Do sperm and lubricants gel well with each other? A systematic review.

Vaginal lubricants are commonly used to aid sexual pleasure and/or to help combat vaginal dryness and dyspareunia. Several studies have reported their impact on sperm function, however there are no published guidelines to help healthcare professionals and couples select a vaginal lubricant that is 'sperm-safe'. To address this, we conducted a literature search using both PubMed and Scopus to identify and appraise manuscripts that reported the impact of lubricants on sperm function. We did not restrict the literature search by year of publication, and we only included manuscripts that looked at the impact of vaginal lubricants on human sperm. The quality of the eligible studies was assessed using the Björndahl et al., (2016) checklist for semen analysis, as most of the studies reported the findings of a basic semen analysis. A total of 24 articles were eligible for analysis with a total of 35 vaginal lubricants (that were available to buy over the counter) being included, 2 of which studied the effect of vaginal lubricants on sperm function in vivo, and 22 being conducted in vitro. KY Jelly, PreSeed and Astroglide were most studied, with most manuscripts focussing on their impact on sperm motility. A paucity of data on most lubricants combined with methodological variations between studies and limited/no reporting on pregnancy outcomes means greater efforts are required before an evidence-based guideline can be published.

[Results of examination of the local immunity in demodectic blepharoconjunctivitis]. / Rezul'taty issledovanii mestnogo immuniteta pri demodekoznom blefarokon"iunktivite.

Described in the paper are the results of examination of the local immunity in patients with demodectic blepharoconjunctivitis (DBC). Demodicosis of the eyes was established to develop in impairments of the local immunity described by a lower level of IL-4 in lacrimal fluid, a lower relative quantity of CD3+ cells, and a higher relative count of CD16+-lymphocytes infiltrating the eyelid-conjunctiva epithelium. The age-related immunodeficiency manifested as a decreased relative number of CD3+ and CD4+-lymphocytes infiltrating the eyelid-conjunctiva epithelium provokes a higher invasion of ticks and an increased morbidity of demodicosis among elderly people. DBC, when complicated by episcleritis or keratitis, is accompanied by a higher IgE level in lacrimal fluid and a decreased ratio of IgE/IL-4, which matters in prognostication and pathogenetic substantiation of DBC therapy.

[A study of total IgE in inflammatory pathologies of the eye anterior segment]. / Issledovanie obshchego IgE pri vospalitel'nykh zabolevaniiakh perednego otdela glaza.

The paper contains data on comparative research of the IgE content in blood serum and lachrymal fluid in patients with ophthalmoherpes and with other inflammatory diseases of the eye. A higher IgE level was found in blood serum and lachrymal fluid in cases of ophthalmoherpes as well as in lachrymal fluid in cases of allergic, Chlamydia and fungus diseases of the eye. The data obtained can be used in the diagnostics of allergic eye diseases as well as in elaborating complex treatment methods for herpetic, Chlamydia and fungus lesions of the anterior eye segment. A detection of the local allergenic effect of acaricide drugs exerted on the conjunctiva and eyelids makes it obligatory to consider the above fact while treating patients with demodectic blepharoconjunctivitis.