Cigarette smoking decreases sperm nucleoprotein transition in infertile males / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the impact of cigarette smoking on sperm nucleoprotein transition and its association with sperm motility in infertile males.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We examined the semen quality and sperm nucleoprotein transition of 116 non-smokers and 113 heavy smokers (aged 25 -50 years) who visited the Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology for male infertility. We determined the rate of individual sperm nucleoprotein transition by aniline blue staining and analyzed the correlation of cigarette smoking with routine semen parameters and the rate of sperm nucleoprotein transition. Based on the smoking index (SI) derived from smoking frequency (no. of cigarettes/d) multiplied by smoking duration (yr), the men with SI = 0 were considered as non-smokers, and those with SI > or = 200 as heavy smokers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rate of abnormal sperm nucleoprotein transition was significantly higher in the asthenozoospermic (23.5 +/- 9.4, P < 0.01) and oligoasthenozoospermic (28.2 +/- 9.2, P < 0.01) than in the normozoospermic males (19.0 +/- 9.0). Compared with the non-smokers, cigarette smoking remarkably reduced sperm nucleoprotein transition in both the men with normal sperm motility (21.9 +/- 9.8 vs 16.8 +/- 7.7, P < 0.01) and those with abnormal sperm motility (26.0 +/- 9.9 vs 22.7 +/- 8.8, P < 0.05). A weak correlation was observed between the rate of sperm nucleoprotein transition and routine semen parameters.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cigarette smoking is not significantly correlated with sperm motility but decreases sperm nucleoprotein transition in infertile males.</p>

Clinical diagnosis and treatment of male Kallmann syndrome / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of male Kallmann syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 12 cases of male Kallmann syndrome, 3 treated for male sterility and the other 9 for secondary sex characteristics dysplasia and external genitalia developmental anomalies, all by combined replacement therapy with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human menopause gonadotropin (hMG) and testosterone undecanoate for 6 months to 3 years. We compared the secondary sexual development and serum sex hormone levels of the patients before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 9 months of treatment, all the 12 patients showed significant improvement in the penile length, testicular volume and sex hormone levels (P < 0.01), with different degrees of promotion of the secondary sexual development. Three married cases could have normal sexual intercourse, and one of them achieved normal pregnancy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clinical characteristics of Kallmann syndrome include lack of gonadotropins, lower gonad function and loss or reduction of olfactory sensation. Replacement therapy with hCG, hMG and androgens is an effective treatment method. However, no effective therapy is now available for olfactory dysfunction. Early diagnosis and hormone replacement therapy can best alleviate its clinical symptoms and eventually achieve fertility.</p>

Testosterone level not significantly correlates to endothelial progenitor cells in Klinefelter's syndrome patients / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation of the testosterone level with circulated endothelial progenitor cells in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome (KS) and its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study included 36 patients affected by non-mosaic 47, XXY KS, each with one or more cardiovascular risk factors. Serum hormone levels and the content of circulated endothelial progenitor cells were determined by radioimmunology and cell culture methods, respectively, and the measurement was repeated after 6 months of testosterone replacement therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After testosterone replacement therapy, the testosterone level was increased from (8 +/- 3) to (24 +/- 10) nmol/L, while the content of endothelial progenitor cells ([41 +/- 48] cells/ml) showed no significant rise.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is no obvious correlation between the testosterone level and the content of endothelial progenitor cells in KS patients.</p>