A chemical compound based on methylxanthine-polyphenols lowers nitric oxide levels and increases post-thaw human sperm viability.

We produced a new chemical compound based on methylxanthines and polyphenols (CCMP) present in the chemical matrix of guaraná (Paullinia cupana), a seed extract with antioxidant properties. After supplementation with the standard extract of resveratrol, a well documented antioxidant found in other plant sources, we investigated whether this resveratrol-enriched compound could improve sperm viability and modulate differentially reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in thawed sperm. Sperm samples obtained from healthy young donors were treated with different concentrations of guaraná extract (0.1, 1, 5 or 10 mg/ml) and cells were frozen at -80°C for 24 h. In addition, the potential protective effects of guaraná treatment on sperm treated with pro-oxidant compound (200 µM hydrogen peroxide, H2O2) were assessed. Samples were also exposed to three concentrations of CCMP before being frozen in liquid nitrogen (-196°C) or in an ultrafreezer (-80°C) for 24 h, and both pre-freezing and post-thaw measurements of viability and oxidative stress were performed. Guaraná supplementation at 10 mg/ml significantly increased post-thaw viability and decreased oxidative metabolism of the sperm. Moreover, selected concentrations of CCMP improved viability and oxidative metabolism in sperm samples pre-freezing. Furthermore, CCMP showed cryoprotective activity by increasing viability and decreasing oxidative stress in post-thaw samples. In summary, these findings suggested that CCMP supplementation acts as a cryoprotectant to modulate ROS and NO levels in thawed sperm. CCMP could be used to enhance sperm quality and reproductive success.

Impact of cell arrangement of pleural effusion in survival of patients with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the potential influence of cytological differences between pleural effusions on the survival of women with metastatic breast cancer during 30 months of follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: A hospital-based cohort study was performed. Pleural fluid cytology slides from patients with breast cancer were examined. Cases were grouped according to the pattern of tumor cells (spheroid and isolated), in order to access their prognostic value. RESULTS: The study comprised 87 patients. An isolated cell pattern was associated with higher mortality 30 months after the pleural effusion when compared to a spheroid pattern (p = 0.038). Patients with an isolated cell pattern showed higher risk of dying than patients with spheroid formations. The relative risk after adjustment of intervening variables was 5.336 (95% CI 1.054-27.020). The presence of a triple-negative immunohistochemical pattern significantly increased the risk of mortality before 30 months. CONCLUSION: Pleural effusion with isolated malignant cells is associated with worse prognosis after 30 months of follow-up.