Evaluation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in seminal plasma of men with genitourinary infections, varicocele and idiopathic infertility.

UNLABELLED: This study was aimed to assess the antioxidant enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds in semen of infertile men. Seventy-four infertile patients were grouped according to their clinical diagnosis: genitourinary infection, varicocele, idiopathic infertility. Semen samples of fertile men represent the control. Semen characteristics were evaluated by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM data was quantified with a mathematical formula, which provides numerical scores. Spectrophotometric and HPLC methods were used to measure the amount of reduced (GSH), oxidised glutathione (GSSG), ascorbic acid (AA) and malondialdehyde (MDA, marker of lipid peroxidation) and the activity of glutathione reductase, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase. Infertile groups showed significantly decreased values of sperm parameters vs. CONTROLS: In infection and varicocele groups, the seminal MDA levels were significantly increased when compared to controls (p < 0.001), indicating an alteration of oxidative status and a peroxidative damage. In infection and varicocele groups, AA levels were reduced (p < 0.05) vs. control; in the varicocele group, the GSH levels were also decreased (p < 0.05). Significantly higher CAT activity was observed in infection and varicocele groups vs. fertile men (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 respectively). The GSH/GSSG ratio was significantly decreased in varicocele and idiopathic infertility groups vs. control (p < 0.01). The study of the alteration of a single parameter of oxidative stress or of the antioxidant system may not have a relevant clinical value to estimate male fertilising potential and the background of infertility causes, since complex and multifactorial mechanisms are involved in different pathologies. In our study, each pathology is characterised by a definite pattern of markers such as MDA and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds. In the different pathologies related to infertility, the identification of the complex of involved parameters could be useful in the diagnosis, prognosis and in the choice of a possible treatment such as specific antioxidant supplements.

Semen characteristics and malondialdehyde levels in men with different reproductive problems.

The aim of this study was to assess the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the seminal plasma of infertile men and to highlight a relationship between the level of MDA and semen parameters. Eighty-one infertile patients were divided into groups according to their clinical diagnosis: genitourinary infections, varicocele and idiopathic infertility. Semen quality was assessed by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM data were quantified with a mathematical formula able to obtain a fertility index and the percentage of sperm apoptosis, immaturity, and necrosis. Seminal MDA levels were determined by spectrofluorometry. Scrotal Eco-color Doppler was used to detect the varicocele. Infected patients had a positive bacteriological semen analysis. A control group consisted of 14 normospermic fertile men. Fertile group showed significantly increased values of sperm concentration, motility, and fertility index compared to infertile groups. In the infertile groups, sperm motility, concentration, apoptosis, and fertility index were not significantly different. In infection group, the percentage of necrosis was significantly higher than that observed in fertile men, varicocele, and idiopathic infertility groups (p < 0.001). MDA levels increased significantly in infection group in comparison with varicocele group (p < 0.01), idiopathic infertility group, and fertile men (p < 0.001) and in varicocele group compared to idiopathic infertility group (p < 0.001). In infection group, MDA levels positively correlated with sperm concentration (p < 0.01), fertility index (p < 0.05), and necrosis (p < 0.001), whereas a negative correlation was found with motility (p < 0.01). In varicocele group MDA levels correlated positively with necrosis and negatively with immaturity (p < 0.05). In fertile men and idiopathic infertility group, they did not show any correlation. In conclusion, we suggest that the evaluation of seminal MDA may be a good marker for understanding pathologies responsible of a sperm motility reduction such as urogenital infections or inflammatory status.

A new tricyclic fluoroquinolone, rufloxacin (MF-934), with interesting antibacterial and pharmacokinetic characteristics.

The kinetics of a new fluoroquinolone, rufloxacin (MF-934), have been studied in rats, dogs and monkeys. The drug is characterized by a long half-life, which is equal to 24, 12 and 15 h in the three species, respectively. A high tissue plasma ratio is observed in rats. In these animals the bioavailability is equal to 60%. The drug does not appear to enter the brain in rats and in monkeys, even after repeated administration (90 days). No accumulation is seen in rats and in monkeys after repeated daily administration for 90 days. The urinary excretion of unmodified drug is equal to about 27 and 40% of the dose in the rat and in the monkey, respectively.

[Changes in intracellular calcium and magnesium ions in the physiopathology of the fybromyalgia syndrome]. / Modificazioni degli ioni calcio e magnesio intracellulari nella fisiopatologia della sindrome fibromialgica.

BACKGROUND: Calcium and magnesium ions play a key role in the physiology of muscular contraction: changes in calcium ions concentration may be involved in the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia. Since the plasmatic levels of calcium and magnesium in fibromyalgia patients is always in the normal range, it seemed interesting to evaluate the intracellular calcium and magnesium concentration. METHODS: The study was carried out on two groups of subjects: 100 affected by fibromyalgia and 40 healthy controls. RESULTS: The results obtained show that in fibromyalgia patients the intracellular calcium and magnesium concentration seems to be a peculiar characteristics of fibromyalgia patients and may be potentially responsible for muscular hypertonus. CONCLUSIONS: It is still to be confirmed the effective role of this anomaly in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia and the potential role of drugs active on calcium homeostatis.

[A new approach to the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome. The use of Telo Cypro]. / Un nuovo approccio al trattamento della sindrome fibromialgica. L'uso del Telo Cypro.

BACKGROUND: The therapy of fibromyalgia (SF), with pharmacological and non pharmacological treatments, is not always effective and the benefits obtained can be unsteady or non-lasting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a pure copper wire sheet ("Telo Cypro") used as bedsheet, on sleep quality as well as spontaneous and provoked pain. METHODS: The study was double-blind, with two parallel groups, versus placebo. Forty patients with fibromyalgia were enrolled, thirty-eight females and two males, with a mean age of 48.8 years and without any current pharmacological treatment. RESULTS: The results obtained show how the use of "Telo Cypro" is extremely beneficial in subjects with fibromyalgia, in reducing painful symptomatology at the tender point level and improving sleep quality, with a positive effect on the patients' cenesthesia at awakening. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the use of "Telo Cypro" can be a valid help in the treatment of fibromyalgia.

[Efficacy and safety of Amtolmetin Guacyl in the symptomatic treatment of the osteoarthritis] / Efficacia e tollerabilità di Amtolmetina Guacil assunta in relazione ai pasti nel trattamento sintomatico dell'artrosi.

Forty-two patients affected by osteoarthritis have been treated with two parallel schemes, in double blind, according to parallel groups, to have a correct evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Amtolmetin Guacyl administration on at full stomach or empty stomach. As parameters of efficacy the spontaneous pain and the pain caused by movements, the function and joint pain have been considered, while gastric tolerance has been evaluated by means of daily records made by patients and the general tolerance through an annotation of adverse events, vital signs as well as parameters of laboratory. The drug worked for both groups, but it has been particularly efficient in those who have assumed the drug on a empty stomach. The general tolerance has been good and some adverse side effects, concerning the gastric tolerance, have disappeared by reducing the dosage of the drug. As a result of this study we can assume that amtolmetin guacyl is much more efficient when it is assumed on a empty stomach, with its consequent advantages in terms of compliance and its possible utilization in case of need.

Role of intracellular calcium ions in the physiopathology of fibromyalgia syndrome.

Calcium ions have a key role in the physiology of muscular contraction: changes in calcium ion concentration may be involved in the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia. Although, since the plasmatic level of calcium in fibromyalgia patients is always in the normal range, it seemed interesting to evaluate the intracellular calcium concentration. The study was carried out on two groups of subjects: 70 affected by fibromyalgia and 40 healthy controls. The results obtained show that in fibromyalgia patients the intracellular calcium concentration is significantly reduced in comparison to that of healthy controls: the reduced intracellular calcium concentration seems to be a peculiar characteristic of fibromyalgia patients and may be potentially responsible for muscular hypertonus. The effective role of this anomaly in the physiopathology of fibromyalgia and the potential role of drugs active on the calcium homeostasis are still to be confirmed.

Pharmacokinetics of rufloxacin in healthy volunteers.

The plasma and urine kinetics of rufloxacin were assessed in healthy volunteers after single (100, 200, 400 and 800 mg) and multiple (300 mg followed by 150 mg daily, Group 1, and 400 mg followed by 200 mg daily, Group 2) oral doses. The kinetics of a single oral dose of 800 mg was assessed in fasting and non-fasting subjects to assess the influence of food intake on drug absorption. The AUCs were 134, 266 and 375 micrograms.h.ml-1 after 100, 200 and 400 mg, respectively. The AUC after 800 mg p.o. was 715 micrograms.h.ml-1 in fasting subjects and 614 micrograms.h.ml-1 in non-fasting subjects. The parameters of the model and the mean renal clearance values indicated some departure from linearity in rufloxacin kinetics. After multiple doses the plasma drug levels during the 6th treatment day were similar to those after the first dose in Group 1 and were about 30-40% higher after the first dose in Group 2. The half-lives after the last dose were much shorter than those estimated in the single dose studies (33-36 h and 50-80 h, respectively).

Pharmacokinetics of bamifylline during chronic therapy.

The pharmacokinetics of bamifylline (Briofil) has been studied in 6 healthy volunteers both after acute and chronic administration. The kinetic variables were similar both after the first dose and after chronic treatment and no significant accumulation of the drug was observed after 7 days of therapy with bamifylline (600 mg b.i.d.). The analysis of minimal concentrations of bamifylline did not yield evidence of circadian variation in the kinetics of this drug; large differences among subjects and within each subject on different days may be explained by changes in drug bioavailability. Very low plasma levels of bamifylline were observed at the end of the dosing intervals in 50% of the cases; this observation does not necessarily invalidate the efficacy of this dosage regimen because the active metabolite of bamifylline (AC119) might contribute to the bronchodilator activity of this drug.