Effect of Extender Supplemented with Boron on Post-Thaw Motility, Viability, DNA Damage and Fertilization Ability of Cryopreserved Brown Trout (Salmo trutta macrostigma) Spermatozoa

BACKGROUND

Boron has been considered as an essential nutrient for decreasing lipid peroxidation and improving antioxidant mechanism in different animal species. On the other hand, its effect on quality or DNA damage following cryopreservation process in fish sperm is still unclear.

OBJECTIVE

Experiments were designed to analyse the effect of an ionic based extender supplemented with boron on post-thawed motility, viability, fertility and DNA integrity of cryopreserved brown trout (Salmo trutta macrostigma) sperm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sperm samples were cryopreserved with the ionic extender containing different boron concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mM) using a controlled freezer at two different freezing rates (FR-I: 10°C min^-1 from +4°C to -40°C and FR-II: 15°C min^-1 from +4°C to -40°C). Sperm motility, viability, fertilization, eyeing and DNA fragmentations were determined in post-thawed samples.

RESULTS

Freezing rate-I provided significantly higher fertilization and eyeing rates compared to freezing rate-II (p<0.05). Higher post-thaw motility (62.8±1.4%) and fertilization (75.2±0.9%) rates were obtained with the 0.4 mM boron concentration at freezing rate-I.

CONCLUSION

Supplementation of the extender with boron increased fertilization and eyeing rates and also decreased DNA damages at both freezing rates.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of scleral rupture due to blunt ocular trauma

PurposeTo describe and identify ocular and wound characteristics, and prognostic factors associated with final visual acuity (VA) in patients with scleral rupture due to blunt ocular trauma.MethodsThe medical records of 61 patients with globe rupture due to blunt ocular trauma who underwent primary repair were reviewed retrospectively. The data recorded included demographic characteristics, initial and final VA, ocular signs, wound characteristics, and surgeries. Initial VA, ocular signs, wound characteristics, and surgeries were analyzed to determine the association with the final VA.ResultsForty three women and 18 men with a mean age of 43.6±23.5 years were included in the study. The locations of scleral wounds were mostly in the superonasal quadrant (41.0%) and zone 2 (75.4%). In eyes with hyphema (P=0.009), vitreous hemorrhage (P=0.001), and retinal detachment (P=0.004), final VA was statistically worse than eyes without these signs. A moderate positive correlation was found between the initial and final VA (P<0.001). Final VA was statistically worse in eyes with horizontal midline wounds than in eyes with vertical midline wounds (P=0.002). A moderate negative correlation was found between scleral wound length and final VA (P<0.001). Patients who underwent cataract surgery had statistically better final VA (P=0.002).ConclusionsScleral rupture was detected mostly in females, superonasal quadrant and zone 2. Poor final VA was significantly associated with poor initial VA, longer wound length, horizontal midline wound, presence of hyphema, vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment at presentation, and cataract surgery not performed during follow-up period. Scleral ruptures have different demographic, ocular and wound characteristics than other open globe injuries.

Tuberculosis and other opportunistic infections in tofacitinib-treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the risk of opportunistic infections (OIs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with tofacitinib.

METHODS

Phase II, III and long-term extension clinical trial data (April 2013 data-cut) from the tofacitinib RA programme were reviewed. OIs defined a priori included mycobacterial and fungal infections, multidermatomal herpes zoster and other viral infections associated with immunosuppression. For OIs, we calculated crude incidence rates (IRs; per 100 patient-years (95% CI)); for tuberculosis (TB) specifically, we calculated rates stratified by patient enrolment region according to background TB IR (per 100 patient-years): low (≤0.01), medium (>0.01 to ≤0.05) and high (>0.05).

RESULTS

We identified 60 OIs among 5671 subjects; all occurred among tofacitinib-treated patients. TB (crude IR 0.21, 95% CI of (0.14 to 0.30)) was the most common OI (n=26); median time between drug start and diagnosis was 64 weeks (range 15-161 weeks). Twenty-one cases (81%) occurred in countries with high background TB IR, and the rate varied with regional background TB IR: low 0.02 (0.003 to 0.15), medium 0.08 (0.03 to 0.21) and high 0.75 (0.49 to 1.15). In Phase III studies, 263 patients diagnosed with latent TB infection were treated with isoniazid and tofacitinib concurrently; none developed TB. For OIs other than TB, 34 events were reported (crude IR 0.25 (95% CI 0.18 to 0.36)).

CONCLUSIONS

Within the global tofacitinib RA development programme, TB was the most common OI reported but was rare in regions of low and medium TB incidence. Patients who screen positive for latent TB can be treated with isoniazid during tofacitinib therapy.