PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Amice

Publications and source records attributed to J Amice.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Interchromosomal effect in sperm of males with translocations: report of 6 cases and review of the literature.

Somatic chromosomal abnormalities are frequently found in infertile men, particularly in those with low sperm count and/or seeking intracytoplasmic sperm injection. These abnormalities mostly consist of numerical sex chromosome abnormalities and translocations (Robertsonian or reciprocal). In this study, we searched for the occurrence of non-disjunction of chromosomes not involved in translocations during meiosis, phenomenon called interchromosomal effect (ICE) and first described by Lejeune (1965). Ejaculate samples of two patients carrying a Robertsonian translocation and four a reciprocal translocation patients and four controls (men with a 46,XY karyotype and normal sperm parameters) were studied in dual FISH 7-9, dual FISH 13-21 and triple FISH X-Y-18. A statistically significant increase of disomy X, Y and XY (P = 0.009, P = 0.004, P < 0.001) was found in the Robertsonian der(13;14)(q10;q10) carrier but not in the der(14;21)(q10;q10) carrier compared with controls. Among reciprocal translocation carriers, a significant increase of disomy 21 (P = 0.033) was observed in a sole patient with a t(9;22)(q21;q11.2). The increase of meiotic non-disjunction for chromosome 21 and sex chromosomes is a recurrent event found in other studies. According to our results and published data, the ICE on some specific chromosomes is likely in men carrier of a translocation, although it cannot be excluded that the aneuploidy is related to the oligoasthenoteratozoospermia usually present in these men. Moreover, this phenomenon showed interindividual variations which cannot be predicted. The risk of aneuploidy in sperm of males used for ICSI need to be evaluated. It could be superadded to that of meiotic segregation of the translocation to give a more precise and personalized risk assessment of aneuploidy in the offspring of those men.

Adult↗

Lack of intraindividual variation of unbalanced spermatozoa frequencies from a 46,XY,t(9;22)(q21;q11.2) carrier: case report.

The meiotic segregation pattern of 83 men carrying a balanced reciprocal translocation between two autosomes has already been published. Nevertheless, the question of intraindividual variations has not been addressed yet. A 32-year-old patient was found to be a carrier of a t(9;22)(q21;q11.2) during the investigations for a couple with infertility for 3 years. Two sperm samples were obtained at more than 3 months interval. Both sperm samples were analyzed in triple FISH with the D9Z1 and LSI BCR/ABL ES translocation probes. The frequency of gametes exhibiting a chromosomal imbalance was 45.32% and 42.1% in samples 1 and 2, respectively, with the unbalanced spermatozoa resulting from adjacent 1, adjacent 2, and 3:1 segregation in decreasing frequencies. No statistically significant difference was found between both segregation profiles. Four studies have analyzed the meiotic segregation pattern of translocations within families; they found similar profiles of meiotic segregation in each family, but not between families. This suggests, along with our results, that meiotic segregation is not a random process. More studies on intraindividual variations are necessary to allow a better understanding of the meiotic behaviour of chromosomal rearrangements and the practical interest of studies of this kind.

Adult↗

Chromosomal abnormalities in couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection. A study of 370 couples and review of the literature.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is now widely acknowledged as the most effective therapeutic approach to severe male infertility or unsuccessful in vitro fertilization. Cytogenetic investigations were performed in 370 females and 335 males prior to ICSI between January 1997 and April 2003. Nine men (2.7%) and 48 women (13%) had an abnormal karyotype, 44 females having some degree of numerical sex chromosome mosaicism. A review of the literature showed the prevalence of all types of chromosomal abnormalities to be much higher among male and female partners of couples examined prior to ICSI than among newborns. As most ICSIs are performed with ejaculated spermatozoa from oligospermic men, the distribution and the prevalence of the several types of chromosomal abnormalities are closer to those of oligospermic rather than azoospermic males. Our results combined with those of the literature stress the importance of karyotyping both male and female partners before ICSI is started. Adequate genetic counselling, possibly followed by prenatal diagnosis, should be offered if a chromosomal anomaly is detected.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

Sex chromosome mosaicism in couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown an increased frequency of constitutional chromosome aberrations in male and female partners of couples examined prior to ICSI. We conducted a cohort study to determine whether there was an increase in numerical sex chromosome mosaicism among couples undergoing ICSI compared with fertile couples. METHODS: Cytogenetic investigations were performed in 228 females and 208 males seen for ICSI between January 1997 and March 2001. They were matched to control females and males. RESULTS: Sex chromosome loss or gain was observed in at least one cell from 24.1% of ICSI women in comparison with 22% of controls (not significant). A significant difference between these two groups was found when X chromosome loss in at least two cells was considered, 9.6% for ICSI females versus 4.8% for controls (P = 0.01). No significant difference was observed between male groups concerning loss or gain of the X or Y chromosome. CONCLUSION: Our results support previously published studies indicating that the loss of an X chromosome in a single cell in females undergoing ICSI is probably an artefact. However, they suggest that a woman could have true sex chromosome mosaicism when two 45,X0 cells are found.

Adult↗

Outer ear temperature and time of death.

From a research sample of 138 corpses, divided into four subgroups of ambient storage temperature (0-5 degrees C, 6-10 degrees C, 11-15 degrees C and 16-23 degrees C) four linear regression formulae of actual versus estimated post-mortem interval were obtained ('interval' formulae) using a single outer ear temperature measurement on both sides. This method showed the best correlation coefficient among five other methods previously proposed for time of death determination (rectal temperature, vitreous K+, CSF K+, blood log NA+/K+ and log Cl-), however its results were less accurate than those obtained with a multivariate equation combining several of the above mentioned methods. Eventually an equation expressing time of death (TOD) as a function of outer ear temperature (OE T degrees) and ambient temperature was also established from the whole research sample ('global' formulae). On a different sample of 141 corpses the regression formulae ('interval' and 'global') for the outer ear temperature were compared to three methods based on a single rectal temperature measurement ('rule of thumb' 1 and 2, Henssge nomogram) and therefore useful at the scene; the results of all methods were compared within the four subgroups of ambient temperature as well as in three subgroups of different post-mortem interval lengths (< 7 h, < 10 h, < 15 h). In all cases the outer ear temperature formulae provided better results than the rectal temperature methods (especially Henssge nomogram and rule of thumb 1). Moreover they did not show any post-mortem plateau which was present in almost 30% of cases when rectal temperature was measured in corpses kept at ambient temperature above 15 degrees C. Our results show that outer ear temperature measurement is the method which provides the best simplicity/quality ratio and should therefore be proposed for use at the scene when conditions are similar to those of our experiment (within buildings). A software equipped thermometer is required in order to use in each case the appropriate formula and confidence interval.

Aged↗

[Serologically detected HY antigen and its regulation].

The serologically detected, male predominant s HY Ag is a surface glycoprotein. The structural gene would be located on the 6th chromosome and regulated by gonosomal genes. The presence of testes (or testicular remenants) is linked to the s HY antigen expression in most abnormalities of sexual differentiation. However, the basal s HY Ag value is sometimes increased in the absence of any testicular tissue, as in virilized females (21-hydroxylase deficiency, idiopathic or ovarian hirsutism). Homogametic sex s HY Ag may increase to heterogametic sex values under the action of androgens in mammals and that of oestrogens in birds.

Female↗

Increase in H-Y antigen-positive lymphocytes in hirsute women: effects of cyproterone acetate and estradiol treatment.

To investigate a possible relationship between lymphocyte H-Y antigen expression and plasma androgen concentrations in hirsute women, 27 hirsute women were studied. A significant increase in the percentage of H-Y-positive lymphocytes was found in both hirsute women with idiopathic hirsutism [13.4 +/- 2.9% (+/- SD); n = 15] and hirsute women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (13.0 +/- 2.8%; n = 12) compared to that in normal women (10.0 +/- 1.9%; n = 30; P less than 0.0005). Plasma testosterone and androstenedione concentrations, % H-Y+ lymphocytes, and hirsutism scores diminished during oral cyproterone acetate (50 mg/day) and percutaneous estradiol (3 mg/day) treatment. Significant correlations between % H-Y+ lymphocytes and hirsutism scores (P less than 0.001), % H-Y+ lymphocytes and plasma T concentrations (P less than 0.01) were found. We conclude that 1) women can produce H-Y antigen in the same way as men; 2) hirsutism is associated with an increase in H-Y antigen; and 3) the antiandrogen cyproterone acetate reduces H-Y antigen expression on lymphocytes.

Adult↗

Gonadal tumor and H-Y antigen in 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis.

Six cases of Swyer's syndrome (46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis) are reported. Three patients, without gonadal tumor, had female H-Y antigen. Three patients, after gonadal tumor ablation, had intermediate H-Y antigen levels. Repeated blood samples were obtained from two siblings. H-Y antigen level in the first sibling, who presented with a gonadoblastoma and underwent a gonadectomy before the H-Y assays, was intermediate, and did not show any significant variation for 21 months. H-Y antigen level in the second sibling showed an increase in the male range, presumably due to the presence of gonadoblastomas. After resection of the tumors, H-Y antigen level became intermediate. These findings suggest a relation between the tumorization potentiality of the gonadal remnants and the H-Y antigen levels in 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis.

Adolescent↗

Increase of lymphocytic H-Y antigen in female 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

H-Y antigen was found to be increased in lymphocytes from 10 female 21-hydroxylase deficiencies, suggesting a correlation between the degree of virilization of these patients and their H-Y + lymphocytes proportions. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate the ability of a 46,XX female subject to produce, in some circumstances, an excess of H-Y antigen.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗

[Y-chromosome polysomy and expression of the H-Y antigen].

The sex-differentiation H-Y antigen was studied in 5 males subjects with Y-chromosome polysomy. All had gonadal deficiency and significant decrease of H-Y antigen as compared with 77 normal 46, XY male controls. Men with additional Y-gonosomes may be hypogonadic or, more often, fertile, as was probably the case with the 3 patients with very high H-Y antigen titers previously described by other research workers. The phenotypic polymorphism of these subjects therefore seems to be parallel with their H-Y antigen polymorphism and there may be, in our 5 subjects, a relationship between abnormal spermatogenesis and H-Y antigen deficiency.

Adult↗

Resistance to tumor graft in mice treated with inactivated Brucella abortus cultured in smooth or rough phase.

Because killed Brucella abortus organisms cultured in smooth (S) or rough (R) phase were known to differentially influence humoral and cellular immune responses and to differ in their effects on T-dependent responses, the antitumor properties of killed B. abortus organisms, cultured in S- or R-phase and then inactivated, were compared in (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 female mice with the use of 6 different transplantable tumors. In solid tumors, the antitumor effects produced by S-preparations were never improved by R-preparations. However, in ascites tumors, R-preparations gave the best antitumor results. These findings suggested that the defense mechanisms acrivated by immunostimulants may differ according to the site of tumor implantation. Among the other experimental factors studied, the route of B. abortus administration had a prominent role. Local injection at the site of tumor implantation before or after the graft gave better results than did systemic treatment. Systemic treatment could enhance the growth of Lewis tumor when applied 5 or 10 days before tumor graft but generally had an antitumor effect when given 1 day after the graft.

Animals↗

Evidence of H-Y antigen on human B lymphocytes.

H-Y antigen was studied in human peripheral blood lymphocytes from male and female subjects by indirect immunofluorescence. In males, 20% of lymphocytes were found to be H-Y+, compared with 9% in females. B- and T-cell-enrichment analysis showed a close correlation between the male B-lymphocyte count and the H-Y+-cell count. The method described is particularly applicable to the measurement of H-Y antigen in cases of ambiguous sex differentiation since it offers direct demonstration of H-Y antigen in the cells of the individual under examination.

Animals↗