G. Sreenivasa

Oxidative stress and abnormal lipid profile are common factors in students with eating distress

Numerous studies on complications associated with eating disorders have been conducted worldwide. However such studies are limited in the Indian scenario. Hence, we attempted to analyse the presence of oxidative stress along with total lipid profiling of students with eating distress in Mysore, South India. A biochemical test panel was conducted using serum samples of controls and subjects. Results were statistically analyzed using SPSS software version 14. Analysis of variance was used to identify significant differences between study groups. Variations in all parameters confirmed the occurrence of oxidative stress and abnormal lipid contents in students prone to eating disorders.

A Comprehensive and Systematic Study of Semen Quality and SpermFunctional Status in Normozoospermic Controls and Infertile Males fromSouth India

Objective: Despite, several global studies indicate the variations in semen characteristics that accounts for male infertility, the association of specific changes in semen quality and fertility status among different Indian communities are poorly investigated. With wide range of geographical locations, diverse lifestyle patterns, seasonal variations combined with heterogeneous population, India offers an excellent system to study genotype-to-phenotype correlation. Hence, the current study has been initiated in South Karnataka region of India, in order to examine the variations in semen quality and sperm functional status in infertile individuals compared with normozoospermic controls. Methods: WHO strict guidelines are followed for systematic semen analysis of 239 infertile and 244 normozoospermic control subjects. Results: Interestingly, compared to normozoospermic controls, higher percentage of physical abnormalities such as, low semen volume and reduced sperm count are observed in infertile men. Additionally, semen characteristics namely, vitality and motility values are significantly reduced in infertile than controls. Further, in sperm function test the lower scores are documented for hypo-osmotic swelling assay, but not for sperm chromatin decondensation and acrosome intactness examination, suggesting loss of sperm plasma membrane integrity in infertile men. Moreover, the observed changes in semen parameters and sperm function are also evident in different infertile sub-conditions with varied responses. Surprisingly, age wise analysis revealed reduction in sperm morphology scores, whereas, vitality, count, motility and volume remain unchanged with increasing age of infertile males. However, we recorded inverse relationship between age and sperm vitality as well as motility in normozoospermic control men. Together, though the scores for different semen parameters in normozoospermic control group are in accordance with WHO reference range, the infertile men displayed poor semen quality. Conclusion: Thus, our data establishes basic differences between infertile and normozoospermic control group in terms of semen characteristics and sperm functional status, but the cause may be attributable to genetic or environmental factors or interaction of the two, which necessitates further detailed examination in larger cohort among heterogeneous population.

High incidence of sperm dysfunction in a varicocele infertile man: case report

Abstract Studies indicate abnormal semen indicators among varicocele infertile men can be reversed to normal status after surgical repair. While semen indicators and DNA damage of sperms are reported frequently, sperm function tests are rarely performed to assess the functional status of sperms among these individuals. We report a 35-year-old male with 4 years of primary infertility who otherwise has a normal sexual life. Various analyses performed revealed the interplay of multiple abnormalities leading to the observed phenotype. The individual was diagnosed with severe sperm defects, bilateral varicocele (grade II) and endocrinopathy. The percentage of functionally normal sperms were found to be 24% for hypo-osmotic swelling, 28% for acrosome reaction and 21% for nuclear chromatin decondensation test. Cytogenetic analyses showed normal karyotype and sequence-tagged-site markers based PCR showed no deletions involving key candidate genes of the Y chromosome. A thorough investigation of infertile subjects and simple diagnostic tests are essential to detect the treatable defects, in general as well as severe infertile cases, which can improve the chances of normal conception or the success rates of in - vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.