Semen cryopreservation is a widely used procedure for fertility preservation, despite some level of cryodamage that may occur in spermatozoa after thawing. However, there is some evidence that ...lactobacilli, one of the bacteria found in semen, might benefit sperm quality.
This study aims to determine whether the addition of Lactobacillus plantarum secretions to sperm freezing medium has an impact on sperm motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation.
This is a prospective auto-controlled study. It was conducted on 30 raw semen samples from 30 infertile men attending a fertility center for semen analysis. Before freezing, all the samples were analyzed for motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation percentages. Each sample was then divided equally into three aliquots. Cryopreservation was performed on each aliquot using one of the following three media: without Lactobacillus plantarum secretions (control group) or with 10
or 10
colony-forming units/mL Lactobacillus plantarum secretions. Sperm motility, morphology, and DNA integrity were evaluated after the cryopreservation media were added and after semen thawing.
The results of this study indicated that after thawing, no statistically significant decrease in progressive motility and non-progressive percentages were detected in the sperm freezing medium supplemented with 10
colony-forming units/mL Lactobacillus plantarum secretions than the fresh raw semen. Moreover, multivariate linear regression model analyses showed that the progressive motility (p = 0.02), non-progressive motility (p = 0.016), and non-motile spermatozoa (p = 0.012) percentages were significantly decreased in the freezing medium (without Lactobacillus plantarum secretions) compared to the fresh raw semen.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing that Lactobacillus plantarum secretions had a cryoprotective effect on sperm motility when added to the sperm freezing medium. Furthermore, Lactobacillus plantarum secretions were found to protect sperm DNA integrity more effectively than the freezing medium without Lactobacillus plantarum secretions in non-normozoospermia group. Cryopreservation procedures must therefore be optimized to minimize any iatrogenically induced sperm DNA damage, given the correlation between sperm DNA damage and increased mutation loads in progeny.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common and benign cause of chronic hair loss that affects both males and females. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a safe and minimally invasive technique with promising ...outcomes in patients with AGA, alongside other therapeutics use. The currently available data in the literature assures that the rate of side effects is low but includes infection and localized reaction (Stevens and Khetarpal, Feb. 2019) 1. This article describes a case of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) following PRP treatment for androgenic alopecia, while shedding light on the importance of respecting the guidelines when injecting PRP therapy to ensure a safe outcome with no complications.
Aortic dissection is an uncommon yet frequently fatal illness. Patients generally present with tearing chest pain with possible acute hemodynamic instability. Hence, early diagnosis and intervention ...is critical for survival. This is a case of a 62-year-old male who was transferred to our emergency department for severe chest pain, left side hemiplegia, left hemianopsia, left facial weakness, suggesting a right-sided stroke. A chest computed tomography angiogram showed an extensive circumferential aortic dissection of the intimal layer involving the great vessels. Antiplatelet medications were withheld, nicardipine was started, and the cardiothoracic surgeon was consulted. There was no indication for surgery, and patient was admitted to the intensive care unit. We highlight here the importance of considering an aortic dissection in patients who present with neurological symptoms and an acute history of tearing chest pain.
Renal and splenic infarctions are uncommon medical conditions, and their diagnosis can often be challenging. We describe a rare case of bilateral renal and splenic infarction secondary to atrial ...fibrillation.
A 58-year-old woman with a past medical history of hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation presented to the ED with epigastric pain, nausea, and multiple episodes of vomiting. Her electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation. However, upon review of her home medications, she was not taking any anticoagulants. Laboratory tests showed an elevated lactate dehydrogenase. Contrast-enhanced CT scan of her abdomen and pelvis revealed bilateral wedge-shaped areas of parenchymal hypo-enhancement in both kidneys and in the spleen. She was diagnosed with bilateral renal and splenic infarction and was admitted to the hospital. She was treated with IV heparin and discharged on long term anticoagulation after an uneventful stay.
This case demonstrates a rare case of bilateral renal and splenic infarction secondary to atrial fibrillation and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a high clinical suspicion for solid organ infarction in patients with high risk of thromboembolic events, as early recognition and treatment are key in reducing morbidity and mortality.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common and benign cause of chronic hair loss that affects both males and females. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a safe and minimally invasive technique with promising ...outcomes in patients with AGA, alongside other therapeutics use. The currently available data in the literature assures that the rate of side effects is low but includes infection and localized reaction (Stevens and Khetarpal, Feb. 2019) 1. This article describes a case of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) following PRP treatment for androgenic alopecia, while shedding light on the importance of respecting the guidelines when injecting PRP therapy to ensure a safe outcome with no complications.
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