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Biomedical subjects

K Purvis

Publications and source records attributed to K Purvis.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Lifestyles of men in barren couples and their relationships to sperm quality.

This study is based on a questionnaire which focused on the possible association between lifestyle factors and male fertility in a group of 252 men attending our laboratory in connection with a fertility investigation. Their answers were correlated to sperm quality. No association could be documented between sperm quality and smoking habits, coffee drinking, a moderate alcohol intake, exposure to heat (sauna, hot baths, type of underwear, sedentary activities) or physical activities in their leisure time. In contrast, the reported average ejaculation frequency was significantly positively correlated to the motility of the sperm (% progressive) but inversely related to the proportion of sperm with abnormal morphology and semen volume. This indicates that the lifestyle of the subject has little, if any, impact on semen quality, at least within the limits recorded in the present study.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1992

Short-term effects of treatment with simvastatin on testicular function in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia.

The effects of simvastatin 40 mg per day for 14 weeks on the pituitary-testis axis of 19 men with familial hypercholesterolaemia have been examined in a single-blind study. Simvastatin significantly reduced serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides by 45% and 30%, respectively, and significantly increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by 15%. The alterations, which were stable 4 weeks after the start of treatment, were not associated with any significant change in sperm quality, the seminal plasma concentrations of various sex gland products (prostate-specific acid phosphatase, polyamines, citrate, fructose, alpha-glucosidase), or the serum concentrations of cortisol, testosterone, LH, FSH, or prolactin. It is concluded that a short-term reduction in circulating LDL-cholesterol has no marked effect on testicular function or sperm quality.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Chlamydial serology in the investigation of infertility.

Almost one-quarter of 100 asymptomatic men under fertility investigation had significant titres of IgA antibodies (greater than 1:8) specific for Chlamydia trachomatis in seminal plasma. No clear association was evident between the presence of these antibodies and sperm quality. In a second study, the female partners of men with consistently high serum or seminal plasma levels of chlamydia-specific IgA also exhibited a positive IgA reaction in serum without any clinical indications of the presence of an infection. In one group of men and women, antibiotic treatment for 4 weeks resulted in the disappearance of the IgA from the serum after a variable period of less than or equal to 12 weeks. The study indicates that chronic asymptomatic infections with Chlamydia trachomatis may be responsible for a large number of cases of infertility. It also implies that all men and women under investigation for infertility should be routinely screened with chlamydial serology regardless of previous history and clinical findings.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1992

Relationship between sperm quality and chromatin condensation measured by sperm DNA fluorescence using flow cytometry.

DNA flow cytometry of sperm from 100 randomly chosen men undergoing fertility investigation revealed a general association between reduced sperm quality, as judged by conventional parameters, and the appearance of sperm with lower degrees of chromatin condensation in the ejaculate as measured by DNA fluorescence intensity. Chromatin hypocondensation, as measured by increased fluorescence, was manifested to different degrees in different samples. In many cases of more extreme sperm pathology, such as oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), the whole population of spermatozoa appeared to be affected. Significant numbers of hypercondensed spermatozoa were present in both normozoospermic men and men with different degrees of disturbance in sperm quality. All of the different parameters of sperm quality could be correlated significantly with certain of the flow parameters, although not one in particular could be used to predict deviations from the normal flow profile. In several asthenoteratozoospermic men and a small proportion of men with OAT, the DNA profiles were normal, implying that in these cases the disturbance may not be so fundamental. The presence of leucocytes in the ejaculate was associated with a general increase in the preponderance of hypocondensed subpopulations of spermatozoa in men with OAT as well as in normozoospermic subjects, emphasizing the effect of inflammatory conditions in the reproductive tract on sperm quality.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1992

Male infertility: current concepts.

The purpose of the article is to review the current concepts regarding the etiology and treatment of male-factor infertility. The following general conclusions can be drawn: (a) conventional parameters for sperm quality and male fertility are inadequate and any assessment should involve several different tests of sperm cell function to increase the fertility prognosis; (b) the causes of disturbed sperm quality are still poorly understood; (c) the role of the varicocele is still controversial but some of the discrepancies reported in the literature may be explained by the negative influence of other factors such as smoking, epididymal pathology or glandular infections operating either in conjunction or independent of the varicocele; (d) the role of chronic inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs, in particular the involvement of chronic chlamydial infections, has been underestimated, largely because it is often asymptomatic and difficult to demonstrate objectively; (e) partial androgen insensitivity may account for a significant number of cases of severe oligozoospermia; (f) no major advances have been made in the medical treatment of poor sperm quality; (g) assisted fertilization techniques such as IVF and GIFT offer encouraging possibilities for the treatment of male-factor infertility; and (h) recent advances in microsurgical techniques are increasing the treatment possibilities for certain forms of obstructive azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia.

Female↗
PubMed1992

Standardized instructions: do they improve communication of discharge information from the emergency department?

To determine whether standardized instructions enhance communication of discharge information, we provided 197 parents of children in whom otitis media was diagnosed with one of three types of instruction at the time of discharge from a pediatric emergency department: (1) instruction by individual housestaff and medical students after consultation with an attending physician (control group); (2) standardized verbal instructions given by housestaff and students trained in their use (verbal group); or (3) the same instructions given to the verbal group, together with a type-written copy of the information to take home (verbal + written group). Prior to leaving the emergency department and, again, by phone, 1 and 3 days later, parents were questioned concerning the prescribed medication's name, dose, frequency, and duration of administration (medication data), three signs of improvement, and eight signs indicating the need for medical advice (worrisome signs). The mean percentage of correct responses per parent in each group was computed for each information category. Both at exit interview and at follow-up, parents receiving either form of standardized instructions showed significantly greater knowledge of information related to their child's illness than did controls. Information regarding medication data was more likely to be communicated to parents in all groups than were signs of improvement or worrisome signs. The addition of written instructions to standardized verbal instructions did not improve parental recall of discharge information.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1991

[Infertility studies in men].

This study summarizes the results of a questionnaire sent to 312 men involved in a fertility investigation. The answers illustrate the psychological problems linked to the infertile state, and indicate that men are generally well orientated about the extent of the problem. In the majority of cases, the infertile couples first contacted a gynecologist rather than a general practioner or other specialist. In over one third of the cases, this contact occurred within the first 12 months of attempting to achieve a pregnancy. The study implies an increasing negative attitude to donor insemination, and approximately one fifth of the men had at some time consulted fringe medicine.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Sperm quality in men with chronic abacterial prostatovesiculitis verified by rectal ultrasonography.

Semen analyses were performed on 50 men with chronic abacterial prostatovesiculitis (CPV) and 25 asymptomatic control subjects. All subjects had had symptoms of at least three months' duration, and the diagnosis was verified by rectal ultrasonography and after microbiologic culture of seminal plasma. Fifty-eight percent had increased concentrations of leukocytes (greater than 1 x 10(6)/mL) in the ejaculate compared with 15 percent in the controls. Only 10 percent of the CPV subjects could be classified as normospermic compared with 60 percent in the controls. The incidence of severe disturbances in sperm quality and azoospermia was also four times greater in the CPV group. Neither the degree of leukospermia nor the ultrasonographic findings could predict the extent of the disturbance in sperm quality.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Epididymal secretory function in men with asthenoteratozoospermia.

Epididymal function was evaluated in normozoospermic men and men with asthenoteratozoospermia using alpha-glucosidase as a secretory parameter. No difference was observed in the total quantity of the enzyme secreted into the ejaculate in spite of major differences between the two groups in the proportion of spermatozoa exhibiting progressive motility and normal morphology. In general, the secretion of alpha-glucosidase was positively correlated with the sperm concentration in the normozoospermic group, but not in asthenozoospermic subjects. The total enzyme contents of the ejaculate were significantly greater in men with asthenoteratozoospermia (sperm concentrations, greater than 35 x 10(6)/ml) than in subjects with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (sperm concentrations less than 10 x 10(6)/ml, P less than 0.01) indicating a higher incidence of epididymal occlusion and/or dysfunction in the latter group. Within normozoospermic individuals, extremes in progressive motility or abnormal morphology could not be related to the quantities of enzyme when expressed per million sperm cells. It is concluded that if alpha-glucosidase is a reliable parameter of human epididymal secretory function, variation in the secretory function of the epididymis cannot explain the poor sperm quality observed in asthenoteratozoospermic individuals.

Epididymis↗
PubMed1991

Acrosomal integrity assessed by flow cytometry in men with variable sperm quality.

The binding of a specific, fluorescent acrosomal marker (FITC-labelled peanut lectin) to spermatozoa from men exhibiting differences in sperm quality by conventional criteria was quantitated by flow cytometry. When a standard number of cells was analysed, binding of the lectin diminished and became more variable as the degree of sperm pathology increased. In general, ejaculates with total sperm counts exceeding 120 x 10(6) cells exhibited a stable level of binding within relatively narrow limits. In two normozoospermic men, low levels of acrosomal fluorescence were demonstrated. The significance of these observations with regard to prognosis in assisted fertilization programmes is discussed.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1991

Effects of seminal plasma from normal and asthenozoospermic men on the progressive motility of washed human sperm.

Human seminal plasma stimulated the progressive motility of human sperm in a dose- and time-related manner. Serum exhibited a similar capacity for stimulation. Seminal plasma from different normozoospermic men showed marked variation in its capacity to stimulate sperm motility. The stimulatory effect was maintained after heat-treatment, indicating the action of a low molecular weight substance or metal ion. No differences could be observed in the capacity for stimulation between seminal plasma from normozoospermic (n = 23) and asthenozoospermic (n = 22) men, when tested at the same dilution and under identical conditions. It is concluded that in general, differences in seminal plasma composition cannot account for the reduced sperm motility in asthenozoospermic men. Furthermore, the stimulatory effects of seminal plasma may be a property shared by other biological fluids.

Hot Temperature↗
PubMed1991

Diagnosis of chronic abacterial prostato-vesiculitis by rectal ultrasonography in relation to symptoms and findings.

A group of 36 men with chronic abacterial prostato-vesiculitis, confirmed by semen analysis and rectal ultrasonography, underwent detailed anamnesis and clinical examination. There was no clear relationship between the severity of the symptoms or the presence of leucocytes and the extent of the changes visualised by ultrasound. In 72% of cases, clinical examination also revealed signs of a previous epididymitis. In general, asymmetry in symptoms could be related to glandular pathology, as indicated by ultrasonography, on the ipsilateral side.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Epididymis. Anatomy, function and pathology].

Studies on the human epididymis suggest that both histologically and biochemically, it can be subdivided into discrete segments with different functions. Current research attempts to isolate segment-specific secretory markers which can be used in localizing dysfunction and pathology in cases of male infertility. In cases of azoospermia, the segmental level of an occluding lesion also has prognostic relevance for the results of epididymovasostomy. Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is the most frequent cause of acute epididymitis but an epididymal involvement is also a common feature of chronic prostato-vesiculitis, the etiology of which is unknown. This article provides a short review of the structure and function of the epididymis, the pathological changes in the organ associated with male infertility and the potential methods of treatment.

Chlamydia Infections↗
PubMed1990

[Chronic non-bacterial prostatic vesiculitis. Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment].

We describe four case reports to illustrate the problems of diagnosing chronic, abacterial, prostato-vesiculitis. The study summarizes the most frequent symptoms and findings among 36 men in whom the condition was verified by rectal ultrasonography. Rectal scanning indicated a frequent connection between chronic prostatitis and vesiculitis. The results also indicate that symptoms such as pain or discomfort in the perineum, inguinal area or scrotum often reflect vesicular pathology. It is assumed that the ultrasonographic findings in the sex glands are the result of a chronic infection, despite the fact that the traditional criteria such as leucospermia and bacteriospermia are often not present.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Ionized calcium in human male and female reproductive fluids: relationships to sperm motility.

The levels of ionized calcium in seminal plasma were approximately 20% of the serum levels. In contrast, cervical mucus contained a level of ionized calcium similar to both serum and follicular fluid. Titration of seminal plasma and serum with increasing concentrations of calcium chloride indicated a 10-fold higher calcium-binding capacity for seminal plasma. In a random group of men under semen investigation, concentrations of ionized calcium and citrate in semen were inversely correlated (r = 0.732; P less than 0.001), an observation which was confirmed by studies of split ejaculates. These findings supported the contention that citrate is the major regulator of the levels of ionized calcium in seminal plasma and primarily responsible for maintaining the calcium gradient between the seminal plasma and cervical mucus. No significant relationship could be demonstrated between the levels of ionized calcium in the ejaculates and any of the motility characteristics of the spermatozoa in the same sample. Furthermore, the addition of increasing quantities of calcium chloride (0.16-20.00 mM) to washed spermatozoa had no major effects on their progressive motility. These data suggest that human spermatozoa are effective in maintaining an appropriate level of internal ionized calcium, necessary for normal motility, despite fluctuations in external calcium.

Ascitic Fluid↗
PubMed1990

Male partners in infertile couples. Personal attitudes and contact with the Norwegian health service.

The present study summarizes the results of a questionnaire sent to 312 men involved in a fertility investigation. The answers illustrate the psychological problems linked to the infertile state, indicate that men are generally well orientated about the extent of the problem and imply an increasing negative attitude to donor insemination. In the majority of cases, the infertile couples first contacted a gynecologist rather than a general practitioner or other specialist. In over one third of the cases, this contact occurred within the first 12 months of attempting to procure a pregnancy. In most cases, the male partner was already involved in the fertility investigation at the start. Approximately one fifth had at some time consulted fringe medicine (e.g. homeopathy or acupuncture).

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Effects of manganese and other divalent cations on progressive motility of human sperm.

Manganese (Mn2+) stimulated the progressive motility of human washed sperm in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This confirmed previous data indicating a capacity for activating the adenylyl cyclase of sperm homogenates in vitro. A maintained response was best seen with doses 0.2-1.0 mM. After an initial stimulation, higher concentrations of up to 20 mM were associated with a decline in the response to control levels. Magnesium ions (Mg2+) stimulated motility in the same dose range but to less than 50% of the Mn2+ response. Other divalent cations such as zinc (Zn2+), strontium (Sr2+), and Calcium (Ca2+) also exerted stimulatory effects to varying degrees in descending order. Metal ion effects on sperm motility may be mediated through a common cation-binding site on the adenylyl cyclase.

Cations, Divalent↗