Introduction and objective: Many scientific reports confirm a systematic decline in male semen parameters over the last decades. This phenomenon has been observed in all parts of the world, and its occurrence is associated, among others, with the hazardous effects of some environmental factors. The environmental factors for which the adverse effect on male fertility has been proven include water, air, and soil pollution, as well as electromagnetic fields and ionizing radiation. The aim of this article was the evaluation of the effect of selected environmental factors on male reproductive capacity based on an analysis of the current scientific reports. Review methods: A systematic literature review was carried out using three databases: PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus. The search was limited to the period from 2015 until the end of December 2023. Brief description of the state of knowledge: Environmental factors, such as heavy metals, tobacco smoke, pesticides, dioxins, furans, phthalates, and bisphenols, are well-tested substances that exert an adverse effect on male fertility. A harmful effect of electromagnetic fields and water and air pollution on reproductive functions may be expected; however, this has not been fully proven. Summary: Results obtained by many researchers published to date should evoke great concern regarding the quality of the environment in which we live, as well as fears about the effect of environmental factors not only on male fertility, but also on all aspects of human health. The majority of environmental pollutants affect the male body by causing oxidative stress and through their effect on the endocrine system.

Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is a prevalent condition that affects the elderly population in particular and significantly impairs quality of life. Imperatorin, a naturally occurring furocoumarin, possesses diverse pharmacological properties that warrant consideration for drug development. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of imperatorin (IMP) to attenuate the cystometric and biochemical changes typically associated with retinyl acetate-induced overactive bladder (OAB) and to assess its viability as a pharmacological intervention for OAB patients. A total of 60 rats were divided into four groups: I—control, II—rats with rapamycin (RA)-induced OAB, III—rats administered IMP at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day, and IV—rats with RA-induced OAB treated with IMP. IMP or vehicle were injected intraperitoneally for 14 days. The cystometry and assessment of bladder blood flow were performed two days after the last dose of IMP. The rats were then placed in metabolic cages for 24 h. Urothelial thickness measurements and biochemical analyses were performed. Intravesical infusion of RA induced OAB. Notably, intraperitoneal administration of imperatorin had no discernible effect on urinary bladder function and micturition cycles in normal rats. IMP attenuated the severity of RA-induced OAB. RA induced increases in urothelial ATP, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3), and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), as well as significant c-Fos expression in all micturition areas analyzed, which were attenuated by IMP. Furthermore, elevated levels of Rho kinase (ROCK1) and VAChT were observed in the detrusor, which were reversed by IMP in the context of RA-induced OAB in the urothelium, detrusor muscle, and urine. Imperatorin has a mitigating effect on detrusor overactivity. The mechanisms of action of IMP in the bladder appear to be diverse and complex. These findings suggest that IMP may provide protection against RA-induced OAB and could potentially develop into an innovative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of OAB.

The objective of this study was to assess the antidepressant efficacy of a novel imipramine–magnesium (IMI–Mg) complex in comparison to the administration of imipramine and magnesium individually. The study utilized adult male albino Swiss mice. Behavioral assessments were conducted using the forced swim test (FST) and the tail suspension test (TST). A locomotor activity test was conducted to exclude false positive results in the FST and TST. Moreover, the study assessed oxidative stress levels in the mice subjected to acute environmental stress by measuring glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, total oxidant status, and total antioxidant status. The administration of the IMI–Mg complex at doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg resulted in a reduction in immobility time in both behavioral tests, thereby indicating the antidepressant-like potential of the tested complex, which was similar to the one observed after the administration of these two compounds as separate drug forms. The efficacy of the novel IMI–Mg complex represents a significant advancement and provides a foundation for future research. This innovative agent has the potential to enhance the safety profile of the therapy, streamline the treatment protocol, improve patient satisfaction, and promote adherence to the therapeutic regimen.

Despite the close and clinically confirmed association between depression and overactive bladder, it remains unclear whether this affective disorder is a factor causing overactive bladder or whether overactive bladder is a specific symptom of psychosomatic disorders. This study examined the effects of repeated corticosterone administration on the occurrence of symptoms associated with depression and overactive bladder. Additionally, we examined whether administering TC-G 1008, an antidepressant that selectively activates the GPR39 receptor, could alleviate corticosterone-induced depression-like behavior and detrusor overactivity-related changes in cystometric measurements. We also explored its potential to reverse alterations in various biomarkers associated with both conditions in the serum, urinary bladder, and brain of female rats. The administration of corticosterone (20 mg/kg/day for 14 days) yielded anticipated results, including an increase in the duration of immobility during the forced swim test, alterations in parameters specific to bladder overactivity, a decrease in neurotrophins, and an elevation in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Treatment with TC-G 1008 (15 mg/kg/day) alleviated symptoms of both detrusor overactivity and depression, while also restoring the levels of biochemical and cystometric markers to normal ranges. Additionally, antidepressants based on GPR39 agonists could enhance the levels of kynurenic acid in the neuroprotective pathway. These results indicate that the GPR39 agonist receptor might be a promising future therapeutic approach for treating overactive bladder that occurs alongside depression.

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in Europe. Its carcinogenesis is a complex process and requires further research. In our study, we focus on finding new and easy-to-diagnose markers for detecting endometrial cancer. For this purpose, we compared the levels of miR-21-5p, miR-205-5p, and miR-222-3p in endometrial cancer tissues with the levels of these miRs in the serum of patients using the dPCR method. Our study is preliminary and consists of comparing the changes in miRNA expression in serum to the changes in miRNA in tissue of patients with endometrial cancer. The study included 18 patients with EC and 19 patients undergoing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse or uterine fibroids as a control group without neoplastic lesions. Endometrial tissue and serum were collected from all patients. The analyses showed an increased expression of miR-205-5p in endometrial cancer tissue and decreased expression of miR-222-3p in tissue and serum samples. These results suggest that miR-205-5p and miR-222-3p may be potential endometrial cancer biomarkers. Only miR-222-3p confirmed its decreased expression in serum, making it a potential and easily accessible marker in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer. This pilot study requires further investigation in a larger group of patients. Its advantages include the possibility of a comparison between miRNA expression in tissue and serum, as well as conducting the study using dPCR.