No abstract

Since varicocele is so common in infertile men, this study intends to analyse the relationships between varicocele and conventional semen characteristics, sperm nuclear DNA dispersion and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) in semen. Varicocele-positive and varicocele-negative infertile men (study groups) showed significantly lower standard sperm parameters and higher sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and ORP in semen than healthy volunteers and subjects with proven fertility (control groups). A lower proportion of low SDF levels (0–15% SDF) and higher incidence of high SDF levels (>30% SDF), as well as a higher prevalence of high ORP values (>1.37 mV/106 sperm/mL), were found in the study groups vs. the control groups. Moreover, infertile men had significantly lower odds ratios (ORs) for low SDF levels and significantly higher ORs for high SDF levels and high ORP. SDF and ORP were negatively correlated with sperm number, morphology, motility and vitality. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between SDF and ORP. The obtained results suggest that disorders of spermatogenesis may occur in varicocele-related infertility. These abnormalities are manifested not only by reduced standard semen parameters but also by decreased sperm DNA integrity and simultaneously increased oxidative stress in semen.

We used comet-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the model plant species Crepis capillaris following exposure of seedlings to maleic hydrazide (MH). FISH with 5S and 25S rDNA probes was applied to comets obtained under alkaline conditions to establish whether these DNA regions were preferentially involved in comet tail formation. MH treatment induced significant fragmentation of nuclear DNA and of rDNA loci. A 24-h post-treatment recovery period allowed a partial reversibility of MH-induced damage on nuclear and rDNA regions. Analyses of FISH signals demonstrated that rDNA sequences were always involved in tail formation and that 5S rDNA was more frequently present in the tail than 25S rDNA, regardless of treatment. The involvement of 25S rDNA in nucleolus formation and differences in chromatin structure between the two loci may explain the different susceptibility of the 25S and 5S rDNA regions to migrate into the tail. This work is the first report on the application of FISH to comet preparations from plants to analyze the distribution and repair of DNA damage within specific genomic regions after mutagenic treatment. Moreover, our work suggests that comet-FISH in plants may be a useful tool for environmental monitoring assessment.

There appear to be very few data on the exact mechanisms of a selective progesterone receptor modulator action in myomas. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of ulipristal acetate (UPA) on fibroids, especially on estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) immunoexpression, proliferation, apoptosis and tissue fibrosis, and to compare the above parameters in untreated (surgical attention only) and UPA-treated leiomyomas. UPA-treated patients were divided into three groups: (1) good response (≥25% reduction in volume of fibroid), (2) weak response (insignificant volume reduction) and (3) no response to treatment (no decrease or increase in fibroid volume). The study observed a significant decrease in the percentage of collagen volume fraction and ER and PR immunoexpression in the good response group, in the percentage of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)- and Ki67-positive cells in the groups with good and weak reactions vs. control group; significantly higher apoptotic index (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells) in the good reaction group vs. control group. The results of the study indicate that a good response to UPA, manifested by a volume reduction of myoma, may be associated with a decrease in fibrosis, ER/PR and PCNA and Ki67 immunoexpression and an increase in cell apoptosis within the myoma.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of metabolic disorders occurring in the metabolic syndrome in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia eligible for surgical treatment. Methods: The study group consisted men with diagnosed benign prostatic hyperplasia. The control group consisted patients recruited from basic health care units. Abdominal circumference, body weight and blood serum metabolic parameters were determined in the experimental and control groups. The concentrations of glucose were determined, as well as total cholesterol (ChT), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides (TAG), by spectrophotometric method using reagent kits. Results: In the study group 91 (60.3%) cases of metabolic syndrome (MetS) were diagnosed, while in the control group 71 (46.1%) men met the diagnostic criteria for this syndrome (p = 0.018). The analysis shows a relationship between MetS in patients with BPH and concentration glucose, ChT, LDL, HDL, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. We found no significant statistical relationship between body weight, abdominal circumference and concentration TAG, hypertension in patients and controls. Conclusions: in the study presented in this article, statistically significant relationships between BPH and the diagnostic parameters of the metabolic syndrome were demonstrated. These results indicate to the necessity of the modification of the lifestyle, taking preventive measures in diabetes, and evaluation of lipid metabolism disorders. It is recommended to assess symptoms that may suggest BPH (as a manifestation of LUTS) in men over 50 years of age with diagnoses of metabolic disorders (including MetS), and provide them with specialist urological care in order to prevent surgical treatment of the prostate.