Reproductive effects of cadmium on sperm function and early embryonic development in vitro.

Cadmium is a major environmental toxicant that is released into the atmosphere, water and soil in the form of cadmium oxide, cadmium chloride, or cadmium sulfide via industrial activities, such as the manufacturing of batteries and pigments, metal smelting and refining and municipal waste incineration. In the present study, we investigated the effects of cadmium exposure on sperm quality parameters, fertilization capacity and early embryonic development. Our study showed that in vitro incubation of human or mouse sperms with cadmium for a long time (up to 24 hours) could significantly decreased sperm motility in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.

Another functional frame-shift polymorphism of DEFB126 (rs11467497) associated with male infertility.

DEFB126 rs140685149 mutation was shown to cause sperm dysfunction and subfertility. Indel rs11467497 is another 4-nucleotide frame-shift mutation (151bp upstream of rs140685149) that leads to the premature termination of translation and the expression of peptide truncated at the carboxyl terminus. In the present study, we performed a comprehensive association study to check the contribution of rs140685149 and rs11467497 to male infertility.

ICSI treatment of severe male infertility can achieve prospective embryo quality compared with IVF of fertile donor sperm on sibling oocytes.

Azoospermia, cryptozoospermia and necrospermia can markedly decrease the ability of males to achieve pregnancy in fertile females. However, patients with these severe conditions still have the option to be treated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to become biological fathers. This study analyzed the fertilization ability and the developmental viabilities of the derived embryos after ICSI treatment of the sperm from these patients compared with in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment of the proven-fertile donor sperm on sibling oocytes as a control.

Reproductive effects of two neonicotinoid insecticides on mouse sperm function and early embryonic development in vitro.

Acetamiprid (ACE) and imidacloprid (IMI) are two major members in the family of neonicotinoid pesticides, which are synthesized with a higher selectivity to insects. The present study determined and compared in vitro effects of ACE, IMI and nicotine on mammalian reproduction by using an integrated testing strategy for reproductive toxicology, which covered sperm quality, sperm penetration into oocytes and preimplantation embryonic development. Direct chemical exposure (500 µM or 5 mM) on spermatozoa during capacitation was performed, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) process, zygotes and 2-cell embryos were respectively incubated with chemical-supplemented medium until blastocyst formation to evaluate the reproductive toxicity of these chemicals and monitor the stages mainly affected.

[Quantitative analysis by real-time elastosonography for the differential diagnosis of azoospermia: preliminary application].

Objective: To evaluate the quantitative analysis by real-time elastosonography in the differential diagnosis of obstructive azoospermia (OA) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA).

Methods: We evaluated the elastosonographic images of 200 cases of OA, 300 cases of NOA and 100 normal healthy controls, calculated the strain ratio of the testis to the scrotal skin and the median strain ratio among the three groups, and analyzed the best cut-off point for differentiating OA and NOA by the receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results: The median strain ratio of NOA was 0.

[Ultrasonographic features of epididymides in obstructive azoospermia].

Objective: To investigate the ultrasonographic features of epididymides in congenital obstructive azoospermia (COA) and acquired obstructive azoospermia (AOA).

Methods: A total of 211 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia were observed by scrotal ultrasonography, and the features of the epididymal ultrasonograms were compared between COA and AOA.

Results: COA exhibited significantly higher rates of ectasia in the epididymal head, cord-like changes, abrupt tapering and absence of the epididymal body and tail than AOA (P < 0.

Differential diagnosis of azoospermia and etiologic classification of obstructive azoospermia: role of scrotal and transrectal US.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of scrotal and transrectal ultrasonography (US) in the differential diagnosis of azoospermia and the etiologic classification of obstructive azoospermia.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee, and all patients provided written informed consent. Between April 2006 and November 2008, 100 infertile men (mean age, 32 years; range, 22-51 years) with azoospermia were evaluated at scrotal and transrectal US, with an emphasis on abnormal US findings of the seminal tract and measurement of testicular volume.

[The detection of mutations in VHL gene from a single cell in a patient with von Hippel-Lindau disease].

Objective: To explore a technology for diagnosing VHL mutations from a single cell and provide experimental evidences for the feasibility of applying technology in detecting genetic mutations from a single cell.

Methods: After whole genome amplification (WGA) based on multiple displacement amplication (MDA) for a single cell, we did regular PCR following sequencing and detected the genotypes using the real time PCR based on TaqMan probes. We detected VHL mutations by the different terminal fluorescent changing.

[Male infertility update].

Exact etiological factors cannot be found in more than 70% of male infertility. Although the causes of some male infertility are known, the pathogenesis is not yet clear. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility are particularly complicated.

[Clinical analysis of serum endothelin in type 2 diabetic patients with vascular complications].

Objective: To explore the clinical significance of changes in urine microalbumin (UM) and endothelin (ET) in different courses of type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A clinical analyses of 30 type 2 diabetic patients with vascular complications (group A) was conducted in comparison with type 2 diabetic patients without vascular complications (group B) and patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, group C). With 30 healthy subjects with family history of type 2 diabetes (group D) and 30 healthy subjects without such family history (group E) as controls, UM and ET were determined in all the subjects for a statistical analysis.

[Relationship between serum vWF and PAF in type 2 diabetic patients and diabetic nephropathy].

Objective: To observe the changes in urine albumin (UALB), von Willebrand factor (vWF) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) in different courses of type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Levels of UALB, vWF and PAF were determined in 30 type 2 diabetic nephropathy patients(group A), type 2 diabetic patients without DNP(group B, n=30), patients with impaired glucose tolerance (group C, n=30), the first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients with normal glucose tolerance(group D, n=30) and 30 normal glucose tolerance subjects without family history of type 2 diabetes(group E).

Results: UALB and PAF contents were significantly higher in group A than in the other groups (P<0.