Human semen hyperviscosity： prevalence, pathogenesis and therapeutic aspects

The aims of this study were （a） to determine the prevalence of subjects with semen hyperviscosity （SHV） in a large population of male partners of subfertile couples; （b） to identify any correlation between SHV and infections or inflammation of the genital tract; （c） to assess the effects of therapeutic approaches for treating SHV; and （d） to assess sperm kinetic parameters after successful treatment of SHV. A retrospective study of 1 833 male partners of subfertile couples was conducted. Next, clinical, seminal, bacteriological and ultrasound studies involving 52 subjects suffering from SHV were performed, and the SHV was classified as being mild （length of thread 〉 2 cm and ≤4 cm）, moderate （〉 4 cm and ≤ 6 cm） or severe （〉 6 cm）. The prevalence of SHV was observed in 26.2% （480） of the subjects, with 13.2% suffering from mild, 6.6% from moderate and 6.4% from severe SHV. Treatment was completely successful in only 27 subjects （52.0%）, primarily in those who had mild basal SHV with a positive semen culture. In these subjects, progressive motility percentage, straight line velocity and linearity were significantly higher than pre-treatment levels. SHV is often found in subjects with subfertility. Pathogenesis was strictly related to infective/inflammatory factors in only 48.0% of cases; therefore, it is possible that biochemical, enzymatic or genetic factors have a role in this condition.

Indirect calorimetry in obese female subjects: Factors influencing the resting metabolic rate

AIM: To evaluate selected factors influencing resting energy expenditure(REE) in obese female subjects.METHODS: Seventy seven 61 obese Caucasian women [mean age of 52.93 ± 13.45 years, and mean body mass index(BMI) of 41.78 ± 11.54 kg/m2] were enrolled; measurements of resting metabolic rate(RMR) by a ventilated, open-circuit system, indirect calorimeter were performed after an overnight fast. Body composition as well as medications, physical parameters, blood samples, disease pattern, and smoking were considered. RESULTS: RMR was significantly associated with body weight(r = 0.732, P < 0.001), body height(r = 0.401,P = 0.008), BMI(r = 0.504, P < 0.001), waist circumference(r = 0.602, P < 0.001), mid-upper arm circumference(r = 0.417, P = 0.006), mid-upper arm muscle circumference(r = 0.344, P = 0.028), total body water(r = 0.339, P = 0.035), body temperature(r = 0.409, P = 0.007), smoking(P = 0.031), serum T4 levels(r = 0.331, P = 0.036), obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome(OSAS; P = 0.023), impaired glucose tolerance(IGT; P = 0.017) and impaired glycaemic status, including hyperinsulinism, IGT and diabetes mellitus(P = 0.003).CONCLUSION: Future research should be prompted to optimize the procedure of indirect calorimetry to achieve clinical benefits in obese subjects.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetes

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most prevalent chronic liver disease in the world and represents a clinical-histopathologic entity where the steatosis component may vary in degree and may or may not have fibrotic progression.The key concept of NAFLD pathogenesis is excessive triglyceride hepatic accumulation because of an imbalance between free fatty acid influx and efflux.Strong epidemiological,biochemical,and therapeutic evidence supports the premise that the primary pathophysiological derangement in most patients with NAFLD is insulin resistance;thus the association between diabetes and NAFLD is widely recognized in the literature.Since NAFLD is the hepatic manifestation of a metabolic disease,it is also associated with a higher cardiovascular risk.Conventional B-mode ultrasound is widely adopted as a first-line imaging modality for hepatic steatosis,although magnetic resonance imaging represents the gold standard noninvasive modality for quantifying the amount of fat in these patients.Treatment of NAFLD patients depends on the disease severity,ranging from a more benign condition of nonalcoholic fatty liver to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.Abstinence from alcohol,a Mediterranean diet,and modification of risk factors are recommended for patients suffering from NAFLD to avoid major cardiovascular events,as per all diabetic patients.In addition,weight loss induced by bariatric surgery seems to also be effective in improving liver features,together with the benefits for diabetes control or resolution,dyslipidemia,and hypertension.Finally,liver transplantation represents the ultimate treatment for severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and is growing rapidly as a main indication in Western countries.This review offers a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to NAFLD,highlighting its connection with diabetes.

Bisphosphonates and adipogenesis: Evidence for alendronate inhibition of adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes through a vitamin D receptor mediated effect

Background: Adipocyte and osteoblast derive from the same mesenchimal progenitor. Age-related decrease in bone mass is accompanied by an increase in marrow adipose tissue. Vitamin D3 (VD3) inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Recently it has been demonstrated that alendronate (ALN) inhibits adipogenesis while promoting osteoblast differentiation of mesenchimal stem cells. Aim of the Study: To evaluate the role of ALN on adipocyte differentiation in vitro and the potential synergic role of VD3 co-treatment. Procedures: Murine 3T3-L1 and 3T3-F442A preadipocytes were routinely differentiated in presence of ALN and VD3 10-9 - 10-7 M for 7 days and then stained with Oil Red O. The effect of these treatments on mRNA expression of the main molecular markers of adipocyte differentiation (PPARγ and C/EBPα) and VD Receptor (VDR) were analyzed through RT-PCR. Results: Both ALN and VD3 showed a marked anti-adipogenic effect on 3T3-L1 cells. Co-incubation of ALN 10-8 M and VD3 10-9 M displayed no synergic effect on inhibition of adipogenesis. PPARγ mRNA expression was significantly reduced by ALN and VD3. mRNA expression of C/EBPα was reduced only by VD3 treatment. An increase in VDR mRNA expression of 3T3-L1 cells was observed with both ALN and VD3. On the contrary, 3T3-F442A cells, which are in a more advanced adipogenic differentiation stage compared to 3T3-L1, did not express detectable levels of VDR. Interestingly, adipose differentiation of 3T3-F442A was not affected by ALN nor VD3. These results suggest that VDR may represent the molecular target of the anti-adipogenic effect of ALN. Conclusion: VDR plays a critical role in mediating the anti-adipogenic effect of ALN. Further studies to clarify this mechanism are warranted.

Resistance Training in Parkinson’s Disease: A Longitudinal Study

Objective: The objective of this study was to verify the effect of micro-loads and elastic bands exercise program in a group of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: Twenty-one people with PD, participated in this study. All participants were able to walk unassisted, and their disability score using the Hoehn & Yahr scale was 2 ± 0.5. Subjects were randomly assigned to micro-loads group (11 subjects, age 69 ± 10 years;weight 72 ± 12 kg, height 171 ± 7 cm) or to elastic band group (9 subjects, age 70 ± 11 years;weight 69 ± 15 kg and high 169 ± 9 cm). Both groups performed two sessions of physical activity per week during a period of 5 months. Subjects were evaluated on flexibility with sit and reach test;the body balance with stabilometric platform, useful to evaluate the center of pressure (COP);the Spinal Mouse? to assess the column shape and the sit to stand test to measure the strength performance of lower limbs. Tests were three times during the training period: after the first and the third month of physical activity and at the end of the training period. Results: Data showed a statistically significant variation in the sit to stand test in the EG group (T0 vs T2;Anova, p Conclusion: Both micro-loads and elastic band exercises were well-tolerated. Elastic bands exercises produced a significant improvement in the lower limbs muscles performance.