Whole-exome sequencing in patients with maturation arrest: a potential additional diagnostic tool for prevention of recurrent negative testicular sperm extraction outcomes.

STUDY QUESTION: Could whole-exome sequencing (WES) be useful in clinical practice for men with maturation arrest (MA) after a first testicular sperm extraction (TESE)? SUMMARY ANSWER: WES in combination with TESE yields substantial additional information and may potentially be added as a test to predict a negative outcome of a recurrent TESE in patients with MA. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: At present, the only definitive contraindications for TESE in men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) are a 46,XX karyotype and microdeletions in the azoospermia factor a (AZFa) and/or AZFb regions. After a first negative TESE with MA, no test currently exists to predict a negative outcome of a recurrent TESE. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: In a cohort study, we retrospectively included 26 patients with idiopathic NOA caused by complete MA diagnosed after a first TESE. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Twenty-six men with MA at the spermatocyte stage in all seminiferous tubules, according to a histopathological analysis performed independently by two expert histologists, and a normal karyotype (i.e. no AZF gene microdeletions on the Y chromosome) were included. Single-nucleotide polymorphism comparative genomic hybridization array and WES were carried out. The results were validated with Sanger sequencing. For all the variants thought to influence spermatogenesis, we used immunohistochemical techniques to analyse the level of the altered protein. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Deleterious homozygous variants were identified in all seven consanguineous patients and in three of the 19 non-consanguineous patients. Compound heterozygous variants were identified in another 5 of the 19 non-consanguineous patients. No recurrent variants were identified. We found new variants in genes known to be involved in azoospermia or MA [including testis expressed 11 (TEX11), meiotic double-stranded break formation protein 1 (MEI1), proteasome 26s subunit, ATPase 3 interacting protein (PSMC3IP), synaptonemal complex central element protein 1 (SYCE1) and Fanconi anaemia complementation group M (FANCM) and variants in genes not previously linked to human MA (including CCCTC-binding factor like (CTCFL), Mov10 like RISC complex RNA helicase 1 (MOV10L1), chromosome 11 open reading frame 80 (C11ORF80) and exonuclease 1 (EXO1)]. LARGE SCALE DATA: Data available on request. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: More data are required before WES screening can be used to avoid recurrent TESE, although screening should be recommended for men with a consanguineous family background. WES is still a complex technology and can generate incidental findings. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our results confirmed the genetic aetiology of MA in most patients: the proportion of individuals with at least one pathologic variant was 50% in the overall study population and 100% in the consanguineous patients. With the exception of MEI1 (compound heterozygous variants of which were identified in two cases), each variant corresponded to a specific gene-confirming the high degree of genetic heterogeneity in men with MA. Our results suggest that WES screening could help to avoid recurrent, futile TESE in men with MA in general and in consanguineous individuals in particular, but these results need to be confirmed in future studies before clinical implementation. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): The study was funded by the Fondation Maladies Rares (Paris, France), Merck (Kenilworth, NJ, USA), IRSF (Montigny le Bretonneux, France) and Agence de la Biomédecine (Saint Denis, France). There are no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

[Saw tooth cardiomyopathy: How to better diagnose?] / Saw tooth cardiomyopathy : comment mieux faire le diagnostic ?

With the increasing use of cardiac MRI, several cases were described as "sawtooth cardiomyopathy" or "tiger heart". The pathological aspects of these rare forms of myocardial dysplasia, frequently assimilated to non-compaction of the left ventricle, and its prognostic implications remain unclear. We present a case of "sawtooth cardiomyopathy" in a patient with a transient ischemic attack. This article aims to determine, with the other clinical cases in the literature, the MRI and echocardiography criteria for the diagnosis of this cardiomyopathy. Sawtooth cardiomyopathy is probably under diagnosed and deserves to be better known.

[Comparative analysis of the financing of follow-up and rehabilitation care institutions and public mental health institutions: Application for innovative and expensive drugs]. / Analyse comparative du financement des établissements de soins de suite et réadaptation et des établissements publics de santé mentale : application pour les médicaments innovants et onéreux.

Pharmacotherapeutic care is now expanding in public mental health institutions. Annual grants are funding the public psychiatric field, hindering access to therapeutic innovation and expensive medications due to long length of stay. On the threshold of the French Healthcare & Social Services Ministry "Ma Santé 2022" plan ("My Health 2022"), there is a risk of altering the continuum of care because of the complexity of the financing of certain high added value therapies. Despite a desire to adapt the system to meet constantly changing health needs, no actions have been taken to this date in psychiatry, with no funds being allocated for valuable medication, in contrary to follow-up care and rehabilitation structures, to our knowledge. This reinforces the discrepancy with the evolution of research, and further widens the gap in inequalities between health sectors. Optimising the funding of expensive medicines in psychiatry would make it possible to reduce the stranglehold of current allocations. Following the example of recent reforms in the follow-up care and rehabilitation structures, extra funds for high value-added therapies would make it possible to reduce complex medical decisions: from prevention to reintegration, patient care continuity would be vastly guaranteed.

Clinical evaluation of General Electric new Swiftscan solution in bone scintigraphy on NaI-camera: A head to head comparison with Siemens Symbia.

PURPOSE: The General Electric (GE) Swiftscan solution combines a new Low Energy High Resolution and Sensitivity collimator (LEHRS) with image processing (Clarity 2D) and tomographic step and shoot continuous mode. The aim of this study was to compare clinical and physical performances of this new technology in bone scintigraphy. METHODS: Physical phantom measurements were performed using GE LEHRS, GE Low Energy High Resolution (LEHR) and Siemens LEHR collimators. These measurements were associated with a prospective clinical study. Sixty-seven patients referred for bone scintigraphy were enrolled from February to July 2018. Each patient underwent two acquisitions consecutively on GE and Siemens gamma camera, using respectively Swiftscan solution and LEHR collimator. RESULTS: On planar acquisitions, maximum sensitivity was 100 cts/MBq for Siemens LEHR. GE SwiftScan LEHRS and GE LEHR maximum sensitivity were respectively 9% and 22% lower. Using Clarity 2D, GE Swiftscan LEHRS spatial resolution was the best with 9.2 mm versus 10.1 mm and 10.6 mm for GE LEHR and Siemens LEHR collimators. In tomographic mode, the sensitivity of GE Swiftscan solution was superior to both LEHR systems (16% and 25% respectively for Siemens and GE). There was no significant difference in spatial resolution. In clinical use, signal was higher on Siemens system and noise was lower on GE Swiftscan solution. Contrast-to-noise ratios were not significantly different between the two systems. There was a significant image quality improvement with GE SwiftScan in planar images and in whole body scan. No significant difference in image quality was observed on SPECT images. CONCLUSION: New GE SwiftScan collimator design improved sensitivity compared to "classical" GE LEHR collimator without compromising resolution. GE SwiftScan solution enhances planar image quality with a better Clarity 2D resolution recovery and noise treatment. In SPECT mode, GE SwiftScan solution improves volumetric sensitivity without significant impact on image quality, and could lead to time or dose reduction.

Disparities in reproductive outcomes according to the endometrial preparation protocol in frozen embryo transfer : The risk of early pregnancy loss in frozen embryo transfer cycles.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of stimulated and artificial endometrial preparation protocols on reproductive outcomes in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 1926 FET cycles over a 3.5-year period in the Fertility Unit at a University Hospital. Stimulated and artificial protocols were used for endometrial preparation. The embryos for FET were obtained from either in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. Live birth rate and early pregnancy loss rates were retrospectively compared. In artificial protocols, oral or vaginal administration of oestradiol 2 mg two or three times a day was followed by vaginal supplementation with progesterone 200 mg two or three times a day. In stimulated protocols, recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone was administered from day 4 onward. Vaginal ultrasound was used for endometrial and ovarian monitoring. A pregnancy test was performed 14 days after FET. If it was positive, oestradiol and progesterone were administered up until the 12th week of gestation in artificial cycles. We defined early pregnancy losses as biochemical pregnancies (preclinical losses) and miscarriages. RESULTS: Data on 865 artificial cycles (45% of the total) and 1061 stimulated cycles (55%) were collected. Early pregnancy loss rate was significantly lower for stimulated cycles (34.2%) than for artificial cycles (56.9%), and the live birth rate was significantly higher for stimulated cycles (59.7%) than for artificial cycles (29.1%). CONCLUSION: In frozen embryo transfer, artificial cycles were associated with more early pregnancy loss and lower live birth rate than stimulated cycles.

[Male age in assisted reproductive technologies: Is there a limit?] / Âge du père en assistance médicale à la procréation : faut-il une limite ?

In France, there does exist any age limit for infertile men management neither in the law nor for the coverage by the "French Assurance Maladie". French law specifies only that both partners of the couple have to be "of childbearing age", but there is no definition for men of childbearing age. Does legislation have to determine a limit on man management in function of his age? Could ART practitioners decide (themselves) whether they take care of infertile men or not? Should male age be a criteria to decide this management? Would ART practitioners "need" a legislation to help them to decide? In 2016, the "French Assurance Maladie" covers all costs for infertile couple if woman is less than 43 years old, whatever male age. If an age-threshold should be establish for the coverage of infertile men management by the "French Assurance Maladie", then what should be this threshold? In order to try to answer these questions, we asked them to French ART practitioners (gynecologists and embryologists) and gynecologists. The first questionnaire included 13 questions and was filled by 244 ART specialists; the second was filled by 138 gynecologists. Most of them agree to limit the male management and the coverage by the "French Assurance Maladie" at 60 for men in ART. Gynecologists who does not practice ART wish a limit for insurance (80% of them but are only 57% to wish a legal limit).

To be or not to be [fertile], that is the question.

BACKGROUND: According to our literature analysis, there are no data focused on spermatozoa emotional representations in childless men and data on the emotional repercussions of a diagnosis of infertility on men are still scarce. Thus, in this work, we investigated what the presence or absence of spermatozoa in the semen symbolize for men. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To answer this question, 441 childless heterosexual men participated in an anonymous, prospective, Internet-based survey. RESULTS: In response to the question "What would having a high or normal sperm count symbolize for you?" the most frequent answer was "ability to father a child". Men living with a partner were significantly more likely than single men to answer "ability to father a child" (p < 0.05) and less likely to answer "virility" and/or "ability to have an erection/ejaculation" (p = 0.001). In response to the question "If you found out that you had a low sperm count or no spermatozoa at all, how would you feel?", most of the men stated that they would be disappointed. Men living with a partner were more likely to state that they would feel ashamed (p < 0.05) or guilty with regard to their partner (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results should help us to improve (i) the way that male infertility is announced (it is easier to find the right words if one understands the possible importance of having a high sperm count) and (ii) the psychological, marital and sexual counselling provided to men with a diagnosis of infertility.

CONTEXTE: Dans la littérature, peu d'articles traitent du ressenti des hommes vis à vis de leurs spermatozoïdes. Que signifie pour un homme "avoir ou non des spermatozoïdes"? Voilà la question que nous nous sommes posée. MATERIEL ET METHODES: Pour y répondre nous avons élaboré un questionnaire qui a été rempli en ligne par 441 hommes hétérosexuels âgés de 18 à 45 ans et sans enfants. RESULTATS: A la question, "que signifie pour vous avoir des spermatozoïdes?", la majorité d'entre eux a répondu "être père". Les hommes en couple ont statistiquement répondu plus fréquemment "être père" (p < 0.05) et significativement moins fréquemment "être un (vrai) homme", "être viril", "être capable d'avoir une érection/éjaculation" comparativement aux hommes célibataires (p = 0.001). A la question, "qu' éprouveriez vous si on vous annonçait que vous n'aviez pas de spermatozoïdes ou moins que la normale?" la majorité d'entre eux à répondu "je serais déçu". Les hommes en couples ont répondu significativement plus fréquemment qu'ils se sentiraient honteux (p < 0.05) ou coupables vis à vis de leur partenaire (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Ces résultats préliminaires doivent nous aider à mieux comprendre le ressenti des hommes vis à vis de leurs spermatozoïdes et nous aider, nous spécialistes de l'infertilité, à mieux annoncer des infertilités par azoospermie ou oligospermie en adoptant une démarche de conseil psychologique, sexuel et conjugal dans l'annonce de cette infertilité masculine. En effet "ne pas avoir un nombre élevé de spermatozoïdes et a fortiori ne pas en avoir du tout" peut avoir un impact négatif sur l'homme en termes d'humeur, de culpabilité et d'estime de soi.

New evidence of Entamoeba histolytica infections in pre-Columbian and colonial cemeteries in the Caribbean.

ELISA was used to test the presence of the human pathogenic amoeba Entamoeba histolytica in archaeological samples from 2 cemeteries in Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean. Results show that 15.9% of the population was infected during the colonial period, a value comparable to the current rates observed in humans in adjacent countries. This study also confirms the presence of the current strain of E. histolytica in pre-Columbian South America before the European colonization in the 15th century and raises the possibility of an earlier transfer from Europe to the Americas.

[Radiation exposure of surgical staff during sentinel node surgery. Is there a risk for the surgeon and his team?]. / Évaluation de l'irradiation du personnel de chirurgie gynécologique lors de la recherche du ganglion sentinelle. Y a-t-il un risque pour le chirurgien et son équipe ?

OBJECTIVE: Assess the radiation exposure of surgical staff during sentinel node surgery in gynecology using a radiotracer, the (99m)Tc-microalbumin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A monocentric, prospective study was conducted during 3 months representing 40 sentinel node surgical procedures with different dosimetric measurements. Dosimeters were used to evaluate the whole body and the fingers radiation exposure for all exposed workers (surgeon, nurse and surgical assistant). Another dosimeter was used to estimate the atmospheric radiation level. The activity of (99m)Tc-microalbumin was 50.1±2.4MBq when the surgery was performed the same day and 90.4±3.2MBq when the surgery was performed the day after. RESULTS: Radioactive doses received during each procedure by the surgeon, surgical assistant and nurse are 5, 3.75 and 0µSv for whole body exposure and 17.5, 15.6 and 16.2µSv for extremities respectively. Atmosphere dosimeter does not detect any radiation over this period. On average, 200 procedures are performed each year in our hospital by 7 surgeons. Surgeon's radiation exposure remains below the threshold of 1mSv annual for whole body and 50mSv annual for fingers set for public by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: During sentinel node surgery radiation exposure of surgical staff is weak. Everyone, including the surgeon, receives a dose below the limits of the public radiation exposure. There is no need for special dosimetric monitoring or use radiation protective devices during the sentinel node surgery using (99m)Tc-microalbumin injection.

High-magnification selection of spermatozoa prior to oocyte injection: confirmed and potential indications.

Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) involves the use of differential interference contrast microscopy at high magnification (at least ·6300) to improve the observation of live human spermatozoa (particularly by showing sperm head vacuoles that are not necessarily seen at lower magnifications) prior to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) into the oocyte. However, a decade after IMSI's introduction, the technique's indications and ability to increase pregnancy and/or birth rates (relative to conventional ICSI) are subject to debate. In an attempt to clarify this debate, this work performed a systematic literature review according to the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed database was searched from 2001 onwards with the terms 'IMSI', 'MSOME' and 'high-magnification, sperm'. Out of 168 search results, 22 relevant studies reporting IMSI outcomes in terms of blastocyst, pregnancy, delivery and/or birth rates were selected and reviewed. The studies' methodologies and results are described and discussed herein. In view of the scarcity of head-to-head IMSI versus ICSI studies, the only confirmed indication for IMSI is recurrent implantation failure following ICSI. All other potential indications of IMSI require further investigation.

A genome-wide DNA methylation study in azoospermia.

The objective of this study was to assess genome-wide DNA methylation in testicular tissue from azoospermic patients. A total of 94 azoospermic patients were recruited and classified into three groups: 29 patients presented obstructive azoospermia (OA), 26 displayed non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and successful retrieval of spermatozoa by testicular sperm extraction (TESE+) and 39 displayed NOA and failure to retrieve spermatozoa by TESE (TESE-). An Illumina Infinium Human Methylation27 BeadChip DNA methylation array was used to establish a testicular DNA methylation pattern for each type of azoospermic patient. The OA and NOA groups were compared in terms of the relative M-value (the log2 ratio between methylated and non-methylated probe intensities) for each CpG site. We observed significantly different DNA methylation profiles for the NOA and OA groups, with differences at over 9000 of the 27 578 CpG sites; 212 CpG sites had a relative M-value >3. The results highlighted 14 testis-specific genes. Patient clustering with respect to these 212 CpG sites corresponded closely to the clinical classification. The DNA methylation patterns showed that in the NOA group, 78 of the 212 CpG sites were hypomethylated and 134 were hypermethylated (relative to the OA group). On the basis of these DNA methylation profiles, azoospermic patients could be classified as OA or NOA by considering the 212 CpG sites with the greatest methylation differences. Furthermore, we identified genes that may provide insight into the mechanism of idiopathic NOA.

Small human sperm vacuoles observed under high magnification are pocket-like nuclear concavities linked to chromatin condensation failure.

Since an embryo's ability to grow to the blastocyst stage and implant can be improved by selection of a normal spermatozoon with a vacuole-free head, this study set out to determine the nature of small sperm vacuoles observed under high magnification (>×6300). For 15 infertile men with various sperm profiles, high-magnification microscopy was used to select motile, morphometrically normal spermatozoa with no vacuoles (n=450) or more than two small vacuoles (each of which occupied less than 4% of the head's area; n=450). Spermatozoa acrosome reaction status and degree of chromatin condensation were analysed. Three-dimensional deconvolution microscopy was used to accurately image the nucleus and acrosome at all depths in all spermatozoa. In all 450 spermatozoa with small vacuoles, the latter were seen to be abnormal, DNA-free nuclear concavities. Spermatozoa with small vacuoles were significantly more likely than vacuole-free spermatozoa to have noncondensed chromatin (39.8% versus 9.3%, respectively; P<0.0001). There was no significant difference between the two groups of spermatozoa in terms of acrosome reaction status. No association between chromatin condensation and acrosome reaction status was observed. Small human sperm vacuoles observed under high magnification are pocket-like nuclear concavities related to failure of chromatin condensation.

Selection of normal spermatozoa with a vacuole-free head (x6300) improves selection of spermatozoa with intact DNA in patients with high sperm DNA fragmentation rates.

Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI, 6300× magnification with Nomarski contrast) of a normal spermatozoon with a vacuole-free head could improve the embryo's ability to grow to the blastocyst stage and then implant. However, the most relevant indications for IMSI remain to be determined. To evaluate the potential value of IMSI for patients with a high degree of sperm DNA fragmentation (n = 8), different types of spermatozoa were analysed in terms of DNA fragmentation. Motile normal spermatozoa with a vacuole-free head selected at 6300× magnification had a significantly lower mean DNA fragmentation rate (4.1 ± 1.1%, n = 191) than all other types of spermatozoa: non-selected spermatozoa (n = 8000; 26.1 ± 1.5% versus 4.1 ± 1.1%; P < 0.005), motile spermatozoa (n = 444; 20.8 ± 2.7% versus 4.1 ± 1.1%; P < 0.001) and motile, normal spermatozoa selected at 200× magnification (n = 370; 18.7 ± 2.7% versus 4.1 ± 1.1%; P < 0.001) and then motile, morphometrically normal spermatozoa with anterior vacuoles (n = 368; 15.9 ± 2.9% versus 4.1 ± 1.1%; P < 0.05) or posterior vacuoles (n = 402; 22.5 ± 3.6% versus 4.1 ± 1.1%; P < 0.001) selected at 6300× magnification. For patients with high sperm DNA fragmentation rates, selection of normal spermatozoa with a vacuole-free head (6300×) yields the greatest likelihood of obtaining spermatozoa with non-fragmented DNA.

Identification of Taenia sp. in a natural human mummy (third century BC) from the Chehrabad salt mine in Iran.

Tapeworm eggs from the genus Taenia sp. were identified during the study of mummy remains dated to 2,286 ± 28 BP from the Chehrabad salt mine in northwestern Iran. The presence of tapeworm in this salt mine provides paleopathological information. Moreover, it brings new information on ancient diet, indicating the consumption of raw or undercooked meat. Cultural aspects as well as archaeozoological data are discussed in order to try to detail meat consumption. Paleoparasitological data are rare in the Middle East, and this case study presents the first recovery of parasites in ancient Iran. It constitutes the earliest evidence of ancient intestinal parasites in this country and contributes to the knowledge of gastrointestinal pathogens in the Near East.

Food, parasites, and epidemiological transitions: A broad perspective.

Pathoecology provides unique frameworks for understanding disease transmission in ancient populations. Analyses of Old and New World archaeological samples contribute empirically to our understanding of parasite infections. Combining archaeological and anthropological data, we gain insights about health, disease, and the way ancient people lived and interacted with each other and with their environments. Here we present Old and New World parasite evidence, emphasizing how such information reflects the different ways ancient populations exploited diverse environments and became infected with zoonotic parasites. It is clear that the most common intestinal helminths (worm endoparasites) were already infecting ancient inhabitants of the New World prior to the European conquest, although not so intensely as in ancient Europe. The first paleoepidemiological transition from hunting-gathering to agriculture did not change the zoonotic infection pattern of people in the Americas. However, the same transition in Europe resulted in increased zoonotic parasitism with parasites from domestic animals. Therefore, there is a demonstrable difference in the impact of the first paleoepidemiologic transition in the Americas compared to Europe.

Paleoparasitological analysis of samples from the Chehrabad salt mine (Northwestern Iran).

Paleoparasitological analyses were performed on soil samples recovered from an ancient salt mine in Chehrabad, northwestern Iran (2500 and 1500 years BP). Parasite extraction led to the recovery of a large variety of human and animal parasites, including whipworm (Trichuris sp.), roundworm (Ascaris sp.), tapeworm (Taenia sp. or Echinococcus sp.), lancet liver fluke (Dicrocoelium sp.), and horse and human pinworm (Oxyuris equi and Enterobius vermicularis). These results are among the first positive traces of ancient parasitism in Iran, and the analyses carried out on the Chehrabad salt mine thus contribute to the establishment of an ancient parasite database in this country. They also provide additional information about the lifeway of ancient miners, health, sanitary conditions, diet, as well as human and animal relationships during mining activities. Moreover, these results contribute to our knowledge of ancient parasitism in the Middle East, a key region for parasite history and host/parasite relationships.

[Sexuality and infertility]. / Sexualité et infertilité

Following the recent medical innovations, it is now possible to disassociate sexuality and reproduction. With contraception, people can have free sexuality without the fear of an unexpected pregnancy. Frequently, Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), with in vitro fertilization, can obtain a pregnancy without intercourse. There are three major problems concerning infertility and sexuality. Firstly, infertility because of a sexual disorder; secondly, sexual disorder induced by infertility diagnosis; thirdly, sexual disorder induced by ART. Praticians should be aware of possible existence of sexual problems to allow the couple to express them. Once diagnosed, these troubles can be treated by the pratician himself or the couple has to be referred to a psychologist or a sexologist.

Follicular fluid protein content (FSH, LH, PG4, E2 and AMH) and polar body aneuploidy.

PURPOSE: Our objective was to identify a marker for oocyte aneuploidy in follicular fluid (FF) in women with an increased risk of oocyte aneuploidy after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three groups of oocytes were constituted for polar body screening by FISH (chromosomes 13, 16, 18, 21 and 22): Group 1, advanced maternal age (n = 156); Group 2, implantation failure (i.e. no pregnancy after the transfer of more than 10 embryos; n = 101) and Group 3, implantation failure and advanced maternal age (n = 56). FSH and other proteins were assayed in the corresponding FF samples. RESULTS: Of the 313 oocytes assessed, 35.78 % were abnormal. We found a significant difference between the follicular FSH levels in normal oocytes and abnormal oocytes (4.85 ± 1.75 IU/L vs. 5.41 ± 2.47 IU/L, respectively; p = 0.021). We found that the greater the number of chromosomal abnormalities per oocyte (between 0 and 3), the higher the follicular FSH level. CONCLUSION: High FF FSH levels were associated with oocyte aneuploidy in women having undergone controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

First World War German soldier intestinal worms: an original study of a trench latrine in France.

For the first time in the study of ancient parasites, analyses were carried out on samples taken from a First World War settlement in France (Geispolsheim, region of Alsace). Microscopic examination of sediment samples revealed the presence of 3 common human parasites, i.e., Trichuris trichiura , Ascaris lumbricoides , and Taenia sp. A review of paleoparasitological studies in Europe shows that these 3 parasites have infected humanity for centuries. Despite this recurrence, literature shows that knowledge regarding many helminths was limited, and their life cycles were only relatively recently elucidated. Finally, the present study provides additional information about the health of the German soldiers and the sanitary conditions in the trenches during the first modern world conflict.

[Bacteriospermia in Assisted Reproductive Techniques: effects of bacteria on spermatozoa and seminal plasma, diagnosis and treatment]. / Les bactériospermies en AMP: comment réaliser et interpréter une spermoculture? Qui traiter? Pourquoi? Comment?

The presence of bacteria in semen could induce impairment of sperm morphology, alteration of sperm function and mechanical or functional obstruction of the seminal tract. The term of bacteriospermia does not signify infection. Bacteriospermia and male accessory gland infection (MAGI) have indeed to be distinguished. They may lead both to male infertility but their diagnosis and treatment options differ. This review summarizes effects of bacteria and leucocytospermia on sperm parameters and functions. Then, indications, benefits and risks of treatment of bacteriospermia and MAGI, in assisted reproductive techniques (ART) will be discussed. For bacteria commonly observed in semen, this review aims at defining some thresholds above which a treatment is required. These thresholds were established according to literature, according to French microbiology society and in function of our usual practice. This review should help practitioners of reproductive medicine to take care of bacteriospermia in semen.