淫羊藿（苷）对男性生殖系统的作用和机制

淫羊藿是一种常用的中药材,淫羊藿苷是从淫羊藿中提取的一种黄酮类化合物,也是淫羊藿中最主要的活性物质。研究发现,淫羊藿苷具有促进成骨细胞的生成和活化、调节免疫、抗衰老和抗炎等多种功能。临床上淫羊藿（苷）用于治疗生殖系统、骨关节系统、呼吸系统、神经系统、心血管系统和免疫系统等多种疾病。淫羊藿（苷）对男性生殖系统的作用及机制主要包括具有雄性激素样作用,促进睾内睾酮的合成和分泌。淫羊藿（苷）通过改善精子发生的微环境、增强睾丸抗氧化作用促进精子生成,增加精子密度,改善精子活力,减缓生殖衰退。此外,淫羊藿（苷）可促进阴茎勃起,治疗勃起功能障碍及早泄。     

Late-onset stress symptomatology (LOSS) scale – short form: development and validation

Objectives: Late-onset stress symptomatology (LOSS) is a phenomenon observed in older combat veterans who experience increased combat-related thoughts, feelings, and reminiscences corresponding with the changes and challenges of aging. Previously, we developed the LOSS Scale to assess LOSS. This paper describes the development and validation of a LOSS Scale short form (LOSS-SF) to screen veterans in various settings who may be actively re-examining their past wartime experiences.

Method: Three studies examined the reliability and validity of the LOSS-SF in separate samples of male combat veterans age 55 and older (total N = 346). Veterans were administered measures via telephone and mail survey. Correlation and regression analyses examined the reliability and validity of the LOSS-SF.

Results: The LOSS-SF exhibited strong internal consistency (alpha = .93), test-retest reliability (2 week interval on average; r = .88), and good concurrent validity with the LOSS Scale (r = .81). Convergent and divergent validity were supported by the pattern of correlations between the LOSS-SF and other construct measures.

Conclusion: The LOSS-SF is a reliable and valid measure to quickly assess thoughts, feelings, and reminiscences about past combat experiences in older veterans and identify those veterans in distress who may benefit from psychological interventions..     

Oxidative stress markers in seminal plasma of idiopathic infertile men may be associated with glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 null genotypes

This study aimed to investigate the association between glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1 and T1 null genotypes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in male infertility. For this purpose, semen samples were collected from fertile and infertile subjects, and then they were genotyped for GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes using multiplex-PCR. The TBARS, TAC and NO levels in seminal plasma were then measured via the ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). A significant association was observed between GSTT1 null genotype and oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. But, the GSTM1 null genotype was merely associated with teratozoospermia. Moreover, the GSTT1−/GSTM1+ combined genotype was associated with all subgroups of male infertility. Besides, an association was observed between GSTT1−/GSTM1− genotype and asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. Further analysis showed that the GSTT1 null genotype was associated with increased NO in asthenozoospermia. Also, the GSTT1 null genotype was associated with increased TBARS in oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. As well, GSTM1 null genotype was associated with decreased TAC and increased NO in asthenozoospermia respectively. As a preliminary conclusion, the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes could be considered as genetic risk factors for male infertility, interfering with some oxidative stress markers in infertile men.     

Tratamiento empírico de la oligoastenoteratozoospermia idiopática

Male infertility accounts for 50% of the causes of infertile couples, being more than 30% of unknown etiology. In these cases, empiric treatment can be an option prior to the application of assisted reproduction techniques. Empiric treatment can be categorized as hormonal, such as gonadotropins, antiestrogens and aromatase inhibitors, and antioxidant, with vitamins, trace elements and carnitine, among others. Although scientifically acceptable evidence is limited due to the absence of large randomized and controlled clinical trials, recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses show that treatment with gonadotropins, antiestrogens and antioxidants increases pregnancy and live birth rates and improves seminal parameters. Empiric medical treatment for idiopathic infertility can be considered in specific cases in order to improve semen quality and spontaneous fertility.     

Benign breast disorders

Benign breast disorders encompass a wide range of presentations and account for approximately 90% of breast outpatient referrals. Although the conditions discussed in this article are labelled ‘benign’, they can cause much anguish for the patient. A specialist breast clinician frequently has the privilege of being able to reassure patients in a single trip to the breast department and unburden them from their worry. One-stop breast clinics were designed to ensure that patients with worrying symptoms are promptly seen to aide early detection of breast cancer and optimize patient outcomes. The diagnostic multidisciplinary team consists of a specialist breast clinician, breast radiologist, pathologist and breast care nurses. Most patients with benign breast disorders can be reassured, with surgery limited to a few to aide definite diagnosis or as a last resort when conservative measures have failed. This is a comprehensive overview of benign breast disorders and covers all that is required for the MRCS examination and serves as a revision aide for FRCS candidates.     

MicroRNA-based regulatory circuit involved in sperm infertility

miRNAs (MicroRNAs), known as noncoding and important endogenous factors regulating the expression protein-coding genes, are vital regulators in each biological process. Thus, this study aims to explore the key role of four microRNAs in regulating the spermatogenesis. To conduct this experiment, 55 infertile and fertile men provided the study with the sperm and testicular tissue samples. To study the spermatozoa in terms of the morphology, Diff-Quick was applied. Then, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted on samples. Our data indicated that in contrast to the miR-15b, significant increasing of miR-383 and miR-122 occurred in both severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (SOAT) and moderate oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (MOAT) compared to normal sperm group (N). In addition, it was observed that miR-15b and miR-122 increased in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) compared with obstructive azoospermia (OA) group. Expression levels of target genes including P53, CASPASE-9 and CYCLIN D1 underwent principle changes according to miRNAs expression level. Our finding indicated that miRNAs had essential role in the regulation of spermatogenesis, and their expression altering was associated with sperm abnormalities. Thus, microRNAs can be introduced as useful biomarkers to determine male infertility reasons to choose the effective treatment.     

The possible role of NF-κB1 Rs28362491 polymorphism in male fertility of Egyptian population

Male reproductive impairment is responsible for at least 50% of cases of couple infertility. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) has been functionally linked to germ cell apoptosis, which may affect human fertility. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the rs28362491 SNP of the NF-κB1 gene and infertility in Egyptian men. In this case–control study, semen and blood samples of 247 infertile men, constituting the case group, and of 113 fertile healthy men as the control group were analysed. All study participants were genotyped for polymorphism of the NF-κB1 gene (rs28362491) by the polymerase chain reaction—restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Heterozygous I/D genotype of the NF-κB1 rs28362491 polymorphism was associated with a significantly lower risk of poor semen quality, including asthenozoospermia, astheno–teratozoospermia, and oligo–astheno–teratozoospermia, when compared to I/I genotype (odds ratio = 0.25, 0.26, 0.18, p < .0005, <.0005, <.0005) respectively. Overall, the presence of the D allele was associated with a significantly decreased risk of poor sperm quality as compared to the I allele (odds ratio = 0.56, 0.64, 0.49, p = .050, .038, .001). In conclusion, these results suggest that heterozygosity of the NF-κB1 gene may play a protecting role against male infertility in Egyptians.