618例不育男性的AZF基因微缺失分析

目的研究Y染色体AZF基因微缺失与男性不育的关系。方法应用多重PCR对618例男性不育患者进行Y染色体AZF基因的15个位点进行检测。结果一共检出Y染色体微缺失患者23例,占受检人群的3．72％,其中包括16例AZFc全部缺失、3例为AZFb＋c部分／全部缺失、3例为AZFa部分缺失和1例AZFa、AZFb、AZFc和AZFd四个区15个检测位点全部缺失。AZFc全部缺失患者中,中度至重度少精症13例,无精症3例;AZFb部分／全部缺失患者中,严重少弱精1例,无精症2例;AZFa部分缺失患者和15个位点全部缺失患者均为无精症。结论Y染色体AZF基因微缺失是男性不育的重要原因之一,该检测可为患者的诊断、治疗及遗传咨询提供依据。     

Differences in male–female ratios of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) following ultra-low volume adulticide applications

Suppression of Aedes albopictus populations is a substantial challenge for mosquito control programs globally because juveniles of this species are found in numerous kinds of domestic artificial containers that are difficult to detect, access, and eliminate. We conducted a multi-year assessment of the effect of different interventions to control Ae. albopictus near the northernmost geographic boundary of the species in temperate North America and deployed an array of BG-Sentinel traps for adult surveillance. Here we present the results of a comparative examination of adult sex ratios in urban and suburban areas, shifts in sex ratios after control interventions, and a discussion of the critical drivers of population dynamics of Ae. albopictus in our area. We collected significantly more male mosquitoes in urban as compared to suburban areas in June through September, but not in May (p < 0.001). The higher number of male mosquitoes in urban areas could be attributed to a higher number of larval habitats within a closer proximity of the surveillance traps and the lower flight dispersal of males. Following application of adulticides in urban areas, Ae. albopictus male populations were reduced by 88% on average, which was higher than the 69% reduction in female populations. The higher reduction of male mosquitoes could be attributed to the smaller body mass of the males and their higher susceptibility to adulticides. The results of this study are directly relevant to the development of suitable control strategies that depend on manipulation of males, such as the sterile insect technique. The results could also be used to refine mosquito abatement by providing more accurate methods to determine the need and timing of vector control.     

Multicenter retrospective comparative study of laparoscopically assisted and conventional anorectoplasty for male infants with rectoprostatic urethral fistula

Background

Laparoscopically assisted anorectoplasty (LAARP) was expected to achieve better fecal continence than conventional procedures. However, the issue of which approach is better remains controversial. We compared outcomes between the conventional procedure and LAARP in male infants with rectoprostatic urethral fistula.

Methods

Institutes belonging to the Japanese Study Group of Anorectal Anomalies (JSGA) were invited to participate. Subjects were male infants with rectoprostatic urethral fistula treated by the conventional approach (abdominoperineal pull-through and PSARP) or LAARP between 2000 and 2006. Medical charts and operative records were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

Eighty-one patients (conventional: 36, LAARP: 45) were enrolled from 15 centers. In both groups, the mean Kelly score was 5. The total score of the scoring system was newly developed by the Japanese Study Group of Anorectal Anomalies. Follow-up Project (5–15 points) was 10.7 and 12.1 in the conventional group and the LAARP group, respectively (p = 0.07). The incidence of failed rectoanal anastomosis, mucosal prolapse, and anal stenosis was comparable in both groups. Posterior urethral diverticula were detected on cystourethrograms in 7% and 11% (p = 1.0) and on MRI in 0% and 34% (p = 0.02) of the conventional and the LAARP groups, respectively. Overall, 94% of diverticula were asymptomatic.

Conclusions

Fecal continence and complication rates after LAARP were comparable to those observed after the conventional method. Posterior urethral diverticula were detected more frequently after LAARP.     

Sperm DNA damage in patients with chronic viral C hepatitis

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the conventional and biofunctional parameters of sperm in young infertile patients with Hepatitis C (HCV) infection.

Methods

Forty HCV patients with primary infertility, aged 27 to 42 years (mean 36.4 years) and twenty HCV patients with secondary infertility aged 28 to 45 years (mean 35.0 ± 2.8 years), underwent hormonal and sperm analysis in addition to the determination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations in the sperm and flow-cytometric evaluation. The following biofunctional sperm parameters were evaluated by flow cytometry: DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential, chromatin condensation, and the rate of early apoptosis.

Results

Overall, patients with HCV showed significantly worse median values of conventional and biofunctional sperm parameters than control subjects, including sperm density (31.7 vs. 80.4 million/ml), forward motility (9.4 vs. 25%), normal forms (15.4 vs. 24.8%), DNA fragmentation (6.6 vs. 2.2%), low MMP (45.5 vs. 8%), an early apoptosis rate (5 vs. 2.7%), and abnormal chromatin (18.9 vs. 13.9%). Finally, HCV patients had significantly higher basal (250 vs. 75 × 10³/cpm) and stimulated (550 vs. 120 × 10³/cpm) ROS levels in semen compared to control subjects. None of the examined parameters (sperm, hormonal, biofunctional and assessment of oxidative status in the semen) was significantly different between HCV patients with primary and secondary infertilities.

Discussion

These results confirm that HCV infection has a negative impact on sperm parameters. The overlap of the results observed in the two groups of HCV patients supports the hypothesis that HCV infection may cause to alterations in sperm parameters.     

Therapeutic strategies in male breast cancer: Clinical implications of chromosome 17 gene alterations and molecular subtypes

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease. To date, therapy is mainly based on studies and clinical experiences with breast cancer in women. Only little is known about molecular typing of MBC, particularly with regard to potential biological predictors for adjuvant therapy. In female breast cancer tumors with chromosome 17 centromere (CEP17) duplication, HER2 and/or Topoisomerase II alpha (Topo II-α) gene alterations have been suggested to be associated with poor prognosis and increased sensitivity to anthracycline-containing regimens.In a well characterized cohort of 96 primary invasive MBC, we studied CEP17, HER2 and Topo II-α alterations by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH), and expression of hormone receptors (HR), HER2 and Ki67 by immunohistochemistry to define molecular subtypes. Tumor characteristics and follow-up data were available and correlated with molecular findings.HER2 amplification and Topo II-α amplification/deletion were exceptionally rare in MBC (6.3% and 3.1%, respectively). CEP17 polysomy were found in 9.4% of tumors. HER2, Topo II-α and CEP17 gene alterations were not correlated to patients outcome. 96.9% of our cases were HR positive. Triple negative tumors were found in only 3.1% of the cases. In nodal negative tumors luminal A subtypes were significantly associated with better overall survival.Our results provide evidence for a predominant male breast cancer phenotype, characterized by HR expression and a lack of HER2/Topo II-α alterations and CEP17 duplicates. Therefore, the impact of anthracycline sensitivity linked to HER2/Topo II-α alterations as found in female breast cancer has low clinical significance for this specific male breast cancer phenotype.     

Sexual function and male cancer

Quality of life in general and sexual functioning in particular have become very important in cancer patients. Biological factors such as anatomic alterations, physiological changes and secondary effect of medical interventions may preclude normal sexual functioning even when sexual desire is intact. In spite of modern surgical techniques, improved chemotherapeutical drugs and sophisticated radiation techniques, still many patients complain of impaired sexual function after cancer treatment. A large number of instruments already exist to assess quality of life in cancer patients. It is important to standardize procedures and to use validated questionnaires. Collecting data on an ongoing basis before and long after treatment is mandatory, and control groups must be used. Patients should be offered sexual counselling and informed about the availability of therapies for sexual dysfunctions. In this paper we review the topic of sexual functioning after treatment (predominantly after radiotherapy) of the most common malignancies in men and give suggestions for treatment.     

The toxicity of methotrexate in male fertility and paternal teratogenicity

Introduction: There is a high prevalence of methotrexate (MTX) use in males of reproductive age. The scope of this paper reviews what is known regarding risks to fertility and partners’ pregnancy outcomes with regard to MTX use in men.

Areas covered: This paper reviews the evidence for current recommendations for MTX use and male fertility and aims to educate professionals regarding MTX use in reproducing males so that patients may be counseled appropriately. A literature search included peer-reviewed sources from PubMed searches and the literature referenced within.

Expert opinion: There is a lack of evidence regarding effects of MTX on male fertility. The recommendation to stop MTX three months prior to conception is safe, but is not evidenced by an understanding of the impact of MTX on spermatogenesis or paternal-mediated teratogenicity but rather the timeframe of spermatogenesis. Given the unclear evidence, patients treated with MTX must be counseled on the likelihood of adverse effects of MTX and role of sperm cryopreservation. Future studies are needed to help elucidate the unclear evidence of MTX effects on male fertility and pregnancy outcomes.     

精子尾部卷曲试验与精子低渗肿胀试验的共性与特性

探讨了精子尾部卷曲试验与精子低渗肿胀试验的关系。两种实验原理相同，实验条件（渗量、离子浓度）不同，实验结果存在一定差异。对９５例生育和不育男性精液检查结果表明：精子卷尾率与精子尾总肿胀率呈高度正相关（ｒ＝０．９１２）；精子卷尾率与精子低渗肿胀试验ｇ型精子率比较呈极显著差异（Ｐ＜０．００１）；精子卷尾率、精子低渗总肿胀率与精子活率呈高度正相关（ｒ分别为０．９６３和０．９３２）；生育组与不育组比较精子卷尾率、精子总肿胀率及ｇ型精子率均呈显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）。采用精子卷尾率结合低渗肿胀试验ｇ型精子率综合评估精子的活动功能对男性不育症的实验诊断具有良好的应用价值。     

Demographic factors related to male involvement in reproductive health care services in Nigeria

Objectives Men play a well-recognised role in reproductive health care. They are pertinent to the achievement of female reproductive health. This study assessed male involvement in reproductive health issues in Nigeria and identified relevant factors.

Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 1530 married men aged 25 to 45 years selected by a multi-stage sampling procedure. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed, with male involvement in reproductive health care as the dependent variable.

Results The mean age of the respondents was 38.64 (± 5 SD) years. Although 65.9% of the respondents discussed reproductive health issues with their wife, only 39.6% accompanied them during visits to clinics. Less than one-third (30.9%) of the respondents were involved in reproductive health care. Male involvement in reproductive health care is predicted by having completed at least secondary education (OR 4.337; p = 0.007), having one or no living child (OR 2.002; p = 0.001), and approval of family planning (OR 2.637; p = 0.000).

Conclusions Male involvement in reproductive health care is predicted by level of education, number of living children and approval of family planning. There is a need to focus on the identified factors in order to strengthen and increase male participation in reproductive health care.