Laurione Cândido de Oliveira

Bariatric Surgery Does not Interfere With Sperm Quality—A Preliminary Long-Term Study

Purpose: Positive impact of weight loss on sexual function and hormones has been demonstrated, and male fertility in this scenario is to be better defined. We evaluated the impact of lifestyle modifications and gastric bypass on sperm quality. Methods: We prospectively studied 20 morbidly obese men during 24 months, randomized for intervention: lifestyle modifications (exercise and diet) for 4 months and subsequently gastric bypass (n = 10); and control: follow-up (n = 10). All patients underwent International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire, serum estradiol, prolactin (PRL), luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones (LH and FSH), free and total testosterones (FT and TT) and semen analysis at baseline (time 0), surgery 4 months later baseline (time 1) and final evaluation 24 months (time 2). Results: Intervention group presented significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) at times 1 and 2, compared to control. There were no significant differences among sperm parameters between groups at times 0, 1, and 2 and among times 0, 1, and 2 in each group. Increases in IIEF-5 score (P = .0469), TT (P = .0349), and FSH (P = .0025) and reduction in PRL (P < .0001) were observed in the intervention group from times 0 to 2 and 1 to 2. Comparing groups at time 2, IIEF-5, TT, and FT increased significantly in the intervention group (P = .0224, P = .0043, and P = .0149, respectively). Conclusions: Surgery-induced massive weight loss does not interfere with sperm quality, while it increased the quality of sexual function, TT, FT and FSH and reduced PRL. Lifestyle modifications impacted merely the BMI. New studies are warranted, mostly considering birth rate as primary end point and including infertile men.

Assessment of Serum Chromogranin-A as Prognostic Factor in High-Risk Prostate Cancer

Purpose The presence of neuroendocrine differentiation may play a key role in androgen-independent tumor progression. The prognostic significance of plasma chromogranin-A (CgA) was assessed in a series of consecutive patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). Patients and Methods Twenty-three patients presenting high-risk PCa and 8 healthy individuals, as control group, had their blood samples collected to evaluate CgA, free and total prostate specific antigen, and free and total testosterone in a pilot study. The correlations of serum CgA levels with PSA, testosterone, Gleason score, number of foci of hypercaptation in bone scan, age, and outcomes were evaluated at baseline and after 12 months. Results Patients with PCa had significantly higher levels of plasma CgA (mean, 8.7; range, 1.9-73) than healthy patients (mean, 3.45; range, 0.6-5.6), P = 0.02. Analyzing only the patients group through correlation of the ranks, it was observed that CgA has low, insignificant correlations with PSA (P = 0.07) and with metastatic extension (P = 0.09). No association was found between the plasma CgA levels and the Gleason score (P = 0.20), age (P = 0.15), or disease progression (P = 0.27). Conclusion The serum levels of CgA were significantly increased in the group with PCa compared with the healthy group. However, there were low correlations between serum CgA and known prognostic factors (such as total and free PSA, age, Gleason score, and bone metastases) or clinical deterioration. Although future studies are needed with larger samples and longer follow-up, the presented data envisage a limited role to serum CgA as high-risk PCa prognostic factor.

Evaluation of mild hyperhomocysteinemia during the development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient and normal mice.

We focused on the effect of mild hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) on the development of atherosclerosis, using apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) and normal mice. Mice received diets enriched in methionine with low or high levels of folate, B(12) and B(6) (diets B and C, respectively), and diet only with low levels of folate, B(12) and B(6) (diets D), to induce mild HHcy. Normal mice fed on diets B, C and D presented mild HHcy, but they did not develop atherosclerotic lesions after 24 weeks of diet. In addition, increased endoplasmic reticulum stress was present in normal mice fed on diet B, compared to others groups. ApoE(-/-) mice fed on diet B for 20 weeks presented the greatest atherosclerotic lesion area at the aortic sinus than other groups. These results suggest that the methionine may have a toxic effect on endothelium, and the B-vitamins addition on diet may have a protective effect in the long term, despite the increase on homocysteine levels. Mild HHcy accelerated the development of atherosclerosis in apoE(-/-) mice, and supplementation with B-vitamins is important for prevention of vascular disease, principally in the long term.

Diagnosis of 5α-reductase type 2 deficiency: Contribution of anti-Müllerian hormone evaluation

AIM To evaluate anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in patients with clinical and molecular diagnosis of 5alpha-reductase 2 deficiency. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data from 14 patients whose age ranged from 21 days to 29 years were analyzed according to age and pubertal stage. Sexual ambiguity was rated as Prader III in 11 patients. LH, FSH, testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and AMH serum levels were measured in all but two patients, who had been previously submitted to gonadectomy; T and DHT were also measured in 20 age-matched controls. RESULTS Gonadotropin levels were normal in all but one patient who retained gonads (six of whom had reached puberty) and T/DHT ratio was elevated in all patients when compared to controls. All prepubertal patients had AMH levels < -1 SD for age, while most pubertal patients had AMH levels compatible with pubertal stage. CONCLUSIONS Prepubertal patients with 5alpha-reductase 2 deficiency have AMH values in the lower part of the normal range. These data indicate that T does not need to be converted to DHT to inhibit AMH secretion by Sertoli cells.

Deficiência de 5alfa-redutase tipo 2: experiências de Campinas (SP) e Salvador (BA)

OBJECTIVE: To report the experience regarding patients with steroid 5a-reductase type 2 deficiency from three different clinical services in Brazil. CASUISTIC AND METHODS: Twenty five patients with clinical and hormonal features of 5a-reductase deficiency from 23 families (15 from Bahia, 7 from Sao Paulo and 1 from Minas Gerais) were included in this study. Clinical, hormonal and molecular data were evaluated. The molecular analysis of the five exons of the SRD5A2 gene was done by automatic or manual sequencing of PCR products. RESULTS: In ten families, SRD5A2 mutations were found in homozygosis (5 with G183S, 2 with R246W, 1 with G196S, 1 with del642T, 1 with 217_218insC), in three in compound heterozygosis (1 with Q126R/IVS3+1G>A, 1 with Q126R/del418T, 1 with Q126R/G158R) while other three were heterozygous, with only one deleterious mutation (1 with G196S, 1 with A207D, and 1 with R246W). In seven cases, no sequencing abnormalities were detected. The G183S substitution was the most frequently found among miscigenated patients (Afro-Euro-Brazilians) from Bahia. Hormonal and clinical findings did not differ between patients with or without mutations, exception made to a higher frequency of consanguinity and greater severity of genital ambiguity in the first group. CONCLUSION: Our results reinforce the importance of molecular investigation for the diagnosis of this disease and point out to the finding of a very frequent mutation (G183S) in our series, especially in patients with mixed ethnic background from Bahia, and the description of mutations that have only been reported in Brazilian patients so far.

Insuficiência renal crônica e hormônio de crescimento: efeitos no eixo GH-IGF e na leptina

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as alteracoes de IGF-1, IGFBP-3, leptina e insulina apos o uso de doses de reposicao de hormonio de crescimento recombinante humano (rhGH) em criancas baixas pre-puberes com insuficiencia renal cronica (IRC). CASUISTICA E METODOS: Em 11 criancas (3F:8M), com idade media de 9,6 anos, em uso de rhGH (0,23mg/Kg/semana) por 12 meses, foram dosados (antes, 6 e 12 meses apos o inicio do tratamento com rhGH) leptina, insulina, glicemia, IGF-1 e IGFBP-3. RESULTADOS: As concentracoes sericas de leptina, insulina e glicemia nao variaram significativamente no decorrer do uso do rhGH, sendo observado o padrao de leptina e glicemia normais, com hiperinsulinemia. Houve aumento significativo da IGF-1 e IGFBP-3 durante o uso do rhGH. CONCLUSOES: O uso de doses de reposicao de rhGH durante 12 meses em um grupo selecionado de criancas com IRC propiciou aumento significativo da concentracao serica de IGF-1 e IGFBP-3, com leptinemia normal e resistencia insulinica.

Development and validation of a micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic method for the assessment of nucleosides, potential biomarkers, in blood serum

Malignant tumors are the cause of millions of deaths all over the world every year, but the detection of the disease in the first stages may save lives. Tumor biomarkers allow earlier and less invasive diagnosis, hence they are vital in the cancer treatment. Nucleosides have been investigated as a potential group of tumor biomarkers present in biological fluids. In this work, a method for the analysis of nucleosides in blood serum samples by capillary electrophoresis with UV detection (CE-UV) was developed and validated according to the current legislation in Brazil. Separation of ten nucleosides plus the internal standard was achieved in ca. 25 min. The method may contribute for earlier and more accurate diagnosis of cancer cases.

Metabolic evaluation of young women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE To evaluate insulin resistance and lipid profile in women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) caused by classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD), and their association with body mass index (BMI) and corticosteroid dosage. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We assessed BMI, waist circumference, current glucocorticoid dosage, glucose, insulin and lipid profile in eighteen young women (mean ± SD, 19.3 ± 3.0 years) with 21OHD CAH. RESULTS BMI was normal in 12 patients, 5 of them were overweight, and 1 was obese. Waist circumference was high in 7 patients. Fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were elevated in seven and eight patients, respectively. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were high in only two patients, and HDL-cholesterol was low in four. Insulin resistance was not associated with BMI, waist circumference or glucocorticoid dose. CONCLUSIONS Young women with 21OHD CAH had infrequent dyslipidemia, but had a higher prevalence of insulin resistance and central obesity, that were independent of BMI or corticosteroid dosage.

Comparison between two inhibin B ELISA assays in 46,XY testicular disorders of sex development (DSD) with normal testosterone secretion

Abstract Background: Inhibin B is a hormone produced by the Sertoli cells that can provide important information for the investigation of disorders of sex development (DSD) with 46,XY karyotype. The aim of this study is to compare two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays for dosage of serum inhibin B in patients with 46,XY DSD with normal testosterone secretion. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with 46,XY DSD and normal testosterone secretion (partial androgen insensitivity syndrome [PAIS] [n=8]; 5α-reductase deficiency [n=7] and idiopathic 46,XY DSD [n=14]) were included. Molecular analysis of the AR and SRD5A2 genes were performed in all patients and the NR5A1 gene analysis in the idiopathic group. Measurements of inhibin B were performed by two second-generation ELISA assays (Beckman-Coulter and AnshLabs). Assays were compared using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland-Altman method. Results: ICC was 0.915 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.828–0.959], however, a discrepancy was observed between trials, which is more evident among higher values when analyzed by the Bland-Altman method. Conclusions: It is recommended to perform the inhibin B measurement always using the same ELISA kit when several evaluations are required for a specific patient.