URINARY EXCRETION OF INTERSTITIAL CELL STIMULATING HORMONE AND SPERM CONCENTRATION IN 219 MALES

1969 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif Wide ◽  
Berndt Kjessler

ABSTRACT 219 male partners of barren marriages were examined with regard to urinary ICSH (LH) excretion and sperm concentration. The mean ICSH excretion in a group of patients with azoospermia was significantly higher as compared to a group of patients with more than 20 million sperms per ml. The individual excretion values were found to be widely distributed with a considerable overlapping between the groups. Only very few patients with low sperm counts had remarkably low ICSH excretion values. It appears as though only a very limited number of patients with impaired spermatogenesis would benefit from replacement therapy including gonadotrophins with ICSH activity; at least from a theoretical point of view.

2003 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Livio Garattini ◽  
Emanuela Castelnuovo ◽  
Davide Lanzeni ◽  
Cecilia Viscarra ◽  
DYSCO VISITE Gruppo di studio DYSCO VISITE

In Italy, general practitioners (GPs) operating within the National Health Service (NHS) are paid according to the number of patients followed, without relation to the number of visits performed. This means that, from a theoretical point of view, the marginal cost of an adjunctive medical examination equals to zero. Since this view is clearly little realistic, in this paper we expose a methodological approach to estimate the real cost of a GP visit, starting from data collected in the DYSCO study, a national survey on the medical costs of dystimia in Italy. 46 GPs were asked to record the number and duration of ambulatory and domiciliar visits, along with the time spent in administrative tasks, during 4 weeks, each randomly chosen within a season (spring, summer, autumn, winter). In order to assign a monetary value to each visit, the total fee reimbursed by the NHS to a GP was divided by the total time spent on work, and then again by the number of visits conducted during this time. The calculations performed revealed that the mean duration of a ambulatory visit amounts to about 10 minutes, while a domiciliar visit (including travelling time) lasts almost the double. An interesting result was that summer visits have significantly longer duration than the mean, and consequently cost more. The mean cost of a GP’s ambulatory visit resulted about 12 Euro; a domiciliar visit costs almost 23 Euro. The times and costs calculated in this study are consistent with other calculations performed by other authors in Europe and Italy, confirming the appropriateness of the employed methodology.


Symmetry ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Frasnelli ◽  
Giorgio Vallortigara

Lateralization, i.e., the different functional roles played by the left and right sides of the brain, is expressed in two main ways: (1) in single individuals, regardless of a common direction (bias) in the population (aka individual-level lateralization); or (2) in single individuals and in the same direction in most of them, so that the population is biased (aka population-level lateralization). Indeed, lateralization often occurs at the population-level, with 60–90% of individuals showing the same direction (right or left) of bias, depending on species and tasks. It is usually maintained that lateralization can increase the brain’s efficiency. However, this may explain individual-level lateralization, but not population-level lateralization, for individual brain efficiency is unrelated to the direction of the asymmetry in other individuals. From a theoretical point of view, a possible explanation for population-level lateralization is that it may reflect an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) that can develop when individually asymmetrical organisms are under specific selective pressures to coordinate their behavior with that of other asymmetrical organisms. This prediction has been sometimes misunderstood as it is equated with the idea that population-level lateralization should only be present in social species. However, population-level asymmetries have been observed in aggressive and mating displays in so-called “solitary” insects, suggesting that engagement in specific inter-individual interactions rather than “sociality” per se may promote population-level lateralization. Here, we clarify that the nature of inter-individuals interaction can generate evolutionarily stable strategies of lateralization at the individual- or population-level, depending on ecological contexts, showing that individual-level and population-level lateralization should be considered as two aspects of the same continuum.


Blood ◽  
1956 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 352-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
WILLIAM R. BEST ◽  
WENDELL A. LANDMANN ◽  
LOUIS R. LIMARZI

Abstract Serial urine collections in a number of patients with pernicious anemia given 2 µg B12Co60 orally followed in two hours by 1000 µg nonradioactive vitamin B12 showed little urinary radioactivity at any time. When these tests were repeated together with a potent oral dose of intrinsic factor concentrate, there was little activity during the first four hours. Peak excretion rates occurred most commonly between 6 and 12 hours after ingestion of radioactive B12, sometimes even later. The time of peak excretion was fairly characteristic for the individual. Secondary peaks occasionally occurred, and only slight radioactivity usually remained after 24 hours. It is postulated that the delayed peak is related to the time it takes for B12 to be transported in the intestine to the point of absorption or to the duration of the intracellular metabolic processes of absorption. For most purposes the use of fractional urinary collections is not necessary.


1967 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 584-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Bather ◽  
Herman Chernoff

This paper is a sequel to [1] and considers a more realistic formulation of the same question: that of finding an optimal policy for controlling the path of a space-ship as it moves towards its target. The difference here is that we no longer suppose there is an infinite quantity of fuel, always available at a fixed price, for modifying the current direction of motion. This complicates the problem of reducing the final miss distance, by introducing an extra variable. As before, we shall be particularly concerned to find a control procedure which always minimizes the mean square terminal miss. From the theoretical point of view we are also interested to see whether the techniques used to approximate the optimal policy can be extended, and how far we shall be forced to adopt a new approach. Results are derived which provide bounds on the form of the optimal policy. The derivation depends on a comparison technique whose validity is intuitively obvious, but which is still only a conjecture. However, further confirmation is obtained in the quadratic case from asymptotic expansions giving the form of the solution both when the space-ship is far away from its target and during its final approach.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikkel Andreassen ◽  
Anders Juul ◽  
Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen ◽  
Niels Jørgensen

Objective Gonadotropins (luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)) are released from the pituitary gland and stimulate Leydig cells to produce testosterone and initiates spermatogenesis. Little is known about how and when the deterioration of semen quality occurs in patients with adult-onset gonadotropin insufficiency. Design and methods A retrospective study comprising 20 testosterone-deficient men (median age, 29 years) with acquired pituitary disease who delivered semen for cryopreservation before initiation of testosterone therapy. Semen variables and hormone concentrations were compared to those of young healthy men (n = 340). Results Thirteen of 20 patients (65%) and 82% of controls had total sperm counts above 39 million and progressive motile spermatozoa above 32% (P = 0.05). For the individual semen variables, there were no significant differences in semen volume (median (intraquartile range) 3.0 (1.3–6.8) vs 3.2 (2.3–4.3) mL, P = 0.47), sperm concentration 41 (11–71) vs 43 (22–73) mill/mL (P = 0.56) or total sperm counts (P = 0.66). One patient had azoospermia. Patients vs controls had lower serum testosterone 5.4 (2.2–7.6) vs 19.7 (15.5–24.5) nmol/L (P = 0.001), calculated free testosterone (cfT) 145 (56–183) vs 464 (359–574) pmol/L (P < 0.001), LH 1.5 (1.1–2.1) vs 3.1 (2.3–4.0) U/L (P = 0.002) and inhibin b (P < 0.001). Levels of FSH were similar (P = 0.63). Testosterone/LH ratio and cfT/LH ratio were reduced in patients (both P < 0.001). Conclusions Despite Leydig cell insufficiency in patients with acquired pituitary insufficiency, the majority presented with normal semen quality based on the determination of the number of progressively motile spermatozoa. In addition, the data suggest reduced LH bioactivity in patients with pituitary insufficiency.


1973 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berndt Kjessler ◽  
Leif Wide

ABSTRACT The relation between gonadotrophin secretion and average gametic output has been investigated in 643 healthy male partners of barren couples. FSH and ICSH excretion in urine were determined by means of bioassay and radioimmunoassay respectively, and FSH in serum was determined by radioimmunoassay. The mean sperm counts were calculated for each patient from serial seminal analyses over a 12 week observation period. The subjects were grouped according to their average gametic output and statistically significant differences were found between all mean excretion values for FSH, and for all but one pair of ICSH mean excretion values, when groups of patients with decreasing gametic output were compared. Individual assay results were, however, widely spread within each subgroup with extensive overlapping between the groups. A general trend towards an increase in FSH as well as of ICSH secretion with decreasing gametic output was found. Thus, the mean excretion of FSH was found to be increased by 2.7 times, and the mean excretion of ICSH by 1.7 times, when azoospermic males were compared with males with a mean sperm count of 20 mill, per ml or more. There was no evidence of accumulation of males with low or absent gonadotrophin secretion in any subgroup, and this may indicate that only few, if any, of the ordinary healthy male partners in the present couples suffered from a primary pituitary failure to secrete FSH or ICSH. About 50 per cent of the males with increased FSH secretion and low or absent gametic output may have a selective spermatogenic failure, while the remainders are likely to suffer from a more general gonadal deficiency, since they also have a concomitant rise in ICSH.


Problemos ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktorija Daujotytė-Pakerienė

Straipsnyje, remiantis moksline ir menine medžiaga, aptariama humanistikos metodų problema. Keliama mintis, kad vaisingiausi metodai yra susiję su bendresniu mąstymu, su teorija. Jei metodas tik perimamas, jis virsta įrankiu, metodologijos dažnai, ypač disertacijose, tik imituojamos. Pasiremiama A. J. Greimo mintimi apie „apglėbiantį mąstymo būdą“. Trumpai aptariant pirmą kartą lietuviškai pasirodžiusias E. Husserlio „Karteziškąsias meditacijas“, ieškoma ir fenomenologinio tako humanistikoje, ypač literatūros moksle. Pabrėžiamas filosofijos ir literatūros ryšys. Keliama mintis, kad humanistikos metodologinės nuostatos turėtų labiau remtis pačia kūryba.Reikšminiai žodžiai: metodas, teorija, mąstymas, filosofija, poezija, fenomenologija. THE EMBRACING MODE OF THINKING Viktorija Daujotytė-Pakerienė Summary The author sets out to reconsider the problem of humanistic methods. It expresses the doubt as to the application of the methods which are detached from theories and a more general mode of thought. The title of the article is taken from the Lithuanian edition of the preface to “Semiotics” (1989) written by A. J. Greimas. The mode of thought, embracing the multifarious worlds of meaning, is considered as a humanistic universal, it is also perceived as a bridge of thought to prevailing phenomenology. The concept of embrace encompasses the dimension of the body and the full mental participation of the individual. A brief review of the first translation of Edmund Husserl’s “Cartesian Meditations” into Lithuanian by Tomas Sodeika (2005) are presented. Meditation is viewed as the common ground-substratum shared by philosophy and poetry. “Meditations” (1997) of Donaldas Kajokas are introduced. Algis Mickūnas and Arūnas Sverdiolas’s dialogues “The All-Embracing Present” (2004) are referred to as a personal testimony of the inner participation in the theories. The significance of A. Ðliogeris’s study “Thing and Art“ (1988), which discusses the creative work of P. Cezanne and R. M. Rilke, is reflected within the framework of the tradition of phenomenological thought; here the concept of theoretical point of view was first formulated in Lithuanian humanistics. The article suggests that in approaching the problems of method in humanistics, and especially in literary criticism, the participation of creation itself is very important, and particularly the experiences that open up in original texts (like in the writings of Marcel Proust, Jorge Luis Borges). It is important to reveal the equivalents, to reflect them, to extract the method from the texts. The article arrives at the conclusion that the recognition of the organizing inner text system is the essential principle of humanistic methodology, which is in close connection with the embracing mode of thought.Keywords: method, theory, thought, philosophy, poetry, phenomenology.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-139
Author(s):  
Lena Ivančová

Abstract The paper analyses the intonation of syllables in broadcasted communication utterances (analyzing audio samples from radio programs Rádiožurnál and Literárna revue Rádia Slovensko) from theoretical point of view, while building upon the outcomes of the experimental phonetic research. Duration of the individual segments, intensity of sonantic cores including intensity of syllables and basic frequency F0 were analysed. Role of the analysed parameters in relation to the sonic formation of the text can be seen in exact graphs, which are cross-referenced by the measured values. The analysis has shown that an intonation differentiation of text-forming features in the broadcasted communication utterances is significantly influenced by tonal modulation (melody). Variation potential of time modulation is limited by faster pace of broadcasted texts. The strength modulation is demonstrably limited by signal standardization in radio broadcasting.


1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (2-4) ◽  
pp. 145-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyohiko Someda ◽  
Hiroki Nakamura ◽  
Frederick H. Mies

Systematic behavior of decay rates of resonances above dissociation threshold is investigated by using the theory of resonance scattering. The condition for the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) rate formula to be valid is clarified by analyzing the random model of unimolecular dissociation. The decay rate averaged over many resonances agrees with the RRKM rate when the mean spacing and the mean width of the resonance states coincide with each other. On the other hand, auto- and mutual-correlation functions of the non-stationary wave functions indicate a rather paradoxical and intriguing phenomenon: In the RRKM regime, insufficient time is left for intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) before dissociation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 141 ◽  
pp. 123-126
Author(s):  
K. Petrovay

AbstractTwo simple examples are presented to show that concepts about the physical nature of sunspot groups may significantly influence the statistical data analysis process. In particular, the second example shows that the well-known difference in the decay rates of preceding (p-) and following (f-) polarity parts of sunspot groups may lead to a fake proper motion effect when area-weighted group positions are used. This effect may be responsible for some recent contradictory findings concerning the motions of sunspot groups. It is therefore argued that while area-weighting is adequate when calculating the mean positions of p- and f-parts of a sunspot group separately, defining the position of the group as a whole by the unweighted average of the mean positions of the p- and f-parts is more satisfactory from the theoretical point of view (whenever it is possible to distinguish between spots of different polarities). Similarly, it is best not to “correct” sunspot proper motions for internal differential rotation within groups.


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