Chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of testicular cancer cause damage to healthy tissues, including the testis. We investigated the effects of glutathione on sperm DNA integrity and testicular histomorphology in bleomycin etoposide cisplatin (BEP) treated rats. Twelve-week-old male rats of reproductive age (n = 24) were randomly divided into three groups, the (i) control group, (ii) BEP group, and (iii) BEP+ glutathione group. Weight gain increase and testes indices of the control group were found to be higher than that of the BEP group and BEP+ glutathione group. While the BEP treatment increased sperm DNA fragmentation and morphological abnormalities when compared to the control group, GSH treatment resulted in a marked decrease for both parameters. Moreover, BEP treatment significantly decreased serum testosterone levels and sperm counts in comparison to the control group, yet this reduction was recovered in the BEP+ glutathione treated group. Similarly, seminiferous tubule epithelial thicknesses and Johnsen scores in testicles were higher in the control and BEP+ glutathione groups than in the BEP-treated group. In conclusion, exogenous glutathione might prevent the deterioration of male reproductive functions by alleviating the detrimental effects of BEP treatment on sperm quality and testicular histomorphology.

Background: For Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) infection, clinical laboratories provide essential contributions in the diagnosis of infection, stage prognostication, and evaluation of disease severity. We aimed to show laboratory problems including changes of test numbers, changes of test panels, and differences of preanalytical errors during Covid-19 pandemic and, in the current study, we also intended to give solutions for the obstacles to guide other possible pandemics. Methods: Our study was based on data between January 10, 2020, and May 10, 2020. The first Covid-19 case of the Republic of Turkey was seen March 10, 2020, which was determined as the threshold date for comparisons. This was a single center, data mining, retrospective study. Results: The number of patients admitted to hospital were 34,260 and 15,573, the number of total tests were 66,263 and 42,066 before and after pandemic, respectively, for the two-month interval. Test percentage changes were increased for D-dimer 136%, fibrinogen 3,113%, troponin 6%, and LDH 17%. Test percentage changes were decreased for CBC 37%, sedimentation 45%, aPTT 30%, PT 37%, CRP 28%, ProCT 10%, ferritin 29%, CK-MB 27%, blood gases 47%, ALT 43%, AST 42%, urea 42%, creatinine 42%, triglycerides 45%, sodium 42%, potassium 41%, chloride 21%, urine culture 58%, and blood culture 44%. When preanalytical sources of errors were investigated no differences were found. Conclusions: Laboratories must take quick action and be prepared for changes in patient services during pandemics. The most reliable ways for this are past experiences, statistical analysis, co-operation with administrations, high quality communication skills, and a risk-based management system.

Immature oocytes are retrieved and matured through in vitro maturation (IVM). Maturation, fertilization rates, and embryo development via IVM are all lower than those found in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. We investigated the effects of oncostatin M (OSM), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I), and growth hormone (GH) in rescue IVM. A total of 111 germinal vesicle (GV) and 17 metaphase I (MI) oocytes were obtained after conventional IVF from 28 female Wistar albino rats. Denuded immature oocytes were cultured in maturation medium supplemented with OSM, IGF-1, or GH. The quantities of metaphase II (MII) oocytes matured from the GV stage were 17 of 30 (56.6%), 15 of 28 (53.5%), 10 of 30 (33.3%), and 7 of 23 (30.3%), in control, OSM, IGF-I, and GH groups, respectively. Maturation rates in control and OSM groups were higher than those in IGF-I and GH groups (p = 0.001). The quantities of MII oocytes matured from MI stage were 7 of 7 (100%), 4 of 4 (100%), 1 of 1 (100%), and 1 of 5 (20%) in control, OSM, IGF-I, and GH groups, respectively. Maturation rates from MI to MII stages in control, OSM, and IGF-I groups were higher than those in the GH group (p = 0.004). Acceptable maturation rates are observed with OSM in rat oocytes in rescue IVM.

The aim of the current study is to investigate the relationship between mortality rate in geriatric patients undergoing surgery with preoperative serum levels of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This was a single-center retrospective study, including three groups with 101 patients, who are older than 65 years of age. A retrospective investigation was carried out from the laboratory information system for all groups from January to December 2018. Group 1 included patients who had surgery and then mortality within 30 days after surgery. Group 2 included hospitalized patients who had surgery and no mortality within 30 days after surgery. Group 3 included outpatient patients, who had suspicion for a bacterial infection and then no surgery or no mortality within 30 days. When three group comparisons were made for procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate values, the p-value of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was higher than 0.05 for procalcitonin and lower than 0.05 for C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, suggesting that one or more groups were significantly different. When post-hoc multiple comparison methods were applied, there were statistically significant differences between Groups 1 and 3 for C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Procalcitonin levels do not predict mortality following surgery. C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are more useful biomarkers predicting mortality in geriatric patients undergoing surgery.

The chemotherapeutic combination of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) is well-documented to exert gonadotoxic effects, ultimately leading to impaired fertility. This experimental rat study investigated the potential protective role of repeated medical ozone therapy in mitigating the deleterious effects of BEP treatment in male rats. Thirty-two adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: (i) a healthy control group, (ii) a group receiving injections of the BEP regimen over nine weeks, (iii) a group receiving the same BEP regimen plus medical ozone (1 mg/kg IP) twice weekly, and (iv) a group receiving only ozone therapy. BEP treatment significantly reduced sperm concentration and increased morphological abnormalities, both of which were partially restored by ozone co-administration. Ozone therapy also elevated testosterone and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels when co-administered with BEP compared to BEP treatment alone. Oxidative stress analysis demonstrated that total oxidative status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were significantly improved in the BEP + ozone group. Histopathological analysis revealed that ozone treatment ameliorated BEP-induced testicular damage, as evidenced by improved Johnsen scores and increased thickness of the seminiferous tubule epithelium. In conclusion, repeated medical ozone therapy appears to mitigate BEP-induced reproductive toxicity by preserving sperm quality, endocrine function, and redox homeostasis.

Chylothorax is a rare condition characterized by accumulation of chylous fluid in the pleural space resulting in impaired ductus thoracic integrity. It can be an outcome of a traumatic process, although there are a few non-traumatic and/or idiopathic cases in current literature. In this article, we present the oldest case report so for, who is an 87-year-old woman complaining of acute respiratory distress symptoms with pleural effusion having no trauma history. The patient was analyzed for the disease etiology strenuously. Thoracentesis was performed together with imaging modalities and detailed systemic laboratory tests. Non-surgical treatment was successful as the outcome.