Aim:To establish the frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions in an unselected group of infertile Croatian men. Methods:An unselected group of 105 patients (male partners of infertile couples),both with idiopathic and...Aim:To establish the frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions in an unselected group of infertile Croatian men. Methods:An unselected group of 105 patients (male partners of infertile couples),both with idiopathic and non- idiopathic infertility,consecutively referred to the outpatient infertility clinic,gynecology department,General Hospital Pula,Istria County,Croatia,was examined for the presence or absence of Y chromosome microdeletions by poly- merase chain reaction analysis.Results:One of the 105 men (0.95 %,95 % CI=0.17-5.2 %) was found to have a microdeletion.Conclusion:A low frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions was found in the group of unselected infertile Croatian men.展开更多
Background:Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)is the primary cause of anovulatory infertility,bringing serious harm to women’s physical and mental health.Acupuncture may be an effective treatment for PCOS.However,systema...Background:Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)is the primary cause of anovulatory infertility,bringing serious harm to women’s physical and mental health.Acupuncture may be an effective treatment for PCOS.However,systematic reviews(SRs)on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS have reported inconsistent results,and the quality of these studies has not been adequately assessed.Objective:To summarize and evaluate the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS,as well as to assess the quality and risks of bias of the available SRs.Search strategy:Nine electronic databases(Cochrane Library,MEDLINE,Embase,PsycINFO,CINAHL,Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data,Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database,and China Biology Medicine disc)were searched from their establishment to July 27,2022.Based on the principle of combining subject words with text words,the search strategy was constructed around search terms for“acupuncture,”“polycystic ovary syndrome,”and“systematic review.”Inclusion criteria:SRs of randomized controlled trials that explored the efficacy and(or)safety of acupuncture for treating patients with PCOS were included.Data extraction and analysis:Two authors independently extracted study data according to a predesigned form.Tools for evaluating the methodological quality,risk of bias,reporting quality,and confidence in study outcomes,including A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2),Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews(ROBIS),Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metaanalyses for Acupuncture(PRISMA-A),and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE),were used to score the included SRs.Results:A total of 885 studies were retrieved,and 11 eligible SRs were finally included in this review.The methodological quality of 2 SRs(18.18%)was low,while the other 9 SRs(81.82%)were scored as extremely low.Four SRs(36.36%)were considered to be of low risk of bias.As for reporting quality,the reporting completeness of 9 SRs(81.82%)was more than 70%.Concerning the confidence in study results,2study results were considered to have a high quality of evidence(3.13%),14(21.88%)a“moderate”quality,28(43.75%)a“low”quality,and 20(31.24%)considered a“very low”quality.Descriptive analyses suggested that combining acupuncture with other medicines can effectively improve the clinical pregnancy rate(CPR)and ovulation rate,and reduce luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio,homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance,and body mass index(BMI).When compared with medicine alone,acupuncture alone also can improve CPR.Further,when compared with no intervention,acupuncture had a better effect in promoting the recovery of menstrual cycle and reducing BMI.Acupuncture was reported to cause no adverse events or some adverse events without serious harm.Conclusion:The efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS remains uncertain due to the limitations and inconsistencies of current evidence.More high-quality studies are needed to support the use of acupuncture in PCOS.展开更多
Aim： To determine whether there was any regional variation in the prevalence of azoospermia, oligozoospermia and mean sperm counts in male partners of infertile couples from different parts of India. Methods： Data o...Aim： To determine whether there was any regional variation in the prevalence of azoospermia, oligozoospermia and mean sperm counts in male partners of infertile couples from different parts of India. Methods： Data on 16 714 semen samples analyzed over the past five years from six different laboratories located in five cities of India were collated and evaluated. Results： There was a regional variation in the prevalence of azoospermia. The prevalence of azoospermia was extremely high in Kurnool and Jodhpur （38.3% and 37.4%, respectively）. There was also a regional variation in the prevalence of oligozoospermia （51%） in Kurnool. There was no significant difference in the mean sperm counts in normospermic men. Conclusion： There is a regional variation in the prevalence of azoospermia and oligozoospermia in the male partners of infertile couples from different regions of India. The prevalence of azoospermia in Kumool and Jodhpur is higher than any other worldwide reported literature, Further studies need to be carded out to determine the cause of this. （Asian J Androl 2006 Jan; 8： 89-93）展开更多
Korean ginseng and mountain ginseng （Panax ginseng CA Meyer） are important traditional herbal plants whose ginsenosides are generally accepted as serving to improve sexual functions, such as penile erection. We inve...Korean ginseng and mountain ginseng （Panax ginseng CA Meyer） are important traditional herbal plants whose ginsenosides are generally accepted as serving to improve sexual functions, such as penile erection. We investigated the effects of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng extract （TMGE） on male patients with erectile dysfunction （ED）. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted with 143 patients experiencing ED. Over the course of 8 weeks, one group took 1 000 mg of TMGE twice a day, and the other group took 1 000 mg of placebo twice a day. The effects of the TMGE and the placebo were analyzed using the Korean version of the International Index of Erectile Function （IIEF） questionnaire. A total of 86 patients completed 8 weeks of treatment. The scores on the five domains of the IIEF after medication were significantly higher than the baseline scores in the group treated with TMGE （P 〈 0.05）, whereas no significant improvement was observed in the placebo group （P 〉 0.05）. Erectile function and overall satisfaction scores after medication were significantly higher in the TMGE group than in the placebo group （P 〈 0.05）. Erectile function of patients in the TMGE-treated group significantly improved, suggesting that TMGE could be utilized for improving erectile function in male patients.展开更多
Endometrium is a specialized organ in which phenomena controlling the level of cell proliferation and apoptosis are marked. The aim of our study was to determine the presence of proteins involved in apoptosis and prol...Endometrium is a specialized organ in which phenomena controlling the level of cell proliferation and apoptosis are marked. The aim of our study was to determine the presence of proteins involved in apoptosis and proliferation: RCAS1, MT and the number of CD56- positive cells and their activity to elucidate their possible role in the development of adenocarcinoma and endometriosis. Materials and methods. MT, RCAS1, CD56- positivity and CD69 expression were assessed in 55 tissue samples by Western blot and immunohistochemistry methods. Results. We found that endometrium during secretory menstrual cycle phase is characterized by significantly higher RCAS1 and higher MT expression than in proliferative phase. The number of CD56- positive cells and the CD69 antigen expression was significantly increased. Endometrial adenocarcinoma was characterized by significantly increased RCAS1 expression, while MT expression was comparable to the level found in the secretory phase. The number of CD56- positive cells was significantly decreased and their activity was comparable to the level found in the secretory phase. Endometriosis was accompanied by significantly lower RCAS1 and MT expressions, with lower number of CD- 56 positive cells and lower expression of CD69 antigen in comparison to the secretory phase. Conclusions. The ability of endometrium to determine cytotoxic activity (RCAS1 expression changes) and high protection against DNA damage (MT expression) with concomitant changes in the number of immune cells and their activity, observed in normal endometrium during the menstrual cycle phases sems to be fundamental for pathological features of endometrial adenocarcinoma and endometriosis.展开更多
文摘Aim:To establish the frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions in an unselected group of infertile Croatian men. Methods:An unselected group of 105 patients (male partners of infertile couples),both with idiopathic and non- idiopathic infertility,consecutively referred to the outpatient infertility clinic,gynecology department,General Hospital Pula,Istria County,Croatia,was examined for the presence or absence of Y chromosome microdeletions by poly- merase chain reaction analysis.Results:One of the 105 men (0.95 %,95 % CI=0.17-5.2 %) was found to have a microdeletion.Conclusion:A low frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions was found in the group of unselected infertile Croatian men.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82174517)
文摘Background:Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)is the primary cause of anovulatory infertility,bringing serious harm to women’s physical and mental health.Acupuncture may be an effective treatment for PCOS.However,systematic reviews(SRs)on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS have reported inconsistent results,and the quality of these studies has not been adequately assessed.Objective:To summarize and evaluate the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS,as well as to assess the quality and risks of bias of the available SRs.Search strategy:Nine electronic databases(Cochrane Library,MEDLINE,Embase,PsycINFO,CINAHL,Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data,Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database,and China Biology Medicine disc)were searched from their establishment to July 27,2022.Based on the principle of combining subject words with text words,the search strategy was constructed around search terms for“acupuncture,”“polycystic ovary syndrome,”and“systematic review.”Inclusion criteria:SRs of randomized controlled trials that explored the efficacy and(or)safety of acupuncture for treating patients with PCOS were included.Data extraction and analysis:Two authors independently extracted study data according to a predesigned form.Tools for evaluating the methodological quality,risk of bias,reporting quality,and confidence in study outcomes,including A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2),Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews(ROBIS),Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metaanalyses for Acupuncture(PRISMA-A),and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE),were used to score the included SRs.Results:A total of 885 studies were retrieved,and 11 eligible SRs were finally included in this review.The methodological quality of 2 SRs(18.18%)was low,while the other 9 SRs(81.82%)were scored as extremely low.Four SRs(36.36%)were considered to be of low risk of bias.As for reporting quality,the reporting completeness of 9 SRs(81.82%)was more than 70%.Concerning the confidence in study results,2study results were considered to have a high quality of evidence(3.13%),14(21.88%)a“moderate”quality,28(43.75%)a“low”quality,and 20(31.24%)considered a“very low”quality.Descriptive analyses suggested that combining acupuncture with other medicines can effectively improve the clinical pregnancy rate(CPR)and ovulation rate,and reduce luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio,homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance,and body mass index(BMI).When compared with medicine alone,acupuncture alone also can improve CPR.Further,when compared with no intervention,acupuncture had a better effect in promoting the recovery of menstrual cycle and reducing BMI.Acupuncture was reported to cause no adverse events or some adverse events without serious harm.Conclusion:The efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS remains uncertain due to the limitations and inconsistencies of current evidence.More high-quality studies are needed to support the use of acupuncture in PCOS.
文摘Aim： To determine whether there was any regional variation in the prevalence of azoospermia, oligozoospermia and mean sperm counts in male partners of infertile couples from different parts of India. Methods： Data on 16 714 semen samples analyzed over the past five years from six different laboratories located in five cities of India were collated and evaluated. Results： There was a regional variation in the prevalence of azoospermia. The prevalence of azoospermia was extremely high in Kurnool and Jodhpur （38.3% and 37.4%, respectively）. There was also a regional variation in the prevalence of oligozoospermia （51%） in Kurnool. There was no significant difference in the mean sperm counts in normospermic men. Conclusion： There is a regional variation in the prevalence of azoospermia and oligozoospermia in the male partners of infertile couples from different regions of India. The prevalence of azoospermia in Kumool and Jodhpur is higher than any other worldwide reported literature, Further studies need to be carded out to determine the cause of this. （Asian J Androl 2006 Jan; 8： 89-93）
文摘Korean ginseng and mountain ginseng （Panax ginseng CA Meyer） are important traditional herbal plants whose ginsenosides are generally accepted as serving to improve sexual functions, such as penile erection. We investigated the effects of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng extract （TMGE） on male patients with erectile dysfunction （ED）. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted with 143 patients experiencing ED. Over the course of 8 weeks, one group took 1 000 mg of TMGE twice a day, and the other group took 1 000 mg of placebo twice a day. The effects of the TMGE and the placebo were analyzed using the Korean version of the International Index of Erectile Function （IIEF） questionnaire. A total of 86 patients completed 8 weeks of treatment. The scores on the five domains of the IIEF after medication were significantly higher than the baseline scores in the group treated with TMGE （P 〈 0.05）, whereas no significant improvement was observed in the placebo group （P 〉 0.05）. Erectile function and overall satisfaction scores after medication were significantly higher in the TMGE group than in the placebo group （P 〈 0.05）. Erectile function of patients in the TMGE-treated group significantly improved, suggesting that TMGE could be utilized for improving erectile function in male patients.
文摘Endometrium is a specialized organ in which phenomena controlling the level of cell proliferation and apoptosis are marked. The aim of our study was to determine the presence of proteins involved in apoptosis and proliferation: RCAS1, MT and the number of CD56- positive cells and their activity to elucidate their possible role in the development of adenocarcinoma and endometriosis. Materials and methods. MT, RCAS1, CD56- positivity and CD69 expression were assessed in 55 tissue samples by Western blot and immunohistochemistry methods. Results. We found that endometrium during secretory menstrual cycle phase is characterized by significantly higher RCAS1 and higher MT expression than in proliferative phase. The number of CD56- positive cells and the CD69 antigen expression was significantly increased. Endometrial adenocarcinoma was characterized by significantly increased RCAS1 expression, while MT expression was comparable to the level found in the secretory phase. The number of CD56- positive cells was significantly decreased and their activity was comparable to the level found in the secretory phase. Endometriosis was accompanied by significantly lower RCAS1 and MT expressions, with lower number of CD- 56 positive cells and lower expression of CD69 antigen in comparison to the secretory phase. Conclusions. The ability of endometrium to determine cytotoxic activity (RCAS1 expression changes) and high protection against DNA damage (MT expression) with concomitant changes in the number of immune cells and their activity, observed in normal endometrium during the menstrual cycle phases sems to be fundamental for pathological features of endometrial adenocarcinoma and endometriosis.
