Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis urogenital infections associate with semen inflammation and decreased sperm quality.

Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis are among the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections proposed to induce urogenital inflammation and impair sperm quality. However, the topic remains controversial since contradictory findings have been reported. Herein, we performed a comprehensive analysis of U. urealyticum and M. hominis urogenital infections and their association with urogenital inflammation (i.e., leukocyte subsets and inflammatory cytokines in semen,) and sperm quality parameters in a cohort of men with couple's primary infertility undergoing initial infertility evaluation or with lower urinary tract symptoms and no infertility-related complaints. Overall, U. urealyticum and M. hominis infection was detected in 17.0% and 23.6% of patients, respectively, whereas the coinfection was detected in 3.8% of patients only. Remarkably, similar infection frequencies were found in the different patient subpopulations analyzed. Moreover, infections were associated with elevated semen levels of TNF, IL-1ß, and IL-6 and/or increased counts of total leukocytes and their subsets, including CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes and neutrophils. In addition, M. hominis infection and the coinfection with U. urealyticum were associated with impairments in sperm quality variables. Our results indicate that U. urealyticum and M. hominis male urogenital infections induce urogenital inflammation and decrease sperm quality, thus impairing male fertility potential. Screening for U. urealyticum and M. hominis infections and performing a comprehensive analysis of different leukocyte subsets and inflammatory cytokines in semen may be clinically helpful in the diagnosis and follow-up of male urogenital infection.

Patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome show T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 self-reactive immune responses specific to prostate and seminal antigens and diminished semen quality.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the presence of self-reactive immune responses to seminal and prostate antigens (PAg), biomarkers of inflammation of the male genital tract, and semen quality parameters in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood and semen samples were collected from patients with CP/CPPS and age-matched healthy control volunteers. We analysed the lymphoproliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to different seminal plasma (SP)-derived and purified PAg, serum autoantibodies specific to PAg, leucocyte subpopulations, and inflammatory cytokines in semen, sperm apoptosis/necrosis, and semen quality parameters. RESULTS: Significantly greater PBMC proliferative responses specific to PAg, with elevated secretion of interferon (IFN)γ and interleukin (IL)-17, were detected in the patients with CP/CPPS vs the controls. Moreover, the patients with CP/CPPS had significantly greater serum immunoglobulin G immune reactivity to SP proteins, such as prostate-specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase, than the controls. Inflammation of the male genital tract was exemplified by high levels of IFNγ, IL-17, IL-1ß and IL-8, as well as higher counts of leukocytes, mainly CD4 T lymphocytes and macrophages, in the semen. In addition, this local inflammation was associated with an overall diminished semen quality, i.e., reduced sperm concentration, motility and viability; and higher levels of sperm apoptosis/necrosis in patients with CP/CPPS vs controls. CONCLUSION: Patients with CP/CPPS show T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 immune responses specific to PAg associated with chronic inflammation of the male genital tract and reduced semen quality. These immune responses may underlie the induction and development of chronic pelvic pain and inflammation of the male genital tract, which in turn could alter normal prostate functioning and impair semen quality.

Diseño y Evaluación de un micro viscosímetro de bajo costo utilizando un resonador de cristal de cuarzo y Arduino / Designing and evaluating a low-cost micro-viscometer using a quartz crystal resonator (QCR) and an Arduino DUE microcontroller board / Desenho e Avaliação de um micro viscosímetro de baixo custo usando um ressonador de cristal de quartzo e Arduino

Resumen El objetivo principal de este artículo es proponer el diseño de un micro viscosímetro de bajo coste utilizando un resonador de cristal de cuarzo (QCR) y una tarjeta Arduino DUE. En el artículo se explican los pasos del diseño del sensor y también su evaluación con dos líquidos de diferentes características: diluciones de glicerol en agua (comportamiento Newtoniano) y diluciones de albúmina de huevo extraída de huevos frescos en agua (comportamiento No-Newtoniano). Este estudio está relacionado con el interés de desarrollar nuevas herramientas para el diagnóstico de enfermedades cardiovasculares y artríticas.

Abstract This article outlines a design for a low-cost micro-viscometer, using a quartz crystal resonator (QCR) and an Arduino DUE programmable microcontroller board. The article explains the steps involved in designing the sensor and also how it was evaluated regarding two liquids having different characteristics: dilute aqueous glycerol (Newtonian behaviour) and dilutions of egg-white extracted from fresh eggs in water (non-Newtonian behaviour). This study was related to interest in developing new tools for diagnosing cardiovascular and arthritic diseases.

Resumo O principal objetivo deste trabalho é propor o projeto de um micro viscosímetro de baixo custo usando um ressonador de cristal de quartzo (QCR) e um cartão Arduino DUE. O artigo explica as etapas do desenho do sensor e também sua avaliação com dois líquidos de diferentes características: diluições de glicerol em água (comportamento newtoniano) e diluições de albumina de ovo extraídas de ovos frescos em água (comportamento não newtoniano). Este estudo está relacionado ao interesse de desenvolver novas ferramentas para o diagnóstico de doenças cardiovasculares e artríticas.