Effect of sperm washing on levels of reactive oxygen species in semen.

The possibility was evaluated that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by human sperm is stimulated by the repeated cycles of centrifugation and resuspension involved in conventional sperm preparation. ROS generation by human sperm was monitored before and after the washing of sperm from 55 men (43 men with suspected subfertility and 12 normal volunteers). The ROS activity of all 55 specimens before washing was inversely correlated with original sperm motility (r = .

Sperm acrosin levels in semen: comparison between ACCU-SPERM and Kennedy's methods.

The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of a new acrosin activity assay, ACCU-SPERM, and to correlate these results with the original Kennedy method. Thirty-nine specimens (26 patients and 13 donors) of 54 (72%) were found to be in the normal range (> 25 microIU acrosin/10(6) sperm) by the Kennedy method; the other 15 specimens were in either the indeterminate or subfertile range (< 14 microIU). However, according to the ACCU-SPERM method, (normal: 6.

Distal ureteral calculi: detection with vaginal US.

Purpose: To describe the use of vaginal ultrasonography to identify distal ureteral calculi and hydroureter.

Materials And Methods: Abdominal and vaginal sonography were performed in 13 women with distal ureteral calculi. Indications for sonography included flank pain, hematuria, and suspected appendicitis.

Relationship of sperm parameters with levels of reactive oxygen species in semen specimens.

The levels of reactive oxygen species were compared in semen specimens from suspected subfertile men and from normal volunteers, and correlated with other semen parameters. Reactive oxygen species formation was measured in semen samples that had no white blood cells by a chemiluminescence assay with a Luminometer. The relationship of seminal reactive oxygen species to several sperm parameters was evaluated.

The effect of testicular nongerm cell tumors on local spermatogenesis.

Objective: To assess ipsilateral spermatogenesis in men with malignant and benign nongerm cell tumors of the testis.

Design, Patients: Histologic review of radical orchiectomy specimens performed for 20 men with malignant nongerm cell tumors and 15 with benign testicular lesions, including five Leydig cell tumors with benign clinical features.

Main Outcome Measures: Degree of spermatogenesis was determined on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 representing mature sperm within a seminiferous tubule.

Patient-controlled analgesia versus intramuscular analgesic therapy.

The pharmacy and nursing time requirements, quality of postoperative pain control, and cost of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and intramuscular (i.m.) analgesic therapy were studied.

Levels of reactive oxygen species before and after sperm preparation: comparison of swim-up and L4 filtration.

In previous studies, high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been associated with an adverse impact on the fertilizing ability of sperm. The present study evaluated ROS levels in unprocessed (raw) semen specimens and in specimens processed by the traditional swim-up method and by L4 filtration, thereby assessing the potential of these techniques to damage sperm. Semen specimens from 26 men (10 patients in whom subfertility was suspected and 16 donors with normal fertility) were randomly collected, and ROS levels were measured.

Improvement in membrane integrity and acrosin levels of human sperm by use of L4 membrane.

Previous results have demonstrated the advantage of using an L4 filter as a method for sperm preparation is assisted reproductive techniques. The present study examined the effect of two sperm processing methods (L4 filter and swim-up) on sperm acrosin levels and the integrity of the sperm membrane as measured by the hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test. Semen specimens from 35 men (19 suspected subfertile men and 16 normal volunteers) were used to measure acrosin activity; 30 specimens (14 patients and 16 normal men) were used to assess the integrity of sperm membrane by the HOS test.

Prostate cancer screening: role of the digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen.

Background: This study was designed to determine the efficacy of digital rectal examination (DRE) and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for early detection of prostate cancer in men > or = 50 years of age.

Methods: A prospective single-center clinical trial was conducted to screen 644 asymptomatic men, who were elicited by newspaper and radio advertisements, with DRE and PSA. Quadrant biopsy examinations of the prostate were performed if PSA > 4 ng/ml or if DRE was suspicious.

Three-dimensional imaging and display of renal tumors using spiral CT: a potential aid to partial nephrectomy.

Objective: A new technique for creating three-dimensional (3D) images of renal tumors using contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT) is described and preliminarily investigated.

Methods: 3D spiral CT was employed in 2 patients before radical nephrectomy and in 5 patients before partial nephrectomy. Preoperative and postoperative image analyses were conducted to evaluate the ability of the images to depict key anatomic relationships in planning partial nephrectomies.

Inhibition of peritoneal tumor-cell implantation: model for laparoscopic cancer surgery.

A serious concern in applying laparoscopic surgery to malignancies is the possibility of tumor spillage and seeding. We developed a model of peritoneal tumor implantation using a murine bladder tumor cell line, MBT-2. Anesthetized C3H male mice underwent mock laparoscopy with or without peritoneal disruption and instillation of tumor cells via a 16-gauge angiocatheter, and the effect of heparin and the pentapeptide Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS) on tumor cell adherence and growth was evaluated.

Comparison of vasovasostomy techniques in rats utilizing conventional microsurgical suture, carbon dioxide laser, and fibrin tissue adhesives.

An evaluation of vas reanastomoses in rats comparing suture only, carbon dioxide (CO2) laser-assisted, and fibrin-based tissue adhesive was performed in our laboratory. A cohort of 60 known fertile male Sprague Dawley rats initially underwent lower midline abdominal exploration and transection of their vas deferens bilaterally, followed by immediate microsurgical vasovasostomy by one of the three experimental methods. All groups initially had the severed vasa ends coapted by two or three transmural (mucosa through serosa) sutures of 10-0 nylon under an operating microscope.

Complications of laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection.

Intraoperative and postoperative complications were assessed in the first 372 patients undergoing laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection at 8 medical centers. In 16 patients laparoscopic node dissection could not be completed due to patient body habitus or technical difficulties. Of these aborted procedures 14 occurred during the initial 8 dissections at each institution.

Comparison of semen analysis between the two Hamilton-Thorn semen analysers.

This study was designed to assess the reproducibility of the computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) system. Semen specimens from 41 suspected subfertile patients were analysed on two identical Hamilton-Thorn Motility analysers (HTM, model 2030, version 7). Specimens were analysed after liquefaction at 37 degrees C for 30 min on two HTMs adjusted to the same gate settings and by using the same semen droplet loaded on a Makler counting chamber prewarmed at 37 degrees C.

Influence of testicular carcinoma on ipsilateral spermatogenesis.

A histological review of radical orchiectomy specimens was performed to assess the impact of testicular cancer on spermatogenesis. Slides from 28 patients with testicular cancer were available for review, consisting of 14 pure seminomas, 12 embryonal carcinomas and 2 mixed tumors. For each specimen tubules adjacent (less than 3 mm.

Improvement in semen quality and sperm fertilizing ability after filtration through the L4 membrane: comparison of results with swim up technique.

The L4 filtration membrane was used at our laboratory on 30 semen specimens (19 from suspected subfertile patients and 11 from fertile donors) to assess changes in semen quality after routine sperm washing and swim up versus filtration through the L4 membrane. Of these 30 samples 17 (11 suspected subfertile patients and 6 fertile donors) were chosen to evaluate differences in sperm fertilizing ability between the 2 sperm preparation methods. Liquified specimens were analyzed on a Cell Soft semen analyzer.

Cystic testicular mass caused by dilated rete testis: sonographic findings in 31 cases.

We reviewed the scrotal sonograms of 31 patients who had a testicular mass consisting of multiple small spherical or tubular anechoic structures in the region of the mediastinum testis. The median age of the patients was 62 years (range, 31-76 years). The abnormality was unilateral in 22 patients and bilateral in nine.

The use of a Doppler probe in laparoscopic surgery.

The use of a doppler probe, specially designed for use in laparoscopic surgery is described. The doppler probe is easy to use and fits through a 5 mm laparoscopic port. It facilitates the identification of vascular structures and has been an aid in performing laparoscopic varicocele ligations, pelvic lymph node dissections, and cholecystectomies.

The use of a Doppler probe to facilitate laparoscopic varicocele ligation.

The applications of laparoscopic techniques continue to expand. Laparoscopic varicocele ligation offers the potential to diminish postoperative morbidity for the patient. The addition of the laparoscopic Doppler probe enables the surgeon to perform a precise ligation of the gonadal veins while preserving the spermatic artery.