THE ROLE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET IN PREVENTING MALE INFERTILITY: AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. MIGUEL FORNES (US-EN VERSION)
Background: Dr. Miguel Fornes is a researcher at CONICET and director of the Andrological Research Laboratory of Mendoza, Argentina. His research focuses on how dietary fat excess and hypercholesterolemia affect sperm physiology and male fertility. Objectives: The primary objective of Dr. Fornes' research is to investigate the effects of a high-fat diet on sperm function, capacitation, acrosomal reaction, and fertilization. He aims to develop translational animal models to study these effects without using human subjects. Methods: Dr. Fornes and his team use rabbit models to induce hypercholesterolemia through a high-fat diet. They then study the physiology and function of sperm cells from these hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Key parameters analyzed include cholesterol content in sperm membranes, ability to undergo capacitation and acrosomal reaction, and fertilization capability. Results: The studies revealed that hypercholesterolemia caused by a high-fat diet leads to increased cholesterol levels in sperm. This interferes with the normal physiology of sperm cells. In particular, many sperm from hypercholesterolemic rabbits were unable to properly undergo the acrosomal reaction, a crucial step for successful fertilization of the oocyte. This suggests high-fat diets could contribute to male infertility. Conclusions: The research highlights the importance of diet and lifestyle on male reproductive health. Dr. Fornes recommends a balanced diet like the Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and olive oil, to maintain healthy sperm function and fertility. Replacing animal fats with olive oil may help prevent hypercholesterolemia-related infertility. The findings have implications for dietary guidelines and clinical interventions to support male fertility.
Read ArticleTYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS EFFECTS ON SEMEN PARAMETERS AND SEMINAL PLASMA
Background: Diabetes Type 2 is a complex disorder described by an imbalance between insulin resistance and secretion that induce liver glucose output. It has been shown that serum insulin levels are affected by a sperm plasma membrane and acrosome. Therefore, during insulin resistance spermatogenesis changes, diabetic patients detect testicular changes. Aims: This research aims to know the effect of diabetic type 2 on some aspects of fertility in men by studying the characteristics of the semen and some biochemical parameters in seminal plasma. Methods: This study was achieved at the Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes Specialists in Maysan province from February to November 2018 and included 45 men (30 diabetic and 15 healthy in the control group) aged 30 to 59 years. The patients were divided according to age into two groups, the first (30-39) and second (40-59) years, also divided by the duration of diabetes into two groups, the first (1-5) and second (6-10) year. Results: The pH of semen in the second age group (40-49 years) group and first duration (1-5 years) group were significantly decreased (P <0.05) in diabetes compared with the control group. Volume and viscosity did not have significant differences in patients compared to the control following the age and duration of diabetes. Liquefaction only in the first age (30-39 years) group significantly increased (P <0.05) compared to the control. The concentration of sperm, progressive motility, non-progressive and normal morphology decreased (P <0.05) significantly. While the sluggish, dead, and abnormal morphology significantly increased (P <0.05) in all diabetes groups compared with the control. The fructose and alkaline phosphatase values in the seminal plasma were not differing significantly in patients compared with the control. Zinc and glutathione values decreased significantly (P <0.05) compared with control in each age and duration of diabetes. Discussion: Insulin stimulates the Ledying cell function, defect insulin effect on spermatogenesis. Impaired sperm motility in a patient with D.M. might be attributed to many reasons, such as increased ROS level, altered mitochondria DNA, and decreased epididymal products. Conclusion: our measurement indicates that there is an effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on semen parameters and seminal plasma biochemical parameters.
Read ArticleD-DIMER A RISK FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH C-REACTIVE PROTEIN FOR PREDICTING THE SEVERITY OF INFECTION BY COVID-19
Background: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has unresolved mortality risk factors and clinical course, highlighting the need for further research. Aims: The study aimed to asses D-dimer and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) as the risk factors for severity covid-19 and who are less capable of surviving. Methods: A retrospective study conduct of COVID-19 in adult inpatients aged >20 at Al-sadder and Alamal Hospital in Iraq. Demographics, clinical trials, treatments, and viral RNA samples were analyzed. The study involved 100 patients, with 67 discharged and 33 hospitalized died. The majority of the participants 45% were aged < 40, but 55% were aged >40 years. Results: A significant and 57% were male 37(55.2%) Survivor vs. 20 (60.6%) non-survivor, p=0.024), more than 43% were female (30(44.8%) Survivor vs. 13(39.4%) non-survivor, p=0.010. Patients had underlying comorbidities (66%), survivor 37(55%), and non-survivor 29(87%). The most prominent comorbidity in non-survivors more than survivors was diabetic mellitus 85%, asthma 58%, stroke 48%, renal failure 42%, heart strake 33%, and hypertension 18%. The study found significant differences in WBC, lymphocyte count, D-dimer, Ferritin, CRP, and LDH levels in non-survivors compared to survivor patients, with a positive correlation between D- dimer and these parameters. The ROC analysis curve showed CRP with a high AUC of 80.2%, 87.9% sensitivity, and 37.3% specificity, while D-dimer and LDH had AUCs of 0.74.9 and 70%, respectively. Discussion: The study found that older age, higher d-dimer, ferritin, CRP, and LDH are associated with disease severity and higher mortality risk in adult COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: These biomarkers could aid in early detection of disease progression signs and better patient management
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