Meiotic segregation, recombination, and aneuploidy was assessed for sperm from a t(1;10)(p22.1;q22.3) reciprocal translocation carrier, by use of two multicolor FISH methods. The first method utilized three DNA probes (a telomeric and a centromeric probe on chromosome 1 plus a centromeric probe on chromosome 10) to analyze segregation patterns, in sperm, of the chromosomes involved in the translocation. The aggregate frequency of sperm products from alternate and adjacent I segregation was 90.5%, and the total frequency of normal and chromosomally balanced sperm was 48.1%. The frequencies of sperm products from adjacent II segregation and from 3:1 segregation were 4.9% and 3.9%, respectively. Reciprocal sperm products from adjacent I segregation deviated significantly from the expected 1:1 ratio (P < .0001). Our assay allowed us to evaluate recombination events in the interstitial segments at adjacent II segregation. The frequencies of sperm products resulting from interstitial recombination in chromosome 10 were significantly higher than those resulting from interstitial recombination in chromosome 1 (P < .006). No evidence of an interchromosomal effect on aneuploidy was found by use of a second FISH method that simultaneously utilized four chromosome-specific DNA probes to quantify the frequencies of aneuploid sperm for chromosomes X, Y, 18, and 21. However, a significant higher frequency of diploid sperm was detected in the translocation carrier than was detected in chromosomally normal and healthy controls. This study illustrates the advantages of multicolor FISH for assessment of the reproductive risk associated with translocation carriers and for investigation of the mechanisms of meiotic segregation of chromosomes.

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Numerous trials have concluded that laparoscopic hysterectomy, compared with total abdominal hysterectomy, causes less postoperative pain and shortens the hospital stay. Many view this approach as being more cost-effective, but a recent large, randomized trial demonstrated more major complications after the laparoscopic procedure. The present study compared the length of time in the hospital, time to convalescence, and long-term patient satisfaction in 47 consecutive women who were to have supravaginal hysterectomy. Twenty-three of them were randomized to undergo abdominal supravaginal hysterectomy (ASH) and 24 laparoscopic supravaginal hysterectomy (LSH). Pre-and postoperative procedures were comparable in the 2 groups, and there were no significant differences in demographic features or physical characteristics.The postoperative hospital stay was comparable after ASH and LSH. Operating times were significantly longer with LSH, but estimated blood loss was greater in the ASH group. No intraoperative complications occurred in either group, and no patient was transfused. Self-rated pain 6 hours postoperatively was less in women having LSH. Follow up at 6 weeks showed that patients having ASH required approximately 10 more disability days than those in the LSH group. There were no differences in the number of days analgesics were required or the time needed to resume normal activities. At 6 months, 87% of women having ASH and 91% of those in the LSH group were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall results. More than 90% of women in both groups would recommend their procedure to others.When using a multimodal intervention program of postoperative care, the choice between ASH or LSH may be less important than is generally believed with regard to postoperative time in the hospital and long-term patient satisfaction. EDITORIAL COMMENT(What is with the idea of supracervical hysterectomy? There may be some patients who think that preservation of the cervix has less risk of interfering with sexual function or producing urinary incontinence. However, several prospective, randomized trials from the United States, Holland, England, and Denmark have shown that these ideas are not true-preservation of the cervix does not help with sexual, bladder, or bowel function.Learman et al reported on a relatively small, prospectively randomized series of 135 women from 4 U.S. academic medical centers who were followed for 2 years after hysterectomy (Obstet Gynecol 2003;102:453). They found no statistically significant difference in rate of complication, length of hospital stay, or clinical outcomes specifically related to symptoms of bladder or bowel dysfunction and pelvic and back pain between the total and supracervical abdominal hysterectomy GYNECOLOGY Volume 61, Number 10 OBSTETRICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL SURVEY ABSTRACT Endometriosis is among the most important causes of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women of reproductive age; it reportedly is present in as many as one third of women having diagnostic laparoscopy for pain. This ...

We investigated the relationship between psychological stress and sperm concentration, motility, and morphometry in a prospective study of 157 volunteers who were enrolled in a prepaid health plan. We measured psychological job stress and life-event stress by telephone interview. Sperm-kinematic and nuclear-morphometric variables were measured using computer-assisted image analyses. Sperm concentration, percent motility, and semen volume were determined by objective visual methods.We performed multiple linear regression for each semen variable to examine its relationship to stress, controlling for potential confounders.Stress at work and total number of life events were not related to differences in semen quality. However, the recent death of a close family member was associated with a reduction in straight-line velocity (P = 0.002) and percent of progressively motile sperm (P = 0.02); it was also marginally associated with an increase in the fraction of sperm with larger and more tapered nuclei. These findings suggest that the fecundity of men experiencing the stress of a family member's death might be temporarily diminished.Poland ML. Giblin PT, Ager JW, Moghissi KS. Effects of stress on semen quality in semen donors.In: J Fernil 1986:3:229-231. Fenster et al. Psychological Stress and Semen Quality

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Semen was collected from 50 men occupationally exposed to carbaryl (1-naphthyl methyl carbamate) in a produciton plant for durations of 1 to 18 years and compared to semen from a control group of 34 unexposed, newly-hired workers. Employment, fertility, health, personal data, and blood samples were collected for each individual. Semen samples were analyzed for changes in sperm count, morphology, and frequency of sperm carrying double flourescent bodies (YFF). As a group, the exposed workers showed a significantly higher proportion of sperm with abnormal head shapes than did the control group (p < 0.005). Age, smoking habits, and medical problems did not appear to affect this result. This finding appears to be limited to men working in the carbaryl production area at the time of sampling. Sperm count and YFF did not show similar differences, which may be because they are known to be statistically less sensitive to small changes. Formerly exposed workers (away from carbaryl for an average of 6.3 years) showed a marginally significant elevation in sperm abnormalities compared to controls (p < .05, one-tailed statistical analyses) suggesting that the increase in abnormal morphology may not be reversible. However, the question of reversibility is sensitive to confounding factors and small sample sizes and, therefore, requires further study. With these data a definitive link between carbaryl exposure and human seminal defects cannot be established. Although a distinct effect on sperm morphology was seen in the exposed group, the increases in sperm shape abnormalities were not related to exposure dose (estimated by number of years on the job or job classification during the year prior to semen collection). Inexplicably, the increases in sperm abnormalities were seen primarily in currently exposed men who had worked with carbaryl for less than approximately 6 years. These findings suggest the need for further study since other workplace-related factor(s) may be responsible for the elevated sperm abnormalities seen in this study. ImagesFIGURE 1.

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The sperm production of 14 cancer patients who received doxorubicin was examined after cessation of therapy. Doxorubicin was used in several multiple-drug protocols for the treatment of various malignancies. Seven patients also received radiotherapy to different sites. Total cumulative doses of doxorubicin ranged from 145 to 625 mg./m.2. Sperm concentration, motility, morphology and the frequency of quinacrine-stained sperm with 2 fluorescent bodies (2F sperm) were measured 7 to 79 months after discontinuation of doxorubicin. Of the patients 6 remained azoospermic, 3 were oligospermic and 5 were normospermic. Sperm motility among the 8 patients with sperm ranged from 20 to 80 per cent. Morphology and 2F sperm distributions were not significantly different from controls. We conclude that, in contrast with the mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone protocol, active sperm production within relatively short recovery times is possible after treatment with protocols that include doxorubicin.