Seminal plasma cotinine and insulin-like growth factor-I in idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermic smokers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess seminal plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels in cigarette smokers with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (iOAT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 110 men were divided into fertile healthy non-smokers, fertile smokers, infertile non-smokers with iOAT and infertile smokers with iOAT. Semen was analysed, and seminal cotinine and seminal IGF-I levels estimated. RESULTS: There were significantly lower seminal IGF-I levels in the smokers and in men with iOAT than in controls, and in both iOAT groups. Smokers, either fertile or with iOAT had significantly lower levels than in controls in mean semen volume, sperm production index, percentage of motile sperms, rapid linear forward progressive motility, linear velocity and sperm normal forms. Smokers with iOAT had significantly lower levels than non-smokers with iOAT in mean sperm production index, rapid linear forward progressive motility and linear velocity. In smokers, seminal cotinine was significantly and negatively correlated with both seminal IGF-I and sperm motility, while seminal IGF-I was positively correlated with the percentage of motile spermatozoa. CONCLUSION: Smoking effects on sperm variables could be mediated by decreased seminal IGF-I.

Growth in children with chronic renal failure and after renal transplantation.

Growth retardation is a major problem for many children with chronic renal failure (CRF) and transplantation. The aim of this study is to assess the relation between height, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), hormonal alterations in children with CRF on regular haemodialysis (HD), and the impact of functioning graft after kidney transplantation.Thirty-six hemodialysed children were included in the study beside 32 pediatric transplants. Mean duration on HD was 14.72 +/- 7.73 months for the CRF group, while the mean interval after transplantation was 1.97 +/- 0.9 years for the second group. Moreover, twenty healthy children of matched age and sex served as controls. Assessment of growth parameters included height, expressed as standard deviation scores (Ht SDS) for chronological age, serum levels of growth hormone (hGH), and parathormone (PTH). Growth performance was evaluated twice: at the start of the study and one year later. Children with CRF and transplantation had significantly higher levels of both serum hGH and PTH compared to their controls, while CRF children experienced significantly higher serum levels of both hGH and PTH compared to those with functioning graft. Furthermore, analysis of our results by non-parametric Kendall's correlation at the start and one year later revealed negative correlation concerning dialysis duration, serum creatinine, and PTH. On the other hand, positive correlation was achieved for serum calcium and GFR.