BACKGROUND: We evaluated the performance of Modular Analytics (Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland) which is combined with automated chemiluminescent immunoassay analyzer and automated chemical analyzer

in order to assess its utility for the improvement of efficiency of routine immuno-chemistry workstation. METHODS: Within- and between-day precision, linearity, and recovery rates were evaluated for 21 items (T3, T4, TSH, E2, LH, Testosterone, FSH, prolactin, AFP, CEA, CA125, CA19-9, total PSA, CRP, ASO, RF, Ig G, Ig M, Ig A, C3C, and C4). Commercialized controls(Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland) and patient sera for test specimens were used. Centaur(Bayer Diagnostic Division, New York, USA) and LX 2200(Eiken Chemical Co., Tokyo, Japan) were used as the control analyzers to evaluate the correlation. RESULTS: Within-day Coefficients of variation(CVs) was below 5% for all the analytes and between-day CVs was below 5.0% except ASO(8.01%). The linearity was excellent(r2>0.999; slope, 0.98-1.02; p<0.001). Recovery rates for all analytes were in the range of 95% to 103%. The correlation coefficients between modular and Centaur was exceeded 0.971, and between modular

and LX2200 exceeded 0.910, except RF(r=0.834). (P<0.05) CONCLUSION: The recently developed Modular Analytics proved to be highly precise and linear for quantitative analysis of hormones, tumor markers, and serum proteins in routine immuno-chemistry workstation. Correlations with Centaur and LX 2200 were thought to be good.
Blood Proteins ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Prolactin ; Testosterone ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Partial androgen deficiency in aging males can be defined as a clincal condition characterized by a partial deficiency of androgen in blood and/or a decrease genomic sensitivity to testosterone or its active metabolites in target tissues. This state of hypogondism leads to a decline of physical energy, an altered state of well-being, a sexual dysfunction and various metabolic alterations. Testosterone supplement therapy can improve all these symptoms.
Aging ; physiology ; Androgens ; blood ; deficiency ; Humans ; Male ; Testosterone ; pharmacology

Erectile failure is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. We evaluate 2l male diabetic patients with erectile failure. Evaluation was done by CBC,SMA-12, Penile digital systolic pressure index(PDI), Bulbocavernous reflex latency time (BCRL) and serum testosterone and prolactin levels. All of the patients showed normal serum testosterone and prolactin levels. Of 21 patients, only 1 patient showed decreased PDI who also prolonged BCRL. And 12 patients (57%) were showed prolonged BCRL without decreased PDI. This study suggests that penile neuropathy is the most prevalent abnormality in diabetics with erectile failure and may predate vascular abnormalities.
Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Male ; Prednisolone ; Prolactin ; Reflex ; Testosterone

PURPOSE: This study investigated whether hormones and pain perception are associated with exam anxiety, and also whether exam anxiety is affected by seasonal differences in testosterone and cortisol levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six healthy males were recruited from a medical college. Anxiety was induced by having participants perform the Objective Structured Clinical Examination. Pressure was applied to the participants to induce pain. Pain thresholds, pain ratings, anxiety ratings, blood pressure, heart rate, salivary testosterone and cortisol levels were measured under resting and anxiety conditions in the spring and summer. Data were collected from 46 participants during the spring (n=25) and summer (n=21). RESULTS: Pain thresholds and testosterone levels were significantly lower under anxiety than at rest for all participants (n=46), while cortisol levels, pain ratings, and anxiety ratings were significantly higher under anxiety than at rest. In the spring (n=25), testosterone levels were significantly higher at rest than under anxiety, while there was no difference in cortisol levels between resting and anxiety conditions. In the summer (n=21), cortisol levels were significantly higher under anxiety than at rest, while there was no difference in testosterone levels between resting and anxiety conditions. There were no significant seasonal differences in pain and anxiety ratings and pain threshold. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that seasonal differences in testosterone and cortisol levels under anxiety and at rest may affect pain responses. These results also suggest that acute clinical pain may be relieved by managing anxiety that is related to a decrease of testosterone in spring and a large increase of cortisol in summer.
Adult ; Anxiety/*blood ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/*blood ; Male ; Pain/*blood/*physiopathology ; Seasons ; Testosterone/*blood ; Young Adult

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Corticosterone ; blood ; Hypoxia ; blood ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between pathological alterations of spermatogenic impairment in seminiferous tubules and serum inhibin B concentration in patients with azoospermia and to verify the significance of INH B in evaluating spermatogenesis.

METHODSEighty-three cases of azoospermia underwent testicular biopsy for the purpose of diagnosis. In accordance with the pathological alterations of spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules, the samples were divided into four groups: Sertoli cell-only syndrome (n = 21); hypospermatogenesis (n = 20); maturation arrest (n = 24) and almost normal spermatogenesis (n = 18). Serum INHB and FSH, LH, T concentrations were tested before testicular biopsy for each patient respectively.

RESULTSThe INHB levels were (20. 85 +/- 18.78) pg/ml, (67.25 +/- 40.98) pg/ml, (73.63 +/- 25.54) pg/ml and (149.48 +/- 27.92) pg/ml in the above four groups, respectively. There was no significant statistical difference in the level of serum INH B between maturation arrest and hypospermatogenesis groups (P > 0.05), and there was a very significant difference in almost normal spermatogenesis group and the other three groups, respectively (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the concentration of serum FSH when maturation arrest group compared with spermatogenesis group (P > 0.05), whereas between the other two groups and between each of them and maturation arrest or almost normal spermatogenesis there was a very significant difference in the level of serum FSH (P < 0.05); The concentrations of LH and T were not significantly different among the four groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSerum INHB concentration was decreased when spermatogenesis got impaired. It dropped the most markedly in Sertoli cell-only syndrome group. INH B reflects directly the spermatogenic function in seminiferous tubules of the testis. Therefore, it could be considered valuable for spermatogenesis and potential fertility in patients with azoospermia.

Adult ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Inhibins ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Oligospermia ; blood ; pathology ; Testis ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood

AIMTo investigate the effects of testosterone on bone mineral density (BMD), plasma levels of sex hormone and calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone (PTH).

METHODSThirty 10 week old male rabbits were randomized into sham operated (SH), orchiectomized (ORX) and testosterone undecanoate replacement (TU) group. TU rabbits were injected with testosterone undecanoate in 10 orchiectomized rabbits and the remaining SH and ORX rabbits, vehicle only 20 weeks after initiation of the experiment, bone mineral density was measured with dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer. Blood was collected for determination of serum levels of total testosterone, estradiol, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase (AKP).

RESULTSThe serum levels of total testosterone and femoral neck BMD decreased, serum levels of calcium, magnesium and AKP increased significantly in ORX rabbits, testosterone improved femoral neck BMD and decreased serum levels of calcium, magnesium and AKP significantly in TU rabbits.

CONCLUSIONThe results of the present study indicate that ORX decrease serum testosterone and BMD, exogenous testosterone treatment can prevent osteoporosis in ORX rabbits.

Animals ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Calcium ; blood ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Phosphorus ; blood ; Rabbits ; Testosterone ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo detect free testosterone (FT) in the serum and semen of patients with idiopathic oligospermia, and further analyze the relationship between FT and idiopathic oligospermia.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from the males of a normal control group (n = 44) and an idiopathic oligospermia group (n = 44) at 8:00-10:00 a.m.. Semen samples were collected from the males of a normal control group (n = 30) and an idiopathic oligospermia group (n = 37) at the same time. Sperm density was detected by routine semen analysis, and FT in the serum and semen was detected by RIA.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the serum concentrations of FT between the groups of normal control [(97.50 +/- 46.96) pmol/L] and idiopathic oligospermia [(94.88 +/- 42.04) pmol/L], P > 0.5. But the difference was significant in the semen concentrations of FT between the groups of normal control [(2.01 +/- 0.32) pmol/L] and idiopathic oligospermia [(0.52 +/- 0.44) pmol/L], P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONMeasurement of semen FT concentration could early reflect the function of the testis, which contributes to the early diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic oligospermia.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligospermia ; blood ; metabolism ; Semen ; chemistry ; Testosterone ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the characteristics of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) in senior males living on high altitude

METHODSAccording to the years of living on 3,100-meter high altitude. 90 senior males who were more than sixty years old were divided into three groups: group 1 (one year on the high altitude, n = 30), group 2 (two years on the high altitude, n = 30) and group 3 (over 10 years on the high altitude, n = 30). Additionally, there was a control group (living on the sea level). Radioimmunoassay technique was used to measure the level of T and E2 in their serum respectively. At the same time, the ratio of T/E2 was also examined.

RESULTSThe levels of T, E2 and T/E2 of the three groups were 42.2 +/- 38.5, 70.0 +/- 31.5, 190.3 +/- 73.5 and 44.0 +/- 42.2, 60.6 +/- 28.3, 144.9 +/- 62.0 and 0.96 +/- 0.19, 1.16 +/- 0.11, 1.33 +/- 0.24, respectively. The levels of T, E2 and T/E2 of group 3 increased obviously than those of the other two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe sexual hormone levels in senior males living on high altitude increase along with the living years.

Aged ; Aging ; physiology ; Altitude ; Estradiol ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radioimmunoassay ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation of peripheral blood estradiol, progesterone and testosterone levels with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

METHODSForty-eight patients with IBS identified according to Rome II diagnostic criteria and 30 healthy subjects as controls were analyzed for peripheral blood sex hormone levels by radioimmunoassay and corresponding software.

RESULTSIn male patients with IBS, blood testosterone level was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05), but blood estradiol and progesterone showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). In the female patients, blood estradiol level was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05), whereas blood progesterone and testosterone levels had no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONPeripheral blood testosterone level in male IBS patients and estradiol level in female patients are lower than those of healthy subjects, suggesting that IBS might be associated with blood sex hormone disorder.

Adult ; Aged ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Progesterone ; blood ; Radioimmunoassay ; Testosterone ; blood