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Objective The present study aimed to identify Mollicutes infection in the reproductive system. We also examined the microbiological, biochemical, and antimicrobial profiles of Mollicutes infection, which are potentially associated with clinical reproductive abnormalities causing infertility in couples. Methods Thirty-seven couples who were attending an infertility clinic were enrolled. Detection of genital mycoplasmas was performed in cervicovaginal samples or male urethral swabs. Microbiological culture and biochemical and antimicrobial profiles were characterized using a Mycoplasma kit. The results were associated with reproductive abnormalities, as assessed by medical specialists from the infertility clinic. Results Up to 28.3% of all biological samples (n = 74) showed positive cultures. Bacterial isolates were Ureaplasma urealyticum (71.4%), Mycoplasma hominis (9.5%), or coinfections (19%). Most Mollicutes showed significant resistance to fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and tetracycline; and showed susceptibility to doxycycline, josamycin, and pristinamycin. The presence of resistant strains to any antibiotic was significantly associated with genital abnormalities (χ 2 test, relative risk = 11.38 [95% confidence interval: 5.8–22.9]), particularly in women. The highest statistical association was found for macrolide-resistant strains. Conclusion The microbiological antibiotic resistance profile is epidemiologically associated with abnormalities of the reproductive system in couples attending an infertility clinic.

Objectives To determine whether metabolic phenotype is associated with the change in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients undergoing bariatric /metabolic surgery (BMS). Methods We performed a case-control study of BMS candidates who had metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) or metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). We measured the change in CIMT during the 9 months following BMS. The plasma tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, adiponectin, leptin, nitric oxide (NO), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and malondialdehyde concentrations were determined, adipocyte area was measured histologically, and adipose tissue area was estimated using computed tomography. Results Fifty-six patients (mean age 44.5 years, mean body mass index 44.9 kg/m 2 , 53% women, and 53% had MUO) were studied. Nine months following BMS, the MUO phenotype was not associated with a significant reduction in CIMT, and that of the MHO group was larger. In addition, fewer participants achieved a 10% reduction in CIMT in the MUO group. A CIMT reduction was associated with lower VEGF-A and NO in the MUO group, while that in the MHO group was associated with a higher NO concentration. Conclusion The metabolic phenotype of patients may influence their change in CIMT following BMS, probably through circulating vasodilatory and pro-inflammatory molecules.

Objectives We aimed to determine whether parameters associated with adipose tissue (adipocyte density and the circulating concentrations of markers of adipose tissue pathology) predict cardiovascular risk (CVR) modification after metabolic surgery (MS). Methods We performed a case–control study of patients with morbid obesity who were candidates for MS. CVR was defined using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), which were measured during the 9 months following MS. Subgroups of CVR reduction were defined using the following cut-offs: CIMT 10% and/or a two-fold increase in FMD. Results We studied 40 patients with morbid obesity (mean age 44.5 years, 75% women, mean body mass index 46.4 kg/m 2 ) and high prevalences of the metabolically unhealthy obesity phenotype, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. A significant reduction in CVR was associated with lower vascular endothelial growth factor-A concentration (6.20 vs. 1.59 pg/mL, respectively), low adipocyte density in visceral adipose tissue (100 vs. 80 cells/field), low infiltration with CD68+ cells (18 vs. 8 cells/field) and higher concentrations of lipid peroxidation markers and malondialdehyde (313.7 vs. 405.7 ng/mL). Conclusion The characteristics of adipose tissue and the circulating concentrations of markers of adipose pathology might represent useful predictors of the reduction in CVR following MS. Clinical trial registration number : NCT0356198 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov )