Epiduritis related to IgG4 disease: A very rare cause for spinal cord compression.

Background: Inflammatory pseudotumors are rare, and those attributed to immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) diseases are even less frequently encountered. Here, we reviewed 41 cases from the literature of spinal inflammatory pseudotumors due to IgG4 and have added our single new case.

Case Presentation: A 25-year-old male presented with progressive back pain, bilateral paraparesis, and sphincter dysfunction.

Effects of reduced seminal enzymatic antioxidants on sperm DNA fragmentation and semen quality of Tunisian infertile men.

Purpose: To evaluate levels of sperm DNA fragmentation and enzymatic antioxidant status in seminal plasma of Tunisian fertile and infertile men in order to assess the effects of seminal oxidative stress on sperm DNA integrity and semen quality.

Methods: Semen samples from 100 infertile patients (40 oligoasthenoteratozoospermics, 31 teratozoospermics and 29 asthenozoospermics) and 50 fertile men (controls) were analyzed for DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay and biochemical parameters. Seminal antioxidant activities (Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase) and malondialdehyde concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically.

Effects of garlic fractions consumption on male reproductive functions.

Many researchers have focused on the preventive and curative effects of garlic (Allium sativum), particularly on cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, its impacts on the male reproductive system have not been clearly defined. In this study, the effect of chronic consumption of two garlic fractions was tested: one soluble in water (aqueous solution obtained by grinding and centrifugation) and the other one precipitated by ethanol (alcoholic precipitate obtained by precipitation of the aqueous solution), on different variables of male rats' reproductive functions.

Reduced antioxidant defense systems in schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder.

Numerous evidence and proofs suggest that the oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). The aim of this study is to determine the glutathione levels and the antioxidant enzyme activities in blood samples of patients suffering from SZ and patients with bipolar disorder in comparison with the healthy controlled subjects. It was a case-controlled study carried on upon three groups: forty-six SZ patients (41 men and 5 women, mean age=33.

Impact of seminal trace element and glutathione levels on semen quality of Tunisian infertile men.

Background: Growing evidence indicates that oxidative stress can be a primary cause of male infertility. Non-enzymatic antioxidants play an important protective role against oxidative damages and lipid peroxidation. Human seminal plasma is a natural reservoir of antioxidants.

Altered antioxidant status and increased lipid per-oxidation in seminal plasma of tunisian infertile men.

Human seminal plasma is a natural reservoir of antioxidants that protect spermatozoa from oxidative damages. There is evidence in literature supports the fact that impairments in seminal antioxidant and lipid per-oxidation status play important roles in the physiopathology of male infertility. Our present study forms the first one which was carried out in Tunisia.

Decreased glutathione levels and impaired antioxidant enzyme activities in drug-naive first-episode schizophrenic patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine glutathione levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in the drug-naive first-episode patients with schizophrenia in comparison with healthy control subjects.

Methods: It was a case-controlled study carried on twenty-three patients (20 men and 3 women, mean age = 29.3 ± 7.