Influence of composition and degradation on the shear strength of municipal solid waste.

This study aimed to evaluate the shear strength of municipal solid waste (MSW) of different landfilling ages exhumed from disposal sites in a subtropical humid environment. Wastes which had been landfilled from ages of 2 up to 25years were characterized using physical, chemical and biochemical tests and were tested in a large scale direct shear device. The results indicate that the tested wastes older than five years had reached similar decomposition stages, but showed different compositions in terms of soft plastics, incompressible material and reinforcing elements. Different composition was also noticed between less degraded and more degraded samples. In the former, the soil-like materials, that is the particles smaller than 19mm, are essentially reinforcing components while in the later it is formed mainly by incompressible components. Although MSW composition did not vary significantly throughout the years, some difference in the originally landfilled waste could account for the observed variations. However, they are mainly the result of exhuming and preparation methods, whose influence is discussed in the paper, as well as the waste degradation state. The reinforcing components, rather than the soft plastics content, correlated well with cohesion intercept increase, both for the less and more degraded waste samples. The results also indicate that as MSW degrades the waste material evolves from an initially highly cohesive material to one that loses cohesion yet gains in shear strength angle over time.

Characterizing a Brazilian sanitary landfill using geophysical seismic techniques.

Two different geophysical techniques, namely crosshole and multichannel analysis of surface waves - MASW, were applied to investigate the mechanical response of Municipal Solid Waste buried under humid, subtropical climate. Direct investigations revealed that the buried waste was composed mainly of soil-like material (51%) and plastics (31%) with moisture content average values of 43% near the surface and 53% after around 11m depth. Unit weight varied between 9kN/m(3) and 15kN/m(3). Seismic investigation of the landfill yielded shear wave velocities (VS) estimated from the crosshole tests ranging from 92 to 214m/s, while compression wave velocities (VP) ranged from 197 to 451m/s. Both velocities were influenced by vertical confining stress and thus tended to increase with depth. VS calculated from MASW tests were lower than the ones calculated from the crosshole tests, probably due to the different frequencies used in the tests. The results of both methods tended to configure a lower bound to the values reported in the technical literature in general, as expected for low compaction waste with small amounts of cover soil. Although VS did not show abrupt changes with depth, VP profile distribution combined with direct investigations results, such as temperature, in-place unit weight and moisture content, suggest that the waste body could be divided into two strata. The lower one is poorly drained and shows higher moisture content, as a consequence of the operational techniques used in the first years, while the upper stratum is probably related to a better drained waste stratum, resulting from the improvement of operational standards and increase in drainage facilities throughout the years.

[Home parenteral nutrition in Spain 2011 and 2012; a report of the home and ambulatory artificial nutrition group NADYA]. / Nutrición Parenteral Domiciliaria en España 2011 y 2012: informe del grupo de nutrición artificial domiciliaria y ambulatoria NADYA.

OBJECTIVE: To report the data of the Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) registry of the NADYA-SENPE working group for the years 2011 and 2012. METHODOLOGY: We compiled the data from the on-line registry introduced by reviewers of NADYA group responsible for monitoring of NPD introduced by since January 1, 2011 to december 31, 2012. Included fields were: age, sex, diagnosis and reason for HPN, access path, complications, beginning and end dates, complementary oral or enteral nutrition, activity level, autonomy degree, product and fungible material supply, withdrawal reason and intestinal transplant indication. RESULTS: Year 2010: 184 patients from 29 hospitals , representing a rate of 3.98 patients/million inhabitants/ year 2011, with 186 episodes were recorded NPD . During 2012, 203 patients from 29 hospitals , representing a rate of 4.39 patients/million inhabitants/year 2012 , a total of 211 episodes were recorded NPD . CONCLUSIONS: We observe an increase in registered patients with respect to previous years.Neoplasia remains as the main pathology since 2003. Although NADYA is consolidated registry and has been indispensable source of information relevant to the understanding of the progress of Home Artificial Nutrition in our country, there is ample room for improvement. Especially that refers to the registration of pediatric patients and the registration of complications.

Objetivo: Comunicar los datos del registro de Nutrición Parenteral Domiciliaria (NPD) del grupo de trabajo NADYA-SENPE de los años 2011 y 2012. Material y métodos: Recopilación de los datos del registro "on-line" introducidos por los colaboradores del grupo NADYA responsables del seguimiento de la NPD desde el 1 de enero de 2011 al 31 de diciembre de 2012 dividido por años naturales. Resultados: Año 2010: Se registraron 184 pacientes, procedentes de 29 hospitales, lo que representa una tasa de 3,98 pacientes/millón habitantes/año 2011, con 186 episodios de NPD. Durante el año 2012 se registraron 203 pacientes, procedentes de 29 hospitales, lo que representa una tasa de 4,39 pacientes/millón habitantes/año 2012, con un total de 211 episodios de NPD. Conclusiones: Se observa un aumento progresivo de los pacientes registrados respecto a años anteriores. El principal grupo patológico sigue siendo oncológico ocupando el primer lugar desde 2003. Aunque el registro NADYA es un registro consolidado y ha sido y es fuente imprescindible de información relevante para el conocimiento de los avances de la Nutrición Artificial Domiciliaria en nuestro país, queda un amplio margen para la mejora. En especial lo que hace referencia al registro de pacientes pediátricos y al registro de las complicaciones.

Nutrición Parenteral Domiciliaria en España 2011 y 2012; informe del grupo de nutrición artificial domiciliaria y ambulatoria NADYA / Home parenteral nutrition in Spain 2011 and 2012; a report of the home and ambulatory artificial nutrition group NADYA

Objetivo: Comunicar los datos del registro de Nutrición Parenteral Domiciliaria (NPD) del grupo de trabajo NADYA-SENPE de los años 2011 y 2012. Material y métodos: Recopilación de los datos del registro "on-line" introducidos por los colaboradores del grupo NADYA responsables del seguimiento de la NPD desde el 1 de enero de 2011 al 31 de diciembre de 2012 dividido por años naturales. Resultados: Año 2010: Se registraron 184 pacientes, procedentes de 29 hospitales, lo que representa una tasa de 3,98 pacientes/millón habitantes/año 2011, con 186 episodios de NPD. Durante el año 2012 se registraron 203 pacientes, procedentes de 29 hospitales, lo que representa una tasa de 4,39 pacientes/millón habitantes/año 2012, con un total de 211 episodios de NPD. Conclusiones: Se observa un aumento progresivo de los pacientes registrados respecto a años anteriores. El principal grupo patológico sigue siendo oncológico ocupando el primer lugar desde 2003. Aunque el registro NADYA es un registro consolidado y ha sido y es fuente imprescindible de información relevante para el conocimiento de los avances de la Nutrición Artificial Domiciliaria en nuestro país, queda un amplio margen para la mejora. En especial lo que hace referencia al registro de pacientes pediátricos y al registro de las complicaciones (AU)

Objective: To report the data of the Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) registry of the NADYA-SENPE working group for the years 2011 and 2012. Methodology: We compiled the data from the on-line registry introduced by reviewers of NADYA group responsible for monitoring of NPD introduced by since January 1, 2011 to december 31, 2012. Included fields were: age, sex, diagnosis and reason for HPN, access path, complications, beginning and end dates, complementary oral or enteral nutrition, activity level, autonomy degree, product and fungible material supply, withdrawal reason and intestinal transplant indication. Results: Year 2010: 184 patients from 29 hospitals, representing a rate of 3.98 patients/million inhabitants/ year 2011, with 186 episodes were recorded NPD. During 2012, 203 patients from 29 hospitals, representing a rate of 4.39 patients/million inhabitants/year 2012, a total of 211 episodes were recorded NPD. Conclusions: We observe an increase in registered patients with respect to previous years. Neoplasia remains as the main pathology since 2003. Although NADYA is consolidated registry and has been indispensable source of information relevant to the understanding of the progress of Home Artificial Nutrition in our country, there is ample room for improvement. Especially that refers to the registration of pediatric patients and the registration of complications (AU)

Registro del año 2010 de Nutrición Parenteral Domiciliaria en España: Grupo NADYA-SENPE / Home parenteral nutrition registry in Spain for the year 2010: NADYA-SENPE

Objetivos: Comunicar los datos del Registro del Grupo NADYA SENPE de Nutrición Parenteral Domiciliaria NPD en España del año 2010. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo de la base de datos del Registro de ámbito nacional de NPD del grupo NADYA-SENPE (1 de enero de 2010 al 31 de diciembre de 2010). Para el cálculo de prevalencias se utilizó los últimos datos publicados por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Resultados: Se registraron 148 pacientes procedentes de 23 hospitales, 86 mujeres (58,11%) y 9 niños (6,08%). La edad media de los 139 pacientes adultos fue de 53,06 ± 15,41 años. La duración media de la NPD fue de 316,97 días/paciente. El diagnóstico más frecuente en los niños (menores de 14 años) fue intestino corto traumático con 5 casos (55,55%) y en los adultos la neoplasia en tratamiento paliativo 29 (19,59%). El motivo de la indicación de la NPD fue el síndrome de intestino corto en 74 ocasiones (47%). La vía de acceso más frecuentemente registrada fue el catéter tunelizado en 36 (22,78%) casos seguido del reservorio en 13 (8,23%) y otras vías en 3 ocasiones (1,90%). Se registraron 23 infecciones relacionadas con el catéter (82,14%), lo que representa 0,49/1000 días de NP y todas ellas ocurrieron en los adultos. A lo largo del año finalizaron 24 episodios de NPD, la causa más frecuente fue el paso a la vía oral en 12 episodios (50%). Se registró que los pacientes tenían una actividad normal en 70 episodios de NPD (44,30%) con una total autonomía en 88 de episodios (55,69%). Se identificaron 39 (24,68%) posibles candidatos para trasplante intestinal. Conclusiones: El número de pacientes registrados es discretamente inferior al del año anterior, aunque el número de hospitales participantes es el mismo. La complicación más frecuente sigue siendo la infección relacionada con el catéter aunque ha disminuido su incidencia respecto a años anteriores, presentándose la tasa más baja desde la creación del registro. Las diferencias en la participación en el registro observadas por Comunidades Autónomas lleva a plantear el desarrollo de estrategias de implementación del registro. Se observa un aumento progresivo de la duración de los días de NPD a lo largo de los años que hace pensar en la cronicidad de algunos pacientes, pero nos obliga a estudiar la existencia de un posible factor de confusión, en el caso de que existiera un olvido de cierre de algún episodio por lo que se hace necesario actualizar el registro con sistemas de alertas periódicas que faciliten la revisión de los pacientes incluidos y optimice la validez del registro (AU)

Objectives: To report the Group Registry NADYA SENPE data about home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in Spain in 2010. Material and methods: A descriptive study of the database of the national registry of HPN of NADYA-SENPE (December 10, 2009 to December 10, 2010). For the calculation of prevalence the latest data published by the Institute National Statistics Office (01/01/2009) was used. Results: There were registered 148 patients from 23 hospitals, 86 women (58.11%) and 9 children (6.08%). The average age of the 139 patients older than 14 years was 53.06 ± 15.41 years. The average duration of HPN was 316.97 days/patient. The most common diagnosis in those younger than 14 years was short bowel traumatic with 5 cases (55.55%) and in those older than 14 years, palliative care cancer with 29 cases (19.59%). The reason for the indication for HPN was short bowel syndrome in 74 cases (47%). The access via most frequently recorded was tunneled catheter in 36 cases (22.78%) followed by implanted port-catheters in 13 cases (8.23%) and other pathways in 3 cases (1.90%). There were 23 catheter related infections (82.14%) which represented 0.49 /1,000 days of PN, all of which occurred in cases older than 14 years. During the year 24 episodes of HPN ended, the most frequent cause was the transition to oral nutrition in 12 episodes (50%). It was reported that patients had a normal activity in 70 episodes of HPN (44.30%) with complete autonomy in 88 episodes (55.69%). Some patients 39 (24.68%) were potential candidates for intestinal transplantation. Conclusions: The number of registered patients is slightly lower than the previous year, although the number of participating hospitals is the same. The most frequent complication remains catheter-related infection but its incidence has decreased from previous years, presenting the lowest rate since the creation of the record. Differences in participation in the registry observed in the Autonomous Communities causes the development of implementation strategies. There is a gradual increase in day length of HPN over the years, which suggests the chronic treatments of some patients and obliges to study the existence of a possible confounding factor, in case there is an oversight of closing an episode. Therefore, it is necessary to update the registry with warning systems that facilitate periodic review of the patients and optimize the validity of registration (AU)

[Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) registry in Spain for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 (NADYA-SENPE Group)]. / Registro de la Nutrición Parenteral Domiciliaria (NPD) en España de los años 2007, 2008 y 2009 (Grupo NADYA-SENPE).

OBJECTIVE: To report the data of the Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) registry of the NADYA-SENPE working group for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009. METHODOLOGY: We compiled the data from the on-line registry introduced by the responsible Units for the monitoring of HPN from January 1st 2007 to December 31st 2009. Included fields were: age, sex, diagnosis and reason for HPN, access path, complications, beginning and end dates, complementary oral or enteral nutrition, activity level, autonomy degree, product and fungible material supply, withdrawal reason and intestinal transplant indication. RESULTS: 2007: 133 patients with HPN were registered (61 males and 72 females), belonging to 21 hospitals. Average age for the 119 patients older than 13 years old was 53.7 ± 14.9 years, and 3.6 ± 3.6 y. for the 14 patients under 14 years old. Most frequent pathology was neoplasm (24%), followed by intestinal motility disorders and actinic enteritis (14% both). The reason for HPN provision was short bowel syndrome (43%), malabsorption (27%), and intestinal obstruction (23%). Tunnelled catheters were mostly used (69%), followed by implanted port-catheters (27%). Catheter related infections were the most frequent complications, with a rate of 0.92 episodes/103 HPN days. HPN was provided for more than two years in 50% of the cases. By the end of 2007, 71.4% of the patients remained active; exitus was the most frequent reason to end HPN (57.5%). 26% of the patients were eligible for intestinal transplant. 2008: 143 patients with HPN were registered (62 males and 81 females), belonging to 24 hospitals. Average age for the 133 patients older than 13 years old was 54.7 ± 13.9 years, and 3.7 ± 0.6 y. for the 10 patients under 14 years old. Most frequent pathology was neoplasm (20%), followed by actinic enteritis (14%) and intestinal motility disorders (13% ). The reason for HPN provision was short bowel syndrome (44%), malabsorption (28%), and intestinal obstruction (20%). Tunnelled catheters were mostly used (60%), followed by implanted port-catheters (29%). Catheter related infections were the most frequent complications, with a rate of 0.50 episodes/10³ HPN days. HPN was provided for more than two years in 67% of the cases. By the end of 2008, 71.6% of the patients remained active; exitus was the most frequent reason to end HPN (52.4%). 29% of the patients were eligible for intestinal transplant. 2009: 158 patients with HPN were registered (62 males and 96 females), belonging to 24 hospitals. Average age for the 149 patients older than 13 years old was 55.2 ± 13.0 years. Most frequent pathology was neoplasm (25%), followed by actinic enteritis (12%) and intestinal motility disorders (11%). The reason for HPN provision was short bowel syndrome (42%), malabsorption, and intestinal obstruction (23% both). Tunnelled catheters were mostly used (60%), followed by implanted port-catheters (36%). Catheter related infections were the most frequent complications, with a rate of 0.67 episodes/10³ HPN days. HPN was provided for more than two years in 58% of the cases. By the end of 2009, 79.2% of the patients remained active; full oral nutrition was the most frequent reason to end HPN (48%). 23% of the patients were eligible for intestinal transplant. CONCLUSIONS: We observe an increase in registered patients with respect to previous years, with a very different prevalence among regions. Neoplasia remains as the main pathology since 2003. We observe a decrease in catheter-related infections in the last two years, being the 2008 rate the smallest since the register's beginning.

[Home parenteral nutrition registry in Spain for the year 2010: NADYA-SENPE Group]. / Registro del año 2010 de nutrición parenteral domiciliaria en España: Grupo NADYA-SENPE.

OBJECTIVES: To report the Group Registry NADYASENPE data about home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in Spain in 2010. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive study of the database of the national registry of HPN of NADYA-SENPE (December 10, 2009 to December 10, 2010). For the calculation of prevalence the latest data published by the Institute National Statistics Office (01/01/2009) was used. RESULTS: There were registered 148 patients from 23 hospitals, 86 women (58.11%) and 9 children (6.08%). The average age of the 139 patients older than 14 years was 53.06 ± 15.41 years. The average duration of HPN was 316.97 days/patient. The most common diagnosis in those younger than 14 years was short bowel traumatic with 5 cases (55.55%) and in those older than 14 years, palliative care cancer with 29 cases (19.59%). The reason for the indication for HPN was short bowel syndrome in 74 cases (47%). The access via most frequently recorded was tunneled catheter in 36 cases (22.78%) followed by implanted port-catheters in 13 cases (8.23%) and other pathways in 3 cases (1.90%). There were 23 catheterrelated infections (82.14%) which represented 0.49 /1,000 days of PN, all of which occurred in cases older than 14 years. During the year 24 episodes of HPN ended, the most frequent cause was the transition to oral nutrition in 12 episodes (50%). It was reported that patients had a normal activity in 70 episodes of HPN (44.30%) with complete autonomy in 88 episodes (55.69%). Some patients 39 (24.68%) were potential candidates for intestinal transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: The number of registered patients is slightly lower than the previous year, although the number of participating hospitals is the same. The most frequent complication remains catheter-related infection but its incidence has decreased from previous years, presenting the lowest rate since the creation of the record. Differences in participation in the registry observed in the Autonomous Communities causes the development of implementation strategies. There is a gradual increase in day length of HPN over the years, which suggests the chronic treatments of some patients and obliges to study the existence of a possible confounding factor, in case there is an oversight of closing an episode. Therefore, it is necessary to update the registry with warning systems that facilitate periodic review of the patients and optimize the validity of registration.

[Colectomy management]. / Manejo de la colectomía.

Colorectal surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures on the gastrointestinal tract. The large bowel plays an important role in maintaining water and electrolyte balance due to its high capacity of water absorption that may be altered with surgery. Artificial nutritional support should be administered, whenever possible, and is well managed with through the enteral route. PN is indicated only at post-surgery when there are major complications associated with intestinal failure. Early post-surgery EN, or oral supplements, seems to be beneficial. Pouchitis occurs after proctocolectomy with ileoanal anastomosis with the creation of a reservoir in patients with ulcerative colitis, and is well managed with antibiotic therapy, steroids, and probiotics. The implementation of a specific nutritional support protocol allows for decreasing PN and shortens hospital stay.

Manejo de la colectomía / colectomy management

La cirugía colorrectal es uno de los procedimientos quirúrgicos sobre el tracto digestivo que se realizan con mayor frecuencia. El colon juega un papel importante para mantener el equilibrio hidroelectrolítico, ya que tiene una gran capacidad de absorción de agua, que puede verse alterada con la cirugía. En relación con el soporte nutricional artificial, debería ser administrado, siempre que fuera posible, a través de la vía enteral. La NP solo está indicada en el postoperatorio cuando se producen complicaciones mayores en asociación con fallo intestinal. La NE precoz postcirugía, o los suplementos orales, parecen ser beneficiosos. La pouchitis se produce tras la proctocolectomía con anastomosis íleo-anal con formación de reservorio, en pacientes con colitis ulcerosa, y responde al tratamiento con antibióticos, esteroides y probióticos. La implantación de un protocolo específico de soporte nutricional, permite disminuir la NP y acorta la estancia hospitalaria

Colorectal surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures on the gastrointestinal tract. The large bowel plays an important role in maintaining water and electrolyte balance due to its high capacity of water absorption that may be altered with surgery. Artificial nutritional support should be administered, whenever possible, and is well managed with through the enteral route. PN is indicated only at post-surgery when there are major complications associated with intestinal failure. Early post-surgery EN, or oral supplements, seems to be beneficial. Pouchitis occurs after proctocolectomy with ileoanal anastomosis with the creation of a reservoir in patients with ulcerative colitis, and is well managed with antibiotic therapy, steroids, and probiotics. The implementation of a specific nutritional support protocol allows for decreasing PN and shortens hospital stay

[Geriatric nutrition]. / Nutrición en geriatría.

The elderly population is increasing rapidly over the last decades. This population has a high risk for malnutrition due to metabolic and organic changes that occur during the aging process. Malnutrition is especially prevalent in hospitalized elderly patients and those with other disease. Malnutrition in the elderly increases the morbido-mortality as the nutrients influence the immune function, the cognitive function, vision.... Caloric intakes of 30 Kcal/kg/day and protein ingestion of 1-1.25 g/kg/day are recommended. However, almost a third of the population does not meet these macronutrient requirements, and therefore does not meet the micronutrient requirements either. The easiest method for detecting malnutrition in the elderly is the Mini-Nutritional Assessment, which also accurately predicts the 1-year mortality. If malnutrition is detected, attempts should be made to correct this using an adequate and personalized oral diet, and it may be useful to associate energetic protein supplements.

Genetic and clinical analysis in 10 Spanish patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) is characterised by the combination of tumours of the parathyroid, endocrine pancreas and anterior pituitary glands. In 1988 the MEN 1 gene was mapped to chromosome 11q13 and it was cloned in 1997. This gene contains 10 exons and extends across 9 Kb of genomic DNA; it encodes for a product of 610 amino acid named menin whose function is unknown. We have studied 10 unrelated MEN 1 kindreds by a complete sequencing analysis of the entire gene; mutations were identified in nine of them: five deletions, one insertion, two nonsense mutation and a complex alteration consisting of a deletion and an insertion that can be explained by a hairpin loop model. Two of the mutations have been previously described; the other seven were novel, and they were scattered throughout the coding sequence of the gene. As in previous series, no correlation was found between phenotype and genotype.

[Necrotizing fasciitis as complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy]. / Fascitis necrotizante como complicación de gastrostomía endoscópica percutánea.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare clinical entity. We describe a case associated with a percutaneous endoscopic gastrotomy (PEG).

[Update on the role of diet in recurrent nephrolithiasis]. / Actualización del papel de la dieta en la nefrolitiasis recidivante.

The role of nutritional factors in the pathogenesis of recidivating nephrolithiasis is reviewed. The ingestion of liquid calcium and citrates is inversely associated with the risk of developing stones, while the ingestion of proteins, sodium, uric, and oxalates have a direct relationship. One should not restrict the ingestion of calcium in the diet, but rather one should recommended a normal or high ingestion of some 850 mg/day, and rather, one should restrict the ingestion of proteins, oxalate, and sodium, as well as keeping up a diuresis greater than 1500 cc/day.

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) concentration and acrosin activity in human spermatozoa. Their relation with the sperm penetration assay (SPA).

Fertility of men depends on the quality of semen. The aim of the present paper is to determine both the acrosin activity by radioimmunoassay and ATP concentration by bioluminescence in human spermatozoa, and evaluate these results in those samples with normal or low sperm penetration according to SPA test. Ejaculates obtained from 42 untreated men, were studied one hour after the obtention. These materials were divided into two groups:20 human semen samples with "in vitro" potentiality to penetrate zone-free hamster ova, between 15% to 98% and 22 human semen with SPA test between 0% to 14%. When we compare the group with normal penetration response vs that group with low or absent penetration ones, a significant decrease of ATP and acrosin concentrations was observed (P less than 0.001). Nevertheless no significant difference was observed in relation with percentage of motility, volume (ml), sperm concentration (10(6)/ml), percent of quick progressive spermatozoa and number of gametes capable of migrating into the medium layer (10(6)), between the group with low or absent penetration test against that one with normal zona-free hamster egg test.

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) activity in normal and pathological human semen. Relationship with round cells of the ejaculate.

The aim of the present paper is deleted to determine ATP activity in the human seminal cells by bioluminescence and to investigate the relationship between these values and the number of round cells either peroxidase positive or peroxidase negative. We studied 244 untreated men, divided into six groups. Our mean value of ATP activity in normal semen was 20.02 +/- 0.65 n moles per 10(8) spermatozoa. In asthenozoospermic or oligoasthenozoospermic patients with less than 1,000,000 round cells per ml, the concentration of ATP was significantly lower than normal (P less than 0.001) or (P less than 0.05). Semen with normal characteristics or samples from asthenozoospermic or oligoasthenozoospermic patients but with more than 1,000,000 round cells, per ml and with predominance of peroxidase negative cells, had an ATP concentration higher than normal subjects (P less than 0.001). We believe that the knowledge of the quantity and quality of round cells of the ejaculate is important to interpret the seminal values of ATP.

Glycerylphosphorylcholine in selected forms of male infertility.

GPC was studied in the seminal plasma of 35 normozoospermic men, 34 cases of azoospermia due to bilateral deferent obstruction, 34 cases of azoospermia due to bilateral ejaculatory duct obstruction, 10 vasectomized patients, 6 vasectomized patients after vasovasostomy and 118 cases of spermatogenetic arrest without obstruction of the seminal ducts. Values of GPC in azoospermia due to deferent or ejaculatory ducts obstruction and to vasectomy are significantly lower than in normozoospermic subjects (p less than 0.001). Levels of GPC increased (p less than 0.05) following vasovasostomy. Although GPC values in secretory azoospermia were higher than those in cases of duct obstruction, they were still lower than in normozoospermic (p less than 0.001). The most likely source of GPC is the epididymis. These results support the assumption that GPC originates mainly in the epididymis. The absence of germinal cells in the epididymis could explain the decreased levels of GPC in azoospermia due to arrest of spermatogenesis.

Changes in sialic acid concentration in human saliva during the menstrual cycle.

Salivary sialic acid concentration was studied daily in 20 fertile women during the menstrual cycle. The Warren method was used and plasma LH and BBT were also determined. The sialic acid concentrations in saliva throughout the cycle showed a peak 4 or 5 days before the LH preovulation surge. This maximal peak showed a mean of 10.89 +/- 1.11 mg%. This method may be useful for predicting the pre- and postovulatory fertile period.

Contractile behaviour of rat seminal vesicle after gonadectomy, testosterone replacement and cyproterone treatment.

The effects of bilateral gonadectomy, testosterone replacement and cyproterone acetate treatment on seminal vesicle contractions were studied in rats in order to contribute new data on the role of androgens in the spontaneous motility of the seminal vesicle. In gonadectomized-testosterone treated rats the glands exhibited a spontaneous rhythmic activity similar to that of entire animals. The seminal vesicles of gonadectomized as well as of cyproterone treated rats also contracted spontaneously but the contractions showed a smaller amplitude. Such decrease could be related with the well-known atrophy and reduction in the number of smooth muscle cells occurring in seminal vesicles after castration. The results reported in this paper suggest that androgens are not required for the normal spontaneous activity of seminal vesicles.

Effects of methyl xanthines upon the spermatozoa adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) concentration in normal semen.

The aim of the present study was to ascertain the effect of methyl xanthines upon the spermatozoa ATP concentration in normal semen in vitro. 26 normal semen were studied. The specimens were diluted after liquefaction with equal volume of Lopata's buffer or Lopata's buffer plus 1 or 6 mM either of caffeine or pentoxifylline. The samples of semen were incubated at room temperature during 90, 180 and 240 minutes before motility and ATP determination by the firefly luciferin-luciferase method. Significant variation was observed in sperm motility nevertheless variations in the ATP concentration was not induced by any of the methyl xanthines we used.