Experience with external quality control in spermatology

Results are presented from participation in an external quality control (EQC) programme for semen analysis (UK NEQAS). Formalin-fixed semen samples and videotapes of motile spermatozoa were distributed four times a year over a 3-4 year period. Over the entire period there was close agreement for sperm concentration with, initially, the average of values from the other groups participating in the scheme, and later, values designated as reference values obtained from six laboratories of several chosen that consistently agreed with each other. The initial underestimation of the percentage of normal forms was abolished at the time of change in derivation of designated values and this largely eliminated the difference to establish closer agreement with the designated values. A consistent bias in the assessment of different categories of progressive sperm motility appeared to be resolved by a conscious decision to consider most spermatozoa as grade b and the exceptions as grade a, rather than the converse. Feedback of results to the technicians of the laboratory participating in an external quality control programme leads to reappraisal of subjective evaluation and to harmonization of results between laboratories.     

Clinical adaptation of the sperm ubuquitin tag immunoassay (SUTI): relationship of sperm ubiquitylation with sperm quality in gradient-purified semen samples from 93 men from a general infertility clinic population

BACKGROUND: The proteolytic chaperone peptide ubiquitin accumulates in defective human spermatozoa. Immunodetection of ubiquitin in human sperm samples correlates with semen quality and male fertility. METHODS: Semen samples from 93 men from couples seeking infertility treatment were separated on a PureSperm density gradient and screened by immunofluorescence microscopy with anti-ubiquitin antibodies. The percentage of spermatozoa with head ubiquitylation was recorded and compared with clinical semen evaluation and embryo development data after IVF or ICSI. Subjects were divided into the following four groups based on the initial clinical diagnosis of the couples; group 1, male factor; group 2, idiopathic infertility; group 3, female infertility with neither partner having children previously; and group 4, female infertility with male partners having children from previous relationships. RESULTS: The percentage of sperm with ubiquitylated heads remaining after PureSperm separation in the respective groups was 4.0% (male factor), 2.5% (idiopathic infertility), 0.7% (female infertility and presumed fertile male) and 0.9% (female infertility with established fertile male). Negative correlations between sperm ubiquitin and several parameters reflective of embryo development after assisted fertilization were found within the male factor group. CONCLUSIONS: Use of this simplified ubiquitin-based sperm quality assay is feasible in a clinical environment. Since the gradient separation does not completely deplete the defective spermatozoa, the modified light microscopic sperm ubiquitin tag immunoassay could add a new level of stringency to the selection of human spermatozoa for ICSI.     

Impotence literature: Scientometric analysis of erectile dysfunction articles between 1975 and 2018

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is portrayed as lasting deficiency to achieve or sustain penile erection in successful vaginal penetration and is a major problem affecting the quality of life in men. The number of ED sufferers worldwide is anticipated to reach 322 million, by 2025. In recent years, many publications and studies have been made in the field of ED. Our aim was to perform a detailed bibliometric analysis of erectile dysfunction literature. In this study, we downloaded the data of the publications from the Web of Science Core Collection. All items indexed in these databases between 1975 and 2018 were included. Documents produced in 2019 were excluded. We searched in WoS databases for the keywords of ‘erectile dysfunction’ and ‘impotence’. Our basic search into WoS databases retrieved a total of 28,266 documents indexed between 1975 and 2018. English dominated impotence literature (92.541%) followed by German, French and Korean (2.136%, 1.920% and 1.180% respectively). The United States has made tremendous improvement in ED studies and is still the effective country. The most prolific author was Montorsi F with 330 articles from Italy, and three-fifth of the authors were from the USA.     

情志因素对不育症患者的影响及情志性不育症概念诠释

随着对情志因素和有关疾病相关性研究的深入,在男科学领域,提出了“情志性不育症”这一全新的概念并期待能成为男科学的一个研究方向,从其概念内涵、发病机理、陆床诊断、综合治疗诸方面对“情志性不育症”进行探讨。     

The contribution of Asian scientists to global research in andrology

Aim: To present a personal account of the involvement of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the collaborativedevelopment in Asia of those areas of andrology concerned with male contraception and reproductive health.Methods: The andrology training through workshops and institution support undertaken by the WHO HumanReproduction Programme (HRP) and how they contributed to the strengthening of andrology research in Asia aresummarised. Results: The author's experience and the Asian scientific contributions to the global research in thefollowing areas are reviewed: the safety of vasectomy and the development of new methods of vas occlusion; gossypoland its failure to become a safe, reversible male antifertility drag; Tripterygium and whether its pure extracts will passthrough the appropriate toxicology and phased clinical studies to become acceptable contraceptive drugs; hormonalmethods of contraception for men. Conclusion: The WHO policy of research capacity building through training andinstitution stre     

Cyclooxygenase 1 (COX1) as an indicator of sperm quality in humans

Sperm quality is important for in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the treatment of human infertility. The purpose of this study was to screen for biomarkers that could evaluate sperm quality. We analysed semen samples in 172 fertile males; multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the levels of COX1 (17.5 ng/ml) in seminal plasma may represent a useful biomarker for sperm quality (area under the curve: 0.745; sensitivity: 0.808; specificity: 0.722). Analysis indicated that the values of parameters related to sperm quality changed significantly (p < .05) between COX1 level ≥ 17.5 ng/ml group and COX1 level < 17.5 ng/ml group. Further analysis of two consecutive semen samples (1-hr interval) from 48 subjects revealed that the first semen samples (COX1 levels ≥ 17.5 ng/ml) had a higher sperm concentration and a larger proportion of spermatozoa showing progressive motility, a lower rate of sperm DNA fragmentation and a lower proportion of spermatozoa undergoing the acrosome reaction spontaneously (p < .05); identical results were observed for the second semen samples. These data indicated that COX1 could be used as an indicator for sperm status and may be helpful for identifying better quality spermatozoa for artificial insemination.     

多媒体在中医泌尿男科学临床教学中的应用

多媒体教学是现代化医学教学模式的探索。在中医泌尿男科学临床教学中开展多媒体教学有助于临床病证标准模型的学习和临床操作性治疗的指导及纠错,提高教学效果。     

伤寒中医男科证治之法的相关探究

目的探讨分析伤害杂病论中对男科的整治之法。方法分析我国从古至今的男科医学典故,观察各自的治疗措施。重点分析张仲景的《伤寒杂病论》中对男科医疗的证治之法。结果张仲景的《伤寒杂病论》中主要方法为：辛温散寒,破结通利;清化湿热、安中解毒;缓中补虚,活血化瘀等等。结论中医男科临床在最近几年,有较快的发展速度。张仲景的证治思想就算流传至今,仍然对男科治疗有较大指导性意义。     

中西医结合男科新进展

江苏省中医男科学术大会于2012年7月27至29日在江苏常州召开。大会反映了目前中国中医男科领域的较高水平。论文就会议上交流的中西医结合男科新进展作介绍,并展望男科的发展前景。     

中医男科学科研选题与设计

中医男科学迅速发展 ,临床和科研队伍不断壮大。如何提高科研人员的研究能力与业务水平 ,是摆在我们面前的重要课题。中医男科学临床与基础研究应该选题准确、科学、切合实际 ,选择优势病种作为研究课题。中医男科学科研设计应该遵循多中心、随机、对照、盲法的原则。阐述了中医男科学研究的特点和评价方法。