Comparison of physical activity and quality of life in home haemodialysis (HHD) patients versus conventional in-centre haemodialysis (ICHD) patients: the observational, longitudinal, prospective, international, multicentric SeCoIA study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Home haemodialysis (HHD), has shown improved clinical outcomes, as well as a better quality of life, compared to conventional in-centre haemodialysis (ICHD) but still has a global low prevalence among end-stage renal disease patients. Haemodialysis (HD) patients tend to be sedentary but only few studies, mainly in North American ICHD patients, have evaluated the level of activity in HD patients. METHODS: SeCoIA is an observational, longitudinal, prospective, international, multicentric, study, conducted in metropolitan France and Belgium. The main objective of the study is to quantify the physical activity measured by the total daily number of steps, in HHD patients compared to ICHD patients. The SeCoIA study will include 80 HHD patients and 80 ICHD patients,. Secondary objectives will be to characterize the HHD population and to confirm HHD efficiency on clinical parameters, as well as quality of life (QoL), in current practice. Physical activity will be measured by a 3-axis accelerometer. Accelerometers have been shown to provide accurate information, on both physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Patients will be instructed to wear the device and complete a patient diary 7 consecutive days after inclusion and the first week of each month for 12 months. Decision to undergo HDD or ICHD is independent of the study and follow-up frequency remains at the discretion of the physician/centre. QoL and quality of sleep will be respectively assessed by the Kidney Disease Quality of Life 1.2 (KDQOL™) and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality index (PSQI) questionnaires at inclusion, 6- and 12-month visits. Patients presenting a restless leg syndrome (RLS) will also complete the International Restless Legs Syndrome rating scale (IRLS) questionnaire. DISCUSSION: The SeCoIA study will be the first large cohort study (160 patients) evaluating physical activity, objectively measured with a 3-axis accelerometer, in HHD versus ICHD patients. The present study will also include a comparison of QoL with a focus on RLS between HHD and ICHD. It is anticipated that HHD patients will have an improved physical activity and QoL which should encourage physicians to further promote HHD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial NCT03737578 study registered on November 9, 2018 (Retrospectively registered).

Teucrium polium attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity in the male reproductive system of rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Teucrium polium (T. polium) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 )-induced male reproductive system damage. The effects of T. polium and vitamin C (Vit C) on sperm parameters, gonadotrophin and testosterone levels, oxidative status and testis tissue structure were assessed in CCl4 -treated male rats. CCl4 caused significant alteration of sperm parameters in epididymal and testicular tissues, a decrease in hormone levels, and a decrease in antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in testicular tissues. A noteworthy increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level was induced in CCl4 -treated rats with some histopathological damages on the testes compared with control group. Remarkable ameliorations were observed with respect to all the previous parameters, following the administration of CCl4 with T. polium, and with vitamin C used as a positive control, when compared with CCl4 alone. Teucrium polium extracts showed good antioxidant performance, suggesting its protective effect against chemically induced reprotoxicity.

[Pulmonary thromboembolism: incidence, physiopathology, diagnosis and treatment]. / L'embolie pulmonaire fibrino-cruorique fréquence, physiopathologie, tableau Clinique et traitement.

AIM: The objective of this work was to review current data about the pathophysiology, clinical features, and treatment of pulmonary thromboembolism. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a major challenge in hospitalised especially the care of critically ill patients. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the major complication of VTE. By occluding the pulmonary arterial bed it may lead to acute life-threatening but potentially reversible right ventricular failure. The outcome of patients with PE is quite variable depending primarily on the cardio-respiratory status and the embolus size. PE is a difficult diagnosis that may be missed because of non-specific clinical presentation. Clinical signs include hypoxia, tachypnea, and tachycardia. Severe cases of untreated PE can lead to circulatory instability, and sudden death. However, in ICU, most of patients require sedation and mechanical ventilation. The clinical manifestations usually observed in this condition (PE) cannot be exhibited by these patients and clinical presentation is usually atypical. For these reasons, the diagnosis of PE is usually suspected when un-explicated hypoxemia and/or shock and arterial hypotension were observed. Positive diagnosis is based on these clinical findings in combination with laboratory tests and imaging studies. D-dimer testing is of clinical use when there is a suspicion of DVT or pulmonary embolism PE. In Emergency department, a negative D-dimer test will virtually rule out thromboembolism with a negative predictive value at 95 to 98%. In massive and submassive PE, dysfunction of the right side of the heart can be seen on echocardiography. While the gold standard for diagnosis is the finding of a clot on pulmonary angiography, CT pulmonary angiography is the most commonly used imaging modality today. When the diagnosis is confirmed, anticoagulant therapy is the mainstay of treatment. Acutely, supportive treatments a pivotal role in the management of patients with PE. Severe cases may require thrombolysis with drugs such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or may require surgical intervention via pulmonary thrombectomy. Prevention is highly warranted.

In vitro Effects of Olive Leaf Extract (Oleuropein) on Human Sperm Parameters and Oxidative Stress Induced by Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Recently, biomolecules from natural products have paved the way for novel drug in the treatment of some diseases in vitro and in vivo models as diabetes, cancer and infertility. As such, we aimed to evaluate the capacity of Oleuropein (OLE), the major bio-phenol in olive leaf, to protect human sperm against bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inducing sperm oxidative stress and defective sperm functions. The toxic effect of OLE on human sperm was firstly investigated by evaluating sperm parameters after incubation during 60 minutes with different concentrations. Determined non-toxic concentration was then used to evaluate the capacity of OLE to protect sperm against LPS oxidative damages and sperm parameters alterations. Thus, sperms were consecutively incubated with LPS (10 µg/mL) and OLE (40 µg/mL) during 60 minutes, then submitted to sperm parameters analysis and oxidative stress assessment by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), carbonyl groups (CG) levels and the activity of some antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). A significant decrease of sperm parameters as well as a significant increase in MDA levels, CG levels, SOD and CAT activities was found after stimulation by LPS. However, a non-significant difference was shown comparing sperms treated by LPS and OLE with LPS-treated control sperms. Consequently, despite the high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity of OLE reported in diverse cells, this phenolic compound seems to be not appropriate to protect human sperm in vitro against induced LPS oxidative stress and seems to have a "double-edged sword" behavior.

Two Years' Experience of Intensive Home Hemodialysis with the Physidia S3 System: Results from the RECAP Study.

The RECAP study reports results and outcomes (clinical performances, patient acceptance, cardiac outcomes, and technical survival) achieved with the S3 system used as an intensive home hemodialysis (HHD) platform over a three-year French multicenter study. Ninety-four dialysis patients issued from ten dialysis centers and treated more than 6 months (mean follow-up: 24 months) with S3 were included. A two-hour treatment time was maintained in 2/3 of patients to deliver 25 L of dialysis fluid, while 1/3 required up to 3 h to achieve 30 L. The additional convection volume produced by means of the SeCoHD tool (internal filtration backfiltration) was 3 L/session, and the net ultrafiltration produced to achieve dry weight was 1.4 L/session. On a weekly basis, an average 156 L of dialysate corresponding to 94 L of urea clearance when considering 85% dialysate saturation under low flow conditions was delivered. Such urea clearance was equivalent to 9.2 [8.0-13.0] mL/min weekly urea clearance and a standardized Kt/V of 2.5 [1.1-4.5]. The predialysis concentration of selected uremic markers remained remarkably stable over time. Fluid volume status and blood pressure were adequately controlled by means of a relatively low ultrafiltration rate (7.9 mL/h/kg). Technical survival on S3 was 72% and 58% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. The S3 system was easily handled and kept by patients at home, as indicated by technical survival. Patient perception was improved, while treatment burden was reduced. Cardiac features (assessed in a subset of patients) tended to improve over time. Intensive hemodialysis relying on the S3 system offers a very appealing option for home treatment with quite satisfactory results, as shown in the RECAP study throughout a two-year follow-up time, and offers the best bridging solution to kidney transplantation.

Safety assessment of cefuroxime on male reproductive system: Subacute toxicity and potential reversibility after a complete cycle of spermatogenesis and epididymal maturation in Wistar rats.

The effects of cefuroxime on reproductive system were investigated in male rats. Doses of 0, 30, 60 or 120 mg/kg of cefuroxime were intraperitoneally injected daily, for 7 days. Half of the rats were euthanized 24 h after the last dose and other half were induced to death 70 days after the last treatment. After 8 days of the experiment, results showed that cefuroxime induced a significant reduction in the weights of testes, epididymis and accessory sex organs. In addition, it decreased sperm quality, plasma testosterone level, and antioxidant enzyme activities while increasing the level of malondialdehyde. After a complete cycle of spermatogenesis and epididymal maturation, the results indicated complete reversibility of the adverse effects previously mentioned. In conclusion, cefuroxime induced reversible dose-dependent adverse effects on testicular and epididymal functions of rats.

Routine assessment of occupational exposure and its relation to semen quality in infertile men: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Concerns about the detrimental effects of occupational and environmental exposure on male reproductive function have been raised by reports of declining sperm quality over the last decades. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between altered semen parameters and exposure to occupational risk factors as assessed by questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study among a population of 2122 men who underwent andrological investigation for couple infertility. All participants were interviewed and their semen samples were analyzed. Information about medical history and occupational exposure was used to classify participants into exposed and unexposed groups. RESULTS: Exposure to pesticides was associated with a significantly higher risk of asthenozoospermia (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.4) and necrozoospermia (OR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.4-4.7). Exposure to cement was found to be correlated with a higher risk of oligozoospermia (OR = 1.1; 95% CI, 0.9-1.4). There was no association between semen impairment and exposure to solvents, excess heat, or mechanical vibrations. CONCLUSION: We found an association between self-reported occupational exposure and altered semen parameters. These results support the usefulness of questionnaires for routine assessment and management of occupational exposures in infertile men.

A carbapenem antibiotic imipenem/cilastatin induces an oxidative stress-status and gonadotoxic effects in « wistar ¼ rats.

Imipenem is a carbapenem antibiotic largely used to treat infection diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of imipenem/cilastatin (IMP) on oxidative stress, antioxidant levels, testicular structure and sperm parameters in rats. Adult Wistar rats (84days old; N=8/group) were treated intraperitoneally with physiological serum containing 0mg/kg, 30mg/kg, 50mg/kg and 80mg/kg of IMP for one week. The results revealed that exposure to IMP especially at high doses, significantly decreased sexual organs weights (testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate), sperm characteristics (motility, viability and count) and plasma testosterone level while increased sperm abnormality. In addition, the testicular tissue level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) was significantly increased while the level of activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathion peroxidase (GPx) decreased compared to the control group. Severe testicular lesions were recorded in the seminiferous tubules as well as a significant impairment in sperm characteristics. In conclusion, IMP induced an oxidative stress-status and histopathological changes in the testis and altered spermatogenesis in particular at both 50 and 80mg/kg dose-levels (p<0.001).

[Inter-and intra-operator variability in the analysis of semen parameters: results from a quality control program]. / Variabilité inter et intra-opérateur de l'analyse des paramètres spermatiques: résultat d'un programme de contrôle de qualité.

INTRODUCTION: Semen analysis is a key part of male infertility investigation. The necessity of quality management implementation in the andrology laboratory has been recognized in order to ensure the reliability of its results. The aim of this study was to evaluate intra- and inter-individual variability in the assessment of semen parameters in our laboratory through a quality control programme. METHODS: Four participants from the laboratory with different experience levels have participated in this study. Semen samples of varying quality were assessed for sperm motility, concentration and morphology and the results were used to evaluate inter-participant variability. In addition, replicates of each semen sample were analyzed to determine intra-individual variability for semen parameters analysis. RESULTS: The average values of inter-participant coefficients of variation for sperm motility, concentration and morphology were 12.8%, 19.8% and 48.9% respectively. The mean intra-participant coefficients of variation were, respectively, 6.9%, 12.3% and 42.7% for sperm motility, concentration and morphology. Despite some random errors of under- or overestimation, the overall results remained within the limits of acceptability for all participants. Sperm morphology assessment was particularly influenced by the participant's level of experience. CONCLUSION: The present data emphasize the need for appropriate training of the laboratory staff and for regular participation in internal quality control programmes in order to improve the reliability of laboratory results.