Elevated seminal protein carbonyl concentration is correlated with asthenozoospermia and affects adversely the laboratory intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes

Elevated concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the semen can lead to oxidative protein damage as they react with the amino acids' side chains in the protein, leading to the generation of carbonyl groups. This study aimed to investigate the effect of protein carbonyl (PC) concentration on sperm motility and the laboratory intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. A total of 150 couples from the ICSI cycle were enrolled in this study and were divided into three groups (G) according to the PC concentration as following, G1 included samples with PC concentrations <0.65 nmol/mg, G2 included samples with 0.65≤PC≤2.23 nmol/mg and G3 included samples with PC>2.23 (nmol/mg). PC concentrations were measured in all semen samples, and the laboratory ICSI outcomes were evaluated for all injected oocytes. The Kruskal–Wallis p-values for the differences in the medians of sperm motility, fertilisation rate, embryo cleavage score and embryo quality score were <0.05. Furthermore, Dunn's post hoc test showed a significant difference between all groups, p-values <0.05, except for the medians of embryo quality score between G2 and G3. In conclusion, our results showed that sperm motility and laboratory ICSI outcomes are affected negatively by higher concentrations of PC in the semen

Impact of Mitochondrial Genetic Variants in ND1, ND2, ND5, and ND6 Genes on Sperm Motility and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) Outcomes

Sperm mitochondrial dysfunction causes the generation of an insufficient amount of energy needed for sperm motility. This will affect sperm fertilization capacity, and thus, most asthenozoospermic men usually require assisted reproductive techniques. The etiology of asthenozoospermia remains largely unknown. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of mitochondrial genetic variants on sperm motility and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. A total of 150 couples from the ICSI cycle were enrolled in this study. One hundred five of the male partners were asthenozoospermic patients, and they were subdivided into three groups according to their percentage of sperm motility, while forty-five of the male partners were normozoospermic. Genetic variants were screened using direct Sanger’s sequencing in four mitochondrial genes (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen (NADH) dehydrogenase 1 (ND1), NADH dehydrogenase 2 (ND2), NADH dehydrogenase 5 (ND5), and NADH dehydrogenase 6 (ND6)). We identified three significant variants: 13708G>A (rs28359178) in ND5, 4216T>C (rs1599988) in ND1, and a novel 12506T>A in ND5 with P values 0.006, 0.036, and 0.013, respectively. The medians of sperm motility, fertilization rate, embryo cleavage score, and embryo quality score were significantly different between men showing 4216T>C, 12506T>A, 13708G>A and wild type, Mann-Whitney P values for the differences in the medians were A, 12506T>A, and 4216 T>C variants in sperm mitochondrial DNA negatively affect sperm motility and ICSI outcomes

MRI of the kidney—state of the art

Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) are modalities of first choice in renal imaging. Until now, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has mainly been used as a problem-solving technique. MRI has the advantage of superior soft-tissue contrast, which provides a powerful tool in the detection and characterization of renal lesions. The MRI features of common and less common renal lesions are discussed as well as the evaluation of the spread of malignant lesions and preoperative assessment. MR urography technique and applications are discussed as well as the role of MRI in the evaluation of potential kidney donors. Furthermore the advances in functional MRI of the kidney are highlighted

Two-year follow-up of a prospective randomised trial of electrovaporization versus resection of prostate

Objectives: Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TUVP) has become a popular, minimally invasive procedure to treat BPH with promising initial results. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy, safety and durability of TUVP with standard TURP. We report the 2-year follow-up. Methods: 104 consecutive men with BPH admitted for surgery were randomised to TUVP (52 patients, mean age: 67.5 years) or TURP (52 patients, mean age: 70.2 years). 47 patients in each arm completed 2-year follow-up. Results: Follow-up data at 2 years show a comparable, significant and maintained improvement in mean IPSS (TUVP: 4.3 vs. TURP: 6.3), quality of life score (TUVP: 1.1 vs. TURP: 1.7), and maximum flow rate (TUVP: 22.4 vs. TURP: 21.2 ml/s) with fall in mean post-void residual volume (TUVP: 18.8 vs. TURP: 22.8 ml). Postoperative impotence reported in TUVP: 17% vs. TURP: 11% (p = 0.49) and retrograde ejaculation TUVP: 72% vs. TURP: 89% (p = 0.47). Two patients in each arm (4%) had urethral stricture and 2 patients (4%) in the resected group had bladder neck stricture. Four patients in each group required re-operation for residual adenoma during the 2 years (4% in each arm each year). Conclusions: Our 2 years’ follow-up results suggest that TUVP is as effective as standard TURP in the treatment of moderate-sized BPH with comparable durability

A 3-year follow-up of a prospective randomized trial comparing transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate with standard transurethral prostatectomy

Objective To compare the safety, efficacy and durability of transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TUVP) with standard transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Patients and methods In all, 104 patients admitted from the waiting list for surgery for BPH were randomized to either TUVP (52 patients, mean age 67.5 years) or TURP (52 patients, mean age 70.2 years); 51, 47 and 40 patients in each arm completed 1, 2 and 3 years of follow-up, respectively. Patients were assessed at baseline and during the follow-up using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the associated quality-of-life score (QoL), postvoid residual volume (PVR) and maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax). Results Both groups had comparable mean IPSS, QoL, Qmax and PVR at baseline. The mean ( sd) values for TUVP and TURP, respectively, at 3 years showed a significant and maintained improvement in IPSS, at 4.1 (3.3) and 7.1 (6.2) (P = 0.01), in QoL, at 1.0 (0.9) and 1.6 (1.4) (P = 0.04), and in Qmax, at 22.2 (8.5) and 18 (7.1) mL/s (P = 0.02), with decreases in PVR of 30 (38) and 21.9 (26.2) mL (P = 0.27). The re-operation rate in each group was 4% during the first year, 4% during the second year and 5% during the third year. After surgery and at 1, 2 and 3 years of follow-up, impotence was reported in 17% of the TUVP group and 11% of the TURP group (P = 0.49), and retrograde ejaculation in 72% of the TUVP group and 89% of the TURP group (P = 0.47). Conclusion The 3-year follow-up results confirm that TUVP is as effective as standard TURP in the treatment of moderate-sized BPH. The long-term side-effects and complications were comparable and the initial improvement was maintained over 3 years in most patients in both groups

Label-Free Evaluation of Chromatin Condensation in Human Normal Morphology Sperm Using Raman Spectroscopy

Chromatin condensation is one of the main factors essential for sperm function. Evaluation of chromatin condensation by current methods render the assessed sperm unsuitable for assisted reproduction. We examined the Raman spectra of normal morphology sperm to determine whether a non-invasive confocal Raman spectroscopy can detect spectral differences between groups having different levels of chromatin condensation. Semen samples from 85 donors who underwent ICSI were obtained. Chromomycin A3, aniline blue and acridine orange staining were performed to evaluate the protamine deficiency, histone retention and DNA fragmentation respectively. Raman spectra were obtained from 50 normal morphology sperm for each donor. Spectral analysis was performed using home written programs in LabVIEW software and samples were grouped based on chromomycin A3 staining. Raman peaks intensities at 670 c