Effect of psychological stress on fertility hormones and seminal quality in male partners of infertile couples

The present study evaluated the effect of psychological stress on male fertility hormones and seminal quality in male partner of infertile couples. Seventy male partners of infertile couples were evaluated for level of psychological stress using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS) questionnaire, serum total testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) by electrochemiluminescence assay and serum GnRH by ELISA. Seminal analysis was performed as per WHO guideline. Nineteen (27%) of them had HADS anxiety and depression score ≥8 (abnormal HADS score). The persons having abnormal HADS had lower serum total testosterone, higher serum FSH and LH than those of persons having normal HADS. Serum total testosterone correlated negatively with HADS, but LH and FSH correlated positively. There was no change in GnRH with the change in stress or testosterone levels. Sperm count, motility and morphologically normal spermatozoa were lower in persons having abnormal HADS. Sperm count correlated positively with total testosterone and negatively with FSH and LH. Abnormal sperm motility and morphology were related to lower testosterone and higher LH and FSH levels. Psychological stress primarily lowers serum total testosterone level with secondary rise in serum LH and FSH levels altering seminal quality. Stress management is warranted for male infertility cases.     

A comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of an anorganic bone matrix/cell binding peptide with an open flap debridement in human infrabony defects: a clinical and radiographic study

AIM: The development of biologic modalities designed to enhance bone regeneration and wound healing of specific periodontal sites continues to unfold. This is accomplished through the cell binding activity of Type-I collagen provided by a synthetic cell binding peptide (P-15) which is incorporated in a scaffold of anorganic bovine matrix (ABM). This combination is designed to facilitate the attachment, migration, and differentiation of cells. The objective of this study is to clinically and radiographically evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of ABM and P-15 (ABM/P-15) 'putty' during regenerative periodontal procedures. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 20 interproximal intraosseous defects in 16 patients, (8 males, 8 females), age 22-48 years (mean 34.45) were recruited and divided equally into two experimental groups. Following open flap debridement (OFD), the defect sites in a test group were grafted with a bovine-derived xenograft enriched with a cell binding peptide. The defect sites in a control group were treated with only OFD. Appropriate periodontal maintenance schedules were followed; at six months, clinical and radiographic assessments for soft tissue and hard tissue were performed for documentation and finalization of results. RESULTS: Statistical analysis using student paired 't' test analyses of the patient mean value from the 16 patients revealed the ABM/P-15 'putty' graft group demonstrated significantly better mean defect fill of 3.4 + 0.7 mm (70.5%) versus mean defect fill of 0.9 mm (17.33%) for defects treated with only OFD. Soft tissue findings showed significant differences among treatment with ABM/P-15 compared to OFD. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the use of P-15 synthetic cell binding peptide combined with ABM yields better clinical results in conjunction with OFD than with OFD alone.     

Pathogenesis of periodontitis: role of cytokines in host response

There is no doubt that plaque bacteria are necessary to initiate disease and drive the chronic inflammatory response in the periodontal tissues. At the same time, there is strong evidence that destructive processes occurring as part of the host inflammatory response are responsible for the majority of the hard- and soft-tissue breakdown leading to the clinical signs of periodontitis. The characteristic clinical signs of chronic periodontitis occur mainly as a result of activation of host-derived immune and inflammatory defense mechanism. IL-1 and TNF induce expression of other mediators that amplify the inflammatory response, such as prostaglandins, and lead to production of lytic enzymes and stimulate the production of chemokines. Investigations on the soluble protein delivery of antagonists to IL-1 and TNF in animal models have shown promising results. Collectively, the clinical, radiographic, and biochemical findings of these experiments show that IL-1 and TNF-alpha antagonists block the progression of the inflammatory cell infiltrate towards the alveolar crest and the recruitment of osteoclasts, and prevent the periodontal lesions may destroy the soluble cytokine antagonists prior to their peak activity, which may necessitate more frequent administration of the active agents to the defects. Thus, gene transfer of TNF receptor antagonists and IL-1ra may offer a more efficient mode of delivery of disease controlling agents to the periodontal structures. Periodontal treatment through the ages has focused on the reduction of bacterial infection by mechanical removal of infectious agents (i.e., SRP). Attempts at elimination of infectious agents often do not represent a definitive therapy in periodontitis, necessitating the administration of more sophisticated biological treatment modalities. A thorough understanding of the host inflammatory response in periodontal pathogenesis presents the opportunity for exploiting new treatment strategies for periodontitis by means of host response modulation. The rationale behind this approach is to aid the host in its fight against infectious agents by supplementing the natural inherent defense mechanism or to modify its responses by changing the course of inflammatory systems. Therefore, pharmaceutical inhibition of host response pathways that mimic endogenous anti-inflammatory mechanisms may prove to be an effective strategy for treating periodontal diseases. This would require the development of polypharmaceutical approaches controlling all pathways associated with inflammation and tissue destruction. Current research has focused on the use of SDD as a treatment modality, and SDD is the only systemically used host modulatory drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.     

Enalapril induced severe hyponatremia and altered sensorium in a child

Enalapril is an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor widely used in children for treatment of hypertension and congestive cardiac failure. We report a 5-year-old boy who developed severe hyponatremia and altered sensorium on enalapril therapy. The serum sodium gradually became normal within 3 days. The patient's sensorium improved significantly on correction of hyponatremia. Through this case, we highlight the importance of monitoring serum sodium in patients on enalapril therapy.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 5-formyl-6-arylimidazo(2,1-b)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-N-(dimethylaminomethi no) sulfonamides as antitumor agents.

In search for potential anti cancer drug candidates in imidazo (2,1-b)-1,3,4-thiadiazole series, two series of 5-formyl-6-arylimidazo(2,1-b)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-N- (dimethylaminomethino) sulfonamides and 5-bromo-6-aryl/ethylacetateimidazo(2,1-b)-1,3,4- thiadiazole-2-sulfonamides were synthesised. All compounds showed significant cytotoxic effects (log10 GI50 < -4.0, log molar drug concentration required to cause 50% growth inhibition) against a variety of human tumor cell lines of the National Cancer Institute in vitro screen, including cells derived from solid tumors such as non-small cell lung, colon, central nervous system, melanoma, ovarian, prostate and breast cancer, and also few cell lines of leukemia and renal cancer. Introduction of a formyl group at the 5- and substituted aromatic group at 6-position generated compounds with potent antitumor activity. Incorporation of a bromo at 5- and ester group at 6-position produced compounds with reduced activity.