Accu-Beads as a quality control measure for manual and automated methods of measuring sperm concentration-an observational study.

Purpose: To determine the precision and accuracy of Accu-Beads and their utility as a quality control product for manual and automated measurements of sperm concentration.

Methods: This observational study was performed at an Assisted Reproductive Technology laboratory in a tertiary-care, university hospital. To simulate sperm concentration, bead concentrations were measured with the use of a manual and an automated method.

Characterization of antiestrogenic activity of the Chinese herb, prunella vulgaris, using in vitro and in vivo (Mouse Xenograft) models.

Prunella vulgaris (PV), a commonly used Chinese herb, also known as Self-heal, has a wide range of reported medicinal activities. By screening multiple herbs using the endometrial cancer cell line, ECC-1, and an alkaline phosphatase detection assay, we found that PV displayed significant antiestrogenic activity. We investigated the possible usefulness of antiestrogenic activity using both in vitro and in vivo models of endometrial function.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in the upstate: effectiveness of surgical sperm removal techniques in conjunction with ICSI to promote the success of pregnancy.

With aspiration of sperm directly from the epididymis (MESA) or extracted from the testis (TESA) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, it is possible to provide men who are incapable of producing viable sperm in an ejaculate the ability to overcome this severe sperm defect and produce a successful pregnancy. In our practice, 10 of 26 ART cycles have had successful pregnancies with a total of 17 children being delivered. Thus, MESA/TESE techniques coupled with ICSI provide this population of patients with a viable option for producing offspring.

Diode laser absorption spectroscopy of water vapor in a scramjet combustor.

A sensor based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy was constructed for time-resolved temperature and water vapor concentration measurements in a scramjet combustor. The sensor probed two absorption lines near 1390 nm with two time-multiplexed lasers used to measure temperature and water vapor concentration at up to 20 kHz. A demonstration experiment was performed in the supersonic, expanding exhaust region of the combustor, showing the measurement to be repeatable, able to resolve temporal trends during tunnel operation, and sensitive to changes in combustor operating conditions.

Unexplained high activity of aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1): a case report.

We report a case of unexplained and persistently elevated ASAT activity in serum. This appeared to be due to a macro-enzyme of ASAT, as was demonstrated by protein-A-Sepharose treatment of the serum sample. Although macro-ASAT seems to be clinically irrelevant, unexplained raised ASAT activity without acknowledgement of its macroenzyme nature may lead to unnecessary diagnostic procedures.