Association of Overweight and Obesity with Semen Parameters and Metabolic and Hormonal Status in Young Men.

We evaluated possible associations of overweight and obesity with semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), and different indicators of metabolic and hormonal status in young men (n=226, mean age 22.5 years). Overweight and obese men were found to have a significant deterioration of metabolic health, reduced total sperm count and concentration, serum testosterone, and inhibin B levels, and increased serum leptin and seminal zinc levels in comparison with men with normal weight, although sperm DNA fragmentation, motility, and morphology did not change. In overweight and obese men, increased seminal zinc content appears to perform a protective function via reduction of oxidative stress caused by excess body fat. It is assumed that in the absence of individual lifestyle correction and weight loss for a long time, obese subjects are not protected from the development of reproductive comorbidities, in particular, subfertility and infertility.

[Study of FGFR2 status in gastric cancer by immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization]. / Izuchenie statusa FGFR2 pri rake zheludka metodami immunogistokhimii i flyuorestsentnoi gibridizatsii in situ.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of FGFR2 status in gastric cancer is an important task, without clarification of which it is impossible to identify a cohort of patients in whom the best response to treatment with anti-FGFR2 drugs could be obtained. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comparative analysis of the expression and amplification of the FGFR2 gene in gastric cancer in primary tumors and metastases in the lymph nodes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: FGFR2 status was studied in 61 patients with stage III gastric adenocarcinoma using an immunohistochemical method (Abcam clone EPR24075-418, R&D clone 98706, Santa Cruz clone C-8, Abcam clone 1G3) and FISH. RESULTS: The antibody Abcam clone EPR24075-418 was found satisfactory for the immunohistochemical study of FGFR2. FGFR2 expression was detected in 26 (43%) cases, amplification in 5 (8%) cases. Amplification of FGFR2 in 4 cases out of 5 was accompanied by the expression of 3+, in 1 case - 2+. Discordance between FGFR2 expression in primary tumor and lymph node metastases was revealed in 13 (21%) cases. CONCLUSION: Clone EPR24075-418 showed the best result in assessing the expression of FGFR2: the correlation with FISH results in reaction 3+ was 100%. Due to the high heterogeneity of FGFR2 expression, it is recommended to either examine the material of the primary tumor and metastasis, or evaluate a large volume of the primary tumor.

Steroid Hormones in Seminal Plasma: the Relationship with Sperm Quality.

The purpose of this study was to find out whether the seminal testosterone and/or estradiol levels could serve as prognostic criteria for normal spermatogenesis and whether they are able to characterize the sperm pathology. The study involved healthy young male volunteers (n=269); serum and seminal steroid hormones were measured; the sperm concentration, mobility, and morphology were evaluated. The results indicate that the seminal testosterone concentration is lower (p<0.05) and the seminal estradiol is higher than the corresponding parameters in the serum (p<0.05). The seminal testosterone and estradiol concentrations negatively correlated with the sperm concentration, and the seminal estradiol concentration was higher in pathozoospermic than in normospermic men (p<0.05). It is assumed that the seminal estradiol level can be an indicator of sperm quality and serve as a biological predictor of normal spermatogenesis; in addition, this parameter can be used for diagnostic purposes in patients with impaired spermatogenesis induced by excess of estrogens.

Gene networks for use in metabolomic data analysis of blood plasma from patients with postoperative delirium.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is considered one of the most severe complications, resulting in impaired cognitive function, extended hospitalization, and higher treatment costs. The challenge of early POD diagnosis becomes particularly significant in cardiac surgery cases, as the incidence of this complication exceeds 50 % in certain patient categories. While it is known that neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter imbalances, disruptions in neuroendocrine regulation, and interneuronal connections contribute significantly to the development of POD, the molecular, genetic mechanisms of POD in cardiac surgery patients, along with potential metabolomic diagnostic markers, remain inadequately understood. In this study, blood plasma was collected from a group of patients over 65 years old after cardiac surgery involving artificial circulation. The collected samples were analyzed for sphingomyelin content and quantity using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) methods. The analysis revealed four significantly different sphingomyelin contents in patients with POD compared to those who did not develop POD (control group). Employing gene network reconstruction, we perceived a set of 82 regulatory enzymes affiliated with the genetic coordination of the sphingolipid metabolism pathway. Within this set, 47 are assumed to be regulators of gene expression, governing the transcription of enzymes pivotal to the metabolic cascade. Complementing this, an additional assembly of 35 regulators are considered to be regulators of activity, degradation, and translocation dynamics of enzymes integral to the aforementioned pathway. Analysis of the overrepresentation of diseases with which these regulatory proteins are associated showed that the regulators can be categorized into two groups, associated with cardiovascular pathologies (CVP) and neuropsychiatric diseases (NPD), respectively. The regulators associated with CVP are expectedly related to the effects on myocardial tissue during surgery. It is hypothesized that dysfunction of NPD-associated regulators may specifically account for the development of POD after cardiac surgery. Thus, the identified regulatory genes may provide a basis for planning further experiments, in order to study disorders at the level of expression of these genes, as well as impaired function of proteins encoded by them in patients with POD. The identified significant sphingolipids can be considered as potential markers of POD.

[Processing of morphological material for molecular genetic tests].

Molecular genetic analysis has become a mandatory component of cancer diagnostics. Preanalytical step for DNA and RNA analysis is a complex process requiring tight interaction between surgeons, pathologists and molecular geneticists. This article discusses key aspects of handling of the tissues before DNA- and RNA-testing.

REGIONAL PECULIARITIES IN SEMEN QUALITY AND SERUM HORMONAL CONCENTRATIONS OF CITIZENS FROM YAKUTIA.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate sperm quality and reproductive hormonal level in an unselected population of men who were permanent residents of the Yakutsk city and compare the semen and hormonal parameters with the World Health Organization (WHO, 2001) recommended normal values and the results from other countries. A total of 145 men (mean age 24 years) agreed to be included in the study. All the volunteers completed a questionnaire, received a general and reproductive health examination by an andrologist, gave semen and blood samples. There are no differences between Yakut and Slavs in anthropometric, hormonal or sperm measures, but height and ejaculate volume were higher in Slavs than Yakut men. The data obtained indicated high frequency of suboptimal quality of sperm in males of both nations from this Siberian region in comparison with other Russian regions or European countries.

[Testicular testosterone production in male mice of inbred strains PT and CBA/Lac after a long-term period of stable social hierarchy].

Social dominance can alter testicular testosterone production, although there is pronounced variability in the relationship between social status and pattern of the testosterone response. The study designed to investigate how a long-term period of stable social hierarchy effects on testicular testosterone production in male mice of inbred strains PT and CBA/Lac. Paired males of different genotypes were housed together for 32 days beginning 38 day of age. Dyadic interactions of males generated dominance-subordination relationships during the first day after a social group has been produced and the social rank of each opponent was assessed by asymmetry in agonistic behaviour. Serum level of testosterone and its testicular content were evaluated in male mice of both inbred strains at 70 day of age after pair housing. Control animals were age- and genotype-matched single males that were housed in conventional cages. After a long-term period of pair housing, the serum testosterone level and its testicular content in males of both PT and CBA/Lac strains were not significantly different from the control. There were no significant differences in androgenic parameters between social ranks in male mice of both strains. The results indicate that in laboratory mice the pattern of testicular testosterone response to social hierarchy determined by a social situation, for example, a stability of social interactions, when the importance of aggressive competition for rank is minimal.

[Social domination and reproductive success in male laboratory mice (Mus musculus)].

The goal of the present study was to evaluate effect of social status and genotype on success of reproduction of male laboratory mice with use of ethological model of social hierarchy of "minimal socium". The model represents the paired maintenance of two male mice of different genotype (PT and CBA/Lac). The mice lived for 30 days in one experimental cage males, two females of the DD/He strain were supplemented. Regardless of genotype, the dominants became fathers more often than the subordinants and got more progeny. It was established that in subordinates there did not occur the complete suppression of fertility. This is suggested to allow them to realize the genetical contribution to the next generation and to remain in the gene pool of population.

[Phenotypic variation of spermatogenesis and a search for associations with genetic polymorphism in 13 inbred mouse strains].

Adult mice of the BALB/cLac, PT, CBA/Lac, DD/He, A/He, SWR, NZB, GR, DBA/2J, CC57Br, C57 B1/6J, A/Sn, and YT inbred strains were tested for the count, motility, and morphology of sperms from the caudal region of the epididymis. The protein-coding regions of the cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19a1), estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2), steroidogenic factor 1 (Nr5a1), and sex-determining (Sry) gene were sequenced. A substantial genetic heterogeneity for the genes was observed, as well as a phenotypic variation in spermatogenetic parameters, but the variation was rather discordant. The specifics of the interstrain variation in spermatogenetic parameters indicated that a physiological compensatory mechanism increases certain spermatogenetic parameters when other ones are low to maintain male fertility at a level sufficient for successful reproduction. For instance, a high sperm production compensated for a low sperm motility in DD/He males. In the issue of the protein-coding regions sequencing of the analyzed genes, 16 various mutations were observed. The decreases in proportion of motile sperms and in their velocity were attributed to mutations (I63T and W133L) of the Sry gene in the DD/He strain.

[Growth and development peculiarities of testicles in inbred mice lines PT and CBA/Lac].

The goal of this study is to perform a comparative genetic investigation of testicle development during the postpubescence period (from days 70 to 90 of life) in the inbred mice lines PT and CBA/Lac. Interlinear differences in the body and testicular weight, serum testosterone concentration, number of epididymal spermatozoa, area of testicular epithelium, semeniferous tubule lumen, and insulae of Leydig cells were analyzed. It was found that the morphological and histomorphometric parameters of testicles in males from the PT line compared to the males of the CBA/Lac line did not reach a definitive stage with the end of the postpubescence period and kept on developing until day 90 of life. Therefore, genetic differences remain in the postpubertal testicular development of laboratory mice.

[A role of long-term social interactions in the control of spermatogenesis in male mice of inbred strains PT and CBA/Lac].

Social hierarchy in the animal community is a structure of behavior relations when members of a social group vary in their ability to acquire resources in the presence of others. The aim of our study was to investigate social dominance effects on development of the reproduction function in male mice. Sperm quality, relative testis and epididymis weights were evaluated in male mice of PT and CBA/Lac inbred strains at 70 day of age after pairing throughout the 32 day period. The effect of social dominance on sperm quality was observed only in males of the CBA/Lac strain. The dominant males had higher sperm count than subordinates or control. The result revealed also higher percent of abnormal sperm among dominant or subordinate males compared with control. It was suggested that the effects of social competition on spermatogenesis depend on a genotype and social status.

[Regional peculiarities in semen quality and serum hormonal concentrations of citizens from Eastern Siberia].

The objective of the present study was to evaluate sperm quality and reproductive hormonal level in an unselected population of men who were permanent residents of the Yakutsk city and compare the semen and hormonal parameters with the World Health Organization (WHO, 2001) recommended normal values and the results from other countries. A total of 145 men (mean age 24,1 years) agreed to be included in the study. All the volunteers completed a questionnaire, received a general and reproductive health examination by an andrologist, gave semen and blood samples. We found that the means were 34,69 - 106 spermatozoa/mL for sperm concentration and 39,6% for total motile spermatozoa. Among all volunteers studied 4,3% had azoospermia, 27,0% reported oligozoospermia, 68,1% - asthenozoospermia. There are no differences between Yakut and Slavs in anthropometric, hormonal or sperm measures, but height and ejaculate volume were higher in Slavs than Yakut men. The data obtained indicated high frequency of suboptimal quality of sperm in males of both nations from this Siberian region in comparison with other Russian regions or European countries.

[Expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the endometrium of fertile and infertile women].

The aim of the research is investigation of the endometrial hormonal status during menstrual cycle infertile and infertile women. 68 endometrial biopsies from 18-45 years old women have been studied. Some changes of ER and PR expression during menstrual cycle both in fertile and infertile women has been founded. However the ER expression in endometrial stroma and PR in the glands in a proliferative stage of cycle of fertile women are higher than in a secretory stage. In infertile women the PR expression in endometrial glands is opposite.

[Endocrine secretion in endometrial and breast malignant tumors in elderly women].

Hystochemical and immunohystochemical investigations revealed APUD tumor cells in malignant endometrial and breast tumors, which affect elderly women. Identification of the hormones produced by APUD-cells in carcinomas and neuroendocrine tumors could form the basis for selecting the optimal method of treatment, including selection of pills to correct the impaired patients' hormonal status.