An evaluation of the hypo-osmotic sperm swelling test as a predictor of fertilizing capacity in vitro

The ability of sperm to swell in hypo-osmotic conditions was examined in 211 semen samples from the partners of patients about to undergo oocyte retrieval for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The test was performed using aliquots of semen, the remainder of which was then prepared for IVF. No significant difference was found, in either the percentage of swollen sperm or the type of swelling response, between samples that achieved fertilization in vitro and those that did not, or between any of the diagnostic categories of infertility (tubal damage, unexplained infertility, oligospermia). In samples which achieved fertilization in vitro there were correlations between sperm swelling and sperm motility (r = -0.51) and abnormal morphology (r = 0.33), but no such correlations were demonstrated in samples that failed to achieve fertilization. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the percentage of swollen sperm in semen (mean motility 64%), in samples immediately after preparation for IVF (mean motility 96%) or in capacitated sperm 24 h after preparation (mean motility 91%). These results demonstrate that the hypo-osmotic sperm swelling test does not assist in the prediction of the fertilizing capacity of human sperm in vitro.     

A study of variations in the reported haemophilia B prevalence around the world

Summary. The objectives of this article were to study the reported prevalence of haemophilia B (HB) on a country‐by‐country basis and to analyse whether the prevalence of HB varied by national economy. The prevalence of HB is the proportion of diagnosed, reported cases of HB in a population at a specific point of time. We collected data on the HB prevalence for 105 countries from the World Federation of Hemophilia annual global surveys. Our results showed that the HB prevalence varied considerably among countries, even among the wealthiest of countries. The HB prevalence (per 100 000 males) for the highest income countries was 2.69 ± 1.61 (mean ± SD), whereas the prevalence for the rest of the world was 1.20 ± 1.33 (mean ± SD). Ireland had the highest reported HB prevalence of 8.07 per 100 000 males. There was a strong trend of increasing HB prevalence (per 100 000 males) over time. Prevalence data reported from the WFH compared well with prevalence data from the literature. The WFH annual global surveys have some limitations, but they are the best available source of worldwide haemophilia data. Prevalence data are extremely valuable information for the planning efforts of national healthcare agencies in setting priorities and allocating resources for the treatment of HB.     

Retrograde ejaculation: a systematic approach to non-invasive recovery of spermatozoa from post-ejaculatory urine for artificial insemination

Summary. Retrograde ejaculation is an uncommon but treatable form of male infertility. Successful recovery of live spermatozoa from the post-ejaculatory urine for artificial insemination is dependent on careful regulation of pH and osmolarity of the urine into which ejaculation takes place, and separation of the motile spermatozoa from the debris and cells which are found in these samples. Three pregnancies established by artificial insemination of spermatozoa recovered by non-invasive means from the bladders of men suffering from retrograde ejaculation are described. The techniques for preparing the urine for spermatozoal survival, and for removal of cells and debris by sedimentation or buoyant density centrifugation are discussed.     

Helicobacter pylori eradication: efficacy and side effect profile of a combination of omeprazole, amoxycillin and metronidazole compared with four alternative regimens

We evaluated eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in263 patients by a new 14-day regimen of omeprazole 40 mg mane(a gastric secretory inhibitor) plus two antibiotics: amoxycillin500 mg three-times daily (tds) plus metronidazole 400 mg tds.The comparative groups included updated results of our previouswork with a 14-day course of either standard triple therapy(STT, colloidal bismuth subcitrate 120 mg four times daily (qds)plus tetracycline 500 mg qds and metronidazole 400 mg tds),omeprazole 40 mg once daily plus amoxycillin 500 mg tds (OA),or two modified triple therapy: either Borody's (BTT) of allthree components (colloidal bismuth subcitrate 120 mg, tetracycline500 mg, metronidazole 200 mg) qds instead of tds, or Logan's(ITT) seven-day therapeutic regimen of colloidal bismuth subcitrate120 mg qds, amoxycillin 500 mg qds and, for the last three days,metronidazole 400 mg five times daily. Omeprazole/amoxycillin/metronidazole (OAM) therapy was bettertolerated than STT (course completion 98.1% vs. 81.4%, p <0.001). H. pylori was eradicated by OAM therapy in 53/55 (96.4%)patients with metronidazole-sensitive organisms and in 54/72(75.0%) with metronidazole-resistant isolates (p < 0.01).The respective corresponding rates for STT and OA therapy were20/22 (90.9%) and 14/29 (48.3%), (metronidazole-sensitive organisms)and 7/21 (33.3%) and 15/31 (48.4%) (infections resistant tometronidazole). BTT and LTT were also better tolerated than STT. The eradicationrate for BTT was 23/26 (88.5%) but that for LTT, the best toleratedof the five treatment regimens, was only 19/28 (67.9%) whenpretreat-ment isolates were metronidazole-sensitive. OAM therapywas better tolerated than either STT or BTT. With metronidazole-sensitiveorganisms, all three regimens eradicated about 90% of the organisms,although in our hands LTT was significantly less effective (67.9%).In patients infected with metronidazole-resistant organisms,OAM therapy was significantly (p < 0.01) more effective thanSTT (95% Cl 19.2–64.2). These results support our current practice of prescribing OAMfor patients with duodenal ulcer infected with H. pylori, reservingBTT for patients allergic to penicillin.     

Purification and characterization of hepatic glutathione transferases from an insectivorous marsupial,the brown antechinus (Antechinus stuartii)

1. Five unique glutathione transferase isoenzymes were purified from the hepatic cytosol of an insectivorous marsupial, the brown antechinus. The purified GSTs were characterized by structural and catalytic properties including apparent molecular weight andisoelectricpoint,specificity towards modelsubstrates,kineticparameters,sensitivityto inhibitors and cross-reactivity with antisera raised against human GSTs. 2. An alpha class GST, Antechinus GST 1-1, predominated in the hepatic cytosol, representing 71% of the total GST purified. The substrate specificity of Antechinus GST 1-1 was similar to that of other alpha class GSTs, particularly with respect to its high activity with cumene hydroperoxide. The mu class was represented by three GST isoenzymes, Antechinus GST 3-3, GST 3-4 and GST 4-4. These isoenzymes represented 8, 2 and 10% of the total GST purified respectively. A single GST, Antechinus GST 22, belonged to the pi class of GSTs and represented 12% of the total GST purified. The hepatic GST isoenzyme ratio (by class) observed in the brown antechinus was more similar to that observed in the human than in rat. 3. A previous study investigating a herbivorous marsupial, the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) also identified a predominant hepatic GST belonging to the alpha class and displaying peroxidase activity. The evolutionary conservation of a similar predominant GST isoenzyme in these marsupials suggests that they play an important role in the detoxication metabolism of these unique mammals.