Assessment of sperm functions in infertile patients with varicoceles.

Acrosin activity, acrosome reaction and nuclear chromatin condensation were studied in 24 infertile patients with varicoceles and 26 fertile men with or without varicocele. Chromatin condensation, assessed by aniline blue staining, and acrosin activity, evaluated by gelatinolysis technique, were significantly affected in the group of infertile patients. Defective chromatin condensation and defective acrosin activity were detected in 67% and 50% of the infertile patients, respectively. No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the acrosome reaction, which was assessed by the triple staining technique after exposure of spermatozoa to low temperature (4 degrees C). This study identified a subgroup of infertile patients with normal standard semen parameters but impaired sperm functions. Results of the sperm function tests and standard semen parameters were not correlated. Therefore, it is concluded from this study that important sperm functions are impaired in patients with varicocele and that the gelatinolysis technique and aniline blue staining are effective tools for assessment of the fertilization potential of varicocele patients.

Melanoma in situ versus melanocytic hyperplasia in sun-damaged skin. Assessment of the significance of histopathologic criteria for differential diagnosis.

For differentiation of melanoma in situ (MIS) from melanocytic hyperplasia (MH) in sun-damaged skin, several criteria have been proposed. To assess sensitivity and specificity of those criteria, we examined the epidermis adjacent to 50 consecutive basal cell carcinomas and 50 MISs in skin with significant solar elastosis. The most valuable criteria for the diagnosis of MIS, as opposed to MH, were presence of nests of melanocytes, irregular distribution of melanocytes, descent of melanocytes far down adnexal epithelial structures, irregular distribution of pigment, presence of melanocytes above the junction, a high number of melanocytes, pleomorphism of melanocytes, and atypical nuclei of melanocytes. Other criteria, e.g., collapse of cytoplasm around nuclei of melanocytes; flattening of rete ridges; differences in the area, shape, and contour of nuclei of melanocytes as assessed by nuclear morphometry; and presence of melanocytes stained by HMB-45 and Ki-67/MIB-1 monoclonal antibodies, were found to be of low or no value for differential diagnosis.

Assessment of sperm chromatin condensation: an important test for prediction of IVF outcome.

Regular condensation of sperm chromatin during spermiogenesis, which allows decondensation after penetration of the oocyte, is a prerequisite for successful fertilization. During spermiogenesis particular nucleoproteins (histones) are normally replaced by different proteins (protamines). In the case of disturbed chromatin condensation the histones persist, which can be demonstrated by aniline blue staining. This method should be performed prior to IVF because of the significant correlation between fertilization rate of spermatozoa in IVF and normal chromatin condensation.

[Recommendations of the German Society of Andrology and the German Society for the Study of Fertility and Sterility regarding the support of andrology in Germany]. / Empfehlungen der "Deutschen Gesellschaft für Andrologie" und der "Deutschen Gesellschaft zum Studium der Fertilität und Sterilität" für die Förderung der Andrologie" in Deutschland.

Recommendations of "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Andrologie" and "Deutsche Gesellschaft zum Studium der Fertilität und Sterilität" concerning the development as well as the future and the support of andrology in Germany are made. Furthermore, these proposals contain some aspects about the organization of a Department of Andrology or Andrological Units including a special program of training in clinical andrology as well as in basic research.

Multilocus Electrophoretic Assessment of the Genetic Structure and Diversity of Yersinia ruckeri.

Multilocus isoenzyme electrophoresis was used to screen 47 field isolates of Yersinia ruckeri for electrophoretic variation at 15 enzyme loci. Only four electrophoretic types were observed, thus indicating that the genetic structure of Y. ruckeri is clonal. Forty-two isolates were of one electrophoretic type, a reflection of the low amount of genetic diversity extant in this species. Although sorbitol fermentation has been considered to be indicative of a second biotype, no significant gene frequency differences were found between the group of 20 isolates that readily used sorbitol as the sole carbon source and the group of 27 that did not.