[Lipid peroxidation in the lymphocyte membrane and protein oxidation in the serum of elderly people. Are they potential markers of frailty and dependence? Preliminary results].

Objective: To study the relationships between lipid peroxidation of the lymphocyte membrane, protein oxidation and different markers of frailty and dependence.

Methods: The sample consisted of 15 elderly patients in an intermediate and long-term care center, who had not suffered any acute process recently. The geriatric assessment included, functional capacity (Barthel and Lawton indexes), comorbidity (Charlson index), and cognitive function (Mini Mental State Examination of Folstein).

Measurement of cell death by oxidative stress in three-dimensional spheroids from trophoblast and in fragments of decidua tissue.

We report a new morphometric method for measurement of the amount of cell death in three-dimensional multicellular spheroids of the trophoblast-like cell line AC1-M59 and of cultured pieces of decidua tissue (decidua spheroids) in response to a cytotoxic agent. The viability of the spheroids was assessed by adding propidium iodide to the culture medium at the end of the toxic treatment. On fluorescence and brightfield images of serial cryosections the areas of propidium iodide fluorescence and the entire corresponding spheroids were measured by applying digital image processing and ratiometrical quantification.

The effect of oxidative environment on immunosuppressive properties of human seminal plasma.

Problem: Human seminal plasma (SP) has an important immunosuppressive function that enables sperm survival in the female reproductive tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate how oxidized proteins, by oxidative stress, may influence seminal plasma immunosuppressive properties in male infertility.

Method Of Study: Human SP immunosuppressive ability was evaluated by a lymphocyte proliferation assay.

Oxidative stress and autoimmune response in the infertile woman.

There is convincing evidence that the establishment of a chronic inflammatory response, together with the presence of a local oxidative environment, could play an important role in the etiology and the progression of several human diseases. In the reproductive system, pathologies such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, tubal obstruction, preeclampsia and recurrent abortions are related to the presence of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-1) and to high levels of free radicals that may damage biological molecules, such as lipids, proteins or DNA. Membrane lipids become oxidized and some of their products (malondialdehyde, acetaldehyde, hydroxynonenal) chemically modify proteins.