Analysis of semen parameters in a young cohort of cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Infertility can be the result of some common cancer treatments and can significantly impact quality of life. Semen cryopreservation allows for fertility preservation. We analyzed the semen parameters of specimens collected from pubertal males from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in order to expand current knowledge on the quality of these specimens and inform a standard clinical practice. PROCEDURE: Males who were at least Tanner stage III and newly diagnosed with cancer at CHOP were approached regarding sperm banking. The success and quality of the samples collected were analyzed and compared in relation to prior treatment, age, and diagnosis. RESULTS: From 399 patients approached for semen collection, 339 (85%) attempted to bank sperm, of which 265 (78%) were successful and 60 (15%) refused to participate. Therapy prior to sperm banking significantly impacted a successful collection (P < 0.01). Only 16.9% of the untreated patients were azoospermic, whereas 84.0% of the treated subjects were azoospermic. Older patients were less likely to be azoospermic and have a greater quality collection when compared with younger patients (P < 0.01). However, 65% of our youngest patients still were able to cryopreserve semen. There was no difference in azoospermia across diagnostic groups (P = 0.35), though there were differences in quality of semen parameters across diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Our data support that sperm banking pubertal males prior to the initiation of therapy is feasible. While there were differences in quality of semen parameters across age and diagnostic groups, most males, regardless of age or diagnosis, had adequate specimens for cryopreservation.

Differential effects of delivery hospital on mortality and morbidity in minority premature and low birth weight neonates.

OBJECTIVE: To describe variation in mortality and morbidity effects of high-level, high-volume delivery hospital between racial/ethnic groups and insurance groups. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort including infants born at 24-32 weeks gestation or birth weights ≤2500 g in California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania between 1995 and 2009 (n = 636,764). Multivariable logistic random-effects models determined differential effects of birth hospital level/volume on mortality and morbidity through an interaction term between delivery hospital level/volume and either maternal race or insurance status. RESULT: Compared to non-Hispanic white neonates, odds of complications of prematurity were 14-25% lower for minority infants in all gestational age and birth weight cohorts delivering at high-level, high-volume centers (odds ratio (ORs) 0.75-0.86, p < 0.001-0.005). Effect size was greatest for Hispanic infants. No difference was noted by insurance status. CONCLUSIONS: Neonates of minority racial/ethnic status derive greater morbidity benefits than non-Hispanic white neonates from delivery at hospitals with high-level, high-volume neonatal intensive care units.

Effects of losartan on left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis in patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of losartan on left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and fibrosis in patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). BACKGROUND: Despite evidence that myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis are mediated by angiotensin II and are important determinants of morbidity and mortality in patients with HCM, no prior studies have evaluated the effects of angiotensin receptor blockers on LV hypertrophy and fibrosis with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: In double-blind fashion, 20 patients (3 women, 17 men; age: 51 ± 13 years) with HCM were randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 9) or losartan 50 mg twice a day (n = 11) for 1 year. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed at baseline and 1 year to measure LV mass and extent of fibrosis as assessed by late gadolinium enhancement. RESULTS: There was a trend toward a significant difference in the percent change in LV mass (median [interquartile range]: +5% [-4% to +21%] with placebo vs. -5% [-11% to -0.9%] with losartan; p = 0.06). There was a significant difference in the percent change in extent of late gadolinium enhancement, with the placebo group experiencing a larger increase (+31% ± 26% with placebo vs. -23% ± 45% with losartan; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests attenuation of progression of myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis with losartan in patients with nonobstructive HCM. Confirmation of these results in a larger trial is required to confirm a place for angiotensin receptor blockers in the management of patients with HCM. (Effect of Losartan in Patients With Nonobstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy; NCT01150461).

Management strategy in 249 consecutive patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy referred to a dedicated program.

The likelihood of success of conservative management of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) and the predictors of failure of conservative therapy are not known. We therefore evaluated the efficacy of an algorithm for the management of symptoms and predictors of failed conservative therapy in 249 consecutive symptomatic patients with obstructive HC referred to a dedicated HC program for management in general or for septal reduction therapy (SRT) in particular. There was considerable practice variation in the extent to which conservative therapy was optimized before referral for SRT. Over 3.7 ± 2.9-year follow-up, symptoms resolved with addition of or increase in dosage of a ß blocker, calcium channel blocker, or disopyramide in 16%, 10%, and 10% of patients, respectively. Pacing with short atrioventricular delay controlled symptoms in 4 of 9 patients. In 63% of patients, conservative measures failed to control symptoms. Multivariate predictors of failure of conservative therapy were presence of New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms (hazard ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 2.9, p = 0.001) and greater septal wall thickness (hazard ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.10, p = 0.003) at presentation. At time of presentation, 93 patients (37%) were already on optimal therapy and were referred for SRT. Of the remaining 156 patients who did not require immediate SRT, 93 (60%) were free from a recommendation for SRT at the end of the follow-up period. In conclusion, in symptomatic patients with obstructive HC, conservative therapy is successful in >1/3 of referred patients at 3.7-year follow-up, obviating SRT in these patients. Clinicians in programs offering SRT should optimize conservative therapy before recommending SRT.