Low-level laser therapy to recovery testicular degeneration in rams: effects on seminal characteristics,scrotal temperature,plasma testosterone concentration,and testes histopathology

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to recovery testicular degeneration in rams. In the first study, rams were induced to testicular degeneration by scrotal insulation, and then, they were treated using LLLT at 28 J/cm² (INS28) or 56 J/cm² (INS56) energy densities. Sperm kinetics, morphology, and membranes integrity as well as proportion of lumen area in seminiferous tubule were assessed. In the second study, rams were submitted or not to scrotal insulation and treated or not by the best protocol of LLLT defined by experiment 1 (INS28). In this study were evaluated sperm kinetics, morphology, membranes integrity, ROS production, and DNA integrity. Testosterone serum concentration and proportion of lumen area in seminiferous tubule were also analyzed. Insulation was effective in promoting sperm injuries in both experiments. Biostimulatory effect was observed in experiment 1: INS28 presented smaller proportion of lumen area (P?=?0.0001) and less degeneration degree (P?=?0.0002). However, in experiment 2, there was no difference between the groups (P?=?0.17). In addition, LLLT did not improve sperm quality, and there was a decreasing for total and progressive motility (P?=?0.02) and integrity of sperm membranes (P?=?0.01) in LLLT-treated groups. Moreover, testosterone concentration was not improved by LLLT (P?=?0.37). Stimulation of aerobic phosphorylation by LLLT may have led to a deregulated increase in ROS leading to sperm damages. Thus, LLLT at energy of 28 J/cm² (808 nm of wavelength and 30 mW of power output) can induce sperm damages and increase the quantity of cells in seminiferous tubule in rams.     

Randomized trial of predilation versus direct stenting for treatment of carotid artery stenosis

BackgroundA controversial aspect of carotid artery stenting (CAS) is the placement of a stent with or without predilation. The study was designed to test the hypothesis that direct stenting (DS) was not inferior to CAS with predilation.MethodsElective CAS with filter protection was performed in 205 consecutive, unselected patients with carotid artery stenosis (> 50% if symptomatic and ≥ 75% if asymptomatic by Doppler assessment) who were randomly assigned to CAS with predilation (n = 100) or direct stenting (DS, n = 105). Filter and stent selection were left to the operator's discretion. The study end-point was the angiographic success, defined as ≤ 30% angiographic residual stenosis after CAS without abnormal angiographic findings in cerebral circulation and without cross-over to predilation in the DS group.ResultsAt baseline, patient clinical characteristics and stenosis anatomic features did not differ between groups. Angiographic success was 99% and 97%, p = 0.33, in predilation and DS, respectively. No cross-over to predilation occurred in the DS group. Procedural time was shorter in DS as compared to predilation (24.3 ± 7% versus 19.9 ± 6%, p = 0.001) and visible debris were more frequently captured in predilation as compared to DS (50% versus 36%, p = 0.003). No peri-procedural and 30-day death or major stroke occurred in both groups. Minor stroke and TIA rates were similar in either group (2% versus 0% and 8% versus 5.7%, p = ns, respectively).ConclusionIn an unselected, consecutive series of patients submitted to CAS, DS is a feasible technique and is not inferior to CAS with predilation.     

Association between erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease: a case report study

Evidence is accumulating in favor of classifying erectile dysfunction (ED) as a vascular disorder. There are three main clinical scenarios in which ED and coronary artery disease (CAD) may coexist: the patient with ED who later develops CAD, the patient with overt CAD who is casually found to have ED, and the patient with acute coronary syndrome who has normal sexual function. This study presents three cases and discusses a "putative" pathophysiological mechanism underlying all these clinical presentations. Further studies, coupling functional and structural changes of coronary circulation with those of penile (i.e., dynamic penile test) circulation in each of these situations are mandatory to support this hypothesis.     

A V141L polymorphism of the human LRMP gene is associated with survival of lung cancer patients

Mouse Lrmp and Casc1 genes are candidates for the pulmonaryadenoma susceptibility 1 (Pas1) locus, the major determinantof strain variation in lung tumor susceptibility. These genescontain coding and non-coding single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) strongly associated with lung tumor risk in mice. Analysisof LRMP and CASC1 gene SNPs in 361 lung adenocarcinoma (ADCA)patients and 327 healthy controls revealed common SNPs in LRMP(V141L and S197C) and CASC1 (R33S and three intronic variations),and none showed a significant association with lung ADCA risk.However, in the time-dependent Cox regression model, after adjustmentfor age, gender, smoking history and clinical stage, the carrierstatus of the Leu variation (V141L) of the LRMP gene was associatedwith higher mortality in patients with age at tumor onset     

Maternal Supplementation with Cow’s Milk Naturally Enriched with PUFA Alters the Metabolism of Sows and the Fatty Acid Profile of the Offspring

The study aimed to evaluate the supplementation of gilts with cow’s milk naturally enriched with n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on reproductive outcomes, and the serum biochemical and FA profile of swine females and their offspring. During 316 days, 30 gilts were distributed into three groups: (1) Control, fed a basal diet + milk from cows without oil; (2) n-3, fed a basal diet + milk from cows fed a diet enriched with linseed oil; (3) n-6, fed a basal diet + milk from cows fed a diet enriched with soybean oil. The gilts receiving the diets containing PUFA had higher serum urea and very-low-density lipoprotein levels and lower serum total protein and low-density lipoprotein levels compared to the Control group. Females supplemented with n-3 presented higher serum palmitic acid and γ-linolenic acid levels than those fed n-6. Piglets from the Control group were heavier at birth than those from females supplemented with enriched milk. The piglets from females receiving enriched milk had 140 g higher body weight from 1 to 21 days old compared to the Control group, and greater average daily weight gain from 7 to 14 days old. The serum eicosapentaenoic acid level of piglets fed n-3 was 69% higher than those fed n-6, which reduced the AA/EPA ratio. Gilts supplemented with PUFA-enriched cow’s milk showed changes in their serum palmitic and γ-linolenic acid levels, in addition to improved performance, EPA concentration and consequently reduced AA/EPA ratio in their piglets, demonstrating beneficial results for their progeny.     

In vitro osteogenesis on a highly bioactive glass-ceramic (Biosilicate)

One of the strategies to improve the mechanical performance of bioactive glasses for load-bearing implant devices has been the development of glass-ceramic materials. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a highly bioactive, fully-crystallized glass-ceramic (Biosilicate) of the system P(2)O(5)-Na(2)O-CaO-SiO(2) on various key parameters of in vitro osteogenesis. Surface characterization was carried out by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Osteogenic cells were obtained by enzymatic digestion of newborn rat calvarial bone and by growing on Biosilicate discs and on control bioactive glass surfaces (Biosilicate) parent glass and Bioglass(R) 45S5) for periods of up to 17 days. All materials developed an apatite layer in simulated body fluid for 24h. Additionally, as early as 12 h under culture conditions and in the absence of cells, all surfaces developed a layer of silica-gel that was gradually covered by amorphous calcium phosphate deposits, which remained amorphous up to 72 h. During the proliferative phase of osteogenic cultures, the majority of cells exhibited disassembly of the actin cytoskeleton, whereas reassembly of actin stress fibers took place only in areas of cell multilayering by day 5. Although no significant differences were detected in terms of total protein content and alkaline phosphatase activity at days 11 and 17, Biosilicate supported significantly larger areas of calcified matrix at day 17. The results indicate that full crystallization of bioactive glasses in a range of compositions of the system P(2)O(5)-Na(2)O-CaO-SiO(2) may promote enhancement of in vitro bone-like tissue formation in an osteogenic cell culture system.     

In vivo biological performance of a novel highly bioactive glass-ceramic (Biosilicate®): A biomechanical and histomorphometric study in rat tibial defects

This study aimed to investigate bone responses to a novel bioactive fully crystallized glass-ceramic of the quaternary system P(2)O(5)-Na(2)O-CaO-SiO(2) (Biosilicate?). Although a previous study demonstrated positive effects of Biosilicate? on in vitro bone-like matrix formation, its in vivo effect was not studied yet. Male Wistar rats (n = 40) with tibial defects were used. Four experimental groups were designed to compare this novel biomaterial with a gold standard bioactive material (Bioglass? 45S5), unfilled defects and intact controls. A three-point bending test was performed 20 days after the surgical procedure, as well as the histomorphometric analysis in two regions of interest: cortical bone and medullary canal where the particulate biomaterial was implanted. The biomechanical test revealed a significant increase in the maximum load at failure and stiffness in the Biosilicate? group (vs. control defects), whose values were similar to uninjured bones. There were no differences in the cortical bone parameters in groups with bone defects, but a great deal of woven bone was present surrounding Biosilicate? and Bioglass? 45S5 particulate. Although both bioactive materials supported significant higher bone formation; Biosilicate? was superior to Bioglass? 45S5 in some histomorphometric parameters (bone volume and number of osteoblasts). Regarding bone resorption, Biosilicate? group showed significant higher number of osteoclasts per unit of tissue area than defect and intact controls, despite of the non-significant difference in the osteoclastic surface as percentage of bone surface. This study reveals that the fully crystallized Biosilicate? has good bone-forming and bone-bonding properties.