Effect of in vitro vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) supplementation in human spermatozoon submitted to oxidative stress.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant effect of in vitro supplementation with vitamin E in human spermatozoon incubated with an oxidative stress inducer. In this study, semen samples from 30 patients were collected and with one aliquot we performed semen analysis according to WHO. The remaining volume was divided into four aliquots: group C: incubated with BWW medium; group I: incubated with 5 mmol 1-1 hydrogen peroxide; group A: incubated with 40 µmol 1-1 vitamin E; and group AI: incubated with both them. After incubations, sperm functional analyses were performed and included: evaluation of oxidative stress, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity and DNA fragmentation. Groups were compared using a Friedman test with Bonferroni post hoc (α = 5%). In this study, we observed that in group I there was a decrease in acrosome integrity and mitochondrial activity, and an increase in DNA fragmentation, when compared to group C. Group AI showed an increase in acrosome integrity and mitochondrial activity when compared with group I. Based on our findings, we conclude that the vitamin E supplementation had a positive effect in protecting human spermatozoon from induced oxidative stress.

Carnitine partially protects the rat testis against the late damage produced by doxorubicin administered during pre-puberty.

Doxorubicin, an anticancer drug, is widely included in chemotherapy protocols to combat childhood cancer. Carnitine, an important quaternary amine, is present in testis and epididymis and is involved in sperm maturation; it has been used in infertility treatment. In a previous study, our group observed that L-carnitine given before etoposide, another chemotherapeutic drug, reduces the spermatogenic damage and protects germ cells against apoptosis. This study aimed to evaluate the antiapoptotic and cytoprotective actions of L-carnitine in long- and mid-term basis, on the seminiferous epithelium of doxorubicin-treated pre-pubertal rats. Forty-eight 30-day-old male Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: sham-control; doxorubicin; carnitine; carnitine/doxorubicin (L-carnitine injected 1 h before doxorubicin). The rats were submitted to euthanasia at 64 and 100 days of age and their testes were collected for biometric, morphometric, and histopathological analyses. The numerical density of apoptotic germ cells was obtained (TUNEL method). In adult phase (100 days), the following spermatic parameters were analyzed: mature spermatid (19 step) count and sperm daily production per testis; sperm number and transit time through the epididymal caput/corpus and cauda; frequency of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa (from epididymal fluid), as well as sperm DNA integrity (Comet assay). The testicular and spermatic parameters at both ages were improved in rats treated with carnitine before doxorubicin. At 64 days, the TUNEL-positive germ cell frequency was lower in the carnitine/doxorubicin-treated rats comparatively to the doxorubicin-treated rats. At 100 days of age, the sperm DNA fragmentation was also lower in the previously carnitine-treated rats, as evidenced by the analysis of three parameters. Carnitine reduced the late testicular and spermatic damages caused by doxorubicin, probably providing a partial cytoprotection against the deleterious action of doxorubicin administration to pre-pubertal rats. However, further studies shall be undertaken to investigate the protective mechanisms involved in such germ cell preservation.

A comparative study of thin-section CT findings between seasonal influenza virus pneumonia and Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pulmonary thin-section CT findings in patients with seasonal influenza virus pneumonia with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia. METHODS: The study group included 30 patients (20 males and 10 females; age range, 20-91 years; mean age, 55.9 years) with seasonal influenza virus pneumonia and 71 patients (47 males and 24 females; age range, 27-92 years; mean age, 67.5 years) with S. pneumoniae pneumonia. RESULTS: The proportion of community-acquired infection was significantly higher in patients with influenza virus pneumonia than with S. pneumoniae pneumonia (p = 0.001). CT findings of ground-glass attenuation (GGA) (p = 0.012) and crazy-paving appearance (p = 0.03) were significantly more frequent in patients with influenza virus pneumonia than with S. pneumoniae pneumonia. Conversely, consolidation (p < 0.001), mucoid impaction (p < 0.001), centrilobular nodules (p = 0.04) and pleural effusion (p = 0.003) were significantly more frequent in patients with S. pneumoniae pneumonia than in those with influenza virus pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary thin-section CT findings, such as consolidation and mucoid impaction may be useful in distinguishing between seasonal influenza virus pneumonia and S. pneumoniae pneumonia. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: (1) Distinguishing seasonal influenza virus pneumonia with S. pneumoniae pneumonia is important. (2) The CT findings of GGA and crazy-paving appearance were more frequently found in patients with influenza virus pneumonia than in patients with S. pneumoniae pneumonia, whereas consolidation, mucoid impaction, centrilobular nodules and pleural effusion were more frequently found in patients with S. pneumoniae pneumonia.

High-resolution CT findings in Streptococcus milleri pulmonary infection.

AIM: To assess pulmonary high-resolution computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with acute Streptococcus milleri pulmonary infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients with acute S. milleri pneumonia who had undergone high-resolution CT chest examinations between January 2004 and March 2010 were retrospectively identified. Twenty-seven patients with concurrent infections were excluded. The final study group comprised 33 patients (25 men, 8 women; aged 20-88 years, mean 63.1 years) with S. milleri infection. The patients' clinical findings were assessed. Parenchymal abnormalities, enlarged lymph nodes, and pleural effusion were evaluated on high-resolution CT. RESULTS: Underlying conditions included malignancy (n = 15), a smoking habit (n = 11), and diabetes mellitus (n = 8). CT images of all patients showed abnormal findings, including ground-glass opacity (n = 24), bronchial wall thickening (n = 23), consolidation (n = 17), and cavities (n = 7). Pleural effusion was found in 18 patients, and complex pleural effusions were found in seven patients. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary infection caused by S. milleri was observed mostly in male patients with underlying conditions such as malignancy or a smoking habit. The CT findings in patients with S. milleri consisted mainly of ground-glass opacity, bronchial wall thickening, pleural effusions, and cavities.

Thin-section CT findings in Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infection.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess clinical and pulmonary thin-section CT findings in patients with acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) pulmonary infection. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 44 patients with acute PA pneumonia who had undergone chest thin-section CT examinations between January 2004 and December 2010. We excluded nine patients with concurrent infections. The final study group comprised 35 patients (21 males, 14 females; age range 30-89 years, mean age 66.9 years) with PA pneumonia. The patients' clinical findings were assessed. Parenchymal abnormalities, enlarged lymph nodes and pleural effusion were evaluated on thin-section CT. RESULTS: Underlying diseases included malignancy (n=13), a smoking habit (n=11) and cardiac disease (n=8). CT scans of all patients revealed abnormal findings, including ground-glass opacity (n=34), bronchial wall thickening (n=31), consolidation (n=23) and cavities (n=5). Pleural effusion was found in 15 patients. CONCLUSION: PA pulmonary infection was observed in patients with underlying diseases such as malignancy or a smoking habit. The CT findings in patients with PA consisted mainly of ground-glass attenuation and bronchial wall thickening. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The CT findings consisted mainly of ground-glass attenuation, bronchial wall thickening and cavities. These findings in patients with an underlying disease such as malignancy or a smoking habit may be suggestive of pneumonia caused by PA infection.

Thoracic duct and cisterna chyli: evaluation with multidetector row CT.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the normal anatomy of the thoracic duct and cisterna chyli obtained by axial and multiplanar reformation (MPR) images of 1 mm slice thickness using multidetector row CT (MDCT). METHODS: We evaluated the ability of MDCT to examine the normal anatomy of the thoracic duct and cisterna chyli. The axial and coronal images of thoracoabdominal MDCT images obtained in 50 patients (20 females and 30 males; mean age, 63.5 years; range, 32-81 years) were reviewed between January and October 2005. We excluded patients with malignant neoplasms, inflammation or vascular diseases (e.g. aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection) and those with a history of thoracoabdominal surgery. The thoracic duct was divided into three anatomical sections: the upper, middle and lower. We evaluated the degree of visualisation and the maximum size of the thoracic duct. We also evaluated the degree of visualisation, maximum size, configuration and location of the cisterna chyli. RESULTS: Visualisation of the thoracic duct and cisterna chyli was almost 100% on axial and coronal images. The lower section of the thoracic duct was most clearly visualised among the three sections. There was little difference in the maximum size of the thoracic duct among the three sections. The cisterna chyli was most frequently located at the Th12 or L1 level, and the most common type was the "straight thin tube type". CONCLUSION: Axial and MPR images of 1 mm slice thickness using MDCT can clearly depict the thoracic duct and cisterna chyli.

Thin-section CT findings of patients with acute Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia with and without concurrent infection.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the pulmonary thin-section CT findings of patients with acute Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia with and without concurrent infection. METHODS: The study group comprised 86 patients with acute S. pneumoniae pneumonia, 36 patients with S. pneumoniae pneumonia combined with Haemophilus influenzae infection, 26 patients with S. pneumoniae pneumonia combined with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and 22 patients with S. pneumoniae pneumonia combined with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infection. We compared the thin-section CT findings among the groups. RESULTS: Centrilobular nodules and bronchial wall thickening were significantly more frequent in patients with pneumonia caused by concurrent infection (H. influenzae: p<0.001 and p<0.001, P. aeruginosa: p<0.001 and p<0.001, MSSA: p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) than in those infected with S. pneumoniae alone. Cavity and bilateral pleural effusions were significantly more frequent in cases of S. pneumoniae pneumonia with concurrent P. aeruginosa infection than in cases of S. pneumoniae pneumonia alone (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) or with concurrent H. influenzae (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively) or MSSA infection (p<0.05 and p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: When a patient with S. pneumoniae pneumonia has centrilobular nodules, bronchial wall thickening, cavity or bilateral pleural effusions on CT images, concurrent infection should be considered.

Radiological findings in acute Haemophilus influenzae pulmonary infection.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess pulmonary thin-section CT findings in patients with acute Haemophilus influenzae pulmonary infection. METHODS: Thin-section CT scans obtained between January 2004 and March 2009 from 434 patients with acute H. influenzae pulmonary infection were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with concurrent infection diseases, including Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=76), Staphylococcus aureus (n=58) or multiple pathogens (n=89) were excluded from this study. Thus, our study group comprised 211 patients (106 men, 105 women; age range, 16-91 years, mean, 63.9 years). Underlying diseases included cardiac disease (n=35), pulmonary emphysema (n=23), post-operative status for malignancy (n=20) and bronchial asthma (n=15). Frequencies of CT patterns and disease distribution of parenchymal abnormalities, lymph node enlargement and pleural effusion were assessed by thin-section CT. RESULTS: The CT findings in patients with H. influenzae pulmonary infection consisted mainly of ground-glass opacity (n=185), bronchial wall thickening (n=181), centrilobular nodules (n=137) and consolidation (n=112). These abnormalities were predominantly seen in the peripheral lung parenchyma (n=108). Pleural effusion was found in 22 patients. Two patients had mediastinal lymph node enlargement. CONCLUSION: These findings in elderly patients with smoking habits or cardiac disease may be characteristic CT findings of H. influenzae pulmonary infection.

Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and meticillin-susceptible S. aureus pneumonia: comparison of clinical and thin-section CT findings.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and thin-section CT findings in patients with meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and meticillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). METHODS: We retrospectively identified 201 patients with acute MRSA pneumonia and 164 patients with acute MSSA pneumonia who had undergone chest thin-section CT examinations between January 2004 and March 2009. Patients with concurrent infectious disease were excluded from our study. Consequently, our study group comprised 68 patients with MRSA pneumonia (37 male, 31 female) and 83 patients with MSSA pneumonia (32 male, 51 female). Clinical findings in the patients were assessed. Parenchymal abnormalities, lymph node enlargement and pleural effusion were assessed. RESULTS: Underlying diseases such as cardiovascular were significantly more frequent in the patients with MRSA pneumonia than in those with MSSA pneumonia. CT findings of centrilobular nodules, centrilobular nodules with a tree-in-bud pattern, and bronchial wall thickening were significantly more frequent in the patients with MSSA pneumonia than those with MRSA pneumonia (p = 0.038, p = 0.007 and p = 0.039, respectively). In the group with MRSA, parenchymal abnormalities were observed to be mainly peripherally distributed and the frequency was significantly higher than in the MSSA group (p = 0.028). Pleural effusion was significantly more frequent in the patients with MRSA pneumonia than those with MSSA pneumonia (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the evaluation of thin-section CT manifestations of pneumonia may be useful to distinguish between patients with acute MRSA pneumonia and those with MSSA pneumonia.

Localised right upper-lobe pulmonary oedema caused by extension of giant cell carcinoma to the mitral valve.

Giant cell carcinoma of the lung is a very rare primary malignant tumour and localised right upper-lobe pulmonary oedema is also unusual. We report a case of giant cell carcinoma, which invaded the left atrium through the left pulmonary vein and caused localised right upper-lobe pulmonary oedema.

Comparison of pulmonary thin section CT findings and serum KL-6 levels in patients with sarcoidosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare thin-section CT images from sarcoidosis patients who had either normal or elevated serum KL-6 levels. METHODS: 101 patients with sarcoidosis who underwent thin-section CT examinations of the chest and serum KL-6 measurements between December 2003 and November 2008 were retrospectively identified. The study group comprised 75 sarcoidosis patients (23 male, 52 female; aged 19-82 years, mean 54.1 years) with normal KL-6 levels (152-499 U ml(-1), mean 305.7 U ml(-1)) and 26 sarcoidosis patients (7 male, 19 female; aged 19-75 years, mean 54.3 years) with elevated KL-6 levels (541-2940 U ml(-1), mean 802.4 U ml(-1)). Two chest radiologists, unaware of KL-6 levels, retrospectively and independently interpreted CT images for parenchymal abnormalities, enlarged lymph nodes and pleural effusion. RESULTS: CT findings in sarcoidosis patients consisted mainly of lymph node enlargement (70/75 with normal KL-6 levels and 21/26 with elevated KL-6 levels), followed by nodules (50 and 25 with normal and elevated levels, respectively) and bronchial wall thickening (25 and 21 with normal and elevated levels, respectively). Ground-glass opacity, nodules, interlobular septal thickening, traction bronchiectasis, architectural distortion and bronchial wall thickening were significantly more frequent in patients with elevated KL-6 levels than those with normal levels (p<0.001, p<0.005, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). By comparison, there was no significant difference in frequency of lymph node enlargement between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that serum KL-6 levels may be a useful marker for indicating the severity of parenchymal sarcoidosis.

Pulmonary thin-section CT findings in acute Moraxella catarrhalis pulmonary infection.

OBJECTIVE: Moraxella catarrhalis is an important pathogen in the exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and pulmonary thin-section CT findings in patients with acute M. catarrhalis pulmonary infection. METHODS: Thin-section CT scans obtained between January 2004 and March 2009 from 292 patients with acute M. catarrhalis pulmonary infection were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical and pulmonary CT findings in the patients were assessed. Patients with concurrent infection including Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 72), Haemophilus influenzae (n = 61) or multiple pathogens were excluded from this study. RESULTS: The study group comprised 109 patients (66 male, 43 female; age range 28-102 years; mean age 74.9 years). Among the 109 patients, 34 had community-acquired and 75 had nosocomial infections. Underlying diseases included pulmonary emphysema (n = 74), cardiovascular disease (n = 44) or malignant disease (n = 41). Abnormal findings were seen on CT scans in all patients and included ground-glass opacity (n = 99), bronchial wall thickening (n = 85) and centrilobular nodules (n = 79). These abnormalities were predominantly seen in the peripheral lung parenchyma (n = 99). Pleural effusion was found in eight patients. No patients had mediastinal and/or hilar lymph node enlargement. CONCLUSIONS: M. catarrhalis pulmonary infection was observed in elderly patients, often in combination with pulmonary emphysema. CT manifestations of infection were mainly ground-glass opacity, bronchial wall thickening and centilobular nodules.

A case of pneumonitis and encephalitis associated with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection after bone marrow transplantation.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6)-associated encephalitis or pneumonitis has been reported in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals. Several MRI studies in patients with HHV-6-associated encephalitis have been presented. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies describing thin-section CT imaging in patients with HHV-6-associated pneumonitis have been reported. Here we describe a case of HHV-6-associated encephalitis and pneumonitis that developed after bone marrow transplantation. Thin-section CT images of the chest revealed ground-glass attenuation, consolidation and centrilobular nodules in both lungs.

Acute Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia alone and with concurrent infection: comparison of clinical and thin-section CT findings.

The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical and thin-section CT findings in patients with acute Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia (KPP) alone and with concurrent infection. We retrospectively identified 160 patients with acute KPP who underwent chest thin-section CT examinations between August 1998 and August 2008 at our institution. The study group comprised 80 patients (54 male, 26 female; age range 18-97 years, mean age 61.5) with acute KPP alone, 55 (43 male, 12 female; age range 46-92 years, mean age 76.0) with KPP combined with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 25 (23 male, 2 female; age range 56-91 years, mean age 72.7) with KPP combined with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). Underlying diseases in patients with each type of pneumonia were assessed. Parenchymal abnormalities were evaluated along with enlarged lymph nodes and pleural effusion. In patients with concurrent pneumonia, underlying conditions such as cardiac diseases, diabetes mellitus and malignancy were significantly more frequent than in patients with KPP alone. The mortality rate in patients with KPP combined with MRSA or PA was significantly higher than in those with KPP alone. In concurrent KPP, CT findings of centrilobular nodules, bronchial wall thickening, cavity, bronchiectasis, nodules and pleural effusion were significantly more frequent with concurrent pneumonia than in those with KPP alone.

Primary malignant lymphoma of the gallbladder: a case report and literature review.

Primary malignant lymphoma of the gallbladder is extremely rare and the associated radiological findings are not well described in the literature. We report a case of malignant lymphoma in the gallbladder wall of a 78-year-old woman. Pre-operative CT and MRI showed homogeneous submucosal thickening of the gallbladder wall with a preserved mucosal surface. These unique radiological findings may be useful for diagnosing malignant lymphoma of the gallbladder.

Comparison of pulmonary CT findings and serum KL-6 levels in patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare high-resolution CT findings among cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) patients with normal and elevated serum KL-6 levels. Chest CT scans performed between April 1999 and April 2007 in 20 COP patients with a normal KL-6 level and 17 COP patients with an elevated KL-6 level were evaluated retrospectively by two chest radiologists. The CT findings in the COP patients with either a normal or an elevated KL-6 level mainly consisted of consolidation (n = 17 and n = 13, respectively) followed by ground-glass opacity (n = 11 and n = 13, respectively). Traction bronchiectasis and architectural distortion were significantly more frequent in patients with an elevated KL-6 level than in those with normal levels (n = 7 and n = 1, and n = 13 and n = 3, respectively) (p = 0.0077 and p = 0.00017, respectively). In follow-up CT scans, a relapse within 1 year after initial treatment with steroids, performed in 16 patients with a normal KL-6 level and 16 with an elevated KL-6 level, occurred in 2 (12.5%) patients with a normal KL-6 level and in 6 (37.5%) with an elevated KL-6 level. The frequency of relapse in patients with an elevated KL-6 level was higher than in those with a normal KL-6 level; however, no significant difference between the two groups was observed (p = 0.103). In conclusion, CT findings of traction bronchiectasis and architectural distortion in COP patients are associated with increased serum KL-6 levels, which might be related to a relapse after treatment.

Suppression of tumor growth by intra-muscular transfer of naked DNA encoding adrenomedullin antagonist.

We have recently reported that the intra-tumoral injection of adrenomedullin (AM) antagonist (AMA; AM (22-52)) peptides significantly reduced the in vivo growth of a pancreatic cancer cell line in severely combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. In the present study, we examined the effects of intra-tumoral and intra-muscular transfers of naked DNA encoding AMA on the in vivo growth of cancer cell lines. We demonstrate that these treatments induce the regression of a pancreatic cancer cell line and a breast cancer cell line inoculated in SCID mice. Furthermore, CD31-positive cells disappear completely from tumor tissues, following treatment, indicating that neo-vascularization is entirely inhibited. These results suggest that the intra-tumoral or intra-muscular transfer of naked DNA encoding AMA might be a promising alternative modality for treating human cancers.

Prevention of inflammation-mediated acquisition of metastatic properties of benign mouse fibrosarcoma cells by administration of an orally available superoxide dismutase.

Weakly tumorigenic and nonmetastatic QR-32 cells derived from a fibrosarcoma in C57BL6 mouse are converted to malignant cells once they have grown after being coimplanted with a gelatine sponge which induces inflammation. We administered a newly developed peroral superoxide dismutase (SOD), oxykine, and as control vehicle, gliadin and saline, starting 2 days before the coimplantation and continued daily throughout the experiment. In the oxykine group, tumour incidence was lower (41%) than in the gliadin or saline group (83 and 79%, respectively). The inhibitory effect of oxykine was lost when an individual component of oxykine was administered, that is, SOD alone and gliadin alone. The effect was also abolished when administered by intraperitoneal route. When perfused in situ with nitroblue tetrazolium, an indicator of superoxide formation, the tumour masses from gliadin and saline groups displayed intense formazan deposition, whereas, those from oxykine group had less deposition. Enzymatic activity of SOD was also increased in oxykine group. Arising tumour cells in gliadin and saline groups acquired metastatic phenotype, but those in oxykine group showed reduced metastatic ability. These results suggested that the orally active SOD derivative prevented tumour progression promoted by inflammation, which is thought to be through scavenging inflammatory cell-derived superoxide anion.