Thiol–disulphide balance in infertility secondary to varicocele

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of infertility secondary to varicocele. We aimed to investigate the dynamic thiol–disulphide homeostasis as an oxidative stress marker in the spermatic vein of infertility secondary to varicocele. Sixty‐one patients with varicocele were included in the study. Blood was drawn from the median cubital vein and the testicular venous return side before the spermatic vein was separated during surgery. Total thiol, native thiol, disulphide, ischaemia modified albumin (IMA) and albumin values were measured from both the dilated spermatic vein and the median cubital vein. The disulphide/native thiol, disulphide/total thiol and native thiol/total thiol ratios were determined. The mean age of the patients was 27.0 ± 6.68 (15–50) years. While the albumin, native thiol and total thiol values and the native thiol/total thiol ratio were significantly lower (p = 0.004, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 respectively), the IMA value and the disulphide/native thiol and disulphide/total thiol ratios were significantly higher (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 respectively) in the samples taken from spermatic venous blood. Thiol–disulphide balance had deteriorated towards disulphide formation in the spermatic vein compared with the peripheral vein. Abnormal thiol–disulphide balance may be an independent risk factor for infertility secondary to varicocele.     

Synthetic MRI in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Synthetic MRI enables the generation of various contrast-weighted images and quantitative data in a reasonable scanning time. We aimed to use synthetic MRI to assess the detection and underlying tissue characteristics of focal areas of signal intensity and normal-appearing brain parenchyma and morphometric alterations in the brains of patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Conventional MR imaging and synthetic MRI were prospectively obtained from 19 patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 and 18 healthy controls. Two neuroradiologists independently evaluated focal areas of signal intensity on both conventional MR imaging and synthetic MRI. Additionally, automatically segmented volume calculations of the brain in both groups and quantitative analysis of myelin, including the focal areas of signal intensity and normal-appearing brain parenchyma, of patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 were performed using synthetic MRI.RESULTS:The comparison of conventional MR imaging and synthetic MRI showed good correlation in the supratentorial region of the brain (κ = 0.82–1). Automatically segmented brain parenchymal volume, intracranial volume, and GM volumes were significantly increased in the patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (P < .05). The myelin-correlated compound, myelin fraction volume, WM fraction volume, transverse relaxation rate, and longitudinal relaxation rate values were significantly decreased in focal areas of signal intensity on myelin and WM maps (P < .001); however, GM, GM fraction volume, and proton density values were significantly increased on the GM map (P < .001).CONCLUSIONS:Synthetic MRI is a potential tool for the assessment of morphometric and tissue alterations as well as the detection of focal areas of signal intensity in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 in a reasonable scan time.

Neuroimaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). The most common parenchymal abnormality of the brain in NF-1 is oval or round focal areas of abnormal signal intensity (FASI), mainly in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and brain stem on T2WI. These lesions do not show enhancement with gadolinium or mass effects.¹ Additionally, studies in Drosophila species and mice with NF1 gene mutations have shown progressive myelin (MY) defects and behavioral abnormalities in a neurofibromin 1 dose-dependent fashion.^2-4 Although evidence is inconclusive, vacuolar changes in myelin, defined as fluid-containing spaces ranging from 5 to 100 mm, have been suggested to explain the FASI.^5,6The synthetic MRI (SyMRI) sequence, called quantification of relaxation times and proton density by multiecho acquisition of a saturation-recovery (QRAPMASTER) using turbo spin-echo readout,⁷ enables automatic segmentation of brain tissue and measurement of myelin-based quantitative values with good accuracy and reproducibility in approximately 6 minutes with full head coverage.⁸ This sequence has had encouraging results for brain metastasis, multiple sclerosis, meningitis, idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus, and Sturge-Weber syndrome in several studies and has been approved by the FDA.^8-12In this study, we aimed to detect and evaluate FASI and examine morphometric changes in the brain in patients with NF-1 using SyMRI. We also sought myelin abnormalities in FASI and normal-appearing brain parenchyma (NABP) in patients with NF-1. Because FASI tends to resolve by early adulthood, we intentionally performed this study with pediatric patients.¹³ Our hypothesis was that SyMRI could detect FASI and quantify morphologic and tissue changes in pediatric patients with NF-1.     

Silica crystals and aluminum salts regulate the production of prostaglandin in macrophages via NALP3 inflammasome-independent mechanisms

Particulates such as silica crystal (silica) and aluminum salts (alum) activate the inflammasome and induce the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages. These particulates also induce the production of immunoglobulin E via a T helper 2 (Th2) cell-associated mechanism. However, the mechanism involved in the induction of type 2 immunity has not been elucidated. Here, we showed that silica and alum induced lipopolysaccharide-primed macrophages to produce the lipid mediator prostaglandin E? (PGE?) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Macrophages deficient in the inflammasome components caspase 1, NALP3, and ASC revealed that PGE? production was independent of the NALP3 inflammasome. PGE? expression was markedly reduced in PGE synthase-deficient (Ptges?/?) macrophages, and Ptges?/? mice displayed reduced antigen-specific serum IgE concentrations after immunization with alum or silica. Our results indicate that silica and alum regulate the production of PGE? and that the induction of PGE? by particulates controls the immune response in vivo.     

The effect of tigecycline and ertapenem against clinical isolates of Brucella melitensis detected by E-test on different media

In this study, in vitro activity of tigecycline (TIG) and ertapenem (ERT) against clinical isolates of Brucella melitensis and the effect of different media on in vitro test results were investigated. The in vitro effects of TIG and ERT to 38 B. melitensis isolates were comparatively investigated in brucella agar and 5% sheep blood agar. MIC value of ERT was 0.032 μg/mL in 23 of 38 and 20 of 38 isolates on blood and brucella agar, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration values of TIG were substantially different ranging between 0.064-0.25 μg/mL on blood agar. However, MIC values of TIG were similar on brucella agar with 0.25 μg/mL in 15 of 38 isolates and 0.5 μg/mL in 10 of 38 isolates. In conclusion, although ERT and TIG were effective against B. melitensis isolates in vitro, further studies are needed in order to determine the use of these novel drugs in treatment of brucellosis.     

Catch-up growth in appropriate- or small-for-gestational age preterm infants

The aim was to evaluate postnatal growth of preterm infants in childhood and to determine factors that have an effect on catch-up growth (CUG). Ninety-six (42F, 54M) preterm born children with a gestational age of 32.6+/-2.9 weeks and birth weight of 1815+/-668 g were evaluated at age 4.7+/-1.1 years. Preterm children with birth weight and/or length below 10th percentile were accepted as small-for-gestational age (SGA) and those above as appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA). Height SDS was similar (-0.5+/-1.0) in preterm AGA and SGA children. Both groups had low body mass index (BMI) SDS (-0.6+/-1.4 and -1.0+/-1.5, respectively). Of the preterm SGA children, 65.8% showed a CUG in height and 3.8% catch- down growth. These rates were 24.6% and 33.5% in preterm AGA children. CUG in height was best explained by birth length and mother's height and CUG in weight by birth weight and mother's weight. In conclusion, although most of the preterm SGA children show CUG, they reach a compromised height in childhood. A number of preterm AGA children show a catch-down growth.     

Association of Adipokines,Insulin Resistance,Hypertension and Dyslipidemia in Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris

BackgroundSystemic inflammation in psoriasis causes insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases. Adipokines are adipose-tissue-derived factors that are involved in metabolic processes. It is thought that these adipokines are associated with the development of psoriasis.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the changes in adipokine levels, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia over a 12-week period.MethodsThe study comprised 35 psoriasis patients and 50 controls. Blood samples were obtained twice from the patients, one sample at the start and one at the end of a 12-week follow-up period. The following parameters were assessed in both groups: serum fasting glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, serum lipids, adiponectin, leptin, resistin, chemerin, omentin, vaspin, visfatin, retinol-binding protein 4, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels; blood pressure; body mass index; and the psoriasis area severity index (PASI) scores.ResultsThe patients showed an improvement in the PASI score and a significant decrease in serum hs-CRP, omentin, and chemerin values. Moreover, at the start of the follow-up, the psoriasis patients had significantly lower levels of adiponectin and visfatin and significantly higher levels of vaspin and resistin than those of the control group. Visfatin levels correlated negatively with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol, while vaspin and omentin levels correlated positively with diastolic blood pressure. Decreased adiponectin levels correlated negatively with diastolic blood pressure and LDL.ConclusionPlasma levels of adipokines might be useful for evaluating the disease activity of psoriasis and its comorbidities.