Sperm DNA status in infertile patients with clinical varicocele.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if a potential relationship exists between sperm nuclear DNA damage and clinical varicocele and to determine the impact of clinical varicocele on standard semen parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study involving 30 infertile patients with clinical varicocele and 15 controls patients referred to our laboratory for routine spermiological exploration. Spermograms were performed and analyzed according to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines 2010. The DNA fragmentation was detected by the terminal desoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. RESULTS: The DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was significantly higher in patients with clinical varicocele compared to controls (13.3±3.4% versus 6.1±2.5%, P=0.0001). In addition, the DFI was positively and significantly correlated with the degree of severity of varicocele thus the DFI was 15.24±1.9% in patients with grade 3 versus 12.92±3.5% in those with grade 2(P<0.0001). However, an abnormality of at least one of the spermatic parameters was found in 90% of varicocele patients, and all semen characteristics such as sperm count, vitality, mobility and typical forms were decreased compared to the controls. Furthermore, statistically significant negative correlations were noted between sperm DNA fragmentation index and sperm concentration (P=0.0001), motility (P=0.03), and normal sperm morphology (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Clinical varicocele generates a significant increase of sperm abnormalities and DNA damage, and these changes are positively correlated with varicocele grade. Sperm DNA damage independent of its cause, may affect the quality of the ejaculated sperm and may have implications on patient's fertility potential. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Multiple unusual urological locations of hydatic cysts including kidney, retrovesical and spermatic cord. A new case report.

Human hydatidosis is endemic in regions with temperate climate where pastoral farming is common. It is frequent in the southern shore of the Mediterranean, particularly in the Maghreb countries. It remains asymptomatic for long period, and the diagnosis is often delayed. The most affected organs are the liver and lungs. Hydatic disease of the urinary tract is an unusual entity. Our case concerns multiple unusual locations of hydatic disease in the urinary tract, including renal, retrovesical and spermatic cord, associated with splenic and intraperitoneal locations. Coexistence of hydatic cysts in such locations of urinary tract has not been previously reported.

A New Way to Produce Cellobiose Carbonates Using Green Chemistry.

The preparation of cellulose derivatives using green (i.e., environmentally friendly) reagents would improve sustainability and reduce concerns arising from the use of non-green reagents. The objective of this work was to prepare cellobiose carbonate using a green reagent, dimethyl carbonate. The carbonation reaction was carried out in the presence of ethanolic potassium hydroxide solution and dimethyl carbonate for 6 h at a range of temperatures (25-70 °C). A cellobiose derivative was successfully prepared with a recovered yield of more than 70 % and characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy techniques. The presence of a grafted disaccharide with a degree of substitution higher than 2 was determined by (13) C NMR analysis. The spectra of the prepared cellobiose carbonate exhibited peaks that were associated with cellulose molecules (C1 -C6 ) and corresponded to carbonate functions at around 159.4 ppm.

[Bipolar versus monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate: a prospective randomized study]. / Résection transuréthrale de la prostate bipolaire versus monopolaire: étude prospective randomisée.

PURPOSE: To compare bipolar with standard monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospectively randomized study was conducted between January 2010 and September 2011. Primary end points studied were efficacy (maximum flow rate [Qmax], International Prostate Symptom Score) and safety (adverse events, decline in postoperative serum sodium [Na+] and haemoglobin [Hb] levels). Secondary end points were operation time and duration of irrigation, catheterization, and hospitalization. RESULTS: Sixty consecutive patients were randomized and completed the study, with 29 patients in the monopolar TURP group and 31 in the TURIS group. At baseline, the two groups were comparable in age, prostate volume, mean prostate-specific antigen value, International Prostate Symptom Score, and they had at least 12 months of follow-up. Declines in the mean postoperative serum Na+ for bipolar and monopolar TURP groups were 1.2 and 8.7 mmol/L, respectively. However, there was no statistical difference in the decline in postoperative Hb between the two groups. The mean catheterization time was 26.6 and 52 hours in the bipolar and standard groups, respectively. This difference was statistically significant as was the difference in the time to hospital discharge. The IPSS and Qmax improvements were comparable between the two groups at 12 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: No clinically relevant differences in short-term efficacy are existed between the two techniques, but bipolar TURP is preferable due to a more favorable safety profile and shorter catheterization duration.

Chemical composition and pulping of date palm rachis and Posidonia oceanica--a comparison with other wood and non-wood fibre sources.

In the present paper, the valorisation of two residues: Posidonia oceanica and date palm rachis was investigated. First, their chemical composition was studied and showed that they present amounts of holocellulose, lignin and cellulose similar to those encountered in softwood and hardwood. Extractives in different solvents and ash contents are relatively high. Moreover, ash composition assessment showed that silicon is the major component (17.7%) for P. oceanica. The high ash quantity and the low DP (about 370) may be considered as serious disadvantages of P. oceanica, in the pulping and papermaking context. Oppositely, the properties of rachis date palm and those of the ensuing pulp, obtained from a classical soda-anthraquinone cooking, demonstrated the suitability of this agricultural by-product for papermaking. Preliminary tests conducted on unrefined pulp suspensions and handsheets from date palm rachis in terms of freeness, Water Retention Value and mechanical properties allowed confirming the good quality of date palm rachis fibres.