NULL

Abstract: Recently, environmental pollution was introduced as a contributing factor in decreasing male fecundity via deterioration of semen quality. Our study aimed to compare serum and seminal plasma levels of lead and cadmium in rural versus urban infertile men from Assiut governorate and also, to detect the correlations of these heavy metals with conventional semen parameters and sperm vitality. Methodology Seventy five infertile male patients from rural areas and 84 from urban areas in Assiut governorate were included in the study. Lead and cadmium levels in serum and seminal plasma, conventional semen analysis and sperm vitality with hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS) were evaluated in all patients. Results: There was a significant increase in both serum and seminal concentrations of lead and cadmium among infertile men from urban areas in comparison to those from rural areas. No statistically significant difference could be detected in semen parameters between the 2 groups. There were significant negative correlations between serum and seminal concentrations of lead and cadmium on one hand and normal sperm morphology, progressive motility and vitality (HOS) percentages on the other hand. Conclusions: Infertile men from urban areas are more subject to hazardous environmental toxicants as heavy metals which may help in diagnosis of the unexplained male infertility and necessitates special attention in management of those subjects attending infertility clinics and belonging to urban areas.

Abstract: Recently, environmental pollution was introduced as a contributing factor in decreasing male fecundity via deterioration of semen quality. Our study aimed to compare serum and seminal plasma levels of lead and cadmium in rural versus urban infertile men from Assiut governorate and also, to detect the correlations of these heavy metals with conventional semen parameters and sperm vitality. Methodology Seventy five infertile male patients from rural areas and 84 from urban areas in Assiut governorate were included in the study. Lead and cadmium levels in serum and seminal plasma, conventional semen analysis and sperm vitality with hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS) were evaluated in all patients. Results: There was a significant increase in both serum and seminal concentrations of lead and cadmium among infertile men from urban areas in comparison to those from rural areas. No statistically significant difference could be detected in semen parameters between the 2 groups. There were significant negative correlations between serum and seminal concentrations of lead and cadmium on one hand and normal sperm morphology, progressive motility and vitality (HOS) percentages on the other hand. Conclusions: Infertile men from urban areas are more subject to hazardous environmental toxicants as heavy metals which may help in diagnosis of the unexplained male infertility and necessitates special attention in management of those subjects attending infertility clinics and belonging to urban areas.

Abstract: Recently, environmental pollution was introduced as a contributing factor in decreasing male fecundity via deterioration of semen quality. Our study aimed to compare serum and seminal plasma levels of lead and cadmium in rural versus urban infertile men from Assiut governorate and also, to detect the correlations of these heavy metals with conventional semen parameters and sperm vitality. Methodology Seventy five infertile male patients from rural areas and 84 from urban areas in Assiut governorate were included in the study. Lead and cadmium levels in serum and seminal plasma, conventional semen analysis and sperm vitality with hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS) were evaluated in all patients. Results: There was a significant increase in both serum and seminal concentrations of lead and cadmium among infertile men from urban areas in comparison to those from rural areas. No statistically significant difference could be detected in semen parameters between the 2 groups. There were significant negative correlations between serum and seminal concentrations of lead and cadmium on one hand and normal sperm morphology, progressive motility and vitality (HOS) percentages on the other hand. Conclusions: Infertile men from urban areas are more subject to hazardous environmental toxicants as heavy metals which may help in diagnosis of the unexplained male infertility and necessitates special attention in management of those subjects attending infertility clinics and belonging to urban areas.

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction (ED) in men is a worldwide problem. Histopathological changes in diabetic corpora cavernosa (CC) tissue are not fully understood due to limited studies on human tissues. The aim of this study was to compare histopathological changes between CC of diabetic and nondiabetic patients with ED. Patients and methods: Forty CC biopsies were taken from 16 diabetic and 24 nondiabetic men during penile implant insertion. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections from each specimen were stained with conventional hematoxylin and eosin stains for general assessment of histopathological changes, with Masson trichrome for assessment of smooth muscle (SM) fibers and collagen, and with Verhoeff’s elastic van Gieson stain for assessment of elastic fibers (EF). SM fibers were assessed for cell thickness/bundle, shape, and percentage from trabecular tissue thickness. EF were assessed for shape and percentage from trabecular tissue. Arteries and venous sinuses were assessed for presence of subendothelial fibrosis. The main outcome measures were thickness and shape of trabecular SM bundles, percentage of trabecular EF and shape, and presence of subendothelial fibrosis. Results: No difference in SM thickness was detected; however, SM in the diabetic group showed higher degree of shape abnormality in the form of frayed fibers (P=0.007) and more intramuscular fibrosis (P=0.001). The percentage of collagen fibers was significantly higher in diabetic patients (P=0.002). The percentage of EF in trabecular tissue ranged from 10 to 60% and was significantly reduced in diabetic patients (P=0.015). Subendothelial fibrosis within arteries and sinuses was higher in the diabetic group (P=0.059 and 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: The major structural changes within CC tissue in diabetic patients were fraying and fibrosis in SM, increased trabecular collagen fibers, and reduction of EF. These changes may play a role in prevention of SM relaxation and interference

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction (ED) in men is a worldwide problem. Histopathological changes in diabetic corpora cavernosa (CC) tissue are not fully understood due to limited studies on human tissues. The aim of this study was to compare histopathological changes between CC of diabetic and nondiabetic patients with ED. Patients and methods: Forty CC biopsies were taken from 16 diabetic and 24 nondiabetic men during penile implant insertion. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections from each specimen were stained with conventional hematoxylin and eosin stains for general assessment of histopathological changes, with Masson trichrome for assessment of smooth muscle (SM) fibers and collagen, and with Verhoeff’s elastic van Gieson stain for assessment of elastic fibers (EF). SM fibers were assessed for cell thickness/bundle, shape, and percentage from trabecular tissue thickness. EF were assessed for shape and percentage from trabecular tissue. Arteries and venous sinuses were assessed for presence of subendothelial fibrosis. The main outcome measures were thickness and shape of trabecular SM bundles, percentage of trabecular EF and shape, and presence of subendothelial fibrosis. Results: No difference in SM thickness was detected; however, SM in the diabetic group showed higher degree of shape abnormality in the form of frayed fibers (P=0.007) and more intramuscular fibrosis (P=0.001). The percentage of collagen fibers was significantly higher in diabetic patients (P=0.002). The percentage of EF in trabecular tissue ranged from 10 to 60% and was significantly reduced in diabetic patients (P=0.015). Subendothelial fibrosis within arteries and sinuses was higher in the diabetic group (P=0.059 and 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: The major structural changes within CC tissue in diabetic patients were fraying and fibrosis in SM, increased trabecular collagen fibers, and reduction of EF. These changes may play a role in prevention of SM relaxation and interference

Aim: We investigated the associations between variants in genes coding for enzymes and transporters related to the 6-mercaptopurine pathway and clinical outcomes in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. MATERIALS & METHODS: Statistical association between gender, age and genotypes of selected SNPs, and the risks of hematological toxicity and relapse were investigated using a Cox proportional hazard model in 70 acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients from upper Egypt. RESULTS: We found significant associations between ITPA, IMPDH1, SLC29A1, SLC28A2, SLC28A3 and ABCC4 SNPs and one or more of the hematological toxicity manifestations (neutropenia, agranulocytosis and leukopenia); age was significantly related to relapse. CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms in enzymes and transporters involved in the 6-mercaptopurine pathway should be considered during its use to avoid hematological toxicity.

Aim: We investigated the associations between variants in genes coding for enzymes and transporters related to the 6-mercaptopurine pathway and clinical outcomes in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. MATERIALS & METHODS: Statistical association between gender, age and genotypes of selected SNPs, and the risks of hematological toxicity and relapse were investigated using a Cox proportional hazard model in 70 acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients from upper Egypt. RESULTS: We found significant associations between ITPA, IMPDH1, SLC29A1, SLC28A2, SLC28A3 and ABCC4 SNPs and one or more of the hematological toxicity manifestations (neutropenia, agranulocytosis and leukopenia); age was significantly related to relapse. CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms in enzymes and transporters involved in the 6-mercaptopurine pathway should be considered during its use to avoid hematological toxicity.

Aim: We investigated the associations between variants in genes coding for enzymes and transporters related to the 6-mercaptopurine pathway and clinical outcomes in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. MATERIALS & METHODS: Statistical association between gender, age and genotypes of selected SNPs, and the risks of hematological toxicity and relapse were investigated using a Cox proportional hazard model in 70 acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients from upper Egypt. RESULTS: We found significant associations between ITPA, IMPDH1, SLC29A1, SLC28A2, SLC28A3 and ABCC4 SNPs and one or more of the hematological toxicity manifestations (neutropenia, agranulocytosis and leukopenia); age was significantly related to relapse. CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms in enzymes and transporters involved in the 6-mercaptopurine pathway should be considered during its use to avoid hematological toxicity.

Aim: We investigated the associations between variants in genes coding for enzymes and transporters related to the 6-mercaptopurine pathway and clinical outcomes in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. MATERIALS & METHODS: Statistical association between gender, age and genotypes of selected SNPs, and the risks of hematological toxicity and relapse were investigated using a Cox proportional hazard model in 70 acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients from upper Egypt. RESULTS: We found significant associations between ITPA, IMPDH1, SLC29A1, SLC28A2, SLC28A3 and ABCC4 SNPs and one or more of the hematological toxicity manifestations (neutropenia, agranulocytosis and leukopenia); age was significantly related to relapse. CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms in enzymes and transporters involved in the 6-mercaptopurine pathway should be considered during its use to avoid hematological toxicity.