The details of past actions on a smartphone touchscreen are reflected by intrinsic sensorimotor dynamics.

Unconstrained day-to-day activities are difficult to quantify and how the corresponding movements shape the brain remain unclear. Here, we recorded all touchscreen smartphone interactions at a sub-second precision and show that the unconstrained day-to-day behavior captured on the phone reflects in the simple sensorimotor computations measured in the laboratory. The behavioral diversity on the phone, the speed of interactions, the amount of social & non-social interactions, all uniquely influenced the trial-to-trial motor variability used to measure the amount of intrinsic neuronal noise.

Use-dependent cortical processing from fingertips in touchscreen phone users.

Cortical activity allotted to the tactile receptors on fingertips conforms to skilful use of the hand. For instance, in string instrument players, the somatosensory cortical activity in response to touch on the little fingertip is larger than that in control subjects. Such plasticity of the fingertip sensory representation is not limited to extraordinary skills and occurs in monkeys trained to repetitively grasp and release a handle as well.

Interference in thyroid-stimulating hormone determination.

Background: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement plays a major role in the diagnosis of thyroid disorders. Despite the good quality of immunochemical tests measuring TSH levels, the presence of interfering substances can sometimes alter the TSH results.

Design: We reported the case of a 79-year-old man affected by primary autoimmune hypothyroidism hospitalized for pneumonia.

Diagnostic value of serum chromogranin-A combined with MIBG scintigraphy inpatients with adrenal incidentalomas.

Aim: Adrenal incidentalomas (AI) are defined as asymptomatic adrenal masses occasionally discovered during high-resolution imaging procedures, as computed tomography or magnetic resonance. Pheochromocytoma, a chromaffin tumour, must be excluded before any invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, in order to avoid dangerous acute catecholamines-release into blood stream. Chromogranin-A (CgA) is a member of the granin family contained in secretory vesicles of chromaffin system.

Nature's motility blockers: controlling human sperm motility machinery from the outside. Chemical characterization of a peritoneal fluid lipid that induces sperm immobilization.

A molecule isolated from the peritoneal fluids of women undergoing laparoscopy for in-vitro fertilization techniques has been chemically characterized and identified as 1-palmitic-3-phosphorylcholine (lysophosphatidylcholine, LPC). This lipid is able, at physiological concentrations, to completely inhibit sperm motility in vitro in a dose-dependent way. Synthetic LPC induced rapid and complete arrest of sperm motility when added to sperm suspensions at physiological concentrations without any damage to cell membranes.

Preincubation in peritoneal fluid decreases the follicular fluid-induced acrosomal reactivity of human spermatozoa.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of preincubation in peritoneal fluid on the follicular fluid-induced acrosomal reactivity of human spermatozoa in vitro. Thirty women participating in our IVF-ET program were given a GnRH-analogue, highly purified FSH and hCG in order to induce superovulation. Peritoneal and follicular fluids were aspirated during pick-up laparoscopy, centrifuged, filtered and frozen until use.

Effect of peritoneal fluid, follicular fluid, and their volumetric mixture on acrosomal reactivity in vitro.

Objective: To determine the effects of peritoneal and follicular fluids (PFs, FFs) on sperm acrosomal reaction (AR).

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: Three hospital-based infertility units.

Computer-aided semen analysis: sperm concentration assessment by the Strömberg-Mika system.

The scope of this study was to evaluate the accuracy, precision and specificity of the sperm concentration measurements by the Strömberg-Mika Cell Motion Analyser (SM-CMA). Our data show that the instrument generally underscores the sperm concentration and therefore the uncorrected measurements must be corrected by the operator using the 'mouse'-driven option. In terms of precision, the system appears to have an excellent internal precision whereas its repeatability is influenced by the sperm concentration, the sample's homogeneity and the correction of the raw data.

Steroid receptors in human spermatozoa.

The presence of steroid binding sites in (or on) human spermatozoa was first suggested in the late 1970s, by studies showing that some steroids were able to influence sperm function. Subsequently, several effects exerted on spermatozoa by biological fluids, such as follicular fluid, were found to be probably linked to the action of steroids, and among them progesterone. Since the effects of progesterone on spermatozoa were rapid, dose-dependent and not affected by progesterone conjugation with high molecular weight proteins unable to cross the plasma membrane, the existence of a novel class of non-genomic progesterone receptors was strongly suspected.

Effect of peritoneal fluid supplemented with exogenous progesterone on sperm motility in vitro.

Since progesterone has been claimed to induce acrosomal reaction and hyperactivated motility of human spermatozoa, the present study was undertaken to determine if its presence at concentrations similar to those of peri-ovulatory follicular fluid could influence the effect of peritoneal fluid on sperm motility in vitro. To this end, 11 sperm samples were incubated at 37 degrees C with five peritoneal fluids with/without exogenous progesterone, and sperm motility was assessed using a computer-assisted analyser at time (t) = 0, 2.5, 5 and 24 h.

Bacteroides ureolyticus in men consulting for infertility.

A screening of 3196 semen analyses performed in our clinic from January 1986 to December 1990 revealed 314 (9.8%) patients whose semen was infected with Bacteroides ureolyticus. Investigating the relationship between the presence of B.

Purification of a factor from human peritoneal fluid that is able to immobilize spermatozoa.

Human peritoneal fluid has been claimed to influence sperm motility. This report gives evidence for the presence in midcycle peritoneal fluid of a protein-bound, lipidic (hydrophobic) component able to immobilize spermatozoa as a function of time. This component was extracted from molecular weight-sieving and ion-exchange/high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)-purified peritoneal fluid fractions by either chloroform/methanol or charcoal treatments; resuspension of the chloroform/methanol extract with BWW-buffer and subsequent testing on spermatozoa resulted in sperm immobilization.

Influence of peritoneal fluid from spontaneous and stimulated cycles on sperm motility in vitro.

Peritoneal fluids (PFs) from spontaneous (n = 14) and gonadotrophin-stimulated cycles (n = 20) were obtained during diagnostic laparoscopy and gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) procedures, respectively. The effects of these fluids on the linear component of sperm motility and on the percentage of motile spermatozoa were studied in vitro by objective motility assessments and compared to a control medium (B2-Ménézo). Overall, the two types of PFs were found to have rather similar effects on the motility parameters studied.

Effect of volumetric mixtures of peritoneal and follicular fluid from the same woman on sperm motility and acrosomal reactivity in vitro.

Objective: To study the effect of peritoneal (PF) and follicular fluids (FF from the same woman) as well as of given volumetric combinations thereof on sperm motility and acrosomal reactivity.

Design: Prospective. Peritoneal fluid and FF were incubated separately or in given volumetric combinations (PF/FF = 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, 0/100; vol/vol) with swim-up sperm suspensions.

Follicular fluid enhances sperm motility and velocity in vitro.

Forty-three follicular fluids (FFs) obtained during laparoscopy were tested in vitro for their effect(s) on sperm motility using gametes obtained by the swim-up procedure. Both the proportion of motile sperm and the velocity distribution patterns were evaluated as function of time by multiple-exposure photography technique. At the various incubation periods considered, all FFs maintained or then enhanced sperm motility as compared with the paired control suspension incubated with a sperm survival medium.

Etiology of severe asthenozoospermia and fertility prognosis. A screening of 5216 semen analyses.

A review of n = 5216 semen analyses performed in our two Clinics from January 1986 to December 1989 allowed to identify n = 35 patients whose sperm had constantly very low motility (less than 5% progressive motile gametes in three subsequent analyses; necrozoospermia cases were excluded from this study). This apparently rare but severe anomaly was found to be associated not only with ultrastructural anomalies (n = 18), but also with positive seminal bacteriology (n = 8) or the presence of antisperm antibodies (n = 2). In eight cases the cause(s) for this constant asthenozoospermia remained obscure.

Removal of sperm-coat from human spermatozoa by interaction with cervical mucus or a capacitating medium.

Human spermatozoa were labelled with cationized ferritin and their interaction with cervical mucus or a capacitating medium enriched with 3% bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the sperm-coat was removed from the surface of spermatozoa after incubation in the BSA-enriched capacitating medium, as well as after crossing a column filled with cervical mucus. These results suggest that both media have a quantitatively similar action in removing the sperm-coat.

Linear and non-linear relationships between the 'swelling test' and conventional semen variables in men suspected of primary infertility.

The relationship and degree of association between the percentage of sperm swelling (HOS-test) and conventional semen variables was investigated in 263 consecutive ejaculates. The semen samples were exclusively obtained from men suspected of primary infertility. It was found that the correlation coefficients (Spearman's rho) followed the order: percentage of progressive motility at 3 h greater than count/ml greater than percentage of total motility at 3 h greater than percentage of normal spermatozoa.

Electrophoretical patterns of seminal plasma proteins in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Seminal plasma (n = 12) from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients were analyzed by gel-electrophoresis using seminal plasma and expressed prostatic secretion from fertile men as controls. Heavy precipitation at the entering position of the gel and streaking in the gel matrix was observed, demonstrating a reduced solubility of seminal proteins in CF. Comparison of the protein patterns evidenced that CF-seminal plasma (CF-SP) mainly consisted of prostatic components.

Semen anomalies due to voiding defects of the ampullo-vesicular tract. Infertility due to ampullo-vesicular voiding defects.

Anatomical (congenital or postinflammatory) or functional anomalies of the uroseminal intersection can induce a voiding dysfunction of the deferential ampullae and seminal vesicles, leading to infertility. In case of azoospermia or OAT-syndrome with poor semen volume and decreased vesicular markers, some clinical history and examination data can cause suspect of one of such anomalies. The transrectal ultrasonographic findings of anechoic area(s) inside the prostate and/or seminal vesicle (even after recent ejaculation), the peculiar vasovesiculographic pictures (especially after ejaculation following the contrast medium injection into the vasa deferentia), plus the evaluation of the "deferential-ampullary sperm reserve", will permit a detailed diagnosis of the voiding dysfunction of the uroseminal crossing.

Analytical biochemistry of seminal vesicle secretion: a challenge to andrological laboratories.

Chemical characterization of seminal vesicle secretion through seminal vesicle proteins would have the following advantages: (1) to judge on the secretory competence of the gland, (2) to recognize atypical secretory patterns, (3) to identify specific molecules and their epitopes for anatomical, diagnostic, therapeutic, anti-fertility and forensic purposes, and (4) to study physiologically active proteins or peptides of seminal plasma. There are different approaches for collection of the specific samples, each of which has peculiar advantages and disadvantages: ejaculate collection in the presence of protease inhibitors, use of split or multi-split ejaculates, utilization of autopsy or surgical material. Liquefied proteins are submitted to different chromatographic and electrophoretic procedures.

Poor reproductive prognosis in severe teratozoospermia with a predominant sperm anomaly.

A retrospective examination of the semen analyses performed in our clinic from January 1979 to September 1986 revealed that approximately 15% of the patients were affected by severe teratozoospermia (greater than 80% abnormal forms and greater than 5 x 10(6) sperm/ml). In approximately 8% of these cases, a single predominant anomaly (same defect in greater than 50% of the sperm) was reported and confirmed by subsequent analyses (n = 37). The types of monomorphic teratozoospermia encountered in this study included round head (n = 6), amorphous head (n = 16), small head (n = 6), tapering head (n = 2), pin head (n = 1) and midpiece anomaly (n = 6).

Effect of peritoneal fluid on sperm motility and velocity distribution using objective measurements.

The aim of this study was to analyze in vitro the effect(s) of peritoneal fluid (PF) on sperm motility. Seventy PFs obtained during laparoscopy were tested on motile-rich sperm suspensions. Proportion of motile sperm and velocity distribution were evaluated by multiple-exposure photography technique.