Food intake diet and sperm characteristics in a blue zone: a Loma Linda Study.

Objectives: The study examined the effect the life-long vegetarian diet on male fertility and focused on vegetarians living in the Loma Linda blue zone, a demographic area known for life longevity. The objective was to compare sperm characteristics of vegetarian with non-vegetarian males.

Study Design: The cross-sectional observational study was based on semen analyses of 474 males from 2009 to 2013.

Further evidence supporting the Diff-Quik stain for sperm chromatin integrity testing.

Objective: To correlate intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) fertilization with chromatin status assessed by the Diff-Quik procedure modified with a one-minute soak step, and to determine the association of chromatin status with in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study of 81 IVF patients. Gradient-centrifuge washed sperm remaining after ICSI were fixed, stained by Diff-Quik, immersed in water for 1 minute, and analyzed under oil immersion light microscopy.

A simple sperm DNA toroid integrity test and risk of miscarriage.

Current methods of analyzing sperm chromatin competency overlook the inner sperm compartment which is inaccessible to probes and reagents. By breaking the molecular protamine disulfide bridges, the DNA toroids are exposed to integrity analysis. The aim was to develop a simple nuclear toroid test and determine its association with fertilization, pregnancy, and miscarriage.

Health risk perceptions predict smoking-related outcomes in Greek college students.

Health risk perception in smoking behavior was prospectively evaluated in a cluster-randomized trial for smoking cessation in Greek college students. Perceived Vulnerability (PV), Precaution Effectiveness, Optimistic Bias, and smoking behavior measures (quit attempts and cessation) were assessed in college-aged Greek student smokers at baseline, end of treatment (3 months), and follow-up (6 months). Using generalized estimating equations, baseline risk perception variables and change in risk perception variables between baseline and end of treatment were examined as predictors of the dichotomous smoking outcome variables.

Falsely elevated testosterone due to heterophile antibodies.

Background: Falsely elevated testosterone is a rare phenomenon that may result from heterophile antibodies. Similar to patients with heterophile antibodies for β-hCG, incorrect management may result in unnecessary testing or therapy.

Case: A previously healthy postmenopausal woman presented with a falsely elevated total testosterone level due to interference consistent with heterophile antibodies, with subsequent normal levels detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Addition of eosin to the aniline blue assay to enhance detection of immature sperm histones.

Objectives: To compare the aniline blue assay with and without eosin, and to correlate the results with pregnancy outcome after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: University-based fertility center.

Male age and sperm necrosis in assisted reproductive technologies.

Introduction: Sperm apoptosis is well characterized but studies on the effect of male age and necrozoospermia are lacking. The objectives were: (a) to analyze percentages of apoptotic and necrotic sperm in ejaculates, and (b) to compare the results between younger and older age groups.

Materials And Methods: Routine semen analyses were carried out (n = 189 males) and sperm cells were analyzed by dual fluorescence assay Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide, and the acridine orange test.

Retention of membrane charge attributes by cryopreserved-thawed sperm and zeta selection.

Purpose: Mature sperm can be selected based on their negative zeta electrokinetic potential. The zeta selection of cryopreserved sperm is unknown. The objective was to study the effect of zeta processing on the morphology and kinematic parameters of cryopreserved-thawed sperm.

In vitro tagging of embryos with nanoparticles.

Purpose: To develop an in vitro method for tagging embryos and to compare the development of the embryos after nanoparticles injection versus externally-applied nanoparticles derived from either polystyrene or polyacrylonitrile.

Methods: Each mouse 1-cell embryo (the selected test-model) was either: (a) injected by intracytoplasmic injection or (b) co-incubated with different nanoparticles at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2 in air. The embryos were assessed after 2 and 6 days of culture.

Influence of nanoparticles on morphological differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Objective: To assess mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell viability, growth, and differentiated morphology after exposure to different concentrations of nanoparticles.

Design: Cell culture for 6 days.

Setting: University research laboratory.

Human papilloma virus DNA exposure and embryo survival is stage-specific.

Purpose: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to disrupt late-stage implanting embryos. The objectives were (a) to assess the development of early embryos exposed to HPV DNA and (b) to analyze the blastocyst hatching process after HPV exposure.

Methods: The study involved exposing two-cell and 4-8-cell mouse embryos to DNA fragments from either HPV type 16, type 18 or DQA1 (control).

A simple zeta method for sperm selection based on membrane charge.

Objective: The objectives were: [1] to develop a simple zeta potential method for sperm isolation; and [2] to analyze the sperm maturity, morphology, kinematic, and DNA parameters.

Design: The phenomenon of sticky sperm adhering to slide surfaces was adapted for collecting charged sperm.

Setting: Clinical and academic research environment.

Mouse embryonic stem cells for quality control testing in assisted reproductive technology programs.

Objective: To compare the mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell assay with the sperm motility test or 1-cell mouse embryo bioassay for embryotoxic materials.

Study Design: Cryo-preserved-thawed mouse ES-D3 cells, 1-cell mouse embryos and donor sperm were incubated for 1-4 days in culture medium exposed to a control and 4 different test materials. ES cell viability (eosin method), apoptosis (Sybr-Gold fluorescence), development of blastocysts and sperm motility parameters were measured.

Luteal phase serum cell-free DNA as a marker of failed pregnancy after assisted reproductive technology.

Purpose: DNA-damaging factors have been reported in patients that failed to achieve pregnancy after assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The hypothesis was that increased circulating cell-free DNA released by damaged cells could predict unfavorable conditions leading to failed ART treatment. The objective was to compare the relative concentrations of cell-free DNA in the luteal phase sera of nonpregnant versus pregnant patients.

Modified isocratic capillary electrophoresis detection of cell-free DNA in semen.

Purpose: The objectives were: i) to analyze semen for the presence of cell-free DNA and ii) to determine the association between sperm parameters and cell-free DNA.

Methods: Cell-free DNA in semen (N = 25 cases) were detected using the modified capillary gel electrophoresis (CE) procedure. SYBR-Gold was used to stain high (12 Kb) and low (1 Kb) molecular weight DNA fragments and the images analyzed.

Dual fluorescence analysis of DNA apoptosis in sperm.

Objective: The objective was to compare fluorochrome Hoechst 33342 (Ho342) with combined Ho342/propidium iodide (PI) stains for assessment of sperm quality.

Study Design: Washed donor sperm cells were incubated in either 0, 0.15, or 15 micromol/L camptothecin (CAM) or 0.

Temperature variable and the efficiency of sperm mediated transfection of HPV16 DNA into cells.

Aim: To pretreat sperm at various temperatures before exposure to human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 DNA fragments and to assess the efficiency of HPV carrier sperm to transfect cumulus cells.

Methods: Cumulus cells from follicular aspirates were obtained, pooled and divided into culture dishes containing Sybr Gold-stained HPV DNA carrying sperm that were either pretreated at 4 degree C, 37 degree C or 40 degree C (n = 5). The cells were incubated in 5% CO(2) in air mixture at 37 degree C for 24 hours.

Effect of pentoxifylline on tumor suppressor and proto-oncogene apoptosis in sperm.

Purpose: Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitor reduces superoxide anions responsible for DNA apoptosis. The null hypothesis was that PTX was equally effective in reducing damage to specific cell genes. The objective was to determine the DNA integrity of the BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene and the c-myc proto-oncogene after PTX.

A simple DNA disc chip in a microarray design based on modified comparative genomic hybridization for sperm DNA analysis.

Objective: A DNA disc chip assay, based on comparative genomic hybridization, was designed to measure changes in sperm DNA intensities. The objective was to analyze the DNA integrity of hyperactive sperm cells after mild heat treatment.

Design: The assay based on a multiple cell comet assay was used to analyze changes in genomic DNA.