Associations of sex hormone levels with body mass index (BMI) in men: a cross-sectional study using quantile regression analysis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Body mass index (BMI) has been increasing globally in recent decades. Previous studies reported that BMI was associated with sex hormone levels, but the results were generated via linear regression or logistic regression, which would lose part of information. Quantile regression analysis can maximize the use of variable information. Our study compared the associations among different regression models. The participants were recruited from the Center of Reproductive Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University (Changchun, China) between June 2018 and June 2019. We used linear, logistic, and quantile regression models to calculate the associations between sex hormone levels and BMI. In total, 448 men were included in this study. The average BMI was 25.7 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 3.7) kg m-2; 29.7% (n = 133) of the participants were normal weight, 45.3% (n = 203) of the participants were overweight, and 23.4% (n = 105) of the participants were obese. The levels of testosterone and estradiol significantly differed among BMI groups (all P < 0.05). In linear regression and logistic regression, BMI was associated with testosterone and estradiol levels (both P < 0.05). In quantile regression, BMI was negatively associated with testosterone levels in all quantiles after adjustment for age (all P < 0.05). BMI was positively associated with estradiol levels in most quantiles (≤80th) after adjustment for age (all P < 0.05). Our study suggested that BMI was one of the influencing factors of testosterone and estradiol. Of note, the quantile regression showed that BMI was associated with estradiol only up to the 80th percentile of estradiol.

Effect factors of trabeculectomy with intraoperative application of mitomycin C for neovascular glaucoma / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To analyze the effect factors of trabeculectomy combined with intraoperative application of mitomycin C in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma. METHODS: Fifty patients (50 eyes) with neovascular glaucoma collected from January 2013 to August 2015 in our hospital were treated by trabeculectomy combined with intraoperative application of mitomycin C. Single factor and multi factor variables analysis were used for effect factors of trabeculectomy combined with intraoperative application of mitomycin C in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma. RESULTS: By results of single factor variable analysis,0. 05 ). By multivariate analysis, 0.05). CONCLUSION: For patients < 50 years old with neovascular glaucoma, should be careful on the selection of surgical treatment. For high- risk patients, we should strengthen the monitoring and give timely intervention, which are helpful to improve the prognosis.

Decline of semen quality and increase of leukocytes with cigarette smoking in infertile men

Previous researches about the effect of smoking on semen quality are contradictory, and the mechanism behind the harmful effect of smoking on semen quality still remains unclear until today. The objectives of this study are evaluation of the relationship between smoking and fertility, investigation of the effects of cigarette smoking on sperm parameters and detection of presence of leukocytes within the semen of idiopathic infertile men from Northeastern China. A retrospective study of 1512 infertile patients who visited affiliated hospitals of Jilin University from 2007-2010 were enrolled in this study. Patients were assigned into one non-smoking and one smoking group which was divided into mild, moderate and heavy subgroups. Sperm parameters [including leukocytes] and sperm morphology analysis were performed using standard techniques. Compared with non-smokers, smokers had a significant decrease in semen volumes [p=0.006], rapid progressive motility [p=0.002] and sperm viability [p=0.019]; moreover, smokers had a significant increase in the levels of immotile sperms [p=0.005] and semen leukocytes [p=0.002]; pH and sperm concentration were not statistically significant [p=0.789 and p=0.297 respectively]. Sperm motion parameters were all lower in the smokers except for beat-cross frequency [Hz] [BCF]. Further, the percentage of normal morphology sperm was decreased significantly in smokers [p=0.003], the sperm morphology was worse with increasing degree of smoking. These findings suggest that smoking leads to a significant decline in semen quality and higher levels of leukocytes, thus smoking may affects the fertilization efficiency

Effect of moxibustion on motility, absorption and content of ATP in small intestine of spleen-deficiency rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of reinforcing function of moxibustion to spleen-stomach.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty healthy Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A (blank group), group B (model group), group C (moxibustion group) and group D (herbs group). The rat model of spleen-deficiency was established by intragastric administration with 200% Dahuang (Rhubarb) infusion. The rats in group A and B, and D served as the blank control, model, and Sijunzi decoction group respectively, while those in group C received moxibustion at "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Zhongwan" (CV 12), "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Weishu" (BL 21), etc. The common symptoms and intestinal propulsive rate were observed. The content of I-xylose in serum was detected by phloroglucinol method. Colorimetry method was used to detected content of ATP in jejunum tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with group A, the symptom score in group B was increased significantly (both P < 0.01), while the intestinal propulsive rates, the content of D-xylose in serum and ATP in jejunum tissues were decreased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with group B, the symptom score in group C and D was decreased significantly (both P < 0.01), while the intestinal propulsive rates, the content of D-xylose in serum and ATP in jejunum tissues were increased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There were no significant difference between group C and D (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion at "Zusanli" (ST 36) etc. could relieve symptoms of spleen-deficiency, enhance motility and absorption functions of small intestine and improve metabolism of small intestine. The efficacy is equal to administration of Sijunzi decoction.</p>

Assessment of released acrosin activity as a measurement of the sperm acrosome reaction / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To develop a method for assessing sperm function by measuring released acrosin activity during the acrosome reaction (AR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human semen samples were obtained from 24 healthy donors with proven fertility after 3-7 days of sexual abstinence. After collection, samples were liquefied for 30 min at room temperature. Standard semen parameters were evaluated according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Calcium ionophore A23187 and progesterone (P4) were used to stimulate the sperm to undergo AR. After treatment, sperm were incubated with the supravital dye Hoechst33258, fixed in a glutaraldehyde-phosphate-buffered saline solution, and the acrosomal status was determined by fluorescence microscopy with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled Pisum sativum agglutinin (FITC-PSA). The percentage of sperm undergoing AR (AR%) was compared to sperm acrosin activities as assessed by spectrocolorimetry. The correlation between AR% and acrosin activity was determined by statistical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The AR% and released acrosin activity were both markedly increased with A23187 and P4 stimulation. Sperm motility and viability were significantly higher after stimulation with P4 versus stimulation with A23187 (P < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between released acrosin activity and AR% determined by FITC-PSA staining (r=0.916, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Spectrocolorimetric measurement of released acrosin activity might serve as a reasonable alternative method to evaluate AR.</p>

Relationship between sperm motility parameters and sperm morphology / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the relationship between sperm motility parameters and sperm morphology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven hundred and eighty-three semen samples were tested. Sperm motility parameters were analyzed by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) , and sperm morphology assessed by automated sperm morphology analyzer (ASMA). The cases were classified based on the World Health Organization criteria. Morphologically 241 of the samples were normal and the other 542 abnormal.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>VCL, WOB, VAP of the morphologically abnormal group were significantly higher than those of the normal group (P < 0.05, P < 0.001), while MAD, LIN, STR of the abnormal group were significantly lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). There were significant positive correlations between the morphologically normal sperm rates and MAD, LIN, WOB, STR, and a significant negative correlation between the morphologically normal sperm rate and ALH.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Morphological abnormality of sperm is often accompanied with weak motility, which is probably attributed more to some factors that coact on both sperm motility and morphology than to the influence of sperm morphological abnormality on sperm motility.</p>

Combined treatment of landfill leachate with fecal supernatant in sequencing batch reactor / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

A laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is used to treat landfill leachate containing high concentration of ammonium nitrogen with municipal fecal supernatant. The SBR system is operated in the following sequential phases: fill period, anoxic period, aeration period, settling period, decant and idle period. The results indicated that the average removal efficiencies of COD, BOD(5), TN,NH(4)(+)-N were 93.76%, 98.28%, 84.74% and 99.21%, respectively. The average sludge removal loading rates of COD, BOD(5), TN and NH(4)(+)-N were 0.24 kg/(kg SS.d), 0.08 kg/(kg SS.d), 0.04 kg/(kg SS.d) and 0.036 kg/(kg SS.d), respectively. Highly effective simultaneous nitrification and denitrification was achieved in the SBR system. The ratio of nitrification and denitrification was 99% and 84%, respectively. There was partial NO(2)(-) denitrification in the system.

Ca2+ and sperm function / 中华男科学杂志

Ca2+ is an important positive ion in the living body. Recently, there have been quite a few reports about the function of Ca2+ in sperm. Calcium is considered as a regulator of sperm motility, a participant in sperm capacitation, and an essential second messenger for acrosome reaction. This paper reviews the relationship of Ca2+ with sperm function.

Effects of cigarette, alcohol consumption and sauna on sperm morphology / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate effects of cigarette, alcohol consumption and sauna on sperm morphology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>602 cases of male infertility were selected from our case database, who were divided into three subgroups: smoking (243) , drinking(224), sauna(135) and those without any of the above habits were taken as the corresponding controls. The sperm morphology were analyzed by automated sperm morphology analyzer(ASMA). A questionnaire was voluntarily filled out by patients in order to investigate cigarette, alcohol consumption and sauna frequency.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The normal morphologic sperm rates in cigarette, alcohol consumption and sauna groups were lower than those in the corresponding control groups, respectively(P <0.05, P <0.001). Percentages of irregularity head sperm were higher than those in normal controls, respectively(P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cigarette, alcohol consumption and sauna could affect sperm morphology, especially caused increasing of irregularity head sperm.</p>