Assessment of seminal plasma laminin in fertile and infertile men / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To assess laminin levels in the seminal plasma of infertile and fertile men, and to analyze the correlation of laminin levels with sperm count, age, sperm motility and semen volume.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-five recruited men were equally divided into five groups according to their sperm concentration and clinical examination: fertile normozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia, non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), obstructive azoospermia (OA) and congenital bilateral absent vas deferens (CBAVD). The patients' medical history was investigated and patients underwent clinical examination, conventional semen analysis and estimation of seminal plasma laminin by radioimmunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seminal plasma laminin levels of successive groups were: 2.82 +/- 0.62, 2.49 +/- 0.44, 1.77 +/- 0.56, 1.72 +/- 0.76, 1.35 +/- 0.63 U/mL, respectively. The fertile normozoospermic group showed the highest concentration compared to all infertile groups with significant differences compared to azoospermic groups (P<0.05). Testicular contribution was estimated to be approximately one-third of the seminal laminin. Seminal plasma laminin demonstrated significant correlation with sperm concentration (r = 0.460, P < 0.001) and nonsignificant correlation with age (r = 0.021, P = 0.940), sperm motility percentage (r = 0.142, P = 0.615) and semen volume (r = 0.035, P = 0.087).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Seminal plasma laminin is derived mostly from prostatic and testicular portions and minimally from the seminal vesicle and vas deferens. Estimating seminal laminin alone is not conclusive in diagnosing different cases of male infertility.</p>

Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field [ELF ENF] on immunologic parameters in occupationally exposed electric utility workers

EMF [or Electro Magnetic Field] is a broad term which includes electric generated by charged particles, magnetic fields generated by charged particles in motion, and radiated fields such as TV, radio, and microwaves. Despite the many wonderful conveniences of electrical technology, the effects of EMF on biological tissue remains the most controversial aspect of the EMF issue with virally all scientists agreeing that more research is necessary to determine safe or dangerous levels. Some occupations were found to be exposed to high magnetic fields. Some work places, such as the transformer substation, generally had a uniform and high magnetic field measurement. The present study aimed at investigating whether or not Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field [ELF EMF] emitted in electric power stations affect some immunologic and haematologic parameters of the exposed workers in addition to verification of the hypothesis that [ELF EMF] induces the process of phagocytosis which then enhances the release of reactive oxygen species leading to DNA damage with subsequent carcinogenesis. 31male workers engaged in 2 high power stations running at 66/11 and 220 kilovolts were taken as an exposed group with 31 male matched individuals taken as a control group. Every subject was subjected to complete blood count, flow cytometric assessment of CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD56 cells in addition to estimation of serum malondialdehyde [MDA] and phagocytic parameters. Significant increase in both RBCs and WBCs counts were found among the exposed groups. A significant depression of percentage of lymphocytes and CD3 positive cell receptors were detected among the exposed group and this depression was negatively correlated with the duration of work. Remarkable increase in the lipid per oxidation product [MDA] was detected in the exposed group in addition to marked depression of phagocytic perameters which was negatively correlated with the duration of work. Occupational exposure to ELF EMF may carry the risk of immunological disturbances which were identified in disturbed ratios of different lymphocytes subsets. The increased level of serum MDA may explain the increased cancer risk reported before by many research studies

Interleukin-6 as a predictor of atherosclerosis in patients with coronary heart disease

This study was carried out to evaluate the role of interleukin-6 [IL-6] as a predictor of atherosclerosis in patients with coronary heart disease [CHD]. Forty male subjects were r and omized into this observational study: twenty healthy subjects included in the control group and twenty patients with unstable angina pectoris included in the CHD group. All subjects underwent thorough physical examination and history taking. Blood samples were obtained for assay of triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol [TC], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDLc], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDLc], C-reactive protein [CRP] and IL-6. Atherogenic index was calculated as the ratio of TC to HDLc. All subjects underwent color-coded carotid duplex examination. Patients in the CHD group also underwent coronary angiography. Compared to controls, patients in the CHD group were significantly older, had significantly higher body mass index [BM1], blood pressure and proportion of smokers. They also had significantly higher TG, TC, LDL, AI, CRP and IL-6, but significantly lower HDL [p<0.001 for all]. Smokers in the CHD group had significantly higher BMI, TG, TC, LDL, AI, CRP and IL-6 and significantly lower HDL compared to non-smokers. Both CRP and IL-6 correlated with BMI only in the CHD group. CRP and IL-6 correlated strongly with each other in both control and CHD groups. Both CRP and IL-6 correlated strongly with the results of carotid duplex examination. Interleukin-6 correlates strongly with CRP in patients with unstable angina. IL-6 can be used as a marker for the severity of atherosclerosis. Future research on the use of anti-inflammatory therapy may result in a new approach to treament and prevention of cardiovascular disease