Jakob Lackner

Evaluation of chemiluminescence and flow cytometry as tools in assessing production of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion in human spermatozoa

OBJECTIVE To examine simultaneously the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and superoxide (O(2)(-*)) using chemiluminescence and flow cytometry. DESIGN Prospective laboratory study. SETTING Reproductive research lab in a tertiary hospital. PATIENT(S) Semen samples from 18 healthy male volunteers. INTERVENTION(S) Sperm preparation and measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by chemiluminescence using luminol and lucigenin before and after H(2)O(2) exposure and by flow cytometry using dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) for H(2)O(2) and dihydroethidium (DHE) for O(2)(-*). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Sperm count, motility, viability, and ROS levels. RESULT(S) Immature sperm fractions showed significantly higher levels of ROS measured by either luminol or lucigenin compared with the neat and mature fraction. ROS levels were detectable by flow cytometry in chemiluminescence-negative samples. Both mature and immature sperm fractions had a significantly higher percentage of cells positive for H(2)O(2) compared with neat semen. On the other hand, the percentage of O(2)(-*)-positive cells in neat semen was significantly higher compared with the percentage found in mature fractions but significantly lower than that in the immature sperm fractions. CONCLUSION(S) We recommend ROS measurement by flow cytometry on the basis that it requires a lower sperm count, is comparable to chemiluminescence, and has higher specificity for intracellular ROS in viable spermatozoa. Samples tested negative by chemiluminescence still may have high intracellular H(2)O(2) generation that can be detected by flow cytometry.

How Much Physical Activity Is Needed To Maintain Erectile Function? Results of the Androx Vienna Municipality Study

OBJECTIVE To assess the correlation of erectile function (EF) and physical activity (PhA) by using standardized, validated instruments in healthy men. METHODS A urologist examined 674 men aged 45-60 yr at their place of work. That included a urological physical examination, medical history, and assessment of testosterone (T) and sex hormone-binding globulin; all men completed the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) as well as the Paffenbarger score. PhA was assessed in kilojoules per week (4.2 kJ=1 kcal). RESULTS A positive correlation between the IIEF-5 and the Paffenbarger score (r=0.164, p<0.001) was found. The IIEF-5 score increased with an increasing Paffenbarger score up to a level of 4000 kcal/wk. T revealed a trend to a significant impact on the IIEF-5 score, but showed no association with the Paffenbarger score. The risk of severe erectile dysfunction (ED) was decreased by 82.9% for males with PhA of at least 3000 kcal/wk compared with males with PhA under 3000 kcal/wk (OR=0.171, p=0.018). CONCLUSION Increasing PhA from 1000 to 4000 kcal/wk may reduce the risk of ED.

Color Doppler Sonography Reliably Identifies Testicular Torsion in Boys

OBJECTIVES To compare the results of preoperative scrotal color Doppler ultrasonography (CDS) and final diagnosis of subsequent surgical exploration in cases of suspected testicular torsion (TT). METHODS This retrospective study included 298 boys with acute scrotum whose clinical presentation was suspicious of TT and who subsequently underwent emergency surgery regardless of CDS results. RESULTS Mean patient age was 11.4 +/- 4.1 years. The mean time of duration of symptoms up to surgical exploration was 26.4 +/- 37.3 hours. All patients had standardized CDS of the scrotum. At surgery, 62 boys (20.9%) were diagnosed with TT, 168 (56.4%) with torsion of a testicular appendage (TA), and 24 (8.1%) with epididymitis. In 34 patients (11.4%), the cause of pain could not be identified during surgery. Overall CDS sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for TT diagnosis was 96.8%, 97.9%, 92.1%, and 99.1%, respectively. The mean age for the occurrence of TA and TT was 11.2 and 13.4 years, respectively (P <.0001). The peak incidence of TT was between age 14 and 16. Boys with TT sought medical attention statistically significantly earlier than those with TA or epididymitis obviously because of more severe pain (P <.0001). At the time of exploration for TT the affected testicle could be preserved in 32 boys (85.5%). In the remaining 9 boys the testis was considered nonviable and removed. CONCLUSIONS About 20% of boys presenting with an acute scrotum actually have TT. CDS is a reliable tool to identify TT.

Mood changes, body mass index and bioavailable testosterone in healthy men: results of the Androx Vienna Municipality Study

To determine whether sex hormones alone or in combination with body mass index (BMI) influence mood in men.

Serum Inhibin—Not a Cause of Low Testosterone Levels in Hypogonadal Prostate Cancer?

OBJECTIVES High-grade prostate cancer is associated with low serum testosterone levels, which generally recover after radical prostatectomy. The cause of this low testosterone level is unclear, and it has been hypothesized that cancer cells produce a factor that disturbs the pituitary-gonadal axis. Inhibin is a hormone that has a negative feedback effect on this axis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of serum inhibin in patients with prostate cancer. METHODS The serum hormone levels of the pituitary-gonadal axis, including inhibin levels, in patients with prostate cancer were compared with those in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Testosterone levels of less than 3 ng/mL were classified as hypogonadal. Prostate cancer was classified according to Gleason score as high grade (Gleason score 7 to 10) or low grade (Gleason score 2 to 6). RESULTS A total of 196 men (126 with prostate cancer and 70 with benign prostatic hyperplasia) were entered into the study. The serum inhibin levels did not differ significantly between the patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and those with prostate cancer (150.0 versus 131.75 pg/mL, P = 0.062), between men with hypogonadal and eugonadal disease (143.0 versus 146.5 pg/mL, P = 0.573), or between those with low-grade and high-grade cancer (151.5 versus 146.0 pg/mL, P = 0.830). Men with high-grade cancer had lower levels of serum testosterone than did those with low-grade cancer (3.49 versus 4.09 ng/mL, P = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS The results of our study have shown that although high-grade prostate cancer is associated with low serum testosterone levels, inhibin does not appear to be the cause of this phenomenon.

The changing distribution of pT stage in testicular germ cell tumours from 1976 to 2005: a single‐centre analysis of histopathological reports

As often happens, the huge interest in prostate cancer is reflected in the many papers which appear in press, and this is the case in this section, with other papers on renal and testicular cancer. However, the papers come from a wide variety of countries from all over the world: Austria, USA, Japan, UK, Italy, Germany and Canada. It is very pleasing to see the international motif of the Journal being maintained.