Duration of sexual intercourse related to satisfaction: survey of Japanese married couples.

Purpose: Inappropriate intromission time causes sexual problems for couples, and therefore it is important for the couple to set treatment targets.

Methods: We investigated appropriate intromission times by conducting a questionnaire survey of the interval from initiation of insertion to just before ejaculation in Japanese married couples. A questionnaire survey of 300 married couples was conducted by mail.

Thy-1 cells isolated from adult human testicular tissues express human embryonic stem cell genes and and may include spermatogonial stem cells.

Purpose: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are self-renewing cells whose progeny are committed to differentiate into spermatozoa; this is a life-long process in male mammals. There are several methods for obtaining enriched populations of mouse SSCs, and immunological separation using surface antigens is a commonly used technique. The study of human SSCs is much less advanced.

Large-scale questionnaire survey of erectile dysfunction drugs in Japanese men.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the assessment of currently prescribed drugs and approaches to overall erectile dysfunction (ED) therapy. A large-scale questionnaire survey was conducted in patients with ED who had taken an ED drug in the past 2 months. Of the 308 patients surveyed, 23% became aware of having ED more than 3 years ago.

Cushing syndrome associated with prostatic tumor adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) expression after maximal androgen blockade therapy.

We report a patient with adenocarcinoma of the prostate, who eventually developed Cushing syndrome due to ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion from the tumor. At first, maximal androgen blockade (MAB) therapy was effective for the prostate carcinoma, which was positive for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and negative for ACTH on the biopsy specimen. However, 3 years later, the patient complained of bilateral leg edema.

Epigenetics in assisted reproductive technology.

It has been reported that the rates of epigenetic disorders such as Angelman syndrome (AS) and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) are high in offspring conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART). Angelman Syndrome is characterized by intellectual disability and BWS is known as large offspring syndrome (LOS). Weight abnormalities have also been reported in cloned animals.

New plication technique for the treatment of congenital penile curvature.

Conditions that cause curvature of the erect penis also lead to difficulties with intercourse. The present study presents an effective surgical treatment for congenital penile curvature. Between March 1996 and August 2004, 49 patients were diagnosed with congenital penile curvature at the Toho University Omori Hospital Reproduction Center, Tokyo.

Inactivation of the hMSH3 mismatch repair gene in bladder cancer.

Deficiency in the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) is frequently involved in various cancers. The hMSH3 gene is one of the human MMR genes whose role in bladder cancer is not known. We hypothesized that down-regulation of the hMSH3 gene might be involved in bladder cancer.

Evaluation of testicular microlithiasis in varicoceles.

 Testicular microlithiasis is said to be characterized by calcific concretions within the seminiferous tubules. There have been reports suggesting a link between testicular microlithiasis and testicular dysfunction and tumors.  In this study, we assessed subjects with varicoceles detected by using testicular ultrasound, and evaluated the cases of testicular microlithiasis in terms of age, seminalysis findings, and endocrinological parameters (testosterone, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin (PRL)).

Microdeletions in the Y chromosome of patients with idiopathic azoospermia.

Aim: To evaluate the occurrence and prevalence of microdeletions in the gamma chromosome of patients with azoospermia.

Methods: DNA from 29 men with idiopathic azoospermia was screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis with a set of gamma chromosome specific sequence-tagged sites (STSs) to determine microdeletions in the gamma chromosome.

Results: Deletions in the DAZ (deleted in azoospermia) loci sgamma254 and sgamma255 were found in three patients with idiopathic azoospermia, resulting in an estimated frequency of deletions of 10.

Measurement of intracavernosal catecholamine during a prostaglandin E test.

: Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a cause of male infertility among young men. The prostaglandin E (PGE) intracavernous injection test, an erectile function test, is known as an objective method of examining the penile vasculature system. However, some ED patients fail to sufficiently maintain an erection because of the stress load upon them during the test.