Clinical association of metabolic syndrome, C-reactive protein and testosterone levels with clinically significant prostate cancer.

Recently, the influence that metabolic syndrome (MetS), hormonal alterations and inflammation might have on prostate cancer (PCa) risk has been a subject of controversial debate. Herein, we aimed to investigate the association between MetS-components, C-reactive protein (CRP) and testosterone levels, and the risk of clinically significant PCa (Sig-PCa) at the time of prostate biopsy. For that, men scheduled for transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate were studied. Clinical, laboratory parameters and criteria for MetS characterization just before the biopsy were collected. A total of 524 patients were analysed, being 195 (37.2%) subsequently diagnosed with PCa and 240 (45.8%) meet the diagnostic criteria for MetS. Among patients with PCa, MetS-diagnosis was present in 94 (48.2%). Remarkably, a higher risk of Sig-PCa was associated to MetS, greater number of MetS-components and higher CRP levels (odds-ratio: 1.83, 1.30 and 2.00, respectively; P < 0.05). Moreover, higher circulating CRP levels were also associated with a more aggressive Gleason score in PCa patients. Altogether, our data reveal a clear association between the presence of MetS, a greater number of MetS-components or CRP levels >2.5 mg/L with an increased Sig-PCa diagnosis and/or with aggressive features, suggesting that MetS and/or CRP levels might influence PCa pathophysiology.

¿A qué nivel se produce la fragmentación del ADN en pacientes infértiles con varicocele? / Analysis of the site of DNA fragmentation in infertile men with varicocele

Objetivo: Establecer a qué nivel se produce la fragmentación del ácido desoxirribonucleico (FADN), intratesticular o en la vía seminal, en varones infértiles con varicocele. Material y métodos: Análisis preliminar sobre 15 sujetos en estudio por infertilidad de un año de evolución con varicocele como causa más probable de su alteración. Realizamos FADN en semen previo a la varicocelectomía quirúrgica. Durante la intervención, se obtuvo una muestra testicular mediante biopsia (TESE), para la medición de FADN en espermatozoides intratesticulares, con el objetivo de establecer sus valores y si había diferencias respecto al semen. Resultados: Quince pacientes fueron intervenidos de varicocele izquierdo. En el seminograma, la alteración más frecuente fue la oligoastenozoospermia. Presentaron ADN fragmentado en semen 9 pacientes con una media de 47,8% (rango 38,8-59,2%), y en 6 fueron normales (media 27,4%; rango 12,7-35,3%). La FADN en testículo presentó valores más elevados que en el semen, estando alterados en 14 de los 15 pacientes (media 62,3%, rango 39,0-83,3%). Conclusiones: La FADN parece tener un papel importante en la fisiopatología actual del varicocele y aumenta en el semen de varones infértiles con esta alteración. Derivado de nuestros resultados, podríamos deducir que el mecanismo más importante de fragmentación se situaría a nivel intratesticular, en contra de lo que actualmente se postula. Confirmar esta hipótesis con mayor número de casos supondría un avance significativo en el conocimiento y aplicaciones clínicas en cuanto a esta patología (AU)

Objective: To establish the site at which intratesticular or seminal DNA fragmentation (DNAF) occurs in infertile men with varicocele. Material and Methods: A preliminary analysis was performed in a 1-year study of 15 patients in whom the suspected cause of infertility was varicocele. Analysis of DNAF was performed in semen prior to surgical varicocelectomy. To measure DNAF in intratesticular sperm, testicular samples were obtained by biopsy during the intervention. Results: Fifteen patients had left varicocele surgery. The most frequent abnormality observed in the semen was oligoasthenozoospermia. Nine patients had DNAF (average: 47.8%, range: 38.8-59.2%), and six were normal (average; 27.4%, range: 12.7-35.3%). DNAF levels were higher in testicular tissue samples than in semen (average: 62.3%, range: 39.0-83.3%). Only one of these patient samples did not reveal DNAF. Conclusions: DNAF seems to be related to the physiopathology of varicocele and is present at higher levels in the semen of infertile men with this alteration. In view of these results, we deduce that DNA fragmentation will primarily occur in the testes, which is contrary to current understanding. Testing this hypothesis in studies that include more patients would allow important advances to be made in the knowledge and treatment of this alteration (AU)