Motivations and personality characteristics of candidate sperm and oocyte donors according to parenthood status: a national study from the French CECOS network.

STUDY QUESTION: In a non-commercial national gamete donation programme, do the motivations and personality characteristics of candidate sperm and oocyte donors differ according to their parenthood status? SUMMARY ANSWER: Moderate differences exist between non-parent and parent candidate donors in motivations for gamete donation and representations as well as in personality characteristics. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Several studies have analysed the motivations and experiences of oocyte or sperm donors, but mainly in countries where gamete donation is a commercial transaction, and very few studies have reported results of personality traits using personality inventory tests. No study has specifically investigated the motivations and personality characteristics of candidate gamete donors according to parenthood status. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: A prospective study was carried out including 1021 candidate donors from 21 centres (in university hospitals) of the national sperm and egg banking network in France between November 2016 and December 2018. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: In total, 1021 candidate gamete donors were included in the study. During their first visit, male (n = 488) and female candidate donors (n = 533) completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, their motivations for donation and their representations of donation, infertility and family. Secondly, a NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) exploring the Big Five personality traits was completed online. Results were compared between parent and non-parent candidate donors. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Altruistic values were the principal motive for donation irrespective of parenthood status. Reassurance about their fertility or preservation of sperm for future use was more often reported in non-parent than in parent candidate donors. With regard to representation of gamete donation or of the family, independently of their parenthood status, candidate donors more frequently selected social rather than biological representations. Mean personality characteristics were in the normal range. Non-parent candidate donors had higher scores on openness and depression than parents, while parent candidate donors appeared more social than non-parents. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: The personality characteristics inventory was not completed by all candidate donors included in the study. However, family status did not differ between the two groups (NEO-PI-R completed (n = 525) or not), while the group who completed the NEO-PI-R had a higher educational level. This national study was performed in a country where gamete donation is subject to strict legislation. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: In a global context where reproductive medicine is commercialized and gamete donor resources are limited, this study found that altruism and social representations of gamete donation and family are the main motivations for gamete donation in a country which prohibits financial incentive. These findings are relevant for health policy and for gamete donation information campaigns. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: Grant from the Agence de la Biomédecine, France. The authors have nothing to disclose related to this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Evolution of sperm quality in men living in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste incinerator possibly correlated with decreasing dioxins emission levels.

The objective was to examine the impact on sperm parameters of environmental exposure to dioxins around a municipal waste incinerator initially with high emission levels and during reduction levels. An ecological study with quasi-experimental conditions was performed in patients of a reproductive laboratory. The first semen analyses of 251 men living in Besançon, France, between 2001 and 2007, were included. To analyse the contribution of direct exposure (inhalation), the calendar time was dichotomised in two periods 2001-2003 versus 2004-2007 and used as a proxy for exposure. Regarding the indirect exposure pathway (food), the statistical analysis was made with a nonparametric test to assess the trends. There was a negative correlation between the year of exposure and the percentage of abnormal mid-piece and the multiple abnormalities index, even after adjusting for age and days abstention from inter-course. A positive correlation was found between the progressive motile sperm count and the period of exposure. These findings are to be put into the context of a drastic reduction in emissions of dioxins. Our results suggest an effect of chronic exposure to dioxins on spermiogenesis with more abnormalities. These results should be confirmed with concentration measurements of dioxins in infertile men.

Personalized management of patients with inoperable alveolar echinococcosis undergoing treatment with albendazole: usefulness of positron-emission-tomography combined with serological and computed tomography follow-up.

The present study aimed to identify a sub-group of inoperable alveolar echinococcosis (AE) patients undergoing long-term treatment with benzimidazole (BZM) who presented with an evolution suggestive of a parasitocidal effect. An evolution compatible with parasite death was observed in five patients.

F-18 FDG PET identification of right atrium metastasis from a vesical carcinoma.

Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis and staging of various malignancies. The main advantage of PET is its high sensitivity in identifying malignancies at an early stage. The authors present a patient in whom transthoracic echography and MRI revealed a right atrial mass. The diagnosis was difficult between tumor and thrombus, but PET imaging correctly suggested a malignant tumor.

Oncogenic osteomalacia: diagnostic importance of fibroblast growth factor 23 and F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scan for the diagnosis and follow-up in one case.

A case of oncogenic osteomalacia is reported in a 71-year-old man who presented with bone pain, muscle weakness, and severe hypophosphatemia. The tumor which was localized in the left lower mandible was not detected by tomodensitometry, resonance magnetic imaging, and (111)IN-octreotide scintigraphy, but was easily localized by F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT SCAN (F-18 FDG PET/CT SCAN). To our knowledge, the value of this technique for detecting tumors in oncogenic osteomalacia has never been reported. Secondly, this case provided an opportunity for confirming the usefulness of serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) measurement for the diagnosis and follow-up. We conclude that FGF23 measurements combined with F-18 FDG PET/CT SCAN were decisive tools in a case of oncogenic osteomalacia and are likely to be of considerable importance for facilitating early diagnosis and follow-up in the future.

The first experience of a dedicated biomedical education unit at the university of franche-comté.

Biomedical activity is rapidly expanding. Actually, the demand for hi-tech technologies in health is in constant increase. At the Franche-Comté High Institute of Engineers (ISIFC) an engineer can acquire the knowledge and skills to carry out various tasks in biomedical engineering field including academic research, in-hospital devices maintenance or industrial development. The main advantage of the ISIFC is that it offers an exceptional multidisciplinary programme thank to close cooperation between Besançon University Hospital professionals and Engineering Sciences professors and researchers. As a result, the graduates obtain real experience in the both fields. The majority of the ISIFC engineers are employed by firms producing and/or commercializing health-oriented materials and equipments such as Alcis, Arthesis, Aventis Pasteur, Biomérieux, Imasonic, Medos, Statice Santé, Sophysa, Symbios, Praxim, Protheos, Tornier, Zimmer etc.