Zamora R, Gome. Rodríguez J, Paz S, Hardisso. d. l. Torre A, Gutierrez A, Rubio C, Hess-Medler S. P–059 Association between seminal levels of Fe and semen quality

Study question

The detection of metals in semen offers a new field in the study of male infertility.

Summary answer

Normozoospermia is associated with higher amounts of Fe. In males with pathological spermiogram, the percentage of men with Fe in semen was lower than expected.

What is known already

Increased levels of Fe in human semen appear to have a significant correlation with male fertility, suggesting that Fe in human seminal plasma has an important factor in male reproductive function. Fe acts as an antioxidant being a co-factor of catalasa, which protects sperm. On the other hand, elevated Fe levels are associated with sperm damage and continues to increase the lipid peroxidation that will affect the plasma membrane and the sperm motility. Most authors associate Fe with sperm motility and higher estimated fertility potential, based on standard semen parameters in fertile men, which are associated with lower levels of Fe.

Study design, size, duration

A prospective study was carried out in 102 men in a Reproduction unit in Tenerife, from February to April 2018 as a part on an epidemiologic study of environmental contaminants and male reproduction. The participant were categorized into two groups, according to the results of semen analysis following the World Health Organization guidelines: the pathological and the normal semen group that constituted the control group. The metal was determined in semen samples.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Semen quality and levels of Fe were measured in seminal plasma on a total of 102 men attended successively, for the initial infertility evaluation, The collected samples were used for both semen analysis following the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and metal detection and carried out using a Makler® counting chamber (Irvine Scientific, CA) and for metals, were determined by ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry) in semen samples.

Main results and the role of chance

The percentage of males with the presence of Fe was 97.1% and the average level were 0.6283 mg/Kg. When analyzing the relationship between the spermiogram parameters with the levels of Fe in the semen, significant differences were found. All men with a normal sperm analysis presented Fe in semen, but among men diagnosed with altered spermiogram, the percentage of men with Fe in semen (92.7%) was lower than expected (97%) (χ2 128 1 =4.59; p = 0.032). As for the concentration of Fe in spermiogram in the first quartile (25% lower), measuring 0.33 mg/Kg, more pathological samples were found than expected (X2 133 2 =6.921; p = 0.031) having a higher probability of being more pathological (52% vs 31.4%). On the other hand, men with pathological sperm concentration, have higher levels of Fe, in the fourth quartile (0.61 mg/kg), with more frequency than expected (90.6% vs 97%) (χ2 136 1 =6.48; p = 0.011). The association between BMI and the presence of Fe was statistically significant. In obese males (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2), the percentage of men with Fe in semen (80%) was lower than expected (97%) (χ2 42 2 =11.302; p = 0.001).

Limitations, reasons for caution

The limitation of this study was the volume of semen that could be obtained for metal detection, only 0.8 mL. because the collected samples were used for both semen analysis and metal detection.

Wider implications of the findings: The determination of metals in semen opens a new field in the study of male infertility and many cases of unknown infertility could be due to metal presence or absence in semen, with the option of performing treatments.

Trial registration number

Not applicable

Bycatch mitigation of protected and threatened species in tuna purse seine and longline fisheries

Bycatch and mortality in fishing gear poses a conservation threat worldwide to many marine species. Resource managers and conservation scientists face challenges in identifying bycatch mitigation solutions that work for multiple taxa while maintaining acceptable levels of target fish catch. The most successful mitigation measures to address bycatch concerns are those that (1) minimize bycatch with limited or no impact on target species catch, (2) have been proven through at-sea experimental research, (3) are practical, affordable, and easy to use, and (4) do not risk the safety of the fishing vessel crew or the bycaught animals. We conducted a review of mitigation measures in fishing gears that target tuna and tuna-like species and that either prevent capture of non-target species in fishing gear or facilitate alive post-capture release, and evaluated these against 4 defined criteria: effective, proven, practical, and safe. This paper outlines the most effective bycatch mitigation measures, as based upon the best scientific information available, in commercial and artisanal pelagic longline and purse seine fisheries, specifically those that target tuna and tuna-like species. This review includes information on gear and operational changes to fishing practices that reduce bycatch for protected and threatened species across taxonomic groups, with a focus on cetaceans, sea turtles, seabirds, sharks, and istiophorid billfishes. The information provided can guide future research and management efforts in Regional Fisheries Management Organizations that are specific to tuna fishing and that aim to minimize impacts to protected and threatened species while maintaining viable commercial fisheries.

PRL3 enhances T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia growth through suppressing T-cell signaling pathways and apoptosis

T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignancy of thymocytes and is largely driven by the NOTCH/MYC pathway. Yet, additional oncogenic drivers are required for transformation. Here, we identify protein tyrosine phosphatase type 4 A3 (PRL3) as a collaborating oncogenic driver in T-ALL. PRL3 is expressed in a large fraction of primary human T-ALLs and is commonly co-amplified with MYC. PRL3 also synergized with MYC to initiate early-onset ALL in transgenic zebrafish and was required for human T-ALL growth and maintenance. Mass spectrometry phosphoproteomic analysis and mechanistic studies uncovered that PRL3 suppresses downstream T cell phosphorylation signaling pathways, including those modulated by VAV1, and subsequently suppresses apoptosis in leukemia cells. Taken together, our studies have identified new roles for PRL3 as a collaborating oncogenic driver in human T-ALL and suggest that therapeutic targeting of the PRL3 phosphatase will likely be a useful treatment strategy for T-ALL.

How does gatekeeper training improve suicide prevention for elderly people in nursing homes? A controlled study in 24 centres

Background

The death rate due to suicide in elderly people is particularly high. As part of suicide selective prevention measures for at-risk populations, the WHO recommends training “gatekeepers”.

Methods

In order to assess the impact of gatekeeper training for members of staff, we carried out a controlled quasi-experimental study over the course of one year, comparing 12 nursing homes where at least 30% of the staff had undergone gatekeeper training with 12 nursing homes without trained staff. We collected data about the residents considered to be suicidal, their management further to being identified, as well as measures taken at nursing home level to prevent suicide.

Results

The two nursing home groups did not present significantly different characteristics. In the nursing homes with trained staff, the staff were deemed to be better prepared to approach suicidal individuals. The detection of suicidal residents relied more on the whole staff and less on the psychologist alone when compared to nursing homes without trained staff. A significantly larger number of measures were taken to manage suicidal residents in the trained nursing homes. Suicidal residents were more frequently referred to the psychologist. Trained nursing homes put in place significantly more suicide prevention measures at an institutional level.

Conclusions

Having trained gatekeepers has an impact not only for the trained individuals but also for the whole institution where they work, both in terms of managing suicidal residents and routine suicide prevention measures.

Pesticide Misting System Enhances Residual Pesticide Treatment of HESCO Geotextile

Residual pesticide treatment of US military materials such as camouflage netting and HESCO blast wall geotextile is an effective way to reduce biting pressure within protected perimeters. However, residual treatments eventually wane and require retreatment in situ, which may not be possible or practical in military scenarios. One solution is to install pesticide misting systems on treated perimeters, which may additively enhance residual treatments, and gradually retreat perimeter material as misted pesticide settles. In this investigation we show that pesticide misting can extend efficacy of residual treatments on HESCO geotextile against mosquitoes and sand flies in a hot-arid desert environment by 1-2 wk.

Transfluthrin Spatial Repellent on US Military Materials Reduces Culex tarsalis Incursion in a Desert Environment

Standard residual pesticides applied to US military materials such as camouflage netting can reduce mosquito biting pressure in the field but may contribute to the evolution of resistance. However, residual applications of a spatial repellent such as transfluthrin could allow mosquitoes the opportunity to escape, only inducing mortality if insects linger, for example after becoming trapped in a treated tent. In this study we investigated the capability of transfluthrin on 2 types of US military material to reduce natural populations of disease vector mosquitoes in a cool-arid desert field environment in southern California. We found that transfluthrin could reduce Culex tarsalis incursion into protected areas by up to 100% upon initial treatment and up to 45% for at least 16 days posttreatment, showing that this compound could be an effective element in the US Department of Defense integrated vector management system appropriate for further study.

169 Comparison of pregnancy outcomes in dairy heifers artificially inseminated with sexed semen deposited in the uterine horns versus the uterine body

The use of sexed semen (SS) for AI of cattle has resulted in lower pregnancy per timed AI (P/TAI) compared with conventional semen. This has been attributed to lower sperm dose and cell damage during the cell sorting-freezing process. Horn AI is a common practice in equines and canines to improve pregnancy rate when using low sperm doses. The objective was to compare P/TAI and pregnancy loss (PL) in dairy heifers inseminated with SS deposited in the uterine horn (UH) ipsilateral to the ovary containing the preovulatory follicle (POF) versus TAI in the uterine body (UB). This study was performed on two dairy farms in Georgia (A and B). On farm A, 74 Holstein heifers (12 months old) received a 5-day Cosynch + controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocol including an intravaginal insert (Eazi-Breed CIDR, Zoetis Animal Health) containing 1.38g of progesterone for 5 days and a dose of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) intramuscularly (100µg, 2mL of Factrel, Zoetis Animal Health). At CIDR removal, heifers received a dose of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) intramuscularly (25mg, 5mL of Lutalyse, Zoetis Animal Health) and again 24h later; 72h after CIDR removal, heifers received 100µg of GnRH intramuscularly and TAI with frozen-thawed SS. On farm B, 237 Holstein×Jersey heifers (12 months old) received a modified 5-day Cosynch + CIDR. This protocol was similar to that on farm A but did not include GnRH at the time of CIDR insertion or a second dose of PGF2α 24h after CIDR removal. Immediately before TAI, heifers were examined using transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) to determine on which ovary the POF was present. Each heifer was randomly assigned to TAI using SS in either the UH ipsilateral to the ovary containing the POF (n=150; farm A, n=32; farm B, n=118) or the UB regardless of where the POF was identified (n=161; farm A, n=42; farm B, n=119). Pregnancy was diagnosed 32 days after TAI using TRUS to determine P/TAI. Heifers diagnosed pregnant were re-examined using TRUS at 60 days of gestation to assess PL. Data were analysed using PROC LOGISTIC and the chi-square test of SAS (SAS Institute Inc.). Heifers that received SS in the UH had adequate P/TAI (50.6% (76/150); farm A: 50.0% (16/32); farm B: 50.8% (60/118)), which tended to be numerically greater (P=0.12) than that observed in heifers receiving SS in the UB (43.4% (70/161); farm A: 40.5% (17/42); farm B: 44.5% (53/119)). In addition, PL was not different between groups and was within normal ranges for dairy heifers (10.0 and 9.4% for UH and UB, respectively). In conclusion, TAI of dairy heifers with SS deposited in the UH ipsilateral to the ovary containing the POF resulted in adequate P/TAI, which was 7.2% greater than TAI in the UB. Horn AI with SS might become a valuable tool for optimising reproductive efficiency and genetic selection of dairy herds.