20 jaar semencryopreservatie: haalbaarheid en verwijspatronen

Treatment of cancer can affect spermatogenesis resulting in infertility. Semen cryopreservation prior to gonadotoxic treatment can be offered to secure future fertility in male cancer patients. During 20 years 1,018 patients referred for semen cryopreservation in fertile age with Hodgkin disease (n = 194), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 110), leukemia (n = 126) and testicular germ cell tumor (n = 588) were followed up. Incidence of these cancers and incidence of regional semen cryopreservation was used to calculate a referral rate. Semen cryopreservation was successful in 856 of 1,018 patients (84.1%). Median yearly referral rate was respectively 17% and 31% in hematological malignancies and testicular germ cell tumor. Regional referral rate in hematological malignancies dropped dramatically after 2005 to a minimum of 2% in 2009. The incidence of TGCT and referral rate for fertility preservation in these patients increased over time. Our result show that referral of for semen cryopreservation in patients with hematological malignancies in fertile age is suboptimal.Behandeling van kanker kan de spermatogenese aantasten, met infertiliteit tot gevolg. Semencryopreservatie voorafgaand aan gonadotoxische behandeling kan de vruchtbaarheid van mannelijke kankerpatiënten veiligstellen. Gedurende 20 jaar zijn 1.018 patiënten tussen 12 en 50 jaar oud, met Hodgkin-lymfoom (n= 194), non-Hodgkin lymfoom (n=110), leukemie (n= 126) of testiculaire kiemceltumoren (n= 588) verwezen naar één centrum voor semencryopreservatie. De incidentie van deze kankertypen in het adherentiegebied en de incidentie van regionale semencryopreservatie werd gebruikt om een verwijsratio te berekenen. Semencryopreservatie was succesvol bij 856 van de 1.018 patiënten (84,1%). De mediane jaarlijkse verwijsratio bij hematologische maligniteiten en testiculaire stamceltumoren was respectievelijk 17% en 31%. De regionale verwijzing bij hematologische maligniteiten daalde na 2005 fors, tot een minimum van 2% in 2009, terwijl deze toenam bij testiculaire kiemceltumoren. Onze resultaten tonen aan dat verwijzing voor semencryopreservatie bij patiënten met een hematologische maligniteit in de fertiele leeftijd suboptimaal is

The Impact of Sectoral Minimum Wage Laws on Employment, Wages and Hours of Work in South Africa

This paper attempts to investigate the impact of sectoral wage laws in South Africa. Specifically, we examine the impact of minimum wage laws promulgated in the Retail, Domestic work, Forestry, Security, and Taxi sectors using 15 waves of biannual Labour Force Survey data for the 2000-2007 period

Cellular origin of microRNA-371a-3p in healthy males based on systematic urogenital tract tissue evaluation

Background: The microRNA-371a-3p (miR-371a-3p) has been reported to be an informative liquid biopsy (serum and plasma) molecular biomarker for both diagnosis and follow-up of patients with a malignant (testicular) germ cell tumor ((T)GCT). It is expressed in all histological cancer elements, with the exception of mature teratoma. However, normal testis, semen, and serum of males with a disrupted testicular integrity without a TGCT may contain miR-371a-3p levels above threshold, of which the cellular origin is unknown. Objectives: Therefore, a series of relevant tissues (frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), when available) from the complete male urogenital tract (i.e., kidney to urethra and testis to urethra) and semen was investigated for miR-371a-3p levels using targeted quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Materials and methods: In total, semen of males with normospermia (n = 11) and oligospermia (n = 3) was investigated, as well as 88 samples derived from 32 different patients. The samples represented one set of tissues related to the entire male urogenital tract (11 anatomical locations), three sets for 10 locations, and four sets for six locations. Results: All testis parenchyma (n = 17) cases showed low miR-371a-3p levels. Eight out of 14 (57%) semen samples showed detectable miR-371a-3p levels, irrespective of the amount of motile spermatozoa, but related to sperm concentration and matched Johnsen score (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient 0.849 and 0.871, p = 0.000, respectively). In all other tissues investigated, miR-371a-3p could not be detected. Discussion: This study demonstrates that the miR-371a-3p in healthy adult males is solely derived from the germ cell compartment. Conclusions: The observation is important in the context of applying miR-371a-3p as molecular liquid biopsy biomarker for diagnosis and follow-up of patients with malignant (T)GCT. Moreover, miR-371a-3p might be an informative seminal biomarker for testicular germ cell composition

Easing into the Academy: Using Technology to Foster Cross-Institutional Critical Friendships

This article addresses the ways in which early career teacher educators can support each other as they enter the academic community. By utilizing technology as an instrument to engage in a cross-country critical friendship, the authors were able to engage in a dialogue that grew out of mutual interests and concerns. Through critical reflection, they were able to address the question: How can we, two early-career teacher educators, push ourselves and one another to more critically examine our teaching practices? In doing so, each “new educator” grew more confident in claiming one\u27s voice as a sustainable critical friendship emerged

Fertility preservation for male patients with childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer:recommendations from the PanCareLIFE Consortium and the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group

Item does not contain fulltextMale patients with childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer are at an increased risk for infertility if their treatment adversely affects reproductive organ function. Future fertility is a primary concern of patients and their families. Variations in clinical practice are barriers to the timely implementation of interventions that preserve fertility. As part of the PanCareLIFE Consortium, in collaboration with the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group, we reviewed the current literature and developed a clinical practice guideline for fertility preservation in male patients who are diagnosed with childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer at age 25 years or younger, including guidance on risk assessment and available methods for fertility preservation. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology was used to grade the available evidence and to form the recommendations. Recognising the need for global consensus, this clinical practice guideline used existing evidence and international expertise to rigorously develop transparent recommendations that are easy to use to facilitate the care of male patients with childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer who are at high risk of fertility impairment and to enhance their quality of life