Male accessory gland inflammation prevalence in type 2 diabetic patients With symptoms possibly reflecting autonomic neuropathy

Male accessory gland inflammation or infection （MAGI） is a potentially underdiagnosed complication of type 2 diabetes （DM2）; specifically, we reported in a recent study that the frequency of MAGI was 43% among DM2 patients. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that diabetic autonomic neuropathy （DAN） is associated with a peculiar ultrasound characterization of the seminal vesicles （SVs） in DM2 patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of MAGI in two different categories of DM2 patients （i.e. patients with and without symptoms that possibly reflect DAN） and the respective ultrasound characterizations. Sixty DM2 patients with a mean （± s.e.m.） age of 42.0 ± 6.0 years （range： 34-47 years） were classified according to the presence or the absence of symptoms that could possibly reflect DAN （group A： DM2 with symptoms possibly reflecting DAN, n = 28 patients and group B： DM2 without symptoms possibly reflecting DAN, n = 32 patients）. The patients in Group A exhibited a significantly higher frequency of MAGI compared with those in group B patients （P 〈 0.05）; moreover, the Group A patients exhibited a significantly higher frequency of ultrasound signs suggestive of vesiculitis （P 〈 0.05）. Finally, the concentrations of lymphocytes but not the concentrations of the leukocytes in the semen were significantly higher （P 〈 0.05） in group A compared with group B.

Persistence of ultrasound alterations after antibiotic treatment with levofloxacin in patients with male accessory gland infection

No studies have evaluated the ultrasound features of the male sex accessory glands in infertile patients with bacterial male accessory gland infection （MAGI） according to the microbiological outcomes of bacterial cultures （absent, partial or complete） following antibiotic therapy administration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasound characteristics of the prostate, seminal vesicles, and epididymal tracts after treatment with levofloxacin （a common quinolone antibiotic）, in patients with infections caused by Escherichia coil （a Gram-negative bacterium） according to the Naber＇s classification, which includes the following categories： eradication, eradication with superinfection, persistence and persistence with superinfection. The study was conducted in 100 patients aged 25±8 years （range： 20-40 years） with bacterial MAGI and bacterial cultures positive only for E. coil（colony forming units ≥ 106 per ml）. Retrospective analysis was conducted only on patients treated with oral levofloxacin （500 mg） administered once daily for 28 days who were recruited over the last 5 years. Following antibiotic treatment, patients with microbiological persistence or persistence with superinfection had a significantly higher percentage of ultrasound abnormalities suggestive of prostato-vesiculitis （PV） （30.2% and 36.0%, respectively） or prostato-vesiculo-epididymitis （PVE） （60.2% and 70.0%, respectively） compared with patients with microbiological eradication （PV= 10.2% and PVE=8.2%, respectively） or eradication with superinfection （PV= 18.8% and PVE=21.2%, respectively）. In conclusion, patients with microbiological persistence or persistence plus superinfection showed the highest prevalence of complicated forms of MAGI （PV and PVE）, compared with patients with microbiological eradication or eradication with superinfection.

Assessing the reproductive health of men with occupational exposures

The earliest report linking environmental （occupational） exposure to adverse human male reproductive effects dates back to1775 when an English physician, Percival Pott, reported a high incidence of scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps. This observation led to safety regulations in the form of bathing requirements for these workers. The fact that male-mediated reproductive harm in humans may be a result of toxicant exposures did not become firmly established until relatively recently, when Lancranjan studied lead-exposed workers in Romania in 1975, and later in 1977, when Whorton examined the effects of dibromochloropropane （DBCP） on male workers in California. Since these discoveries, several additional human reproductive toxicants have been identified through the convergence of laboratory and observational findings. Many research gaps remain, as the pool of potential human exposures with undetermined effects on male reproduction is vast. This review provides an overview of methods used to study the effects of exposures on male reproduction and their reproductive health, with a primary emphasis on the implementation and interpretation of human studies. Emphasis will be on occupational exposures, although much of the information is also useful in assessing environmental studies, occupational exposures are usually much higher and better defined.

Increased serotonin concentration and tryptophan hydroxylase activity in reproductive organs of copulator males:a case of adaptive plasticity

Individual male rats may systematically display or not copulatory behavior when paired with receptive females. Although these phenotypes are associated with differences in brain organization and function, they might also do so at the level of the reproductive organs. We then used high performance liquid chromatography to quantify serotonin concentration and the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase in the reproductive organs of copulator and non-copulator males. Sexual behavior display was compared between groups and parameters of fertility and reproductive fitness were determined for copulator males. Copulator males had higher concentrations of serotonin in the epididymis, testicle and ventral prostate than their non-copulator counterparts, as it was found for epididymal and testicular tryptophan hydroxylase activity. However, preliminary data shows that serotonin elevation occurs in copulator males only until they have accumulated several sexual encounters, so it might be a response to genital gratification or sexual rewarding. Interestingly, only epididymal serotonin concentration correlated with reproductive fitness, offspring number, mating success and seminal plug volume in copulator males. Our results support that copulator and non-copulator male rats feature a phenotype-specific serotoninergic tone in the epididymis, testicle and ventral prostate gland. The observation documenting that epididymal serotonin concentration correlated with parameters that monitor male fertility and reproductive fitness in copulator males predicts that epididymal factors increase their chances of parenting offspring.

Hybrid intercalated duct lesion of the parotid:A case report

BACKGROUND Intercalated duct lesions(IDLs)are considered relatively benign and rare tumors of salivary glands,that were only described recently.Their histopathological appearance may range from ductal hyperplasia to encapsulated adenoma with hybrid patterns of both variants.It is thought that IDLs may be the precursor for malignant proliferations,therefore their correct diagnosis remains crucial for proper lesion management.It is the first reported IDL case arising from the accessory parotid gland(APG),which stands for less frequent but higher malignancy rate tumor developmental area.CASE SUMMARY A 24-years-old male with no accompanying diseases was referred to the hospital with a painless nodule on the right cheek.On physical examination,the stiff,immobile,and painless mass was palpable in the anterior portion of the right parotideomasseteric region,just superior to the parotid duct.Ultrasound examination demonstrated 1.5 cm×1.0 cm hypoechogenic mass on the anterior part of the right parotid gland.Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology,followed by liquid-based fine needle aspiration biopsy were performed.However,the results were uninformative.A contrast-enhanced magnetic res-onance imaging(MRI)of the parotid was obtained,demonstrating a 1.5 cm×1.0 cm×0.5 cm tumor with high intensity capsule together with low intensity core in the very anterior part of right superficial lobe,situated in the APG.An MRI features were uncharacteristic to common parotid tumors,therefore surgical resection followed up.After histopathological examination,the final diagnosis of hybrid IDL was confirmed.CONCLUSION Fine needle aspiration biopsy might not always be diagnostic,and given the malignant potential,the surgical resection of such lesion remains the treatment of choice.

Urogenital Infections in the Male and Their Implications on Fertility

Male infertility is a clinical manifestation which concerns approximately 15 % of all couples in Europe. Male causes for infertility are found in 50% of involuntarily childless couples. For Germany this counts for a number of an equivalent of 50 000 men/year, No causal factor is found in 60%-75% of cases （idiopathic male infertility）. Nevertheless, reduced male fertility can be the result of congenital and acquired urogenital abnormalities, increased scrotal temperature （varicocele）, endocrine disturbances, genetic abnormalities and immunological factors. Furthermore, urogenital inflammations and infections play an important role. Indications for microbiological assessment include abnormal urine samples, urinary tract infections, prostatitis, epididymitis, orchitis, ejaculate infections and sexually transmitted diseases. In the following review, different infectious diseases of the male urogenital tract and their implications on fertility were reviewed.

Acquired premature ejaculation and male accessory gland infection： relevance of ultrasound examination

We have previously demonstrated a high frequency of premature ejaculation （PE） among patients with male accessory gland infection （MAGI）. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasound （US） features of patients with MAGI and acquired premature ejaculation （APE） associated （MAGI-APEpos）. US evaluation of 50 MAGI-APEpos patients compared to 50 patients with MAGI without PE （MAGI-PEneg） which represent the control group. The diagnosis of APE was made through the evaluation of Intravaginal ejaculation latency time （IELT） and confirmed with the questionnaire PEDT （Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool）. The main outcome measure was represented by the frequency of US criteria suggestive of P （prostatitis）, V （vesiculitis）, and E （epididymitis） in MAGI-APEpos and MAGI-PEneg patients. MAGI-APEpos patients showed a total number of US criteria significantly higher compared to MAGI-PEneg patients. MAGI-APEpos showed a higher frequency of US criteria of V and E （complicated forms of MAGI）. Finally, in MAGI-APEpos group, it was found a positive relationship between the anteroposterior diameter （APD） of the caudal tract of the epididymis and the APD of the seminal vesicles, as well as between both diameters and the PEDT score. MAGI-APEpos patients have a peculiar US characterization compared to MAGI-PEneg patients. According to these results, US evaluation of the epididymal and of the prostato vesicular tract should be considered in the practical clinical approach of patients with MAGI and APE. In particular, it could be a SUDDort for a possible Dathoahysiological interpretation of this clinical problem in these patients.

Juvenile hormone acts on male accessory gland function via regulating L-asparaginase expression and triacylglycerol mobilization in Aedes aegypti

Hormones control the reproductive development of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.The adult male reproductive process and mating behavior require adequate nutrients and energy.Understanding the molecular mechanism linking hormones,energy metabolism,and reproduction in male mosquitoes is important.In this study,we found that the size of the male accessory gland,an essential part of the male reproductive system,gradually increased after eclosion.However,it was significantly reduced in male mosquitoes deficient in methoprene-tolerant(Met),the receptor of juvenile hormone.Likewise,egg hatchability of females that mated with Met-depleted males showed the same downward trend.The mRNA level of the gene encoding accessory gland protein,l-asparaginase(ASNase),was reduced in Met dsRNA-treated males.Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR results revealed that Met was capable of binding directly to the promoter of ASNase and activated its transcription.RNA interference of ASNase in males resulted in the reduction of egg hatchability of the females with which they mated.These results showed that Met influenced the fecundity of male mosquitoes by directly upregulating the expression of the ASNase gene.Moreover,the levels of triacylglycerol and the sizes of lipid droplets were decreased by 72-78 h after eclosion in the fat body cells,whereas both of them increased in Met-depleted male mosquitoes,indicating that Met knockdown reduced lipid catabolism.These data demonstrate that Met might influence the egg hatchability of females by regulating lipid metabolism and the development of the male accessory gland in male mosquitoes.

Male age and strain affect ejaculate quality in the Mexican fruit fly

Aging in all organisms is inevitable. Male age can have profound effects on mating success and female reproduction, yet relatively little is known on the effects of male age on different components of the ejaculate. Furthermore, in mass-reared insects used for the Sterile Insect Technique, there are often behavioral differences between mass-reared and wild males, while differences in the ejaculate have been less studied. The ejaculate in insects is composed mainly of sperm and accessory gland proteins. Here, we studied how male age and strain affected （i） protein quantity of testes and accessory glands, （ii） the biological activity of accessory gland products injected into females, （iii） sperm viability, and （iv） sperm quantity stored by females in wild and mass-reared Anastrepha ludens （Diptera： Tephritidae）. We found lower protein content in testes of old wild males and lower sperm viability in females mated with old wild males. Females stored more sperm when mated to young wild males than with young mass-reared males. Accessory gland injections of old or young males did not inhibit female remating. Knowledge of how male age affects different ejaculate components will aid our understanding on investment of the ejaculate and possible postcopulatory consequences on female behavior.

Comparative morphological study of female internal reproductive system among nine species in the genus Tipula(Diptera: Tipulidae)

Female internal reproductive systems of nine species in the genus Tipula are described and illustrated,namely T.(Beringotipula)amurensis Alexander,1925,T.(Lunatipula)lunata Linnaeus,1758,T.(Lunatipula)submanca Savchenko,1964,T.(Pterelachisus)biaciculifera Alexander,1937,T.(Sivatipula)parvauricula Alexander,1941,T.(Vestiplex)longitudinalis Nielsen,1929,T.(Vestiplex)sternotuberculata Alexander,1935,T.(Yamatotipula)couckei Tonnoir,1921 and T.(Yamatotipula)marginella Theowald,1980.The morphological differences of internal reproductive organs for these species are listed.Additionally,taxonomic potential of some internal reproductive structures are analyzed and discussed.