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1.
Anal Bioanal Chem ; 416(13): 3117-3125, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38589614

ABSTRACT

In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of nitrogen microwave inductively coupled atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry (MICAP-MS) for Ca, Fe, and Se quantification in human serum using isotope dilution (ID) analysis. The matrix tolerance of MICAP-MS in Na matrix was investigated, revealing that high Na levels can suppress the signal intensity. This suppression is likely due to the plasma loading and the space charge effect. Moreover, 40Ca and 44Ca isotopic fractionation was noted at elevated Na concentration. Nine certified serum samples were analyzed using both external calibration and ID analysis. Overestimation of Cr, Zn, As, and Se was found in the results of external calibration, which might result from C-induced polyatomic interference and signal enhancement, respectively. Further investigations performed with methanol showed a similar enhancement effect for Zn, As, and Se, potentially supporting this assumption. The mass concentrations determined with ID analysis show metrological compatibility with the reference values, indicating that MICAP-MS combined with ID analysis can be a promising method for precise Ca, Fe, and Se determination. Moreover, this combination reduces the influence of matrix effects, broadening the applicability of MICAP-MS for samples with complex matrixes.


Subject(s)
Atmospheric Pressure , Calcium , Iron , Mass Spectrometry , Microwaves , Nitrogen , Selenium , Humans , Iron/blood , Calcium/blood , Mass Spectrometry/methods , Selenium/blood , Indicator Dilution Techniques
2.
Nurse Educ Pract ; 71: 103715, 2023 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37437514

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this study was two-fold. Firstly, to describe the influence of an augmented reality (AR)-based online educational experience on the academic performance and learning determinants of nursing students related to the study of leg ulcer care. We also set out to compare these online results with those obtained in the same experience developed a year before but in a face-to-face design. BACKGROUND: Undergraduate education in nursing aims to train students towards an acceptable level of competence for professional practice. Sometimes, some essential clinical areas of knowledge are particularly challenging for both students and nurse educators. One of these is the care of chronic wounds, particularly in leg ulcers where nurses play a key role. Currently face-to-face teaching methods are evolving to more active contexts and alternative means such as online learning and AR are becoming widely used, garnering encouraging results. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental design was used. Two experiments were carried out to meet the aims of the study, the first one was a pre-test post-test design in one group and the second one a post-test two experimental groups design. METHODS: Participants were undergraduate nursing students from the School of Nursing of the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain). The two experimental groups received the same training but in different environments: online during 2019/2020 (n = 111) and onsite during 2018/2019 (n = 72). The instruments selected were a knowledge and skills test and two validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Regarding academic performance, the study demonstrated significant differences towards learning after the AR-based online experience (Z = -9.074; p ≤ 0.001). The participants also showed good results in relation to the learning determinants studied. Compared with students receiving AR-based face-to-face teaching, the students with the online learning approach scored better in the dimensions Autonomous Learning (U=3104.5; p = 0.020) and 3D Comprehension (U=3167.0; p = 0.035). However, the participants in the onsite experience scored higher in the Attention dimension (U=3163.0; p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: AR positively influences academic performance and diverse educational variables when this experience is carried out online. Since both the online and face-to-face experience show statistically significant benefits in different dimensions of the learning determinants, the need to improve the AR learning experience through blended-learning environments should be promoted.


Subject(s)
Augmented Reality , Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate , Students, Nursing , Humans , Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate/methods , Learning , Faculty, Nursing
3.
Nurse Educ Today ; 119: 105565, 2022 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36155210

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic wounds are a serious public health problem worldwide. Providing optimal treatment to patients suffering from leg ulcers is a priority for nursing. Therefore, nursing students need to acquire the necessary competencies to provide evidence-based care. Augmented Reality (AR) is an emerging technology in health science education which can help nursing students achieve these skills if it is promoted by both institutions and educationalists. OBJECTIVES: To test the effectiveness of an AR-based methodology for teaching-learning aspects of the nursing curriculum (leg ulcer care), as well as to describe how AR influences different learning determinants of nursing students. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental study was carried out. PARTICIPANTS/SETTINGS: The participants of the study were 137 s-year nursing students from the School of Nursing of the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) (average age = 21.59 years, 80.29 % females). Of them, 65 comprised the control group (Non-AR-based teaching) and 72 comprised the experimental group (AR-based teaching). METHODS: Pre-post tests were used to measure knowledge and skills about leg ulcer care in both groups. Additionally, two validated questionnaires were selected to identify the influence of AR on learning determinants in the experimental group. The study took place during the 2018/2019 academic year. RESULTS: Significantly higher scores (7.68 vs. 6.14) were found in the knowledge post-test in the experimental group (p ≤ 0.001), while the pre-test did not show differences between groups (4.43 vs. 4.32). Also, nursing students indicated high scores in attention, autonomous learning, understanding and motivation to carry out learning objectives using AR. CONCLUSIONS: AR is a tool that improves performance related to the specific aspects of the nursing academic curriculum (leg ulcer care), while encouraging positive attitudes towards the teaching-learning process. These findings reinforce the need to include innovative methodologies in nursing classrooms.


Subject(s)
Augmented Reality , Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate , Leg Ulcer , Students, Nursing , Female , Humans , Young Adult , Adult , Male , Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate/methods , Learning , Leg Ulcer/therapy
4.
Hum Fertil (Camb) ; 25(1): 135-141, 2022 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31916507

ABSTRACT

Varicocele is one of the main causes of male infertility and microsurgical varicocelectomy (MV) seems to be the best procedure for its repair and to reduce testicular oxidative stress (ROS). As ROS causes guanine modifications, we postulated that DNA damage could be more intense in telomeres due to their G-rich nature. We studied the effect of MV on sperm telomere length (TL), single- and double-strand DNA fragmentation (ssSDF and dsSDF) and seminal parameters. Sperm telomeres from 12 fertile donors and 20 varicocele patients before and nine months after MV were labelled using FITC-PNA qFISH (a new method to obtain absolute TL from relative fluorescence intensity using FITC-fluorescent spheres). Both ssSDF and dsSDF were analysed using the alkaline and neutral Comet assays, respectively. The results showed that varicocele and MV had no effect on TL. Seminal parameters, ssSDF and dsSDF of varicocele patients were altered. Although these parameters improved after MV, values did not reach those seen in fertile donors. A good estimation of absolute TL was developed based on FITC-fluorescent spheres. The results showed that TL is not affected by varicocele or surgery. However, MV is able to partially reduce altered seminal parameters, ssSDF and dsSDF values in varicocele patients.


Subject(s)
Infertility, Male , Varicocele , DNA Fragmentation , Humans , Infertility, Male/genetics , Infertility, Male/surgery , Male , Sperm Motility , Spermatozoa , Telomere , Varicocele/genetics , Varicocele/surgery
5.
Anal Bioanal Chem ; 414(1): 251-256, 2022 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34505166

ABSTRACT

The therapeutic dose of lithium (Li) compounds, which are widely used for the treatment of psychiatric and hematologic disorders, is close to its toxic level; therefore, drug monitoring protocols are mandatory. Herein, we propose a fast, simple, and low-cost analytical procedure for the traceable determination of Li concentration in human serum, based on the monitoring of the Li isotope dilution through the partially resolved isotope shift in its electronic transition around 670.80 nm using a commercially available high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. With this technique, serum samples only require acidic digestion before analysis. The procedure requires three measurements-an enriched 6Li spike, a mixture of a certified standard solution and spike, and a mixture of the sample and spike with a nominal 7Li/6Li ratio of 0.82. Lanthanum has been used as an internal spectral standard for wavelength correction. The spectra are described as the linear superposition of the contributions of the respective isotopes, each consisting of a spin-orbit doublet, which can be expressed as Gaussian components with constant spectral position and width and different relative intensity, reflecting the isotope ratio in the sample. Both the spectral constants and the correlation between isotope ratio and relative band intensity have been experimentally obtained using commercially available materials enriched with Li isotopes. The Li characteristic mass (mc) obtained corresponds to 0.6 pg. The procedure has been validated using five human serum certified reference materials. The results are metrologically comparable and compatible to the certified values. The measurement uncertainties are comparable to those obtained by the more complex and expensive technique, isotope dilution mass spectrometry.


Subject(s)
Antidepressive Agents/blood , Lithium Compounds/blood , Spectrophotometry, Atomic/methods , Humans
6.
Anal Chem ; 93(29): 10022-10030, 2021 07 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34232608

ABSTRACT

An alternative method for lithium isotope amount ratio analysis based on a combination of high-resolution atomic absorption spectrometry and spectral data analysis by machine learning (ML) is proposed herein. It is based on the well-known isotope shift of approximately 15 pm for the electronic transition 22P←22S at around the wavelength of 670.8 nm, which can be measured by the state-of-the-art high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. For isotope amount ratio analysis, a scalable tree boosting ML algorithm (XGBoost) was employed and calibrated using a set of samples with 6Li isotope amount fractions, ranging from 0.06 to 0.99 mol mol-1, previously determined by a multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS). The calibration ML model was validated with two certified reference materials (LSVEC and IRMM-016). The procedure was applied toward the isotope amount ratio determination of a set of stock chemicals (Li2CO3, LiNO3, LiCl, and LiOH) and a BAM candidate reference material NMC111 (LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2), a Li-battery cathode material. The results of these determinations were compared with those obtained by MC-ICP-MS and found to be metrologically comparable and compatible. The residual bias was -1.8‰, and the precision obtained ranged from 1.9 to 6.2‰. This precision was sufficient to resolve naturally occurring variations, as demonstrated for samples ranging from approximately -3 to +15‰. To assess its suitability to technical applications, the NMC111 cathode candidate reference material was analyzed using high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry with and without matrix purification. The results obtained were metrologically compatible with each other.


Subject(s)
Isotopes , Lithium , Electric Power Supplies , Machine Learning , Spectrophotometry, Atomic
7.
Anal Methods ; 13(33): 3724-3730, 2021 09 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34286717

ABSTRACT

High-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GF-MAS) was employed for determining adsorbable organic chlorine (AOCl) in water. Organic chlorine was indirectly quantified by monitoring the molecular absorption of the transient aluminum monochloride molecule (AlCl) around a wavelength of 261.42 nm in a graphite furnace. An aluminum solution was used as the molecular-forming modifier. A zirconium coated graphite furnace, as well as Sr and Ag solutions were applied as modifiers for a maximal enhancement of the absorption signal. The pyrolysis and vaporization temperatures were 600 °C and 2300 °C, respectively. Non-spectral interferences were observed with F, Br, and I at concentrations higher than 6 mg L-1, 50 mg L-1, and 100 mg L-1, respectively. Calibration curves with NaCl, 4-chlorophenol, and trichlorophenol present the same slope and dynamic range, which indicates the chlorine atom specificity of the method. This method was evaluated and validated using synthetic water samples, following the current standard DIN EN ISO 9562:2004 for the determination of the sum parameter adsorbable organic halides (AOX) for water quality. These samples contain 4-chlorophenol as the chlorinated organic standard in an inorganic chloride matrix. Prior to analysis, organic chlorine was extracted from the inorganic matrix via solid-phase extraction with a recovery rate >95%. There were no statistically significant differences observed between measured and known values and for a t-test a confidence level of 95% was achieved. The limits of detection and characteristic mass were found to be 48 and 22 pg, respectively. The calibration curve was linear in the range 0.1-2.5 ng with a correlation coefficient R2 = 0.9986.


Subject(s)
Graphite , Chlorides , Chlorine , Spectrophotometry, Atomic , Water
8.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33920528

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate the usability of the augmented reality (AR) in higher education in the area of health sciences to describe what type of interventions have been developed, their impact on various psychopedagogical aspects of the students as well as the main advantages, disadvantages and challenges in incorporating AR in the teaching-learning process. A systematic review was carried out in the CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science databases and the Google Scholar search engine. The search was limited to original research articles written in English, Spanish or Portuguese since 2014. The quality of the selected articles (n = 19) was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The applications and electronic devices used and the measurement instruments used were described. The use of AR made it easier for students to acquire skills, especially in courses with a high component of three-dimensional visualization, and positively influenced various aspects of the learning process such as motivation, satisfaction or autonomous learning. As an educational technological tool applied to higher education in health sciences, AR improves the teaching-learning process by influencing it in a multidimensional way.


Subject(s)
Augmented Reality , Humans , Learning
9.
Chemistry ; 27(36): 9414-9421, 2021 Jun 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33786901

ABSTRACT

Zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) hybrid fluorescent nanoparticles and ZIF antibody conjugates have been synthesized, characterized, and employed in lateral-flow immunoassay (LFIA). The bright fluorescence of the conjugates and the possibility to tailor their mobility gives a huge potential for diagnostic assays. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as label, proved the integrity, stability, and dispersibility of the antibody conjugates, LC-MS/MS provided evidence that a covalent link was established between these metal-organic frameworks and lysine residues in IgG antibodies.


Subject(s)
Metal-Organic Frameworks , Zeolites , Chromatography, Liquid , Horseradish Peroxidase , Tandem Mass Spectrometry
10.
Mol Reprod Dev ; 87(11): 1126-1132, 2020 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32945057

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present work is to characterize the relationship between sperm protamine deficiency and single- and double-stranded DNA damage and to assess the diagnostic potential of chromomycin A3 (CMA3). For that purpose, semen samples from 90 human males with different clinical features were included (fertile donors, patients with recurrent pregnancy loss [RPL], and infertile patients). DNA condensation was analyzed by CMA3 and different types of DNA fragmentation were analyzed through the comet assay. A positive correlation between DNA condensation and single-stranded DNA fragmentation was found (Rs = .456; p = .05). CMA3 presented differences between fertile donors and all other groups (p < .001). Interestingly, patients with RPL, who were able to achieve a pregnancy, and infertile patients showed similar values of CMA3 (p > .05). Receiver operating characteristic curves and the profiles obtained by the combination of Comet assays and CMA3 indicate that the CMA3 test may be an interesting approach to distinguish those subjects with higher pregnancy loss risk from fertile donors (CMA3 area under the curve 0.928, with a confidence interval of 0.849-1.000). The present work shows that DNA condensation is related to oxidative damage, which affects mainly protamine-rich regions. The profiles observed in different clinical groups showed that CMA3 might be useful for the diagnosis of RPL risk when combined with Comet assays.


Subject(s)
Abortion, Habitual/genetics , DNA Damage , DNA, Single-Stranded/analysis , DNA/analysis , Spermatozoa/chemistry , Adult , Chromatin , Chromomycin A3/analysis , Comet Assay , DNA Fragmentation , Female , Fluorescent Dyes/analysis , Humans , Infertility/genetics , Male , Oxidation-Reduction , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Outcome , Protamines/analysis , ROC Curve , Sensitivity and Specificity , Spermatozoa/ultrastructure , Varicocele/genetics
11.
Adv Integr Med ; 7(4): 247-251, 2020 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32837891

ABSTRACT

BRIEF OVERVIEW: There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend quercetin supplementation as a therapy for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. Three human clinical trials with low risk of bias suggest that oral quercetin may have a beneficial effect on the incidence and duration of respiratory tract infections in certain populations; however, further research is needed. VERDICT: Current evidence on the efficacy of quercetin supplementation in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 is insufficient for its clinical recommendation at this time. Quercetin exhibits both immunomodulatory and antimicrobial effects in preclinical studies; however, only three human clinical trials, each with a low risk of bias rating, were identified in this rapid review. One study reported a decrease in incidence of upper respiratory tract infections following a competitive athletic event. A larger community clinical trial reported a benefit in older, athletic adults only.

12.
Int J Mol Sci ; 21(14)2020 Jul 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32708913

ABSTRACT

Seminal plasma proteomics studies could represent a new approach for the determination of molecular elements driving male infertility, resulting in a better male infertility characterization. The aim of this study is to investigate proteomic differences in seminal plasma samples from fertile and infertile individuals. For that, semen samples were selected according to semen analysis, clinical pathology, and values of sperm DNA fragmentation (alkaline and neutral Comet assay and Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test). A total of 24 seminal plasma samples classified in four groups were processed: fertile donors (FD), recurrent miscarriage patients (RM), asthenoteratozoospermic patients (ATZ), and asthenoteratozoospermic patients with varicocele (ATZ-VAR). Results obtained by 2D-differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) revealed 26 spots significantly increased in fertile donors when compared to patient groups. Also, eight spots in the ATZ group and two in the ATZ-VAR group were decreased compared to the other groups. Twenty-eight proteins were identified by mass spectrometry (MS), most of them involved in metabolic and cellular processes and with a catalytic or binding function. Protein-protein interactions through Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) tool suggest that a large part of them were associated with each other. Furthermore, most of them were associated with ubiquitin C, indicating that it could play an important regulation role, resulting in a potential male infertility biomarker.


Subject(s)
DNA Fragmentation , Infertility, Male/genetics , Proteins/analysis , Semen/metabolism , Comet Assay , Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional , Fertility , Humans , Infertility, Male/metabolism , Male , Protein Interaction Maps , Proteins/genetics , Proteins/metabolism , Proteomics , Semen/chemistry , Semen Analysis
13.
Urology ; 88: e3-4, 2016 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26603833

ABSTRACT

We present herein a 72-year-old male with a long history of mild lower urinary tract symptoms, with a serum prostate-specific antigen level value of 87.9 ng/mL and an estimated prostate size of 3987 mL, according to magnetic resonance imaging. Prostatic biopsies showed benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostatic surgery has not been required. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest prostate volume reported in the medical literature.


Subject(s)
Prostate/pathology , Prostatic Hyperplasia/pathology , Aged , Humans , Male , Organ Size
14.
J Urol ; 195(1): 213-9, 2016 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26231555

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Some studies have shown that complementary biomarkers are needed in semen analysis to provide a more accurate diagnosis for couples with infertility problems. To our knowledge no study has been done to determine the relationships among nuclease activity in seminal plasma, semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation and male infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 94 semen samples were collected according to WHO 2010 semen analysis parameters. Samples were analyzed using the single radial enzyme diffusion method for nuclease activity in seminal plasma, and alkaline and neutral Comet assay for sperm DNA fragmentation. Samples were obtained from 11 fertile donors with proven fertility, 17 patients with normozoospermia in an infertile couple, and 16 patients with asthenozoospermia, 19 with teratozoospermia, 21 with asthenoteratozoospermia and 10 with azoospermia. RESULTS: Nuclease activity analyzed in seminal plasma was higher in patients than in controls. It correlated with sperm motility and morphology, and sperm DNA fragmentation measured by the alkaline Comet assay. No correlation with sperm DNA fragmentation was measured by the neutral Comet assay. ROC curves to determine male infertility revealed 0.658 sensitivity, 0.727 specificity and 0.705 cm(2) AUC for the single radial enzyme diffusion method, 0.918, 1 and 0.994 cm(2) for the alkaline Comet assay, and 0.917, 0.250 and 0.373 cm(2), respectively, for the neutral Comet assay. CONCLUSIONS: Nuclease activity in seminal plasma corrected by sperm count is a good variable to predict male infertility. Results indicate that it could be a useful complementary parameter for male infertility diagnosis.


Subject(s)
DNA Fragmentation , Endonucleases/metabolism , Infertility, Male/enzymology , Infertility, Male/genetics , Semen Analysis , Semen/enzymology , Spermatozoa , Humans , Male
15.
Hum Fertil (Camb) ; 18(3): 225-9, 2015 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26090928

ABSTRACT

Infertile males with varicocele have the highest percentage of sperm cells with damaged DNA, compared to other infertile groups. Antioxidant treatment is known to enhance the integrity of sperm DNA; however, there are no data on the effects in varicocele patients. We thus investigated the potential benefits of antioxidant treatment specifically in grade I varicocele males. Twenty infertile patients with grade I varicocele were given multivitamins (1500 mg L-Carnitine, 60 mg vitamin C, 20 mg coenzyme Q10, 10 mg vitamin E, 200 µg vitamin B9, 1 µg vitamin B12, 10 mg zinc, 50 µg selenium) daily for three months. Semen parameters including total sperm count, concentration, progressive motility, vitality, and morphology were determined before and after treatment. In addition, sperm DNA fragmentation and the amount of highly degraded sperm cells were analyzed by Sperm Chromatin Dispersion. After treatment, patients showed an average relative reduction of 22.1% in sperm DNA fragmentation (p = 0.02) and had 31.3% fewer highly degraded sperm cells (p = 0.07). Total numbers of sperm cells were increased (p = 0.04), but other semen parameters were unaffected. These data suggest that sperm DNA integrity in grade I varicocele patients may be improved by oral antioxidant treatment.


Subject(s)
Antioxidants/administration & dosage , DNA Damage/drug effects , DNA/analysis , Infertility, Male/etiology , Spermatozoa/chemistry , Varicocele/complications , Ascorbic Acid/administration & dosage , Carnitine/administration & dosage , Cell Survival , DNA Fragmentation , Dietary Supplements , Female , Humans , Infertility, Male/drug therapy , Male , Pregnancy , Sperm Count , Sperm Motility , Spermatozoa/abnormalities , Spermatozoa/physiology , Ubiquinone/administration & dosage , Ubiquinone/analogs & derivatives , Varicocele/drug therapy , Vitamin B Complex/administration & dosage , Vitamin E/administration & dosage , Zinc/administration & dosage
16.
Biomed Res Int ; 2014: 181396, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24967335

ABSTRACT

Varicocele is one of the most common causes of low semen quality, which is reflected in high percentages of sperm cells with fragmented DNA. While varicocelectomy is usually performed to ameliorate a patient's fertility, its impact on sperm DNA integrity in the case of subclinical varicocele is poorly documented. In this study, multiple DNA fragmentation analyses (TUNEL, SCD, and SCSA) were performed on semen samples from sixty infertile patients with varicocele (15 clinical varicoceles, 19 clinical varicoceles after surgical treatment, 16 subclinical varicoceles, and 10 subclinical varicoceles after surgical treatment). TUNEL, SCD, and SCSA assays all showed substantial sperm DNA fragmentation levels that were comparable between subclinical and clinical varicocele patients. Importantly, varicocelectomy did improve sperm quality in patients with clinical varicocele; however, this was not the case in patients with subclinical varicocele. In summary, although infertile patients with clinical and subclinical varicocele have similar sperm DNA quality, varicocelectomy should only be advised for patients with clinical varicocele.


Subject(s)
DNA Fragmentation , Infertility, Male/metabolism , Infertility, Male/surgery , Spermatozoa/metabolism , Varicocele/metabolism , Varicocele/surgery , Cohort Studies , Humans , Infertility, Male/pathology , Male , Spermatozoa/pathology , Varicocele/pathology
17.
J Androl ; 33(3): 361-7, 2012.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21835912

ABSTRACT

Some methods for determining sperm DNA fragmentation, such as the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and the sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD), provide additional information about particular subgroups of spermatozoa with specific irregularities. Thus, SCSA recognizes a specific sperm subpopulation, the high-DNA stainability sperm subpopulation (HDS), and SCD recognizes the so-called DNA-degraded sperm (DDS) subpopulation. Although some studies associate the presence of these subpopulations with specific aspects related to infertility, the relationship between both sperm subpopulations and their preponderance in specific clinical groups of infertile males has not been extensively investigated. In this study, HDS and DDS subpopulations were determined in a total of 37 human males: 8 males with proven fertility, 9 infertile males with asthenoteratozoospermia, 10 carriers of chromosomal reorganizations, and 10 infertile males with clinical varicocele. Results showed a significant increase of the DDS subpopulation (P < .001) in both the varicocele patient (16.85 ± 7.24) and carrier of rearranged genome (11.6 ± 5.23) groups, but not in patients with asthenoteratozoospermia (3.88 ± 1.55) or fertile donors (2.62 ± 1.68). No statistical differences were detected for the HDS subpopulation (P = .542), but the highest values were found in the varicocele and rearranged-genome groups. However, no correlation between the HDS and DDS subpopulations were found (r = 0.196; P = .244), suggesting that both represent a different class of sperm subpopulation in the ejaculate. A significant increase in HDS, and especially DDS, can be associated with the presence of varicocele or the rearrangement of chromosomes. Specific diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis must be performed in patients with increased DDS and HDS values.


Subject(s)
Asthenozoospermia/diagnosis , Asthenozoospermia/genetics , Spermatozoa/ultrastructure , Varicocele/genetics , Chromatin/chemistry , Chromatin/ultrastructure , DNA Fragmentation , Genome, Human , Humans , Male , Sperm Motility/genetics
18.
Prog. obstet. ginecol. (Ed. impr.) ; 54(11): 592-595, nov. 2011. ilus
Article in Spanish | IBECS | ID: ibc-91177

ABSTRACT

El síndrome de insensibilidad a los andrógenos se caracteriza por la presencia de cariotipo 46,XY, fenotipo femenino y presencia de gónadas masculinas. Es la tercera causa más frecuente de amenorrea primaria, tras la disgenesia gonadal y la ausencia congénita de vagina (síndrome de Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser). Se trata de una entidad de interés por su relevancia en la identificación sexual y por su posible asociación con tumores malignos de las gónadas masculinas, que hace necesario un correcto diagnóstico y tratamiento quirúrgico. En este artículo se describen dos casos de síndrome de insensibilidad a los andrógenos, con su estudio clínico-genético y tratamiento, así como su seguimiento (AU)


Androgen insensitivity syndrome is characterized by the presence of external female phenotype, 46,XY karyotype and intraabdominal testes. This syndrome is the third most frequent cause of primary amenorrhea, after gonadal dysgenesis and congenital absence of the vagina (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome). Androgen insensitivity syndrome is of interest due to its role in sexual identification and its possible association with malignant tumors of the male gonads, which require an accurate diagnosis and surgical treatment. We present two cases of androgen insensitivity syndrome. The results of the clinical and genetic examinations, as well as the treatment and follow-up of these two patients, are discussed (AU)


Subject(s)
Female , Pregnancy , Adult , Humans , Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome/complications , Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome/diagnosis , Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome/therapy , Amenorrhea/complications , Amenorrhea/diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Laparotomy/methods , Gonads/surgery , Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome/physiopathology , Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome , Ultrasonography/methods , Cytogenetics/methods , Diagnosis, Differential
19.
Fertil Steril ; 95(1): 105-9, 2011 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20667534

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the protamine 1 to protamine 2 (P1/P2) ratio and the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation in sperm samples from human males with proven fertility and three different cohorts of male patients. DESIGN: P1/P2 ratio was analyzed using acid-urea polyacrylamide acid-urea gels electrophoresis (PAGE). Sperm DNA fragmentation using sperm chromatin dispersion methodology was analyzed after 0, 4, 8, and 24 hours of incubation at 37°C. SETTING: University medical school and hospital. PATIENT(S): A total of 32 human males: six with proven fertility, seven carriers of chromosome reorganizations, nine clinical varicocele patients, and ten subclinical varicocele patients. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): P1/P2 ratio, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation (rSDF). RESULT(S): P1/P2 ratio correlated with SDF and rSDF. Statistical differences were detected between fertile controls and patients for the three pathologies studied. rSDF yielded information that differed from baseline SDF. No differences were detected for P1/P2 ratio among patient groups, in reference to the three pathologies studied. CONCLUSION(S): SDF and rSDF correlates with P1/P2 ratio in human sperm, and statistical differences were detected when fertile controls were compared with three different cohorts of patients.


Subject(s)
Biomarkers/metabolism , DNA Fragmentation , Infertility, Male/metabolism , Protamines/metabolism , Spermatozoa/metabolism , Humans , Infertility, Male/pathology , Male , Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic , Spermatozoa/pathology , Varicocele/metabolism , Varicocele/pathology
20.
Metro cienc ; 17(1): 28-31, mar. 2008. tab
Article in Spanish | LILACS | ID: lil-572852

ABSTRACT

La cirugía de control de daños constituye uno de los mayores y más complejos problemas en el tratamiento del paciente severamente traumatizado. La decisión de la instauración de una cirugía de control de daños se la debe tomar en el contexto de un paciente hemodinámicamente inestable con la premisa de controlar la hemorragia y diferir la reparación de otras lesiones para un segundo tiempo cuando el paciente se encuentre más estable. El principal objetivo de la cirugía de control de daños (CCD) es evitar la aparición de la triada letal.


Subject(s)
Comprehensive Health Care , Hemorrhage
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