Evaluation of a large cohort of men presenting for a screening semen analysis.

Objective: To determine: [1] what percentage of men in an infertile relationship will have a semen abnormality, [2] the average value for each semen parameter in this group of men, [3] the distribution of abnormal semen parameters in this group, and [4] if our data support the hypothesis that sperm concentration is declining.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: County hospital university-based infertility clinic.

Delayed primary wound closure in upper extremity soft tissue infections.

Health care costs for inpatient care have been escalating. Homeless and indigent patients may be unable to have access to clean toilet facilities to perform adequate wound care. Evaluation of delayed primary closure of upper extremity soft tissue infections after incision and drainage in 34 patients was done.

Heterotopic ossification following operative treatment of acetabular fracture. An analysis of risk factors.

A total of 237 patients with surgically treated acetabular fractures were analyzed to identify the risk factors predisposing to development of heterotopic ossification (HO) following operative treatment, and to evaluate both clinical significance of HO and the clinical outcome of operative excision of ectopic bone. All patients had a minimum of 1 year followup time. The degree of HO was determined from anteroposterior radiographs of the pelvis at the 1 year followup and was classified as Grade 0 or Grade 1 according to the amount of ectopic bone present.

Rôle of psychosomatic factors in peptic ulcer disease.

Evidence indicates that a link between peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and selected psychosomatic factors may exist. A series of 70 consecutive male and female adult patients were categorized by peptic symptoms and divided into four groups: a) controls; b) gastric ulcer (GU); c) duodenal ulcer (DU); and d) chronic non-ulcer dyspepsia (CNUD). All patients were interviewed and asked to answer a questionnaire that included demographics, medical history and the incidence of negative life events.

Ten-year follow-up of patients with secondary amenorrhea and normal prolactin.

A group of 46 patients with secondary amenorrhea without galactorrhea or hyperprolactinemia were studied retrospectively after being clinically categorized into four groups with the use of progesterone-induced uterine bleeding and measurement of serum gonadotropins and prolactin levels. The ability to have regular spontaneous menstrual cycles and to conceive was assessed after a follow-up period of 10 years. Patients who had been classified as having hypothalamic pituitary "failure" (hypoestrogenic amenorrhea) with low levels of circulating estradiol had a greater rate of recovery of spontaneous ovulation and menses when compared with patients who had been classified as having only hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction (euestrogenic amenorrhea).

The renal vasodilating effect of dopamine is mediated by calcium flux and prostacyclin release in man.

A low dose of dopamine (DA; 1 microgram/kg.min for 3 h) was infused into 10 normal subjects to determine whether vasodilator prostaglandins might be involved in the vascular action of this vasoactive hormone. Although this DA dose did not alter blood pressure, pulse, or cardiac index, it significantly increased renal blood flow (RBF), as estimated by para-amino-hippurate clearance [1.

Nonautocatalytic methemoglobin formation by sodium nitrite under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Aerobic exposure of human hemoglobin in 1:1 molar ratio to sodium nitrite induced an immediate and progressive formation of methemoglobin. Neither lag nor autocatalytic phases were observed, contrary to what was seen when diluted hemoglobin in buffered solutions was used. Hemolyzed whole blood, washed red cells with their plasma replaced by saline, and whole blood were exposed to identical sodium nitrite concentrations.

The clinical laboratory evaluation of cryptococcal infections in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The medical and laboratory records were reviewed in 37 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with cryptococcal infections. In 24 patients with the presentation of cryptococcal meningitis, the initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture was positive. The initial India ink mount demonstrated organisms in 79% of culture positive CSF specimens.