Hyperhomocysteinemia in hypofertile male patients can be alleviated by supplementation with 5MTHF associated with one carbon cycle support.

Introduction: Homocysteine (Hcy) is a cellular poison, side product of the hydrolysis of S-Adenosyl Homocysteine, produced after the universal methylation effector S -Adenosylmethionine liberates a methyl group to recipient targets. It inhibits the methylation processes and its rising is associated with multiple disease states and ultimately is both a cause and a consequence of oxidative stress, affecting male gametogenesis. We have determined hyper homocysteinhemia (HHcy) levels can be reliably reduced in hypofertile patients in order to decrease/avoid associated epigenetic problems and protect the health of future children, in consideration of the fact that treatment with high doses of folic acid is inappropriate. Methods: Homocysteine levels were screened in male patients consulting for long-standing infertility associated with at least three failed Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) attempts and/or repeat miscarriages. Seventy-seven patients with Hcy levels > 15 µM were treated for three months with a combination of micronutrients including 5- MethylTetraHydroFolate (5-MTHF), the compound downstream to the MTHFR enzyme, to support the one carbon cycle; re-testing was performed at the end of a 3 months treatment period. Genetic status for Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) 677CT (c.6777C > T) and 1298AC (c.1298A > C) was determined. Results: Micronutrients/5-MTHF were highly efficient in decreasing circulating Hcy, from averages 27.4 to 10.7 µM, with a mean observed decrease of 16.7 µM. The MTHFR SNP 677TT (homozygous form) and combined heterozygous 677CT/1298AC status represent 77.9% of the patients with elevated Hcy. Discussion: Estimation HHcy should not be overlooked in men suffering infertility of long duration. MTHFR SNPs, especially 677TT, are a major cause of high homocysteinhemia (HHcy). In these hypofertile patients, treatment with micronutrients including 5-MTHF reduces Hcy and even allows spontaneous pregnancies post treatment. This type of therapy should be considered in order to ensure these patients' quality of life and avoid future epigenetic problems in their descendants.

Evaluation of blood mercury and serum selenium levels in the pregnant population of the Community of Madrid, Spain.

BACKGROUND: The main exposure route to methylmercury (MeHg) is from eating fish and shellfish containing this compound. Since 2004, women of childbearing age in Spain have been urged not to eat some species (eg, tuna, shark, and swordfish), instead choosing low-MeHg seafood as part of a healthy diet. OBJECTIVE: To describe maternal total blood mercury (THg) and serum selenium (Se) in a cohort of pregnant women living in Spain as it relates to fish intake during the three trimesters and to assess whether or not Spanish women of childbearing age follow the recommendations listed in fish advisories and choose fish species with lower mercury levels. METHODS: We studied 141 female volunteers of childbearing age (16-45 years), interviewing all participants about their overall eating habits and seafood intake. Hg and Se levels were tested using cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), respectively. RESULTS: Average THg levels in pregnant women were 2.89 µg/L (standard deviation [SD], 2.75 µg/L, geometric mean [GM], 2.19 µg/L), and THg GM was positively associated with fish intake. Mean Se levels in pregnant women were 73.06 µg/L (SD, 13.38 µg/L), and Se levels were found to increase with tuna intake. In 16 (12%) pregnant women, THg was higher than the level recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (6.4 µg/L). A positive association was also found between THg and serum Se. CONCLUSION: Women of childbearing age in Spain had higher THg levels than women in other Western studies. Our study observed that 12% of women had THg levels above the safety limit set by the EPA (6.4 µg/L), and 31% had levels above the relevant benchmark level of 3.5 µg/L suggested by various researchers.

Mitochondrial bioenergetics links inflammation and cardiac contractility in endotoxemia.

There is current awareness about the central role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of cardiac dysfunction in systemic inflammatory syndromes, especially in sepsis and endotoxemia. The aim of this work was to elucidate the mechanism that governs the link between the severity of the systemic inflammatory insult and mitochondrial function, analysing the consequences on heart function, particularly in cardiac contractile state. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to low-grade endotoxemia (i.p. injection LPS 0.5 mg kg-1 body weight) and severe endotoxemia (i.p. injection LPS 8 mg kg-1 body weight) for 6 h. Blood NO, as well as cardiac TNF-α and IL-1ß mRNA, were found increased as the severity of the endotoxemia increases. Cardiac relaxation was altered only in severe endotoxemia, although contractile and lusitropic reserves were found impaired in both treatments in response to work-overload. Cardiac ultrastructure showed disorientation of myofibrillar structure in both endotoxemia degrees, but mitochondrial swelling and cristae disruption were only observed in severe endotoxemia. Mitochondrial ATP production, O2 consumption and mitochondrial inner membrane potential decreases were related to blood NO levels and mitochondrial protein nitration, leading to diminished ATP availability and impairment of contractile state. Co-treatment with the NOS inhibitor L-NAME or the administration of the NO scavenger c-PTIO leads to the observation that mitochondrial bioenergetics status depends on the degree of the inflammatory insult mainly determined by blood NO levels. Unravelling the mechanisms involved in the onset of sepsis and endotoxemia improves the interpretation of the pathology, and provides new horizons for novel therapeutic targets.

Updating of normal levels of copper, zinc and selenium in serum of pregnant women.

Selenium, copper and zinc status is important in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to establish updated normal ranges for these elements in serum of pregnant women from the Spanish region of Aragon, and to study variation in levels with respect to gestational period and maternal age. The study group consisted of 159 pregnant women who did not suffer from serious pathologies. These samples were classified into four gestational-period groups. Zn and Cu determinations were obtained by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy in a Perkin-Elmer 1100B apparatus, and Se was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman correction, in a Perkin-Elmer 4110 ZL apparatus. The concentrations of Cu, Zn and Se averaged 73.61+/-43.67 microg/dL, 65.37+/-12.87 microg/dL and 99.59+/-21.74 microg/L, respectively. The Cu/Zn ratio increased from first trimester to the third trimester (2.07-3.49). There was no significant correlation between Zn and Se levels, but a significant correlation was found between Cu and Se levels (p<0.05) and between Cu and Zn levels (p<0.001). Serum Zn and Se levels decreased over gestation, while serum Cu concentrations increased; in all cases the variation occurred mostly in the first 3 or 4 months, with mean levels then remaining fairly stable until the end of pregnancy. Maternal age did not influence levels of any of the three metals.

Quiste odontogénico calcificante asociado con odontoma complejo: Presentación de un caso y revisión bibliográfica / Calcifying odontogenic cyst associated with complex odontoma: Case report and review of the literature

Se presenta un caso de quiste odontogénico calcificante asociadocon odontoma (QOCaO) y con un canino permanente incluidoen maxilar superior, en un paciente varón de 19 años.El Quiste Odontogénico Calcificante (QOC) fue descrito porprimera vez cómo una entidad patológica por Gorlin y col. en1962.Se trata de un tumor benigno odontogénico mixto,y aunquela mayoria de estas lesiones presentan características quísticasen algunos casos se presenta como una masa sólida (15 %), ysu transformación maligna está bien documentada. El QOC sepresenta en ocasiones asociado a otros tumores odontogénicos,el más común es el odontoma al que aparece relacionado en el24% de los casos. Para esta asociación se ha sugerido el términode „Quiste Odontogénico Odontocalcificante‰.Radiológicamente es una lesión mixta, bien definida y quehistológicamente consiste en un gran quiste en cuya parte centralexiste un área sólida con acúmulos de esmalte y dentinadistribuidos irregularmente en algunas zonas y en otros lugaresadopta un aspecto organoide bien definido.Se efectúa una revisión de la literatura y se discute su patogénesis

We report a calcifying odontogenic cyst associated with odontoma(COCaO) and an included permanent canine in the superiormaxilla, in a 19 year-old-man.The calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) was first described asa distinct entity by Gorlin et al in 1962.The lesion is a mixed odontogenic benign tumor, and althoughmost of the cases present cystic characteristics, a few are of thesolid type (15%), and its rare malignant transformation is welldocumented.The COC may occur in association with other odontogenictumors, the most common is the odontoma, occurring in about24% of the cases. For this association the term Odontocalcifyingodontogenic cyst has been suggested.Radiographically is a well defined mixed lesion and histologicallyconsists of a large cyst. In the central area of the cyst enameland dentin deposits can be found, irregularly distributed in areasand in other parts it takes on a well defined organoid aspect.A thorough review of literature takes place and the pathogenesisis discussed