Size dependent inhibition of sperm motility by copper particles as a path towards reversible male contraception

Effective inhibition of sperm motility using a spermicide can be a promising approach in developing non-invasive male contraceptive agents. Copper is known to have contraceptive properties and has been used clinically for decades as intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) for contraception in females. Beyond that, the spermicidal use of copper has not been explored much further, even though its use could also subdue the harmful effects caused by the hormonal contraceptive agents on the environment. Herein, we study the size, concentration and time dependent in vitro inhibition of bovine spermatozoa by copper microparticles. The effectivity in inhibiting the sperm motility is correlated to the amount of Cu2+ ions released by the particles during incubation. The copper particles cause direct suppression of sperm cell motility upon incubation and thereby show potential as sperm inhibiting, hormone free candidate for male contraception beyond condoms.

Effect of the Monthly Injectable Combined Contraceptives versus Oral Contraceptive Pills on Mood

Background: Contraceptive agents are widely used by women of reproductive age, and resulting depression is the most common side effect of this usage. This study aimed to study the effect of monthly injectable combined contraceptives versus that of combined oral contraceptive pills (COC) on patients’ mood.Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 124 females aged 18–45 years attending the Kom-Ashfeen Family Medicine Unit, El-Kalyubia, Egypt. Participants were divided into three groups according to their choice: group A included 44 participants who received monthly combined injectable contraceptives (CIC); group B included 40 participants who took COC; and group C included 40 participants who used the copper intrauterine device (IUD). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score was assessed at the beginning of the study and after 6 months of follow-up.Results: After 6 months of follow-up, there were mild but statistically significant increases in the PHQ-9 score in groups A and B, with group A (CIC users) showing the highest increase. Approximately 34.1%, 27.5%, and 15% of CIC, COC, and IUD users, respectively, moved from the non-depression stage to mild depression after 6 months; this change was statistically significant in groups A and B only.Conclusion: Monthly injectable combined contraceptives and oral contraceptive pills were associated with an increased risk of developing mild depression; this risk was higher in users of CICs, although the difference was not statistically significant. Thus, it is crucial to counsel patients about this possible risk and to follow them up. However, further studies are required to confirm our results.

Trombose venosa cerebral e o uso de anticoncepcionais orais: Uma revisão integrativa

O objetivo do estudo foi relacionar as pesquisas sobre trombose venosa cerebral com o uso de anticoncepcionais orais combinados. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura realizada através das bases de dados: LILACS, Scielo, Periódicos Capes, Medline PubMed, Cochrane Library e Science Direct, utilizando os descritores: “contraceptive agents”, “intracranial embolism thrombosis”, "thrombosis" “intracranial thrombosis”. Para a seleção de artigos foi utilizado o operador booleano “AND” entre os descritores. A pergunta norteadora, elaborada através da metodologia de PICO (Paciente, Intervenção, Controle, Outcome), foi: "Os anticoncepcionais orais desencadeiam a trombose venosa cerebral?”. Nos resultados foram encontrados 47 artigos, sendo 35 excluídos por não apresentarem relação entre trombose venosa cerebral e anticoncepcionais orais. Dessa forma, foram selecionados 12 artigos para compor essa revisão. No estudo pode-se concluir que, o risco dos eventos trombóticos venosos, em usuárias de anticoncepcionais orais combinados, está aumentado. Isto posto, é importante enfatizar o uso racional desses medicamentos, assim como a compreensão para o diagnóstico precoce da trombose venosa cerebral.

A platform utilizing Drosophila ovulation for nonhormonal contraceptive screening

A significant unmet need for new contraceptive options for both women and men remains due to side-effect profiles, medical concerns, and the inconvenience of many currently available contraceptive products. Unfortunately, the development of novel nonsteroidal female contraceptive medicine has been stalled in the last couple of decades due to the lack of effective screening platforms. Drosophila utilizes conserved signaling pathways for follicle rupture, a final step in ovulation that is essential for female reproduction. Therefore, we explored the potential to use Drosophila as a model to screen compounds that could inhibit follicle rupture and be nonsteroidal contraceptive candidates. Using our ex vivo follicle rupture assay, we screened 1,172 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved drugs and identified six drugs that could inhibit Drosophila follicle rupture in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, we characterized the molecular actions of these drugs in the inhibition of adrenergic signaling and follicle rupture. Furthermore, we validated that three of the four drugs consistently inhibited mouse follicle rupture in vitro and that two of them did not affect progesterone production. Finally, we showed that chlorpromazine, one of the candidate drugs, can significantly inhibit mouse follicle rupture in vivo. Our work suggests that Drosophila ovulation is a valuable platform for identifying lead compounds for nonsteroidal contraceptive development and highlights the potential of these FDA-approved drugs as novel nonsteroidal contraceptive agents.

SARC e LARC: grau de conhecimento e frequência de uso em complexo hospitalar de referência no Paraná / SARC and LARC: degree of knowledge and frequency of use in a reference hospital complex in Paraná

Introdução: Contraceptivos representam um elemento essencial para a vida reprodutiva e para o planejamento familiar. O grau de conhecimento das mulheres sobre esse tema exerce influência sobre suas escolhas por determinados métodos anticoncepcionais. Objetivos: os objetivos deste estudo foram traçar o perfil etário e socioeconômico das pacientes do Ambulatório de Reprodução Humana do CHC-UFPR e avaliar seu conhecimento e uso de contraceptivos de curta e de longa ação (SARC e LARC), de forma a identificar lacunas de informação que pudessem ocasionargestações não planejadas e direcionar futuras estratégias educativas sobre contraceptivos. Métodos: Conduzimos entrevistas por meio de questionários objetivos aplicados a pacientes do sexo feminino entre 18 e 50 anos na ocasião de suas consultas, indagando-as sobre sua ciência da existência de diversos anticoncepcionais, tipo de método utilizado e tempo de uso, presença, frequência e motivos para gestações não planejadas. Resultados: Os principais resultados indicaram um grupo de pacientes jovens e com alta escolaridade, cuja utilização de métodos anticoncepcionais era semelhante entre SARC e LARC. O conhecimento dos anticoncepcionais foi satisfatório, principalmente entre os mais populares como anticoncepcional hormonal oral e DIU de cobre. Gestações não planejadas estiveram presentes na vida reprodutiva de 60% das pacientes, sendo o principal motivo o não uso de contraceptivos. Não houve associação entre uso de SARC ou LARC e maior número de gestações indesejadas. O número de contraceptivos conhecidos por mulheres sem gestações indesejadas foi uma mediana maior do que aquele das mulheres com esses eventos. Conclusão: A abordagem das pacientes do ambulatório da Reprodução Humana do CHC-UFPR deve ser direcionada para pacientes jovens, com alto grau de instrução e amplo conhecimento sobre contraceptivos. É importante que os profissionais de saúde do local busquem orientá-las de forma a reduzir a taxa de gestações não planejadas.Palavras chave: Anticoncepcionais, gravidez não planejada, ConhecimentoABSTRACT Introduction: Contraceptive agents represent an essential element in reproductive life and family planning. The knowledge extension for women about that subject influences choices for certain contraceptive methods. Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the age and socioeconomic profile of the patients of the Human Reproduction Clinic in the Hospital Complex of Federal University of Paraná and to evaluate their knowledge and use of short-acting reversible contraceptives (SARC) and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), in order to idenfity information gaps that could cause unplanned pregnancies and direct future educational strategies on contraceptives. Methodology: We conducted interviews using objective questionnaires applied to female patients aged from 18 to 50 years old before or after their medical appointment, asking about their knowledge of the existence of diverse contraceptive agents, type of contraceptive utilized and duration of use, presence, number and reasons for unplanned pregnancies. Results: The main results indicated that the group was mostly young and highly educated, utilizing SARC and LARC in similar frequencies. The knowledge of the existence of the contraceptive agents was satisfactory and the most popular methods were the contraceptive pill and the Coopper IUD. Unplanned pregnancies were present in the reproductive life of 60% of the patients and the most common reasons for these events was the non use of contraceptives. There was no association between the use of SARC or LARC and a higher number of unplanned pregnancies. The number of contraceptives known by women without previous history of unintended pregnancy was a median higher than those of women with those events. Conclusion: Hereafter, the approach to patients in the Human Reproduction Clinic in the Hospital Complex of Federal University of Paraná should be directed to young and highly educated women, with broad knowledge about contraceptive agents. It is important that health professionals of the clinic guide patients aiming to reduce the local unplanned pregnancy rates.Keywords: Contraceptive agents, Unplanned pregnancy, Knowledge

Update on novel hormonal and non-hormonal male contraceptive development

Background The advent of new methods of male contraception would increase contraceptive options for men and women and advance male contraceptive agency. Pharmaceutical R&D for male contraception has been dormant since the 1990’s. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has supported a contraceptive development program since 1969 and supports most ongoing hormonal male contraceptive development. Non-hormonal methods are in earlier stages of development. Content Several hormonal male contraceptive agents have entered clinical trials. Novel single agent products being evaluated include Dimethandrolone Undecanoate (DMAU), 11β-methyl-nortestosterone dodecylcarbonate (11β-MNTDC), and 7α-methyl-19-nortestosterone (MENT). A contraceptive efficacy trial of Nestorone® (NES)/testosterone (T) gel is underway. Potential non-hormonal methods are at preclinical stages of development. Many non-hormonal male contraceptive targets that affect sperm production, sperm function, or sperm transport have been identified. Summary NICHD supports development of reversible male contraceptive agents. Other organizations such as the World Health Organization, the Population Council, and The Male Contraception Initiative are pursuing male contraceptive development, but industry involvement remains limited.

An overview on red algae bioactive compounds and their pharmaceutical applications

ObjectivesTo review red algae bioactive compounds and their pharmaceutical applications.ContentSeaweed sources are becoming attractive to be used in health and therapeutics. Among these red algae is the largest group containing bioactive compounds utilized in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food industry, manure and various supplements in food formula. Various significant bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides (aginate, agar, and carrageenan), lipids and polyphenols, steroids, glycosides, flavanoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, triterpenoids, antheraquinones and cardiac glycosides have been reported in red algae. The red algae have rich nutritional components Different polysaccharides of red algae possess the antiviral potential namely agarans, carrageenan, alginate, fucan, laminaran and naviculan. Sulfated polysaccharides and carraginans of red algae are rich source of soluble fibers which can account for antitumor activities depending upon chemistry of various secondary metabolites and metabolism of cell line. Flavons-3-ols containing catechins from many red algae block the telomerase activity in colon cancer cells. Contraceptive agents were tested from red algae as a source for post-coital. Lectin of red algae showed pro-healing properties and anti-ulcerogenic activities. Carragenates from red algae also conferred a positive influence on diabetes. Red algae depicted a reducing effect on plasma lipids and obesity. Porphyran from red alga can act as anti-hyperlipidemic agent also reduces the apolipoprotein B100 via suppression of lipid synthesis in human liver.SummaryThe polyphenolic extracts of Laurencia undulate, Melanothamnus afaqhusainii and Solieria robusta extract show anti-inflammatory effects against multiple genera of devastating fungi. Antioxidants such as phlorotannins, ascorbic acids, tocopherols, carotenoids from red algae showed toxicity on some cancer cells without side effects. Red algae Laurencia nipponica was found insecticidal against mosquito larvae. Red algae fibers are very important in laxative and purgative activities. Gracilaria tenuistipitat resisted in agricultural lands polluted with cadmium and copper.OutlookIn the recent decades biotechnological applications of red algae has been increased. Polysaccharides derived from red algae are important tool for formulation of drugs delivery system via nanotechnology.

Retinoic acid receptor antagonists for male contraception: current status†

Retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA), a nuclear receptor protein, has been validated as a target for male contraception by gene knockout studies and also pharmacologically using a pan-retinoic acid receptor antagonist. Retinoic acid receptor alpha activity is indispensable for the spermatogenic process, and therefore its antagonists have potential as male contraceptive agents. This review discusses the effects of systematic dosing regimen modifications of the orally bioavailable and reversible pan-antagonist BMS-189453 as well as studies with the alpha-selective antagonists BMS-189532 and BMS-189614 in a murine model. We also provide an overview of structure–activity studies of retinoic acid receptor alpha antagonists that provide insight for the design of novel alpha-selective ligands.

A Review on Medicinal Plants of North Eastern Region with Potential Antifertility Activity

The increase in population is becoming a comprehensive problem, causing much pressure on economic, social and natural assets. Oral contraceptive agents have improved the rate of infertility but their unusual side effects limit the use. Current antifertility therapy lacks satisfactory success due to this adverse effect; hence, patients are seeking complementary and alternative medicine for anti-fertility action. Ayurveda and other Indian literature mention the use of plants in various human ailments. India has about more than 45000 plant species and among them several thousand are claimed to possess medicinal properties. Researchers conducted in the last few decades on the plants mentioned in ancient literature or used traditionally for anti-fertility action. This review reveals that some plants and their part used having anti-fertility action, which are helpful for researcher to develop new herbal anti-fertility formulations. In the recent years, interest in drugs of plant origin has been progressively increased. The aim of this review is to highlight the work on anti-fertility of plant origin. For women who can't use modern forms of contraception due to adverse effect or other reasons, therefore herbs can offer alternatives and reducing fertility would be better than other contraceptives. This article may help investigators to identify medicinal plants responsible for anti-fertility activity.