Body mass index in relation to semen quality and reproductive hormones among 1,558 Danish men

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and semen quality among young men from the general population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Danish young men were approached when they attended a compulsory physical examination to determine their fitness for military service. PATIENT(S): From 1996-1998, 1,558 (19%) young men (mean age 19 years) volunteered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Semen volume (in milliliters), sperm concentration (in million per milliliter), percentage of motile spermatozoa, percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology, total sperm count (in million), and testis size (in milliliters). In addition, serum reproductive hormones were measured. RESULT(S): Serum T, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and inhibin B all decreased with increasing BMI, whereas free androgen index and E(2) increased with increasing BMI. Serum FSH was higher among slim men. After control for confounders, men with a BMI <20 kg/m(2) had a reduction in sperm concentration and total sperm count of 28.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.3%-47.9%) and 36.4% (95% CI 14.6%-58.3%), respectively, and men with a BMI >25 kg/m(2) had a reduction in sperm concentration and total sperm count of 21.6% (95% CI 4.0%-39.4%) and 23.9% (95% CI 4.7%-43.2%), respectively, compared to men with BMI between 20-25 kg/m(2). Percentages of normal spermatozoa were reduced, although not significantly, among men with high or low BMI. Semen volume and percentage of motile spermatozoa were not affected by BMI. CONCLUSION(S): High or low BMI was associated with reduced semen quality. It remains to be seen whether the increasing occurrence of obesity in the Western world may contribute to an epidemic of poor semen quality registered in some of the same countries. If so, some cases of subfertility may be preventable.     

Effects of a Korean herbal formulation, Silsosangami, consisting of seven medicinal herbs, and its seven herbs on endotoxin-induced experimental thrombosis in rats

A traditional Korean medicine, Silsosangami (SSG), consisting of seven different herbs of Typhae Pollen, Pteropi Faeces, Paeoniae Radicis rubra, Cnidii Rhizoma, Persicae Semen, Carthami Flos and Curcumae Tuber, has been reported to have a hypolipidemic effect in human subjects. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of SSG on a thrombosis in rats, induced by endotoxin treatment were examined. The anti-thrombic properties of SSG were also investigated with respect to blood parameters. The extracts of SSG and five of the seven herbs, except Cnidii Rhizoma and Carthami Flos, inhibited both endotoxin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and thrombosis in rats. The extract also inhibited the endotoxin-induced decrease in blood platelets and fibrinogen, and the endotoxin-induced increase in fibrin degradation products (FDP) on disseminated intravascular coagulation in normal rats. In conclusion, the artificially induced, protective effects of SSG on ischemic infarction might be related to their inhibitory effects on DIC, platelet coagulation and thrombotic action.     

Lack of standardization in performance of the semen analysis among laboratories in the United States

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of standardization in performance of the semen analysis among clinical laboratories in the United States.DESIGN: A survey was mailed to laboratories requesting information about the laboratory and performance of the semen analysis. Responses were received from 536 laboratories.SETTING: Clinical laboratories enrolled in the American Association of Bioanalysts Andrology Proficiency Testing Program.PATIENT(S): None.INTERVENTION(S): None.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Agreement among laboratories.RESULT(S): Sixty-one percent of respondent laboratories were part of an assisted reproductive technology program. The laboratories perform less than 50 (53%), less than 10 (25%), or less than 5 (16%) andrology laboratory procedures per month. The laboratories routinely report sperm count (94% of laboratories), motility (95%), morphology (85%) and forward progression (69%), and semen volume (96%) as part of the semen analysis. Only 64% of laboratories routinely report abstinence, and 60% of laboratories indicate the criteria used for sperm morphology on the report form. The most common lower limits of normality for sperm count and motility were >20 x 10(6)/mL (77% of laboratories) and >50% (59% of laboratories), respectively. Few laboratories performed quality control for sperm counts (29%), motility (41%), and morphology (41%).CONCLUSION(S): These data indicate a significant lack of standardization in the performance and reporting of semen analyses among laboratories in the United States.     

风湿马钱片药物配伍规律的研究

目的:研究风湿马钱片配伍对主要化学成分,药效作用的影响,综合分析该方的配伍规律。方法:采用5因素2水平正交互交设计,HPLC法测定各配伍组主要成分,肉芽肿和耳肿胀抗炎实验检测配伍组药效作用。结果:各配伍组合中,ABD(马钱子 僵蚕 麻黄 全蝎 苍术 甘草),E(乳香 没药)这两个配伍组对小鼠肉芽肿和耳肿胀均有抑制作用。其中,对肉芽肿的抑制作用顺序为E>ABD;对耳肿胀的抑制作用顺序为ABD>E。结论:试验初步显示风湿马钱片方中臣、佐、使药对君药马钱子作用与毒性有着显著影响。     

葶苈子水提液对动物实验性心室重构的影响

目的研究葶苈子水提液对异丙肾上腺素(ISO)诱发小鼠,L-甲状腺素(L-Thy)诱发大鼠实验性心室重构的影响。方法小鼠每天scISO2mg/kg,连续7d;大鼠每天ipL-Thy0.3mg/kg,连续10d,制备心室重构动物模型。各组小鼠每天ig葶苈子水提液6、12g/kg和美托洛尔0.06g/kg,连续7d后,检测心脏指数、血浆环磷酸腺苷(cAMP)、心肌血管紧张素(Ang)量的变化;各组大鼠每天ig葶苈子水提液4、8g/kg和卡托普利0.02g/kg10d后,检测心脏指数、血浆中醛固酮(ALD)及左心肌Ang、羟脯氨酸(Hyp)量的变化。结果模型小鼠的心脏指数、cAMP、Ang量均明显升高,给予美托洛尔0.06g/kg或葶苈子水提液12g/kg均可抑制小鼠左心室重构和肥厚,降低心脏指数和血清cAMP水平及心肌Ang的量(P<0.05)。模型大鼠也出现心肌纤维化,心脏指数、心肌Ang、血浆ALD、心肌Hyp量均明显升高,给予卡托普利0.02g/kg或葶苈子水提液4、8g/kg均可降低大鼠心脏指数和Ang、ALD及心肌Hyp水平(P<0.05)。结论葶苈子水提液具有抑制实验动物心肌肥大、心室重构的作用,其作用机制可能与抑制交感神经系统兴奋性及抑制Ang、ALD等神经内分泌因子激活有关。     

精浆中催乳素(PRL)时间分辨免疫荧光测定的临床意义

本文采用时间分辨免疫荧光法和精液电子计算机分析,比较79例男性精浆和血清PRL与精液质量的关系,结果显示:精浆中PRL与精子密度、精子活率呈负相关(P<0.05)。此外血清/精浆PRL比值无精子症组差异较明显,该项计算比例具有一定的临床意义。     

HPLC-DAD-ELSD测定酸枣仁分散片中4种成分含量

目的:建立同时测定酸枣仁分散片中斯皮诺素、酸枣仁皂苷A、B和白桦脂酸4种成分含量的HPLC-DAD-ELSD方法。方法:应用高效液相色谱法,采用Venusil XBP-C18色谱柱(4.6 mm×250 mm,5μm);以乙腈(A)-水(0.1%乙酸)(B)为流动相梯度洗脱,流速1.0 mL·min-1,柱温25℃,检测波长335 nm,蒸发光散射检测器的漂移管温度100℃,载气流速2.9 L·min-1。结果:斯皮诺素在3.36～32.36μg·g-1(r=0.999 2)、酸枣仁皂苷A在1.12～11.24μg·g-1(r=0.999 6)、酸枣仁皂苷B在1.36～13.56μg·g-1(r=0.999 7)和白桦脂酸在5.04～50.45μg·g-1(r=0.999 3)关系良好,平均加样回收率分别为99.23%,101.25%,98.63%,102.09%;RSD分别为1.51%,1.49%,2.57%,0.72%。结论:方法快速简便,精密度好,灵敏度高,在同一色谱条件下实现多指标不同成分的同时测定,为酸枣仁分散片的全面质量评价提供参考。     

白细胞精子症与宫腔内人工授精周期临床妊娠率的关系

目的:探讨白细胞精子症对行宫腔内人工授精(intrauterine insemination,IUI)后周期临床妊娠率的影响。方法:分析在本中心行IUI男性患者的精液检查结果,根据WHO推荐方法对185例男性患者的精液质量进行分析,采用联苯胺染色法检测精液白细胞浓度,并将患者分为白细胞精子症不育患者组(白细胞浓度>1×10~6/m L,n=33)和精液白细胞正常不育患者组(白细胞浓度≤1×10~6/m L,n=152)。比较两组间的精液量、精子浓度、精子正常形态率、处理前后前向运动精子总数、精子DNA碎片指数、周期临床妊娠率等方面的差异。结果:白细胞精子症不育组行IUI共47个周期,白细胞正常不育组行IUI共279个周期。两组间精液量、精子浓度、处理前后前向运动精子总数无显著性差异(P>0.05)。在精子正常形态率方面,白细胞精子症患者不育组低于白细胞正常不育患者组,有统计学意义(P<0.05)。精子DNA碎片指数方面,白细胞精子症患者不育组临床妊娠率高于白细胞正常不育患者组,有统计学意义(P<0.05)。但是,在临床妊娠率数据中,我们发现白细胞精子症患者不育组与白细胞正常不育患者组无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论:虽然白细胞精子症会影响精子的正常形态、精子存活率以及DNA碎片指数,但是白细胞精子症不影响IUI临床妊娠率。     

男性不育者不同诱导射精法获得的精液质量分析

目的:探讨不同诱导射精方法对男性不育者精液质量影响。方法:1733例不育者分别采用手淫法取精和电按摩法取精,并检测精液体积、精子浓度、精子存活率、前向运动百分率(PR)、非前向运动百分率(NP)、不活动百分率(IM)、曲线速度(VCL)、直线运动速度(VSL)、平均路径速度(VAP)。结果:手淫组1033例不育者与电按摩组700例不育者经非参数检验,精液体积、精子浓度、精子存活率、PR、IM、VCL、VSL、VAP差异有统计学意义(Z分别为-2.77、-2.71、-4.88、-4.45、-3.89、-2.33、-2.25、-2.37,P0.01,P0.05),而两组在NP上无统计学差异(Z为-0.43,P0.05)。结论:不同诱导射精方法对男性不育者精液质量有影响,电按摩法获得的精液质量比手淫法获得的精液质量高,且电按摩法可用于部分不射精症患者取精。     

Reference values of reactive oxygen species in seminal ejaculates using chemiluminescence assay

PurposeA physiological balance exists between seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant capacity. An overproduction of ROS which exceeds the seminal plasma antioxidant capacity results in oxidative stress (OS). The aim of the present study was to describe a detailed protocol to measure ROS in a diagnostic laboratory and revise our previous cutoff value of ROS in seminal ejaculates in a larger cohort of infertile men and controls with proven and unproven fertility.MethodsA total of 258 infertile men and 92 controls were enrolled in the study. Following initial semen analysis, ROS measurement in whole ejaculates was carried out using luminol-based chemiluminescence assay. Chemiluminescence was measured for 15 min with a Berthold luminometer. Results were expressed as relative light units (RLU/s/10⁶ sperm). The test’s specificity, sensitivity, and cutoff values were calculated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.ResultsSignificantly higher ROS levels were seen in infertile men compared to controls (p < 0.001). The optimal cutoff value to differentiate between controls and infertile men was 102.2 RLU/s/10⁶ sperm. At this cutoff value, the test was 76.4% sensitive and 53.3% specific. The positive and negative predictive values of the test were 82.1% and 44.5%, respectively. A total of 76.4% infertile population was above this cutoff value compared to 46.7% of controls.ConclusionsThe luminol-based chemiluminescence assay can be used in routine diagnostic screening to test for male infertility diagnosis in a clinical setting. The current ROS cutoff value substantially distinguishes infertile from normal controls. Patients with elevated ROS must be evaluated for the underlying cause of ROS production.