Evaluation of supplementation of cryopreservation medium with gallic acid as an antioxidant in quality of post-thaw human spermatozoa.

Human sperm cryopreservation is a way to preserve sperm in the clinic. But, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during cryopreservation, has certain negative impacts on the quality of sperm and its reproductive capacity. The goal of this study is to see how sperm cryopreserved in media enriched with gallic acid alter post-thaw morphology, motility, viability, DNA structure, and plasma membrane lipid peroxidation. Four groups were considered for performing this study: (1) Fresh sperm before cryopreservation; (2) cryopreserved control sperm without any supplementation; (3) cryopreserved sperm using freezing media supplemented with 50 µg/ml gallic acid and (4) cryopreserved sperm using freezing media supplemented with 100 µg/ml gallic acid. This study's results indicated that the addition of doses of 50 µg/ml gallic acid to cryopreservation medium significantly improved sperm morphology, motility, vitality, and DNA integrity and reduced DNA fragmentation and lipid peroxidation as compared to the medium without any gallic acid supplementation (p < 0.05); but, the concentration of 100 µg/ml gallic acid had no significant effects on the mentioned sperm parameters (p > 0.05). This study's findings represent the possibility of enhancing sperm characteristics and lowering detrimental effects of ROS on sperm DNA structure during cryopreservation by supplementing sperm freezing medium with gallic acid as a natural antioxidant. Therefore, Gallic acid may help improve the quality and subsequently fertilization potential of cryopreserved human sperm.

Cutaneous Pseudolymphoma As a Rare Adverse Effect of Medicinal Leech Therapy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Hirudotherapy (leech therapy) is one of the oldest practices in medical history, and nowadays it is used for several purposes in medicine. Salvage of flaps, wound healing, pain management, and treatment of varicose veins are among the common therapeutic applications of leeches. Complications associated with leech therapy include infections, bleeding, anemia, and allergic reaction. Cutaneous pseudolymphoma (benign proliferation of lymphoid cells in the skin) follows several underlying conditions. Although persistent arthropod bite reaction is one of the conditions associated with cutaneous pseudolymphoma, it has been rarely reported after medicinal leech therapy. Here we describe the case of a patient who presented with cutaneous pseudolymphoma after leech therapy as a rare cutaneous complication of hirudotherapy.