Potential importance of transition metals in the induction of DNA damage by sperm preparation media.

Study Question: What are the mechanisms by which the preparation of spermatozoa on discontinuous density gradients leads to an increase in oxidative DNA damage?

Summary Answer: The colloidal silicon solutions that are commonly used to prepare human spermatozoa for assisted reproduction technology (ART) purposes contain metals in concentrations that promote free radical-mediated DNA damage.

What Is Known Already: Sporadic reports have already appeared indicating that the use of colloidal silicon-based discontinuous density gradients for sperm preparation is occasionally associated with the induction of oxidative DNA damage. The cause of this damage is however unknown.

Altered amino acid homeostasis and the development of fatigue by breast cancer radiotherapy patients: A pilot study.

Objectives: To examine altered amino acid homeostasis as a predisposing factor of fatigue in female radiotherapy breast cancer patients.

Design And Methods: Participants underwent breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant breast irradiation and were free from significant fatigue pre-radiotherapy. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy fatigue subscale was used to assess fatigue pre- and post-radiotherapy.

Altered amino acid excretion in children with autism.

Autism is a complex and life-long behavioural disorder of unknown aetiology. Recent reports have indicated the involvement of digestive tract dysfunction and possible complications from inadequate nutrition. In this study, 34 autistic children (12 untreated and 22 receiving therapeutic treatments related to digestive function and nutritional uptake) and 29 control subjects (all 5-15 years of age) were investigated to determine whether there were any anomalies in the urinary excretion of amino acids, glucose, sucrose, arabinose and tartaric acid using GC/FID and GC/MS analysis techniques.

Hematologic and urinary excretion anomalies in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have a broad and variable spectrum of signs and symptoms with variable onsets. This report outlines the results of a single-blind, cross-sectional research project that extensively investigated a large cohort of 100 CFS patients and 82 non fatigued control subjects with the aim of performing a case-control evaluation of alterations in standard blood parameters and urinary amino and organic acid excretion profiles. Blood biochemistry and full blood counts were unremarkable and fell within normal laboratory ranges.

Bacterial source tracking from diverse land use catchments by sterol ratios.

Water samples from sites potentially impacted by septic tanks, cattle, sewage treatment plant (STP) and natural forests were collected at regular monthly intervals and within 48 h of rainfall events between October 2004 and June 2006. All samples (n=296) were analysed for faecal coliforms and faecal sterols including coprostanol, epicoprostanol, cholestanol, cholesterol and 24-ethylcoprostanol. Faecal sterol ratios were used to assign human and/or herbivore contamination sources and to estimate their percentage relative contributions in water samples.