Sperm DNA damage-the effect of stress and everyday life factors.

The clinical significance of sperm DNA damage lies in its association with natural conception rates and also might have a serious consequence on developmental outcome of the newborn. The aim of the present study is to determine whether stress and everyday life factors are associated with sperm DNA damage in adult men. The study population consisted of 286 men who attended the infertility clinic for diagnostic purposes and who had normal semen concentration of 20-300 m ml(-1) or with slight oligozoospermia (semen concentration of 15-20 m ml(-1)) (WHO, 1999). Participants were interviewed and provided a semen sample. The sperm chromatin structure assay was assessed using flow cytometry. In the present study, we found evidence for a relationship between sperm DNA damage parameters and everyday life factors. High and medium level of occupational stress and age increase DNA fragmentation index (P=0.03, P=0.004 and P=0.03, respectively). Other lifestyle factors that were positively associated with percentage of immature sperms (high DNA stainability index) included: obesity and cell phone use for more than 10 years (P=0.02 and P=0.04, respectively). Our findings indicate that stress and lifestyle factor may affect sperm DNA damage. Data from the present study showed a significant effect of age, obesity, mobile phone radiation and occupational stress on sperm DNA damage. As DNA fragmentation represents an extremely important parameter indicative of infertility and potential outcome of assisted reproduction treatment, and most of the lifestyle factors are easily modifiable, the information about factors that may affect DNA damage are important.

Occupational, life stress and family functioning: does it affect semen quality?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although psychological stress has been implicated as a cause of idiopathic infertility in both men and women, it has received little scientific attention among males as compared to females. The aim of the study was to examine the association between occupational, life stress, family functioning and semen quality. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population consisted of 327 men who were attending an infertility clinic for diagnostic purposes. Psychological stress was assessed based on two questionnaires: The Subjective Work Characteristics Questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale. The level of satisfaction with family functioning and support was evaluated by means of the APGAR Family Scale. The findings suggest that, on the one hand, exposure to occupational stressors can be negatively associated with semen quality (there was a positive association between stress and the percentage of sperm with DNA damage (p = 0.03) and atypical sperm (p = 0.05)); on the other hand, there was no correlation between the level of life stress and semen quality indicators. Negative associations were found between satisfaction with family functioning and the percentage of motile sperm cells (p = 0.02), VAP (p = 0.05), VSL (p = 0.05) and VCL (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The study indicates that occupational stress can affect male semen quality; however, due to limited data on this issue, the obtained results should be confirmed in longitudinal studies.

Peripheral blood dendritic cells in alcoholic and autoimmune liver disorders.

Little is known about effects of alcohol consumption on dendritic cell (DC) function and resultant immune response. However, quantitative and qualitative disturbances of DCs are speculated to be involved in alcohol-related as well as in other liver pathology. The present study aimed to evaluate changes in circulating DC subsets in alcoholic liver disease (N = 43), autoimmune hepatitis (N = 26) and primary biliary cirrhosis (N = 20). DCs isolated from the peripheral blood of recruited participants were stained with monoclonal antibodies against blood dendritic cell antigens (BDCAs) and estimated using the flow cytometry. Myeloid DCs were defined as BDCA-1(+)/CD19(-) cells, and lymphoid DCs as BDCA-2(+)/CD123(+) cells. Total numbers of circulating DCs in subjects with some liver diseases were markedly lower than in the healthy participants (p = 0.03). There was a significantly lower percentage of circulating BDCA-2(+)/CD123(+) (p = 0.02), and a tendency for the percentage of circulating BDCA-1(+)/CD19(-) cells to decrease in patients with liver diseases compared to the controls (p = 0.09). These results may suggest that decreased numbers of DCs may be responsible for reduced adaptive immune responses and increased susceptibility to infections and cancer development observed in patients exposed to alcohol. Moreover, numerical abnormalities of DCs may contribute to the breakdown of self-tolerance, a feature of autoimmune diseases.

Enhanced phenotypic and functional maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells from patients with active Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Disturbed immunoregulation and an inappropriate immune response to gut microflora is assumed to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Physiologically dendritic cells (DCs) as the professional antigen presenting cells play a crucial role in the control of intestinal inflammation and immune tolerance. In order to evaluate their role in the IBD we analyzed the phenotypic and functional properties of monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) generated from UC and CD patients following stimulation with TNF-α, lipopolisaccharide E. coli or hydrocortisone. Thirty seven patients with moderate to severe inflammation (19 UC, 18 CD) were recruited to the study. Monocyte-derived dendritic cell immunophenotypes and their endocytic ability were analysed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-23 secretion were investigated by ELISA. Both unstimulated and stimulated MoDCs generated from IBD patients had more mature phenotype and secreted elevated concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines as compared to a control group. The addition of LPS E. coli to culture media was associated with enhanced dendritic cell activation and maturation as compared to DCs stimulated only with TNF-α. This may suggest altered dendritic cell interactions with intestinal microflora in inflammatory bowel disease. Hydrocortisone decreases the numbers of mature dendritic cells and the proinflammatory cytokine concentrations in all cell culture types that may explain the efficacy of steroid therapy in inflammatory bowel disease.

Is melatonin involved in the irritable bowel syndrome?

There is a substantial evidence that large quantities of melatonin are produced in gastrointestinal tract, however, is still unclear which is the role of melatonin in digestive system in human physiology and pathophysiology. In the present study we investigated urinary excretion of a main melatonin metabolite, 6-sulphatoxymelatonin, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The investigation was carried out in 67 persons, both sexes, aged 20-45 years old who according to Rome III Criteria were diagnosed as sufferers of constipation (C-IBS, n=21 persons) or diarrhoea (D-IBS, n=24 persons) form of irritable bowel syndrome and as healthy subjects (K, n=22), matched for control. Samples were obtained from the collected diurnal urine. The concentration of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (6-SMLT) was measured with ELISA method, creatinine (crea) was automatically analyzed with biochemical analyzer and 6-SMLT/crea calculated. There were statistically significant differences between groups: the 6-SMLT/crea level was lower in C-IBS (103.86+/- 82.83 ng/mg) and D-IBS (112.72+/-85.29 ng/mg) groups compared to K group (202.7+/-89.28 ng/mg), respectively, p=0.002, p=0.003. There were no differences between C-IBS and D-IBS groups, however, there were observed differences between men and women with C-IBS. The 6-SMLT/crea. level was higher in women with C-IBS (139.31+/-96.45) compared to men with C-IBS (35.51+/-41.05) (p=0.04). These results suggest that different melatonin secretion and metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome.

HLA-G polymorphism and in vitro fertilization failure in a Polish population.

To investigate whether human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) gene polymorphism is associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure, we sequenced exons 2-4 of the HLA-G gene in 50 couples with three or more IVFs (including 10 couples with five or more IVFs) and 58 control fertile couples from a Polish population. Of the 10 different HLA-G alleles identified in our study subjects, neither allele was found to be associated with IVF. We also genotyped 50 couples with IVF and 71 control couples for the -725C>G variant in the promoter region and the 14 bp insertion or deletion polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region of the HLA-G gene. The frequency of -725GG or GC genotype in women with IVF and in control fertile women was similar [26% vs 25.3%; odds ratio (OR) = 1.0; P = 1.0]. The 14 bp ins/ins or ins/del genotype was more common in women with IVF than in control women (76.9% vs 59.1%; OR 2.4; P = 0.03), but the difference was not significant after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. The frequency of the ins/ins or ins/del genotype was particularly high (90%) in women who experienced five or more IVFs (OR = 6.2; P = 0.08), but again, the excess was not statistically significant, possibly because of small sample sizes. These results are in line with functional studies that show lower levels of HLA-G mRNA and protein related to the HLA-G allele including the 14 bp sequence and suggest that the insertion allele may be associated with an increased risk of IVF.

[The effect of prokinetic treatment and eradication of Helicobacter pylori on gastric emptying and symptoms of functional dyspepsia]. / Wplyw leczenia prokinetycznego i eradykacji Helicobacter pylori na opróznianie zoladka i objawy dyspepsji czynnosciowej.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to estimate clinical symptoms and gastric emptying in functional dyspepsia (f.d.) before and after treatment. METHODS: 40 patients were examined. Control group consisted of 10 healthy volunteers. The severity of symptoms was estimated in 0-3 score. Gastric emptying was measured with radionuclide method. Examinations were performed prior and after treatment with famotidine (group I), cisaprid + famotidine (group II), cisaprid (group III), eradication of H.p. (group IV). RESULTS: Significantly delayed gastric emptying was observed in patients with f.d. Severity of symptoms score was significantly reduced after treatment, and was: group. I 13.8-11.2, group II. 14.8-8.8, group III 13.7-6.9, group IV 13.3-9.0. Gastric emptying was improved after treatment in groups: II 64.3-45.5 and III 65.1-46.7 respectively. In groups I and IV there was a minor nonsignificant change in gastric emptying. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Gastric emptying is significantly delayed in patients with f.d. 2. Prokinetic therapy with cisapride results in the improvement of gastric emptying together with alleviation of clinical symptoms of f.d. 3. Antisecretory treatment with famotidine and eradication of Helicobacter pylori do not effect gastric emptying, but exerts positive clinical response.

[A case of secondary amyloidosis in Hodgkin's disease]. / Przypadek amyloidozy wtórnej w przebiegu ziarnicy zlosliwej.

A case of hepatic and intestinal secondary amyloidosis in 43 years old patient with Hodgkin's disease is presented. Diagnostic difficulties due to atypical localization of Hodgkin's disease were discussed. Therapeutic problems were caused by severe hepatic insufficiency.

[A case of gastric lymphoma in the course of Epstein-Barr virus infection]. / Przypadek chloniaka zoladka w przebiegu zakazenia wirusem Epsteina-Barr.

A case of 18 year old patient with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is presented. Serious organ complications were observed in the course of the disease. Patient's death was a result of the massive gastrointestinal bleeding caused by gastric lymphoma, which was confirmed endoscopically and histopathologically. A possible role of EBV infection in the development of lymphomas is shortly discussed.

[Activity of enkephalinase (EC.3.4.24.11). Neutral endopeptidase (NEP)in human digestive tract epithelial cells]. / Aktywnosc enkefalinazy (EC. 3.4. 24. 11). Neutralnej endopeptydazy (NEP) w komórkach nablonka przewodu pokarmowego czlowieka.

The activity was studied of enkephalinase (endopeptidase 24.11, neutral endopeptidase)--a membrane enzyme of epithelial cells within human digestive tract (in the stomach, duodenum, small intestine, ascending, descending and sigmoid colon, and rectum). The enzyme activity was determined by column method using the labelled substrate (H-D-AlaLeu)--enkephalin and the selective enkephalin inhibitor--thiorfan in the presence of bestatin and captopril--inhibitors of aminopeptidases and angiotensin converting enzyme respectively. The highest enkephalinase activity was found in the duodenal epithelium (77.3 8.0 fmol of the substrate/min/mg of protein) and in the small intestine (23.4 0.9 fmol/min/mg of protein) with its gradual decrease when progressing down the gastrointestinal tract. This result confirms the hypothesis of enkephalinase participation in protein hydrolysis processes.

The evaluation of clinical results of hepatic artery embolization.

The clinical symptoms and liver function following hepatic artery embolization (h.a.e.) in patients with inoperable liver neoplasms were evaluated. The study was performed on 28 patients 11 of whom were male in the age of 53-72 years and 17 female aged 16-76. Before embolization liver function was evaluated on the basis of clinical data and laboratory tests. Transcatheter hepatic artery embolization was performed using Spongostan. Following h.a.e. clinical status and biochemical analysis of blood and urine were checked repeatedly. Twenty-two patients developed post embolization syndrome dominated by: epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting. Fourteen patients and disturbed intestinal motoric. All those symptoms were transient and lasted 1-3 days. Elevated body temperature was observed in 14 patients. There was a statistically significant increase of ALAT & AspAT after embolization lasting for a few days. There were however no statistically significant changes in the results of tymol test and total bilirubin level in blood.

[Expression of HLA-DR antigens by colonic epithelium in ulcerative colitis]. / Ekspresja antygenów HLA-DR przez nablonek okreznicy we wrzodziejacym zapaleniu jelita grubego.

Expression of HLA-DR antigens by colon epithelium was examined in 35 patients with ulcerative colitis (uc) among whom 21 were in relapse and 14 in remission. Control group consisted of 18 subjects with functional disorders of alimentary tract. Immunohistochemical technique using immunoperoxidase was applied. Colon epithelial cells from all control subjects were HLA-DR negative. Cells of 17 out of 21 patients with ulcerative colitis in relapse and in 4 of 14 patients in remission were HLA-DR positive. No significant correlation was observed between the number of patients with HLA-DR positive epithelium and the insensitive of inflammation estimated clinically, endoscopically and histologically. 6 patients with initially HLA-DR positive epithelium during relapse were studied for the second time and in 4 of them the negative reaction was observed after remission occurred. The aberrant expression of HLA-DR may play an important role in the initiation and/or perpetuation of inflammatory process in ulcerative colitis.

Characterisation and quantification of mucosal cytokine that induces epithelial histocompatibility locus antigen-DR expression in inflammatory bowel disease.

Epithelial histocompatibility locus antigen (HLA) class II expression was studied to evaluate its induction by mucosal mononuclear cells in inflammatory bowel disease and to characterise the responsible cytokine. Unstimulated cells of the HT-29 epithelial cell line did not produce class II molecules. After being stimulated with the mitogenic lectin phytohaemagglutinin mucosal mononuclear cells released a cytokine that induced epithelial HLA-DR expression. The cytokine had the physicochemical and immunological characteristics of interferon-gamma, and no additional cytokines were detected.