Effect of psychological stress on the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway and semen quality.

It has been reported that mental stress causes abnormality of spermiogram parameters. We investigated the effect of psychological stress on the L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway. Semen samples were collected from 29 healthy fourth semester medical students just before (stress) and 3 months after (non-stress) the final examinations. Psychological stress was measured by the State Anxiety Inventory questionnaire. After standard semen analysis, arginase activity and NO concentration were measured spectrophotometrically in the seminal plasma. Measurements were made in duplicate. During the stress period, sperm concentration (41.28 +/- 3.70 vs 77.62 +/- 7.13 x 10(6)/mL), rapid progressive motility of spermatozoa (8.79 +/- 1.66 vs 20.86 +/- 1.63%) and seminal plasma arginase activity (0.12 +/- 0.01 vs 0.22 +/- 0.01 U/mL) were significantly lower than in the non-stress situation, whereas seminal plasma NO (17.28 +/- 0.56 vs 10.02 +/- 0.49 micromol/L) was higher compared to the non-stress period (P < 0.001 for all). During stress there was a negative correlation between NO concentration and sperm concentration, the percentage of rapid progressive motility and arginase activity (r = -0.622, P < 0.01; r = -0.425, P < 0.05 and r = -0.445, P < 0.05, respectively). These results indicate that psychological stress causes an increase of NO level and a decrease of arginase activity in the L-arginine-NO pathway. Furthermore, poor sperm quality may be due to excessive production of NO under psychological stress. In the light of these results, we suggest that the arginine-NO pathway, together with arginase and NO synthase, are involved in semen quality under stress conditions.

Effect of psychological stress on the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway and semen quality

It has been reported that mental stress causes abnormality of spermiogram parameters. We investigated the effect of psychological stress on the L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway. Semen samples were collected from 29 healthy fourth semester medical students just before (stress) and 3 months after (non-stress) the final examinations. Psychological stress was measured by the State Anxiety Inventory questionnaire. After standard semen analysis, arginase activity and NO concentration were measured spectrophotometrically in the seminal plasma. Measurements were made in duplicate. During the stress period, sperm concentration (41.28 ± 3.70 vs 77.62 ± 7.13 x 10(6)/mL), rapid progressive motility of spermatozoa (8.79 ± 1.66 vs 20.86 ± 1.63 percent) and seminal plasma arginase activity (0.12 ± 0.01 vs 0.22 ± 0.01 U/mL) were significantly lower than in the non-stress situation, whereas seminal plasma NO (17.28 ± 0.56 vs 10.02 ± 0.49 æmol/L) was higher compared to the non-stress period (P < 0.001 for all). During stress there was a negative correlation between NO concentration and sperm concentration, the percentage of rapid progressive motility and arginase activity (r = -0.622, P < 0.01; r = -0.425, P < 0.05 and r = -0.445, P < 0.05, respectively). These results indicate that psychological stress causes an increase of NO level and a decrease of arginase activity in the L-arginine-NO pathway. Furthermore, poor sperm quality may be due to excessive production of NO under psychological stress. In the light of these results, we suggest that the arginine-NO pathway, together with arginase and NO synthase, are involved in semen quality under stress conditions.

Glutathione and free sulphydryl content of seminal plasma in healthy medical students during and after exam stress.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that there is a relationship between stress and infertility. The mechanisms of stress-related semen quality alterations have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the effect of examination stress on seminal glutathione and free sulphydryl content and sperm quality. METHODS: Semen samples were collected from 34 healthy volunteers who were students of medical school in the fourth semester just before (stress period) and 3 months after (non-stress period) their final examinations. Their psychological examination stress was measured by the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire. After standard semen analysis, semen samples were centrifuged at 10 000g for 15 min. Glutathione and free sulphydryl concentration of seminal plasma were measured. RESULTS: During the period of examination stress, the glutathione and free sulphydryl content of seminal plasma and the motility index of spermatozoa were significantly lower, whereas the percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa was higher, than during the non-stress period (P < 0.001, for all). An association between seminal plasma glutathione and motility index was observed at both periods (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that glutathione and free sulphydryl levels in seminal plasma decreased in subjects undergoing examination stress. Furthermore, poor sperm quality may be due to loss of glutathione and free sulphydryl content of seminal plasma.

Epidemiological features of ulcerative colitis in Trakya, Turkey.

To determine the epidemiological features of ulcerative colitis in the Trakya region of Turkey, southeast Europe, we conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital-based study. All subjects were followed, and age, sex, place of residence, family history, educational status, tobacco consumption and use of oral contraceptives were recorded. The study included 49 cases of ulcerative colitis. The incidence of the disease was 0.59 per 100,000 in 1998, 0.89 per 100,000 in 1999, 0.89 per 100,000 in 2000 and 0.69 per 100,000 in 2001. The overall prevalence of the disease was 4.9 per 100,000; it was 2.18 per 100,000 in rural areas and 5.87 per 100,000 in urban areas. As in the Mediterranean countries, both the incidence and the prevalence of ulcerative colitis were found to be low. The incidence was significantly higher in urban areas than in rural areas.

Predictive value of a 24 hour tuberculin skin test evaluation.

The predictive value of induration 24 hours after administration of purified protein derivative (PPD) was examined. Altogether 1082 healthy schoolchildren were tested using 5 tuberculin units of PPD. Induration was measured at 24, 48, and 72 hours. At 24 hours, induration of any size had a relatively low positive predictive value (63%), although indurations > 5 mm had a higher (86%) positive predictive value.