L-carnitine: safe and effective for asthenozoospermia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>One of the important reasons for male infertility is asthenozoospermia, for which there is no specific cure for the time being. The authors explored the clinical effect of L-carnitine for infertile males with asthenozoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 135 patients with asthenozoospermia were randomly divided into Groups A (n = 68) and B (n = 67), the former treated with L-carnitine (2 g/d) and vitamin E, while the latter with vitamin E only, both for 3 months. All the patients received semen analyses before and after the treatment, and were observed for adverse effects. The pregnancy rates of their wives were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Group A showed a significantly increased percentage of forward motile sperm after the treatment (45.4% +/- 11.1%) as compared with pretreatment (28.6% +/- 9.2%) (P < 0.01), but no statistically significant differences were found in sperm density and the percentage of the sperm of normal morphology (P > 0.05). The rate of pregnancy was significantly higher in Group A (31.1%) than in B (3.8%) after the treatment (P < 0.01). No adverse events were found during the treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>L-carnitine, capable of significantly improving sperm motility and raising the rate of pregnancy, is a safe and effective therapeutic option for asthenozoospermia.</p>

The application of tunica vaginalis flap in urethral repair / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the application of tunica vaginalis flap in repairing the deformity of urethra and urethral fistulas.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tunica vaginalis flap from the scrotum were used to wrap the reconstructed urethra in the 38 cases of hypospadias urethroplasty and urethral fistulas repair from 2002.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of cases were followed up for six months to one year. There was a fistula reoccurred after epispadias fistula repair, the repair was successful in other patients. There was no recurrent fistulas or urethral strictures. Penile cosmesis was excellent and erected well.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The application of tunica vaginalis flap in urethral repair can raise achievement ratio and reduce the incidence of urethral fistulas. The flap is ease to mobilize with no harmful effects on the testicles.</p>

Correction of pediatric concealed penis by using a modified Devine' s technique / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the diagnosis of pediatric concealed penis and evaluate the results after the correction of the pediatric concealed penis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty patients with pediatric concealed penis were treated by using a modified Devine's technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The appearance with a straightening penile was achieved in all of the patients. All of the patients recovered well after the operation without any complications.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The modified Devine' s technique could be a safe and effective method for the correction of the pediatric concealed penis with satisfactory outcome.</p>