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Biomedical subjects

C Keck

Publications and source records attributed to C Keck.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Diurnal variations in scrotal temperature of normal men and patients with varicocele before and after treatment.

Scrotal temperature was monitored using a portable data recorder for periods of 24 h in six normal volunteers and 48 infertile patients with unilateral varicocele while subjects pursued their regular daily activities. Temperatures during sleep (TS) were generally higher than daytime values (TD), probably as a consequence of thermal insulation in bed. These diurnal variations were found to be less pronounced in the infertile patients than in volunteers (TS - TD = 0.29 degrees C +/- 0.06 degrees C vs 0.88 degrees C +/- 0.12 degrees C; P < 0.01). Moreover, scrotal temperatures at night of patients and volunteers were indistinguishable statistically, but were different during daytime hours. After successful ligation or embolization of the spermatic-vein in 16 patients, no change in scrotal temperature was observed. Although sperm counts were higher after treatment, this difference was not significant (67.4 +/- 17.2 x 10(6) vs 105.8 +/- 25.5 x 10(6); P > 0.05). The data support the view that varicocele-related damage to the testis results from a lack of adequate cooling, and that treatment does not normalize the temperature pattern.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Influence of three different preparation techniques on the results of human sperm morphology analysis.

Using 158 unselected semen samples the present study has analysed how the results of sperm morphology assessment were influenced by different techniques for preparing the slides for microscopic assessment. All three techniques compared, the Papanicolaou stain (PAP), the Shorr stain (SHO) and the 'wet preparations' protocol (WET) are currently recommended by the World Health Organization for use in andrology laboratories. Mean percentages of morphologically normal spermatozoa were identical on PAP and SHO slides (31.1%), but were significantly lower in wet preparations (12.3%). Wide divergence of results obtained with the three different methods was also found with respect to the percentage of sperm with head, midpiece and tail defects and two 'indices of teratozoospermia'. For the majority of parameters assessed, linear regression analysis revealed a poor correlation between evaluations of PAP, SHO and WET slides (r values ranging from 0.01 to 0.87). We conclude that only one standard method should be recommended for the preparation of morphology slides in order to ensure inter-laboratory comparability of results and to enhance the value of sperm morphology analysis for predicting fertility.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1990

Isolation of a protein from human ovarian follicular fluid which exerts major stimulatory effects on in vitro steroid production of testicular, ovarian, and adrenal cells.

We describe the isolation of a steroidogenesis-inducing protein (SIP) from human ovarian follicular fluid and its effects on in vitro steroid synthesis of testicular, ovarian, and adrenal cells. After heating at 60 C, precipitation with 80% ammonium sulfate and dialysis, the human ovarian follicular fluid proteins were fractionated by gel chromatography on Sephacryl S-200. The bioactivity was eluted in the mol wt region between 40 and 60 K. SIP was further purified by affinity chromatography on blue Sepharose (CL-6B), preparative isoelectrofocusing on sucrose density gradients, anion exchange chromatography on Mono Q by using fast protein liquid chromatography system and gel chromatography on Superose 12. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified SIP under both reducing and nonreducing conditions revealed a single band with an approximate mol wt of 60 K. SIP exhibited a pI value of 4.8, was heat sensitive, and lost activity upon lyophilization. SIP copurified with albumin in various isolation procedures and was distinct from human serum albumin but may represent a modified form of human albumin. SIP stimulated testosterone production by testicular pieces, interstitial cells, or purified Leydig cells from rats under different in vitro conditions. The SIP also stimulated basal and human CG stimulated in vitro progesterone production of human ovarian granulosa-lutein cells and corticosterone production of rat adrenal cells. The effects of SIP on testicular, ovarian, and adrenal cells were evident in the presence of maximal concentrations of tropic hormones. The steroid-free spent media from human granulosa-lutein cell cultures also stimulated testosterone production by rat interstitial cells, suggesting that granulosa cells may be the cellular source of SIP. In conclusion, human ovarian cells secrete a hitherto unknown albumin-like protein which enhances both basal and tropic hormone stimulated steroidogenesis in gonadal and adrenal cells. This protein may play a significant role in ovarian function by modifying steroidogenesis in the preovulatory follicle.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1976

Traumatic coxa vera. A case report of spontaneous correction in a child.

Residual coxa vara is a common complication of femoral neck fracture in a child. Factors favoring the development of this complication are delayed reduction and avascular necrosis. The present case report is a 10-year follow-up of spontaneous correction of traumatic coxa vara in a child. This is of interest because residual coxa vara following a hip fracture in an adult is a deformity in which there is little if any corrective remodeling.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Autometallographic detection of mercury in testicular tissue of an infertile man exposed to mercury vapor.

A 25-year-old male patient presented with unexplained infertility. Semen analysis showed azoospermia or severe oligoasthenoteratospermia with elevated serum FSH. The history revealed that he had been employed in a chemical factory for 5 years working with chloralkali-electrophoresis. Mercury concentrations in hair, blood, and urine samples were considerably above levels of unexposed controls. Bilateral testicular biopsies revealed marked interstitial lymphatic infiltration. About 33% of the tubules analyzed showed a Sertoli-cell-only (SCO) syndrome and tubular atrophy. Fewer than 4% of tubules showed qualitatively intact spermatogenesis. Autometallographic (AMG) analysis of the biopsy material yielded silver-enhanced mercury grains, primarily in the interstitial Leydig cells. Sections from a control patient not exposed to mercury were devoid of mercury grains.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lack of correlation between cadmium in seminal plasma and fertility status of nonexposed individuals and two cadmium-exposed patients.

Cadmium concentrations were determined in semen samples of 12 men with proven fertility (group I) and 44 normozoospermic patients (group II) as well as 118 unselected patients of an infertility clinic (group III) and 2 industrial workers with occupational exposure to cadmium. Mean cadmium concentrations in seminal plasma for groups I, II, and III did not show significant differences: 0.38 +/- 0.64; 0.43 +/- 0.69; 0.44 +/- 0.73 (mean +/- SD, micrograms/L), but the two cadmium-exposed patients revealed exceptionally high cadmium levels: 3.46 micrograms/L and 2.99 micrograms/L, respectively. There was no significant correlation between seminal cadmium concentrations and conventional semen parameters or between cadmium concentration and the fertility status of the patients. However, mean cadmium concentrations in seminal plasma of normozoospermic patients were higher in the group of smokers (0.55 +/- 0.81 micrograms/L), compared with the group of nonsmokers (0.42 +/- 0.67 micrograms/L), and there was a weak correlation between cadmium concentration and number of cigarettes consumed per day.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Seminal tract infections: impact on male fertility and treatment options.

Bacterial and viral infections of the genital tract may be important aetiological factors for male infertility. Infectious processes may lead to deterioration of spermatogenesis, impairment of sperm function and/or obstruction of the seminal tract. Detection of bacteria in semen does not necessarily signify infection since bacteriospermia may represent contamination, colonization or infection. Reported prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum in human semen varies from 10 to 40%. Enterobacteria can even be found in up to 90% of semen samples depending on the sensitivity of detection methods used. Chlamydia trachomatis is the most frequent sexually transmitted bacterial organism in industrialized countries. It is suggested that its main influence is due to sexual transmission resulting in tubal disease and subsequent infertility in the female partner rather than a direct influence on male reproductive functions. The effect of leukocytospermia on male fertility is controversial. This is probably due to different detection methods, different populations studied and to the fact that leukocyte subtypes in semen may have different functions. In addition to potentially negative effects, leukocytes may even have protective effects on spermatozoa. Only recently have amplification methods been established to detect viruses in semen with high sensitivity and specificity. It is unclear if these infections significantly contribute to male infertility.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ventriculomegaly diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound and mental development of the children.

During the last 8 years in our department, fetal ventriculomegaly was diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound in 105 cases. Ventriculomegaly was detected at 25+/-6 weeks of gestation. In 96 of 105 cases follow-up examinations have been performed both during pregnancy and after delivery. In 47 cases termination of pregnancy, late spontaneous abortion or intrauterine death occurred. 49 cases resulted in live births. Of these, 28 children could be followed up to the age of 36 months, a few children even longer. Myelomeningocele was the most frequent cause of ventriculomegaly (17 cases = 61%). Insertion of ventricular shunt systems was performed in 26 children at a median of 21 days of life. Analysis of postnatal development was performed by the Kaufmann Assessment Battery for Children, or the Munich Functional Development Test. Correlation analysis was performed between parameters of prenatal findings and postnatal development. It could be shown that results of single prenatal ultrasound examinations did not correlate with postnatal development whereas progression of ventriculomegaly was negatively correlated with mental development.

Cerebral Ventricles↗