The effect of vitamin E on sperm motility and viability in asthenoteratozoospermic men: In vitro study

Induction of oxidative stress during the sperm preparation process for assisted reproductive techniques (ART) in men can weaken sperm parameters. Vitamin E (VE) is considered a factor in boosting male fertility. This experimental study (in vitro) aimed to assess the impact of VE supplementation on sperm quality and lipid peroxidation during sperm sampling at different times. For this mention, semen samples were collected from 50 asthenoteratozoospermic men. Samples were divided into control and test groups for 2, 4 and 6 hr that the test group was incubated with VE (2 mM). In two groups, total motility, progressive motility and viability based on the WHO 2010 criteria were assessed. Moreover, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated in each group. In the control group, total and progressive motility and sperm viability were decreased significantly after 2 hr; however, MDA levels were increased significantly after 6 hr. Also, in the test group, sperm parameters were increased significantly after 2 hr, and MDA levels were decreased significantly after 6 hr compared to the control group. In outcome, in vitro VE supplementation may protect spermatozoa from the adverse effect of oxidative stress during sperm preparation via preservation antioxidant processes in normal condition.     

Intracerebral injection of low amounts of norharman induces moderate Parkinsonism-like behavioral symptoms in rat

β-Carbolines (BCs) are considered to be endogenous toxins and have been proposed as possible causative candidates inducing Parkinson's disease (PD). However, there is controversy about the effect and also effective dose of these compounds in the etiology of PD. This study was designed to further examine the effect of norharman (NH), a BC which in mammalian brain occurs at high levels in the substantia nigra, on the development of Parkinsonism-like behaviors in rats. A small amount (4μl) of NH solution at 2 or 200ng/ml was unilaterally injected into either striatum or substantia nigra (SN) by stereotaxic surgery. The development of Parkinsonism was assessed by three conventional behavioral tests, compared to the effects of unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) - induced lesions in the nigrostriatal pathway. An apomorphine-induced rotational test revealed no Parkinsonism-like behavior in the NH treated groups. However, rats that received the high concentration of NH into their SN showed significant biased swings in the elevated body swing test. In a rotarod test, NH treated groups showed relatively weak motor performance and their learning patterns were close to that of the 6-OHDA treated rats. Considering that the rotational test is only valid in animals with severe Parkinsonism, but time spent on the rotating rod correlates inversely with severity of Parkinsonism, our results indicate that a single exposure to low amounts of NH is effective in producing moderate Parkinsonism-like behavioral symptoms, possibly through a neurotoxic effect of this agent on the SN dopaminergic neurons.     

The role of endoscopic endonasal surgery in the management of prolactinomas based on their invasiveness into the cavernous sinus

Pituitary - To review our institutional experience with the surgical management of prolactinomas through the endoscopic endonasal approach with specific focus on cavernous sinus invasion....     

Computerized tumor multinucleation index (MuNI) is prognostic in p16+ oropharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUNDPatients with p16⁺ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are potentially cured with definitive treatment. However, there are currently no reliable biomarkers of treatment failure for p16⁺ OPSCC. Pathologist-based visual assessment of tumor cell multinucleation (MN) has been shown to be independently prognostic of disease-free survival (DFS) in p16⁺ OPSCC. However, its quantification is time intensive, subjective, and at risk of interobserver variability.METHODSWe present a deep-learning–based metric, the multinucleation index (MuNI), for prognostication in p16⁺ OPSCC. This approach quantifies tumor MN from digitally scanned H&E-stained slides. Representative H&E-stained whole-slide images from 1094 patients with previously untreated p16⁺ OPSCC were acquired from 6 institutions for optimization and validation of the MuNI.RESULTSThe MuNI was prognostic for DFS, overall survival (OS), or distant metastasis–free survival (DMFS) in p16⁺ OPSCC, with HRs of 1.78 (95% CI: 1.37–2.30), 1.94 (1.44–2.60), and 1.88 (1.43–2.47), respectively, independent of age, smoking status, treatment type, or tumor and lymph node (T/N) categories in multivariable analyses. The MuNI was also prognostic for DFS, OS, and DMFS in patients with stage I and stage III OPSCC, separately.CONCLUSIONMuNI holds promise as a low-cost, tissue-nondestructive, H&E stain–based digital biomarker test for counseling, treatment, and surveillance of patients with p16⁺ OPSCC. These data support further confirmation of the MuNI in prospective trials.FUNDINGNational Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH; National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH; National Center for Research Resources, NIH; VA Merit Review Award from the US Department of VA Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development Service; US Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Research Program Breakthrough Level 1 Award; DOD Prostate Cancer Idea Development Award; DOD Lung Cancer Investigator-Initiated Translational Research Award; DOD Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program; Ohio Third Frontier Technology Validation Fund; Wallace H. Coulter Foundation Program in the Department of Biomedical Engineering; Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, Case Western Reserve University; NCI Cancer Center Support Grant, NIH; Career Development Award from the US Department of VA Clinical Sciences Research and Development Program; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Support Grant, NIH; and Computational Genomic Epidemiology of Cancer Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH, the US Department of VA, the DOD, or the US Government.     

PET imaging of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor‐induced effects on α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are drugs that increase synaptic acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations and are under investigation as treatments for symptoms accompanying Alzheimer's disease. The goal of this work was to use PET imaging to evaluate alterations of in vivo α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) binding induced by the AChEIs physostigmine (PHY) and galanthamine (GAL). The α4β2 nAChR‐specific radioligand [¹⁸F]nifene was used to examine the effects of 0.1–0.2 mg/kg PHY, 5 mg/kg GAL, and saline in three separate experiments all performed on each of two rat subjects. A 60‐min bolus‐infusion protocol was used with drug administered after 30 min. Data from the thalamus and cortex were analyzed with a graphical model accounting for neurotransmitter activation using the cerebellum as a reference region to test for transient competition with bound [¹⁸F]nifene. Significant [¹⁸F]nifene displacement was detected in both regions during one PHY and both GAL studies, while no significant competition was observed in both saline studies. This preliminary work indicates the viability of [¹⁸F]nifene in detecting increases in synaptic ACh induced by AChEIs. Synapse 67:882–886, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Clinicopathologic analysis of 15 explanted hydroxyapatite implants

PURPOSE: To report the clinical findings, treatment, outcomes, and histopathologic findings in patients with suspected orbital implant infection requiring implant removal. METHODS: Retrospective, observational case series of 14 patients (15 hydroxyapatite orbital implants) undergoing implant removal from September 1994 through December 2002. Patient age, type of surgery, implant type, symptoms, treatment, histopathology of implant, and follow-up course were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 14 patients, 7 were female and 7 were male. The mean age at explantation was 42 years. The most common symptoms were discharge and socket tenderness. The most common signs were conjunctival inflammation (edema, hyperemia), discharge, and recurrent pyogenic granuloma. Clinical evidence of infection was documented in 13 patients. Histopathologic assessment of the 15 explanted implants showed acute inflammation and necrosis (abscess) with identification of microorganisms (5 patients), acute inflammation and necrosis without identification of microorganisms (4 patients), chronic inflammation with identification of microorganisms (1 patient), chronic inflammation without identification of microorganisms (3 patients), and a predominant foreign body granulomatous response without identification of microorganisms (2 patients). Osseous metaplasia was seen in 10 implants. Prompt resolution of symptoms and signs occurred in all but one case. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical course of porous orbital implant infection may be prolonged, and the early symptom of recurrent discharge, a common problem for implant recipients, may delay diagnosis. Implant infection should be suspected when there is persistent conjunctival inflammation and discharge after implant placement despite antibiotic therapy, discomfort on implant palpation, and recurrent pyogenic granuloma (indicative of implant exposure). Implant removal is usually required in these cases. If orbital pain (not necessarily related to implant palpation) is the main complaint, without signs of conjunctival inflammation and with or without discharge, one should consider other reasons for the symptoms.     

Renal cell carcinoma with mixed features of papillary and clear cell cytomorphology: a fluorescent in situ hybridization study

We performed fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to investigate the numeric change of chromosomes 7, 17, and Y and loss of chromosome 3p in “papillary renal cell carcinomas (RCC) with extensive clear cell changes (CCC).” Consecutive cases of RCC over a 12-year period were reviewed to identify “papillary RCC with extensive CCC.” Immunostaining for cytokeratin 7 and alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR) and FISH for chromosomes 7, 17, Y, and 3p were applied. Of the total of 521 RCC retrieved, there were 49 RCC with papillary architecture and clear cell areas that could be divided into: Group 1 (12 cases), typical clear cell RCC with focal areas of papillary formation; Group 2 (28 cases), focal typical papillary RCC having papillary architecture with extensive CCC; and Group 3 (nine cases), RCC with an admixture of eosinophilic/clear cytoplasm and solid/papillary architecture. Group 1 showed negative immunoreactivity for CK7 and AMACR and absence of numeric chromosomal gain or loss of chromosomes 7/17 and Y. Groups 2 and 3 showed variable reactivity for CK7 and AMACR. Tumors in group 2 and five in group 3 showed trisomies of chromosomes 7 and/or 17 with or without loss of chromosome Y. Loss of small arm 3p was observed in groups 1 and 3 but not in group 2 tumors. In conclusion, papillary RCC may show phenotypical CCC mimicking clear cell RCC. In a small number of cases with mixed histopathological features, FISH is helpful in subtyping RCC.     

Brain abscess in children, experience Of Mashad University

Objective： Brain abscesses continue to pose a problem in neurosurgery, and it is a serious life-threatening complication for several diseases. The objective of this research was to lock at the clinical profile of children suffering from brain abscess, predisposing conditions, microbiology and outcome of these patients. Methods： Ninety children aged less than 15 years were reviewed. The clinical presentation, predisposing factors, diagnosis, management and outcome were noted. There were 56（ 62.2% ） males and 34 （ 37.7% ） females. The mean age of presentation was 5.7 ± 4.2 years. Results： The mean duration of illness at the time of presentation was 10.6 ± 12.4 days. Typically patients presented with fever, vomiting, headache, neurological deficit, and seizures. The predisposing conditions found were cyanotic congenital heart disease in 18 （20 % ） of children, meningitis in 6 （6.7 % ）, Otitis or mastoiditis in 32 （35.5 % ）, Head trauma in 6 （ 6.7 % ）, previous intraeranial surgery in 8 （8.8 % ） and no underlying cause was found in 22 （24.4 % ） children. The most common microbe in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease was of the Streptococcus group （54 % ）. Computerized tomography confirmed the diagnosis and the most common location of the abscess was the parietal lobe of the cerebral hemisphere. That abscesses were larger than 2 cm in diameter where aspirated surgically. Excision was performed for eight children. Six children expired, two due to intracranial bleeding and the others due to severe cerebral edema and tentorial herniation. Complications were observed in 11 children out of which six had squeal and five had bemiparesis. Conclusion： Attention to hygiene of mouth and teeth in infant and child patients with cyanotic heart disease is very important in prevention of infectious brain diseases. We must also pay attention to ear-nose-throat diseases of children. That is very important the patients be examined again after treatment because of finding and trea