Semen samples collected from 28 male partners of infertile couples were divided into three equal aliquots and prepared with three selected media, such as PureSperm  (Nidacon, Gothenburg, Sweden), Sil-Select Plus TM (Fertipro, Beernem, Belgium) and SpermGrad TM (Vitrolife, Gothenburg, Sweden). The differences in mean percentages of semen parameters were assessed by repeated measures analysis. Correlations of sperm DNA damage, as measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and of protamine deficiency, as measured by chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining with sperm parameters, were determined by Pearson's correlation. After preparation with all three media, sperm concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) while percentages of sperm with normal morphology increased (P < 0.05). Percentages of sperm motility, rapid motility and progressive motile concentration (PMC) increased (P < 0.05) for each of these parameters, PureSperm preparation gave the best results (P < 0.05). The percentage of DNA damage decreased in the PureSperm and Sil-Select Plus preparations (17.9% and 31.3%, respectively, P < 0.05) and increased in the SpermGrad preparation (56.3%, P < 0.05). Protamine deficiency also decreased in all three kinds of media, 59.3%, 47.7% and 40.3% for PureSperm, Sil-Select Plus and SpermGrad preparations, respectively (P < 0.05). The percentage of DNA-damaged sperm was negatively correlated with the percentages of sperm motility, rapid motility and PMC, but was positively correlated with static motility (P < 0.05). This comparative study and correlation analysis revealed that PureSperm preparation yielded sperm with the best motility and the lowest percentage of protamine deficiency. The Sil-Select Plus preparation yielded sperm with the lowest amount of DNA damage. The SpermGrad preparation had a high percentage of sperm with normal morphology, but also had the highest percentage of sperm with DNA damage. Sperm DNA damage was correlated with percentages of sperm motility, rapid motility, static motility and PMC. IntroductionIt is well known that semen quality is a significant factor for determining the success of pregnancy, apart from oocyte and endometrial quality. A semen prepa- Comparative study of the effects of three semen preparation media on semen analysis, DNA damage and protamine deficiency, and the correlation between DNA integrity and sperm parameters Comparative study of the effects of three semen preparation media Charoenchai Chiamchanya et al.

The herbal extract Benja-ummarit (BU) is a traditional Thai medicine with a putative cancer-suppressing effect. However, this effect has only been tested in vitro in human hepatocarcinoma cell lines. The present study determined the efficacy of a BU extract to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats in vivo and established its anti-angiogenic and anti-proliferative properties. The BU extract was prepared in 95% ethanol and its composition determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. HCC was induced in Wistar rats by an injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN), followed 2 weeks later by injections of thioacetamide (TAA) thrice weekly for 4 weeks. Following 2 months, the DEN-TAA-treated rats were divided into 6 groups that were treated orally for another 2 months with: i) No treatment; ii) vehicle; iii) 30 mg/kg sorafenib (SF); iv) 1 mg/kg BU; v) 10 mg/kg BU; or vi) 50 mg/kg BU. Liver samples were collected for gross morphological, histological, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot analyses, and serum samples were collected for liver function tests. The size and number of the cancer nodules were reduced ~10-fold in BU-treated HCC groups and ~14-fold in the SF-treated group compared with the HCC group. Furthermore, the serum parameters of liver damage were lower in BU-compared with SF-treated rats. These results indicate that while each of these formulations strongly reduce HCC expansion, BU extract results in less liver damage. Vascular endothelial growth factor expression was reduced significantly in the BU-and SF-treated HCC groups compared with the HCC group (P<0.05). BU extract antagonizes HCC growth in vivo potently through inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. BU, therefore, qualifies as a promising medical herb requiring further evaluation as a treatment of HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is most common in adults and has a high mortality rate because of a lack of effective treatment options. We investigated the effect of a medicinal plant as a potential source of drugs against HCC. The rhizomes of Dioscorea membranacea Pierre (DM), Hua-Khao-Yen in Thai, are commonly used as ingredients for alternative treatment of cancer in Thailand. In this study, the anticancer effects of DM extract in HCC-bearing rats were evaluated with respect to gross morphology, histopathology, and leakage of liver enzymes. In untreated HCCs, typical features of liver cancer, including hepatic nodules, thick-cell cords, and pseudoglandular cell arrangements, were observed. In addition, the HCCs showed abnormal reticulin patterns and a high glypican3 expression. In HCC-bearing rats treated with DM the cancer areas and reticulin expression were significantly reduced compared to the untreated group ( p < 0.01). Sorafenib, the standard drug to treat HCC, reduced the cancer area further, but increased leakage of liver enzymes and decreased serum albumin concentration, indicating liver toxicity. These findings suggest that DM has an anticancer effect on HCCs in an animal model in vivo with potentially less severe side effects than sorafenib. Therefore, further studies of DM’s mechanism of action in HCC should be carried out.