Rapid quantification of semen hepatitis B virus DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction

AIM: To examine the sensitivity and accuracy of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the quantification of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in semen.METHODS: Hepatitis B viral DNA was isolated from HBV carriers' semen and sera using phenol extraction method and QTAamp DNA blood mini kit (Qiagen, Germany). HBV DNA was detected by conventional PCR and quantified by TaqMan technology-based real-time PCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)). The detection threshold was 200 copies of HBV DNA for conventional PCR and 10 copies of HBV DNA for real time PCR per reaction.RESULTS: Both methods of phenol extraction and QIAamp DNA blood mini kit were suitable for isolating HBV DNA from semen. The value of the detection thresholds was 500 copies of HBV DNA per mL in the semen. The viral loads were 7.5×107 and 1.67×107 copies of HBV DNA per mL in two HBV infected patients' sera, while 2.L4×105 and 3.02×105 copies of HBV DNA per mL in the semen.CONCLUSION: Real-time PCR is a more sensitive and accurate method to detect and quantify HBV DNA in the semen.

Treatment of Infertile Women with Unilateral Tubal Occlusion Diagnosed by Hysterosalpingography:The Role of Intrauterine Insemination

Summary:The optimal assisted reproductive treatment strategy for infertile women with unilateral tubal obstruction remains uncertain.To investigate the role of intrauterine insemination(IUI)in the treatment of infertile women with unilateral tubal occlusion,the data of 148 couples were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Seventy-eight infertile women with unilateral occlusion diagnosed by hysterosalpingography(HSG)were categorized as the study group and 70 others with unexplained infertility as the control group.The study group was divided into a proximal occlusion subgroup and a mid-distal occlusion subgroup for further analysis.The main outcomes,namely the clinical pregnancy rate(CPR),ongoing pregnancy rate(OPR),and live birth rate(LBR)per cycle,were analyzed.Our results showed a tendency of lower CPR,OPR,and LBR in the study group than in the control group,without statistical significance.Further investigations revealed that the unilateral proximal occlusion subgroup had similar CPR,OPR,and LBR as the control group,while the unilateral mid-distal occlusion subgroup had significantly lower CPR(5.1%vs.20.0%,P=0.035),OPR(5.1%vs.20.0%,P=0.035),and LBR(5.1%vs.20.0%,P=0.035)than the control group.In conclusion,the clinical outcomes of IUI were worse in patients with unilateral tubal occlusion than in those with unexplained infertility.This might be primarily caused by the worse outcome of patients with unilateral mid-distal tubal occlusion instead of proximal occlusion.

Effectiveness of Combined Testosterone Undecanoate with Tamoxifen Citrate Treatment in Men with Idiopathic Azoospermia or Serious Oligozoospermia

Objective To assess the effect of treatment with a combination of the tamoxifen citrate and testosterone undecanoate on sperm variables in men with idiopathic azoospermia or oligozoospermia. Methods Four men with idiopathic azoospermia and 8 men with idiopathic oligozoospermia were collected in this retrospective and self control trial. All patients were treated with testosterone undecanoate of 80mg/d and tamoxifen citrate of 20mg/d. Sperm characteristics and pregnancy incidence were measured every month during 4 months medication. Results Tamoxifen citrate plus testosterone undecanoate treatment produced a satisfactory improvement of total sperm number, motility after 2 and 3 months whereas serum FSH, LH levels increased after 2 or 3 months. Conclusion The combination of tamoxifen citrate with testosterone undecanoate could improve significantly sperm count. The combination could be used in men with idiopathic azoospermia or serious oligozoospermia.