The effects of auricular acupuncture stimulation on non-obese healthy volunteers were tested. Subjects (n=35) averaged 31.5 (17-57) years old, and average BMI was 25.3 (19.2-35.7) kg/m². Small (2.0×0.15mm) auricular needles were applied intracutaneously into the bilateral cavum conchae, a vagally (Arnold n.) innervated region that was identified by having low resistance (27.1-345.5kΩ/cm²), for six weeks. Body weight was measured four times a day, and was charted by the subjects themselves.
Results showed that, in the period of without auricular stimulation, only body weight was measured and charted, 31.4% of the subjects reduced their body weight. In the auricular acupuncture treated period, 19 out of 27 subjects (70.4%) decreased (p<0.01), 4 (14.8%) increased, and4 (14.8%) had no change in their body weights.
In conclusion, the results suggest that success in maintaining weight reduction can be attributed to graphic illustration of ones weight pattern. Bilateral auricular acupuncture stimulation can also reduced the body weight of healthy non-obese subjects. This is consistent with the suggestion that daily charting of body weight and auricular acupuncture might be effective in the treatment of obese patients.

AIMTo report a birth after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of ejaculated spermatozoa from a man with mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis.

METHODSA 35-year-old man with a normal appearance consulted our hospital because of sterility over a 5-year period. Chromosome analysis showed low-incidence mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome. Using FISH, 96 % hyperploidy of the lymphocytes was found. We examined the sex chromosome of the ejaculated spermatozoa. Using FISH, we examined 200 ejaculated spermatozoa and no hyperploidy was found.

RESULTSThe 33-year-old female partner of the male patient underwent an uncomplicated controlled ovarian hyperstimulation sequence using a combined recombinant-follicle stimulating hormone (rec-FSH) + human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG) protocol, following late luteal phase pituitary down regulation. This culminated in the retrieval of seven oocytes, six of which were fertilized with ICSI. One ICSI attempt led to clinical pregnancy with a healthy baby girl.

CONCLUSIONWe report a male patient with low-incidence mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome whose ejaculated spermatozoa were identified as being haploid by FISH before ICSI, leading to the successful pregnancy of his wife and the birth of a healthy baby girl.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mosaicism ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic