[A drift induced by the acquisition of a video system linked to a microscope]. / Une dérive induite par l'acquisition d'un système vidéo affilié à un microscope.

Further to the acquisition of a new material consisting in a microscope and its video equipment, we report the example of some drift with regards to written, updated and validated procedures. Indeed, once the new material was fully operating, depending on the operator, the (spermocytogrammes) morphology was realized either in oculars or by using the video screen. The statistical study performed on the results from 50 patients showed a significant difference in the results of the appreciation of the microcephalous and the macrocephalous according to the mode of observation that had been used. As an outcome of this study, we insisted that everyone within the team should work consistently and comply with the current procedures.

[Spermatozoon search in forensic medicine]. / La recherche de spermatozoïdes sur réquisition.

The search for sperm is part of the examinations wich may be prescribed, following a request of jucicial services, in case of a suspicion of sexual assault. This article applies to detail how the different phases, pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical, must be absolutely adhered to so that the biologist, expert or not, in charge of this analysis, can be deliver results (positive or negative) that cannot be challenged.

[Tobacco: a potential inductor of lipid peroxidation of the human spermatozoon membrane?]. / Le tabac: un inducteur potentiel de peroxydation lipidique membranaire du spermatozoïde humain?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the membrane lipid peroxidation of human spermatozoon in a cohort of smokers in comparison of never-smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Malondialdehyde (MDA), a stable product of the membrane lipid peroxidation, was assessed in 25 smokers and in 17 never-smokers. In parallel, an evaluation of sperm characteristics was realized for all the studied patients. RESULTS: For the first time, between smokers and never-smokers, a significative increase of MDA concentrations was found by the U-Mann and Whitney test (0.118 +/- 0.176 vs 0.0392 +/- 0.0117 nmol/10(6) spermatozoa), a decrease of the forward motility (grade A), (18 +/- 8 vs 25 +/- 8%) and total sperm count (265.56 +/- 186.96 x 10(6) vs 399.30 +/- 322.23 x10(6)), and also an increase of tapering heads (6 +/- 4 vs 2 +/- 2%) or morphological stress pattern cells (39 +/- 6 vs 24 +/- 5%). In the smokers group, negative significative correlations were found by the non-parametric Spearman test between the MDA concentrations and the sperm count per mL (r=-0.767, p<0.001), the total sperm count (r=-0.656, p<0.001) and the percentage of normal morphology (r=-0.644, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Given of deleterious effects of tobacco in a large panel of human cells and specially on the male gametes, the increase of spermatozoon membrane MDA concentrations and the sperm abnormalities found in the group of smokers may be linked to cigarette smoking.

Hyaluronidase activity in serum of patients with monoclonal gammapathy.

Hyaluronidase and hyaluronic acid, two substances thought to be strongly implicated in carcinogenesis, were assessed in the plasma of 35 patients with newly documented monoclonal gammapathy and in 25 control patients. A significant increase was found in plasma hyaluronidase activity in the patients with monoclonal gammapathy. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between hyaluronidase activity and monoclonal immunoglobulin levels in plasma. An increase in serum hyaluronidase activities may be a response to the deleterious effect of hyaluronic acid in cell migration and tumor progression. Further studies are needed to assess the value of hyaluronidase activity as a marker of tumor progression.

[Lipid peroxidation, morphological stress pattern and nuclear maturity of spermatozoon]. / Peroxydation lipidique, profil morphologique de stress testiculaire et maturité nucléaire des spermatozoïdes.

Malondialdehyde, a stable lipid peroxidation product of polyunsaturated fatty acids, was assessed in sperm and seminal plasma of 21 patients to test a potential link between this compound and, the percentage of spermatozoon exhibiting a morphological stress pattern, and the results of the nuclear maturity test. An analysis by the Spearman rank correlation shows a statistically significant positive correlation between the sperm malondialdehyde levels and the percentage of spermatozoon with morphological stress pattern (r = 0.505, p = 0.024). No correlation was found between the sperm malondialdehyde concentrations and the results of nuclear maturity test. The result of this work shows that spontaneous stress pattern seems to be linked, in part, to an excessive lipid peroxidation of the spermatozoon membrane. On the other hand, it seems that malondialdehyde have no effect on the chromatin maturity. According to the deleterious effects of lipid peroxidation on spermatozoon, the determination of both percentage of stress pattern and sperm malondialdehyde levels seems to provide useful information on the fertility status of patients.