Reassessment of the accuracy of traditional sperm characteristics and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in estimating the fertilizing potential of human semen in vivo

Receiver operating characteristic curves and accuracy parameters were computed for traditional sperm characteristics (concentration, motility, morphology) and the number of peroxidase negative cells, and the concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in semen from populations of fertile and infertile men, and men who achieved a pregnancy after varicocele treatment. The percentage and concentration per millilitre of spermatozoa with rapid linear progressive motility, and the ATP concentration, provided the best discrimination between fertile and treated fertile from infertile men. The misclassification rate was higher for sperm morphology, total progressive motility and viability, whereas sperm concentration and the total sperm count per ejaculate had the worst discriminating power. The number of peroxidase negative cells per 100 spermatozoa was highly specific in identifying men who achieved pregnancy after varicocele treatment. The lower limit of normality of sperm characteristics was remarkably different between fertile men and men achieving pregnancy after treatment or during infertility work-up.     

无创通气不同呼吸界面对COPD患者的生理学影响

目的 探讨无创正压通气(NPPV)时不同呼吸界面对慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)急性加重期并呼吸衰竭患者的生理学影响.方法 选择30例COPD急性加重期并呼吸衰竭患者.无创正压通气时患者随机先后接受不同呼吸界面(面罩、鼻罩和鼻塞).动态观察不同呼吸界面时患者呼吸方式、血气分析和对呼吸界面耐受性等的差异.结果 (1)与自主呼吸相比,无创正压通气时三种不同呼吸界面均可改善患者的潮气量、分钟通气量和呼吸频率(P＜0.01),三种不同呼吸界面时的呼吸频率相似(P＞0.05),但面罩时的潮气量和分钟通气量比鼻罩时更高(P＜0.05);(2)与自主呼吸相比,无创正压通气时三种不同呼吸界面均可改善患者的动脉血气(P＜0.05),面罩和鼻塞时的PCO2比鼻罩时更低(P＜0.05);(3)患者均可耐受三种不同的呼吸界面,但患者对鼻罩的耐受性比面罩和鼻塞更好(P＜0.01).结论 本生理学研究证实了无创正压通气可改善COPD急性加重期并呼吸衰竭患者的呼吸方式和动脉血气,面罩和鼻塞时的疗效更佳,而鼻罩时的耐受性更好.     

Endocrinology: High incidence of embryo transfer cancellations in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

This study was aimed at assessing the outcome of in-vitro fertilization(IVF) and embryo transfer in patients with polycystic ovariansyndrome (PCOS). The results of IVF and embryo transfer in PCOSpatients (PCOS group, 78 cycles of 26 patients) were comparedwith those of a control group (423 cycles in 202 patients withoutmale factor; age and ovarian stimulation protocol were matched).Although the pregnancy rate per transfer was not different inthe two groups of patients (25 versus 34%, PCOS versus controlgroup), the PCOS group had a significantly lower pregnancy rateper follicle aspiration (19 versus 31%, P < 0.05). A notableresult was a significantly higher incidence of embryo transfercancellations in the PCOS group (22 versus 8%, P < 0.01),which resulted from unpredictable failure of either oocyte recoveryor fertilization. The incidence of unexplained complete failureof fertilization was significantly higher in the PCOS group(18 versus 5%, P < 0.01). These results may reflect a reducedquality of the oocytes in the PCOS group, and there was a subgroupof PCOS patients who repeatedly produced poor results of treatment.Although the ovarian stimulation regimen best suited to PCOSpatients remains to be determined, special care should be takenduring ovarian stimulation, especially when the PCOS patientshad experienced unexplained failure of oocyte recovery or fertilizationin the previous treatment cycle(s).     

Carbon dioxide recruitment threshold as a predictor of successful weaning in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A pilot study

Abstract Several methods have been used to predict successful weaning and extubation among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The objective of this study is to determine whether carbon dioxide recruitment threshold (PCO₂RT) can be used as adjunct to conventional weaning parameters to predict early weaning and successful extubation. Twelve COPD patients who were ready to be extubated based on conventional weaning parameters were divided into group A ( n = 7) and group B ( n = 5). Group A were those patients with better weaning parameters and hence a higher probability of successful extubation as compared to group B. Carbon dioxide apnoeic threshold (PCO₂AT) was obtained by hyperventilating the patient using an increment of two breaths per min until apnoea occurs. At this point, the PCO₂AT or the PaCO₂ during said apnoeic period was recorded. A dead space of 150 cc is then added to the circuit until the patient starts to breathe as evidenced by the sensitivity trigger indicator. The PCO₂ obtained at this period is termed PCO₂RT. After weaning for 30 min on a T-tube, another arterial blood gas is determined and this is called the PCO₂SB or the CO₂ level after 30 min on spontaneous breathing. If the PCO₂SB-PCO₂RT difference is high with a sensitivity of 85.71% and specificity of 100% vs sensitivity of 57.14% and specificity of 60% using the conventional weaning parameters. Thus an increase in PCO₂SB at 30 min T-tube is indicative of impending respiratory pump failure and that other causes of failure to wean must be investigated.     

Granulocyte elastase levels do not correlate with anaerobic and aerobic bacterial growth in seminal plasma from infertile men

Seminal culture and leucocyte elastase measurements were undertaken on samples from 30 men attending an infertility clinic. Elastase levels over 1000 ng ml-1 were obtained in 14 men and positive bacterial culture in 11 men, but there was no correlation between these two sets of measurements. While granulocyte elastase measurement in semen may reflect inflammation, our study suggests that it cannot be used as a simple marker of infection particularly in a population such as ours where the prevalence of prostatitis and genital infection is low.     

输卵管妊娠的腹腔镜下保守性手术

目的　探讨输卵管妊娠在腹腔镜下保留输卵管的手术治疗效果。方法　应用腹腔镜对 2 8例输卵管妊娠病人 ,采用从输卵管妊娠部位开窗或输卵管破口处取胚 ,系膜下注射氨甲喋呤 (MTX)。结果　 2 8例输卵管妊娠流产型、破裂型、未破裂型等全部完成保留输卵管手术 ,血HCG术后 2周降至正常。其中 3例发生持续性妊娠 ,肌注MTX后痊愈。术后 2 0例行HSG或输卵管通水术 ,通畅 16例 ,术后再次宫内妊娠 6例。结论　腹腔镜保守性手术治疗输卵管妊娠可以保留输卵管及生育功能。     

精子顶体酶活性检测对诊断男性不育症的价值

目的比较各种质量精液的精子顶体酶活性。方法分光光度比色法检测顶体酶活性。结果各种质量精液的精子顶体酶活性均显著低于对照组P<0.001。结论精子顶体酶可作为了解精子生育力的一项可靠指标。     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病前驱性呼吸衰竭患者呼吸驱动的改变

目的探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)和COPD前驱性呼吸衰竭(前驱呼衰)患者中枢呼吸驱动的改变;评价界定COPD前驱性呼吸衰竭的临床意义.方法试验对象为COPD前驱性呼吸衰竭、COPD尚未达前驱性呼吸衰竭的患者和健康对照者各30名.所有受试者均进行如下参数的测定:动脉血气分析;常规肺功能,主要以第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV1)占预计值的百分比(FEV1%)来评价;中枢呼吸驱动水平,以0.1 s口腔阻断压(P0.1)、校正中枢呼吸驱动(以每分通气量来校正,即P0.1/MV)和吸气阻抗P0.1/VT/Ti)等来评价.结果P0.1和P0.1/MV在COPD前驱呼衰组明显高于正常对照组和未达前驱呼衰组,P0.1/VT/Ti在COPD前驱呼衰组和未达前驱呼衰组明显高于正常对照组(P=0.002);P0.1,P0.1/MV,P0.1/VT/Ti与PaO2,FEV1%呈显著负相关(rs=-0.769,-0.495,-0.543;-0.747,-0.480,-0.526,P均＜0.01);与PaCO2呈显著正相关(rs=0.270,0.312,0.369,P分别为＜0.05,＜0.01,＜0.01).结论COPD前驱呼衰患者呼吸储备能力减低,呼吸效率下降;P0.1,P0.1/MV,P0.1/VT/Ti等参数在推断患者神经-肌力输出水平与呼吸衰竭发生阈值方面具有较大的意义.当COPD进展至前驱呼衰阶段,从血气分析、肺功能检查到呼吸驱动水平都发生了显著的改变,从而提示界定此阶段具有一定的临床意义.     

精浆抗精子抗体阳性不育患者顶体酶、一氧化氮合酶及超氧化物歧化酶活力变化的研究

目的:研究精浆抗精子抗体(AsAb)阳性对精子顶体酶、精浆一氧化氮合酶(NOS)及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力的影响。方法:精浆AsAb阳性不育者40例,对照组为40例正常生育男性。通过吸光度变化分别计算顶体酶活力(BAEE/ADH联合法)、NOS活力(氧化还原反应)、SOD活力(黄嘌呤氧化酶法)。结果:精浆As-Ab阳性组与正常生育组比较,精子顶体酶活力明显降低(P<0.01),NOS活力明显升高(P<0.01),精浆中SOD活力明显降低(P<0.01)。结论:精浆AsAb阳性引起不育可能与精子顶体酶、精浆中SOD及NOS活力改变有关。     

超声引导下经皮经肝胆管穿刺置管引流在梗阻性黄疸病人中的应用

目的　评价超声引导下经皮经肝穿刺胆管置管引流 (UPTBD)对梗阻性黄疸病人的治疗价值。方法　对 1995年 1月至 2 0 0 2年 7月期间的 4 17例梗阻性黄疸病人进行 4 97次UPTBD治疗 ,并回顾总结他们的临床资料。结果　接受PTBD治疗共有 4 17例 (5 1例病人进行了两个胆管枝的PTBD) ,穿刺成功率达 93.2 % (4 36 / 4 6 8) ,32例首次穿刺失败的病人有 2 9例进行了第二次穿刺置管 ,全部成功。发生胆汁漏 /胆汁性腹膜炎 9例 ,胆道出血 8例 ,感染性休克 1例 ,无腹腔出血、后腹膜血肿、气胸等其他并发症。对 6 4例置管引流患者进行肝功能检测 ,与穿刺前相比 ,引流后 1周和 3周检测病人血清胆红素、转氨酶均显著下降。结论　UPTBD是一项姑息性治疗梗阻性黄疸的快捷、安全、有效的方法