Infertility and problems of impaired fecundity have been a concern through ages and is also a significant clinical problem today, which affects 8-12% of couples worldwide. Of all infertility cases, approximately 40-50% is due to "male factor" infertility and as many as 2% of all men will exhibit suboptimal sperm parameters. It may be one or a combination of low sperm concentration, poor sperm motility, or abnormal morphology. The rates of infertility in less industrialized nations are markedly higher and infectious diseases are responsible for a greater proportion of infertility. The present literature will help in knowing the trends of male factor infertility in developing nations like India and to find out in future, various factors that may be responsible for male infertility.

Trends of male factor infertility, an important cause of infertility: A review of literature.

It is predicted that Japan and European Union will soon experience appreciable decreases in their populations due to persistently low total fertility rates (TFR) below replacement level (2.1 child ...

https://www.physiology.org/doi/pdf/10.1152/physrev.00017.2015

Male Reproductive Disorders and Fertility Trends: Influences of Environment and Genetic Susceptibility

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an infection caused by Candida species that affects millions of women every year. Although Candida albicans is the main cause of VVC, the identification of non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species, especially Candida glabrata, as the cause of this infection, appears to be increasing. The development of VVC is usually attributed to the disturbance of the balance between Candida vaginal colonization and host environment by physiological or nonphysiological changes. Several host-related and behavioral risk factors have been proposed as predisposing factors for VVC. Host-related factors include pregnancy, hormone replacement, uncontrolled diabetes, immunosuppression, antibiotics, glucocorticoids use and genetic predispositions. Behavioral risk factors include use of oral contraceptives, intrauterine device, spermicides and condoms and some habits of hygiene, clothing and sexual practices. Despite a growing list of recognized risk factors, much remains to be elucidated as the role of host versus microorganisms, in inducing VVC and its recurrence. Thus, this review provides information about the current state of knowledge on the risk factors that predispose to VVC, also including a revision of the epidemiology and microbiology of VVC, as well as of Candida virulence factors associated with vaginal pathogenicity.

/pdf/vulvovaginal-candidiasis-epidemiology-microbiology-and-risk-42cefj0af4.pdf

Vulvovaginal candidiasis: Epidemiology, microbiology and risk factors

The taxonomy of yeasts is continually evolving, and currently yeasts that are of medical importance belong to two classes: the Saccharomycetes (previously Hemiascomycetes or Endomycetes), which contains Candida species, and the Tremellomycetes (previously Heterobasidiomycetes), which contains the basidiomycetous fungi Trichosporon and Cryptococcus. A number of species have been merged into Candida albicans, including Candida claussenii and Candida langeronii. There is evidence that C. albicans var. africana may be a new cause of vaginitis that is often misidentified as C. albicans on the Vitek 2 ID-YST system. Candida species are ubiquitous yeasts, being found on many plants and as the normal biota of the alimentary tract of mammals and mucocutaneous membranes of humans. In nearly 45% of AIDS patients, cryptococcosis was reported as the first AIDS-defining illness. Because none of the presenting signs or symptoms of cryptococcal meningitis (such as headache, fever, and malaise) are sufficiently characteristic to distinguish it from other infections that occur in patients with AIDS, determining cryptococcal antigen titers and culturing blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are useful in making a diagnosis. Not surprisingly, little effort has been undertaken to develop serologic tests for detection of invasive infections caused by yeasts other than Candida and Cryptococcus species. In order to develop a universal genetic identification system for yeasts, the most reproducible, specific, and sensitive sequence for comparison must be identified, and the majority of research has focused on the rDNA regions.

Candida, Cryptococcus, and other yeasts of medical importance.

Sepsis, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world, is a clinical syndrome with signs and symptoms relating to an infectious event and the consequent important inflammatory response. From a clinical point of view, sepsis is a continuous process ranging from systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) to multiple-organ-dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Blood cultures are the current "gold standard" for diagnosis, and they are based on the detection of viable microorganisms present in blood. However, on some occasions, blood cultures have intrinsic limitations in terms of sensitivity and rapidity, and it is not expected that these drawbacks will be overcome by significant improvements in the near future. For these principal reasons, other approaches are therefore needed in association with blood culture to improve the overall diagnostic yield for septic patients. These considerations have represented the rationale for the development of highly sensitive and fast laboratory methods. This review addresses non-culture-based techniques for the diagnosis of sepsis, including molecular and other non-culture-based methods. In particular, the potential clinical role for the sensitive and rapid detection of bacterial and fungal DNA in the development of new diagnostic algorithms is discussed.

The Era of Molecular and Other Non-Culture-Based Methods in Diagnosis of Sepsis

Pathogenic free-living amoebae: epidemiology and clinical review.

Concerns about the worldwide decline in semen quality over the past 50 years are increasing. Western countries have shown a decline in semen quality. However, in non-Western countries studies are sparse. We investigated trends in semen parameters between 1996 and 2007 in the Sfax area of southern Tunisia in a sample of 2940 men in infertile relationships. Age at semen collection, duration of sexual abstinence, volume of seminal fluid, the sperm count, percentages of motile and morphologically normal spermatozoa, and semen leukocyte concentration were determined. Linear regression was used to examine trends over time in sperm count, sperm motility, normal morphology, and semen leukocyte concentration. Mean age and semen volume did not change between 1996 and 2007. Data adjusted for age and abstinence showed a decreasing trend in sperm count and percentage of normal morphology over the last 12 years (R2 = 0.71, P = .0004, and R2 = 0.87, P < .0001, respectively). There was no significant change in sperm motility. However, semen leukocyte concentration increased significantly over time (R2 = 0.38, P = .03). These results coincide with the high prevalence of genital infectious diseases in the Sfax area, suggesting that infection may be a potential contributing factor in semen quality decline.

Semen quality decline among men in infertile relationships: experience over 12 years in the South of Tunisia.

Vulvovaginal candidosis (VVC) is a common infection of the female genital tract affecting 75% women at least once in their lifetime. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and potential risk factors associated with VVC and recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis (RVVC). A prospective study of women with vaginitis symptoms was conducted over 2 years in the regional clinic of population and family education in Sfax. A discriminant analysis was used to evaluate the association between the incidence of Candida vaginitis and potential risk factors. Sporadic and recurrent VVC were documented respectively in 48% and 6.1%. The most frequent factors associated with positive Candida culture were employed women, uncontrolled diabetes, history of genital infection and intrauterine device contraception. Increased episode numbers of VVC and condom/spermicidal contraception were positively associated with recurrences. Candida albicans was the predominantly isolated species (76.3%) followed by Candida glabrata (19.3%). Infection with C. glabrata occurred in 34% and 17.5% of patients with RVVC and VVC respectively. The discriminant investigation had provided further insights into the basis for prevention and control of RVVC. Increased prevalence of C. glabrata in patients with RVVC and observed risk factors should be taken into consideration to achieve success in the management of this infection.

Epidemiological survey of vulvovaginal candidosis in Sfax Tunisia.

Friction characteristics of a brake friction material under different braking conditions

Summary

The distribution of dermatophytes varies in different countries and geographical areas depending on several factors. To determine the frequency of aetiological agents and the clinical variants of dermatophytoses, we carried out a study between 1998 and 2007. Out of 25 432 subjects suspected to have superficial mycoses, 9960 (39.2%) were affected with dermatophytoses; 14957 positive samples were obtained. The mean age was 35.7 years (range: 21 days to 97 years). Sex ratio was 0.9. Our patients were from urban regions in 81.9% of cases. The most common type of infection was onychomycosis (30.3%), followed by tinea pedis (24.8%), intertrigo (21.7%), tinea corporis (11.4%) and tinea capitis (9.6%). Fifteen patients had generalised dermatophytosis. Hadida and Schousboe disease was diagnosed in one case with lethal evolution. The most isolated dermatophyte was Trichophyton rubrum (74.5%), followed by T. violaceum (7.9%), T. mentagrophytes (7.5%), Microsporum canis (3.8%), Epidermophyton floccosum (0.7%) and T. verrucosum (0.54%). Other species were occasionally isolated: T. schoenleinii, T. tonsurans, M. audouinii and M. ferrugineum. The prevalence of dermatophytoses remains high in our country (996 cases/year). Trichophyton rubrum is the predominant causal agent. However, zoophilic agents become more prevalent. Epidemiological surveys are an essential tool for developing strategies for infection control.

Amira Sellami

Papers

Pathogenic free-living amoebae: epidemiology and clinical review.

Semen quality decline among men in infertile relationships: experience over 12 years in the South of Tunisia.

Epidemiological survey of vulvovaginal candidosis in Sfax Tunisia.

Friction characteristics of a brake friction material under different braking conditions

Epidemiology of dermatophytoses in Sfax, Tunisia