Effects of Jujingwan on nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase in seminal plasma of asthenospermia patients / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the possible action mechanism of Jujingwan on asthenospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Semen routine analyses and determination of nitric oxide (NO) concentration and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in seminal plasma were performed in 34 cases of asthenospermia. The changes of NO concentration and SOD activity before and after the treatment with Jujingwan were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with pre-treatment, there was no significant change in NO concentration, and the activity of SOD decreased significantly after the treatment ([95.97 +/- 20.75] microg/L vs [6.14 +/- 19.99] microg/L). There was negative correlation between NO concentration and SOD activity before the treatment (r = -0.246, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Jujingwan can significantly improve sperm viability in patients with asthenospermia. However, the excellent effects of Jujingwan are not displayed in the changes of NO concentration and SOD activity.</p>

Integrated treatment for azoospermia caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma: a case report / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate a therapeutic method for male infertility caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case of azoospermia caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma was reported and the Chinese medicine Jiaweishuiluerxiandan was used as a major therapy for 3 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patient's health condition was improved dramatically two years after being treated by the Chinese medicine but no sperm was found in his semen. However, three years after the treatment, his spermatozoon density was recovered from zero to 2.0 x 10(6)/ml with normal morphology. His sperm was subsequently used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which made his spouse pregnant successfully, and an healthy male infant was born by caesarean birth.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chinese medicine is a successful try at treating male infertility caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma. For those who have failed to get their sperm frozen before surgery, Chinese medicine is a choice for remediation.</p>

Diagnosis and treatment of iatrogenic ejaculatory duct obstruction following prostatic hyperthermia (report of 3 cases) / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the characteristics of diagnosis and treatment of iatrogenic ejaculatory duct obstruction following prostatic hyperthermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective analyses were made of the clinical data of 3 cases of ejaculatory duct obstruction following prostatic hyperthermia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 3 cases were diagnosed as urethrostenosis and deformity of the posterior urethra by transurethral ultrasound and semen analysis. And all the 3 patients had undergone prostatic hyperthermia for prostatitis. Transurethral resection of the ejaculatory duct (TURED) was performed to remove the obstruction and the postoperative semen analysis showed both semen volume and sperm count to be normal.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Urethra microwave thermotherapy, urethra radiofrequency, or per urethra rheophore ablation can be adopted in the treatment of protatitis, but should be strictly indicated and cautiously selected lest secondary iatrogenic ejaculatory duct obstruction should result. For the treatment of this obstruction, TURED is the first choice.</p>

Molecular identification of Ca2+ channels in human ejaculated sperm / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the types of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) in human ejaculated sperm using molecular technology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the WHO criteria, the donated semen was screened by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA), the sperm optimized by swim-up method, and the VDCCs' alpha1 subunits examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Such mRNA messages as alpha1H, alpha1G, alpha1E, alpha1B and alpha1C were detected, but alpha1A and alpha1D were not.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Human motile sperms express multiple VDCC RNAs, among which T-type and non-L-type channel messages are likely to be predominantly expressed. Not only T-type but also non-L-type calcium channels may be major gates for the external calcium influx, which helps regulate sperm motility and acrosome reaction.</p>

Clinical features and epidemiological survey of perianal warts in 72 males / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical features and epidemiological data of 72 cases of male perianal warts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two cases of perianal warts in our clinic dated from June, 2004 to April, 2006 were enrolled in the study, whose clinical information and epidemiological data were collected and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Perianal warts were most commonly seen in young and middle-aged men aged from 18 to 45, only 12.5% of whom had homosexual behaviors. Sauna was another predisposing factor of perianal warts in males in China (chi2 = 5.03, P < 0.05). Primary eruptions of the anus and rectum, like perianal pruritus, eczema, anus fissure, and haemorrhoids, often impaired the local integrity of skin/mucosa. Classical condyloma acuminate was found in 61 (84.72%) of patients, who were susceptive to the infections of HPV 6/11, and were flat condylomas related to HPV16/18. Cryotherapy was believed to be one of the most efficient therapeutic choices for flat perianal warts. Suppression of cellular immune response was identified in the patients by comparison between the subgroups of peripheral T cells and the normal control.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sauna is an essential predisposing factor of perianal warts in males, while anus sexual intercourse is not the main route of HPV infection. Classical condylomata acuminate constitute the majority of the eruptions, and flat condylomata come next. The study also provides some useful data for understanding the clinical and epidemiological features of perianal warts in Chinese males for the sake of prevention and treatment of the disease.</p>

Correlation of total antioxidant capacity in seminal plasma with sperm motility of infertile men / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the correlation of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in seminal plasma with sperm motility in infertile men, and explore the clinical significance of TAC in seminal plasma in male fertility.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and thirteen infertile men with normal sperm density were included in the experiment group and 28 fertile men in the normal control. The seminal parameter analysis was performed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) system. Seminal plasma TAC was measured with spectroscopic analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seminal plasma TAC was (14.37 +/- 8.45) U in the infertile men with normal sperm density and (19.82 +/- 6.33) U in the fertile control. Compared with the fertile men, seminal plasma TAC in the experiment group was significantly lower (P < 0.01). There was significant correlation between seminal plasma TAC and sperm motility, grade a sperm (r = 0.208, P < 0.05), grade (a + b) sperm (r = 0.231, P < 0.05), straightness (STR) (r = 0.200, P < 0.05), linearity (LIN) (r = 0.208, P < 0.05), curvilinear velocity (VCL) (r = 0.189, P < 0.05), straight line velocity (VSL) (r = 0.210, P < 0.05), average path velocity (VAP) (r = 0.215, P < 0.05), and beat cross frequency (BCF) (r = -0.248, P < 0.01). There was no significant correlation among the average motion degree (MAD), the amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and wobbly (WOB).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TAC in seminal plasma is closely related to male fertility, appropriate TAC provides a favourable environment for sperm swimming. The decreased level of TAC in seminal plasma may be one of the causes of male infertility. The analysis of TAC in seminal plasma may afford valuable evidence in exploring the mechanism of male infertility and in clinical medication.</p>

Analysis of an AZFc deletion family with natural transmission / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report a rare family of AZFc deletion with natural transmission and explore the potential mechanism by which identical microdeletions cause different phenotypes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Chromosomal quantity and construction were detected by G-band, Y-chromosomal microdeletions by multiple PCR amplification for 12 sequence tagged sites (STSs, and the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the DAZL gene, the autosomal homologue of deleted-in-azoospermia (DAZ) gene by DNA sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Chromosome analysis revealed a normal karyotype 46, XY in the father and both of his two sons and microdeletions of the full AZFc region were identical, including sY152, sY157, sY242, sY254, sY255, sY239 locus. However, the phenotypes of the affected patients were different: the father had normal fertility, but the sperm density of his two sons deteriorated age-dependently, and the younger one suffered from left cryptorchidism. SNP analysis demonstrated that two polymorphisms in exon 2 and 3 of the DAZL gene were identical in both the father and his sons.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Identical Y-chromosomal microdeletions causing different phenotypes in this family is not associated with the polymorphisms of DAZL gene and may be related to other genes or environmental factors.</p>

Carnitines and male reproduction / 中华男科学杂志

Carnitines are important conditionally essential nutrients in the organism, with extensive physiological functions, and highly concentrated in the epididymis and sperm. Carnitines play an important role not only in initiating sperm motility, promoting sperm maturation and enhancing sperm fertilizing, but also in regulating Sertoli cell function, protecting sperm against oxidative damage, reducing apoptosis of spermatogenic cell and inhibiting sperm aggregation. Accordingly, the objective of this review is to summarize the multifunctional roles of carnitine in male reproduction.

Chinese periodicals indexed in MEDLINE in 2006 / 中华男科学杂志

For the first time, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology published an analysis report of Chinese papers indexed in MEDLINE, which indicates that the Chinese government is paying more and more attention to the role of MEDLINE in the evaluation of scientific research. A total of 4 959 journals are listed in the Lists of Journals Indexed in MEDLINE (2006) published by National Library of Medicine, USA (NLM), of which 95 are published in China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan) and 2 another Chinese periodicals are published abroad. To familiarize MEDLINE to more medical researchers and to help them contribute to the journals indexed in MEDLINE, this article lists the top 10 Chinese medical institution whose published papers were indexed in MEDLINE in 2004 along with the Chinese periodicals indexed in MEDLINE in 2006. And the status of MEDLINE in China is briefly analyzed as well.

Evaluation of sperm mitochondrial function using Rh123/PI dual fluorescent staining / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility and clinical significance of detecting sperm mitochondrial function by using Rh123/PI dual fluorescent staining and flow cytometry analysis, and to explore the relationship between the results of Rh123/PI dual fluorescent staining and seminal parameters.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-three semen samples were classified as normal (n=31) and abnormal (n=32) according to the World Health Organization guidelines. Rh123/PI dual fluorescent staining was then carried out to evaluate sperm mitochondrial function by flow cytometry analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significant differences in Rh123+ PI-, Rh123- /PI+ and Rh123- /PI- were detected between the normal and abnormal semen samples (P < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the Rh123+ PI- sperm and sperm motility and a significant inverse correlation between Rh123+ PI- and immotile sperm. But the Rh123- PI+ sperm showed a contrary relationship with Rh123+ PI-. A significant inverse correlation was also observed between the Rhl23- /PI- sperm and sperm concentration in the abnormal group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rh123/PI dual fluorescent staining and flow cytometry analysis can readily and quickly detect sperm mitochondrial function and be used to evaluate semen quality.</p>

Progress of researches on carnitines in the clinical therapy of andrology / 中华男科学杂志

Carnitine, an important compound in the beta-oxidative process of mitochondrial fatty acid, plays a significant role in the cardiovascular, nervous, and reproductive system. Recently, carnitine has been used as a therapeutic in the treatment of male infertility, erectile dysfunction, Peyronie's disease, etc. Accordingly, the objective of this review is to summarize the progress in researches on carnitine as a clinical therapy in andrology.