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Biomedical subjects

Y Steen

Publications and source records attributed to Y Steen.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Quality of semen after repeated ejaculation treatment in spinal cord injury men.

The study was designed to document the effects of regular drainage after penile vibrator stimulation on the quality of semen in SCI men. Twenty three tetraplegics and 9 paraplegics, 18 to 40 years of age and with neurological levels ranging from C4 to L1, were examined between 1 and 23 years after injury (median 2 years). None had ejaculated after the injury. Penile vibrator stimulation was tried in patients with cervical or thoracic lesions who showed reflex hip flexion on scratching the soles of the feet, 29 out of 32, and rectal electrostimulation in the remaining 3 low lesions with no reflex function in lumbar and sacral segments. The stimulation yielded semen in 29 (91%) of the men; 22 had antegrade and 7 retrograde ejaculation. Sixteen of the 22 patients with antegrade ejaculation entered a home programme of vibrator stimulation prescribed once weekly. Four to 6 months of stimulation resulted in a rise of semen volume and of fructose and acid phosphatase levels in the seminal plasma, suggesting improved function of the seminal vesicles and the prostate. The percentage of motile sperms was low both before and after the treatment period. Despite this, the total count of motile sperms per ejaculate was already high in the patient's first ejaculates compared to the laboratory normal standard, and further clearly increased after the stimulation period. A standardised functional test measuring sperm penetration capacity showed strong evidence of long term stimulation effect. It is suggested that the test is used in the assessment of fertility potential in SCI men.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

A self-migration method for preparation of sperm for in-vitro fertilization.

Human sperm samples (n = 211) were prepared for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer by a self-migration procedure in Earle's medium containing highly purified hyaluronic acid (Hya) (MW 3,000,000) included to increase the viscosity of the medium. The method resulted in the recovery of a significantly higher percentage of motile spermatozoa compared with the traditional centrifugation method, 87.5 +/- 0.9% versus 76.1 +/- 1.3% (P less than 0.001). When comparing media with and without Hya in the self-migration method for preparation of normal sperm samples, the media containing Hya resulted in the recovery of a significantly higher percentage of motile spermatozoa, 89.0 +/- 0.8% versus 73.8 +/- 2.0% (P less than 0.001). In a group of 80 consecutive couples entering our IVF programme, sperm samples from 44 of the men were allocated at random for the self migration method in medium containing Hya and sperm samples from 36 men for preparation by centrifugation and swim-up. Significantly more pregnancies were achieved in the group prepared in medium containing Hya. It is concluded that self-migration of sperm in a medium containing Hya is simple and rapid, and results in a high recovery of motile spermatozoa which can be used for in-vitro insemination of human oocytes with favourable results.

Cell Separation↗
PubMed1983

Characteristics of donor semen and cervical mucus at the time of conception.

With freshly ejaculated semen from 15 donors, 1017 inseminations were performed in 247 women. One hundred conceptions were achieved. The degree of crystallization of the cervical mucus and the characteristics of the donor semen were examined at each insemination. One insemination only from one single ejaculate was performed in each cycle. This procedure made it possible to describe the quality of the cervical mucus and the sperm sample characteristics on each occasion of conception. The conception rate was significantly reduced (P less than 0.001) when the degree of crystallization of the cervical mucus was impaired. The conception rate was low when the sperm density was less than 20 million/ml, the percentage of abnormal sperm was above 50, and the degree of motility was graded 2 or less. The in vitro capillary sperm penetration test gave reliable information on the progressive motility of the sperm, showing a good correlation between penetration ability and conception rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Enzyme histochemical studies of human spermatozoa correlated with the spermiogram.

The activities of NADH2-diaphorase, leucine aminopeptidase, and acid phosphatase were studied histochemically in spermatozoa and seminal plasma of 28 ejaculates from 13 men with proven fertility and in 31 ejaculates from 29 men living in infertile marriages. The enzyme activities were correlated with the spermiogram. The NADH2-diaphorase activity was located exclusively in the midpiece of the spermatozoa, while the activities of leucine aminopeptidase and acid phosphatase seemed to be located only on the surface. A positive correlation was found between the NADH2-diaphorase activity and the spermatozoal motility, density, and morphology.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Does Cohn-fractionated Rh immune globulin transmit viral hepatitis?

In light of recently raised doubts about the safety of Cohn fraction II globulins, a prospective study on the risk of transmission of viral hepatitis with a Cohn-fractionated Rh immune globulin (Rhesonativ, KabiVitrum AB, Stockholm, Sweden) was performed in 47 newly delivered mothers. The women were followed regularly for 6 months after the injection of the Rh immune globulin for biochemical, serological, and clinical signs of viral hepatitis. No clinical signs of acute hepatitis were noted during the study, nor were HBsAg or anti-HBc found in any patient. A slight and transient rise in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels was seen in three women, but these never reached 2.5 times the upper normal limit as is the currently used lower limit for a diagnosis of non-A, non-B hepatitis. One woman had positive tests for anti-HBs at 5 and 5.5 months, respectively, after the injection, but serum samples taken before and after this period were all anti-HBs negative. Nonspecific reactions in the method used probably explained this finding. This prospective study supports the contention that Rhesonativ, a Cohn-fractionated Rh immune globulin, does not transmit viral hepatitis.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Auto-immunity to spermatozoa and quality of semen in men with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of anti-sperm antibodies in serum, and on spermatozoa, in men with spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Thirty men whose injury occurred 1 to 18 years ago compared with 30 men with normal semen. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Eighteen tetraplegic and 12 paraplegic patients were treated with vibrator or rectal electrostimulation, yielding a total of 25 ejaculates. RESULTS: Semen analyses (WHO): volume low, with concentration > 100 million/mL in 80%; 8/30 exhibited sperm agglutinating antibodies, but with low titres. CONCLUSIONS: Low titres of serum antibodies and absence of attached IgA antibodies indicate autoimmunity is not the cause of low sperm motility and penetration capacity in these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-sperm IgA antibodies against the equatorial segment of the human spermatozoon are associated with impaired sperm penetration and subfertility.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of antibodies directed against the equatorial segment of the spermatozoon in (a) serum in both sexes in relation to age and fertility status and (b) semen of infertile men with tail-to-tail sperm agglutination in relation to in vitro sperm penetration capacity. MATERIAL: Serum samples were obtained from 30 neonates, 11 prepubertal children, 30 adolescents, 60 adults aged 20-50 years, and 60 adults over the age of 70. Semen samples were obtained from 62 men with normal sperm counts and sperm morphology but with tail-to-tail agglutination. METHODS: Sperm antibodies were demonstrated with an immunoperoxidase assay. Sperm penetration capacity was measured with a modified Kremer capillary test. RESULTS: Serum anti-sperm antibodies were absent in children but appeared in teen-age boy (10%) and in adult men (20%) and women (30%). Lower prevalence of serum anti-sperm antibodies was noted for old individuals of both sexes (6-10%). Among individuals with a history of infertility, a significantly higher frequency of anti-sperm antibody-positive men (P < .001) and (P < .05) was found as compared to fertile controls. Presence of IgA antibodies bound to the equatorial segment of spermatozoa was associated with impaired in vitro sperm penetration capacity. No IgG or IgM anti-sperm antibodies bound to the equatorial segment were demonstrable. CONCLUSIONS: Seminal IgA antibodies bound to sperm are associated with impaired sperm penetration.

Adolescent↗