PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Muneer

Publications and source records attributed to A Muneer.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Semen quality before and after gonadotoxic treatment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse the semen quality of patients before and after gonadotoxic therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated semen quality in 314 patients over a 26 year period. The diagnostic categories were leukaemia (n = 13); lymphoma (n = 128); testicular cancer (n = 102); benign conditions (n = 13); and other malignant neoplasms (n = 58). The degree of azoospermia or oligozoospermia for each disease category was recorded. We then analysed the recovery in semen quality over time for each disease category. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 27.9 years (range 13-65 years). A total of 1115 post-treatment semen samples were analysed from 314 patients. There was a significant reduction in the post-treatment sperm concentration, sperm motility and semen volume compared with pre-treatment levels (P < 0.05) in the entire cohort. However, the sperm movement and motility grade remained unaffected. Patients with testicular carcinoma had the lowest pre-treatment sperm concentrations but also the lowest incidence of azoospermia after cancer treatment. Patients with lymphoma and leukaemia had the highest incidence of post-treatment azoospermia and oligospermia. Patients having the largest reductions in their sperm concentration after treatment required the longest recovery period for spermatogenesis. The diagnostic category was the only significant predictor of post-treatment azoospermia. CONCLUSION: Gonadotoxic treatment results in a significant reduction in sperm quality. The type of cancer or disease, and the pre-treatment sperm concentrations were found to be the most significant factors governing post-treatment semen quality and recovery of spermatogenesis. All categories of patients displayed varying degrees of azoospermia and oligozoospermia, and recovery of gonadal function from these states was not significant. This highlights the importance of ensuring sperm banking before treatment, including for patients with benign conditions. Several factors and associations are discussed further in order to give an insight into the pre- and post-gonadotoxic treatment effects.

Adolescent↗

The 2-week wait for suspected cancer: time for a rethink?

The 2-week rule, stating that patients with suspected cancer should be seen by a specialist within 2 weeks of referral by their General Practitioner, was introduced in the UK in 2000. Although it has been the subject of much interest in the literature, to date there has been no review of the literature. A thorough literature review was undertaken using the medline database, from January 2000; further references were obtained from the reference lists of relevant papers. Some studies have demonstrated a reduction in the waiting times to see specialists, and in some cases time to treatment, and have commented on the potential psychological benefits to patients. However, concerns have been raised over the often low yield of malignancy and the high proportion of malignancies still being diagnosed outside the 2-week wait system. There is, as yet, no evidence that the initiative impacts on survival.

Female↗

Squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder presenting as vulvitis and cliteromegaly.

INTRODUCTION: Clitoral metastases are exceptionally rare. We present a case of a squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder presenting with a clitoral metastasis. CASE REPORT: We report the case of an 84-year-old lady with frequency, dysuria and a clitoral mass, which was found to be a poorly differentiated carcinoma on fine needle aspiration cytology. Cystoscopy revealed a moderate to poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of a squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder with clitoral metastasis. Clitoral metastases are exceptionally rare, with only seven previous cases reported in the literature. Although the commonest cause of cliteromegaly is hormonal, a metastatic carcinoma should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis in the elderly female.

Aged↗

Atraumatic retroperitoneal haemorrhage in a hydronephrotic kidney secondary to transitional cell carcinoma.

Retroperitoneal haemorrhage due to rupture of a hydronephrotic kidney has been described previously. There have only been two previous cases reporting retroperitoneal haemorrhage secondary to transitional cell carcinoma. We report two cases of spontaneous retroperitoneal haemorrhage in grossly hydronephrotic kidneys which had extensive transitional cell carcinoma present in the renal pelvis.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell↗

Current oral treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain a penile erection adequate for satisfactory sexual intercourse. It is a significant male health problem of global dimensions affecting approximately 150 million men worldwide. A broad range of options are currently available for the management of ED. They include oral agents (phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, dopamine agonists and alpha-receptor blocking drugs), intracavernosal injection (papaverine, phentolamine, prostaglandin E1, vasoactive intestinal peptide), transurethral vasoactive agents (prostaglandin E1), vacuum erection devices, vascular surgery and penile prostheses. Here we review the physiology of penile erection and the currently available oral preparations. In addition, novel therapeutic strategies to improve erectile function are discussed.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

ENT pathology and diplopia.

ENT pathology causes diplopia in a minority of patients. Because the various ENT conditions that can produce diplopia are relatively unusual they often escape early detection. We describe the various ENT disorders that can produce diplopia and illustrate this with our experience between 1992 and 1998. We wish to emphasise the benefit which can be obtained from undertaking an ENT history and examination in arriving at the correct diagnosis.

Aspergillosis↗

Unilateral abducens nerve palsy: a presenting sign of sphenoid sinus mucocoeles.

Sphenoid sinus mucocoeles can stimulate a variety of pathological conditions and patients can present to a range of specialists. Because of the relative rarity of sphenoid sinus mucocoeles, diagnosis is often delayed and these lesions can progressively expand and cause direct mechanical compression on adjacent structures. We present three cases which presented with an abducens nerve palsy. Early surgical intervention is advocated and these patients' symptoms resolved following surgery. Although several conditions can present with an abducens nerve palsy, it is important to consider a sphenoid sinus mucocoele in the differential diagnosis.

Abducens Nerve↗

Dose-response effects of adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation on atrial natriuretic peptide secretion from beating isolated guinea-pig atria.

1. The possible role of autonomic neurotransmitters in atrial natriuretic peptide secretion was investigated using spontaneously beating guinea-pig atria in vitro. Dose responses were determined for adrenaline, noradrenaline and acetylcholine and the selective alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists phenylephrine and isoprenaline, respectively. Adrenoceptor effects were further studied using the selective alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonists prazosin and propranolol, respectively, in conjunction with maximal adrenaline challenge. Results for rate and force of contraction and atrial natriuretic peptide secretion are expressed as a ratio (mean +/- SEM) of a 15 min treatment period (stage 2) to a corresponding pretreatment period (stage 1). 2. Adrenaline and noradrenaline caused dose-dependent increases in the rate and force of contraction and in atrial natriuretic peptide secretion with a peak secretory response at 2 x 10(-6) mol/l of 1.54 +/- 0.08 (P < 0.01) and 1.34 +/- 0.08 (P < 0.01) for adrenaline and noradrenaline, respectively. Acetylcholine decreased the rate and force of contraction, and ANP secretion was reduced to 0.47 +/- 0.06 at 3 x 10(-5) mol/l (P < 0.01). Isoprenaline increased the rate and force of contraction and atrial natriuretic peptide secretion with a peak secretory response of 1.52 +/- 0.22 at 2 x 10(-6) mol/l (P < 0.01). Phenylephrine increased the force but had no effect on the rate of contraction, and stimulated atrial natriuretic peptide secretion to 1.13 +/- 0.09 at 2 x 10(-5) mol/l (P < 0.05). After both alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blockade, adrenaline was still able to significantly stimulate atrial natriuretic peptide secretion and positive inotropy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗

Novel PDE5 inhibitors for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects the lives of approximately 150 million men worldwide. ED may be a cause of male sub-fertility in a significant proportion of patients. There is now an expanding armamentarium for the management of ED, including oral agents such as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. PDE5 inhibitors may also be useful in situations of temporary ED in couples undergoing IVF. Two novel PDE5 inhibitors have been commercially launched in the European Union in the first quarter of 2003. This article reviews the pharmacology and clinical efficacy of these new agents and their potential role in treating patients with male sub-fertility.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Investigation of cavernosal smooth muscle dysfunction in low flow priapism using an in vitro model.

The effects of hypoxia (pO2: 50 mmHg), acidosis (pH: 6.9) or glucopenia (absence of glucose) in vitro on the tone of the rabbit corpus cavernosum were investigated. The recovery of smooth muscle contractility following exposure to these conditions was also assessed. Hypoxia, acidosis or glucopenia alone or in combination showed a sustained reduction in the tone. Reperfusion of tissue strips showed complete recovery of smooth muscle tone for all conditions except when hypoxia and glucopenia were combined or when hypoxia, glucopenia and acidosis were used in combination. Incomplete recovery of tone was associated with a significant reduction in tissue ATP concentrations and an increase in the number of TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling)-positive nuclei. This indicates that following reversal of hypoxia, acidosis and glucopenia, failure of conventional alpha-adrenergic agonists to produce tumescence in low flow priapism is associated with irreversible smooth muscle cell dysfunction, which is linked to ATP reduction and smooth muscle cell death.

Acidosis↗