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Since the initial shipment of vaccination campaign against SARS-CoV-2 infection, it was a major concern all over the world regarding appropriate gapping between the first and second dose and also the necessity of booster dose after being vaccinated with the second dose. This cross-sectional type of comparative study was conducted at Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital, from the period of March 01 2021 to August 31 2021, on 148 hospitalized patients who were vaccinated with Astra Zeneca. They were divided into two groups on the background of 1st dose and 2nd dose. Collected data were entered into SPSS-26 version and after data cleaning, descriptive analysis was done with frequency distribution. To find out the significant difference between the two groups considering clinico-demographic information, disease severity, and duration of the last dose of vaccine; the Pearson Chi-square test was done with a significance level ≤0.05. The patients from both groups were mostly male and above 60 years. There were no significant age or sex variations between the two groups. SARS-CoV-2 infection was common after 38 days of dose 1 and after 63 days of dose 2. Fever, cough, running nose, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, lower oxygen saturation, radiological involvement were comparatively more in patients who got only a single dose. Mild pneumonia (70.7%) was the commonest presentation in both doses of vaccinated patients and single dose vaccinated patients mostly (45.5%) presented with severe pneumonia. Elderly clinically risks group patients were mostly hospitalized with infection after 1 month of the 1st dose and on the other hand after 2 months of completing the 2nd dose. Symptomatic infection and disease severity were more in 1st dose vaccine recipients in comparison to 2nd dose.

Computer vision (CV) and human-computer interaction (HCI) are essential in many technological fields. Researchers in CV are particularly interested in real-time object detection techniques, which have a wide range of applications, including inspection systems. In this study, we design and implement real-time object detection and recognition systems using the single-shoot detector (SSD) algorithm and deep learning techniques with pre-trained models. The system can detect static and moving objects in real-time and recognize the object's class. The primary goals of this research were to investigate and develop a real-time object detection system that employs deep learning and neural systems for real-time object detection and recognition. In addition, we evaluated the free available, pre-trained models with the SSD algorithm on various types of datasets to determine which models have high accuracy and speed when detecting an object. Moreover, the system is required to be operational on reasonable equipment. We tried and evaluated several deep learning structures and techniques during the coding procedure and developed and proposed a highly accurate and efficient object detection system. This system utilizes freely available datasets such as MS Common Objects in Context (COCO), PASCAL VOC, and Kitti. We evaluated our system's accuracy using various metrics such as precision and recall. The proposed system achieved a high accuracy of 97% while detecting and recognizing real-time objects., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wahab, Ullah, Shah, Khan, Choi and Anwar.)

E-health has grown into a billion-dollar industry in the last decade. Its device's high throughput makes it an obvious target for cyberattacks, and these environments desperately need protection. In this scientific study, we presented an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven software-defined networking (SDN)-enabled intrusion detection system (IDS) to address increasing cyber threats in the E-health and internet of medical things (IoMT) environments. AI's success in various fields, including big data and intrusion detection systems, has prompted us to develop a flexible and cost-effective approach to protect such critical environments from cyberattacks. We present a hybrid model consisting of long short-term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent unit (GRU). The proposed model was thoroughly evaluated using the publicly available CICDDoS2019 dataset and conventional evaluation measures. Furthermore, for proper validation, the proposed framework is compared with relevant classifiers, such as cu-GRU+ DNN and cu-BLSTM. We have further compared the proposed model with existing literature to prove its efficacy. Lastly, 10-fold cross-validation is also used to verify that our results are unbiased. The proposed approach has bypassed the current literature with extraordinary performance ramifications such as 99.01% accuracy, 99.04% precision, 98.80 percent recall, and 99.12% F1-score., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Fazal Wahab et al.)

In this paper, we report on the synthesis-via the wet chemical precipitation route method-and thin film characteristics of inorganic semiconductor, cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) nanoparticles, for their potential application in enhancing the humidity-sensing properties of semiconducting polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (F8). For morphological analysis of the synthesized Cu 2 O nanoparticles, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs are studied to investigate the texture, distribution, shape, and sizes of Cu 2 O crystallites. The TEM image of the Cu 2 O nanoparticles exhibits somewhat non-uniform distribution with almost uniform shape and size having an average particle size of ≈24 ± 2 nm. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra are studied to validate the formation of Cu 2 O nanoparticles. Additionally, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is performed to analyze the surface morphology of polymer-inorganic (F8-Cu 2 O) nanocomposites thin film to see the grain sizes, mosaics, and average surface roughness. In order to study the enhancement in sensing properties of F8, a hybrid organic-inorganic (F8-Cu 2 O) surface-type humidity sensor Ag/F8-Cu 2 O/Ag is fabricated by employing F8 polymer as an active matrix layer and Cu 2 O nanoparticles as a dopant. The Ag/F8-Cu 2 O/Ag device is prepared by spin coating a 10:1 wt% solution of F8-Cu 2 O nanocomposite on pre-patterned silver (Ag) electrodes on glass. The inter-electrode gap (≈5 μm) between Ag is developed by photolithography. To study humidity sensing, the Ag/F8-Cu 2 O/Ag device is characterized by measuring its capacitance (C) as a function of relative humidity (%RH) at two different frequencies (120 Hz and 1 kHz). The device exhibits a broad humidity sensing range (27-86%RH) with shorter response time and recovery time, i.e., 9 s and 8 s, respectively. The present results show significant enhancement in the humidity-sensing properties as compared to our previously reported results of Ag/F8/Ag sensor wherein the humidity sensing range was 45-78%RH with 15 s and 7 s response and recovery times, respectively. The improvement in the humidity-sensing properties is attributed to the potential use of Cu 2 O nanoparticles, which change the hydrophobicity, surface to volume ratio of Cu 2 O nanoparticles, as well as modification in electron polarizability and polarity of the F8 matrix layer.

This study aims to model, analyze, and compare the electrochemical removal of Navy-blue dye (NB, %) and subsequent energy consumption (EC, Wh) using the integrated response surface modelling and optimization approaches. The Box-Behnken experimental design was exercised using current density, electrolyte concentration, pH and oxidation time as inputs, while NB removal and EC were recorded as responses for the implementation and analysis of multiple linear regression, support vector regression and artificial neural network models. The dual-response optimization using genetic algorithm generated multi-Pareto solutions for maximized NB removal at minimum energy cost, which were further ranked by employing the desirability function approach. The optimal parametric solution having total desirability of 0.804 is found when pH, current density, Na 2 SO 4 concentration and electrolysis time were 6.4, 11.89 mA cm -2 , 0.055 M and 21.5 min, respectively. At these conditions, NB degradation and EC were 83.23% and 3.64 Wh, respectively. Sensitivity analyses revealed the influential patterns of variables on simultaneous optimization of NB removal and EC to be current density followed by treatment time and finally supporting electrolyte concentration. Statistical metrics of modeling and validation confirmed the accuracy of artificial neural network model followed by support vector regression and multiple linear regression anlaysis. The results revealed that statistical and computational modeling is an effective approach for the optimization of process variables of an electrochemical degradation process., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The intrinsic peak profiles (free from the delay and dispersion caused by state-of-the art UHPLC systems) generated by narrow-bore and microbore chromatographic columns used in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) proteomic analyses are extracted from two different deconvolution methods. The first method is based on the classical discrete Fourier transform (DFT) while the second method refers to the Taylor expansion of the continuous Fourier transform (FT). The two numerical methods are compared regarding the accurate determination of the intrinsic peak profiles of the non-retained compound (toluene) expected on a narrow-bore 2.1 mm × 100 mm column packed with 1.6 μm CORTECS-C 18 superficially porous particles and installed on three different LC systems (ACQUITY i-class UPLC, ACQUITY H-class UPLC, and Arc LC systems). The DFT-based method is most relevant when the low-frequency band of the chromatographic peak does not overlap with the high-frequency bands related to the experimental baseline noise (pump/detector). The Taylor expansion-based method is successful for the extraction of the intrinsic peak profiles of narrow-bore 2.1 mm i.d. columns packed with sub-2 μm particles installed on standard UHPLC systems. When the LC system dispersion significantly exceeds that of the column, the DFT-based method is preferred over the Taylor expansion-based method and is successfully applied to extract the intrinsic peak profiles generated by a microbore 1.0 mm × 100 mm column packed with 1.8 μm HSS-C 18 fully porous particles (volume variance ∼ 0.15 μL 2 for the non-retained compound toluene) run on the low-dispersion ACQUITY i-class UPLC system (∼ 1 μL 2 volume variance). This result opens up promising avenues for the development, quality control, and LC-MS analyses of microbore 1 mm i.d. columns using the state-of-the-art UHPLC instruments at flow rates larger than 0.1 mL/min., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cisplatin, an anticancer drug used in treating various types of cancers, can cause reproductive toxicities during chemotherapy. Keeping this in view, the present study was designed to investigate the possible protective effects of normal vitamin C and E and vitamin C and E nanoparticles (embedded in chitosan) against cisplatin-induced reproductive toxicities. Vitamins C, E, and their nanoparticles in this regard proved to be an effective therapy. The work aimed to treat cisplatin-induced reproductive toxicities through vitamin C and E and their nanoparticles. Cisplatin exposure caused significant reduction in the weight, testosterone level, and changed lipid profile. Similarly, cisplatin induced significant widespread testicular atrophy and testicular lesions as evidenced by the gaps in the epithelium and loss of differentiating germ cells. Vitamin C and E and their nanoparticles rescued the weight, testosterone level, and testicular disturbances, which is associated with improved histological view of testicular tissues. The current study highlights evidence that designing a medication of vitamin C and E nanoparticles is useful in mitigating cisplatin-induced reproductive toxicity in cancerous male patients underlying chemotherapy., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The epigenetic mechanisms controlling germ cell development and differentiation are still not well understood. Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) is a nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent histone deacetylase and belongs to the sirtuin family of deacetylases. It catalyzes the removal of acetyl groups from a number of protein substrates. Some studies reported a role of SIRT1 in the central and peripheral regulation of reproduction in various non-primate species. However, testicular SIRT1 expression and its possible role in the testis have not been analyzed in primates. Here, we document expression of SIRT1 in testes of different primates and some non-primate species. SIRT1 is expressed mainly in the cells of seminiferous tubules, particularly in germ cells. The majority of SIRT1-positive germ cells were in the meiotic and postmeiotic phase of differentiation. However, SIRT1 expression was also observed in selected premeiotic germ cells, i.e., spermatogonia. SIRT1 co-localized in spermatogonia with irisin, an endocrine factor specifically expressed in primate spermatogonia. In marmoset testicular explant cultures, SIRT1 transcript levels are upregulated by the addition of irisin as compared to untreated controls explants. Rhesus macaques are seasonal breeders with high testicular activity in winter and low testicular activity in summer. Of note, SIRT1 mRNA and SIRT1 protein expression are changed between nonbreeding (low spermatogenesis) and breeding (high spermatogenesis) season. Our data suggest that SIRT1 is a relevant factor for the regulation of spermatogenesis in primates. Further mechanistic studies are required to better understand the role of SIRT1 during spermatogenesis.

This study was carried out to explore the prevalence of elderly abuse, identify its types, associated risk factors and determine quality of their life in Rural Mansoura districts, Egypt. A cross-section study was conducted on a sample of 272 elders recruited from outpatient clinicsFamily Health Centers in Shawa & Berkin villages from May 1 to September 3, 2016. 200 (73.5%) elders accepted participation. A previously designed and validated questionnaires were used to collect data from participants. 46% of the studied elders were abused. The most frequent forms of abuse were negligence (40%) followed by psychological abuse (30.5%). Abuse was significantly higher among females (56.5%), farmers (67.2%), illiterates (55.5%) and living alone elders (68.5%). Elders with chronic diseases were significantly more abused (54.9%) especially diabetic and hypertensive elders (71.4%). Concerning lifestyle of the studied elders, 21% of them had bad health perception generally. The study showed that dependent elders exposed significantly to higher rates of abuse than independents with highly statistical significant.Logistic regression analysis revealed that being a female and previously working as farmer are 2.5 and 4.6 times more likely to be abused. On the other hand, sharing house with other partner or offspring and absence of chronic diseases are protective predictors against elder abuse. Governmental and NGOS support to elders in rural areas especially females and famers is highly recommended. Health insurance is necessary for health promotion, reduction of chronic disease and or disability to decrease dependency is crucial.

Cortisol inhibits hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis whereas RF9, a potent agonist of kisspeptin receptor (GPR54) activates HPG-axis during fasting-induced stress and under normal physiological conditions. However, the effect of RF9 on the cortisol-induced repressed HPG-axis is not studied yet. This study investigated whether exogenous cortisol-induced repression of the HPG-axis can be rescued by RF9. Six intact adult male rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta ) habituated to chair-restraint were administered hydrocortisone sodium succinate at a rate of 20 mg/kg of body weight (BW) per day for 12 days. Single blood sample was taken by venipuncture from each animal on alternate days for hormones analyses. On experimental day 12, hydrocortisone treated monkeys received a single intravenous bolus of RF9 ( n = 3) and vehicle ( n = 3). The animals were bled for a period of 4 h at 60 min intervals from an indwelling cannula in the saphenous vein. RF9 was administered intravenously at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg BW immediately after taking 0 min sample. Plasma cortisol and testosterone concentrations were measured by using specific enzyme immunoassays. Hydrocortisone treatment increased plasma cortisol levels ( P ≤ 0.0001) and decreased plasma testosterone ( P ≤ 0.0127) levels. Interestingly, compared to vehicle, RF9 treatment significantly increased plasma testosterone levels at 120 min ( P ≤ 0.0037), 180 min ( P ≤ 0.0016), and 240 min ( P ≤ 0.0001) intervals in the hydrocortisone treated monkeys. From these results, we concluded that RF9 administration relieves the suppressed HPG-axis in term of plasma testosterone levels in the cortisol treated monkeys., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Ullah, Naz, Batool, Wazir, Rahman, Nabi, Wahab, Fu and Shahab.)

The molecular mechanisms regulating undifferentiated spermatogonial cell proliferation and differentiation are still not fully understood. Irisin is an exercise-induced hormone, which is a cleaved and secreted fragment of the fibronectin type III repeat containing 5 (FNDC5) transmembrane protein. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of irisin in cell proliferation and differentiation in various tissues. However, testicular irisin expression and its potential action have not been analyzed. Here, we demonstrate expression of irisin in undifferentiated spermatogonia of primates and in the tree shrew, a bridging species between primates and insectivores. Rhesus monkeys are seasonal breeders with annual phases of high and low testicular activity and germ cell proliferation. Interestingly, expression of both FNDC5 mRNA and irisin is altered between breeding (high spermatogenesis) and nonbreeding seasons (low spermatogenesis). Organotypic testis culture in the presence of irisin increased the expression levels of the Sertoli cell (GDNF) and spermatogonial transcripts Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), Inhibitor of differentiation 4 (ID4), Cluster of differentiation 117 (cKIT), and SALL4, compared to untreated controls, while irisin suppressed its own FNDC5 mRNA. Our data suggest that irisin is a novel endocrine factor involved in the regulation of spermatogonial activities in the testes of primates., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This work reports synthesis, thin film characterizations, and study of an organic semiconductor 2-aminoanthraquinone (AAq) for humidity and temperature sensing applications. The morphological and phase studies of AAq thin films are carried out by scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. To study the sensing properties of AAq, a surface type Au/AAq/Au sensor is fabricated by thermally depositing a 60 nm layer of AAq at a pressure of ~10 -5 mbar on a pre-patterned gold (Au) electrodes with inter-electrode gap of 45 µm. To measure sensing capability of the Au/AAq/Au device, the variations in its capacitance and resistance are studied as a function of humidity and temperature. The Au/AAq/Au device measures and exhibits a linear change in capacitance and resistance when relative humidity (%RH) and temperature are varied. The AAq is a hydrophobic material which makes it one of the best candidates to be used as an active material in humidity sensors; on the other hand, its high melting point (575 K) is another appealing property that enables it for its potential applications in temperature sensors.

Two-pore domain K + (K2P) channels have many important physiological functions. However, the functional properties of the TWIK-1 (K2P1.1/ KCNK1 ) K2P channel remain poorly characterized because heterologous expression of this ion channel yields only very low levels of functional activity. Several underlying reasons have been proposed, including TWIK-1 retention in intracellular organelles, inhibition by posttranslational sumoylation, a hydrophobic barrier within the pore, and a low open probability of the selectivity filter (SF) gate. By evaluating these potential mechanisms, we found that the latter dominates the low intrinsic functional activity of TWIK-1. Investigating this further, we observed that the low activity of the SF gate appears to arise from the inefficiency of K + in stabilizing an active ( i.e. conductive) SF conformation. In contrast, other permeant ion species, such as Rb + , NH 4 + , and Cs + , strongly promoted a pH-dependent activated conformation. Furthermore, many K2P channels are activated by membrane depolarization via an SF-mediated gating mechanism, but we found here that only very strong nonphysiological depolarization produces voltage-dependent activation of heterologously expressed TWIK-1. Remarkably, we also observed that TWIK-1 Rb + currents are potently inhibited by intracellular K + (IC 50 = 2.8 mm). We conclude that TWIK-1 displays unique SF gating properties among the family of K2P channels. In particular, the apparent instability of the conductive conformation of the TWIK-1 SF in the presence of K + appears to dominate the low levels of intrinsic functional activity observed when the channel is expressed at the cell surface., (© 2020 Nematian-Ardestani et al.)

Testis cords are the embryonic precursors of the seminiferous tubules. Development of testis cords is a key event during embryonic testicular morphogenesis and is regulated by multiple signaling molecules produced by Sertoli cells. However, the exact nature and the cascade of molecular events underlying testis cord development remain to be uncovered. In the current study, we explored the role of DNA damage binding protein 1 (DDB1) in Sertoli cells during mouse testis cord development. The genetic ablation of Ddb1 specifically in Sertoli cells resulted in the compromised Sertoli cell proliferation and disruption of testis cord remodeling in neonatal mice. This testicular dysgenesis persisted through adulthood, resulting in smaller testis and low sperm production. Mechanistically, we observed that the DDB1 degradation can stabilize SET domain-containing lysine methyltransferase 8 (SET8), which subsequently decreases the phosphorylation of SMAD2, an essential intracellular component of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling. Taken together, our results suggest an essential role of Ddb1 in Sertoli cell proliferation and normal remodeling of testis cords via TGFβ pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first upstream regulators of TGFβ pathway in Sertoli cells, and therefore it furthers our understanding of testis cord development., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The SLURP1 (secreted LY6/urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor related protein-1) belongs to the gene family of urokinase, a type of plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). Mutations in the SLURP1 have been reported to cause serious genetic problems of skin, Mal De Meleda, and malignancies. With the advancement of computational tools, it became possible to predict the potential impact of gene variants on the structure and function of protein. Therefore, in present study, we aimed to perform in-silico analyses of the disease causing SLURP1 mutations using online tools. In-total, 21 variants occurring in coding and non-coding regions of SLURP1 were found from public databases. In curated data, we have found 57.14% (12/21) missense, 23.81% (5/21) splice site, 9.52% (2/21) nonsense, 4.76% (1/21) deletion, and 4.76% (1/21) frameshift mutations. Moreover, heterogeneity in genotypes and phenotypes, along with 7 hotspot points in SLURP1 has been noted. In-silico analyses of the subjected variants have depicted a range of pathogenicity by combinatorial predictions of different tools from being lowly to highly pathogenic. Thus, the present study paves a platform to link computational analyses of mutations for important regulatory genes that can be undertaken for their phenotypes and their correlation with the disease status in case control studies., (© 2019 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.)

More than 2300 genes have been reported to be involved in spermatogenesis but the functional roles of most genes in male fertility remain to be elucidated. In this study, we explored the function of dipeptidase 3 (Dpep3), a gene predicted to be testis-specific, in male fertility of mice. We showed that Dpep3 is evolutionarily conserved in human and mouse along with other eutherians. Its mRNA was exclusively detected in testicular tissue and expressed in testes from 7 days postpartum. To further explore its role in male fertility, we generated Dpep3 knockout mice (Dpep3 -/- ) using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology and found that the male Dpep3 -/- mice are fertile despite a significant reduction in sperm count. Histology of testis and progression of meiotic prophase I showed no obvious difference between wild-type and Dpep3 -/- mice. All these findings indicate that Dpep3 is not essential for male fertility in mice. These findings will help other researchers to avoid research duplication, save their time and resources to focus on the genes that are indispensable for male fertility., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Irisin, encoded by the FNDC5 gene, is a recently discovered endocrine factor mainly secreted as a myokine and adipokine. However, irisin/FNDC5 expression has also been reported in different other organs including components of the reproductive axis. Yet, there is the scarcity of data on FNDC5/irisin expression, regulation and its reproductive effects, particularly in primates. Here, we report the expression of FNDC5/irisin, along with PGC1A (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha) and ERRA (estrogen-related receptor alpha), in components of the reproductive axis of marmoset monkeys. Hypothalamic FNDC5 and ERRA transcript levels are developmentally regulated in both male and female. We further uncovered sex-specific differences in FNDC5, ERRA and PGC1A expression in muscle and the reproductive axis. Moreover, irisin and ERRα co-localize in the marmoset hypothalamus. Additionally, in the arcuate nucleus of rhesus monkeys, the number of irisin+ cells was significantly increased in short-term fasted monkeys as compared to ad libitum-fed monkeys. More importantly, we observed putative interaction of irisin-immunoreactive fibers and few GnRH-immunoreactive cell bodies in the mediobasal hypothalamus of the rhesus monkeys. Functionally, we noted a stimulatory effect of irisin on GnRH synthesis and release in mouse hypothalamic neuronal GT1-7 cells. In summary, our findings show that FNDC5 and irisin are developmentally, metabolic-status dependently and sex-specifically expressed in the primate hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and exert a stimulatory effect on GnRH expression and release in mouse hypothalamic cells. Further studies are required to confirm the reproductive effects of irisin in vivo and to illuminate the mechanisms of its regulation.

Performance of a sensing device is dependent on its construction material, especially for components that are directly involved in transporting and translating signals across the device. Understanding the morphology and characteristics of the material components is therefore crucial in the development of any sensing device. This work examines the morphological and electrochemical characteristics of reduced graphene oxide interspersed with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (rGO-PEDOT:PSS) used as a transducer material deposited on a commercially available screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). Electron microscopy shows that PEDOT:PSS is interspersed between rGO layers. Raman and XRD analyses suggest that the graphene crystallinity in GO-PEDOT:PSS and rGO-PEDOT:PSS remains intact. Instead, PEDOT:PSS undergoes a change in structure to allow PEDOT to blend into the graphene structure and partake in the π-π interaction with the surface of the rGO layers. Incorporation of PEDOT:PSS also appears to improve the electrochemical behavior of the composite, leading to a higher peak current of 1.184 mA, as measured by cyclic voltammetry, compared to 0.522 mA when rGO is used alone. The rGO-PEDOT:PSS transducing material blended with glucose oxidase was tested for glucose detection. The sensitivity of glucose detection was shown to be 57.3 µA/(mM·cm²) with a detection limit of 86.8 µM.

Background: Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by delayed or loss of puberty and infertility due to functional deficiency in the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). CHH can be classified into 2 subtypes on the basis of olfaction: Kallmann syndrome and normosmic CHH (nCHH). The spectrum of genetic variants causing CHH is continually expanding. Here, we recruited a consanguineous Pakistani family having 2 male and 2 female infertile patients diagnosed with idiopathic nCHH., Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic cause of nCHH in the family., Methods: Clinical and physical analyses were performed for the patients. Genetic analysis was carried out using whole exome and Sanger sequencing., Results: Clinical and physical investigations confirmed low levels of gonadotropins and failure of secondary sexual development in the patients. Genetic analysis identified a novel nonsense mutation (chr4: g.68619942G>A, c.112C>T, p.Arg38*) in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor gene (GNRHR) recessively co-segregating with nCHH in this family. All the patients are homozygous and their parents are heterozygous carriers, while normal siblings are heterozygous carriers or wild-type for this mutation, indicating that the identified mutation is pathogenic for nCHH in the family., Conclusion: We report the first homozygous nonsense mutation in the GNRHR gene (chr4: g. 68619942G>A, c.112C>T, p. Arg38*) that is associated with familial nCHH. Hence, our study displayed a good correlation of the genotype and phenotype of nCHH patients., (© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Breast cancer prevalence continues to increase globally, and a significant proportion of the disease has been linked to genetic susceptibility. As we enter the era of precision medicine, genetics knowledge and skills are increasingly essential for achieving optimal cancer prevention and care. However, in Nigeria, patients with breast cancer and their relatives are less knowledgeable about genetic susceptibility to chronic diseases. This pilot study collected qualitative data during in-depth interviews with 21 participants. Of these, 19 participants were patients with breast cancer and two were relatives of patients with breast cancer. Participants were asked questions regarding their knowledge of breast cancer, views on heredity and breast cancer, and views on genetic counseling. Participants' family histories were used as a basis with which to assess their hereditary risk of breast cancer. Participant responses were audio recorded and transcribed manually. The study evaluated patients' and relatives' knowledge of genetic counseling and the use of family history for the assessment of familial risk of breast cancer. This will serve as a guide to the processes of establishing a cancer risk assessment clinic.

In human, no studies are available regarding changes in kisspeptin1 receptor (KISS1R) sensitivity during pubertal transition. In this study, healthy boys were classified into 5 Tanner stages of puberty ( n = 5/stage). Human kisspeptin-10 was administered to boys at each Tanner stage and to adult men ( n = 5) as an IV bolus for comparison. Serial blood samples were collected for 30 min pre- and 120 min post-kisspeptin injection periods at 30 min interval for measuring plasma LH and testosterone levels. There was insignificant effect of kisspeptin on LH and testosterone levels in boys of Tanner stages I-III. At Tanner stage IV, the effect of kisspeptin on plasma LH was insignificant. However, a paired t -test on a log-transformed data showed a significant ( P < 0.05) increase in mean peak post-kisspeptin testosterone level. In Tanner stage V, a significant ( P < 0.05) increase was observed in mean post-kisspeptin peak LH level as compared to the mean basal LH value. Post-kisspeptin plasma testosterone levels were also significantly ( P < 0.05) increased as compared to the pre-kisspeptin level in Tanner stage V. Our data suggest that sensitivity of KISS1R on GnRH neurons with reference to LH stimulation in boys develops during the later part of puberty reaching to adult level at Tanner stage V. This trial is registered with WHO International Clinical Trial Registration ID NCT03286517.

A large body of data has established the hypothalamic kisspeptin (KP) and its receptor, KISS1R, as major players in the activation of the neuroendocrine reproductive axis at the time of puberty and maintenance of reproductive capacity in the adult. Due to its strategic location, this ligand-receptor pair acts as an integrator of cues from gonadal steroids as well as of circadian and seasonal variation-related information on the reproductive axis. Besides these cues, the activity of the hypothalamic KP signaling is very sensitive to the current metabolic status of the body. In conditions of energy imbalance, either positive or negative, a number of alterations in the hypothalamic KP signaling pathway have been documented in different mammalian models including nonhuman primates and human. Deficiency of metabolic fuels during fasting causes a marked reduction of Kiss1 gene transcript levels in the hypothalamus and, hence, decreases the output of KP-containing neurons. Food intake or exogenous supply of metabolic cues, such as leptin, reverses metabolic insufficiency-related changes in the hypothalamic KP signaling. Likewise, alterations in Kiss1 expression have also been reported in other situations of energy imbalance like diabetes and obesity. Information related to the body's current metabolic status reaches to KP neurons both directly as well as indirectly via a complex network of other neurons. In this review article, we have provided an updated summary of the available literature on the regulation of the hypothalamic KP-Kiss1r signaling by metabolic cues. In particular, the potential mechanisms of metabolic impact on the hypothalamic KP-Kiss1r signaling, in light of available evidence, are discussed.

Stress activates gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) and represses hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG-axis) but RF9 administration relieves stress-induced repression of the HPG-axis. Importantly, it was not known whether GnIH signaling and RF9 synthetic peptide modulate the HPA axis. To assess this, mammalian orthologs of GnIH (RFRP-1 and RFRP-3) and RF9 were administered to intact adult male rhesus monkeys. RFRP-1 (125μg/animal), RFRP-3 (250μg/animal) and RF9 (0.1mg/kg BW) were intravenously (iv) injected into normal fed (n=4) monkeys. Additionally, a single bolus iv injection of RF9 (0.1mg/kg BW) was also administered to 48h fasted monkeys (n=4) to check the effects of RF9 signaling on an activated HPA-axis. Serial blood samples were collected, centrifuged and the obtained plasma was used for the analysis of cortisol by specific enzyme immunoassay. RFRP-1 treatment significantly increased cortisol levels while RFRP-3 increased the plasma cortisol, but the effect was non-significant. RF9 treatment significantly increased cortisol levels in normal fed animals. In contrast, RF9 injection did not significantly alter circulating cortisol in fasted monkeys. In conclusion, our results suggest stimulatory action of RFRPs and RF9 on the HPA axis in the adult male monkeys. However, the mechanism and site of action of RFRP-1 and RF9 along the HPA-axis is still unknown. Therefore, further studies are needed to decipher the mechanism and site of action of RFRPs and RF9 on the HPA axis in primates., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The neurobiological mechanism of puberty onset in primates is currently only partly understood. A recent study reported an important role of Dmx-like 2 (DMXL2), a gene encoding rabconnectin-3α vesicular protein, in human subjects with mental retardation and neuroendocrine impairment of reproduction. To further characterize the potential role of DMXL2 in the regulation of reproduction, we analyzed the expression of DMXL2 in hypothalami of newborn, infantile, juvenile, pubertal, and postpubertal female and male common marmoset monkeys. Additionally, as the relative hypothalamic levels of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) transcript during postnatal development are unknown in primates, we also quantified messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of RFRP, a gene encoding GnIH. Moreover, the transcript levels of kisspeptin, a well-known regulator of the hypothalamic neurohormonal axis controlling reproduction, were also checked. Transcript and protein levels of DMXL2 and Kiss1 transcript levels increase from the newborn to the infantile and from the juvenile (prepubertal) to the pubertal and the postpubertal period. We also noted a clear upsurge in RFRP transcript levels in the prepubertal period. In conclusion, the hypothalamic expressions of Kiss1 and DMXL2 mRNA increase during infantile, pubertal, and adult stages compared to newborn and juvenile stages in common marmoset monkeys. In contrast, the expression of RFRP mRNA upsurges in juvenile monkeys. Further mechanistic studies are needed to characterize the potential inhibitory role of the GnIH-GPR147 signaling in the prepubertal period and the role of DMXL2 in the molecular cascade regulating the neuroendocrine reproductive axis in primates.

Background: Real-world studies of the emergency reversal of warfarin using 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) report unwarranted delays. The delay to receiving PCC was ≥ 8 h in 46·7% of patients with warfarin-associated bleeding (PWAB) treated with a variable PCC dosing protocol in our retrospective audit., Objective: To report the impact of a simplified PCC dosing protocol on the interval to reversal of anticoagulation., Methods: We developed a PCC dosing protocol standardising the initial PCC dose and simplifying dosing calculations. Study end points were the proportion of PWAB achieving international normalised ratio (INR) ≤1·5 and treated within 8 h of presentation, respectively., Results: Of 17, 15 (88·2%) PWABs achieved a post-treatment INR ≤ 1·5; 14 of 17 (82·4%) PWABs were reversed within 8 h. Median intervals between triage and PCC request and PCC request and start of infusion (administration interval) were 126 min (range 39-520) and 30 min (range 5-100), respectively. Compared with the retrospective cohort, RAPID is associated with an improved administration interval (mean 37·7 vs 76 min, P = 0·031) and the proportion of PWABs treated within 30 min (58·8 vs 6·7%, P = 0·009)., Conclusion: The RAPID protocol reduces unwarranted delays without compromising efficacy., (© 2016 British Blood Transfusion Society.)

The physiology of reproduction is very complex and is regulated by multiple factors, including a number of hypothalamic neuropeptides. In last few decades, various neuropeptides have been discovered to be involved in stimulation or inhibition of reproduction. In 2000, Tsutsui and colleagues uncovered gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), a neuropeptide generating inhibitory drive to the reproductive axis, in the brain of Coturnix quail. Afterward, GnIH orthologs were discovered in other vertebrates from fish to mammals including human. In these vertebrates, all the discovered GnIH and its ortholgs have LPXRFamide (X=L or Q) sequence at C-terminus. GnIH orthologs of mammals and primates are also termed as RFamide-related peptide (RFRP)-1 and -3 that too have an LPXRFamide (X=L or Q) motif at their C-terminus. GnIH and its orthologs form a member of the RFamide peptide family. GnIH signals via its canonical G protein coupled receptor 147 (GPR147). Both GnIH and GPR147 are expressed in hypothalamus and other brain regions. Besides actions through the hypothalamic GnRH and kisspeptinergic neurons, GnIH-GPR147 signaling exerts inhibitory effect on the reproductive axis via pituitary gonadotropes and directly at gonadal level. Various factors including availability and quality of food, photoperiod, temperature, social interaction, various stresses and some diseases modulate GnIH-GPR147 signaling. In this review, we have discussed expression and actions of GnIH and its orthologs in vertebrates. Special emphasis is given on the role of GnIH-GPR147 signaling pathway in the regulation of reproduction. We have also reviewed and discussed currently available literature on the participation of GnIH-GPR147 signaling pathway in the stress modulation of reproduction., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A large body of data suggests that body weight influences puberty onset and adult reproduction. However, the underlying mechanism of how body weight influences puberty onset and fertility is not completely understood. The hypothalamic neuronal circuit regulating reproduction is restrained by inhibitory signals during childhood. At the time of puberty, these inhibitory signals are weakened and supplanted by stimulatory signals that, in turn, stimulate the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) - a hypothalamic neuropeptide governing reproduction. A number of studies, however, suggest that puberty commencement occurs when body (fat) weight reaches a certain threshold, which is critical for the initiation of puberty and for support of the adult reproductive function. Previously, various signals have been studied which might link body (fat) weight-related information to the hypothalamic neuronal network regulating reproduction. However, the nature of the signal(s) that may link body fat and/or muscle mass with the hypothalamic neuronal network governing reproduction is still unclear. It has been intuitively speculated that augmentation of such signal(s) will cause a restriction of inhibitory input and activation of stimulatory input to GnRH secreting neurons at the time of puberty onset. Therefore, the unveiling of such signal(s) will greatly help in understanding the mechanism of puberty onset. Recently, it has been shown that expression of fibronectin type III domain containing-5 (FNDC5) mRNA in central and peripheral tissues upsurges during postnatal development, especially around the time of puberty onset. Moreover, the systemic level of irisin - one of the protein products of the FNDC5 gene that is secreted as myokine and adipokine - also rises during postnatal development and correlates with the timing of puberty onset. Therefore, we propose here that irisin might serve as a possible signal for linking body fat/muscle mass with the hypothalamic center governing reproductive function. We hypothesize that irisin acts as a trigger for the activation of the hypothalamic neuronal network monitoring the onset of puberty., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In our previous work, we demonstrated that the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) prevented the impairment in vasopressin secretion and increased survival rate in septic rats. Additionally, we saw a reduction in nitric oxide (NO) levels in cerebroventricular spinal fluid (CSF), suggesting that the IL-1ra prevents apoptosis that seems to occur in vasopressinergic neurons. Here, we investigated the effect of IL-1ra pre-treatment on the sepsis-induced increase in oxidative stress markers in the hypothalamus of rats. The animals were pre-treated by an i.c.v. injection of IL-1ra (9 nmol) or vehicle (0.01 M PBS) before being subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or left as control (sham-operation or naive). After 4, 6, and 24 h, the animals were decapitated (n = 9/group) and the brain removed for hypothalamic tissue collection. Transcript and protein levels of IL-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), caspase-3, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot, respectively. Hypothalamic mRNA levels of all these genes were significantly (P < 0.005) increased at 4, 6, and 24 h CLP, as compared to sham-operated animals. IL-1ra pre-treatment in these CLP animals significantly decreased IL-1 gene expression at all time points and also of iNOS, caspase-3, and HIF-1α at 24 h when compared to vehicle-treated CLP animals. The effect of the pre-treatment on protein expression was most clearly seen for IL-1β and iNOS at 24 h. Our results showed that blocking the IL-1-IL-1r signaling pathway by central administration of an IL-1ra decreases hypothalamic oxidative stress markers during sepsis.

TASK-2, a member of the Two-Pore Domain (K2P) subfamily of K+ channels, is encoded by the KCNK5 gene. The channel is expressed primarily in renal epithelial tissues and a potentially deleterious missense variant in KCNK5 has recently been shown to be prevalent amongst patients predisposed to the development of Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN), a chronic tubulointerstitial renal disease of unknown etiology. In this study we show that this variant (T108P) results in a complete loss of channel function and is associated with a major reduction in TASK-2 channel subunits at the cell surface. Furthermore, these mutant subunits have a suppressive or 'dominant-negative' effect on channel function when coexpressed with wild-type subunits. This missense variant is located at the extracellular surface of the M2 transmembrane helix and by using a combination of structural modelling and further functional analysis we also show that this highly-conserved threonine residue is critical for the correct function of other K2P channels. These results therefore provide further structural and functional insights into the possible pathophysiological effects of this missense variant in TASK-2.

Objective: To find out the outcome in cases of vesicovaginal fistula repair., Methods: The descriptive study was conducted at the District Headquarter Hospital, Timergara, Lower Dir, Pakistan, from November 1, 2011 to November 2013, and comprised all patients admitted in Urology unit with vesicovaginal fistula. Repair was done with either transabdominal or transvaginal approach. Repair technique involved good tissue separation, interrupted sutures, and no omental interposition. Follow-up was of three months., Results: There were 30 patients available, but 2(6.6%) were excluded. Among the remaining 28(93.3%) patients dehiscence was not noted in any patient, while only 4(14.3%) patients developed mild urinary tract infection. There were no intraoperative or postoperative deaths., Conclusions: Transvaginal or Transabdominal repair of vesicovaginal fistula is successful treatment modality if good dissection and tissue separation is applied with interrupted suturing. Omental interposition is not essential for good healing.

Kisspeptin is a peptide hormone, which signals via the G-protein-coupled kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R). Kisspeptin-KISS1R signalling has been implicated in various physiological and pathophysiological processes in the urogenital system, including critical roles in ovarian function as a key player in the regulation of oocyte development. Kisspeptin also has roles in several different functions of the male reproductive tract, such as spermatogenesis and sperm capacitation, and is also thought to be involved in kidney physiology - studies in preclinical animal models have reported that expression of kisspeptin and/or KISS1R is altered in chronically impaired kidneys. The wider importance of kisspeptin action in the urogenital tract has been highlighted by the finding that it suppresses metastasis of urogenital carcinomas; besides the possible therapeutic potential of this finding, tissue and tumour-stage-specific alterations in kisspeptin and KISS1/KISS1R expression could potentially be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of urogenital carcinomas.

The optoelectronics study of large molecules, particularly π-stacking molecules, such as DNA is really an extremely difficult task. We perform first electronic structure calculations on the heterocyclic bases of 2'-deoxyribonucleic acid based on Lorentz-Fresnel dispersion theory. In the UV-VIS range of spectrum, many of the optoelectronic parameters for DNA four bases namely adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine are calculated and discussed. The results demonstrate that adenine has the highest hyperpolarizability, whereas thymine has the lowest hyperpolarizability. Cytosine has the lower average oscillator energy and the higher lattice energy. Thymine infers the most stable nucleic base with the lower phonon energy. Thymine also has the highest average oscillator energy and the lower lattice energy. Moreover, the four nucleic acid bases have large band gap energies less than 5 eV with a semiconducting behavior. Guanine shows the smallest band gap and the highest Fermi level energy, whereas adenine elucidates the highest band gap energy., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Wahab et al. introduce the marmosets, a group of peculiar New World monkeys., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Kisspeptin signaling is suppressed by short term fasting. It has been reported that hypothalamic Kiss1 and Kiss1r mRNA expression decreased after 48h of fasting in male rhesus monkey. But the mechanism involved in the reduction of kisspeptin signaling after 48h of fasting is unknown. Recent studies have suggested the role of afferent excitatory and inhibitory pathways in the regulation of kisspeptin neurons. Therefore, this study was designed to observe the changes in the glutamate and GABA signaling during fed and 48h fasting states by performing immunofluorescence to examine the interaction of kisspeptin neurons with NR1 subunit of NMDA receptors and by performing SYBR green qRT-PCR to measure and quantify the levels of Kiss1, Kiss1r, NR1 and GAD67 mRNA in the POA and MBH of adult male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) during 48h of fasting (n=2) and fed ad libitum (n=2). Plasma testosterone (p<0.05) and blood glucose levels were significantly (p<0.001) decreased after short term fasting. Our results clearly showed that expression of hypothalamic Kiss1, Kiss1r and NR1 mRNA was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in adult male rhesus monkeys which were fasted for 48h as compared to those which were fed ad libitum. There was no clear difference in the GAD67 mRNA contents between the two groups. Number of kisspeptin neurons and the interactions of kisspeptin neurons with NR1 were significantly (p<0.05) reduced after 48h fasting. These observations suggest that decreased kisspeptin signaling during fasting may occur due to reduction in glutamatergic inputs to kisspeptin neurons. Our results also suggest that fasting induced suppression of kisspeptin signaling is not mediated through GABAergic neurons., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of IL-1ra (an Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist) on sepsis-induced alterations in vasopressin (AVP) and nitric oxide (NO) levels. In addition, IL-1ra effect on the hypothalamic nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities and survival rate was also analyzed. After Wistar rats were intracerebroventricular injected with IL-1ra (9 pmol) or vehicle (PBS 0.01 M), sepsis was induced by cecal-ligation and puncture (CLP). Blood, CSF, and hypothalamic samples were collected from different groups of rats (n = 8/group) after 4, 6, and 24 h. AVP and NO levels were greatly increased in CLP. Both total NOS and inducible NOS (iNOS) activities were also greatly increased in CLP rats. These changes in AVP, NO, and NOS were not observed in sham-operated control rats. IL-1ra administration did not alter plasma AVP levels after 4 and 6 h as compared to vehicle in CLP animals but after 24 h were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in IL-1ra-treated animals. IL-1ra administration significantly (P < 0.01) decreased NO concentration in CSF but not in plasma. Both total NOS and iNOS activities were also significantly decreased by IL-1ra at 24 h in CLP animals. Moreover, the 24 h survival rate of IL-1ra-treated rats increased by 38 % in comparison to vehicle administered animals. The central administration of IL-1ra increased AVP secretion in the late phase of sepsis which was beneficial for survival. We believe that one of the mechanisms for this effect of IL-1ra is through reduction of NO concentration in CSF and hence lower hypothalamic iNOS activities in the septic rats.

Several recent ion channel structures have revealed large side portals, or 'fenestrations' at the interface between their transmembrane helices that potentially expose the ion conduction pathway to the lipid core of the bilayer. In a recent study we demonstrated that functional activity of the TWIK-1 K2P channel is influenced by the presence of hydrophobic residues deep within the inner pore. These residues are located near the fenestrations in the TWIK-1 structure and promote dewetting of the pore by forming a hydrophobic barrier to ion conduction. During our previous MD simulations, lipid tails were observed to enter these fenestrations. In this addendum to that study, we investigate lipid contribution to the dewetting process. Our results demonstrate that lipid tails from both the upper and lower leaflets can occupy the fenestrations and partially penetrate into the pore. The lipid tails do not sterically occlude the pore, but there is an inverse correlation between the presence of water within the hydrophobic barrier and the number of lipids tails within the lining of the pore. However, dewetting still occurs in the absence of lipids tails, and pore hydration appears to be determined primarily by those side-chains lining the narrowest part of the pore cavity.

Background: Regulation of reproduction is now considered to be carried out by the kisspeptin and its receptor, GPR54 or Kiss1r. Mutations of either Kiss1 or Kiss1r in humans and mice result in profound hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The present study was aimed to determine whether the levels of kisspeptin are associated with male infertility., Methodology: The study involved 176 male subjects aged 18 - 50 years including 26 fertile and 150 infertile. Infertile subjects were further subdivided according to WHO guidelines of semen analysis into 22 asthenozoospermia, 08 asthenoteratozoospermia, 18 azoospermia, 58 normozoospermia, 06 oligozoospermia, 12 oligoasthenozoospermia and 26 oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Thorough clinical examinations excluded those suffering from chronic health problems. Serum kisspeptin levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone were estimated by chemiluminescence assay (CLIA)., Results: The results of the present study have revealed that kisspeptin levels were significantly lower in all infertile males as compared to the fertile males. Significantly low LH and testosterone levels were observed in all infertile groups as compared to fertile group. FSH levels were significantly lower in normozoospermic and azoospermic as compared to fertile males, while no significant difference was observed between the other infertile and fertile group., Conclusion: The study revealed that serum kisspeptin levels were observed significantly lower in the infertile as compared to fertile males, indicating that the kisspeptin might be associated with the fertility problems in males.

Background: Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) is considered the gold standard for the surgical treatment of BPH. Irrigant fluid absorption by the patient is a potentially serious complication of TURP and can lead to dilutional hyponatremia and TURP syndrome. Other common complications of TURP include urinary tract infection and secondary haemorrhage. The objective of this study was to compare the frequency of postoperative complications (Urinary Tract infection and dilutional hyponatremia) between 1.5% glycine and sterile distilled water used as irrigant in BPH patients after TURP., Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in department of Urology, PIMS Islamabad, from August 2013 to February 2014. A total of 170 adult male patients between 50-80 years of age undergoing TURP with prostate volume more than 30cc on ultrasound. 85 patients each were randomly allocated to two groups. In group-A, glycine was used as irrigan,t solution during TURP while in group-B distilled water was used. Serum sodium levels were measured at 6th postoperative hour to look for dilutional hyponatremia. On the 15th postoperative day they were inquired about any clinical features of urinary tract infection. Also urine routine examination was performed to look for the presence of WBCs in the urine., Results: Post-operative dilutional hyponatremia was observed in 13 (15.3%) patients in Group A and in 10 (11.8%) patients in group-B. The difference between both the groups being nonsignificant (p-value=0.501).Frequency of postoperative urinary tract infection on 15th postoperative day in group-A was 23(27.1%) while in group-B it was 16 (18.8%), the difference among both the groups being insignificant (p-value=0.202)., Conclusion: Although the frequency of postoperative complications like UTI and dilutional hyponatremia was less with sterile distilled water, yet, the difference was statistically not significant.

Background/aim: About 10%-15% of couples around the world suffer from infertility. Male infertility is responsible directly or indirectly in approximately 60% of cases. A deficiency in semen is the most common cause of male infertility., Materials and Methods: The study included 180 male subjects aged 18-50 years with 26 fertile and 154 infertile. The infertile subjects were further subdivided according to the WHO guidelines of semen analysis (2010) into different clinical groups. Sperm DNA damage was estimated using a neutral comet assay. Plasma gonadotropin and testosterone levels were measured using a chemiluminescence assay., Results: The results of the study revealed no significant differences, in semen volume, pH, and liquefaction time between the fertile and all infertile groups. However, sperm concentration, sperm vitality, and sperm motility were significantly lower in all infertile groups as compared to the fertile males. The morphological forms of the sperm and its DNA fragmentation varied significantly between the fertile and infertile males. Reproductive hormone levels were observed to be significantly lower in the infertile than in the fertile males., Conclusion: Sperm DNA fragmentation was higher in all of the infertile subjects as compared to the fertile ones. Reproductive hormone levels varied significantly between the infertile patients and the fertile ones.

Superficial fungal diseases that affect the skin and its appendages are frequently seen in basic triage and in dermatology services. These diseases are distributed in Venezuela with an incidence of 92.9%. The aim of this study was to determine the genera and species that cause dermatomycoses in residents of Anzoátegui state, Venezuela, during the period 2002-2012. A total of 4257 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of superficial mycoses were studied, with ages from 7 months to 79 years. The overall prevalence was 30.9%. The most frequent were dermatophytosis (44.7%). M. canis produced 148 cases of tinea capitis. Three dermatophytic agents represented 95% of all cases, with a significant predominance of T. mentagrophytes with 50%. Candidosis occurred in 28.4%. C. albicans, and the C. parapsilosis complex, were responsible for 80% of the cases. The other species identified were C. tropicalis (n = 41, 11.0%), C. glabrata (n = 10, 2.7%), C. guilliermondii (n = 6, 1.6%), C. krusei (n = 4, 1.1%). Pityriasis versicolor occurred in 22.4% of the cases studied, and less frequently were present onychomycosis produced by a non dermatophytic mold: Fusarium oxysporum (n = 34, 65.4%), Aspergillus terreus (n=16, 30.8%) and Scytalidium dimidiatum (n=2; 3.8%). Rare cases of Trichosporon onychomycosis (0.5%) and one case of black tinea were also found. Health education in the population is recommended to promote measures to prevent transmission of these fungi and prevent the spread of this silent public health problem.

Kisspeptin-Kiss1R signalling in mammals has been implicated as an integral part of the reproductive cascade. Kisspeptinergic neurons upstream of GnRH neurons are involved in the activation of the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator during pubertal onset. Thus, the major research focus has been on the central effects of kisspeptin. The demonstration of the presence of KissR expression in human testes suggests additional unknown actions of kisspeptin-KISS1R signalling at the distal component of the male reproductive axis. Here we explored the impact of kisspeptin at the testis in the adult male rhesus monkey. We employed the clamped monkey model to assess the intratesticular actions of kisspeptin. Plasma testosterone and LH levels were monitored in four adult male monkeys. The peripheral administration of human kisspeptin-10 (50 μg, iv bolus) caused a single LH pulse, which was followed by a robust increase in plasma testosterone levels sustained for at least 180 min. This response was abolished when kisspeptin was administered to GnRH receptor antagonist (acyline) pre-treated animals. However, kisspeptin administration significantly (P < 0.005) elevated hCG-stimulated testosterone levels in acyline pre-treated monkeys when compared with saline+ hCG treatment. These results revealed a novel peripheral facet of kisspeptin signalling., (© 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)