Effects of gold and silver nanoparticles in cultured human osteoarthritic chondrocytes.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) at different concentrations on cultured human osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Cell viability and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression were evaluated by light microscopy. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission gun-based scanning transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (FEG-STEM/EDS) allowed us to localize NPs.

Two cases of sperm immotility: a mosaic of flagellar alterations related to dysplasia of the fibrous sheath and abnormalities of head-neck attachment.

Objective: To characterize the association of two systematic sperm defects.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University, Interdepartmental Centre for Research and Therapy of Male Infertility.

Distribution of α- and δ-tocopherols in seminal plasma and sperm fractions of men with normal and abnormal semen parameters.

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of the different isoforms of tocopherol (T) in seminal plasma (P) and in the sperm fractions of individuals with abnormal (group 1) and normal (group 2) sperm parameters; the relationships between these isoforms and conventional sperm parameters were also explored. Two vitamin E homologues, α-T and δ-T, were identified in the semen of all participants. Although α-T and δ-T concentrations were similar in the semen of the 2 groups, group 1 showed a lower α-T ratio (S/P) (0.

A case of severe asthenozoospermia: a novel sperm tail defect of possible genetic origin identified by electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry.

Objective: To characterize a novel flagellar defect involving 98% of sperm tails.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Interdepartmental Centre for Research and Therapy of Male Infertility, Siena, Italy.

In vitro toxic effects of metal compounds on kinetic traits and ultrastructure of rabbit spermatozoa.

Metal compounds have been associated with male reproductive toxicity in vivo. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of 20 metal compounds using rabbit ejaculated spermatozoa as a study model for spermiotoxicity. Five of the metals tested (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury and vanadium) reduced sperm motility and curvilinear velocity.

Anti-angiogenetic effects of immune-reconstituted influenza virosomes assembled with parathyroid hormone-related protein derived peptide vaccine.

Background: C-IRIV/PTR-4 is a novel anticancer vaccine construct composed of immune-reconstituted influenza virosomes (IRIV) assembled with the PTH-rP derived peptide (PTR)-4, a synthetic CTL epitope with HLA-A(*)02.01 amino acid binding motifs. This peptide is able to generate a human PTH-rP specific CTL response with anti-tumor activity in vitro and in mice.

Abnormal elongation of midpiece, absence of axoneme and outer dense fibers at principal piece level, supernumerary microtubules: a sperm defect of possible genetic origin?

Objective: To characterize a flagellar defect involving 95% of the sperm population from an infertile man.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Interdepartmental Centre for Research and Therapy of Male Infertility, Siena, Italy.