperm storage for a long time brings many inconveniences because of liquid nitrogen. Many attempts have been made to overcome the disadvantages of the current cryopreservation method. Freeze-drying has been proposed as alternative method for sperm preservation to achieve the ability to store sperm doses indefinitely at ambient temperature or in ordinary refrigerators. At present, it has been reported successfully sperm freeze-drying on many animal species including canine and feline. It is well known that during freeze-drying process, sperm DNA could be damaged, but if suitable protection is provided, the sperm nucleus could preserve the ability to activate the oocyte and embryos could be generated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Many factors influence the freeze-drying efficacy, so current researches have been conducted to find strategies to control these factors to maintain the sperm DNA integrity. This review describes the latest method of sperm freeze-drying for practical application in preserving and transporting genetic resources. In addition, the approaches to improve the efficiency of the technique were studied. We demonstrated that the DNA integrity of freeze-dried dog sperm is affected by the composition of the freeze-drying solution as well as the temperature and period of storage. Further studies are necessary to refine freeze-drying protocol in order to protect the DNA and maintain the sperm functionality and obtain offspring from freeze-dried sperm.

Surgical management and long-term outcome of umbilical infection in 65 foals (2010-2015).

OBJECTIVE: To report the short- and long-term outcomes of surgical management of umbilical infection in foals. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Foals (n = 65). METHODS: Medical records (2010-2015) of foals up to 1 month of age, surgically treated for an umbilical infection were reviewed. Short-term (at the time of discharge from hospital) and long-term (1 year after surgery) survival rates were obtained. Clinical variables influencing survival were assessed. Chi-square or Fisher's exact test were used to evaluate the relationship between the data retrieved and outcome. P ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Sixty-five foals were included in the study, representing 17.2% of all foals admitted to the hospital. Fifty foals were discharged from hospital (77%) and 43 foals (66%) were alive 1 year after surgery. Lower long-term survival rates were associated with: younger age at presentation, septic joints, multiple pathologies, higher creatinine level, higher heart rate, umbilical infection diagnosed at the hospital rather than prior to referral, prolonged hospitalization, longer period between arrival and surgery, and postoperative complications. The most common surgical findings were urachal enlargement followed by right arterial enlargement. CONCLUSION: Younger foals with worse systemic condition and concurrent disorders are at higher risk for treatment failure. Early diagnosis improves the outcome. Surgical treatment yields good results and should be considered upon diagnosis, after taking into account the clinical situation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Based on the results of this study, diagnosis and surgical management of umbilical infection in neonatal foals should be performed as early as possible, and a good outcome can be expected after surgery.

Pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime after regional limb perfusion in standing horses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the metacarpophalangeal joint fluid concentrations of ceftazidime administered via regional limb perfusion (RLP). ANIMALS: Eight healthy horses. METHODS: RLP was performed by injecting 2 g of ceftazidime and 60 mL of perfusate volume in the cephalic vein of standing, sedated horses. Serum and synovial fluid from the metacarpophalangeal joint were collected before perfusion and at 0.5, 2, 6, 12, 24 hours postperfusion. Ceftazidime concentrations were measured via liquid chromatography. Maximal concentration (Cmax ), area under the curve (AUC), half-life of the drug (T ½), and the timing of Cmax (Tmax ) were determined to assess ceftazidime as a candidate drug for RLP. Continuous parameters were compared with the Mann-Whitney U test. P value ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The Cmax of ceftazidime in synovial fluid (235 µg/mL) was 15 times higher than the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for most bacteria involved in orthopedic infections, including resistant pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 16 µg/mL). However, synovial concentrations decreased quickly and remained above the MIC in only 1 horse by 6 hours postperfusion. CONCLUSION: RLP generated high synovial fluid concentrations of ceftazidime in the distal limb, but these concentrations decreased rapidly below the deliberately high MIC selected. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Once daily RLP, as applied in our study, with 2 g ceftazidime in standing horses, cannot be recommended for use in a clinical setting.

Where Environment Meets Cognition: A Focus on Two Developmental Intellectual Disability Disorders.

One of the most challenging questions in neuroscience is to dissect how learning and memory, the foundational pillars of cognition, are grounded in stable, yet plastic, gene expression states. All known epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodelling, and noncoding RNAs regulate brain gene expression, both during neurodevelopment and in the adult brain in processes related to cognition. On the other hand, alterations in the various components of the epigenetic machinery have been linked to well-known causes of intellectual disability disorders (IDDs). Two examples are Down Syndrome (DS) and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), where global and local epigenetic alterations lead to impairments in synaptic plasticity, memory, and learning. Since epigenetic modifications are reversible, it is theoretically possible to use epigenetic drugs as cognitive enhancers for the treatment of IDDs. Epigenetic treatments act in a context specific manner, targeting different regions based on cell and state specific chromatin accessibility, facilitating the establishment of the lost balance. Here, we discuss epigenetic studies of IDDs, focusing on DS and FXS, and the use of epidrugs in combinatorial therapies for IDDs.

Freeze-dried stallion spermatozoa: evaluation of two chelating agents and comparative analysis of three sperm DNA damage assays.

During the freeze-drying procedure, sperm DNA might become damaged by both freezing and drying stresses. Sperm DNA status can be detected using well-established assays; however, most techniques are expensive and involve elaborate protocols and equipment. Indirect assessments can provide alternative strategies. The objective of this study was to compare a simple test of DNA status using Diff-Quik (DQ) with two established procedures: acridine orange test (AOT) and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) on freeze-dried (FD) stallion spermatozoa. Ejaculated spermatozoa from three stallions were freeze-dried in basic medium supplemented with two different chelating agents: EGTA or EDTA. After rehydration, the spermatozoa were subjected to DNA damage detection using a SCDt, AOT and DQ stain simultaneously. The results showed that the DNA damage levels in the EGTA group were significantly lower than those in the EDTA group. AOT detected a significantly higher proportion of spermatozoa with fragmented DNA than DQ and SCD. The results of the SCD test and DQ stain exhibited a significant positive correlation for DNA fragmentation (r = 0.528), whereas a negative correlation was observed between SCD, DQ and AOT (r = -0.134 and r = -0.332 respectively). The present study shows that both the SCD test and DQ assay are effective methods for detecting FD stallion sperm DNA fragmentation, whereas using of AOT is questionable.

The Effect of Perfusate Volume on Amikacin Concentration in the Metacarpophalangeal Joint Following Cephalic Regional Limb Perfusion in Standing Horses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of 3 perfusate volumes on amikacin concentration in the metacarpophalangeal joint following cephalic regional limb perfusion (RLP) in standing horses. ANIMALS: Seven healthy horses. METHODS: Three perfusate volumes (100, 60, and 30 mL), containing 2 grams of amikacin, were tested during intravenous RLP at the cephalic vein, placing the tourniquet at mid antebrachium, in standing sedated horses. Synovial fluid was collected from the metacarpophalangeal joint before perfusion and at 30 and 120 minutes after perfusion. Serum samples were taken from the jugular vein at the same time points. Samples were analyzed for amikacin concentrations and a repeated measures ANOVA, followed by least squares difference pairwise comparisons to identify differences in amikacin concentration across perfusate volumes. Differences were considered significant at P<.05. RESULTS: The mean amikacin concentration in synovial fluid at 30 minutes after perfusion was significantly higher following perfusate volume of 100 mL (579 µg/mL), compared to volumes of 60 mL (227 µg/mL) or 30 mL (282 µg/mL) (P<.05). When a threshold of 160 µg/mL was used, more horses reached the synovial therapeutic threshold following perfusate volume of 100 mL (100%), than horses receiving 60 mL (43%) and 30 mL (57%) at 30 minutes after injection. CONCLUSION: The use of 100 mL volume for RLP at the cephalic vein in standing horses resulted in higher concentration of amikacin in the synovial fluid and is recommended for use in clinical cases.

Removal of sialoliths using the intraoral approach in 15 horses.

This study describes the use of an intraoral approach for sialolith removal in horses. All horses resumed their previous activity after surgery. Sialoliths were composed mainly of calcium carbonate, containing a nidus of plant material. The removal of sialoliths via an intraoral approach results in a high success rate with minimal complications.

Enlèvement des sialolithes en utilisant une approche intraorale chez 15 chevaux. Cette étude décrit l'utilisation d'une approche intra-orale pour l'enlèvement des sialolithes chez les chevaux. Tous les chevaux ont repris leurs activités antérieures après la chirurgie. Les sialolithes étaient principalement composés de carbonate de calcium contenant un nidus de matériau végétal. L'enlèvement des sialolithes par une approche intra-orale se traduit par un taux de succès élevé avec un minimum de complications.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Mucosa-associated Faecalibacterium prausnitzii phylotype richness is reduced in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii depletion in intestinal diseases has been extensively reported, but little is known about intraspecies variability. This work aims to determine if subjects with gastrointestinal disease host mucosa-associated F. prausnitzii populations different from those hosted by healthy individuals. A new species-specific PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) method targeting the 16S rRNA gene was developed to fingerprint F. prausnitzii populations in biopsy specimens from 31 healthy control (H) subjects and 36 Crohn's disease (CD), 23 ulcerative colitis (UC), 6 irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and 22 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The richness of F. prausnitzii subtypes was lower in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients than in H subjects. The most prevalent operational taxonomic units (OTUs) consisted of four phylotypes (OTUs with a 99% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity [OTU99]), which were shared by all groups of patients. Their distribution and the presence of some disease-specific F. prausnitzii phylotypes allowed us to differentiate the populations in IBD and CRC patients from that in H subjects. At the level of a minimum similarity of 97% (OTU97), two phylogroups accounted for 98% of the sequences. Phylogroup I was found in 87% of H subjects but in under 50% of IBD patients (P = 0.003). In contrast, phylogroup II was detected in >75% of IBD patients and in only 52% of H subjects (P = 0.005). This study reveals that even though the main members of the F. prausnitzii population are present in both H subjects and individuals with gut diseases, richness is reduced in the latter and an altered phylotype distribution exists between diseases. This approach may serve as a basis for addressing the suitability of F. prausnitzii phylotypes to be quantified as a putative biomarker of disease and depicting the importance of the loss of these subtypes in disease pathogenesis.

Freeze-dried dog sperm: Dynamics of DNA integrity.

Freeze-drying (FD) has been proposed as an alternative method to preserve spermatozoa. During the FD procedure, sperm DNA might become damaged by both freezing and drying stresses caused by the endonucleases, the oxidative stress and the storage conditions. We examined the DNA integrity of dog sperm freeze-dried with two kinds of chelating agents in FD buffers and storage at two different temperatures. Ejaculated sperm from four dogs were suspended in basic medium (10 mM Tris-HCl buffer+50 mM NaCl) supplemented with 50 mM EGTA or with 50 mM EDTA and then freeze-dried. Sperm samples were stored at 4°C as room temperature, and the analysis of DNA damage was performed after a month and 5 months of storage using a Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test. We found four different sperm populations according to the size of the halos around the sperm head: (1) absent halo, (2) <6 µm, (3) 6-10 µm, (4) >10 µm. All of them coexisted in each freeze-dried dog semen samples and differed significantly among different treatments. The highest percentage of spermatozoa with halo >10 µm was obtained when the semen samples were freeze-dried in EDTA medium and stored at room temperature for five months. Results suggested that both, the kind of chelating agent as well as storage temperature and period, influenced DNA integrity of freeze-dried dog sperm.

Effect of Camellia sinensis supplementation and increasing holding time on quality of cryopreserved boar semen.

Cryopreservation of boar semen is still considered suboptimal due to the low fertility when compared with fresh semen. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis) supplementation of the freezing extender at different concentration (0, 2.5%, 5%, 10%) and also to determine the influence of increasing holding time from 2 to 24 h at 15 °C. Seventeen ejaculates from nine boars were used to make pools of three of them and then cryopreserved. Sperm motility, viability, acrosome integrity, membrane functionality (HOST) and capacitation status were determined before freezing and at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after thawing. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated just after thawing. The main findings emerging from this study were the following: (i) no improvement in quality of thawed spermatozoa with addition of tea to the freezing extender, (ii) no improvement in quality of thawed spermatozoa with prolonged holding time, (iii) lower peroxidation rate in presence of tea 5% and (iv) a decrease in the number of uncapacited viable spermatozoa with any tea supplementation. We conclude that amplification of holding time in semen cryopreservation process does not vary results, facilitating freezing protocol. Tea supplementation reduces lipoxidation but did not improve quality parameters.

Antioxidant effect of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and mate tea (Ilex paraguensys) on quality, lipid peroxidation and DNA oxidation of cryopreserved boar epididymal spermatozoa.

In this study, we investigated the protective ability of the addition of two antioxidant herb extracts, mate tea and lemon balm, on boar epididymal frozen-thawed spermatozoa quality. Testes from mature boars were collected at local slaughterhouse, and sperm samples from epididymis were recovered by flushing. Spermatozoa were cryopreserved in lactose-egg yolk buffer supplemented with various concentrations of lemon balm and mate tea (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 g l(-1) ) using the straw-freezing procedure. Motion parameters, acrosome and plasma membrane integrity, lipoperoxidation levels and DNA oxidative damage (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine base lesion) were evaluated. There were no differences among experimental groups with regard to motility characteristics, viability, acrosome and plasma membrane integrity; however, the highest concentration of lemon balm produced significant (P < 0.05) improvement in curvilinear trajectory, straightness and amplitude of lateral head displacement after thawing. The supplementation of freezing extender with mate tea and lemon balm reduced sperm lipid membrane peroxidation, and only mate tea protected DNA against oxidative damage during cryopreservation at 120 min post-thawing (P < 0.05). Mate tea experimental extender at concentration of 10 g l(-1) showed the lowest percentage of sperm oxidised DNA and malondialdehyde generation; thus, mate tea is a potential candidate such as antioxidant compound on boar sperm cryopreservation medium.

Effects of region of birth, educational level and age on late presentation among men who have sex with men newly diagnosed with HIV in a network of STI/HIV counselling and testing clinics in Spain.

This paper analyses late presentation (LP) of HIV infection, and its determinants, among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Spain, newly diagnosed with HIV (2003-2011) in 15 sexually transmitted infection/HIV counselling and testing clinics. LP was defined as <350 CD4 cells/µL or AIDS. In total, 3,081 MSM were included (2,499 having CD4/AIDS); overall LP was 25.3%. LP was higher in men older than 34 years, those not previously HIV-tested (adjusted odds ratio (aOR):3.1; 95% confidence intervals (CI):2.3-4.2) , and those tested > 12 months before diagnosis (12-24 months (aOR:1.4; 95% CI:1.0-2.0); > 24 months (aOR:2.2; 95% CI:1.7-3.0)). LP was less likely in MSM reporting a known HIV-infected partner as infection source or symptoms compatible with acute retroviral syndrome. 'Region of birth' interacted with 'educational level' and 'steady partner as infection source': only African and Latin-American MSM with low educational level were more likely to present late; Latin-American men attributing their infection to steady partner, but no other MSM, had LP more frequently. In Spain, HIV testing among MSM should be promoted, especially those > 34 years old and migrants with low educational level. The current recommendation that MSM be tested at least once a year is appropriate.

THE COMBINED USE OF HONEY, GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM L.) AND SKIMMED MILK AS AN EXTENDER FOR CHILLING SHEEP SEMEN.

BACKGROUND: Sugars are the energetic source for sperm to maintain the metabolic process, and the antibiotics slow down sperm degradation. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of rosemary honey as energy source and cryoprotectant in combination with garlic as a natural antibiotic on the quality of ram spermatozoa upon cooling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ejaculates from three rams were evaluated at different times during cooling to determine its post-dilution quality. RESULTS: Glycerol and dimethylformamide in conjunction with honey and garlic significantly improve the survival of spermatozoa. CONCLUSION: The addition of honey and garlic reduces sperm deterioration when stored at 4 degree C.

Sage (Salvia officinalis) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) improve cryopreserved boar epididymal semen quality study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fennel and sage extracts and the influence of the egg yolk source (fresh or pasteurized) on the success of freezing boar epididymal spermatozoa. In experiment 1, epididymal sperm was recovered by flushing and cryopreserved in a lactose-egg yolk solution supplemented with various concentrations (10, 5 and 2.5 g/L) of sage or fennel. Sperm quality was evaluated (motility, viability, HOST and acrosome integrity) at 0 h and 2 h after thawing. Fennel 10 g/L and sage 5 g/L and control (no extracts) were selected for experiment 2 which also compared fresh or pasteurized egg yolk in the freezing extender and measured DNA integrity of the frozen sperm. Results showed that the interaction between fennel and sage antioxidants with fresh egg yolk significantly improved post thaw sperm quality and protected boar epididymal spermatozoa from cryopreservation damage as a result of oxidative stress.