Background: Human semen contains high concentrations of fructose, zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in bound and ionic forms for Zn and Cu. The presence of abnormal levels of fructose and those trace elements may affect spermatogenesis with regard to production, maturation, motility and fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa.Objective: To evaluate the levels of fructose, Zn and Cu in seminal plasma in different groups of male infertility and to correlate their concentrations with various sperm parameters.Methods: The concentrations of fructose, Zn and Cu were measured in 114 semen samples from normozoospermic, oligozoospermic, astheno-zoospermic, and azoospermic men using the electrothermal-atomic absorption spectrometry for Zn and Cu determination. The concentration of fructose in seminal plasma was determined with a spectrophotometric method, using the resorcinol method.Results: Results of the present study showed that there was an inverse relationship between fructose levels and sperm count. The mean value of seminal plasma fructose concentrations was significantly increased (p ≤ 0.001) in the three groups of infertile male subjects (azoospermia, asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia) than in fertile males. The mean value of seminal plasma Zn concentrations was significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.001) in the three groups of infertile male subjects (azoospermia, asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia) than in fertile males. A good correlation in a positive direction was noted between the sperm count and seminal plasma Zn concentration. There was significant decrease in seminal plasma Cu concentration between asthenozoospermia and control groups (p ≤ 0.05) and insignificant increase in oligozoospermic patients.Conclusions: On the basis of the observations of the present study, seminal fructose, zinc and copper may contribute to fertility through their effects on various semen parameters.Key words:Male infertility, fructose, zinc, copper.
The present study was set to demonstrate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis infection and its effects on patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) through determining their serum levels of anti-dsDNA and IL-18 antibodies. For this purpose, the sera from 132 SLE and/or toxoplasmosis patients and 30 healthy women, were collected. The study sample was divided into four groups of SLE, toxoplasmosis, SLE coinfected with toxoplasmosis, and healthy control. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were examined for all the samples using ELISA kit. The results showed a high mean level of anti-Toxoplasma IgG among SLE patients coinfected with toxoplasmosis (104.8792±12.31585pg/ml) in comparison to that in toxoplasmosis patients (91.1705±12.577
... Show MoreThe Manganese doped zinc sulfide nanoparticles of the cubic zinc blende structure with the average crystallite size of about 3.56 nm were synthesized using a coprecipitation method using Thioglycolic Acid as an external capping agent for surface modification. The ZnS:Mn2+ nanoparticles of diameter 3.56 nm were manufactured through using inexpensive precursors in an efficient and eco-friendly way. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy are used to examine the structure, morphology and chemical composition of the nanoparticles. The antimicrobial activity of (ZnS:Mn2+) nanocrystals was investigated by measuring the diameter of inhibition zone using well diffusion mechanism
... Show MoreThe research aims to know the question asking skills in terms of levels, conditions, classification, and types. The research limited to the literature that dealt with the importance of questioning for students and teachers. The most important term used in the research is the skill (Ryan defined it as "the ability to perform with great efficiency, accuracy, and ease). The results of the research are as follows: 1. the questions asked by the schoolteacher within the assessment of students' learning. 2. Teachers should focus on the lower levels of learning (remembering, understanding and comprehension) and then evaluating students at the higher levels (synthesis and evaluation). 3. Teacher with good knowledge can skillfully use the question
... Show MoreSeventy five adult virgin female Norway rats (60 experimental and 15 controls) were used toevaluate the effect of seeds of three herbs (Fennel, Cumin and Garden cress) on their mammaryglands. Experimental animals were fed with these herbs (each type of herb seeds was given to twentyexperimental rats) for fourteen days. Rats were sacrificed and mammary gland sections wereobtained, stained then morphometrically assessed. Serum prolactin level was performed too.Results revealed that Garden cress seeds are the strongest lactogenic agent among the three. BothFennel and Cumin seeds were shown to be very weak galactagogues.
In this paper flotation method experiments were performed to investigate the removal of lead and zinc. Various parameters such as pH, air flow rate, collector concentrations, collector type and initial metal concentrations were tested in a bubble column of 6 cm inside diameter. High recoveries of the two metals have been obtained by applying the foam flotation process, and at relatively short time 45 minutes . The results show that the best removal of lead about 95% was achieved at pH value of 8 and the best removal of zinc about 93% was achieved
at pH value of 10 by using 100 mg/l of Sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) as a collector and 1% ethanol as a frother. The results show that the removal efficiency increased with increasing initial m
This work concerned on nanocrystalline NiAl2O4 and ZnAl2O4 having spinel structure prepared by Sol–gel technique. The structural and characterization properties for the obtained samples were examined using different measurements such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), finally, Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM).The Spinel-type for two prepared compound (NiAl2O4) and (ZnAl2O4) at different calcination temperature examined by XRD. Williamson-Hall Methods used to estimate crystallite size, Average distribution crystallite size of two compound were, 34.2 nm for NiAl2O4 and32.6 for ZnAl2O4, the increase in crystallite size affecting by increasing in calcination temperature for both comp
... Show MoreIn this study, the nanocrystal-ZnS-loaded graphene was synthesized by a facile coprecipitation route. The effect of graphene on the characterization of Zinc Sulphide (ZnS) was investigated. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) results reveal that ZnS has cubic system while hexagonal structure which is observed by loading graphene during the preparation of ZnS. Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis proved the presence of all expected elements in the prepared materials. Nanosize of fabricated materials has been measured using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technique. This study also found that the graphene plays a critical role in lowering the optical energy gap of ZnS nanoparticles from 4 eV to 3.2 eV. The characterization of detec
... Show MoreOnomatopoeia has always been a functional poetic device which enjoys a high sound significance in the poetry of many languages. In modern English and Arabic poetry alike, it proves to be vital and useful at different levels: musical, thematic and at the level of meaning. Still, the cultural difference looms large over the ways it is employed by the poets of each. The present paper investigates the employment of onomatopoeia in the poetry of D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930) and Badr Shakir al-Sayyab (1926-1964) who are chosen due to the importance they enjoy in modern English and Arabic poetry and the richness of their poems in onomatopoeias. The conclusions reached at are in a sense related to cultural differences which govern the use of onomato
... Show MoreBackground: Alveolar ridge expansion is proposed when the alveolar crest thickness is ≤5 mm. The screw expansion technique has been utilized for many years to expand narrow alveolar ridges. Recently, the osseodensification technique has been suggested as a reliable technique to expand narrow alveolar ridges with effective width gain and as little surgical operating time as possible. The current study aimed to compare osseodensification and screw expansion in terms of clinical width gain and operating time. Materials and methods: Forty implant osteotomies were performed in deficient horizontal alveolar ridges (3–5 mm). A total of 19 patients aged 21–59 years were randomized into two groups: the screw expansion group, which invo
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