The association of vitamin D, semen parameters, and reproductive hormones with male infertility: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and male infertility is high in Iran. Objective: The present research aimed to examine the association between serum vitamin D [25(OH)D], parameters of semen including semen volume, sperm count, motility and morphology, and reproductive hormones in infertile Iranian men. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on 119 infertile men conducted between September 2018 and May 2019. Subjects were divided into 3 groups based on serum vitamin D levels: deficient ( < 10 ng/mL), insufficient (10 ng/mL ≤ 25(OH)D ≤ 30 ng/mL), and sufficient ( > 30 ng/mL). Body mass index and waist circumference were measured. 25(OH)D, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol levels, and semen parameters were assessed. Results: The semen volume, sperm counts, total and progressively motile sperm, normal sperm morphology, testosterone levels, and testosterone/estradiol ratio were substantially higher in the sufficient group compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). Also, in the sufficient group, serum LH (p < 0.001) and estradiol (p < 0.001, p = 0.01) were notably lower and serum sex hormone-binding globulin (p < 0.001) and the testosterone/LH ratio (p < 0.001) were considerably higher compared to the insufficient and deficient groups. Conclusion: Our study showed a positive relationship between serum vitamin D levels, and seminal parameters and sex hormones in Iranian infertile males.

The IFN-Ɣ + 874 A/T polymorphism is associated with malignant breast cancer in a population from the southwest of Iran.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common diseases in women globally, with an increasing number of deaths associated with it. Recently the role of polymorphisms in the genes encoding cytokines and immune cells has been demonstrated. This study aimed to evaluate the association of IFN-Ɣ + 874 A/T polymorphism with BC clinical symptoms. RESULTS: The study included 88 women with BC and 88 healthy women who had no history of cancer and were matched for age and sex. Allele-specific oligonucleotide-polymerase chain reaction technique was used to investigate the IFN-Ɣ polymorphism. Clinical data were obtained from the patients' records. Our results showed that the frequencies of genotypes in the BC patients were not significantly different from the control subjects. However, in the patients, the AT genotype was associated with the risk of malignant BC. The age at BC diagnosis was not different in patients with AA and AT genotypes; however, it was significantly earlier in HER2 negative subjects (p = 0.002). Given the higher frequency of AT in malignant BC patients, our results confirm the association of the IFN-Ɣ polymorphism with the disease's progression to a malignant state.

Effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate of Camellia sinensis leaves on blood pressure, lipid profile, atherogenic index of plasma and some inflammatory and antioxidant markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) the inflammatory and metabolic responses to epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) are unknown. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the impacts of EGCG on metabolic factors and some biomarkers of stress oxidative in patients with T2DM. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 50 patients with T2DM consumed either 2 tablets (300 mg) EGCG (n=25) or wheat flour as placebo (n=25) for 2 months. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin-6 (IL-6), lipid profile, mean arterial pressure (MAP), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were evaluated before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The finding of present study exhibited a significant increase in the serum levels of TAC after the EGCG supplementation (p=0.001). Also, in compare with control group, the mean changes of TAC were significantly higher in supplement group (p=0.01). In intervention group, a significant decrease was observed in the mean levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), AIP, and MAP (p<0.05). Taking EGCG resulted in the mean changes of total cholesterol, MAP and DBP were significantly lower in compare with control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study recommended that EGCG supplementation may be improved blood pressure, lipid profile, AIP, and oxidative status in patients with T2DM.

Emergence of High-level Gentamicin Resistance among Enterococci Clinical Isolates from Burn Patients in South-west of Iran: Vancomycin Still Working.

Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are among the main agents associated with nosocomial infections with high mortality in immunocompromised patients. Antibiotic resistance, especially against gentamicin and vancomycin among Enterococci , is a risk factor that could increase the morbidity and mortality rate. 179 Enterococci isolates from burn patients were included in this study. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using the disk diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was evaluated by agar microdilution. Vancomycin and gentamicin resistance associated genes including vanA , vanB , vanC , aac (6')-Ie aph(2''), aph(3')-IIIa and ant(4')-Ia were detected by PCR and their statistical relation with antibiotic resistance was evaluated. E. faecalis was the more prevalent strain among our local isolates and showed a higher antibiotic resistance in comparison to E. faecium . Vancomycin had a good antibacterial effect on the Enterococcus spp. isolates; however, resistance to this antibiotic and a high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) phenotype were observed. Among van operon genes, vanA was the most prevalent gene and among the gentamicin resistance genes, aph (3')-IIIa was more frequent. The HLGR Enterococci are a real challenge in nosocomial infections. Vancomycin is a key antibiotic to treat such infections but emergence of VRE in our region could be a real concern and, therefore, phenotypic and molecular surveillance must be considered.Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are among the main agents associated with nosocomial infections with high mortality in immunocompromised patients. Antibiotic resistance, especially against gentamicin and vancomycin among Enterococci, is a risk factor that could increase the morbidity and mortality rate. 179 Enterococci isolates from burn patients were included in this study. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using the disk diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was evaluated by agar microdilution. Vancomycin and gentamicin resistance associated genes including vanA, vanB, vanC, aac (6')-Ie aph(2''), aph(3')-IIIa and ant(4')-Ia were detected by PCR and their statistical relation with antibiotic resistance was evaluated. E. faecalis was the more prevalent strain among our local isolates and showed a higher antibiotic resistance in comparison to E. faecium. Vancomycin had a good antibacterial effect on the Enterococcus spp. isolates; however, resistance to this antibiotic and a high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) phenotype were observed. Among van operon genes, vanA was the most prevalent gene and among the gentamicin resistance genes, aph (3')-IIIa was more frequent. The HLGR Enterococci are a real challenge in nosocomial infections. Vancomycin is a key antibiotic to treat such infections but emergence of VRE in our region could be a real concern and, therefore, phenotypic and molecular surveillance must be considered.

Antimicrobial resistance patterns and virulence factors of enterococci isolates in hospitalized burn patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of the antimicrobial resistance and genes encoding virulence factors of enterococci isolated in hospitalized burn patients in a major burn center in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran. A total of 340 bacterial isolates were collected from the burn center from February 2014 to February 2015. The antimicrobial susceptibility and MIC of vancomycin were determined using the disk diffusion and micro-agar dilution techniques. The genus and species-specific genes, potential virulence genes, and vanA and vanB genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: According to our results, out of the 340 bacterial isolates, 16.4% (n = 56) were identified as enterococci. Out of the 56 enterococcal isolates, 35 (62.5%) were Enterococcus faecalis and 21 (37.5%) were Enterococcus faecium. More than 20% (n = 5) of E. faecium demonstrated resistance to vancomycin. The gelE and asa genes were the most prevalent virulence genes in E. faecalis (48.5%) and E. faecium (43%) isolates. The emergence of vancomycin resistant E. faecium strains which have several virulence factors should be considered as a major cause of concern for burn centers. Control and management of infections induced by enterococci should be regarded as highly important in burn patients.