Chronic exposure of bisphenol S (BPS) affect hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular activities in adult male rats: possible in estrogenic mode of action

BACKGROUND@#The industrial revolution has resulted in increased synthesis and the introduction of a variety of compounds into the environment and their potentially hazardous effects have been observed in the biota. The present study was aimed to evaluate the potential endocrine-disrupting effects of chronic exposure to the low concentrations of bisphenol S (BPS) in male rats.@*METHODS@#Weaning male Sprague-Dawley rats (22 days old) were either exposed to water containing 0.1% ethanol for control or different concentrations of BPS (0.5, 5, and 50 μg/L) in drinking water for 48 weeks in the chronic exposure study. After completion of the experimental period, animals were dissected and different parameters (hormone concentrations, histology of testis and epididymis, oxidative stress and level of antioxidant enzymes in the testis, daily sperm production (DSP), and sperm parameters) were determined.@*RESULTS@#Results of the present study showed a significant alteration in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and relative reproductive organ weights. Oxidative stress in the testis was significantly elevated while sperm motility, daily sperm production, and the number of sperm in epididymis were reduced. Plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations were reduced and estradiol levels were high in the 50 μg/L-exposed group. Histological observations involved a significant reduction in the epithelial height of the testis along with disrupted spermatogenesis, an empty lumen of the seminiferous tubules, and the caput region of the epididymis.@*CONCLUSION@#These results suggest that exposure to 5 and 50 μg/L of BPS for the chronic duration started from an early age can induce structural changes in testicular tissue architecture and endocrine alterations in the male reproductive system which may lead to infertility in males.

Effect of bisphenol F, an analog of bisphenol A, on the reproductive functions of male rats

OBJECTIVE@#Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer primarily used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Bisphenol F (BPF) is apparently the main BPA replacement that is used increasingly. BPF has been detected in canned food, thermal paper receipts, and soft drinks. In the present experiment, we did both in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate the effect of low and high-dose BPF exposures on testosterone concentration, oxidative stress, and antioxidants activity in reproductive tissues of male rats.@*METHODS@#Adult (80-90 days old) male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 36) obtained from the rodent colony of Animal Sciences Department of Quaid-i-Azam University. The direct effects of BPF on the antioxidant enzymes and testosterone secretion were measured in vitro and in vivo studies. In an in vivo experiment, adult male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 42) were exposed to different concentrations of bisphenol F (1, 5, 25, and 50 mg/kg/d) for 28 days. Various biochemical parameters were analyzed including the level of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Moreover, sperm motility, daily sperm production (DSP), comet assay, and histological analysis were performed.@*RESULTS@#In vitro study showed that BPF exposure significantly (p < 0.05) induced oxidative stress biomarkers, i.e., ROS and LPO, while it did not change antioxidant enzyme and testicular testosterone concentration. Whereas, an in vivo study revealed that BPF induced dose-dependent effect and high-dose (100 mg/kg) exposure of BPF significantly reduced tissue protein (p < 0.05) content, CAT (p < 0.001), SOD (p < 0.05), and POD (p < 0.05) levels while significantly (p < 0.05) augmented ROS and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, BPF reduces testosterone, LH, and FSH secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Significant (p < 0.001) reduction in plasma and intra-testicular testosterone, LH, and FSH was noticed at 100 mg/kg BFP dose. High-dose exposure reduces spermatogenesis.@*CONCLUSION@#BPF showed an antagonistic effect on male reproductive hormones and induce alterations in testicular morphology. Increased oxidative stress and decreased testicular antioxidant status might be the underlying mechanism of BFP-induced testicular toxicity.

Ameliorating potency of Chenopodium album Linn. and vitamin C against mercuric chloride-induced oxidative stress in testes of Sprague Dawley rats

BACKGROUND@#Mercury has been documented as an industrial risk that posed a serious danger to human health. Mercury exposure results in oxidative stress that may lead to the pathogenesis of male reproductive dysfunction. The present study investigated the ameliorating potential of Chenopodium album L. and vitamin C against mercuric chloride-induced oxidative deterioration of reproductive functions in adult male rats.@*METHODS@#Group 1 (control) received saline. Group 2 received Mercury (0.15 mg/kg b.w, i.p) dissolved in distilled water. Groups 3 and 4 were given oral gavage of vitamin C (200 mg/kg b.w) and the ethanolic extract of C. album (200 mg/kg b.w) respectively, along with Mercury (0.15 mg/kg b.w, i.p). Group 5 was treated only with C. album (200 mg/kg b.w). After 30 days of the treatment, the rats were dissected and their testicular tissue and the cauda epididymis were used for biochemical analysis while blood plasma was used for protein determination.@*RESULTS@#The applied dose-treatment of Mercury-induced oxidative stress in the testis and cauda epididymis tissues of the rats was apparent by a noteworthy decrease in total protein, CAT, SOD, POD, and GST values while there was increase in ROS and TBARS levels. Furthermore, Mercury decreases daily sperm production and enhanced sperm DNA damage as noticeable by an increase in the head and tail length of comets and decrease in intact DNA. There was no significant effect on the body weight and the weight of the reproductive tissues. Treatment with C. album significantly ameliorated the total protein, ROS, and TBARS content. Similarly, the level of CAT, SOD, POD, and GST was significantly improved and the daily sperm production was significantly increased. Furthermore, C. album administration significantly protected Mercury-induced sperm DNA damage. The results of the extract treatment group were compared with those of vitamin C in detoxifying the oxidative stress and restoring the sperm parameters.@*CONCLUSION@#C. album showed protection against Mercury-induced oxidative stress by ameliorating antioxidant enzyme activity, daily sperm production, and DNA damage in rat testes. This suggests that C. album could be beneficial against toxicity induced by an environmental toxicant.

Detection of stat-1 in patients co-infected with hepatitis b and c resistant to interferon

Objective: Current study was designed to determine the STAT-1 in co-infected patients of hepatitis B and C resistant to interferon therapy

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Gastroenterology departments of various hospitals of Rawalpindi

Material and Methods: The study included 15 co-infected patients of hepatitis B and C resistant to interferon therapy and 15 healthy individuals as control

Methodology: Detection of STAT-1 was done by conventional PCR technique

Results: Sixty seven percent of the patients were expressing STAT-1 in their blood while 33% of the patients did not have STAT-1. Controls showed 57% detection of STAT-1 and 43% did not exhibit STAT-1. Mean age of the patients and controls was 35.90 +/- 8.95.Comparison between patients and controls was done by chi square test. Fisher exact probability value obtained was 0.287 which was not significant

Conclusion: Patients suffering from hepatitis B and C co-infection resistant to interferon therapy revealed higher detection of STAT-1 which indicate greater liver damage, fibrosis and an extensive and severer disease course in co-infection

IL-6 dependent effect of oral warfarin in heart valve replacement patients by measuring interacting clinical and demographic variables

Objective: To examine an inflammatory effect of warfarin and comparing with IL-6 levels along with different demographic and clinical variables

Study Design: Qusai experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Center of Research in Experimental and Applied Medicine [CREAM], Army Medical College/National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad from Oct 2013 to Oct 2015

Material and Methods: The study design was Quasi Experimental study. Samples were collected by Nonprobability convenience sampling. Total 76 patients were included according to warfarin dose response in warfarin therapy patients, i.e. 32[42%] were taking <5mg/day, 37[49%] had been put on dose 5-10mg/day and 7[09%] were taking>10mg/day of warfarin dose. Patient's demographic and clinical variables were noted i.e. age, gender, BMI, duration of therapy, INR history, hepatic, gastrointestinal and diabetic complications. Human IL-6 ELISA assay was performed

Results: The statistically significant difference was found between age groups [in years] and different levels of warfarin dose [p=0.046] along with IL-6 production. There is a negative correlation between warfarin dose and age group i.e. as age increases, the dose of warfarin decreases. Among the inter and intra-patient variability age and serum IL-6 levels were found to be statistically significant with warfarin dose response. BMI and warfarin dose were found to be weak positively correlated

Conclusion: A marked immunomodulatory response of warfarin was noted by measuring IL-6 levels. IL-6 levels retained a significant association with warfarin dose

Early diagnosis of Typhoid by PCR for FliC-d gene of Salmonella Typhi in patients taking antibiotics

To compare PCR [Polymerase Chain Reaction] with blood culture, typhi-dot and Widal test for the diagnosis of typhoid in patients taking antibiotics. Cross-sectional, comparative study. National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan, from April 2013 to August 2014. One hundred and five patients were included in the study. Blood was collected and inoculated into tryptone soya broth for culture. Any growth obtained was identified by API 20 E and confirmed by Salmonella anti-sera. Typhi-dot and Widal test were also done on all the samples. DNA extraction was done and PCR was carried out. Among the 105 patients, 79 [75.2%] were males and 26 [24.8%] were females, with mean age of 20.64 +/- 14 years. Typhi-dot was positive in 58 [55.2%] and negative in 47 [44.8%] patients. Blood widal test was positive in 27 [25.7%] and negative in 78 [74.3%] patients. Salmonella Typhi was positive on blood culture in only one [1%] patient. PCR for Salmonella Typhi was positive in 102 [97.1%] and negative in 3 [2.9%] patients. Positive cases detected by PCR were significantly higher as compared to Typhi-dot [p < 0.001], blood Widal test [p < 0.001] and blood culture [p < 0.001]. Positivity rate of PCR was significantly higher as compared to blood culture, Typhi-dot or Widal test for diagnosing typhoid in patients who were already taking antibiotics

Detection of STAT-1 in blood specimens of interferon resistant hepatitis C patients

Objective: To evaluate the expression of STAT-1 [Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription-1] in HCV patients non responder to interferon treatment

Study Design: Case control study

Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out at Army Medical College Rawalpindi from January to July, 2012

Patients and Methods: The study after approved by institute's ethics committee was conducted on 15 HCV infected patients who were non responder to interferon therapy and 5 controls responder to interferon therapy. Their age, sex, body mass index [BMI] and marital status was noted. PCR based detection of STAT-1 mRNA was carried out in blood of HCV infected patients resistant to interferon therapy as well as controls. Data was presented in the form of frequencies and percentages and p values were calculated using Fisher exact test and student t-test

Results: Results showed that more males were resistant to interferon therapy as compared to females. The mean age was less in responders as compared to non responders. Forty percent of the HCV infected patients non responder to interferon therapy were positive for STAT-1 expression

Conclusion: STAT-1 blood expression can predict treatment response in HCV patients undergoing interferon treatment

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] awareness among medical students in Rawalpindi

To assess HCV awareness level among medical students. Cross sectional descriptive study. The study was conducted at Army Medical College Rawalpindi from March to October 2012. A structured questionnaire based cross sectional study was conducted including male and female medical students from 3rd and 4th year of both MBBS and BDS classes. The data was reported in the form of frequencies and percentages of correct answers and p value was calculated for the difference in level of correct answers regarding HCV routes of transmission, between male and female students using chi-square test. Survey showed that male students were more knowledgeable about HCV than females. Regarding possible transmission routes for HCV, it is evident that most of the students knew that main spreading cause is blood products, injection drug users and reuse of syringes as compared to other risks. Misconceptions observed are of significance especially at the level of health care providers as this can hinder their professional duties, interaction with the patient and treatment. Knowledge regarding HCV among medical students is inadequate and it can influence HCV prevalence, treatment and management in society