[Does testicular volume reflect spermatogenic pattern in men with azoospermia?].

The aim of this study was to determine whether testicular volume can serve to predict patterns of spermatogenesis in azoospermia. In 27 tests of azoospermic infertile men, cytological specimens from several sites from each testis were obtained by fine needle aspiration. Testes were classified according to the most mature spermatogenic cell type.

Is diagnostic testicular fine needle aspiration necessary in azoospermic men before sperm aspiration/extraction for intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles?

Purpose: To determine whether diagnostic testicular fine needle aspiration (TEFNA) sampling needs to be performed in azoospermic men prior to obtaining testicular sperm cells for IVF-ICSI procedures.

Methods: Ten azoospermic patients underwent TEFNA in 1993-1996. During 1997, all patients underwent testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) and/or testicular sperm extraction (TESE) to retrieve spermatozoa for IVF-ICSI cycles.

[Follicle-stimulating hormone in azoospermia in prediction of spermatogenic patterns].

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is considered to be the most important plasma hormone correlated with spermatogenesis. Elevated FSH plasma levels were shown to be associated with complete damage to testicular seminiferous tubule germinal epithelium. Recently, there have been conflicting reports with regard to the value of FSH plasma levels in predicting seminiferous tubule histology in the azoospermic patient and hence, as a guide for therapy in assisted reproduction using testicular sperm retrieval.

Histologic evaluation of endoscopic versus suction biopsies of small intestinal mucosae in children with and without celiac disease.

Background: Concern over the adequacy of histologic diagnosis of endoscopic duodenal biopsies in children prompted this comparative study on the histologic quality of endoscopic versus capsule biopsies. We found this problem addressed in only six previous reports.

Methods: Blind examinations of the histologic sections of 48 duodenal biopsies obtained by gastrointestinal endoscopy in children aged 2-18 years were compared to 52 biopsies obtained by the small bowel suction method (from children aged 1-16 years).