Computer-assisted sperm analysis parameters in young fertile sperm donors and relationship with age

Sperm parameter values have been shown to decline with age, according to conventional sperm analysis. However, the effect of age on sperm kinematic parameters has been rarely studied, especially in young fertile men. Here, we studied Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) parameters in a large cohort of men with proven fertility, in order to determine if there is a decline with age in this young fertile population. This retrospective analysis of CASA parameters was conducted on all donors included in the sperm donor programme in the Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) Centre of the University Hospital of Nantes between 2006 and 2009. Sperm concentration, motility, and kinetic parameters were recorded by a HTM-Ceros system and compared in 3 groups of sperm donors according to their age:?<35 years, 36–40 years, and 41–44 years. A total of 362 ejaculates from 138 donors were analyzed. Values for ALH, VCL, LIN, and STR significantly decreased with age. Sperm concentration, motile sperm proportion, and other kinetic parameters did not differ significantly among the groups. The use of CASA allowed the identification of ALH, VCL, LIN, and STR age-related decrease in young men with proven fertility.     

558例捐精者染色体核型分析

目的:对558例经初步筛查符合捐精标准者进行外周血淋巴细胞培养和染色体核型分析,探讨对捐精者进行染色体检查的必要性。方法:选择2009年1月～2011年12月河南省人类精子库初筛精液和其他指标合格的558名捐精者,采用外周血细胞培养,制备染色体,G显带后分析核型。结果:558例捐精者中,发现染色体异常32例(5.73%),其中,平衡易位2例,染色体倒位1例,染色体多态性变异29例。结论:初筛合格的捐精者染色体核型分析可避免染色体异常遗传给子代,对于提高辅助生殖成功率,降低遗传病的发病率具有一定的实践意义。     

Immunolocalization of aquaporin 7 in human sperm and its relationship with semen parameters

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of 13 small hydrophobic trans-membrane proteins expressed in numerous tissues and cells. Some AQPs work as strict water channels, others are permeable to a range of substances, including glycerol. In the male reproductive system their localization in testis, efferent ducts, epididymis, and spermatozoa has been described. We studied the distribution of AQP7 in ejaculated human sperm and the relationship between AQP7 labeling and sperm characteristics. Semen samples from 33 men were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM data were quantified using a mathematical formula that calculates a fertility index (FI) and the percentages of sperm apoptosis, immaturity, and necrosis. Immunocytochemistry with a polyclonal antibody anti-AQP7 was performed on the sperm samples. Normal sperm were labeled in the pericentriolar area, midpiece, equatorial segment, and weakly in the tail (grade 1). Abnormal sperm showed a diffuse low intensity of fluorescence evident in the cytoplasmic residues, coiled tails, in the entire head, and acrosome (grade 2). A high number of motile sperm obtained by swim up were labeled in a dotted manner in the mitochondria. A significant positive correlation was found between the spermatozoa with AQP7 grade 1 labeling and the percentage of normal form (P<0.008), progressive motility and FI (P<0.005); a negative correlation was noted with the percentages of cytoplasmic residues (P<0.010) and immaturity (P<0.006) and coiled tails (P<0.012). The link between AQP7 distribution and sperm morphology and the particular dotted labeling in swim up selected motile sperm are novel and deserve additional studies.     

精液白细胞与精子运动参数关系的研究

目的:探讨精液白细胞与精子运动参数关系。方法:234例不育患者,采用精子自动分析系统分析精子运动参数,采用联苯胺法分析精液白细胞。结果:白细胞精子症组精子运动参数VCL、VSL、VAP均显著低于非白细胞精子症组,两组比较差异有显著性(P<0.001,P<0.001,P<0.001);白细胞精子症组MAD、BCF显著高于非细胞精子症,两组比较差异亦有显著性(P<0.001,P<0.001)。精液白细胞与VCL、VSL、VAP均呈显著负相关(r=-0.368,P<0.001;r=-0.362,P<0.001;r=-0.359,P<0.001),与MAD、BCF均呈显著正相关(r=0.134;P<0.05,r=0.210,P<0.001)。结论:精液白细胞可影响精子运动参数。     

Zinc levels in seminal plasma are associated with sperm quality in fertile and infertile men

Zinc has antioxidative properties and plays an important role in scavenging reactive oxygen species. We hypothesized that in the absence of Zn, the possibility of increased oxidative damage exists that would contribute to poor sperm quality. Therefore, measurement of seminal Zn in the seminal plasma of males with a history of subfertility or idiopathic infertility is necessary and can be helpful in fertility assessment. The primary objective of the present study was to assess the relationship between Zn levels in seminal plasma with sperm quality in fertile and infertile men. Semen samples were provided by fertile (smoker [n = 17], nonsmoker [n = 19]) and infertile men (smoker [n = 15], nonsmoker [n = 21]). After semen analysis, concentrations of Zn, Mg, Ca, Na, and K in the seminal plasma of all groups were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Element concentrations in seminal plasma of all groups were in the order Na > K > Ca > Zn > Mg. Fertile subjects, smoker or not, demonstrated significantly higher seminal Zn levels than any infertile group (P < .001). A trend was observed for a lower Zn levels in seminal plasma of smokers compared with nonsmokers. Seminal Zn in fertile and infertile (smokers or nonsmokers) males correlated significantly with sperm count (P < .01) and normal morphology of sperm (P < .001). There was a significantly positive correlation between seminal Zn with Ca (P < .01) and K (P < .01) levels in all specimens. In conclusion, poor Zn nutrition may be an important risk factor for low quality of sperm and idiopathic male infertility.     

生育和不育男性精液维生素B12、叶酸、活性氧和精子质量的比较

为了探讨精液维生素B     

生育和不育男性精液维生素B_(12)、叶酸、活性氧和精子质量的比较

为了探讨精液维生素 B1 2 (VB1 2 )、叶酸和活性氧 (ROS)对精子质量和生殖功能的影响。收集成年男性不育者 44名 (不育组 )和经证实配偶已怀孕的健康成年男性 176名 (生育组 )的精液 ,根据 WHO推荐方法检测精子质量指标 ,并测定精液 VB1 2 、叶酸和 ROS水平。结果显示二组 VB1 2 和叶酸没有显著性差异 (P>0 .0 5 ) ,不育组 ROS和形态异常精子都显著高于生育组 (P<0 .0 1) ,ROS与精子形态异常呈正相关 (P<0 .0 1) ,VB1 2 和叶酸与 ROS均呈负相关 (P<0 .0 1)。结论认为精液 ROS升高 ,可能促使精子形态异常 ,从而影响男性生殖功能。     

Danish sperm donors and the ethics of donation and selection

There has been a great deal of discussion about the ethical implications of donating sperm and of the ways in which donated tissue is presented, selected, and sold for use in assisted reproduction. Debates have emerged within the academic sphere, from donor offspring and recipients, and in broader popular culture, including questions about the commodification of human tissue and the eugenic potential of selecting donors from particular demographic categories. However, the voices of donors themselves on this subject have been largely silent. This paper draws on data from qualitative interviews with men who donated at a major Danish sperm bank between 2012 and 2013. It argues that many of them are indeed thinking through these complex issues. Donors’ approaches to ethical issues fell into two broad ‘types’: a pragmatic, individualistic approach which focused on more immediate personal consequences, and an ethically-driven approach in which donors considered the impact of donation on offspring and on a wider societal level.     

Computer-assisted evaluation and analysis of bacteriologic findings

A computer-aided information system was developed for registration and analysis of microbiological findings. The base of the system is a microcomputer with a 16-bit-processor and a hard disc ensuring the analysis of a great number of material. Besides the printing of bacteriological findings for the senders detailed questions can be analysed to give informations about the distribution and frequency of bacterial species in certain specimens, about the bacterial resistance in dependence on a definite time and about the choice of combinations of chemotherapeutics as well as the existence of multiple resistances.     

精子核成熟度与精子形态的关系

目的:研究精子核成熟度与精子形态关系,探讨精子形态异常机制。方法:收集55例精液样本,其中生育组19例,畸形精子症组36例。应用CASA分析精子密度、活力,伊红染色检测精子活率,联苯胺染色分析精液白细胞浓度,改良巴氏染色分析精子形态,苯胺蓝染色法评价精子核成熟度。结果:畸形精子症组苯胺蓝染色阳性率显著高于生育组(P<0.05)。头部异常、颈部异常、尾部异常、无定型、其它畸形精子组苯胺蓝染色阳性率显著高于形态正常精子组苯胺蓝染色阳性率(P<0.05)。结论:精子核成熟异常可导致精子形态异常。     

形态正常精子百分率与顶体酶活性的关系

目的:探讨精子形态与精子顶体酶活性的关系。方法:对737例男性不育患者采用分光光度比色法测定顶体酶活性,采用精子形态检测系统下人工修正方法分析精子形态。结果:精子形态正常组的顶体酶活性明显高于精子形态异常组,两组间比较差异显著(P<0.05);顶体酶活性正常组形态正常精子百分率明显高于顶体酶活性异常组形态正常精子百分率,两组间比较差异亦具有显著性(P<0.001);顶体酶活性与形态正常精子百分率间呈显著正相关关系(r=0.172,P<0.001)。结论:精子形态可影响精子顶体酶活性。     

吸烟对精子DNA完整性、精子参数的影响

目的:探讨吸烟对精子DNA完整性、精子参数的影响。方法:调查191例男性不育患者的吸烟情况,采用吖啶橙荧光染色后检测精子DNA完整性,计算机自动分析精子密度与活力,精子形态检测系统下人工修正方法进行精子形态分析。结果:吸烟组精子活力显著低于不吸烟组(P<0.05),精子密度和形态低于不吸烟组,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。吸烟组精子DNA完整率异常例数显著高于不吸烟组(χ2=5.393,P<0.05),精子DNA完整率异常组精子密度显著低于精子DNA完整率正常组(P<0.05),精子DNA完整率异常组的精子活力、形态与正常组相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:吸烟影响精子DNA完整率;精子DNA完整率异常与精子参数异常相关;吸烟可能通过影响精子DNA完整性影响精子参数。     

Cancer mortality and age: relationship with dietary fat

Highly significant correlations exist between total cancer mortality and age expressed by a log total cancer mortality-log age equation (mean r2 0.991 in men and 0.996 in women) or by a second-order polynomial equation including age and age2 (mean r2 0.999 in men and 0.998 in women). In all countries considered (n = 32), the second-order term of age is negative, indicating a decrease in the rate of rise of log cancer mortality at older age. This could be explained by a lesser accuracy of the diagnosis of cancer at older age, by selective survival of subjects resistant to cancer, by a cohort effect, or by a decrease in the rate of growth of cancer at older age. The decrease in the rate of rise of cancer mortality after 65 years of age occurs in all countries and applies to nearly all cancers except breast cancer in women after 75 years of age. A high cancer mortality in a country is characterized by a low intercept and a steep slope of the log mortality-log age equation. These parameters are influenced by dietary fat intake in men and women, with saturated fat increasing total cancer mortality and the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat and the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fat decreasing it. The data on dietary fat were obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) food balance sheets (n = 32) and from dietary surveys (n = 21). Both vary in the same direction, but only the dietary data from the FAO correlate significantly with cancer mortality. This finding points toward a relationship between the level of dietary fat intake and total cancer mortality at the population level.     

Computer-assisted method of representation of sperm movement in the evaluation of the quality of ejaculate

The paper describes computer-aided processing of video images of mobile biological objects in view of forming tracks and of evaluating their individual kinetic characteristics. The proposed processing procedure allows one avoid lower information quality associated with resultant image contract reduction when combining video frames are summarized and the signal/ratio decreases.     

中青年脑梗死患者同型半胱氨酸的检测及其与病情的关系

目的 探讨同型半胱氨酸(Homocysteine,Hcy)与中青年脑梗死患者及其病情的相关性.方法 共纳入85例经头颅MRI/CT证实的中青年脑梗死患者,同时从门诊随机抽取90例无动脉粥样硬化病史的人群作为对照组.入院24 h内行美国国立卫生院神经功能缺损评分(The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale,NIHSS).采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清HCY水平.结果 与正常对照组相比,中青年脑梗死患者的Hcy水平明显增高,差异比较有统计意义(P＜0.05);中青年脑梗死患者诊断为HH的例数亦高于对照组,差异比较有统计意义(P＜0.05).进一步行血清Hcy水平与病情的关系分析结果显示,随着NIHSS评分的严重程度的增加,血清Hcy水平亦随之升高,呈正相关,相关系数为0.92 (P＜ 0.05);随着NIHSS评分的严重程度的增加,诊断为HH的患者比例亦随之升高,但差异比较无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 血清Hcy水平与中青年脑梗死的发生存在密切相关性,且可以反映脑梗死灶的大小及病情的严重程度.血清Hcy水平与脑梗死的病情呈明显正相关关系.对该类患者的血清Hcy水平需要进行严格的控制,可能降低中青年脑梗死的发生率并改善预后.     

Blood magnesium parameters do not differ with age

The relationship between age and blood magnesium (Mg) parameters has not been defined. Mg measurements in plasma, red blood cells (RBCs), and mononuclear blood cells (MBCs) were made in 104 normal volunteers (43 males and 61 females, ages 11-75 years). MBCs were separated from blood using a discontinuous Ficoll-Hypaque gradient. The mean values (+/- SEM) were as follows: plasma Mg 1.63 +/- 0.01 mEq/L, RBC Mg 4.55 +/- 0.06 mEq/L, MBC Mg content 72.8 +/- 1.0 fg/cell, and MBC Mg concentration 19.6 +/- 0.3 mEq/L. We compared these parameters with age (intervals of 10 years) using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and found no significant differences (p greater than 0.05). Thus, plasma, RBC, and MBC Mg parameters do not vary significantly between the ages of 11 and 75 years.     

Seroprevalence to some torch agents in a sicilian female population of fertile age

The seroprevalence to Toxoplasma gondii (41.1%), rubella virus (88.2%), cytomegalovirus (86.0%), and herpes simplex virus (80.0%) has been evaluated in fertile women living in Catania (Sicily). The population group studied was divided into four age groups to quantify the risk of primary infection in each age group.     

2108例育龄妇女细菌性阴道病相关因素分析

目的分析育龄妇女细菌性阴道病的阴道分泌物检测结果及相关因素。方法选择2010年1月至2012年1月来郑州市第三人民医院就诊的2108例育龄妇女,采用唾液酸酶法检测细菌性阴道病(bacterial vaginosis,BV)的阴道分泌物,回顾性分析其检测结果。结果本组共654例BV检测阳性,阳性率为31.02%,其中20～30岁患者BV阳性率明显高于其他年龄段,4～6月和7～9月BV阳性率明显高于其他月份,文化程度越高,BV阳性率越低,BV阳性患者伴发的霉菌和滴虫感染率明显高于BV阴性患者,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 BV的发生与季节、年龄以及文化程度密切相关,注意性生活以及卫生习惯,同时加强保健知识的宣传,对于降低BV的感染率具有积极的作用。