Factors influencing sperm retrieval following testicular sperm extraction in nonobstructive azoospermia patients / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Azoospermia owing to testicular disorders is the most severe manifestation of male infertility. The main concern for patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) is the probability of successful sperm retrieval following testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine predictive factors correlated with sperm retrieval. METHODS: We assessed the testicular histopathological patterns, the choice of TESE surgical procedure, hormone levels, and chromosomal abnormalities in patients with NOA (n=170). The histopathology specimens were analyzed based on the histopathological patterns of hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest, and Sertoli cell-only syndrome. RESULTS: The mean rate of sperm retrieval was 48.8%. The rate of sperm retrieval was significantly higher in the hypospermatogenesis group than in the other groups (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between micro-TESE (vs. conventional TESE) and the sperm retrieval rate (odds ratio, 8.077; p<0.01). A logistic regression model demonstrated that high levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and small testicular volume were significantly associated with lower chances of successful sperm retrieval. CONCLUSION: Some parameters, including testicular histopathology patterns, FSH levels, testicular volume, and method of TESE surgery, may be able to predict the chances of obtaining spermatozoa in patients with NOA. However, despite the efficiency of some predictive models, the hope of retrieving any functioning spermatozoa may be sufficient to disregard predictive factors of the success of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in these patients.

[Attitude of students toward their field of study and future career in Neyshabur University of medical sciences]

Introduction and Aims: The students as key elements of university make the main bodies of the various society organizations. Students' attitudes towards field of study and future career are one of the factors influencing on quality of educational services. Therefore this study was conducted with the aim of the survey of the students' attitude of the Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences toward their field of study and future career

Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study conducted in Feb 2012. The population of the study is comprised of all the students of the Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences. The data collection tool was a self-made questionnaire including 34 questions. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Fisher's exact by SPSS v.16

Results: The student's average age was 20.54 +/- 1.24 and 61% of them were female. Average score of student's attitude towards field of study and future career estimated 44.18 +/- 5.96 and 46.85 +/- 1.93 respectively. Also in this study age of students has significant relationship with field of study [P=0.024] and future career [P=0.032]

Conclusion: According to the results, major of students have positive attitude towards their field of study and future career. People's complete familiarity with the academic fields and good counsel can play significant role for further strengthened attitudes

Flavonoids from salvia chloroleuca with alpha-amylsae and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory effect

It is believed that the inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes including alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase is one of the therapeutic approaches to decrease the postprandial glucose level after a meal, especially in the people with type 2 diabetes. Medicinal plants and their extracts are one of the main sources to find new inhibitors to the enzymes. In our study four flavonoids, namely luteolin 7-O-glucoside [1], luteolin 7-O-glucuronide [2], diosmetin 7-O-glucuronide [3] and salvigenin [4] were isolated from aerial parts of Salvia chloroleuca. The inhibitory activity of these compounds against alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase were evaluated. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 showed potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitory effect with IC[50] values of 18.3, 14.7, and 17.1 microM, respectively. Also these compounds exhibited moderate alpha-amylase activity with IC[50] values 81.7, 61.5, and 76.3 microM, respectively