Silver Türk

Mycoplasmas in semen of chronic prostatitis patients

Objective. To evaluate the occurrence of mycoplasmas in the semen of chronic prostatitis patients. Material and methods. Genital mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum) were sought in the semen of 121 chronic prostatitis patients [38 National Institutes of Health (NIH) category IIIa, 59 NIH category IIIb and 24 NIH category IV] and 40 controls. The commercially available kit Mycoplasma IST was applied to the semen samples of all 161 men, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to those of 60 randomly selected men. Results. Ureaplasmas were found in all study groups (at frequencies ranging from 12% to 25%) using the Mycoplasma IST test, but M. hominis was found only in one NIH category IIIb patient. Using PCR, most of the ureaplasmas appeared to be U. parvum, which was found in all prostatitis groups (18% of NIH category IIIa, 15% of NIH category IIIb and 25% of NIH category IV patients) but not in the controls. M. genitalium was found in 18% of the NIH category IIIa patients. All of the mycoplasmas occurred significantly more frequently in prostatitis patients than in controls and in NIH category IIIa patients than in controls. Conclusion. Mycoplasmas occur more frequently in the semen of prostatitis patients than in that of healthy controls, with U. parvum being the most frequently occurring species.

Oxidative Stress—Cause or consequence of male genital tract disorders?

Inflammatory prostatitis patients are characterized by oxidative stress (OxS) at local and systemic levels. Less is known about the occurrence of OxS in the case of other frequent male genital tract disorders.

Oxidative stress in leucocytospermic prostatitis patients: preliminary results

The aim of this study was to contribute to the knowledge concerning pathogenesis of inflammatory chronic prostatitis by revealing possible shifts in the balance of markers of oxidative stress and anti‐oxidative activity in case of leucocytospermic prostatitis. We also attempted to identify possible relations between seminal micro‐organisms and oxidative stress parameters. A many‐sided complex of local (spermatozoa, seminal plasma) and general (blood, urine) markers in 21 prostatitis patients and nine controls was compared. In both spermatozoa and seminal plasma, the content of diene conjugates was significantly higher in prostatitis patients compared with healthy controls. At the same time total anti‐oxidative status in spermatozoa and total anti‐oxidative activity in seminal plasma were lower in prostatitis patients than in controls. In urine, the level of 8‐isoprostanes was significantly higher in prostatitis patients than in healthy controls, correlating well with 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine. The latter correlated with cellular Fe and Ni contents as well, confirming that these metals with varying valency may cause DNA damage. Reduced glutathione showed higher levels in blood of controls than in prostatitis patients. Coryneform bacteria appeared to be associated with prostatitis‐related oxidative stress. In conclusion, leucocytospermic prostatitis patients are characterised by oxidative stress at all levels: systemic (general), seminal plasma and cellular.

Male infertility: Decreased levels of selenium, zinc and antioxidants

In this study, we aimed to compare the level of zinc, selenium, glutathione peroxidase activity and antioxidant status in following populations of men: severe inflammation in prostate (>10(6) white blood cells in prostate secretion; n=29), severe leukocytospermia, (>10(6) white blood cells in semen; n=31), mild inflammation, (0.2-1M white blood cells in semen or prostate secretion; n=24), non-inflammatory oligozoospermia (n=32) and healthy controls (n=27). Male partners of infertile couples had reduced level of antioxidative activity, selenium and zinc in their seminal plasma. Most importantly, reduced selenium levels were evident in all patient groups regardless of inflammation status. Therefore, these patients might gain some benefit from selenium supplementation.

Influence of sexual intercourse on genital tract microbiota in infertile couples

Several studies have suggested the association of disturbed genital tract microbiota with infertility. Our aim was to clarify the influence of sexual intercourse on partners genital tract microbiota in infertile couples. Seventeen couples were studied, and in 5 men inflammatory prostatitis (IP) was diagnosed. Semen samples were collected during menstruation of the female counterpart, two self-collected vaginal samples were taken 3-5 days later - before intercourse and 8-12 h after intercourse. Ureaplasma parvum was found in 59% of women, its prevalence was higher in women whose partner had IP, as well as in half of their male partners. Sexual intercourse caused significant shifts in vaginal microbiota - increase of Nugent score and shifts in cultured microbiota (emergence and disappearance of several species). These changes were less expressed in the presence of normal vaginal microbiota but more prominent in the partners of IP men. These changes may interfere with fertilization.

INCREASED LEVELS OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND NITRIC OXIDE IN MALE PARTNERS OF INFERTILE COUPLES

We investigated the prevalence of oxidative stress in male partners of infertile couples displaying different inflammation patterns in their genital tract and/or oligospermia. The levels of acknowledged oxidative stress markers (8‐isoprostanes [8‐EPI], diene conjugates, reactive oxygen species‐total antioxidant capacity [ROS‐TAC] score) were elevated in both leukocytospermic men and subjects whose inflammation was limited only to expressed prostatic secretion and/or post‐massage urine. Oligospermic men with severe inflammation were different from oligospermic men who had no inflammation at all – the former had elevated 8‐EPI, diene conjugates and ROS‐TAC score when compared to the latter indicating that inflammation has substantially more significant impact on oxidative stress markers than oligospermia status. At the same time nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels were significantly increased not only in the men with severe inflammation but also in men with borderline inflammation in their genital tact and in men having non‐inflammatory oligospermia. NO, H2O2 and 8‐EPI were negatively correlated with per cent of normal sperms, and NO and H2O2 showed negative correlation also with sperm count. We can conclude that in men presenting with couple infertility the acknowledged oxidative stress markers are substantially associated with markers of inflammation in genital tract while NO and H2O2 display high levels also in patients with mild inflammation and non‐inflammatory oligospermia.

Coryneform bacteria in human semen: inter-assay variability in species composition detection and biofilm production ability.

Background Coryneform bacteria constitute an important segment of male urogenital microbiota. They have been generally considered as saprophytes, although some species have been associated with prostatitis as well. At the same time, biofilm infections have been suspected as a cause of prostatitis. Objective To identify a set of coryneform bacteria isolated from semen of either healthy men or prostatitis patients applying different methods to reveal inter-assay variability and to determine their ability of adhesion and biofilm production. Design Coryneform bacteria were identified by API Coryne 2.0 biochemical identification system and 16S rDNA sequencing using different primer sets. Quantitative assessment of biofilm production was performed using crystal violet binding assay method. Results The most common species were Corynebacterium seminale, C. minutissimum, and Dermabacter hominis. Altogether 14 species and related genera were found. We observed the best inter-assay agreement when identifying C. seminale. Biofilm was observed in 7 out of 24 strains. The biofilm-producing strains belonged to Arthrobacter cumminsii, Dermabacter hominis, C. minutissimum, and Actinomyces neuii. No differences were found between the strains originating from prostatitis patients and healthy men. Dermabacter hominis strains were more potent biofilm producers than C. seminale strains (p=0.048). Conclusions We can conclude that a wide variety of coryneform bacteria can be found from the male genital tract, although their exact identification is problematic due to insufficient representation in databases. Nearly one third of the strains are able to form biofilm that may give them an advantage for surviving several host- and treatment-related conditions.

Synthesis of Novel Saccharide Hydrazones

Abstract Synthesis of important heterocyclic hydrazine derivatives N-aminopyrrolidine, N-aminopiperidine, and N-aminoazepane from hydrazine hydrate and dihalogenides were examined and optimized. These heterocyclic hydrazine derivatives were used in condensation reactions with six different monosaccharides to form corresponding hydrazones. Biological evaluations of these novel compounds, which are simple acyclic nucleoside analogs, were done. L-Arabinose N-aminoazepane hydrazone showed minor anti-HIV activity, giving a starting point for further structural modifications. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Coryneform Bacteria Isolated from Semen

Background: The susceptibility of coryneform bacteria has been studied mostly in invasive pathogens, less data are available concerning the mucosal or physiological fluid strains. At the same time they can serve as the source of vari- ous infections, besides the invasive infections also the local ones, for example, coryneforms of male genital tract have been associated with inflammatory prostatitis. Material and Methods: A total of 62 coryneform isolates from human semen were tested for susceptibility to eight antimi- crobial agents using the E test method. Results: All strains were susceptible to ampicillin-sulbactam and only a few were resistant to penicillin G and TMP/SMX while nearly one third of strains were resistant or intermediate to doxycycline (35%) and norfloxacin (29%), and more than half to clindamycin (63%), nitrofurantoin (62%) and erythromycin (53%). The strains showing resistance to at least 3 antimicrobials belonged to Corynebacterium group F1, Corynebacterium seminale and Cellulomonas/Microbacterium sp. A distinct co-occurring macrolide and lincosamine resistance pattern was common. Conclusion: Ampicillin-sulbactam, penicillin G and TMP/SMX revealed the highest activity against coryneforms isolated from semen that were frequently resistant or intermediate to several other antimicrobials. Norfloxacin revealed only mod- erate activity against prostatitis-associated Corynebacterium group G.

Seminal microbiome in men with and without prostatitis.

To profile the seminal microbiome applying next generation sequencing.