Old age security and the defense of social norms

This paper identifies various kinds of risk and uncertainty observable in rural areas of developing countries and explains the relative importance of those pertaining to disability and old age. It compares the modern system (based on old age pensions and social security) for mitigating or coping with these risks with the traditional intrafamilial support mechanisms. The paper concludes that, when the traditional system is functioning smoothly, it can address these needs at far lower cost than the modern system. The efficiency and viability of the traditional system can be considerably enhanced by the presence of social norms, on the one hand, and of strategic instruments in the hands of household heads, on the other. Since both of these defenses are often undermined prematurely by modernizing influences, the paper identifies possible actions for avoiding or postponing the effects of such influences.The author expresses his appreciation to Richard Anker, Mussadegh Chowdhury, Richard Easterlin, Jeremy Evans and one of the editors for useful comments and suggestions and to the US Agency for International Development for financial support for some earlier research upon which this paper is partially based.     

Disruption of male reproductive tract development by administration of the xenoestrogen, nonylphenol, to male newborn rats

Nonylphenol (NP) treatment of neonatal male rat pups decreased the size of their testes, epididymis, seminal vesicle, and ventral prostate, and increased the frequency of cryptorchidism (60.7%, n=56 vs 0% in vehicle-treated control, n=58) when examined at 31 d of age. NP effects are dose-dependent. These effects were only seen when NP was given at ≥0.8 mg/kg daily for 15 d. There is a critical period of vulnerability to NP during male reproductive development in the neonatal stage. Changes were found when NPs were given to male pups before 13 d of age, but not when given at ≥13 d of age. NP acts on the male reproductive tissues through the estrogen receptor (ER), since concomitant treatment with ICI 182,780, a specific ER antagonist, blocked NP’s effects on the testis and male accessory organs. NP-treated males in the neonatal period had greatly reduced their subsequent capacity to impregnate young fertile females. Our results suggest that exposure of neonatal male rats to NP is potentially deleterious to their reproductive development and affects their reproductive performance.     

Measuring Knowledge of Fertility Preservation in Women With Cystic Fibrosis: Instrument Development and Psychometric Analysis

ObjectiveTo describe the development, evaluation, and psychometric properties of a new instrument that measures fertility preservation (FP) knowledge in women with cystic fibrosis (CF) titled the Knowledge of FP in Women With CF Instrument (KFP-WCFI).DesignThe 10-item KFP-WCFI was developed and evaluated through a cross-sectional survey.SettingParticipants were recruited nationally from CF Foundation–accredited CF clinics and via snowball sampling.ParticipantsFifty women with CF ages 18 through 35 years completed the instrument.MeasurementsConstruct validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In the CFA, the model fit was evaluated using standardized root mean square residual, root mean square error of approximation, and comparative fit index. Cronbach’s alpha was used to examine internal consistency reliability. The criterion validity was assessed using inferential statistics.ResultsThe CFA with two subscales, General Fertility Knowledge and Transplant-Related Fertility Knowledge, demonstrated good fit, with a standardized root mean square residual of 0.07, root mean square error of approximation of 0.06, and comparative fit index of 0.97, indicating good construct validity of the instrument. This instrument demonstrated internal consistency reliability with a Cronbach’s alpha of .91 for the General Fertility Knowledge subscale and .64 for the Transplant-Related Fertility Knowledge subscale. Women who reported a pregnancy scored higher than women who did not report a pregnancy (p = .02), suggesting criterion validity.ConclusionThe newly developed KFP-WCFI appears to be a valid and reliable instrument that can be used to measure self-assessed FP knowledge in women with CF.     

Polygenic expression of teratozoospermia and normal fertility in B10.MOL‐TEN1 mouse strain

Subfertility and infertility are two major reproductive health problems in human and domestic animals. The contribution of the genotype to these conditions is poorly understood. To examine the genetic basis of male subfertility, we analyzed its relationship to sperm morphology in B10.MOL‐TEN1 mice, which shows high‐frequencies (about 50%) of morphologically abnormal sperm. Drastic histological changes were also found in the testis of the B10.MOL‐TEN1. Segregation analysis showed that the abnormal sperm phenotype in B10.MOL‐TEN1 was inherited and was predictably controlled by at least three loci. We also found that male fertility of this strain was normal. These findings indicate a complicated relationship between sperm morphology and male subfertility.     

Negative biomarker-based male fertility evaluation: sperm phenotypes associated with molecular-level anomalies

Biomarker-based sperm analysis elevates the treatment of human infertility and ameliorates reproductive performance in livestock. The negative biomarker-based approach focuses on proteins and ligands unique to defective spermatozoa, regardless of their morphological phenotype, lending itself to analysis by flow cytometry (FC). A prime example is the spermatid specific thioredoxin SPTRX3/TXNDC8, retained in the nuclear vacuoles and superfluous cytoplasm of defective human spermatozoa. Infertile couples with high semen SPTRX3 are less likely to conceive by assisted reproductive therapies (ART) and more prone to recurrent miscarriage while low SPTRX3 has been associated with multiple ART births. Ubiquitin, a small, proteolysis-promoting covalent posttranslational protein modifier is found on the surface of defective posttesticular spermatozoa and in the damaged protein aggregates, the aggresomes of spermiogenic origin. Semen ubiquitin content correlates negatively with fertility and conventional semen parameters, and with sperm binding of lectins LCA (Lens culinaris agglutinin; reveals altered sperm surface) and PNA (Arachis hypogaea/peanut agglutinin; reveals acrosomal malformation or damage). The Postacrosomal Sheath WWI Domain Binding Protein (PAWP), implicated in oocyte activation during fertilization, is ectopic or absent from defective human and animal spermatozoa. Consequently, FC-parameters of PAWP correlate with ART outcomes in infertile couples and with fertility in bulls. Assays based on the above biomarkers have been combined into multiplex FC semen screening protocols, and the surface expression of lectins and ubiquitin has been utilized to develop nanoparticle-based bull semen purification method validated by field artificial insemination trials. These advances go hand-in-hand with the innovation of FC-technology and genomics/proteomics-based biomarker discovery.     

Perception of sexuality and fertility in women living with HIV: a questionnaire study from two Nordic countries

Introduction

As the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive population ages, issues concerning sexuality and fertility, among others, are becoming relevant. HIV is still surrounded by stigma and taboos, and there have been few studies conducted in industrialized settings concerning these questions. We therefore wanted to investigate the perception of sexuality and fertility in women living with HIV (WLWH) in an industrialized setting, using a questionnaire.

Methods

WLWH were recruited at their regular outpatient clinic visits, at the major Departments of Infectious Diseases in Denmark and Finland, from January 2012 to October 2013. A questionnaire was developed, study participants were informed of the nature of study and, if they agreed to participate and signed a consent form, they filled in the questionnaire. Demographic information on the participants was obtained from patient files (in Finland) or from a national HIV cohort (in Denmark). Statistical analysis was performed using STATA^®, version 11.

Results

In total, 560 women were included in the study. The median age was 44 years. The majority were of white European origin, with fully suppressed HIV viral load, CD4 cell count >350 µL and mild or no symptoms of their HIV infection. A total of 62% were sexually active, stating condom use as their sole form of contraception. Of the sexually inactive women, one-third were in steady relationships. Eighty percent reported prior pregnancies, of which the majority had one or more children. Most children were born prior to the women''s HIV diagnosis and the mode of conception was predominantly natural. One-quarter of the participating women desired pregnancy, while more than half did not. The remaining quarter either stated that they already had the desired number of children or chose not to answer the question. Fourteen percent stated that their HIV diagnosis ended their wish for children; of these women, the median time of diagnosis was between 1995 and 1996. Pregnancy had been attempted unsuccessfully in one-quarter of study participants. The final question inquired what the risk of mother-to-child transmission was, with all precautions taken. Fifteen percent estimated the risk to be above two percent.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the majority of WLWH in industrialized settings in Denmark and Finland have few HIV-related symptoms, are sexually active and have a strong desire for children.     

旋毛虫肌幼虫寄生时间对其感染力的影响

目的研究旋毛虫肌幼虫寄生时间对其感染力的影响。方法人工消化收集旋毛虫幼虫,35只昆明小鼠每只口饲30条幼虫。感染鼠随机分为6组,分笼喂养,分别于感染后至1、2、4、6、8、10个月,用同样方法收集幼虫;另取10只健康小鼠,每只口饲30条幼虫。感染鼠于2个月后全部断颈处死,取胴体称重,取膈肌镜检,消化收集小鼠体内全部旋毛虫幼虫,计算生殖力指数(RCI)、每克组织肌幼虫数(LPG)。结果感染后2个月,5只小鼠RCI和LPG分别为108.17和181.59,134.17和189.86,114.17和181.12,121.80和198.05,146.13和186.32。感染后4、6、8个月,旋毛虫RCI和LPG逐渐降低。各组小鼠RCI和LPG差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论旋毛虫感染力随寄生时间变化,感染后2个月达高峰,之后随寄生时间的延长,感染力逐渐下降。     

Environmental mercury exposure,semen quality and reproductive hormones in Greenlandic Inuit and European men: a cross-sectional study

Several animal studies indicate that mercury is a male reproductive toxicant, but human studies are few and contradictory. We examined semen characteristics and serum levels of reproductive hormones in relation to environmental exposure to mercury. Blood and semen samples were collected from 529 male partners of pregnant women living in Greenland, Poland and Ukraine between May 2002 and February 2004. The median concentration of the total content of mercury in whole blood was 9.2 ng ml⁻¹ in Greenland (0.2–385.8 ng ml⁻¹), 1.0 ng ml⁻¹ in Poland (0.2–6.4 ng ml⁻¹) and 1.0 ng ml⁻¹ in Ukraine (0.2–4.9 ng ml⁻¹). We found a significantly positive association between the blood levels of mercury and serum concentration of inhibin B in men from Greenland (β=0.074, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.021 to 0.126) and in an analysis including men from all three regions (β=0.067, 95% CI=0.024 to 0.110). The association may be due to beneficial effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are contained in seafood and fish. No significant association (P>0.05) was found between blood concentrations of mercury and any of the other measured semen characteristics (semen volume, total sperm count, sperm concentration, morphology and motility) and reproductive hormones (free androgen index (FAI), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and LH×testosterone) in any region. In conclusion, the findings do not provide evidence that environmental mercury exposure in Greenlandic and European men with median whole blood concentration up to 10 ng ml⁻¹ has adverse effects on biomarkers of male reproductive health.     

胞浆小滴可能是精子运动和正常精子形成的标志

哺乳动物生精过程后期精细胞胞浆脱落后,有一个微小部分经常会残留于精子鞭毛上,被称为胞浆小滴。胞浆小滴被认为在精子体积的调整中起到重要作用。然而,我们观察到含有胞浆小滴的精子大多显示出运动活力,而不含有胞浆小滴的精子则鲜有运动活力,说明在附睾成熟过程中胞浆小滴的存在对精子运动起重要作用。在本研究中,我们分析了小鼠及猴的精子在附睾成熟期间含有及不含有胞浆小滴的精子运动能力获得的关系,以及胞浆小滴在精子尾部位置的改变的关系。我们也检测了3种晚期精子生成缺陷基因敲除小鼠的精子胞浆小滴。我们的数据显示胞浆小滴是暂时存在于附睾精子上的正常附属器官,正常的胞浆小滴形态及位置与精子附睾成熟过程中正常的运动能力形成相关。胞浆小滴的异常形成,胞浆小滴的缺失或者异常的胞浆小滴预示着精子形成缺陷。如果胞浆小滴是精子运动形成的基础,那么胞浆小滴可以成为非激素类男性避孕药的理想的药物靶点。     

Sperm speed is associated with sex bias of siblings in a human population

Recent studies investigating possible causes of male subfertility have largely focused on how lifestyle or environmental factors impact on the process of spermatogenesis. Markedly, fewer studies have investigated those risk factors that result in reduced sperm quality, such as poor sperm motility. The speed at which sperm swim is a major predictor of fertility and is extremely variable in human populations. It has been hypothesized that offspring sex may be adaptively manipulated to maximize the offspring''s reproductive fitness (e.g., parents with genes for good male fertility traits, such as high sperm speed, would produce primarily sons and fewer daughters because the offspring will inherit advantageous male fertility genes). Conversely, parents with poor male fertility genes would produce primarily daughters. We tested whether there was an association between how fast a man''s sperm swam and the sex bias of his siblings in a sample of men attending clinic for fertility investigations with their partner and with a wide range of semen characteristics, including sperm speed. We found that the sex bias of a man''s siblings is associated with his sperm speed; men with female-biased siblings had significantly slower sperm (judged using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA)) than men from male-biased sibships. This observation suggests family composition is an important factor that needs to be considered in future epidemiological and clinical studies of human fertility.