Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects the male ejaculatory function. This study was designed to evaluate the role of oxidative stress in the development of diabetes‐induced dysfunction of vas ...deferens (VD) in the rat. DM was induced by streptozotocin in 40 male Wistar rats. Subsequently, the diabetic animals were divided into three groups: DM group, DM + Eda group and DM + Tau group. These groups were administered saline, edaravone and taurine, respectively, daily for 4 weeks. Another group of ten rats served as a control group. DM was diagnosed in the 40 streptozotocin‐injected rats. DM significantly reduced the VD weight. Additionally, DM induced in vitro VD hypercontractility, VD histological abnormalities and increased the serum and VD tissue concentration of malondialdehyde. VD immunohistochemistry revealed overexpression of three markers of oxidative stress. DM significantly reduced serum testosterone levels. No live birth was documented in all DM rats in mating experiments. Antioxidants significantly improved all the aforementioned parameters, except the testosterone levels. This study indicates a deleterious impact of DM‐induced oxidative stress on VD histological and functional features. Antioxidant treatment may provide an adjunct tool to alleviate ejaculatory disorders for male patients with type 1 diabetes.
Dietary manipulation is one promising approach to reducing methane (CHâ) emissions from forage-fed ruminants. Studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding two concentrations of tannins ...from Mimosa spp. on rumen fermentation, methanogenesis and energy partitioning in goats. Adult male goats were used in three trials where three diets with increasing concentrations of tannins (control, low-tannin and high-tannin) were fed in a switch-over design. The control diet consisted of 0·65 timothy hay, 0·20 crushed maize and 0·15 soybean meal; low- and high-tannin diets contained 0·975 and 0·950 of the control diet, respectively, mixed with 0·025 and 0·050 of a commercial compound containing tannins with mean crude protein (CP) of 147 g/kg dry matter (DM) and gross energy (GE) 19 MJ/kg DM, respectively. Total contents (DM basis) of tannins (hydrolysable and condensed) in the control, low- and high-tannin diets were 0, 2·8 and 5·6 g/kg DM, respectively. The tannin source contained 37 and 76 g/kg DM of condensed and hydrolysable tannins, respectively (DM basis). The DM (664 g/d) and GE intakes (19·0 MJ/d) were similar among diet groups. Digestibilities of all dietary components in the high-tannin diet were lower (PÂ
Purpose: Clean intermittent self-catheterization (CISC) is a safe and effective alternative to managing incomplete bladder emptying in patients afflicted with neurogenic bladder conditions. The ...Intermittent Catheterisation Difficulty Questionnaire (ICDQ) is a validated questionnaire concerning the assessment of catheter use and patient difficulties during CISC. The present study aimed to translate and validate the ICDQ into the Greek language. A subsequent outcome was to substantiate the requirement of both urologist consultation with patients undergoing CISC and the detailed evaluation of various therapeutic options with the consultation of other specialist physicians. Material and Methods: The study was undertaken between March 2022 and July 2022 and involved patients in an outpatient department of a Rehabilitation Centre. Sixty-two neurologic patients suffering from spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), cauda equina (CE), and myelitis represented a convenience sample. To calculate test-retest reliability, patients filled out two consecutive questionnaires; an initial one and a second after one week. The socio and demographic circumstances of all participants were evaluated. Results: The mean ICDQ total score at the test and retest was 5.96 + or - 1.28 (mean total score + or - standard deviation) and 5.91 + or - 1.29, respectively. Evaluation of the data concerning alterations between men and women did not reveal statistically significant differences. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.94, which proves the inter-correlation between the different topics. An ICC of 0.97 indicated very high intra-rater reliability. Conclusion: ICDQ, a valid and reliable self-administered screening tool for CISC difficulties faced by patients using this procedure regularly, was successfully translated and validated into Greek. A more detailed evaluation and understanding of these difficulties would enhance the quality of CISC and allow for more suitable treatment and the selection of catheter types used. These improved treatment strategies are possible as repeated use and constant comparison of ICDQ scores determine treatment impact, facilitating treatment regimen modification, should it be required. Keywords: ICDQ, clean intermittent self-catheterisation, urinary tract infection, urethral stricture, translation, validation, Greek
Purpose: The present study aimed to translate the Targeting the individual's Aetiology of Nocturia to Guide Outcomes Questionnaire (TANGO) into the Greek language to create TANGO-Gr. A relative ...reliability study in prospective samples of community dwellers and rehabilitation centre residents was undertaken in order to validate the translation. In terms of nocturia severity, these groups were considered to be representative of patients at both ends of the scale, and therefore suitable validation purposes. Patients and Methods: The prospective descriptive study took place between 07 and 09/ 2020. Fifty residents in a rehabilitation centre and thirty-seven community dwellers were included in the study. All participants had more than one episode of nocturia per night. They were asked to complete the newly translated TANGO-Gr Questionnaire twice (test-retest procedure). TANGO-Gr includes three possible answers ("yes", "no", and "DK/NA") to facilitate increased validity. The study group evaluated the socio and demographic characteristics, the level of independence and the comprehensive frailty of all participants. Results: Both groups satisfactorily completed questionnaire responses. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.753 (community-dwelling people: 0.776; rehabilitation centre residents: 0.531). A test-retest statistical analysis to determine reliability found an overall median Kappa of 0.88 (IQR: 0.79-0.94) in community dwellers and 0.91 (IQR: 0.84-1.00) in rehabilitation centre residents, thereby confirming an almost perfect respective agreement. Conclusion: The validity of the newly translated TANGO-Gr Questionnaire was proven. It should be considered to be a reliable, self-administered screening tool suitable for clinical practice, and therefore invaluable for Greek-speaking people. The study also determined that certain environment-related variables may contribute to nocturia in rehabilitation centre populations, which is a finding which invites further study. Keywords: nocturia, TANGO Questionnaire, translation, validation, Greek
STUDY QUESTION
Does synergism between AR(CAG)n and CYP19(TTTA)n polymorphisms influence the quality of sperm?
SUMMARY ANSWER
AR(CAG)n and CYP19(TTTA)n polymorphisms had a synergistic effect on sperm ...concentration and motility.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Androgens exert their action in the testicular tissue by binding to androgen receptor (AR), while their action is mediated by the aromatase P450 enzyme (CYP19). AR(CAG)n alleles are associated with sperm motility and CYP19(TTTA)n allelic variants have implications for sperm concentration and motility.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION
Two hundred oligozoospermic and 250 normozoospermic men who presented for infertility investigation were examined during a period of 2 years.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
Conventional semen analysis was performed. DNA was extracted from spermatozoa and both polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction. Serum hormone levels were determined.
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
Six combined genotypes were identified between the 18 AR(CAG)n alleles with 12–32 repeats and the 6 CYP19(TTTA)n alleles with 7–12 repeats. A gradual reduction in the sperm concentration (106/ml) and motility (%) from long AR allele–non-CYP19(TTTA)7 allele carriers to long AR allele–CYP19(TTTA)7 homozygotes and from short AR allele–non-CYP19(TTTA)7 carriers to short AR allele–CYP19(TTTA)7 homozygotes was observed in normozoospermic men (means ± SD; concentration: 93 ± 53.1 versus 65 ± 48.6 and 85 ± 60.1 versus 37 ± 17.2l, P < 0.002; motility: 63 ± 10.3 versus 55 ± 14.5 and 52 ± 19.6 versus 41 ± 13.7, P < 0.001, respectively). Similar associations were observed in oligozoospermic men (concentration: 10 ± 4.2 versus 9 ± 5.9 and 10 ± 6.3 versus 6 ± 3.1, P < 0.03; motility: 47 ± 17.1 versus 39 ± 6.2 and 39 ± 22 versus 27 ± 18.3, P < 0.003, respectively). The above associations of the combined genotypes with sperm concentration and motility were confirmed in the total study population (P < 0.006 and P < 0.001, respectively).
LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
Our study population was limited to Greek Caucasian adult males, residents of Northwest Greece.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
The confirmation of our findings in other populations would verify the significance of AR and CYP19 genes for spermatogenesis.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS
This study did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
To examine the mechanisms underlying crown development, I investigated the dependence of shoot behavior on light microenvironment in saplings of the evergreen broad-leaved tree species, Litsea ...acuminata (Bl.) Kurata, growing on a forest floor. The local light environment of individual shoots (shoot irradiance) and plants (plant irradiance, defined as the shoot irradiance of the most sunlit shoot of a plant) were analyzed as factors affecting shoot behavior. Daughter shoots that developed under partially sunlit conditions were longer and less leafy than daughter shoots developed under shaded conditions. Shoot production increased with increasing shoot irradiance. Terminal shoots receiving 5% or less of full sunlight produced 0.67 daughter shoots on average, whereas shoots receiving 10% or more of full sunlight produced 1.72 daughter shoots. In terminal shoots receiving 5% or less of full sunlight, the probability of producing no daughter shoots was about 63% when other shoots on the plant received 10% or more of full sunlight, but was < 35% where the rest of the plant was also shaded. Shoot death was observed only in shoots receiving 5% or less of full sunlight. The mortality of shaded shoots was higher in plants growing in high irradiance than in plants growing in low irradiance. The ecological significance of correlative inhibition (the enhanced mortality and reduced production of new shaded shoots in the presence of partially-sunlit shoots) is discussed.
Synopsis
As a white pigment, titanium oxide is used for cosmetic application. This oxide is well known to have the photo catalytic activity. Therefore, a certain degree of sebum is decomposed by the ...ultraviolet radiation in the sunlight. In this work, titanium phosphates were prepared as a novel white pigment. Their chemical composition, powder properties, photo catalytic activity, moisture retention and smooth were studied with the addition of urea. These white pigments had little photo catalytic activity. The addition of urea improved the moisture retention of titanium phosphates. The slipping resistance of samples became small by heating, on the other hand, the roughness of samples became small by the addition of urea.
Resume
Comme pigment blanc, l’oxyde de titane est utilisé en cosmétique. Cet oxyde est bien connu pour son activité photo catalytique. Dans ce travail, des phosphates de titane ont été préparés en tant que nouveau pigment blanc. Leur composition chimique, les propriétés de la poudre, l’activité photo catalytique, la capacité de rétention d’humidité et la douceur ont étéétudiées avec un ajout d’urée. Ces pigments blancs avaient une petite activité photo catalytique. L’addition d’urée a amélioré la rétention d’humidité des phosphates de titane. La résistance au glissement des échantillons est atténuée par chauffage, et d’autre part, la rugosité des échantillons est diminuée par l’ajout d’urée.
Summary
This study investigated the hypothesis that genetic alterations of the human insulin‐like 3 (INSL3) gene are associated with testicular maldescent (TMD). Genomic DNA was extracted and ...amplified from peripheral blood samples of 170 unrelated children with all possible phenotypical expressions of TMD and 50 volunteers with normal external genitalia from the general paediatric population (controls). PCR‐single strand conformation polymorphism analysis was used to screen INSL3 gene for genetic variants. For rapid screening of a detected nonsilent genetic alteration, restriction assay using endonuclease Eag I was further employed. Products were analysed on 2% agarose gel and restriction patterns were visualised by ethidium bromide. Differences in genotype and allelic distributions of nonsilent genetic alterations were evaluated between (i) patients–controls, (ii) familial–sporadic, (iii) bilateral–unilateral and (iv) intra‐abdominal–inguinal cases of TMD. No mutations were detected. Three common INSL3 gene polymorphisms (27G>A, 126G>A, 178G>A) unrelated to any particular phenotype of TMD were detected both in patients and controls. These results indicate that INSL3 gene mutations are not a common cause of TMD in the human.
Summary
Follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), interacting with its receptor (FSHR), participates in the production of spermatozoa and androgens. Androgens exert their effects on male sex determination, ...development and sperm production by binding to androgen receptor (AR). In the present study, we sought to explore the potential synergistic effects of FSHR and AR gene variants on sperm quality. 200 oligozoospermic and 250 normozoospermic men were examined. DNA was extracted from spermatozoa, and the FSHR 307 (T/A), FSHR 680 (N/S) and AR (CAG)n polymorphisms were genotyped. Their parallel analysis revealed six combined genotypes. A gradual reduction of sperm motility, from long AR allele‐Thr307Thr/Asn680Asn carriers to long AR allele‐Ala307Ala/Ser680Ser carriers and from short AR allele‐Thr307Thr/Asn680Asn carriers to short AR allele‐Ala307Ala/Ser680Ser carriers was revealed in normozoospermic men (P < 0.001). Similar associations were observed in oligozoospermic men (P < 0.001). In our series, the synergism of the long AR alleles with the FSHRThr307/Asn680 allelic variant was associated with increased sperm motility, while the synergism of the short AR alleles with the FSHRAla307/Ser680 allelic variant was associated with decreased motility, supporting the significance of these genes in semen quality.
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