Seminal plasma stimulates cytokine production in endometrial epithelial cell cultures independently of the presence of leucocytes.

We examined the effects of normal and leucocyte-positive semen on cytokine expression in endometrial epithelial cell cultures. Cytokines in pooled seminal plasma (SP) samples of men with normal semen parameters without (n = 9) and with leucocytospermia (LCS) (n = 9) were determined. Cultures of epithelial endometrial cells of women (n = 7) in the secretory phase were incubated with 10% SP for 24 h. Cytokines in culture supernatants and mRNA concentrations in the cultured cells were determined. Mean concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1beta and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in culture media with SP of men with normal semen parameters and LCS compared with control. Accordingly, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in mRNA concentrations (amol ml(-1)) of IL-1beta and TGF-beta1 could be detected. The mean TGF-beta1 and IL-1beta concentrations in the culture supernatant with 10% SP from patients with normal semen parameters were 24-fold (P < 0.05) and 2-fold higher respectively when compared with control. The mean protein concentration of TGF-beta1 measured in the supernatant with SP of men with LCS was not significantly reduced as compared with the supernatant with normal SP. In conclusion, our experiments support the concept of an endometrial sensitation effect by semen.

Seminoma in a 31-year-old patient on long-term growth hormone therapy.

We describe a Caucasian male patient aged 31, who was referred to the Institute of Reproductive Medicine because of infertility and androgen deficiency and in whom we incidentally diagnosed a unilateral testicular tumor. The patient had received growth hormone (GH) since the age of 8 years. One case presenting with testicular neoplasm under growth hormone substitution has been described previously. In conclusion, it cannot be ruled out that GH treatment may be involved in the pathogenesis of germ cell tumor development. Special care should be exercised when patients with a history of maldescended testes require GH substitution. This care should include regular testicular ultrasonography at e.g. half-yearly intervals since sonography may detect testicular tumors long before they become clinically apparent.

Imipramine for successful treatment of retrograde ejaculation caused by retroperitoneal surgery.

Retrograde ejaculation is a known complication following retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Without further therapy, achieving paternity may be impossible. We evaluated the use of the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine in a new ovarian cycle-dependent dose regime for reversal of retrograde ejaculation in 11 patients desiring fertility. Ten patients with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection performed because of testicular cancer, and one with aortic surgery (thromboendarterectomy) were treated in an open, uncontrolled study with imipramine given at a daily oral dose increasing from 25 to 50 mg for 7 days prior to the planned ejaculation or the expected ovulation of the female partner. In all 11 patients, antegrade ejaculation could be induced (sperm counts: 3.9-276.0 x 10(6)/mL). Major side-effects were not observed, but half of the patients complained of minor degrees of dizziness, weakness, nausea or sweating during medication. Under treatment, two patients with normal sperm concentrations induced a spontaneous pregnancy. One ICSI cycle each was performed in 2 patients, with successful fertilization, out no pregnancy. In conclusion, temporary oral intake of imipramine is an effective and safe treatment to re-establish antegrade ejaculation in patients with retrograde ejaculation following retroperitoneal surgery, thus providing possibilities for paternity either through intercourse or by assisted fertilization.

[The effect of 3-dimensional data stabilization in radionuclide ventriculography on the statistical numerical error in the ejection fraction]. / Einfluss einer dreidimensionalen Datenstabilisierung in der Radionuklidventrikulographie auf den statistischen Zählfehler der Ejektionsfraktion.

The suitability of a 3-dimensional filter in diminishing the statistical noise of left ventricular volume curves without any systematical error in the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was investigated. The EF values were compared in 50 studies on 24 patients. There was no significant systematical difference between the EFs before and after filtering. The filter diminishes the statistical uncertainty of the EF by a factor of 0.47. Therefore, the method may possibly be employed in processing the left ventricular volume curves.