ABSTRACT
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) accounts for about 90% of male infertility; in many cases this disorder may be associated with oxidative stress, a condition that decreases the success of fertilization. Therefore, the empirical treatment of male infertility is often based on the use of antioxidants. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of three months' administration of a new nutraceutical preparation on hormone profile, sperm parameters and fertilization capability in men undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). A total of 36 OAT patients were daily treated for 3 months with a dose of a formulation containing: Inositol, L-Carnitine, Vitamins C, D, E, Coenzyme Q10 and Selenium. Selected parameters were analysed before (T0) and after (T1) treatment, and IVF outcomes were evaluated. We observed an improvement of sperm concentration, motility, morphology and vitality; blood level of testosterone also showed an increase. A significant increase of fertilization rate was detected in 14 couples, whose male partner were treated with the nutraceutical preparation. The present results indicate that a formulation containing antioxidant and energy supply substances was effective in the treatment of sperm alterations and led to significant recovery of fertilizing capacity.
ABSTRACT
Objectives:To observe the clinical features and factorsrelated to treatment decision for hospitalizedpatients with mitral regurgitation (MR). Methods:A total of 3 450 consecutivepatients with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) confirmed moderate to severe MR admitted in our hospital from 2014-01-01 to 2015-12-31 were enrolled. Base on therapeutic method, the patients were divided into 2 groups:Surgery group, n=1 845 and Medication group, n=1 605. The baseline data including TTE results were collected, clinical features were compared between 2 groups and factors related to treatment decision were analyzed. Results:Mean age of this patient cohort was (54.8±13.8) years including 26.99% (931/3 450) patients aged ≥65 years. The most common etiology was primary MR, 324 (9.39%) patients were asymptomatic at admission and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was evidenced in 55.28% (1 907) patients. Total in-hospital mortality was 0.75% (26). Compared with Medication group, the patients in Surgery group were younger ([52.65±12.01] years vs [57.39±15.25] years), prevalence of severe MR (56.69% vs 26.79%) and primary MR (89.49% vs 39.00%), as well as LVEF value ([61.62±9.20] % vs [48.00±17.53] %) were higher (all P＜0.001).Logistic regression analysis indicated that age (OR=0.561, 95% CI 0.503-0.627), MR etiology (OR=3.062, 95% CI 2.565-3.654), MR grade (OR=0.103, 95% CI 0.085-0.126) and LVEF (OR=2.478, 95% CI 2.147-2.860) were the determinants for treatmentdecision making in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe MR. Conclusions:In this patient cohort, there are considerable proportion of aged patients with moderate to severe MR. Primary MRis the major etiology. 46.52% patients received conservative therpay instead of surgery, older age,secondary MR, moderate MR and decreased LVEF are the major reasons for choosing conservative therapy in this patient cohort.
