Association of oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant enzymatic activity in male infertility of north-East India.

INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress is a common pathology seen in approximately half of all infertile men. In a normal situation, the seminal plasma contains antioxidant mechanisms which are likely to quench these reactive oxygen species. However, during infertility complications these antioxidant mechanisms may downplay and create a situation which is called oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the levels of lipid peroxide (LPO), protein peroxide (PPO) and activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in blood and semen samples of an infertile male population from North-East India. METHOD: We measured LPO, PPO, SOD and GPX in a total of 50 infertile individuals. For the study 20 fertile donors served as the control group. RESULT: Patients with male factor infertility had significantly higher LPO and PPO levels (60.84 ± 3.55 and 72.84 ± 3.66; P < 0.001) compared with controls (40.20 ± 4.33 and 59.93 ± 5.24) in blood. In semen also, the same trend was found with significantly higher LPO and PPO levels (200.27 ± 6.25 and 149.80 ± 11.47; P < 0.001) compared with controls (116.51 ± 5.49 and 59.10 ± 4.62). The SOD and GPX enzymes in blood (3.40 ± 1.06 and 0.16 ± 0.01; P < 0.001) and in semen (2.42 ± 1.32 and 0.24 ± 0.015; P < 0.001) showed a significantly lower activity when compared with their respective controls (4.85 ± 0.78; 0.36 ± 0.05 and 4.24 ± 0.89; 0.65 ± 0.03). The SOD and GPX activity when compared with the LPO and PPO values, showed a positive correlation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that oxidative stress is associated with male factor infertility. This assessment may help in the treatment of this male infertility by suitable antioxidants.

Enhanced hepatic and kidney cytochrome p-450 activities in nandrolone decanoate treated albino mice.

Anabolic androgenic steroids are the xenobiotic substrates that are metabolized in the body by the protective enzyme systems. Mixed function oxygenase enzymes include a group of enzymes which play an essential role in the metabolism of a broad range of xenobiotics including endogenous and exogenous substrates. Cytochrome P-450, a member of mixed function oxygenase enzymes, plays an important role in oxidative metabolism of drugs and xenobiotics entering human body. Various anabolic steroids are found either to increase or decrease the activity of cytochrome P-450. However, effect of nandrolone decanoate, most commonly abused anabolic steroid, on cytochrome P-450 activity is still fragmentary. In the present study, albino mice were administered intramuscular 2.5 mg of nandrolone decanoate injection at 15 days interval. Cytochrome P-450 activity is determined by following the method of Omura and Sato (1964) in liver and kidney tissues of both normal and experimental groups upto 90 days. Investigation shows a significant (p <0.01) increase of cytochrome P-450 (nmol/mg) activity in liver tissue as compared to that of kidney tissues. A tissue specific and dose specific increase of cytochrome P-450 activity is observed. Mean cytochrome P-450 is found highest in liver tissue on 45(th) day whereas the activity in kidney tissue is noticed on 90(th) day of treatment. From the above observation, nandrolone decanoate can be suggested as a potent inducer of cytochrome P-450 activity like other anabolic steroids.

A multi-centre comparative study of diclofenac sodium and a dipyrone/spasmolytic combination, and a single-centre comparative study of diclofenac sodium and pethidine in renal colic patients in India.

A single-blind, randomized clinical trial was carried out to compare the analgesic effectiveness in patients with renal colic of single intramuscular doses of diclofenac sodium (75 mg) versus a dipyrone (1 g)/spasmolytics combination, and diclofenac sodium (75 mg) versus pethidine (75 mg). The first study involved three centres, the second study one centre. In total, 107 patients were treated with diclofenac sodium, 85 with dipyrone/spasmolytics, and 25 with pethidine. Assessments were made during the first hour after drug administration of the degree of pain relief, the severity of pain using a visual analogue scale, and the duration of analgesia. A global assessment of treatment efficacy was made by the participating physicians at the end of the study period. Patients treated with diclofenac sodium showed an earlier onset of analgesia and a higher incidence of total pain relief compared to those treated with dipyrone/spasmolytics or pethidine. Although the mean duration of analgesia was only slightly greater in the diclofenac sodium group than in the dipyrone/spasmolytics group, a significantly longer effect was seen when diclofenac sodium was compared with pethidine (p less than 0.01). Pain severity assessments revealed that diclofenac sodium caused a significantly greater improvement in pain after 60 minutes compared to dipyrone/spasmolytics (p less than 0.05) and after 30 minutes compared to pethidine (p less than 0.05). Global efficacy assessments by the physician rated diclofenac sodium as significantly superior to dipyrone/spasmolytics (p less than 0.01) and pethidine (p less than 0.001). Moreover, diclofenac sodium was better tolerated than either of the comparative treatments. The results indicate that intramuscular diclofenac sodium is a useful alternative to the drugs commonly used in India in the treatment of renal colic.