Study of qualitative and quantitative indicators of the spermatogenesis for determination of the effectiveness of cryopreservation

Semen or spermatozoa cryopreservation (commonly called sperm banking) is a procedure to preserve sperm cells. Semen can be used successfully indefinitely after cryopreservation and might be stored successfully over 20 years. It can be used for sperm donation where the recipient wants the treatment in a different time or place, or as a means of preserving fertility for men undergoing vasectomy or treatments that may compromise their fertility, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. However, before the cryopreservation, it is necessary to check the parameters of the ejaculate and treat the sperm in a special container (a small in diameter plastic box with information about the patient) to increase the concentration of spermatozoa. Put the container for storage into Dewar tube. In some cases, cryopreservation might worsen the quality of the ejaculate. After freezing, the mobility and morphology of the sperm can deteriorate. Thus, it is desirable to carry out freezing in test conditions to determine the need for the frozen material. Especially when spouses plan to use additional fertilization programs, this approach should be taken into account, since cryopreservation might cause a spontaneous change in the program of intracytoplasmic vaccination of the spouse. One of the methodological problems of cryopreservation is poor quality of the ejaculate, i.e. when freezing spermatozoa, their activity and function deteriorate from the norm. This reduces the possibility of using them in the future for artificial insemination. Results of the experiment show that cryof preservation is possible only in specialized centers with the highest professional standards

Visual impairment and eye care among Alaska native people

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of visual impairment, eye disease and eye care in the Alaska Native (AN) population, by demographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study of 3,793 AN adults aged 18&ndash;94 years enrolled in the Education and Research Towards Health (EARTH) Study from March 2004&ndash;March 2006. Data on self-reported visual impairment, cataract, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and previous dilated eye examinations were collected using audio computer-assisted self-administered questionnaires. Results: The unadjusted prevalence of self-reported visual impairment was 8.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.9&ndash;9.7), cataract 5.9% (95% CI: 5.2&ndash;6.7), glaucoma 2.5% (95% CI: 2.0&ndash;3.0) and diabetic eye disease 1.3% (95% CI: 0.9&ndash;1.7). In all cases, age-sex adjusted prevalence estimates for the AN population were greater than available estimates for the general U.S. population. Prevalence of visual impairment and each eye disease increased with age (P &lt; 0.01). Additional factors associated with visual impairment were education and annual household income. Overall, 70.0% (95% CI: 68.5&ndash;71.6) of participants reported a dilated eye examination within the previous two years. Dilated eye examination within the previous two years was associated with increasing age (P &lt; 0.001). However, men and participants with lower formal education were less likely to report recent dilated eye examination. Among those with diabetes, only 67.7% (95% CI: 60.8&ndash;74.1) reported a dilated eye examination within the recommended previous one year. Conclusions: Self-reported visual impairment, cataract, glaucoma and diabetic eye disease are prevalent in the AN population. These data may be useful in healthcare planning and education programs.<br /