Blood serum and seminal plasma selenium, total antioxidant capacity and coenzyme q10 levels in relation to semen parameters in men with idiopathic infertility.

In this case-control study, we aimed to evaluate the serum and seminal plasma levels of Selenium (Se), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ-10) and determine their relationship with sperm concentration, motility, and morphology in men with idiopathic infertility. A total of 59 subjects were enrolled in the study. Forty four patients were diagnosed with idiopathic male infertility and had abnormal sperm parameters, and 15 subjects had normal sperm parameters with proven fertility. Serum Se, semen Se, and semen TAC levels were significantly different in the fertile and infertile groups (p<0.01, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). However, serum TAC, serum, and seminal plasma CoQ-10 levels did not differ between fertile and infertile groups. When the levels of the measured parameters were compared in serum and seminal plasma, serum levels of Se were found to be correlated positively with the semen levels in all subjects included into the study (N=59) (r=0.46, p<0.01). A relationship was found between neither serum and semen levels of TAC nor between serum and semen levels of CoQ-10. Correlations among measured serum and semen parameters with sperm parameters demonstrated that both the serum and semen levels of Se were correlated positively with spermatozoa concentration, motility, and morphology. Additionally, seminal plasma levels of TAC correlated positively with all these sperm parameters. On the other hand, seminal plasma levels of CoQ-10 correlated only with sperm morphology but not with concentration or motility. No relationship was observed between serum levels of TAC or serum levels of CoQ-10 and sperm parameters. In conclusion, serum and seminal plasma Se deficiency may be a prominent determinant of abnormal sperm parameters and idiopathic male infertility. Measurement of serum Se levels may help determine nutritional status and antioxidant capacity in infertile patients, which may help distinguish those patients who will benefit from supplementation therapy.

A study on the adsorption characteristics of an amphiphilic phenothiazine drug on activated charcoal in the presence of surfactants.

In this paper the adsorption of amphiphilic phenothiazine drug Thioridazine hydrochloride (THCl) on Activated charcoal (AC) surface was studied in aqueous solutions. The effects of different types of surfactants anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and lithium dodecylsulfate (LiDS), cationic cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and nonionic TritonX-100 (TX-100) micelles on the adsorption were reported. It was found that the Langmuir isotherm appears to fit the isotherm data better than the Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption of THCl was reduced in the presence of cationic CTAB bearing the same charge as THCl while presence of SDS and LiDs did not change significantly adsorption capacity of THCl on AC except the shape of the isotherm. The presence of TX-100 micelles significantly increased adsorption of THCl on AC. Kinetic measurements showed that the adsorption equilibrium of THCl was attained within 30 min in aqueous media while in the presence of 10mM anionic micelles the adsorption equilibrium of THCl reached the equilibrium almost in 1 min. The kinetics of adsorption in view of three kinetic models i.e. the first-order Lagergren model, the pseudo-second-order model and the intraparticle diffusion model has been discussed. The adsorption rate constants of THCl onto AC in the presence of anionic micelles are higher than in aqueous media for both kinetics models and the second-order model provides the best correlation of data in the absence and presence of micelles. In order to gain further insight into the adsorption mechanism of THCl on AC, association of THCl with surfactants was also studied by absorption spectra. Binding constants of THCl to micelles were calculated by means of Benesi-Hildebrand Equation to provide more precise comparison of the effect of surfactants on the adsorption of THCl.

Interaction of epirubicin HCl with surfactants: effect of NaCl and glucose.

The interaction of an antitumoural drug, Epirubicin HCl, with anionic (sodiumdodecylsulfate; SDS), cationic (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide; CTAB), and nonionic (t-octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol; TX-100, polyoxyethylenesorbitanmonolaurate; Tween 20) surfactants has been studied by absorption spectra as a function of surfactant concentration ranging from the premicellar to postmicellar region. At the concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the equilibrium complex formation constant between Epirubicin cations and SDS anions has been determined by Job's method. Above the CMC, binding constant (K(b)) of Epirubicin to various types of micelles has been calculated by means of the Benesi-Hildebrand Equation. The nonionic surfactant micelles showed stronger interaction than the ionic SDS micelles, and the binding tendency of Epirubicin followed the order: Tween 20 > TX-100 > SDS. Binding of Epirubicin also has been studied in the presence of NaCl and glucose because it is administered to patients intravenously in 0.9% NaCl or 5% glucose solution. The additives have been observed to affect the CMC of the surfactants and the Epirubicin-micelle binding constant appreciably. The presence of NaCl and glucose lowered the CMC of all the surfactants studied. The binding constant of Epirubicin decreased in the presence of NaCl but increased in the presence of glucose. The equilibrium complex formation constant between Epirubicin and SDS decreased in the presence of NaCl compared with purely aqueous media.