Correlation between hysteroscopic features and specific microbial species in women with chronic endometritis.

Objective And Rationale: Chronic endometritis (CE) has recently been associated with unexplained infertility and recurrent miscarriages. The current gold standard for CE detection is histopathological examination. However, office hysteroscopy and endometrial cultures are also significant, due to the possible link between CE and various microorganisms.

Performance characteristics of the boson rapid SARS-cov-2 antigen test card vs RT-PCR: Cross-reactivity and emerging variants.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 virus has undergone several mutations on its genome, since the onset of the pandemic. Multiple variants of concern (VOC) have emerged including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta with the more recent one being the Omicron (B.1.

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis inside spermatozoa using flow cytometry: Effects of antibiotic treatment (before and after) on sperm count parameters.

There is increasing evidence that Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection can directly affect male fertility. However, only few have investigated the effects of CT on semen parameters, and mostly with inconclusive results. The main aims of this study were to identify CT inside spermatozoa, and the possible pre and post antibiotic treatment effects on the overall semen parameters.

Evaluation of the Boson rapid Ag test vs RT-PCR for use as a self-testing platform.

The gold standard test available for detecting COVID-19 patients is Real Time RT-PCR. However, this method is expensive, needing special equipment and skilled laboratory staff. Recently, less expensive antigen tests have become available, that could easily and rapidly identify new COVID-19 cases.

Large-scale screening for factor V Leiden (G1691A), prothrombin (G20210A), and MTHFR (C677T) mutations in Greek population.

Background And Aims: To provide a fair estimate of the prevalence of factor V Leiden (FVL) (G1691A), prothrombin (G20210A), and MTHFR (C677T) mutations in the Greek population.

Methods: We genotyped a representative sample of 974 apparently healthy Greek adults by the method of real-time PCR and we calculated the allele frequencies of factor V Leiden (FVL) (G1691A), prothrombin (G20210A), and MTHFR (C677T) mutations. In addition, we determined the frequency of co-occurrence of FVL (1691A) and prothrombin (20210A), FVL (1691A) and MTHFR (677T), prothrombin (20210A) and MTHFR (677T) mutations.

Improvement of Sperm Quality in Hyperviscous Semen following DNase I Treatment.

Semen hyperviscosity impairs sperm motility and can lead to male infertility. This prospective study aimed at assessing the ability of exogenous DNase in improving sperm quality, taking into consideration that DNase has been found in the seminal plasma of several species and that neutrophils release chromatin in order to trap bacteria. A total of seventy-seven semen samples with high seminal viscosity (HSV) as the study group and sixty-two semen samples with normal seminal viscosity (NSV) as the control group were compared in this analysis.

Intracellular ESAT-6: A new biomarker for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Background: Early secreted antigenic target 6 (ESAT-6) is a virulent factor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). The identification of intracellular (i/c) ESAT-6 in host cells would be a direct marker of MTB infection. We developed a method to detect i/cESAT-6 by flow cytometry.

Molecular investigation of menstrual tissue for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis collected by women with a history of infertility.

Aim: At present, routine laboratory investigation of the infectious agents implicated in female genital infections is mainly based on culture/direct fluorescence antibody (DFA) (immunofluorescence antibody test) results of cervicovaginal secretions. In this study the use of the menstrual tissue is introduced for the molecular detection of pathogens which are implicated in female infertility.

Material And Methods: Cervicovaginal secretions and menstrual tissue samples of 87 women (mean age 34.

The effect of valacyclovir treatment on natural killer cells of infertile women.

Problem: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of valacyclovir treatment on natural killer (NK) cell concentration in the peripheral blood of infertile women.

Method Of Study: Peripheral blood NK cell concentration of 104 non-pregnant women with a history of infertility was determined by flow cytometry. The controls were 14 fertile non-pregnant women.

Fraction of the peripheral blood concentration of CD56+/CD16-/CD3- cells in total natural killer cells as an indication of fertility and infertility.

Objective: To determine whether the peripheral blood concentration of CD56(+)/CD16(-)/CD3(-) cells, the main natural killer (NK) subpopulation that colonizes the endometrium in the middle and late secretory phase, can be related to fertility or infertility status.

Design: A case control study.

Setting: Immunopathology department of an infertility laboratory.