Multivitamin and micronutrient treatment improves semen parameters of azoospermic patients with maturation arrest.

The study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of multivitamin and micronutrient supplementation in azoospermic patients with maturation arrest. A total of 35 azoospermic patients showing maturation arrest on testicular biopsy were recruited in this study. The patients were divided into two groups. Untreated group (n=11) without any treatment and treated group (n=24) who received multivitamins, micronutrients and co-enzyme Q10. The sperm concentration, motility and morphology were evaluated at monthly interval. The results showed reduction in liquefaction time and relative viscosity of the semen in the treated group. Further, in treated group there was appearance of spermatozoa (4.0 million/ml) exhibiting progressive motility (7%) and normal morphology (6%), even in the first follow up visit. The sperm count, motility and normal morphology increased significantly on subsequent visits. Within 3 months (3 visits) 2 pregnancies were reported. These observations indicate that multivitamin and micronutrient supplementation improve the qualitative and quantitative parameters of seminogram in patients with azoospermia of maturation arrest.

Testosterone and estradiol-17b dependent phospholipid catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)biosynthesis in ovariectomized.

Effect of cumulative doses (7, 14 and 28 mgkg-1 body weight) of testosterone (T) and estradiol-17b (E2) on total phospholipids (TP), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in tissues were investigated during the gonadal recrudescence, in prespawning phase of the annual reproductive cycle in intact and ovariectomized freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis. After ovariectomy, the hepatic levels of TP and PE were elevated and remained unaffected for PC, PS and PE when compared with control. In general, T and E2 were stimulatory for a specific class of phospholipid in tissues of intact and ovariectomized catfish. These effects were higher at 14 and 28 mg kg-1 body weight in ovariectomized catfish whereas 7 mgkg-1 body weight of T and E2 have pronounced effect in intact ovaries. In conclusion, the various phospholipid biosynthesis were under T and E2 dependent. Among the phospholipid, the PC was the main constituent and was sex steroid dependent biosynthesis during prespawning phase.

Endosulfan induced changes in phospholipids in the freshwater female catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch).

The catfish, H. fossilis were exposed to endosulfan for 30 days at sub-lethal concentration (0.002 ppm) during different phases of its annual reproductive cycle. Its impact on total (TP) and different phospholipids- phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatdylinositol (Pl) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were measured in liver plasma and ovary. On pesticide exposure, during preparatory phase, the hepatic TP PC and PE were declined. The plasma levels of TP, PC and PS were declined with the elevation of PE whereas in ovary only PC was lowered after endosulfan exposure. During pre-spawning phase, the hepatic TP, PC and PE declined in liver plasma and ovary after endosulfan exposure. During spawning phase, only plasma and ovarian phospholipids showed decrease in their levels following endosulfan exposure. In the post-spawning phase, endosulfan elevated the levels of TP, PC and PS in ovary but had no effect on their levels in liver and plasma. During resting phase, the TP, PC and Pl were found to be decreasing its levels. Thus it appears that this pesticide interfere with phospholipids metabolism during annual reproductive cycle of this species.

Impact of endosulfan on the profiles of phospholipids at sublethal concentration in the male Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch).

Male Heteropneustes fossilis were exposed for 30 days at sublethal concentration (0.002 ppm) during different phases of its annual reproductive cycle. Its impact on total phospholipids (TP), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatdylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were measured in liver, plasma and testes. During preparatory phase, in general, the levels for TP, PC, PS, PI and PE decreased after endosulfan exposure in the above tissues. During prespawning and spawning phases, the phospholipids also showed decreasing trend. The postspawning phase, exhibited decline in hepatic levels of PS and PI only and remained unaffected in the other two tissues. During the resting phase too, the hepatic levels of TP, PS and PI declined and remained unaltered in others. The present results indicate that endosulfan have very selective effects on phospholipids classes during different phases of the annual reproductive cycle interfering with the production of lipid deprived energy i.e. vitellogenin. In general, endosulfan has inhibitory role during reproductive growth affecting phospholipid biosynthesis via hepatic enzyme systems as well as by hormonal imbalance.

Transrectal ultrasonography versus computed tomography in staging rectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Since therapy of rectal carcinoma depends on the extent of disease, staging becomes important. AIM: To assess the ability of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and computed tomography (CT) to stage rectal carcinoma. METHODS: Ten patients with rectal carcinoma were examined by TRUS and plain and contrast-enhanced CT scan; their findings were compared with each other and with those at surgery. RESULTS: TRUS identified wall invasion in all ten cases and perirectal fat infiltration in all five cases in whom these were present. Node involvement was detected in five cases on TRUS and two of six cases on CT. Metastasis to bladder (one case) was not recognized by TRUS but was seen on CT. CONCLUSION: TRUS is inexpensive and superior to CT in staging early rectal carcinoma; limited depth of penetration is its major limitation. CT is useful for the diagnosis of advanced disease.

Malondialdehyde levels in patients with duodenal ulcer.

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a stable product of lipid peroxidation of membrane lipids. In view of its role in membrane lipid damage in various inflammatory disorders, MDA levels were estimated in 83 duodenal ulcer patients and 48 controls. MDA levels were found to be significantly higher in duodenal ulcer patients as compared to controls (mean +/- SD 280.2 +/- 109.0 versus 216.5 +/- 81.4 nm/dL, p < 0.001). These increased levels of MDA may represent either the result of peroxidative damage in the disease process or a pathogenetic factor enhancing the risk for duodenal ulcer.