[Ejaculate microflora sensitivity to lactoferrin in chronic prostatitis]. / Chuvstvitel'nost' k laktoferrinu mikroflory éiakuliata pri khronicheskom prostatite

To determine an antimicrobial action of lactoferrin on bacterial flora of ejaculate in chronic prostatitis, we examined 124 patients with various diseases of male reproductive system at the age between 17 and 56. A total of 280 strains were used as test microorganisms (MO). Sensitivity of the latter to lactoferrin was studied with a human lactoferrin apoform. MO isolated from patients with marked dysbiosis were resistant to lactoferrin (94%). MO, not leading in cenosis, were more sensitive to lactoferrin than MO of the main colonies grown after seeding. Reproductive dysfunction was accompanied by higher occurrence of strains resistant to lactoferrin. The least sensitivity to lactoferrin was registered in asthenozoospermia. Lactoferrin resistance of MO may raise MO pathogenicity. When lactoferrin-resistant strains predominate in microbiocenosis, it is an unfavourable prognostic sign in relation to development of complications, primarily subfertility.

[Lactoferrin assay in urethritis and urethral prostatitis]. / Opredelenie laktoferrina pri uretritakh i uretroprostatitakh.

An immunochemical study of prostatic secretions in 97 patients with urethritis and urethroprostatitis has detected a significant rise of lactoferrin level in mixed infections (trichomonads + chlamydia and trichomonads + uroplasma--17 patients) versus control (14 healthy males) and group as a whole. In the control group a mean lactoferrin level was 51.2 +/- 8.4 mg/l (12 mg/l-67.3 mg/l), in the group as a whole 106 +/- 41.5 mg/l (19.5 mg/l to 334.8 mg/l) in patients with mixed infection 221.25 (102.9 mg/l to 334.8 mg/l). The assessment of diagnostic significance of the immunochemical test for lactoferrin in detection of mixed infections in urethritis and urethroprostatitis has shown that in threshold level of 150 mg/l the test's specificity was 87.5%, sensitivity 94.1%, effectiveness 88.65%, prognostic value of positive result 61.5%, of negative result 98.59%; in threshold level 200 mg/l the respective values were 100, 52.9, 91.75, 100 and 90.9%. Practical application of the proposed immunochemical test in detection of mono- and mixed infection is discussed.

[Prostatic cancer: immunochemical control over chemotherapy]. / Immunokhimicheskii kontrol' khimioterapii raka predstatel'noi zhelezy.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was measured in blood-serum of patients with prostatic cancer (PC) from two groups. Group 1 received estrogens, alkylating cytostatic, antracycline antibiotic and antimetabolite; group 2--LH releasing hormone (RHLH) analog. The immunochemical test was made weekly for 52 weeks. Group 2 patients had a high PSA level reaching maximum on week 6 (59.32 +/- 5.37 microg/l). After that, the PSA level decreased. The initial level was reached on week 17. On week 52 a mean PSA concentration made up 16.78 +/- 1.88 micrograms/l. As to group 1, no trend to serum PSA elevation was seen for two weeks, than it slowly rose and on week 8 it converted to plateau (mean level 51.5 micrograms/l). Lowering occurred slowly beginning on week 19. The initial level was reached only on the treatment week 30-31 being to the end of the treatment 22.06 +/- 1.53 micrograms/l. Assay for other cancer markers detected elevation of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in 21.8% of group 1 patients after 21-22 weeks of the treatment. Serum level of PSA is recommended for control over chemotherapy of prostatic cancer. The role of drugs in induction of AFP resynthesis is not discussed.

[Selenium correction of male subfertility]. / Primenenie selena dlia korrektsii subfertil'nosti u muzhchin.

To study the effect of selenium in subfertile men, three groups of men were studied. Group 1--31 subfertile men living in healthy environment, group 2--25 subfertile men exposed for a long time to low doses of gas containing hydrogen sulfide, group 3--control 43 fertile men. Men of groups 1 and 2 received 3 courses of selenium (3.5 microg/kg/day for 30 days). Before the treatment and after each course ejaculate fertility was assessed by spermogram, enzyme activity of alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) and lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), concentrations of prostatic acid phosphatase, sperm-specific inhibitor tripsin and prostate-specific antigen. Selenium proved effective, the response being higher in group 2 than in group 1. The causes of this difference are discussed. It is thought possible to use selenium for correction of some subfertility forms in men.

[Iron and nonheme iron protein metabolism in ejaculates with varying degrees of fertility]. / Obmen zheleza i negemovykh ferroproteinov v éiakuliatakh razlichnoi fertil'nosti.

Spermoplasm of 21 fertile and 96 subfertile males was examined for Fe, transferrin and scaferrin the concentrations of which were compared to 14 morphofunctional and physicochemical parameters of ejaculate fertility. Fe and non-hemic spermoplasm ferroproteins are involved in male reproduction: participate in ejaculate thinning, in formation of viscosity and sperm pH, are important for normal spermatogenesis and intercellular interactions. The findings can be applied in diagnosis of male subfertility and control of ongoing treatment, hold promise for improvement of fertilizing ability of the sperm used for artificial insemination and extracorporeal fertilization.

[The protein spectrum of ejaculates with different fertilities]. / Belkovyi spektr éiakuliatov razlichnoi fertil'nosti.

Immunochemical assay for protein composition was made in 22 fertile and 110 subfertile human sperm samples. Changes in the levels of albumin, prostatic acid phosphatase, sperm-specific tripsin inhibitor, prostate-specific antigen and alpha-2-microglobulin of fertility in spermoplasm were studied in different disturbances of ejaculate fecundating ability. The latter was determined by 14 morphofunctional and physicochemical criteria of sperm fertility. With an increase of the ejaculate volume above 5 ml protein homeostasis showed abnormality. The authors consider functional value of the study proteins in ejaculate, pattern of spermatozoid motor activity, maintenance of normal spermoplasmic pH; discuss practical opportunities of the data obtained for increasing fertility of the sperm used in artificial fertilization, diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

[The enzymatic activity of the seminal plasma in ejaculates of different fertilities]. / Aktivnost' fermentov spermoplazmy v eiakuliatakh razlichnoi fertil'nosti.

Enzymatic ejaculates activity was studied in 15 fertile and 65 subfertile samples of human sperm. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), gamma-glutamyl transferase (EC 2.3.2.2), creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2), total lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) and lactate dehydrogenase-1 was compared to spermogram findings according to 14 morphological and physicochemical criteria of fertility. The enzyme activity depends on functioning of the testes, seminal vesiculae, prostate, bulbourethral glands and is involved in formation of fertility. The findings allowed elucidation of the role of synthesis and some function of spermoplasma enzymes. Practical applications of the above data are discussed in the treatment of male infertility and to raise fertilizing power of the sperm in artificial insemination.