ABSTRACT
Sperm cryopreservation causes extensive damage to sperm membranes and its ultrastructural morphology, affecting the fertilization ability by decreasing the percentage of normal intact acrosomes and consequently the acrosine activity. This retrospective study aims at detecting the effect of sperm cryopreservation on the baby's sex after intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] in terms of the susceptibility of X versus Y chromosome baring spermatozoa to cryopreservation. This retrospective study included 87 ICSI cycles performed with post-thawed spermatozoa. The patients were classified into two groups [I and II] according to the total sperm count before freezing. This study included 87 ICSI cycles performed with post-thawed spermatozoa. Patients were classified into two groups [I and II] according to the total sperm count before freezing. Group I included 43 patients with a sperm count less than 0.1 × 10[6]/sample [countable samples]. Group II included 44 patients with a sperm count more than 0.1 × 10[6]/sample [uncountable samples]. The numbers of fertilized M II, good embryos, clinical pregnancy, and male babies were significantly higher in group I compared with group II. ICSI using post-thawed spermatozoa of countable samples yielded a higher male sex ratio [80.8%] compared with uncountable samples [28.6%]. Thus, spermatozoa that successfully survived the freeze-thaw procedure exhibited an improved chromatin structure and nuclear maturity. These data suggest that sperm cryopreservation may improve the fertilization rate, enhance early embryo development parameters, as well as pregnancy outcome after ICSI
ABSTRACT
Psoriasis is a common chronic, relapsing, noninfectious inflammatory skin disease. The concept that psoriasis has a genetic basis has been accepted for many years and it is commonly thought of as a complex trait. Heat shock proteins [HSPs] are group of proteins whose expression is increased when the cells are exposed to elevated temperature or other stress.These proteins can be induced by a range of cellular stressors including increased temperature, oxidative stress and nutritional deficiencies. Hsps have been proposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The aim of this work is to detect the expression of HSP70 in psoriasis and its correlation to the disease severity and to review potential role of HSP70 in pathogenesis and therapy of psoriasis. Skin biopsies were taken from 20 patients with different severity of untreated chronic plaque-type psoriasis and from 20 healthy volunteers. Antibodies to HSP70 were analyzed immunohistochemically. Immunoreactivity intensity distribution index [IRIDI] scores including the proportion of immunoreactive cells and their staining intensity were calculated in the basal, suprabasal, superficial as well as the whole epidermal layers of patients and controls. Results of our study revealed that differential and total IRIDI scores for HSP70 expression showed highly significant higher values in psoriatic patients compared to controls. Statistical differences were found between the different groups of patients; according to their disease severity and controls. Positive correlations also existed between IRIDI scores of patients and disease severity. Our study provides further evidence on the importance of Hsp70 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and shows increased Hsp70 expression in psoriatic epidermis correlated to increased severity of psoriasis. To our knowledge no previous studies made correlation with HSP70 expression in psoriasis and disease severity. Finally, we are looking forwards to the application of a new therapy that targets Hsp70 or its receptor CD91 and helps in treatment of psoriasis