The reactive oxygen species, the highly reactive metabolites of oxygen, play a crucial role in both the normal function and the metabolism of sperm cells. Oxygen radicals achieve their physiological effects in the cells only if there is a proper balance between their production and degradation. In case of radicals' production exceeding the antioxidant capacity of the semen, there is an oxidative damage of the membrane lipids and proteins as well as the DNA damage followed by the fragmentation and decondensation of DNA. The ejaculates were obtained from seventy-seven infertile and fertile healthy individuals. The semen samples were collected and classified according to the WHO criteria. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase as well as the concentration of malondialdehyde were measured spectrophotometrically. The fertile, healthy donors showed the significantly higher activities of both superoxide dismutase and catalase, as well as the lower concentration of malondialdehyde compared to the infertile donors. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, as well as the HOS test, correlated positively with the sperm cell number, but negatively with the concentration of malondialdehyde. The activity of superoxide dismutase and the concentration of malondialdehyde were highest in the group of patients with the lowest success of the HOS test. The assessment of the antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde in addition to the semen analysis and the HOS test may be greatly useful in diagnosing infertility in men having oxidative stress in their etiology.

Transient finite element modeling of functional electrical stimulation

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to examine the impact of postacute rehabilitation duration on the outcome of the functional recovery and patients’ quality of life after the stroke. Materials and Methods: One hundred patients (52 females, 48 males, mean age: 66.5 ± 7.3; range 53 to 79 years) who experienced a stroke (50 with ischemic stroke (IS) and 50 with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH)) took part in the study. Patients (treated with postacute rehabilitation measures for six months) were examined after one, three, and six months of postacute rehabilitation. Functional independence was measured using the functional independence measure (FIM) test, while the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. Results: Patients with ICH had a slightly lower FIM score (FIM motor = 29.8 ± 11.8; FIM cognitive = 14.4 ± 4.6) on admission compared to patients with IS (FIM motor = 41.8 ± 18.8; FIM cognitive = 18.7 ± 6.3), but, after six months of postacute rehabilitation, patients with ICH reached an approximate level of functional independence (FIM motor = 53.8 ± 14.4; FIM cognitive = 25.8 ± 4.7), as did patients with IS (FIM motor = 67.6 ± 16.4; FIM cognitive = 29.2 ± 4.0). The motor and cognitive FIM, as well as quality of life, was statistically significantly increased at all four measurement points (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there is a statistically significant connection between functional independence and quality of life at all tested times. Conclusion: Patients achieved the highest degree of functional independence after six months. Furthermore, our findings point out that inpatient rehabilitation as well as outpatient rehabilitation are effective in functionality and quality of life improvement after a stroke; thus, both should be emphasized and regularly implemented.