Brain abscess caused by Morganella morganii: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: Morganella morganii is a Gram-negative enteric rod found in the intestinal tracts of humans, mammals, and reptiles as normal flora. It is highly implicated in urinary tract infections, wound infections, and septicemia. The cerebral nervous system, especially brain abscess attributed to M. morganii, remains extremely rare. To the best of the author's knowledge, only eight documented cerebral brain abscesses caused by M. morganii have been reported in the literature. Case Description: A 48-year-old man presented with headache, fever, and irritability two months after endoscopic endonasal repair of the cranial base defect. Following imaging studies, a large left frontal abscess was found. The patient underwent a fine-needle aspiration through a burr hole following antimicrobial therapy. Conclusion: We report this case to create awareness among neurosurgeons and microbiologists that M. morganii, even though uncommon, is a cause of cerebral brain abscess. Prompt surgical management and appropriate antimicrobial therapy is the treatment of choice.

Prosthetic Joint Infections: an Update.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a rare but serious complication that is frequently misdiagnosed. We aimed to highlight the nuances of PJI diagnosis and antimicrobial therapies and provide clarity in key areas of management. RECENT FINDINGS: Current research in PJI centers on a potential role for diagnostic biomarkers, molecular techniques, and implant sonication to reduce culture-negativity rates. The optimal duration of antimicrobial therapy remains controversial. A high clinical index of suspicion for PJI combined with data from multiple preoperative and intraoperative tests enables timely diagnosis and treatment. Biomarkers, molecular methods, and implant sonication are currently adjunctive to traditional diagnostic techniques. Shorter courses of antimicrobial therapies as well as the role of chronic suppressive therapy need confirmation by randomized controlled trials. Existing practices for preoperative dental prophylaxis and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria warrant revision based on evidence arguing against risk for PJI.

Treatment of alpha and beta herpesvirus infections in solid organ transplant recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Human herpesviruses frequently cause infections in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Areas covered: We provide an overview of the clinical impact of alpha and beta herpesviruses and highlight the mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical indications, and adverse effects of antiviral drugs for the management of herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus and cytomegalovirus. We comprehensively evaluated key clinical trials that led to drug approval, and served as the foundation for management guidelines. We further provide an update on investigational antiviral agents for alpha and beta herpesvirus infections after SOT. Expert commentary: The therapeutic armamentarium for herpes infections is limited by the emergence of drug resistance. There have been major efforts for discovery of new drugs against these viruses, but the results of early-phase clinical trials have been less than encouraging. We believe, however, that more antiviral drug options are needed given the adverse side effects associated with current antiviral agents, and the emergence of drug-resistant virus populations in SOT recipients. Likewise, optimized use and strategies are needed for existing and novel antiviral drugs against alpha and beta-herpesviruses in SOT recipients.

Jump Squat is More Related to Sprinting and Jumping Abilities than Olympic Push Press.

The aim of this study was to test the relationships between jump squat (JS) and Olympic push press (OPP) power outputs and performance in sprint, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ) and change of direction (COD) speed tests in elite soccer players. 27 athletes performed a maximum power load test to determine their bar mean propulsive power (MPP) and bar mean propulsive velocity (MPV) in the JS and OPP exercises. Magnitude-based inference was used to compare the exercises. The MPV was almost certainly higher in the OPP than in the JS. The MPP relative to body mass (MPP REL) was possibly higher in the OPP. Only the JS MPP REL presented very large correlations with linear speed (r>0.7, for speed in 5, 10, 20 and 30 m) and vertical jumping abilities (r>0.8, for SJ and CMJ), and moderate correlation with COD speed (r=0.45). Although significant (except for COD), the associations between OPP outcomes and field-based measurements (speed, SJ and CMJ) were all moderate, ranging from 0.40 to 0.48. In a group composed of elite soccer players, the JS exercise is more associated with jumping and sprinting abilities than the OPP. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm if these strong relationships imply superior training effects in favor of the JS exercise.

Effects of detraining on neuromuscular performance in a selected group of elite women pole-vaulters: a case study.

AIM: to determine the effects of 28 days of inactivity on neuromuscular performance of elite women pole-vaulters. METHODS: Four athletes undertook measurements of rate of force development (RFD), unloaded and loaded vertical jump tests, drop jumps and a 45 m sprint test before and after a transition period of planned inactivity. RESULTS: The RFD and the ability to accelerate over very short distances (5 m) while sprinting improved after training cessation. Acceleration over longer distances (5-45 m) was impaired, while unloaded and loaded vertical jump tests suffered trivial to small changes. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, we conclude that detraining periods of approximately one month or even longer may be implemented in elite pole-vaulters without significantly impairing performance. In addition, given that some neuromechanical capacities are enhanced after training reduction, our results can help coaches to implement tapering strategies in order to induce neuromuscular improvements and/or to achieve peak performance.

Efeito do destreinamento na composição corporal e nas capacidades de salto vertical e velocidade de jovens jogadores da elite do futebol brasileiro / Efecto del desentrenamiento sobre la composición corporal, la capacidad de salto vertical y la velocidad de jóvenes futbolistas de élite / Effect of detraining on body composition, vertical jumping ability and sprint performance in young elite soccer players

Objetivo. Analisar os efeitos do destreinamento na composição corporal e nas capacidades de salto vertical e na velocidade. Método. Vinte e dois jogadores sub17 (16.4±0.4 anos; 70.0±7.1kg; 175.9±6.9cm) foram submetidos à avaliação antropométrica, de saltos verticais sem (SVSC) e com contramovimento (SVCC), e de velocidade linear, antes e após 2 semanas de destreinamento. Resultados. Houve aumento significante na gordura corporal (p<0.001) e, apesar da redução da velocidade não ser significante (p>0.05), houve 2.24% de aumento no tempo de 0‐5m (ES=0.78) e de 0.97% no tempo de 0‐20m (ES=0.41). Adicionalmente, houve tendência de aumento para o SVCC (p=0.056). Conclusão. Duas semanas de destreinamento provocaram alterações significantes na composição corporal e na capacidade da velocidade motora e na distância de 0‐5m em jovens futebolistas (AU)

Objective. To analyze the effects of detraining on body composition, vertical jumping and speed abilities. Methods. Twenty two under‐17 soccer players (16.4±0.4 years; 70.0±7.1kg; 175.9±6.9cm) were evaluated before and after two weeks of detraining. Anthropometric measurements, countermovement (CMJ) and squat jumps (SJ) and sprint speed tests were performed. Results. There was a significant increase in body fat (p<0.001) and despite the fact that the decrease in the speed was no significant (p>0.05), an increase of 2.24% in the 0‐5m time (ES=0.78) and 0.97% in the 0‐20m time (ES=0.41) were observed. In addition, there was an upward trend in the SJ (p=0.056). Conclusion. Two weeks of detraining resulted in significant alterations of the body composition and in speed performance (from 0 to 5m) in young elite soccer players (AU)

Objetivo. Analizar los efectos del desentrenamiento sobre el salto vertical, la velocidad de desplazamiento y la composición corporal en futbolistas jóvenes. Método. Veintidós jugadores (16.4±0.4 años, 70.0±7.1kg, 175.9±6.9cm) se sometieron a evaluaciones de composición corporal, saltos verticales y velocidad (carreras de 20 metros), antes y después de 2 semanas de desentrenamiento. Resultados. Se encontraron aumentos significativos en el porcentaje de grasa corporal (p<0.001) y a pesar de que la disminución de la velocidad no fue significativa (p>0.05), hubo una reducción del 2.24% (ES=0.78) y del 0.97% (ES=0.41) en los tiempos en 5 y 20m, respectivamente. Igualmente, se observó una tendencia al aumento del salto sin contramovimiento (p=0.056). Conclusión. Dos semanas de desentrenamiento produjeron alteraciones significativas en la composición corporal y en la velocidad (entre 0‐5m) de los jóvenes futbolistas (AU)

A Correlational Analysis of Tethered Swimming, Swim Sprint Performance and Dry-land Power Assessments.

Swimmers are often tested on both dry-land and in swimming exercises. The aim of this study was to test the relationships between dry-land, tethered force-time curve parameters and swimming performances in distances up to 200 m. 10 young male high-level swimmers were assessed using the maximal isometric bench-press and quarter-squat, mean propulsive power in jump-squat, squat and countermovement jumps (dry-land assessments), peak force, average force, rate of force development (RFD) and impulse (tethered swimming) and swimming times. Pearson product-moment correlations were calculated among the variables. Peak force and average force were very largely correlated with the 50- and 100-m swimming performances (r=- 0.82 and -0.74, respectively). Average force was very-largely/largely correlated with the 50- and 100-m performances (r=- 0.85 and -0.67, respectively). RFD and impulse were very-largely correlated with the 50-m time (r=- 0.72 and -0.76, respectively). Tethered swimming parameters were largely correlated (r=0.65 to 0.72) with mean propulsive power in jump-squat, squat-jump and countermovement jumps. Finally, mean propulsive power in jump-squat was largely correlated (r=- 0.70) with 50-m performance. Due to the significant correlations between dry-land assessments and tethered/actual swimming, coaches are encouraged to implement strategies able to increase leg power in sprint swimmers.

Lumbalgia en Pediatría: ¿Una entidad siempre banal? / Low back pain in pediatrics: Is it always a trivial matter?

El dolor lumbar en el niño y adolescente es una patología frecuente. Generalmente su pronóstico es bueno. Existen casos en los que el dolor es crónico o progresivo o se asocia a otra sintomatología que requieren un abordaje distinto. Es importante descartar en estos casos patología orgánica asociada. Se presenta el caso clínico de una niña de 11 años deportista con lumbalgia de aparición aguda asociada a clínica neurológica tipo parestesias en extremidades inferiores. En la radiografía lateral de columna y en la resonancia magnética nuclear se evidenció una espondilolisis bilateral con espondilolistesis. Dada la clínica de la paciente y la evolución de la enfermedad se decidió realizar fijación quirúrgica de la columna con buena evolución posterior. La espondilólisis con o sin espondilolistesis asociada es una causa frecuente de dolor lumbar en niños y adolescentes deportistas. Hay que tener en cuenta esta patología a la hora de abordar los pacientes pediátricos con dolor lumbar, especialmente en aquellos con signos clínicos de posible causa orgánica

Low back pain is a frequent pathology in children and adolescents. The prognosis is usually favorable. There are patients who have chronic or progressive pain or assocciated with other symptoms that require a different approach. Ruling out organic pathology in these patients is needed. We report the case of a 11-year-old athlete girl with acute onset low back pain associated with neurological symptoms such paresthesias in the lower extemities. Bilateral spondylolysis with spondylolisthesis was evidenced in the lateral radiograph of the spine and in the magnetic nuclear resonance. By the clinic and disease progression was decided to perform surgical spinal fixation with good outcome. Spondylolysis with or without associated spondylolisthesis is a common cause of back pain in children and adolescent athletes. This condition must be studied when addressing pediatric patients with low back pain (LBP), specially in cases with clinical signs of possible organic cause

The Reemergence of Measles.

Measles, or rubeola, is a highly infectious, acute viral illness of childhood that is considered eliminated in the USA but has reemerged in the past few years. Globally, an estimated 20 million cases of measles continue to occur, and it remains a leading cause of death among young children. It is rare in the USA and other first world countries, but numerous outbreaks have occurred in the USA recently, due to a combination of factors including poor vaccine coverage and importation of cases among travelers returning from endemic areas. The diagnosis of measles is usually made clinically, when an individual presents with a constellation of symptoms including cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, high fever, and an erythematous maculopapular rash in a cephalocaudal distribution. Complications are common and include otitis media, pneumonia, encephalitis, and rarely death. A measles vaccine is available in two doses and provides excellent protection against the disease. Despite this, vaccination coverage, especially among young adults, remains poor. Given its resurgence in the USA and other countries, interventions are urgently needed to address low vaccination rates and vaccine hesitancy. Measles awareness should also be a priority among young clinicians, who may have never seen a case or are not familiar with the disease.

Enuresis nocturna. Estudio epidemiológico en población escolar / Nocturnal enuresis. Epidemiological study in school population

Introducción: la enuresis nocturna (EN) es un problema de salud infantil frecuente, con repercusión personal y social, que requiere un manejo adecuado y personalizado por parte de los profesionales sanitarios. Se ha realizado un estudio cuyo objetivo es establecer la prevalencia de EN en la ciudad de Burgos (España) en población pediátrica entre siete y diez años de edad. Pacientes y métodos: estudio observacional transversal en el que se han obtenido datos de una muestra aleatoria de niños escolarizados entre segundo y quinto curso de Educación Primaria Obligatoria en la ciudad de Burgos mediante la cumplimentación de una encuesta. Resultados: se ha obtenido una prevalencia de EN del 7,3%. La EN es más frecuente en varones, con antecedentes familiares de enuresis nocturna, con algún tipo de enfermedad crónica, que asocian trastornos del sueño y del comportamiento y con bajo rendimiento escolar. Conclusiones: la prevalencia es menor a la de otras poblaciones de características similares. Los niños con EN de Burgos presentan características epidemiológicas semejantes a las de otras poblaciones. La EN es un problema de salud infradiagnosticado en nuestro medio (AU)

Introduction: nocturnal enuresis (NE) is a common childhood health condition. This problem causes personal and social repercussion. The health professionals have to make an individualized and adequate management of this problem. The aim of this study is to know the prevalence of NE in children between seven and ten years old of the city of Burgos. Patients and methods: to this end, we have designed an observational and transversal study. We have selected a random sample of school children in Burgos between 2nd and 5th year of Obligatory Primary Education. They have completed a questionnaire. Results: the prevalence of NE was 7.3%. NE is more frequent in males and children with familiar precedents of NE, with some type of chronic illness, with associated disorders of the sleep and behavior and with low academic performance. Conclusions: the prevalence of NE in children in Burgos city is lower than in another child groups of similar characteristics. There is a low diagnosis rate of NE in Burgos city (AU)

Endometriosis peritoneal masiva asociada a gran elevación de CA-125: discrepancia entre hallazgos y clínica / Massive peritoneal endometriosis associated with high elevation of CA-125: discrepancy between findings and symptoms

ANTECEDENTES: Frecuentemente, las pacientes con endometriosis presentan una elevación de marcadores tumorales Ca 125 y Ca 19.9. No obstante, no existe correlación clara con la expresión clínica ni con el grado de afectación. En algunos casos, es necesario un diagnóstico diferencial con patologías malignas. CASO CLÍNICO: Mujer de 29 años con clínica aislada de dismenorrea moderada y hallazgo de masas ováricas bilaterales con elevación intensa de marcadores tumorales: Ca-125: 7.716 U/mL y Ca-19.9: 995 U/mL. Se decide intervención quirúrgica laparoscópica evidenciándose endometriosis ovárica y extensión peritoneal masiva con afectación de peritoneo parietal abdominal, superficie uterina, fondo de Douglas, parametrios, vejiga, hemidiafragma derecho, hígado y serosa intestinal. Se realiza adhesiolisis cuidadosa, quistectomía y extirpación de múltiples implantes endometriósicos en cavidad abdominal. Se observó un descenso de los marcadores a las 48 horas: Ca-125 de 253 U/mL y Ca 19.9 de 4,9 U/mL, ambos negativos al mes de la cirugía. CONCLUSIÓN: Una elevación intensa de los marcadores tumorales precisa de diagnóstico diferencial en el contexto de la endometriosis. Existe una gran discrepancia entre los valores de los marcadores tumorales con la clínica y severidad de la endometriosis. Los hallazgos quirúrgicos son fundamentales, evidenciando una afectación masiva subdiagnosticada hasta la cirugía.

BACKGROUND: Frequently, patients with endometriosis present elevated tumor marker Ca 125 and Ca 19.9. However, there is no clear correlation with the clinical expression or the degree of involvement. In some cases, differential diagnosis is necessary with malignancies. CASE REPORT: A 29 year old woman with moderate dysmenorrhea and finding of bilateral ovarian masses with intense elevation of tumor markers, CA125: 7,716 U/mL and Ca-19.9: 995 U/mL. Laparoscopic surgery is decided evidenced massive ovarian endometriosis and peritoneal extension with involvement of abdominal peritoneum, uterine surface, Douglas, parametrium, bladder, right hemidiaphragm, liver and intestinal serosa. Careful liberation of adherences, ovarian cystectomy and removal of multiple endometriosic implants. A decrease of tumor markers was observed at 48 hours (Ca-125: 253 U/mL and Ca-19.9: 4.9 U/mL), and negative one month after surgery. CONCLUSION: An intense elevated tumor markers accurate differential diagnosis in the context of endometriosis. There is a large discrepancy between the values of tumor markers with clinical and severity of endometriosis.

Magnesium sulfate affords protection against oxidative damage during severe preeclampsia.

INTRODUCTION: MgSO4 is the drug of choice to prevent seizures in preeclamptic pregnant women, but its mechanism of action at the molecular level remains an enigma. In previous works, we found that treating preeclamptic women with MgSO4 reduces the lipid peroxidation of their red blood cell membranes to normal levels and leads to a significant reduction in the osmotic fragility of the red blood cells that is increased during preeclampsia. In addition, the increase in lipid peroxidation of red cell membranes induced by the Fenton reaction does not occur when MgSO4 is present. METHODS: The antioxidant protection of MgSO4 was evaluated in UV-C-treated red blood cell ghosts and syncytiotrophoblast plasma membranes by measuring their level of lipid peroxidation. The interaction of MgSO4 with free radicals was assessed for its association with the galvinoxyl radical, the quenching of H2O2-induced chemiluminescence and its effect on sensitized peroxidation of linoleic acid. RESULTS: a) MgSO4 protected red blood cell ghosts and the syncytiotrophoblast plasma membranes of normotensive pregnant women against lipid peroxidation induced by UV-C irradiation. b) MgSO4 does not seem to scavenge the galvinoxyl free radical. c) The quenching of the H2O2-enhanced luminol chemiluminescence is increased by the presence of MgSO4. d) The peroxidation of linoleic acid is significantly blocked by MgSO4. DISCUSSION: MgSO4 may provide protection against oxidative damage of plasma membranes through interactions with alkyl radicals.

Nuclear degraded sperm subpopulation is affected by poor chromatin compaction and nuclease activity.

There is an interest in the nuclear degraded sperm subpopulation because, although it is present in a low percentage in all semen samples, patient groups such as varicocele and rearranged genome carriers show high levels of these degraded spermatozoa. This study is designed with two objectives in mind: first, incubations of H2 O2 and nuclease on DTT-treated and untreated samples to show the aetiology of this subpopulation and second, assessment of the correlation between the protamine ratio and nuclear degraded spermatozoa. A very high increase in the nuclear degraded subpopulation has been found with nuclease incubation, and it is even higher when it has been merged with nuclear decompaction using DTT. Alternatively, incubation with H2 O2 with and without DTT did not show such a significant increase in nuclear degraded spermatozoa. The protamine ratio correlated with this subpopulation, showing, in patients, that poor nuclear compaction would turn the sperm susceptible to degradation. Then, the assessment of nuclear degraded spermatozoa might not be only a measure of DNA degradation but also an indicator of chromatin compaction in the spermatozoa. Different patient groups would fit this model for sperm nuclear degradation, such as varicocele patients, who show a high percentage of immature spermatozoa and nuclear degraded spermatozoa, and reorganised genome carriers, where reorganisation might also cause poor chromatin compaction on the sperm nucleus.

Fractura - hundimiento craneal congénita: una realidad obstétrica / Congenital depressed skull fracture: an obstetric reality

Las fracturas craneales congénitas tienen baja incidencia, de una etiología desconocida, generando una gran alarma respecto a la actuación obstétrica en el momento del parto. Se presenta el diagnóstico, exploración radiológica y evolución clínica de dos recién nacidos con fractura-hundimiento craneal intrauterina, uno de ellos con manejo expectante y el otro con manejo quirúrgico. Ambos con buena evolución posterior y sin secuelas neurológicas ni estéticas.

The congenital skull fractures presented a low incidence, unknown aetiology, and it causes great alarm as far as the obstetric actions to be taken at birth are concerned. This work presents the diagnosis, radiology examinations and clinical evolution of two live-born infants with an intrauterine depressed skull fracture, one with expectant management and the other with surgical management. Both neonates showed good subsequent evolution with no neurological and no aesthetic sequelae.

Cardiac autonomic control in high level Brazilian power and endurance track-and-field athletes.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) has an important role in physical performance. However, the cardiac ANS activity in high-level track and field athletes has been poorly explored. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that endurance and power athletes would present a markedly different cardiac autonomic control at rest. We analyzed the cardiac ANS by means of time and frequency domains heart rate variability (HRV) analyses and by symbolic analysis. Endurance athletes showed higher pulse interval than power athletes (1,265±126 vs. 1,031±98 ms respectively; p<0.05). No differences were found in time and frequency domains between the groups. However, the LF%, HF% and LF/HF ratio presented high effect sizes (1.46, 1.46 and 1.30, respectively). The symbolic analysis revealed that endurance athletes had higher 2V parasympathetic modulation (36±6.5) than power athletes (24±9.3; p<0.05). A reduced 0V sympathetic modulation was observed in endurance athletes (21±9.9) compared to power athletes (33±11; p<0.05 and ES=1.30). Our results suggest greater parasympathetic modulation and less sympathetic modulation in endurance athletes compared to power athletes. Additionally, the type of HRV analysis needs to be chosen with well-defined criteria and caution because their use in assessing cardiac autonomic modulation can interfere with the interpretation of results. In practical terms, symbolic analysis appears to better discriminate between cardiac autonomic activities of athletes with different training backgrounds than frequency domain analysis.

Traumatismo craneoencefálico en un servicio de urgencias / Traumatic brain injury in our emergency service

Introducción: El traumatismo craneoencefálico (TCE) es una patología importante en pediatría por su frecuencia y por la carga asistencial que conllevan sus secuelas. Objetivo: Conocer las características epidemiológicas de los pacientes con TCE atendidos en el Servicio de Urgencias Pediátricas del Nuevo Hospital «Río Hortega» de Valladolid, tras la reciente instauración de un nuevo protocolo de manejo del TCE. Material y métodos: Realizamos un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal y observacional, durante un periodo de 6 meses, en el que se incluyeron 127 pacientes que presentaron TCE como diagnóstico. Los datos se recogieron mediante un cuestionario preestablecido. Resultados: La media de edad de los pacientes era de 3,13 años, y en su mayoría eran varones (55,9%). La causa más frecuente de TCE fue la caída accidental. La aparición de clínica es más habitual en niños mayores de 2 años. La mayoría de los casos se clasificaron como leves (94,5%) y sólo se prescribieron 4 ingresos hospitalarios; no se registró ningún fallecimiento; la tomografía computarizada se realizó en un 8,9% de los casos. Conclusión: Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio son similares a los hallados en la bibliografía, aunque observamos una menor morbimortalidad asociada y una menor indicación de pruebas diagnósticas. La exploración neurológica inicial y el cálculo de la escala de Glasgow en los pacientes con TCE siguen siendo las principales herramientas para establecer la prioridad en su manejo diagnóstico-terapéutico y su pronóstico (AU)

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important pathology in pediatrics due to its frequency and the associated care burden to managing the derivate consequences. Target: To determinate the epidemiological characteristics of TBI patients treated in the Pediatric Emergency Service of the new "río Hortega" Hospital of Valladolid, after the recent establishment of a new TBI management protocol. Material and methods: We carried out a longitudinal observational descriptive study which included 127 patients, over a period of six months, who had been diagnosed with TBI, taking the data from a predefined questionnaire. Results: The average age of the patients was 3.13 years, mostly male (55.9%). The most common cause was the accidental fall. The clinical appearance is more frequent in children older than two years. Most of the cases were classified as mild (94.5%). Only four hospital admissions were prescribed. No deaths were recorded. The CT was performed in 8.9% of the cases. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study are similar to the one found in the bibliography. Although we get a lower mortality and morbidity rate and a minor indication of diagnostic tests. Initial neurological exploration and the calculation of the Glasgow Score are still the main tools to set the priority in its therapeutic management and prognosis (AU)

Human semen cryopreservation: a sperm DNA fragmentation study with alkaline and neutral Comet assay.

Sperm cryopreservation is widely used for both research and reproduction purposes, but its effect on sperm DNA damage remains controversial. Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) has become an important biomarker to assess male infertility. In particular, the differentiation between single- and double-stranded DNA fragmentation (ssSDF and dsSDF) has clinical implications for male infertility where ssSDF is associated with reduced fertility, whereas dsSDF is associated with increased risk of miscarriage. In this study, semen samples from 30 human males have been analysed in both fresh and cryopreserved using the alkaline and neutral Comet assays. Results show an increase of about 10% of ssSDF, assessed by the alkaline Comet assay, regardless of the male fertility status. Neutral Comet analysis of dsSDF does not show any statistical increase when comparing fresh and cryopreserved samples in any of the patient groups. Results support previous reports that oxidative stress is the major effector in DNA damage during sample cryopreservation, as, on one hand, ssSDF has previously been related to oxidative damage and, on the other hand, we have not found any effect on dsSDF. Therefore, there might be a slight risk of decreased fertility after using a freezed sample, but no evidence for increased miscarriage risk from cryopreserved spermatozoa should be expected.