[Fatty acid-binding protein in the serum and sperm].

INTRODUCTION: a composition of seminal plasma reflects a state of reproductive organs that are involved in sperm production. AIM: to study a concentration of fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) in blood serum and sperm samples with normal and altered characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a total of 82 men with mean age of 33.1+/-4.7 years old who were examined to clarify the cause of infertility were included in the study. The main group (n=21) consisted of men with oligozoospermia, while control group (n=33) consisted of healthy men with normal sperm analysis. In addition, patients with high viscosity of sperm were included in the comparison group (n=28). There were no changes in complete blood count and biochemical blood panel in all participants. The content of FABP in blood serum and seminal plasma was determined. RESULTS: the average content of FABP in seminal plasma was 1.347+/-0.26 ng/ml and exceeded the serum concentration of this compound (p<0.000001), which was 0.305+/-0.193 ng/ml. The concentration in seminal plasma did not depend on its serum concentration (R=0,068194), as well as the sperm volume and viscosity, but it was correlated with sperm concentration (R=0,66387). The concentration of FABP in seminal plasma was highest in the control group (1.47+/-0.33 ng / ml) and it was higher compared to the main group (1.22+/-0.09 ng/ml; p=0.000057) and the comparison group (1.29+/-0.19 ng/ml; p=0.010822). There was no difference between groups in serum concentration of FABP (p=0.9814). CONCLUSION: the obtained data suggest that a reduced level of FABP in seminal plasma can be considered as unfavorable criterion indicating a reduced fertility.

[The NT-proBNP in saliva and blood serum in norm and under periodontitis.]

The concentration of NT-proBNP in saliva and blood serum was studied. The study included 58 individuals divided in two groups. The main group (group I) included 34 patients with chronic generalized periodontitis. The control group (group II), comparable in age and gender, included 24 examined individuals without signs of inflammatory diseases of oral cavity. The concentration of NT-proBNP in saliva and blood serum was detected by technique of solid-phase enzyme immunoassay using the test-system "NT-proBNP-ELISABEST" (Vector-Best, Russia). The concentration of NT-proBNP in saliva of patients of main group reliably exceeded its concentration in saliva of the examined from control group. The median and interquartile range made up to correspondingly 178.5 (128-253) pg / ml in main group and 105 (72.5 - 144.5) pg, respectively / ml in control group (p = 0.02). The comparison of concentration of NT-proBNP in blood serum samples established no reliable differences (p = 0,27). The evaluation of the relationship between content of NT-proBNP in saliva and blood serum demonstrated absence of close linear correlation dependence between the concentration of this compound in blood serum and saliva both in the main group (R = 0.143, p = 0.419) and the control group (R = 0.178; p = 0.405), and for all the examined as well (R = 0.252, p = 0.056). The higher concentration of NT-proBNP in saliva in comparison with blood serum can be explained by formation of proteolysis products cross-reacting in the used system.

[Ejaculate and serum procalcitonin levels in healthy men and men with oligoasthenozoospermia].

INTRODUCTION: Seminal plasma composition reflects the activity of reproductive organs involved in the semen production. AIM: To study procalcitonin concentrations in serum and semen samples of healthy men and men with oligoasthenozoospermia. METHOD: s .The study included 88 men, who were scheduled for diagnostic evaluation to establish the cause of infertile marriages. The study group comprised 40 men with oligoasthenozoospermia, the comparison group included 48 men with normal sperm concentration. Laboratory testing of all participants revealed no abnormal findings in blood count, blood chemistry studies and urinalysis. RESULTS: Mean seminal plasma procalcitonin level in the study subjects (n=87) was 0,349+/-0,370 ng/ml being about 10 times higher than its serum level, which was 0.037+/-0.027 ng/ml (p<0.000001). In the study group, seminal plasma PCT concentration was significantly greater than in the control group (p=0.0095), while the serum procalcitonin levels in all participants were almost identical (p=0.605). There were no statistically significant correlations between the procalcitonin levels and spermatozoa concentration, total count and ejaculate volume. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that elevated levels of procalcitonin in seminal plasma can be regarded as an unfavorable prognostic factor, indicating the reduced ejaculate fertility. Further studies seem warranted, specifically considering the role and source of procalcitonin production in sperm.