Are oxidative stress markers associated with unexplained male infertility?

Male infertility can be responsible for up to 20% of the cases attending fertility consultation facilities; nonetheless, the underlying molecular mechanisms that could explain it are still elusive. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate conventional and functional parameters of semen samples from patients who presented with male infertility of unknown origin. Conventional semen parameters and functional parameters (i.e. intracellular reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial membrane potential, sperm chromatin structure assay, sperm membrane lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma) were evaluated on semen samples from 54 healthy donors, 23 patients with idiopathic infertility and 34 fertile controls. No significant differences were observed in the conventional seminal parameters between the fertile and infertile men. However, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA fragmentation were observed in the infertile patients compared to the fertile group. Alterations in intracellular ROS production and DNA fragmentation could be associated with male idiopathic infertility. These parameters could eventually distinguish both groups more accurately than the conventional parameters. Our current results are encouraging, and the efficacy of these parameters in the clinical settings needs to be further assessed to establish their predictive potential as a marker of unexplained male infertility.

[Relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism and homocysteine levels in women with recurrent pregnancy loss: a nutrigenetic perspective]. / Relación entre los polimorfismos de la metilen-tetrahidrofolato-reductasa y los niveles de homocisteína en mujeres con pérdida gestacional recurrente: perspectiva desde la nutrigenética.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if there is any difference in the proportion of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphisms and the homocysteine levels in a group of women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and a control group. Ninety-three patients with diagnosis of three or more gestational losses and 206 healthy women with two or more children, were included. After acceptance of informed consent, samples of peripheral blood were taken to determine the genetic polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T and the plasmatic levels of homocysteine. The carriers of the homozygous mutation TT of MTHFR 677T polymorphism were 12.9% (12 of 93) in the group of patients and 14.6% (30 of 206) in the control group; 46.2% (43 of 93) and 40% (83 of 206) in the group of patients and controls respectively, were heterozygous CT for MTHFR gene. The levels of homocysteine were 7.2 micromol/ml in the group of patients and 7.7 mmol/l in controls. There was no relationship between MTHFR gene polymorphisms and the increase of homocysteine levels, nor of these one with RPL. From the nutrigenetics perspective we suggest that studies related to MTHFR polymorphisms and the risk of disease include the levels of folate and B6 and B12 vitamins participating in the tetrahydrofolate cycle for trying to establish a direct relation among the genotype, the level of metabolite and the clinical manifestations. In this regard, we recommend the administration of folic acid in women in search of pregnancy due to the high frequency of heterozygous and homozygous for MTHFR C677T mutation in our population.

[Comparing the sperm concentration determined by the Makler and the Neubauer chambers]. / Comparación de la concentración espermática usando la cámara de Makler y la cámara de Neubauer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to determine the concordance between the counts obtained with the Makler and the Neubauer chambers in ejaculates from fertile men. DESIGN: Cross sectional study in Reproduction Group, University of Antioquia, Medellin-Colombia. METHODS: 112 ejaculates from fertile men were analyzed in the present study. Sperm count was determined using both chambers, the comparisons between chambers were determined using a Bland-Altman plot. RESULTS: The means values for sperm count were 107.8 and 106.2 x 10(6) sperm/mL using the Makler and the Neubauer chamber, respectively, and there was concordance between both methods. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the determination of sperm concentration with the Makler chamber is as accurate as with the Neubauer chamber and that either chamber can be used in routine semen analyses.

[Colombian plants with spermicidal activity, new options in anticonception: brief review]. / Nuevas opciones en anticoncepción: posible uso espermicida de plantas colombianas.

Currently there exists increasing preoccupation concerning sexual and reproductive health among teenagers; in spite of the availability of different contraceptive methods, the number of undesired pregnancies is steadily increasing. Among the products presently available for birth control, spermicides are a means that can be totally controlled by the woman and are very reliable compared to other contraceptives in common use. However, they cause irritation in the vaginal epithelium due to their tensoactive effect on cellular membranes which might enhance the risk of acquiring sexually transmissible diseases. In searching for new alternatives, it was observed that a wide variety of plants have spermicidal activity. Hence it is interesting to consider potential contraceptives of vegetable origin, as they may constitute a key tool to prevent undesired pregnancies in general, and in particular in vulnerable groups such as teenagers and young women.

[Evaluation of the role of the monosaccharides, mannose and N-acetylglucosamine in the induction of the acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa]. / Evaluación de la reacción acrosomal en espermatozoides humanos inducida por los monosacáridos manosa y N-acetilglucosamina.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the role of the monosaccharides, mannose and N-acetylglucosamine in the induction of the acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa. METHODS: Each individual gave a semen sample, the samples were capacitated using bovien serum albumin; the analysis of the mannose and N-acetylglucosamine induced acrosome reaction was evaluated for fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. RESULTS: The results obtained in the acrosomal reaction in the 10 samples evaluated by flow cytometry showed that only calcium ionophore A23187 induced acrosomal reaction (p < 0.001); in contrast, by fluorescence microscopy, was observed a statistically significant increase in the induced acrosomal reaction with mannose and N-acetylglucosamine (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The monosaccharides mannose and N-acetylglucosamine induces partial acrosomal reaction and it does not complete, therefore the spermatozoa due to partial acrosomal reaction and the morphologics modifications that suffer during that process is able to fertilize the oocyte.

Is the immune system necessary for placental reproduction? A hypothesis on the mechanisms of alloimmunotherapy in recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion is being treated with alloimmunotherapy which consists of the inoculation of allogeneic mononuclear cells. However the mechanisms explaining the benefits of this therapy are not clear yet. Taking the immunotrophic hypothesis as the paradigm of the field of reproductive immunology, hereby we present a hypothesis to propose a role for the immune system in reproduction and at the same time to explain how alloimmunotherapy may work. We base our view on several facts: first, immunodeficient mice reproduce--albeit their progeny may not be as robust and numerous as that from normal individuals. Second, maternal lymphocytes cross the placenta and may induce graft versus host disease. Third, graft versus host disease in newborn F1 mice inoculated with paternal lymphocytes can be prevented by inoculation of the mother with the same paternal lymphocytes before and during pregnancy. We propose that: 1) the immune system by itself is not necessary for placental reproduction; 2) the immune system plays its major role in reproduction by counteracting the allogeneic response generated against the fetus; 3) recurrent spontaneous abortion represents a type of graft versus host disease induced by maternal cells infiltrating the fetus; and 4) alloimmunotherapy induces an antiidiotypic response necessary to counteract the graft versus host reaction in the fetus.

[Inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen]. / Seudotumor inflamatorio de bazo.

A case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen in a 69-year-old woman who was studied for elevated globular sedimentation rate is presented. The lesion was observed on echography as a mixed solid-cystic mass. Magnetic resonance showed a slight decrease in signal intensity in potentiated T1 sequences and a heterogenic mass with high signal areas in T2 images and protonic density. Splenectomy was performed and histopathologic study demonstrated an inflammatory pseudotumor of 10 cm in its greatest size. Two year follow up was satisfactory. On review of the literature only 34 cases of inflammatory pseudotumors have been previously published. Half of the cases presented during the 6th and 7th decades of life, with women being the most frequently affected. Inflammatory pseudotumors of the spleen are benign lesions which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of splenic masses. Since diagnosis cannot be made preoperatively, and a malignant tumor is almost always suspected, splenectomy should be performed.

[Evaluation of sperm functional parameters in normozoospermic infertile individuals]. / Evaluación de los parámetros funcionales espermáticos en individuos infértiles normozooespérmicos.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the integrity of the chromatin structure, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA damage and lipid peroxidation of semen samples from infertile men classified as unexplained infertility. METHODS: Between February 2010 and July 2011 semen parameters and functional tests were evaluated in 10 subjects with proven fertility, 10 that belong to general population and 8 with idiopathic infertility. In addition to the conventional semen analysis, the following unconventional seminal analysis were conducted: evaluation of ROS, MMP, sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) by flow cytometry, assessment of sperm membrane lipid peroxidation by spectrophotometry, and alkaline comet assay by electrophoresis. RESULTS: We observed a significant increase (P<.05) in the production of ROS and the fragmentation or sperm DNA damage in the population of infertile men. There were no statistically significant differences (P>.05) in the analysis of sperm membrane integrity between the groups. Moreover, we observed significant correlations (P<.05) between SCSA and comet assay (r=0.86) and the production of intracellular ROS (r=-0.588). CONCLUSION: The sperm from individuals with idiopathic infertility showed high levels of intracellular ROS and increased levels of DNA fragmentation in the sperm. These results suggest that these two parameters are related to unexplained infertility and therefore have clinical importance as a possible diagnostic and prognostic tool in the evaluation of idiopathic male infertility.

Aspirin triggered-lipoxin A4 reduces the adhesion of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils to endothelial cells initiated by preeclamptic plasma.

INTRODUCTION: Preeclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy, characterized by hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. Here, we evaluated the role of aspirin triggered-lipoxin A(4) (ATL, 15-epi-LXA(4)) on the modulation of the adhesion of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) to endothelial cells initiated by preeclamptic plasma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasma from preeclamptic, normotensive pregnant, and non-pregnant women were analyzed for factors involved in regulating angiogenesis, inflammation and lipid peroxidation. Plasma from preeclamptic women was added to human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and the adhesion of PMN (incubated with or without ATL) to cells was evaluated. RESULTS: Preeclampsia was associated with some augmented anti-angiogenic, oxidative and pro-inflammatory markers, as well as increasing human PMN-endothelial cell adhesion. This cell adhesion was reduced when human PMN were incubated with ATL prior to addition to endothelial monolayers. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results are the starting point for further research on the efficacy and rational use of aspirin in preeclampsia.

Frequency and factors associated with recurrences of ocular toxoplasmosis in a referral centre in Colombia.

AIM: To determine the frequency and clinically related factors for recurrences in toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis in Colombian patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis based on clinical charts of patients examined during the period of September 2005 to July 2008 at the University medical centre in Quindio (Colombia). Patients with retinochoroidal lesions consistent with Toxoplasma infection were included. Comparisons were made with an index of recurrences adjusted for months of follow-up or of the available data of periods with and without recurrences RESULTS: The clinical charts of 56 patients were analysed. In total, 25 patients (44%) were seen during an active episode, and 31 patients during inactive periods. There were 25 patients (44%) without episodes of recurrence. The total number of recurrences was 80 episodes. The mean number of recurrences was of two recurrences each 11 years. Adjusted recurrences index indicated that the most important factors associated with recurrence were previous therapy with steroids without antibiotics and previous subconjunctival injection of steroids. CONCLUSIONS: The use of systemic steroids without antibiotics and subconjunctival injection of steroids were identified as the main factors related to recurrence in this group of patients.

Inherited thrombophilia is associated with deep vein thrombosis in a Colombian population.

The development of venous thromboembolism is influenced by a variety of genetic and environmental risk factors. A few studies have ascertained whether thrombophilic defects are risk factors for venous thromboembolism in Latin American populations with a variable degree of admixture, such as the Colombian population. To address this issue, we conducted a case-control study involving 100 consecutive patients with deep vein thrombosis and 114 healthy controls from the Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl, Medellín, Colombia. Activated protein C resistance (APC resistance) was detected in 25/99 patients vs. 6/114 controls (OR = 6.08, 95% CI = 2.23-17.47). Ten of 100 patients carried the factor V Leiden mutation vs. 1/114 controls (OR = 12.56, 95% CI = 1.61-267). APC resistance was associated with the factor V Leiden mutation in only 10/25 patients. The prothrombin G20210A mutation was found in 4/100 patients, but none of the controls (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportion of homozygous carriers of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T variant among patients and controls. In conclusion, in our studied population, factor V Leiden, APC resistance, and prothrombin G20210A were associated with an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis. However, the frequencies of these thrombophilic defects and of APC resistance associated with factor V Leiden was lower than the corresponding frequencies previously reported for Caucasian populations. Further study is required to assess the influence of ethnicity on thrombophilia.

Enteroclisis por tomografía computarizada en niños: experiencia inicial, técnica y utilidad / Computed tomography enteroclysis in children: initial experience, technical and profit

Objetivo: Evaluar la técnica de enteroclisis por tomografía computarizada (ETC ) y revisar sus indicaciones y hallazgos en niños. Materiales y métodos: Revisión retrospectiva de todas las ETC realizadas por los autores en pacientes menores de 18 años de edad entre enero de 2005 y marzo de 2009. Además, se relacionan los resultados con otros métodos de imagen, cirugía o patología. Resultados: Se revisaron 30 ETC (edad media 14,6 años, rango 8-18 años). Las indicaciones más comunes fueron: enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (55%), dolor abdominal (25%), posquirúrgico (7%), hemorragia digestiva (5%), síndrome de Peutz-Jeghers (4%) y emésis (4%). No hubo complicaciones. El 10% de los estudios fue normal. El hallazgo más común fue enfermedad de Crohn (37%) y obstrucción parcial del intestino delgado (26%). Conclusión: La ETC es fácil y certera en la pesquisa de la patología de intestino delgado en niños. Esta técnica es de gran utilidad en pacientes con enfermedad de Crohn con afectación del intestino delgado.

Objective: To evaluate CT enteroclysis technique (CT E) and to review their indications and findings in children. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all CT enteroclysis studies in younger than 18 years performed between January 2005 and March 2009. We correlated the results with other abdominal imaging studies and surgical and pathological findings. Results: Thereview revealed 30 CTE studies performed (mean age 14.6 years, range 8–18 years). CTE study wasperformed most commonly for evaluation of suspicious intestinal inflammatory disease (55%), abdominal pain (25%), post-operative (7%) digestive hemorrhage (5%) Peutz Jeghers syndrome (4%) and vomiting (4%). No complications of CTE were reported. The findings were normal in 10% of the CT E studies. The most common small bowel diagnoses were Crohn’s disease (37%) andpartial small bowel obstruction (26%). Conclusion: CTE is safe, feasible, and accurate in depicting small-bowel pathology in children. This technique can be particularly useful in children with Crohn’s disease involving the small bowel.

Reducción neumática de invaginación intestinal en niños: experiencia clínica y técnica / Intussusception pneumatic reduction in children: clinical and technical experience

Objetivo: Evaluar la facilidad y efectividad de la reducción neumática de la invaginación intestinal en niños. Materiales y métodos: El grupo de estudio estuvo conformado por 14 niños y 6 niñas, entre un mes y tres años de edad, a quienes se les realizaron 21 reducciones neumáticas desde enero de 2006 a abril de 2009. La invaginación intestinal fue diagnosticada en todos los pacientes por los criterios ecográficos conocidos y a todos se les realizó la reducción bajo control fluoroscópico. Se mantuvo una presión de 120 mm Hg durante 30 segundos con guía fluoroscópica. Resultados: El índice de éxito fue del 95% (20 reducciones de 21), sin recurrencia inmediata. En un paciente no se logró la reducción por encontrársele un divertículo de Meckel, que requirió cirugía. No se presentaron perforaciones intestinales y un paciente tuvo una invaginación recurrente tardía. Conclusión: La reducción neumática de la invaginación intestinal es un método seguro y muy efectivo, con una alta tasa de éxito.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of pneumatic reduction as a non surgical treatment of intussusception in children. Materials and Methods: We studied retrospectively 20 consecutive patients (aged 1 month to 3 years; 14 boys, 6 girls) who underwent pneumatic reduction of intussusception from January 2006 to April 2009. Previous abdominal sonography was performedand confirmed the diagnosis of intussusception in all of them. All patients underwent pneumaticreduction under fluoroscopic guidance using the standard technique. Results: The overall success rate of pneumatic reduction in intussusception was of 95% (20 of 21 reductions), with no cases of immediate recurrence. In a patient who had a Meckel’s diverticulum, the intussusception could not be reduced. There were no cases of intestinal perforation or other complications and recurrence of intussusception occurred only in one patient. Conclusion: Pneumatic reduction is a safe, feasible and highly effective method for treatment of intussusception in children.

Prevalence of asthma in a tropical city of Colombia.

Four thousand subjects from Cartagena, Colombia were surveyed in order to establish the prevalence of asthma in this city. They were considered to have asthma when they had consulted their physicians for shortness of breath accompanied with wheezing during the last year and had received asthma medications. Point and cumulative prevalence were 8.8% and 12.2%, respectively. Seventy percent of the affected population was less than 15 years old. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of asthma between sexes. Forty-five percent of asthmatic subjects had family histories of asthma. The prevalence of rhinitis was 16.4% and 30.6% of the patients with asthma. The asthma prevalence of this study is high, indicating that this respiratory disease is a significant health problem in this tropical city.

The function of the Drosophila fat facets deubiquitinating enzyme in limiting photoreceptor cell number is intimately associated with endocytosis.

Fat facets is a deubiquitinating enzyme required in a cell communication pathway that limits to eight the number of photoreceptor cells in each facet of the Drososphila compound eye. Genetic data support a model whereby Faf removes ubiquitin, a polypeptide tag for protein degradation, from a specific ubiquitinated protein thus preventing its degradation. Here, mutations in the liquid facets gene were identified as dominant enhancers of the fat facets mutant eye phenotype. The liquid facets locus encodes epsin, a vertebrate protein associated with the clathrin endocytosis complex. The results of genetic experiments reveal that fat facets and liquid facets facilitate endocytosis and function in common cells to generate an inhibitory signal that prevents ectopic photoreceptor determination. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the fat facets mutant phenotype is extraordinarily sensitive to the level of liquid facets expression. We propose that Liquid facets is a candidate for the critical substrate of Fat facets in the eye.

Ventrículo izquierdo no compactado: fisiopatología y hallazgos por resonancia magnética / Left Ventricle noncompaction: physiopathology and findings by magnetic resonance

El ventrículo izquierdo no compactado (VINC), también llamado miocardiopatía no compactada, se ha clasificado recientemente como una miocardiopatía primaria con origen genético. Se caracteriza por el aumento de la trabeculación de la superficie endocárdica del ventrículo izquierdo y por recesos intertrabeculares profundos. El VINC probablemente se debe a una detención en el proceso normal de compactación del miocardio en etapa fetal. Puede presentarse aislado o asociarse con cardiopatías congénitas o trastornos neuromusculares. El VINC puede encontrarse tanto en pacientes asintomáticos como sintomáticos con insuficiencia cardiaca severa, embolismo sistémico, arritmias y muerte súbita. La confirmación del diagnóstico se ha trasladado de la autopsia a los métodos no invasivos: la ecocardiografía, y más recientemente la resonancia magnética.

Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Cebus spp in the Santa Fe Zoological Park of Medellín, Colombia.

The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was studied in 47 nonhuman primates of the Cebus species in the Santa Fe Zoological Park in Medellín, Colombia. Specific IgG titers (greater than 1/64) were detected in 40.9% of C. albifrons studied (n = 22), 13.3% of C. capucinus (n = 15), and 0% of C. apella (n = 10). Specific IgM was not detected in any of the animals studied.

Spatiotemporal scaling of solar surface flows.

The sun provides an excellent natural laboratory for nonlinear phenomena. We use motions of magnetic bright points on the solar surface, at the smallest scales yet observed, to study the small scale dynamics of the photospheric plasma. The paths of the bright points are analyzed within a continuous time random walk framework. Their spatial and temporal scaling suggests that the observed motions are the walks of imperfectly correlated tracers on a turbulent fluid flow in the lanes between granular convection cells.