Frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions and chromosomal abnormalities in infertile Thai men with oligozoospermia and azoospermia

Aim： To investigate the possible causes of oligozoospermia and azoospermia in infertile Thai men, and to find the frequencies of Y chromosome microdeletions and cytogenetic abnormalities in this group. Methods： From June 2003 to November 2005, 50 azoospermic and 80 oligozoospermic men were enrolled in the study. A detailed history was taken for each man, followed by general and genital examinations. Y chromosome microdeletions were detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction （PCR） using 11 gene-specific primers that covered all three regions of the azoospermic factor （AZFa, AZFb and AZFc）. Fifty men with normal semen analysis were also studied. Karyotyping was done with the standard G- and Q-banding. Serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone （FSH）, luteinizing hormone （LH）, prolactin （PRL） and testosterone were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassays （ECLIA）. Results： Azoospermia and oligozoospermia could be explained by previous orchitis in 22.3%, former bilateral cryptorchidism in 19.2%, abnormal karyotypes in 4.6% and Y chromosome microdeletions in 3.8% of the subjects. The most frequent deletions were in the AZFc region （50%）, followed by AZFb （33%） and AZFbc （17%）. No significant difference was detected in hormonal profiles of infertile men, with or without microdeletions. Conclusion： The frequencies of Y chromosome microdeletions and cytogenetic abnormalities in oligozoospermic and azoospermic Thai men are comparable with similarly infertile men from other Asian and Western countries.

Repeated vitrification/warming of human sperm gives better results than repeated slow programmable freezing

In this study, we compared the effects of repeated freezing/thawing of human sperm by our in-house method of rapid freezing with slow programmable freezing. Sperm samples from 11 normozoospermic subjects were processed through density gradients and divided into three aliquots： non-frozen, rapid freezing and slow programmable freezing. Sperm in the rapid freezing group had better motility and viability than those in the slow freezing group （P〈O.01） after the first, second and third cycles of freezing/thawing, but there was no difference in morphology. In the second experiment, rapid freezing was repeated three times in 20 subjects. The samples from each thawing cycle were evaluated for DNA fragmentation using the alkaline comet assay. DNA fragmentation began to increase considerably after the second cycle of freezing/thawing, but to a level that was not clinically important. In the third experiment, rapid freezing was done repeatedly in 10 subjects, until no motile sperm were observed after thawing. The median number of repeated freezing/thawing that yielded no motile sperm was seven （range： 5-8, mean： 6.8）. In conclusion, we demonstrated that repeated freezing/thawing of processed semen using our rapid freezing method gave better results than standard slow programmable freezing. This method can help maximize the usage of precious cryopreserved sperm samples in assisted reproduction technology.

DNA damage in exfoliated buccal cells and antioxidant status of saliva in brain tumour patients

The present investigation was carried out in exfoliated buccal cells and saliva collected from pre-operative brain tumour patients. The DNA damage in these cells was assessed by alkaline comet assay and micronucleus (MN) assay. Salivary flow rate, pH, osmolality, total antioxidant activity (AOA) and vitamin C levels were also assessed in unstimulated whole saliva of these patients. In the comet assay a significant increase in the tail length (P<0.02) was observed when control and malignant groups were compared. A significant (P<0.02) difference in tail length was also noted between benign and malignant groups. Non significant results were found when control and benign groups were compared. Further, a marked increase in % MN (P<0.002) was observed when control and benign groups were compared. A significant increase in % MN (P<0.029) was also observed in benign cases when compared to malignant tumours. No significance was obtained when % MN in control and malignant cases was compared. Moreover, salivary flow rate and pH was significantly decreased and osmolality was markedly increased in brain tumour patients. The AOA levels in saliva were markedly decreased in brain tumours and vitamin C levels exhibited no change when compared to controls. Thus, as noted above susceptibility to free radical induced DNA damage also exists in the exfoliated buccal cells conducive to the lowered salivary antioxidant status of brain tumour patients.

应对辅助生殖技术中的风险安全管理挑战:一种积极性方案

医学各专业在安全保障方面远落后于其他行业,借助于辅助生殖技术的不育诊疗概莫能外。航空业多年来所开发实施的安全风险管理(RSM)让如今的全球航空安全上升到了一个卓越的水平,而将它们的技术经验应用到医学行业,相信将会在医疗效能和安全上带来极大的助益。本文描述了在不育和辅助生殖技术领域贯彻实施这类RSM的依据,而这一特殊的医学专业领域有望成为在整个医学行业实施RSM的试验田。

Cryptogenic liver cirrhosis diagnosed in pregnancy and khat consumption

We report a case of cryptogenic liver cirrhosis likely due to khat consumption diagnosed in the setting of chronic hypertension and giving the appearance of atypical superimposed preeclampsia.

促排卵和宫腔内人工受精的简化治疗:依据及临床决策

It is not always possible to develop a well-powered, randomized contro lled tr ial (RCT) that will control for all possible variables to compare various treatm ent protocols. In the absence of evidence, it is reasonable to rely on physiolog ic principles, empiric observation, and, when possible, the results of an RCT to evaluate critical parts of a treatment protocol. On the basis of these principl es, it is clear that a single IUI after mild superovulation done anywhere betwee n 32 and 40 hours after hCG administration is an effective if not an efficacious treatment for idiopathic or mild male factor infertility.

体外受精中的妊娠结局随周期数增加而下降至一个平台

Clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and implantation rate (IR) in 1,177 patients who had 1,788 fresh, nondonor, non PGD IVF cycles were highest in cycle 1, significantly declined in cycle 2, and reached a plateau for cycles 3-5 at a rate lower than in cycle 2. In patients >38 years of age CPR and IR in cycles 1 and 2 were significantly lower than in younger patients, but there was no decline in CPR or IR with advancing IVF attempts.

Molecular identification of a pancreatic lipase-like gene involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis of Bombyx mori

Cytoplasmic lipid droplet （LD） lipolysis is regulated by pheromone biosynthe- sis activating neuropeptide （PBAN） in Bombyx mori. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of cytoplasm LD lipolysis, the pancreatic lipase-like gene in B. mori pheromone glands （PGs）, designated as B. mori pancreatic lipase-like gene （BmPLLG）, was identified in this study. Spatial expression analysis revealed that BmPLLG is a ubiquitous gene present in all studied tissues, such as PGs, brain, epidermis, egg, midgut, flight muscle and fat body. Temporal expression analysis showed that the BmPLLG transcript begins to express 96 h before eclosion （-96 h）, continues to increase, peaks in newly emerged females and steadily decreases after eclosion. Translational expression analysis of BmPLLG using a prepared antiserum demonstrated that BmPLLG was expressed in an age-dependent pat- tern at different development stages in B. mori. This finding was similar to the transcript expression pattern. Further RNA interference-mediated knockdown of BmPLLG signifi- cantly inhibited bombykol production. Overall, these results demonstrated that BmPLLG is involved in PBAN-induced sex pheromone biosynthesis and release.