scholarly journals Serum Bisphenol A Level in Boys with Cryptorchidism: A Step to Male Infertility?

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Diana Komarowska ◽  
Adam Hermanowicz ◽  
Urszula Czyzewska ◽  
Robert Milewski ◽  
Ewa Matuszczak ◽  
...  

Cryptorchidism is the most common congenital birth defect in boys and affects about 2–4% full-term male neonates. Its etiology is multifactorial.Purpose. To evaluate the serum bisphenol A (BPA) levels in boys with cryptorchidism and healthy boys and to assess the risk of environmental exposure to BPA using the authors’ questionnaire. The data were acquired from a study on boys with cryptorchidism (n=98) and a control group (n=57). Prior to surgery, all patients had BPA serum levels evaluated. The size, position, rigidity of the testis, and abnormality of the epididymis of the undescended testis were assessed. Parents also completed a questionnaire on the risks of exposure to BPA in everyday life.Results. The testes in both groups were similar in size. The turgor of the undescended testis in the group of boys with cryptorchidism was decreased. Free serum BPA level in cryptorchid boys and in the control group was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The conjugated serum BPA level in cryptorchid boys and in the control group was statistically significant (p≤0.05). Total serum BPA level in cryptorchid boys and in the control group was statistically significant (p<0.05). Serum total BPA level was related with a positive answer about problems with conception (p<0.02).Conclusion. Our study indicated that high serum BPA was associated with cryptorchidism.

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1093.1-1093
Author(s):  
G. Pellegrino ◽  
K. Stefanantoni ◽  
F. Facioni ◽  
C. Angelelli ◽  
A. Gigante ◽  
...  

Background:Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities are described in 25-75% Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) cases and they are associated with other systemic manifestations as well as with a worse prognosis. There is an increasing need for clinical and laboratory biomarkers to ameliorate the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to patients with ECG abnormalities, due to their actual low sensitivity and specificity. Adipokines are circulating proteins that appear dysregulated in SSc and leptin in particular is synthesized in response to inflammatory conditions and seems to play a proinflammatory and pro-fibrotic action in SSc. Interesting, many studies in the last years have underlined its role in the cardiac remodeling mechanisms and in the development of cardiac fibrosis in other chronic diseases.Objectives:Aim of our study is to evaluate the role of leptin in the development of cardiac rhythm disorders (CRD) during SSc. Furthermore, by the analysis of the clinical and demographical parameters of our SSc patients, we tried to define other possible features associated with increased serum leptin concentration.Methods:We included eighty-five SSc patients, fulfilling the 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria, attending the Regional Rare Disease Center of Policlinico Umberto I of Rome. Fifty presented significant CRD at non-invasive diagnostic techniques (12 Lead ECG, 24-hour Holter ECG). Demographic, clinical, conventional cardiovascular risk factors were examined; instrumental and laboratory assessments were obtained, together with ECG recordings. Thirty-five SSc patients without pathologic finding at ECG traces, matched for demographic and clinical features, were recruited as the control group. In all cases, after obtaining written informed consent, blood samples were taken to measure serum levels of leptin using an ELISA assay (Life Technologies-Italia).Results:The fifty SSc patients with CRD (mean age 51±15 years; F:M 41:9) had pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in 32 cases (64%) and a BMI >25Kg/m2in 22 (44%) while in the control group of thirty-five SSc patients (mean age 49±16 years; F:M 33:2) PF was found in 15 (43%) and a BMI >25Kg/m2in 9 (35%); We detected significantly higher median values of serum leptin in SSc patients with CRD compared to the control group (12027 pg/ml IQR 12314 versus 6392 pg/ml IQR 7103;p 0,0009). Additionally, SSc patients with a BMI> 25 kg/m2(31 cases) as well as those with PF (47 cases) showed a significantly higher median serum leptin levels compared to those with BMI <25 kg/m2(13161 pg/ml IQR 13610 versus 8187 pg/ml IQR 8255;p 0,0008) and those without PF (11740 pg/ml IQR 11940 versus 7616 pg/ml IQR 7855;p 0,0079).Conclusion:To our knowledge this is the first report on high serum levels of leptin in SSc patients with CRD that also confirms its increase in those cases with a BMI >25 kg/m2and with PF, according to scientific literature data. The role of leptin in the pathogenesis of SSc remains unclear although it is already known its involvement in the development of cardiac fibrosis during other chronic diseases. On the basis of these results we speculate on leptin involvement in the pathogenesis of CRD during SSc, although further studies are needed with larger cohort of patients.References:[1]Vacca A et al. Rheumatology, 2014[2]Tyndall AJ et al. Ann Rheum Dis, 2010[3]Muresan L et al. Iran J Pub Health, 2017[4]Sanna T et al. Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J, 2009[5]Riccieri V et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol, 2011[6]Żółkiewicz J et al. Arch Dermatol Res, 2019[7]Huby AC et al. Circulation, 2015[8]Shulze PC et al. Clin Chim Acta, 2005[9]Van de Hoogen F et al. Arthritis Rheum, 2013[10]Gui X et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2018Disclosure of Interests:Greta Pellegrino: None declared, Katia Stefanantoni Consultant of: ItalfarmacoBoehringer Ingelheim, Fausta Facioni: None declared, Carlotta Angelelli: None declared, Antonietta Gigante: None declared, Roberto Badagliacca: None declared, Carmine Dario Vizza: None declared, Sergio Morelli: None declared, Edoardo Rosato: None declared, Valeria Riccieri: None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 153303382199528
Author(s):  
Yumei Zhang ◽  
Sujuan Qiu ◽  
Yueli Guo ◽  
Jiaqin Zhang ◽  
Xiaoqing Wu ◽  
...  

Objective: We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of the vaginal microecology, serum miR-18a, and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) for human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive cervical cancer. Methods: Eighty-four patients with HPV-positive cervical cancer were assigned to the observation group, 107 HPV-positive patients without cervical cancer were assigned to the positive group, and 191 healthy women were assigned to the control group. Vaginal microecology and serum levels of miR-18a and PD-L1 on the surface of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were compared among the 3 groups. The observation group was further divided into subgroups according to patients’ characteristics for comparison. The diagnostic value of miR-18a and PD-L1 for HPV-positive cervical cancer was investigated. Results: Women in the control group had better vaginal microecology and lower levels of miR-18a and PD-L1 than those in the observation and the positive groups (all P < 0.05). Compared with the positive group, the observation group had similar vaginal microecology (all P > 0.05) but higher levels of miR-18a and PD-L1 (all P < 0.05). Moreover, the patients at stage III had higher levels of miR-18a and PD-L1 than those at stage I and II (all P < 0.05). The values of area under the curve for miR-18a and PD-L1 in the diagnosis of HPV-positive cervical cancer were over 0.8 (all P < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with HPV-positive cervical cancer have vaginal microbial dysbiosis and high serum levels of miR-18a and PD-L1. miR-18a and PD-L1 have diagnostic value for identifying HPV-positive cervical cancer.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Bonfim Freitas ◽  
Sandra Souza Lima ◽  
Rosimar Neris Martins Feitosa ◽  
Vânia Nakauth Azevedo ◽  
Marluísa de O. Guimarães Ishak ◽  
...  

Objective.This study investigated possible associations between the TNFα-308G/A, IFN+874A/T, IL-6-174C/G, IL-10-1082A/G, and TGFβ-509C/T polymorphisms with HIV-1 infection, in addition to correlation of the polymorphisms with clinical markers of AIDS progression, such as levels of CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes and plasma viral load.Methods.A total of 216 individuals who were infected with HIV-1 and on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 294 individuals from the uninfected control group were analyzed.Results.All individuals evaluated were negative for total anti-HBc, anti-HCV, anti-T. pallidum, and anti-HTLV-1/2. The polymorphisms were identified by PCR-RFLP. Individuals presenting the IFN+874A allele as well as the AA genotype were more frequent in the HIV-1 infected group compared to the control group (P<0.05), in addition to having lower levels of CD4+ T lymphocytes. The CD8+ T lymphocytes count was significantly lower in individuals with the IL-10-1082 GG genotype. The TGFβ-509TT genotype was associated with higher plasma viral load.Conclusions.The results suggest that the presence of the IFN+874A allele confers susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and a decrease in the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes. In addition, the genotype associated with high serum levels of TGFβmay be associated with an increase in plasma viral load.


1996 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Di Lorenzo ◽  
P. Mansueto ◽  
M. Melluso ◽  
G. Morici ◽  
D. Cigna ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study was to compare, during the pollen season, serum levels of total IgE and soluble CD23 (sCD23) from patients with allergic bronchial asthma, with those from healthy subjects. Significantly higher levels of total IgE and sCD23 were found in patients with asthma compared to the control group. Both in normal controls and in asthmatic patients, a significant correlation was shown between the levels of these two molecules. In asthmatic patients, significant correlations were found for both total IgE and sCD23, with lung function measured as bronchial responsiveness to inhaled methacholine. These results suggest that in asthmatic patients, in addition to the study of total serum IgE levels, the assessment of sCD23 serum levels may be helpful in the evaluation of disease activity.


2013 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Görkem Mungan ◽  
Murat Can ◽  
Sibel Kiran ◽  
Serefden Açikgöz ◽  
Berrak Güven

Several studies suggest that coal miners are under risk of severe health problems such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, renal, hematological and musculoskeletal disorders. However, there are limited data on biochemical changes in underground workers. In our study we aimed to evaluate the association between serum homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12, cystatin C and folate levels in the blood of underground coal miners. Eighty one coal miners who work as underground or surface workers were recruited into our study. The study population was divided into two groups: the surface worker group (control group, n=33) and the underground worker group (n=48). The folate, vitamin B12, Hcy, cystatin C levels and body mass indexes (BMI) of both groups were measured and compared. Serum folate, Hcy and vitamin B12 levels were measured with a competitive chemiluminescence immunassay. Serum levels of cystatin C were determined by the latex particle-enhanced turbidimetric method using a cystatin C kit. Urea values were measured with a kinetic method on an automated analyzer. There were no statistically significant differences between the underground workers and surface workers in the urea, cystatin C and vitamin B12 levels. High serum Hcy levels and low folate levels were found in underground workers compared with those in surface workers. The correlation between Hcy and folate levels was also statistically significant. Similarly, there was also a significant correlation between Hcy and vitamin B12, and between Hcy and cystatin C levels. Elevated Hcy levels may be associated with underground working but further research is necessary to understand the relation between elevated Hcy and increased prevalence of health problems in coal miners.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa Khanna Arora ◽  
Prerna Batra ◽  
Tusha Sharma ◽  
Basu Dev Banerjee ◽  
Sushan Gupta

Background. Organochlorine pesticides (OCP) are persistent organic pollutants that have been implicated in causing several deleterious effects in humans. These are known neurotoxins in high doses, but the role of environmentally acquired OCPs in the body to induce seizures in children has not been investigated yet. Objectives. To assess the serum levels of OCPs in children aged 2–12 with idiopathic seizure and to find out any association between the two are our objectives. Methods. It was a cross-sectional pilot study. Twenty developmentally normal children aged 2–12, presenting with idiopathic generalized seizures, were recruited. Twenty age-matched controls without any history of seizures were also taken. Their serum levels of α, β, and γ hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH); and aldrin; dieldrin; p,p-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), o,p-DDT, and p,p dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE); and α and β endosulfan were analysed using gas chromatography (GC). Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare OCP levels between the groups. Spearman correlation was used to find the correlation between individual pesticide levels with age and seizure duration. Results. Levels of β, γ, and total HCH were significantly higher among cases as compared to the control group (P≤0.05). Conclusion. There exists a possible association between idiopathic seizures and high serum levels of OCPs, especially HCH.


1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Voogt ◽  
P. L. Pakrasi ◽  
D. C. Johnson ◽  
S. K. Dey

ABSTRACT The present studies examined whether the pituitary hormones, particularly prolactin, have any role in the regulation of rat placental lactogen (rPL) secretion. Total rPL was measured using a lymphoma cell bioassay. Hypophysectomy on day 13 of pregnancy increased total serum rPL levels above those of intact control rats and delayed for 3 days the decline in rPL usually seen by day 14. To test the effect of early hypophysectomy on rPL secretion, a delayed implantation model was used. Hypophysectomy was carried out on day 3, progesterone (2 mg) was given daily until day 8 and oestrone (1·0 μg) was given on day 8. This initiated implantation on day 9, which is 4 days later than normal. Rats hypophysectomized on day 3 had high serum levels of rPL (10–13 mg/l) 7 days after initiation of implantation compared with control values of 2–3 mg/l, and these levels remained raised for the duration of the experiment. Termination of maintenance injections of steroids did not affect the high levels of rPL for several days, even though there was fetal and placental resorption. When a pair of anterior pituitaries was transplanted under the kidney capsule on day 13 (day 9 of development) of rats hypophysectomized on day 3, serum rPL levels still increased for the next 3 days. However, unlike similarly treated rats not receiving transplants, rPL levels fell rapidly thereafter and were only 5% of those in control animals 1 week later. Only the intact rats and those hypophysectomized either on day 3 or 13 and given daily maintenance doses of steroids had normal pregnancies; the other two groups in which steroid injections were stopped on day 15 showed various degrees of resorption or abortion. It is suggested that the pituitary, possibly because of its prolactin secretion, is important in the regulation of rPL secretion. J. Endocr. (1985) 107, 121–126


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 248.2-248
Author(s):  
D. Bicho ◽  
E. Comma ◽  
L. Oliveira ◽  
R. F. Santos ◽  
A. Moreira ◽  
...  

Background:Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an aggressive auto-immune disease characterized by synovial hyperplasia and chronic inflammation. The main players of RA pathogenesis are T-cell and B-cell dependent pathways and some myeloid cells are also abundant in the synovial tissue. However, how inflammation is initiated, propagated and maintained remains controversial. Unbiased proteomic reports revealed an enrichment in the scavenger receptor CD5L, a component of serum and synovial tissues of arthritic patients.1 Upon secretion, this blood circulating glycoprotein represses pathogenic Th17 cells, promotes M2 polarization and binds and aggregates Gram-negative and -positive bacteria.2-4 However, its mechanisms of action has not been established either in health or disease.Objectives:We intend to clarify whether CD5L is an immune component that helps resolving RA or a factor that aggravates the disease.Methods:We analyzed by ELISA the presence of CD5L in samples from RA patients covering different stages of the disease, and correlated with other markers of RA. In parallel, we experimentally induced collagen induced arthritis (CIA) in CD5L knockout (KO) mice to evaluate the incidence and severity of the disease. The differences between the cellular groups in circulation vs the composition on secondary lymph organs using flow cytometry were also investigated in KO and WT mice. The histopathology of the joints was examined, while cytokine concentrations at several timepoints and total Ig levels were measured by ELISA and cytometric bead assays, respectively.Results:The samples from RA patients showed increased CD5L levels concomitant with the severity of the disease and a direct correlation with Sharp RTG Score or IL-6 serum levels, and inversely correlated with COMP levels. However, these correlations did not clarify whether CD5L helps to resolve RA or is a component that aggravates the disease. To clarify this aspect, we provoked CIA in CD5L KO mice and observed a higher incidence of RA, higher severity and a much lower recovery rate when compared with WT mice. To corroborate these data, the H&E staining of sagittal section of fore- and hindpaws revealed histopathology consistency with RA, with notable inflammatory signs especially in KO mice. WT animals with RA also showed higher levels of CD5L when compared with the control group, which confirms the observations obtained for human samples. Total serum IgG levels did not correlate with the disease severity but KO mice presented higher quantities of IgG and IL-6 when compared with WT mice.Conclusion:Overall, these data imply that CD5L is not a promoter of the disease but rather a fundamental protective molecule against inflammation.References:[1]Balakrishnan L et al. (2014) Clin Proteom 11:1[2]Wang C et al. (2015) Cell 163:1413-27[3]Sanjurjo L et al. (2018) Front Immunol 9:480[4]Martinez VG et al. (2014) Cell Mol Immunol 11:343–354Acknowledgments:This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No683356-FOLSMARTDisclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 09-13
Author(s):  
Syarif Indra

Introduction: Stroke is a major health problem in the world, and associated with mortality, disability, and economic burden. Stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world after heart disease and cause of disability in adults. Several recent studies show that levels of Lp-PLA2 contribute to high serum lead to ischemic stroke, whereas some others do not get the association. Aims: studies an association between serum Lp-PLA2 with incident ischemic stroke. Method: This study is a descriptive analytic comparative with cross sectional design in the Neurology ward RS. DR. M. Djamil Padang between October 2013 to April 2014 with total of 88 subjects consisting of 44 subjects ischemic stroke patients and 44 healthy control group who participated in the study. Statistical analysis is used parametric test with unpaired t test, test for normality with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and logistic regression analysis. Result: P value 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean age of subjects in the group of ischemic stroke patients was 57.30 ±8.86 years old. Female in patients with ischemic stroke group was 23 people (52,3%). Mean levels of Lp-PLA2 serum in patiens with ischemic stroke group was 103.49±48.00 ng/mL. A significan association between serum levels of Lp-PLA2 with incident ischemic stroke with p<0.05. Conclusion: There was a significant relation in elevation of serum Lp-PLA2 levels with incident of ischemic stroke.


2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 669-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent V. Soriano ◽  
Eljim P. Tesoro ◽  
Sean P. Kane

Background: The Winter-Tozer (WT) equation has been shown to reliably predict free phenytoin levels in healthy patients. In patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), phenytoin-albumin binding is altered and, thus, affects interpretation of total serum levels. Although an ESRD WT equation was historically proposed for this population, there is a lack of data evaluating its accuracy. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of the ESRD WT equation in predicting free serum phenytoin concentration in patients with ESRD on hemodialysis (HD). Methods: A retrospective analysis of adult patients with ESRD on HD and concurrent free and total phenytoin concentrations was conducted. Each patient’s true free phenytoin concentration was compared with a calculated value using the ESRD WT equation and a revised version of the ESRD WT equation. Results: A total of 21 patients were included for analysis. The ESRD WT equation produced a percentage error of 75% and a root mean square error of 1.76 µg/mL. Additionally, 67% of the samples had an error >50% when using the ESRD WT equation. A revised equation was found to have high predictive accuracy, with only 5% of the samples demonstrating >50% error. Conclusion: The ESRD WT equation was not accurate in predicting free phenytoin concentration in patients with ESRD on HD. A revised ESRD WT equation was found to be significantly more accurate. Given the small study sample, further studies are required to fully evaluate the clinical utility of the revised ESRD WT equation.


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