P–042 Impact of semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm aneuploidy in male infertility

Study question. Should sperm aneuploidies and sperm DNA fragmentation (sDNAfrag) be included as valid tests in the routine investigation of male infertility? Summary answer. Sperm DNA fragmentation was associated with male age, oligozoospermia (OZ), oligoteratozoospermia (OT), astenoteratozoospermia (AT) and oligoastenoteratozoospermia (OAT). Sperm aneuploidies were associated with OT and OAT. What is known already. Semen parameters assist male infertility diagnosis and treatment, but sDNAfrag and aneuploidy analysis could add useful information, as abnormal values compromise fertility. To include these tests in the routine diagnosis it should be determined if behave as informative parameter and add information regarding the fertility status. For that, further studies comparing these tests to semen parameters are needed, since previous results are not consensual. Additionally, standardization of a sDNAfrag cut-off is needed, as different sample sizes and techniques originate distinct results. Also, until a standardization of the protocol is missing, a cut-off value should be defined for each laboratory. Study design, size, duration. A retrospective and prospective investigation was performed, within a 12 years period (April 2007-December 2019). A total of 835 infertile males with a normal karyotype (46,XY) were included. Karyotyping and evaluation of sDNAfrag and sperm aneuploidies were made at a public Genetic unit. All normozoospermic (NZ) patients with a born child and patients whose infertility treatments were done due to female factors were selected from our database and used as controls (60 individuals). Participants/materials, setting, methods. Semen analysis followed WHO–2010 guidelines. sDNAfrag was evaluated using the TUNEL assay. Sperm aneuploidies were detected using FISH (chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, Y). Several tests were applied: correlations for linear associations between numerical variables, ANOVA for comparisons between means, Dunn-test for post-hoc comparisons. To determine the sDNAfrag cut-off value, the area under the ROC curve, sensitivity and specificity, were calculated, with the Youden-Index used to find a threshold that maximizes both sensitivity and specificity. Main results and the role of chance. Regarding male age, it was observed a positive correlation with sperm concentration, a negative correlation with sperm vitality (VT) and hypoosmolality, and a positive correlation with sDNAfrag. Regarding sDNAfrag, it was observed negative correlation with sperm concentration, total progressive motility (TPM), morphology, VT and hypoosmolality. Regarding sperm aneuploidies, both total sperm aneuploidy and total sperm disomy exhibited a negative association with sperm concentration, TPM and morphology. It was also investigated whose groups of individuals could be indicated for sDNAfrag or sperm aneuploidy testing. The NZ group evidenced significant lower sDNAfrag, total sperm aneuploidy and total sperm disomy in relation to the non-NZ group. In the NZ group, sDNAfrag was significantly lower in relation to the OZ, OT, AT and OAT groups. The NZ group presented significant lower percentages of sperm aneuploidy in relation to the OT and OAT groups, and significant lower percentages of sperm disomy in relation to the OAT group. Additionally, sDNAfrag was positively correlated with total sperm aneuploidy and total sperm disomy. From the present large population, ROC curve analysis allowed estimating a cut-off value of 18.8% for the TUNEL-assay (sDNAfrag), with 0.658 of area under the curve, 53.9% sensitivity and 76.7% specificity. Limitations, reasons for caution. Although presenting a high number of cases and strict controls, the present study was unable to include as controls healthy men with proven fertility. Additionally, the present study did not take into account life-style factors and male associated pathologies besides infertility. Wider implications of the findings: Semen parameters were shown to be negatively correlated with sDNAfrag and sperm aneuploidies. As sDNAfrag testing and sperm aneuploidy testing were associated with semen abnormalities and male age, it is suggested their inclusion in the routine evaluation of infertile men, thus adding important complementary information about the fertility status

Variables involved in the perception of psychological harassment in the nursing work environment

This is a descriptive-exploratory study with a quantitative approach, with the objective of identifying how nurses perceive psychological harassment at work, the behaviors experienced and the variables involved. In collecting data, two questionnaires were used: one socio-professional and another for identifying the behaviors involving psychological harassment experienced by the subjects in the previous twelve months, along with the duration and frequency of the behaviors. At the end of the questionnaire, a dichotomous question was added, which addressed nurses' perceptions in relation to feeling victimized by psychological harassment at work. Both the questionnaires were applied in electronic and print format between May and September 2010. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistics. The results showed that some of the subjects felt that they were victims of psychological harassment. Only the variables related to characterization of the psychological harassment presented significant association. The following were highlighted among the most-referred-to behaviors: "They question your decisions" and "You receive verbal attacks criticizing work you have done". It's important to open spaces for discussing violence at work, so that managers may establish strategic measures for preventing and containing this type of violence, so as to ensure health, dignity and well-being at work. It is also important to discuss this issue in the academic space, so as to give the theme greater visibility, such that future nurses will be able to identify and appropriately confront this type of violence.Estudio descriptivo-exploratorio de abordaje cuantitativo, con el objetivo de identificar la percepción de enfermeros sobre el asedio moral en el trabajo, las conductas vividas y las variables relacionadas. En la recogida de datos se utilizó un cuestionario socio-profesiográfico y otro para identificar las conductas de asedio moral vividas por los sujetos en los últimos doce meses, el periodo y la frecuencia de las conductas. Al final del cuestionario fue adicionada una cuestión dicotómica relacionada a la percepción del enfermero cuanto a sentirse víctima de asedio moral en el trabajo. Los dos cuestionarios fueran aplicados electrónicamente e impresos entre mayo y septiembre de 2010. Los datos fueran tratados por estadística descriptiva. Los resultados mostraron que los sujetos se sintieron víctimas de asedio moral. Solamente las variables relacionadas a la caracterización del asedio moral presentaron asociación significativa. Entre las conductas más referidas, se destacaron: "Cuestionan las decisiones que usted toma" y "Usted recibe ataques verbales criticando trabajos realizados". Es importante la apertura de espacios de discusión sobre la violencia en el trabajo para que gestores puedan establecer medidas estratégicas de prevención y contención de este tipo de violencia a fin de garantizar la salud, la dignidad y el bienestar del profesional en el trabajo. También es importante discutir el tema en el ámbito académico, con el fin de dar mayor visibilidad a la cuestión, para que los futuras enfermeros puedan identificar y abordar adecuadamente este tipo de violencia.Trata-se de estudo descritivo-exploratório, de abordagem quantitativa, com o objetivo de identificar a percepção de enfermeiros sobre o assédio moral no trabalho, condutas vivenciadas e variáveis envolvidas. Na coleta de dados, utilizaram-se dois questionários: um socioprofissiográfico e outro para identificar as condutas de assédio moral, vivenciadas pelos sujeitos nos últimos 12 meses, o período e a frequência das condutas. Ao final do questionário, foi adicionada uma questão dicotômica que abordava a percepção do enfermeiro em relação a se sentir vítima de assédio moral no trabalho. Ambos os questionários foram aplicados no formato eletrônico e impresso, entre maio e setembro de 2010. Os dados foram tratados por estatística descritiva. Os resultados mostraram que parte dos sujeitos sentiu-se vítima de assédio moral. Somente as variáveis relacionadas à caracterização do assédio moral apresentaram associação significativa. Entre as condutas mais referidas, destacaram-se: "questionam as decisões que você toma" e "você recebe ataques verbais criticando trabalhos realizados". É importante a abertura de espaços para discussão sobre a violência no trabalho, para que gestores possam estabelecer medidas estratégicas de prevenção e contenção desse tipo de violência, a fim de garantir a saúde, a dignidade e o bem-estar no trabalho. Torna-se importante, também, discutir o assunto no espaço acadêmico, a fim de dar maior visibilidade ao tema, para que futuros enfermeiros possam identificar e enfrentar adequadamente esse tipo de violência