Male infertility is a relatively common condition affecting approximately 1 in 20 of the male population. DNA fragmentation is an important factor in the etiology of male infertility. Men with high DNA fragmentation levels have significantly lower odds of conceiving, naturally or through procedures such as intrauterine insemination and IVF. The most common contributing factor of male infertility is smoking. Studies have shown that smoking intensity is positively associated with job demands and stress. Therefore, we believe that work stress increases the nicotine-dependent thus causing lower male fertility rate. As proper protamine to histone ratio is essential to produce viable sperm, smoking is strongly suspected to reduce sperm viability through histone-to-protamine transition abnormalities. These abnormalities, results in sperm with high DNA damage when exposed to excessive free radical. This present study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship of work stress, smoking and sperm quality. A total of 210 infertile patients attending Medical Assisted Contraceptive Clinic (MAC), UKMMC were selected for the study. Smoking status and stress level of patients were collected after obtaining relevant consent. Histone-to-protamine ratio was acquired using Aniline Blue staining and Chromomycin A3 staining respectively. Sperm DNA fragmentation was estimated using Comet Assay. Result revealed that smokers tend to be more stressful (r = .446, p <. 001). The result showed a significantly increased level of histone (r = .385, p <. 001) and incomplete protamination (r = .492, p <. 001) in smokers. The imbalance of histone-to-protamine ratio lead to increase of DNA damage. All the data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Result revealed that patients who smoke are more stressful at work. Higher proportion of abnormal sperm histone to protamine ratio were found among smokers suggesting that cigarette smoking may inversely affect male fertility.
male ; stress ; smoking ; sperm quality

Male infertility is a relatively common condition affecting approximately 1 in 20 of the male population. DNA fragmentation is an important factor in the etiology of male infertility. Men with high DNA fragmentation levels have significantly lower odds of conceiving, naturally or through procedures such as intrauterine insemination and IVF. The most common contributing factor of male infertility is smoking. Studies have shown that smoking intensity is positively associated with job demands and stress. Therefore, we believe that work stress increases the nicotine-dependent thus causing lower male fertility rate. As proper protamine to histone ratio is essential to produce viable sperm, smoking is strongly suspected to reduce sperm viability through histone-to-protamine transition abnormalities. These abnormalities, results in sperm with high DNA damage when exposed to excessive free radical. This present study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship of work stress, smoking and sperm quality. A total of 210 infertile patients attending Medical Assisted Contraceptive Clinic (MAC), UKMMC were selected for the study. Smoking status and stress level of patients were collected after obtaining relevant consent. Histone-to-protamine ratio was acquired using Aniline Blue staining and Chromomycin A3 staining respectively. Sperm DNA fragmentation was estimated using Comet Assay. Result revealed that smokers tend to be more stressful (r = .446, p <. 001). The result showed a significantly increased level of histone (r = .385, p <. 001) and incomplete protamination (r = .492, p <. 001) in smokers. The imbalance of histone-to-protamine ratio lead to increase of DNA damage. All the data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Result revealed that patients who smoke are more stressful at work. Higher proportion of abnormal sperm histone to protamine ratio were found among smokers suggesting that cigarette smoking may inversely affect male fertility.

Aims: Symbiotic bee fungus associated with the stingless bee larval food has been revealed to play a major role in performing a mutual relationship with the host. The fungus is believed capable to produce crucial nutrients that are required for larval pupation. However, detailed information on the fungus identification isolated from the larval food of our native Indo-Malaya stingless bee, Heterotrigona itama (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is poorly understood. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the effect of fungus isolated from the stingless bee larval food on the survival of H. itama larvae and identify the isolated fungus using both morphological and molecular analyses. Methodology and results: Elisa plates designed with F-bottom type were used as artificial brood cells in a controlled condition. The eggs transferred to Elisa plates were kept in the incubator with 75%-100% humidity and 25 ± 2.5 °C of temperature. This study carried out in three different treatments: (1) microbes-free larval food, (2) fresh larval food and (3) microbes-free larval food with fungus supplement. Results showed that the survival of H. itama larvae depends on the presence of beneficial fungus with the highest survival rate (Treatment 2 = 85.71%). The absence of the beneficial fungus in the fluid food of H. itama showed the lowest survival rate (Treatment 1 = 37.14%). Microscopy analysis showed that the fungus had various forms, including unconjugated asci, round-shaped ascospore and pseudohyphae. The molecular characterisation of the isolated fungi was performed using 23S rRNA gene sequencing using universal primers ITS1 and ITS4. DNA barcoding of three isolated fungi confirmed all isolated fungi matched Panus lecomtei (Basidiomycetes; Poriales; Polyporaceae) with 99.70% of similarity. Conclusion, significance and impact of study This study provides information on the importance of whitish fungus in appearance that existed in the brood cell, which is proposed to be the crucial component of in-vitro stingless bee queen rearing protocol.
Bees--microbiology