Bruce L. Fariss

Seminal Characteristics in the Presence of a Varicocele as Compared with those of Expectant Fathers and Prevasectomy Men

One hundred and thirty-one semen analyses were performed on men found to have a varicocele on a routine physical examination. The seminal characteristics of these men were contrasted with those of 87 men who were desirous of having a vasectomy and with those of 25 expectant fathers. No significant differences were found in the mean sperm density in these three groups of men. However, it was noted that a greater percentage of men with a varicocele had a sperm count of 20 million or less as compared with the control groups. It was also found that a greater percentage of the men with either a large or medium-sized varicocele had a sperm count of 20 million or less than those with a small varicocele. There was no significant difference in the percentage of oval forms, motility, or tapered forms in the three groups of men with a varicocele as compared with expectant fathers and men desirous of a vasectomy.

Ectopic ACTH production in disseminated prostatic adenocarcinoma

The second fully documented case of ACTH-producing prostatic adenocarcinoma with elevated plasma and tissue levels of ACTH is presented. The distinguishing characteristics of ACTH-producing extrapituitary neoplasms and the various modes of therapy are discussed.

Tissue Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone from Bilateral Testis Biopsies in Males with Varicocele

Nine males with varying degrees of subfertility with left varicocele underwent bilateral testicular biopsy for determination of testicular testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) content. Testicular tissue T and DHT levels varied greatly, and there was no significant difference when the group T and DHT content of the left testis was compared with that of the right testis. When the respective mean preoperative sperm count was compared with the bilateral tissue T and DHT content, no consistent relationship was found.

Seminal Fluid Androgen Binding Protein

The following study was undertaken to determine the presence of an androgen binding protein (ABP) in the ejaculate. Seminal fluid was obtained from ten fertile subjects. Sperm counts ranged from 20 times 106/cc to 80 times 106/cc. Each sample was preincubated with tritiated dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Second, after preincubation of the samples with tritiated DHT, the samples were mixed with Concanavalin‐A bound to sepharose‐D (C‐S) and the supernate separated and counted. Finally, saturation analysis of the samples using dextran‐coated charcoal for separation was performed and Scatchard analysis was used to determine the concentration of ABP present.

Agranulocytosis and a small dose of methimazole.

Excerpt To the editor: Methimazole and propylthiouracil are commonly used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism, and the untoward effects of rash, fever, and agranulocytosis are occasionally associat...

Effects of glucose therapy on experimental Escherichia coli septicemia

Abstract Therapeutic and prophylactic employment of glucose infusion during E. coli septicemia apparently induces a reversal of the effect, manifested by the presence of the organism and its by-products. Dogs, receiving a continual infusion of E. coli at 1 × 107/ ml with elevated blood glucose levels, showed a 1000-fold decrease in circulating bacteria within 2 hr when compared with control animals. Dogs prophylactically treated cleared circulating E. coli in 30 to 60 min, sooner than control animals. Glucose infusion employed therapeutically and prophylactically has a curative effect in Gram-negative septicemias and bacteremias.

Laboratory evaluation for cushing's syndrome in psychiatric patients with cortisol nonsuppression following the overnight dexamethasone suppression test

Laboratory tests used for the differential diagnosis of Cushings syndrome have infrequently been employed in investigations of psychiatric patients who demonstrate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) overactivity, and these laboratory procedures have not previously been applied for the specific purpose of further evaluating the endocrine function of psychiatric patients with serum cortisol nonsuppression following the standard 1-mg overnight Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST). Low-dose (4 mg/48 hr) and high-dose (16 mg/48 hr) DSTs were administered to 10 psychiatric patients who exhibited cortisol nonsuppression after the overnight DST. Patients all had normal suppression to both the low-dose and high-dose tests. HPA overactivity in these patients was thus not sufficient to meet laboratory criteria for the diagnosis of Cushings syndrome. Study results suggest that psychiatric patients with abnormal cortisol suppression following the 1-mg overnight DST are likely to have normal responses when assessed by standard laboratory protocols used for the diagnosis of Cushings syndrome.