ABSTRACT
We report on our experiences with intracytoplasmic injection (ICSI) of epididymal and testicular spermatozoa (MESA, TESE) from azoospermic men whose wives had previously failed to become pregnant after several cycles of artificial insemination by donor (AID); because we do not perform AID treatment in our clinic, all these treatments were carried out in other fertility centers as well as the female diagnostic of sterility. In 3 husbands we could not find any testicular spermatozoa or spermatids, leaving 15 women under treatment. Of these 15 women, 9 became pregnant. This accounts for a pregnancy rate per patient of 60%. We believe that functional defects of the oocytes and somatizing psychological problems concerning AID are predominantly responsible for these results and that both problems can be overcome by ICSI. Besides, these results demonstrate that ICSI/MESA and ICSI/TESE are effective approaches in the treatment of azoospermic men and that using cryopreserved spermatozoa is not disadvantageous in the outcome of ICSI.
Subject(s)
Fertilization in Vitro/methods , Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous , Oligospermia/therapy , Spermatozoa/transplantation , Adult , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Microinjections , Pregnancy , Semen Preservation , Treatment Failure , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We report on our experiences with 25 married couples that approached us for intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) after previous failure of artificial insemination by donor (AID). AID has been carried out in several specialized fertility centers. We traditionally refrain from donor semen procedures. All patients have undergone at least 4 treatment cycles of AID, the maximum was 20. With exception of one all patients have been inseminated after ovarian hyperstimulation according to different protocols (e.g. GnRH-A/FSH, hMG; CC/hMG). Prior to ICSI we have confirmed male subfertility being in all patients of severe grade. All patients have been proven to have ejaculated spermatozoa. We have performed 71 treatment cycles for ICSI so far, 19 patients have become pregnant, 3 have aborted. The pregnancy rate per cycle is 26%, per embryo transfer 30%, and per patient 76%. We think that these results are primarily caused by so far unknown defects in oocytes and their function during fertilization. Besides, we assume psychosomatic causes maybe involved.
Subject(s)
Fertilization in Vitro/methods , Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous , Oligospermia/therapy , Spermatozoa/transplantation , Adult , Embryo Transfer , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Microinjections , Pregnancy , Treatment FailureABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the test-retest reliability of three administrative methods of the Work Box: (a) the original instructions, (b) a revised version of the original instructions, and (c) another revised version that was based on suggestions made by authors of the first two versions of the instructions. METHOD: Sixty subjects without disabilities were randomly grouped so that 20 subjects were tested per administrative method. The assessment was administered to each subject on two occasions, with a 7-day to 14-day period between tests. Scores were recorded as time in seconds, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to calculate the reliability. RESULTS: The ICCs for assembly, disassembly, and total scores were .589, .604, and .654, respectively, for the original instructions; .424, .572, and .545 for the revised instructions; and .781, .579, .717 for the second revised instructions. Reliability was found to be higher for men than for women and for subjects who claimed to have more rather than less experience in similar manual dexterity tasks. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the reliability of each administrative method and comments made by subjects about their understanding of the instructions, the second revised version of the instructions is recommended as the standard method. The results also indicate that the assessment is most appropriate for a population of men with manual dexterity experience. With further standardization, the Work Box could be a valuable assessment tool for therapists working in industrial rehabilitation settings.
Subject(s)
Motor Skills , Psychometrics , Work Capacity Evaluation , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reference Values , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Chronic pain can limit a client's ability to participate in the therapeutic regime of a work hardening program. Modalities that serve to decrease the pain perceived by such clients might increase their ability to benefit from the program. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of music on clients' pain perception while engaged in a work hardening program. Ten subjects from two work hardening programs participated. The data collection period covered 4 days, during which clients listened to music for 2 days and did not listen to music for 2 days while performing their regular work hardening duties. Subjects alternated between music and nonmusic days. Data describing clients' perceptions of both pain intensity and unpleasantness were gathered every half hour using a sliding version of the visual analog scale. Analysis of variance revealed a statistically significant lower level of pain perception on days clients listened to music versus when they did not listen to music.
