The Uruguayan semen donor population: A twenty-eight-year retrospective study.

Several studies have reported a global decline in seminal quality over the years. The objective of this study was to describe the semen donor population of Uruguay through comparing data of successive samples banked by the same donors and the analysis of their semen and physical characteristics, ancestry origin and educational level. A total of 3,449 ejaculated samples collected from 71 donors, cryobanked between 1989 and March 2017 at Fertilab, were analysed. Results revealed a mean age of 23.90 ± 3.98 years, an average weight of 74.95 ± 1.09 kg and a mean height of 1.78 ± 0.06 m. The majority of the donors trace their origin to Europe (74.65%, 53/71) and 66.19% (47/71) have a level of education higher than secondary school. We observed longitudinal differences in two parameters, that is sperm concentration and semen volume. Sperm concentration declined, while semen volume increased significantly over the 28-year period. The results of the present study are in accordance with that of previous articles that also reported a decline in sperm concentration over time. However, no differences were observed in total sperm number per ejaculate due to the increase in semen volume values, thus reflecting no real changes in sperm production over time.

A retrospective study on sperm banking: a Uruguayan experience.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of homologous sperm banking in Uruguay. METHODS: A retrospective investigation was performed on data collected between 2013 and 2015. Reasons for sperm banking, patient age, pre-freeze and post-thaw semen parameters, and recovery rates were analyzed. RESULTS: 623 samples were cryobanked between 2013 and 2015. Only 324 samples were considered for analysis after selection based on inclusion criteria. In most cases the samples were stored because the patients were undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment (n=190; 58,64%) or for oncological reasons (n=113; 34,88%). The median age of bankers was 34 years. In the cancer group, 61.95% (n=70) of the subjects had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Medians of semen parameters for both groups were above the lower reference limits dictated by the . In fresh samples, a significant difference was observed in progressive motility (47% vs. 56%) between ART and oncological patients. After thawing, total motility (27% vs. 32%), progressive motility (19% vs. 22%), and vitality (48% vs. 56%) differed significantly between ART and oncological bankers. CONCLUSION: Semen banking has been performed successfully in Uruguay and outcomes are on par with international standards. Surprisingly, the semen parameters of the cancer group were nearly normal.

Estado de la vitamina D en adultos uruguayos aparentemente saludables, en invierno y en Montevideo / Vitamin D status in apparently healthy uruguayan adults in winter in Montevideo city

Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia del estado de la vitamina D por los niveles séricos de 25(OH) Vit D total y su relación con edad, sexo, etnia, índice de masa corporal (IMC), exposición solar y parámetros del metabolismo fosfo-cálcico en adultos de ambos sexos, aparentemente sanos, en invierno y en Montevideo (latitud sur 34,50°). Material y método: estudio descriptivo, transversal, sobre 175/331 adultos (95% 50), 102 hombres y 73 mujeres (95% premenopáusicas), caucásicos (84%), exposición solar habitual (43%), IMC (62% >27 kg/m2). Se determinaron 25(OH) Vit D total, PTHi, calcemia iónica, fosfatemia, magnesemia y eIVFG. Resultados: niveles de 25(OH) Vit D: 89% <30 ng/mL; Deficiencia (<14) 25,7%; Insuficiencia (14 - <30) 63,4%; Suficiencia (30 - <=80) 10,9% (diferencias altamente significativas entre las categorías), sin asociación con ninguna de las variables estudiadas. La PTHi se correlacionó negativa y muy significativamente con la calcemia iónica, pero su correlación inversa con 25(OH) Vit D no alcanzó significación. Sin hiperparatiroidismo secundario al déficit. Conclusiones: la población aparentemente sana, en invierno, presentó muy alta prevalencia del estado de la vitamina D bajo, sin correlación significativa con ninguna de las variables. La PTHi mostró respuestas individuales diferentes frente a distintos niveles de 25(OH) Vit D, por lo que no es buen biomarcador del estado de Vit D en el organismo. Con estos resultados (en concordancia con la bibliografía) y ante la imposibilidad del cribado de la población global por el alto costo del test surge la pregunta ¿qué hacer? ¿Suplementación profiláctica en todas las edades?, ¿cómo?, ¿cuánto reponer?, ¿hasta qué niveles?, ¿valores >30 ng/mL protegen igualmente la salud ósea y la extraósea? La controversia persiste.

Objectives: Determine the prevalence of the "Vitamin D Status" through the serum levels of total 25(OH) Vit D) and its relationship with age, sex, ethnicity, BMI, usual sun exposure and parameters of the phosphate-calcium metabolism, in an adult population, of both sexes, asymptomatic and apparently healthy, in winter, in Montevideo (Latitude 34,50° S) Material and methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study where 175/331 outpatient subjects (18-76 y.o; 95% 50 y.o.), 102 men and 73 women (95% premenopausal), Caucasian (84%), usual sun exposure (43%), BMI (62% > 27 kg/m2 ). Total 25(OH)VitD, Intact PTH (IPTH), ionized Calcium, magnesium, phosphate eIVFG were determined Results: serum levels of total 25(OH)Vt D: 89% <30 ng/mL; Deficiency (<14) 25,7%; Insufficiency (14-<30) 63,4%; Sufficiency (30-80) 10,9%. Among categories, differences were highly significant, without association with any of the studied variables. IPTH had a negative and highly significant correlation with ionized calcium but the inverse correlation with 25(OH)Vit D didn´t reach significance. Secondary hyperparathyroidism due to the deficit wasn't found. Conclusions: apparently healthy adults in winter had a very prevalent "Low Vitamin D Status", without any significant association with the studied variables. IPTH had different individual responses before distinct levels of 25(OH)Vit D; then it isn´t a good bio-marker of "Vitamin D status". Facing these results ( in agreement with the bibliography) and the impossibility of a global screening (very costly test) ¿what to do?: ¿prophylactic supplementation at all ages?; ¿how; how much supplement; up to which level? ¿do >30 ng/mL levels protect similarly the osseus and the extra-osseus health? The controversy persists.

Objetivo: determinar a prevalência do nível de vitamina D de acordo com os níveis séricos de 25(OH) Vit D total e sua relação com idade, sexo, etnia, índice de massa corporal (IMC), exposição solar e parâmetros do metabolismo de fósforo e cálcio em adultos de ambos sexos, aparentemente saudáveis, durante o inverno na cidade de Montevidéu (latitude sul 34,50°). Material e método: estudo descritivo, transversal, com 175/331 adultos (95% 50), 102 homens e 73 mulheres (95% pré-menopáusicas), caucásicos (84%), exposição solar habitual (43%), IMC (62% >27 kg/m2 ). Foram determinados os valores de 25(OH) Vit D total, PTHi, calcemia iônica, fosfate mia, magnesemia e eIVFG. Resultados: foram obtidos valores de 25(OH) Vit D: 89% <30 ng/mL: deficiência (<14) 25,7%; insuficiência (14 - <30) 63,4%; suficiência (30 - <80) 10,9% (diferencias altamente significativas entre as categorias), sem associação com nenhuma das variáveis estudadas. Observou-se uma correlação negativa e altamente significativa da PTHi a calcemia iônica, porém sua correlação inversa com 25(OH) Vit D não mostrou valores significativos. Não se observou hiperparatiroidismo secundário ao déficit. Conclusões: a população aparentemente saudável, no inverno, apresentou uma prevalência muito alta de baixo nível de vitamina D, sem correlação significativa com nenhuma das variáveis estudadas. A PTHi apresentou respostas individuais diferentes considerando distintos níveis de 25(OH) Vit D, não sendo por isso um bom biomarcador do estado de Vit D no organismo. Com estes resultados, que concordam com os descritos na literatura e considerando a impossibilidade da triagem na população em geral devido aos altos custos surgem algumas dúvidas sobre que decisões tomar ­ realizar suplementação profilática em todas as idades, de que maneira, quanto repor, até que níveis, valores >30 ng/mL protegem igualmente a saúde óssea e a extra-óssea? A controvérsia persiste.