Radiation effects on male fertility.

BACKGROUND: Spermatogenesis is a process of dynamic cell differentiation. Ionizing radiation impairs spermatogenesis, and spermatogonia are more radiosensitive than spermatocytes or spermatids. Consistent with this assumption and due to improvement in tumor curability, nowadays, fertility preservation represents a public health need. OBJECTIVES: To discuss radiotherapy-induced risk to male fertility and raise oncologic awareness of male fertility in daily clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched for papers in English. RESULTS: We provide an overview of clinical landscape. Four main issues were proposed: (i) spermatogenesis and radiobiological general concepts; (ii) impairment of spermatogenesis; (iii) impairment of testosterone-producing Leydig cells; (iv) clinical radiotherapy evidence in oncology. CONCLUSION: This review can be useful in daily clinical work and offer some directions for future research.

A longitudinal study of painless and painful intercostobrachial neuropathy after breast cancer surgery.

Intercostobrachial neuropathy, often resulting in neuropathic pain, is a common complication of breast cancer surgery. In this 1-year longitudinal study, we aimed at seeking information on the frequency, clinical features, and course of painless and painful intercostobrachial neuropathy. We enrolled 40 women previously undergoing breast cancer surgery. In these patients, we collected, at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, clinical and quantitative sensory testing (QST) variables to diagnose intercostobrachial neuropathy, DN4 questionnaire to identify neuropathic pain, Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory to assess the different neuropathic pain symptoms, the Beck Depression Inventory to assess depressive symptoms, and SF36 to assess quality of life and Patient Global Impression of Change. Clinical and QST examination showed an intercostobrachial neuropathy in 23 patients (57.5%). Out of the 23 patients, five experienced neuropathic pain, as assessed with clinical examination and DN4. Axillary surgery clearance was associated with an increased risk of intercostobrachial neuropathy. Whereas sensory disturbances improved during the 1-year observation, neuropathic pain did not. Nevertheless, Beck Depression Inventory, SF36, and the Patient Global Impression of Change scores significantly improved over time. Our study shows that although intercostobrachial neuropathy is a common complication of breast cancer surgery, neuropathic pain affects only a minor proportion of patients. After 1 year, sensory disturbances partially improve and have only a mild impact on mood and quality of life.

Immunological properties of a radioiodinated monoclonal antibody and its F(ab')2mu fragments directed against the polymorphic epithelial mucin of human breast cancer.

The purification of the IgM monoclonal antibody 436 against a breast tumor antigen from mouse ascitic fluid is reported. The purified immunoglobulin was radioiodinated and the resulting product assessed for its binding capacity and binding specificity. Purified IgM-436 served for F(ab')2 mu preparation which was tested for its antigen binding capacity. Radioiodinated IgM-436 and its F(ab')2 mu retained their immunological activity which was never lower than those of the corresponding cold products.

[Randomized study of the use of synthetic diosmin in premenstrual and vascular dysplastic mastodynia]. / Studio randomizzato sull'impiego della diosmina sintetica nella mastodinia displasica premestruale e vascolare.

The antalgic effect of synthetic diosmin in 120 patients suffering from vascular and premenstrual mastodynia is studied compared to the same number of non-treated cases. The therapy has been carried out for one consecutive year. For the same period the course of the painful symptomatology, both in the cases treated and in the controls, has been checked. For the treated cases a significant decrease of the painful symptomatology has been obtained and this decrease was maintained.

Evaluation of tumor and trophoblastic marker concentration in breast cyst fluid.

In our study we have examined 314 samples of cyst fluid taken from women suffering from fibrocystic breast disease (gross cystic disease). We have subdivided the cyst fluid with respect to epithelial coating and we have related trophoblastic protein content of the cyst fluid with age, seriousness of illness, and cytology of epithelial lining. We have performed RIA analysis of the trophoblastic proteins betahCG, beta1-SP-1, and alphahCG and in a smaller (n=84) group of specimens we have also tested for CEA, TPA, and ferritin. Trophoblastic proteins were positive in cystic fluids but the biological meaning of this is not known and the values are not related to clinical manifestations, except in a group of patients with apocrine metaplasia in which we tried to find a relationship between fertile age and increased betahCG. This finding presumably has a prognostic meaning that can be further understood by epidemiologic studies (of dietary intake and evaluation of lipid metabolites) and by information about inflammatory state of cystic fluid.