OBJECTIVETo explore the contents of trace elements in the blood and seminal plasma of men and their correlation with semen parameters.

METHODSWe detected and analyzed the contents of calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron and lead in the blood and semen of 113 men with the BH-5100 5-channel atomic absorption spectrometer, YY-1001 blood lead instrument and Weili color sperm automatic analyzer to investigate the correlation of the contents of trace elements with quality.

RESULTSThe contents of lead, copper, zinc and iron in the blood were significantly correlated with those in the seminal plasma, but not the contents of calcium and magnesium. The contents of lead, copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron in the blood were significantly different from those in the semen. In the seminal plasma, the content of calcium showed a significant positive correlation with sperm motility, linear motile sperm motility (LMSM), straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), mean angle of deviation (MAD), active sperm density (ASD), average path velocity (VAP) and lateral head amplitude (ALH), while that of lead was negatively correlated with sperm motility, LMSM, ASD, motile sperm density (MSD) and linear motile sperm density (LMSD), and so was that of magnesium with sperm motility, LMSM and LMSD, and those of calcium, magnesium and iron with seminal pH. In the blood, the content of zinc was negatively correlated with sperm motility and LMSM, and so was that of magnesium with sperm motility, LMSM and VAP, while that of lead was positively correlated with ALH.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of trace elements in different body fluids are differently correlated with sperm quality.

Adult ; Blood ; metabolism ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; chemistry ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Trace Elements ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the method and clinical efficacy of laparoscopic excision of seminal vesicle cyst.

METHODSLaparoscopic excision of seminal vesicle cyst was performed under general anaesthesia in two patients with symptomatic seminal vesicle cyst confirmed by ultrasonography and CT scanning preoperatively. The sizes of the seminal vesicle cysts were 3.3 cm x 3.7 cm x 2.5 cm and 4.1 cm x 4.3 cm x 5.3 cm, respectively.

RESULTSThe operations were performed successfully in both the patients, with the operation time of 140 min and 100 min, blood loss of 50 ml and 20 ml, and postoperative stay of 6 days. The patients were followed up for 6 and 7 months, respectively. All the preoperative symptoms disappeared, and no complications and recurrence were found.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic excision of seminal vesicle cyst, with a good visual field, refined procedure, minimal invasiveness and rapid recovery, is a safe and effective surgical option for patients with seminal vesicle cyst.

Adult ; Cysts ; surgery ; Genital Diseases, Male ; surgery ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Seminal Vesicles ; surgery

OBJECTIVEChronic prostatitis (CP) is a common disease in adult males. Oxidative stress injury has been found to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of CP in recent studies. This study aimed to determine the contents of CuZn-super oxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum and EPS in CP patients and healthy men, and investigate their significance in the diagnosis and treatment of the CP.

METHODSA total of 120 out-patients with confirmed CP were equally divided into a type II, a type IIIA and a type IIIB group, and another 40 healthy males were included as controls. We determined the contents of CuZn-SOD and MDA in the serum and EPS of each group and compared their differences.

RESULTSNo significant differences were found in the serum CuZn-SOD content among the four groups (P > 0.05). The MDA contents were markedly higher in the CP groups than in the control (P < 0.01), but with no significant differences among the three CP groups (P > 0.05). The CuZn-SOD contents in EPS were remarkably lower in the type II and type III A than in the type III B and control groups (P < 0.01), but with no significant differences between the type II and type III A as well as between the type III B and control groups (P > 0.05). The MDA contents in EPS were markedly higher in the type II and type III A than in the type III B and control groups (P < 0.01), but with no significant differences between the type II and type III A as well as the type III B and control groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOxidative stress is stronger in type II and type III A CP patients than in healthy men, but has no significant difference between type III B patients and non-CP males. Determining the contents of CuZn-SOD and MDA in the serum and EPS could be very valuable for the diagnosis and assessment of chronic prostatitis.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Prostatitis ; blood ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the pregnancy outcomes of repeated IVF-ET cycles.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 702 repeated IVF-ET cycles (503 cases) performed in our center from 2006 to 2008, among which 191 cycles (Group A) had failed previously in other hospitals and 511 (Group B) in ours, focusing on the relationship of pregnancy outcomes with the number of repeated IVF-ET cycles and the age of the patients.

RESULTSIn Group A, there were no significant differences in pregnancy rates among the patients with 1, 2 or > 2 previously failed cycles (56.56% vs 66.67% vs 61.54%), while the numbers of oocytes obtained were significantly decreased (8.51 +/- 4.60 vs 8.48 +/- 3.32 vs 4.86 +/- 2.96) and the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) remarkably increased ([7.31 +/- 3.66] mIU/mL vs [6.83 +/- 2.35] mIU/mL vs [11.58 +/- 11.40] mIU/mL) in those with > 2 previous failures. In Group B, the results of the first IVF-ET cycle in our center showed that the number of oocytes obtained and the E2 level on the day of hCG injection were markedly decreased in the patients with 2 previously failed cycles (6.66 +/- 4.58 vs 9.59 +/- 4.30 and 2 396.87 +/- 1 602.02 vs 4 061.17 +/- 2 255.63), and so were the pregnancy rate, oocyte number, intimal thickness and essential FSH level in those with > 2 previous failures, but no significant differences were found in the rate of pregnancy, number of oocytes obtained, number of embryos transplanted and rate of abortions in those with 1 previous failure. The pregnancy and implantation rates of the repeated IVF-ET cycles were significantly reduced in the female patients aged < 38 years and with > 3 previously failed cycles, as well as in those aged > 38 years and with 1 - 4 previous failures, but not in those aged < 38 years and with < 3 previous failures in Group B.

CONCLUSIONThe pregnancy outcome of repeated IVF-ET cycles was not correlated with the number of the cycles, but maybe directly with different protocols in different reproductive centers. The rate of pregnancy was obviously decreased in patients that underwent over 4 repeated IVF-ET cycles, but had no obvious correlation with the number of cycles in those that received 1 - 3 cycles in the same reproductive center. The age of the patient influences the results of repeated IVF-ET cycles, and both pregnancy and implantation rates may decrease in those aged > 38 years.

Adult ; Embryo Transfer ; methods ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of phloroglucinol in preventing bladder spasm after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

METHODSUsing the random sampling method, we assigned 74 cases of TURP into a treatment group (n = 39), given 80 mg phloroglucinol every day for 3 days, and a control group (n = 35), left untreated. Then we observed the frequency, duration and pain of bladder spasm within the 3 days and compared them between the two groups.

RESULTSThe mean frequency, duration and pain visual analogue score of bladder spasm were (4.3 +/- 1.2) times, (7.2 +/- 2.1) min and 3.2 +/- 1.6 respectively in the treatment group, as compared with (7.5 +/- 2.4) times, (15.6 +/- 6.8) min and 4.7 +/- 2.3 in the control, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). And no obvious adverse reactions were found in the treatment group.

CONCLUSIONPhloroglucinol is safe and effective for the prevention and treatment of bladder spasm following TURP.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phloroglucinol ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; adverse effects ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; etiology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between -308 genotype polymorphism in the promoter region of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) gene and asthenospermia in infertile men.

METHODSAllele-specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) were used to analyze the genotype at position -308 in the promoter region of the TNFalpha gene in 187 infertile male patients, who were divided into Groups A (asthenospermia, n = 60), B (oligoasthenozoospermia, n = 65) and C (infertile patients with normal sperm, n = 62). The levels of TNFalpha in the seminal plasma from these patients were measured by radioimmunoassay, and all the data were statistically analyzed by SPSS16.0.

RESULTSGroups A and B exhibited significant differences from C in the frequency of GA/AA at position 308 in the promoter region of the TNFalpha gene (21.67% and 26.15% versus 8.06%, P < 0.05). Spearman analysis showed a negative correlation between the GA + AA type of the TNFalpha-308 allele and the percentage of grade a + b sperm (r = -0.690, P < 0.05). The level of TNFalpha in the seminal plasma was significantly elevated in Groups A ([4.23 +/- 0.45] ng/ml) and B ([4.29 +/- 0.47] ng/ml) as compared with C ([4.03 +/- 0.66] ng/ml, P < 0.05), but with no significant differences between Groups A and B (P > 0.05). It was also significantly higher in the GA+AA ([4.61 +/- 0.29] ng/ml) than in the GGtype ([4.06 +/- 0.45] ng/ml, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRegardless of sperm density, the frequently of TNFalpha-308 GA/AA is negatively correlated with the percentage of grade a + b sperm, which may be associated with the level of TNFalpha in the seminal plasma. Accordingly, anti-TNFalpha therapy might be effective for asthenospermia, and the measurement of the TNFalpha level in the seminal plasma can be an auxiliary diagnostic marker for male infertility.

Adult ; Alleles ; Asthenozoospermia ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), especially those in the urinary storage phase, following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and to improve the postoperative management and patients' quality of life after TURP.

METHODSA total of 86 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) underwent TURP, and were interviewed on urinary symptoms at 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days after removal of the catheter. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had preoperative detrusor instability and/or compliance of the bladder (Group A) or not (Group B), and observed for the changes in IPSS scores and urinary storage symptoms after removal of the catheter.

RESULTSComplete follow-ups were achieved in 71 cases, 28 with detrusor instability and/or compliance of the bladder and the other 43 without. Their IPSS scores on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 15th and 30th day after removal of the catheter were 8.1 +/- 2.5, 7.2 +/- 3.1, 6.3 +/- 3.8, 5.3 +/- 4.2 and 2.4 +/- 3.4, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the 7th and the 1st as well as the 30th and the 15th day (P < 0.05), but not between the 1st and the3rd nor the 15th and the 7th day (P > 0.05). On the 1st day, the cardinal symptoms in the urinary storage phase were urinary frequency, urgency and incontinence; the scores on IPSS and urinary storage symptoms were 10.4 +/- 3.3 and 9.3 +/- 3.8 in Group A and 6.2 +/- 2.8 and 5.2 +/- 2.7 in Group B, with significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). After treatment with tolterodine and alpha-adrenoreceptor inhibitor, neither IPSS scores nor the scores on urinary storage symptoms showed any significant differences between Groups A and B on the 15th and 30th day (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe lower urinary tract symptoms following TURP, especially those in the urinary storage phase, are correlated with preoperative bladder function, and getting improved gradually after surgery.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Incontinence ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of V89L polymorphism of the SRD5A2 gene with the prognostic factors of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSWe identified the V89L polymorphic sites of the SRD5A2 gene after Rsa-1 restriction enzyme digestion, observed the distribution of V89L (VV, VL and LL) polymorphism in 112 PCa and 89 benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients, and determined the association of V89L polymorphism with the age, free PSA (fPSA), total PSA (tPSA), fPSA/tPSA ratio, tumor stage and Gleason score of the PCa patients.

RESULTSNo statistically significant differences were found in the V89L polymorphism-induced genetic risk frequencies between the PCa and BPH groups (chi2 = 3. 606, df = 2, P = 0. 165), nor any significant correlation between the genotypes of VV and VL + LL and the differences in the fPSA, tPSA, fPSA/tPSA ratio, tumor stage, Gleason score and age of the PCa patients. VV and VL + LL showed no obvious association with the prognostic factors of PCa.

CONCLUSIONV89L polymorphism is not related with the prognosis of PCa, but may be indirectly associated with its risk.

3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ultrasonographic features of epididymides in congenital obstructive azoospermia (COA) and acquired obstructive azoospermia (AOA).

METHODSA total of 211 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia were observed by scrotal ultrasonography, and the features of the epididymal ultrasonograms were compared between COA and AOA.

RESULTSCOA exhibited significantly higher rates of ectasia in the epididymal head, cord-like changes, abrupt tapering and absence of the epididymal body and tail than AOA (P < 0.05), while AOA showed markedly higher rates of epididymal body and tail duct ectasia and epididymal inflammatory mass than COA (P < 0.01). Tubular ectasia of the epididymal duct in the head, body and tail were markedly higher in the COA (14 [5.9%], 41 [17.2%] and 20 [8.4%] cases in 236 epididymides) than in the AOA (P < 0.05). Retiform ectasia were markedly higher in the AOA (119 [64.0%], 142 [76.3%] and 109 [58.6%] cases in 186 epididymides) than in the COA (P < 0.05), with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). Ultrasonographically, the epididymides of the COA patients were characterized by irregular ectasia of the epididymal tube with decreased and unclear wall echoes (P < 0.05), and those of the AOA patients by regular ectasia with enhanced wall echoes (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe ultrasonographic epididymal features of COA are obviously different from those of AOA, which is of important clinical application value for distinguishing the two conditions from each other.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; Epididymis ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of strain patterns by transrectal real-time tissue elastography (TRTE) combined with transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) in the differential diagnosis of the peripheral zone lesions of the prostate.

METHODSA total of 145 patients suspected of prostate cancer (PCa) underwent TRUS and TRTE examinations. Based on the features of the strain patterns, the lesions were classified into 5 grades, and the strain patterns were compared with the results of pathological diagnosis.

RESULTSHigh-quality images of TRTE were obtained in 124 (52 malignant and 72 benign) of the cases. According to the pathological results, malignancies accounted for 6.8% (3/44) in Grade I, 23.1% (3/13) in Grade II, 31.3% (5/16) in Grade III, 75.6% (31/41) in Grade IV and 100% (10/10) in Grade V, with statistically significant differences among the 5 grades (chi2 = 57.9, P < 0.01), and the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 88.5%, 70.8%, 78.2%, 68.7% and 89.5% for TRTE, in comparison with 78.8%, 86.1%, 83.1%, 80.4% and 84.9% for the combination of TRTE and TRUS.

CONCLUSIONThe combined use of strain patterns and TRUS is helpful to the differential diagnosis of prostate peripheral zone lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prostate ; diagnostic imaging ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Rectum ; diagnostic imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; methods