Birth Of Man Research Articles

Trends in incidence of testicular cancer and prostate cancer in Denmark

This article presents a detailed analysis of the incidence trends of testicular cancer and prostate cancer, using information from the Danish Cancer Registry in the period 1943–1996. The rate of increase of testicular cancer was about 2.6% per year. The analyses indicated that incidence was more strongly dependent on the man's birth cohort than on the calendar period. The analysis confirmed the significantly reduced incidence of testicular cancer in the 1943 cohort and suggested a levelling off in the increase in testicular cancer incidence from cohorts born after around 1963. This may imply that the great part of the recent increase in incidence has been due to a rapid increase in incidence in successive birth cohorts born in the relatively short period from 1945 to 1960. The rate of increase of prostate cancer was about 1.6% per year. The analyses indicated a stronger dependency on period than on birth cohort. The cohort parameters had very low values in the three earliest cohorts (1858–1868) and the period parameters showed a low incidence in the most recent period. The epidemiological pattern of prostate cancer incidence seems dominated by changes in diagnosis and registration and does not permit inferences about changes in causal factors.

Trends in incidence of testicular cancer and prostate cancer in Denmark.

This article presents a detailed analysis of the incidence trends of testicular cancer and prostate cancer, using information from the Danish Cancer Registry in the period 1943-1996. The rate of increase of testicular cancer was about 2.6% per year. The analyses indicated that incidence was more strongly dependent on the man's birth cohort than on the calendar period. The analysis confirmed the significantly reduced incidence of testicular cancer in the 1943 cohort and suggested a levelling off in the increase in testicular cancer incidence from cohorts born after around 1963. This may imply that the great part of the recent increase in incidence has been due to a rapid increase in incidence in successive birth cohorts born in the relatively short period from 1945 to 1960. The rate of increase of prostate cancer was about 1.6% per year. The analyses indicated a stronger dependency on period than on birth cohort. The cohort parameters had very low values in the three earliest cohorts (1858-1868) and the period parameters showed a low incidence in the most recent period. The epidemiological pattern of prostate cancer incidence seems dominated by changes in diagnosis and registration and does not permit inferences about changes in causal factors.

Reassessment of sperm morphology of archival semen smears from the period 1980--1994.

Several reports have suggested that sperm counts of normal men have declined in many geographical regions during the last decades. Deterioration of sperm morphology has also been reported in some studies covering long sample collecting periods. The original semen analysis data of our semen laboratory from the period 1980--1994 showed a significant decline in the proportion of spermatozoa with normal morphology. The finding was, however, questioned because of changes in sperm morphology assessment criteria during the study period. In the present study 1745 smears were re-analysed to cover evenly the whole study period. The samples were examined in random order by using strict assessment criteria. Multiple linear regression analysis of the re-analysed data showed no effect of the year of sample delivery on sperm morphology between the years 1980 and 1994. However, there was a significant decline in the proportion of normal spermatozoa with later year of men's birth.

Arterial compliance in older people

IntroductionLongevity has lengthened in recent times. This has resulted in an increase in the elderly population, with life expectancy at birth in men in the UK being approximately 72.5 years and women, 78.5 years. Despite the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases decreasing in the past 40 years, these still continue to be the largest cause of mortality in the elderly. Cardiovascular mortality and morbidity are lower in women. However, this is not true in the later years of life. After the age of 80, the risk of cardiovascular problems increases to that of men. The cardiovascular changes occurring with aging consists of changes in the heart and arterial system.

Testosterone supplementation in the aging male.

World-wide life expectancy at birth for men and women will have increased by about 20 y during 50 y period between 1950 and 2000. As a result, the proportion of the elderly population is expected to increase significantly in the 21st century. Despite this increase in longevity for men and women, men still have significantly shorter life expectancy of approximately 5 y. To further reduce and prevent debilitating disease and disability in elderly men, a question is whether any type of interventions, such as hormone replacement therapy, may play a role in improving the quality of life as proven in post-menopausal women. Men experience age-related decline of capability physically and mentally. Various symptoms, such as nervousness, depression, impaired memory, inability to concentrate, easy fatigability, insomnia, hot flushes, periodic sweating, reduction of muscle mass and power, bone ache, and sexual dysfunction, are related to this change. The fact that a number of age-related changes resemble features of various hormonal deficiency has led to worldwide interest in the use of various hormonal preparations in an effort to prevent the aging process in elderly men. Even though there have been opinions against hormonal supplementation in the aging male, preliminary studies defining the risk/benefit ratio of androgen supplementation appear to be encouraging. To understand testosterone supplementation in the aging male, this review will discuss the following important topics: physiology of male hormonal balance, changes in reproductive organs in elderly men, endocrine evaluation of the male, pharmacological effects of testosterone on target organs, available preparations for testosterone, and testosterone supplementation.

Semen quality changes among 2343 healthy Slovenian men included in an IVF-ET programme from 1983 to 1996.

To determine whether semen quality in Slovenians has changed over 14 years (1983-96), we analysed retrospectively the semen of 2343 healthy men with a normal spermiogram, who were partners of women with tubal infertility included in the IVF-ET programme. Age at semen collection, duration of sexual abstinence, semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, percentage of spermatozoa with progressive motility, and normal morphology were determined. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the changes in sperm characteristics according to the year of semen collection, year of the man's birth and the duration of sexual abstinence. Semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm count and total sperm motility did not change between 1983 and 1996, whereas between 1988 and 1996 rapid progressive sperm motility decreased by 0.95% per year (p < 0.0001). Semen volume, sperm concentration, and sperm count increased with duration of sexual abstinence. After adjustment for the year of semen collection and duration of sexual abstinence, multiple regression analysis showed that sperm concentration decreased by 0.67% per each successive year of birth (p = 0.03). Thus the sperm concentration decreased from 87.6 x 10(6)/mL in men born in the 1940s to 77.3 x 10(6)/mL in those born between 1956 and 1960. After 1960, sperm concentration was found to increase. In 2343 healthy men, no decline in semen quality, except in rapid progressive motility, was observed in the study period. Lower sperm concentration was found among men born between 1950 and 1960. This could be related to worse socio-economic status, stress or negative environmental factors in this time period.

Whose welfare in the labour room? A discussion of the increasing trend of fathers' birth attendance

Objective: to review the key literature on fathers' birth attendance, discussing: factors contributing to the increasing trend in men's birth attendance; the different roles and responsibilities men may adopt in the labour room and the implications; and, particularly, the education needs of both the expectant fathers and the professionals. Literature search: the literature reported here is part of a larger longitudinal ethnographic study of men's experiences of pregnancy and birth, which to date has generated 190 relevant articles. The literature was identified using: the Midwifery Information Resource Service (MIDIRS), PsychLit, Cinahl, Medline, and the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Database. Keywords were: men, fathers, pregnancy, birth, and birth supporters. Literature was also identified using references quoted in papers and hand searching of journals. Key conclusions: changing cultural and professional attitudes have encouraged fathers' birth attendance, reflected in an increasing volume of research. This research concentrates almost exclusively on labour coaching roles, neglecting exploration of any independent needs men may have. Implications for practice: a greater awareness of men's experiences will inform midwives and childbirth educators to effectively provide for men's needs during pregnancy and birth.

HIV/AIDS mortality in Canada

To assess the impact of HIV infection and AIDS on mortality patterns in Canada with specific reference to gender and regional differentials and to other leading causes of death. Descriptive, population-based study. Canada. All persons for whom HIV/AIDS [ninth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) 042-044] was recorded as the underlying cause of death as reported to Statistics Canada between 1987 and 1992. For comparative purposes data was obtained on five other leading underlying causes of death including coronary heart disease (ICD-9 410-414), motor vehicle accidents (ICD-9 E810-E819), and suicides (ICD-9 E950-E959) in men and women, lung cancer (ICD-9 162) in men and breast cancer (ICD-9 174) in women. Population figures were obtained from Statistics Canada estimates. Age and cause-specific mortality rates, standardized mortality ratios (SMR), potential years of life lost (PYLL) before age 65 years, and life expectancy lost due to a select underlying cause of death. Over the period 1 January 1987 to 31 December 1992, 5546 deaths attributed to HIV/AIDS (5229 in men and 317 in women) were recorded in Canada. SMR for men were significantly higher than the national average in the cities of Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, whereas those for women were significantly greater only in Montreal. Deaths from HIV/AIDS accounted for 3.6% of PYLL in men and 0.4% of PYLL in women. In 1992, HIV/AIDS was the third leading cause of male PYLL surpassing lung cancer. In the cities of Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver HIV/AIDS was the leading cause of PYLL and was responsible for significant decrease in life expectancy at birth in men over the study period. HIV/AIDS has had considerable impact on mortality within Canada, principally among men and particularly in the cities of Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

High and unchanged sperm counts of Finnish men.

Several recent reports have suggested that the sperm counts of normal men are declining in most countries. In this study the sperm counts of Finnish men, and their possible changes during the past 28 years, were investigated. The material consisted of semen samples from 238 normal healthy men of unknown fertility and 5481 men from infertile couples. The means (medians) of semen volume, sperm density and total sperm count in normal men were 3.3 (3.0) ml, 133.9 (94.0) x 10(6)/ml and 396.6 (309.0) x 10(6), respectively. These parameters and the relative frequency distribution of the sperm density were similar to those reported elsewhere in the 1940s. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant decrease in semen volume, whereas sperm density and total sperm count of infertile men had not changed significantly during the past 28 years. In addition, no change in sperm counts was associated with the year of men's birth.

Retard de croissance intra-utérin et déficit en néphrons

The number of nephrons at birth is normally quite fixed in any species. Severe renal hypoplasia is readily detected because of functional insufficiency, but moderate inborn nephron deficits may exist, yeat remain undetected. A systematic anatomical study revealed a large quantitative variation of the number of nephrons at birth in man (600000-1400000). Inborn nephron deficits were found to correlate very strongly with birth weight in the rat

Results of two methods to determine health expectancy in The Netherlands in 1981–1985

Health expectancy is a measure providing summarizing information on mortality on one hand and morbidity and/or disability on the other hand. In this article health expectancy is determined with two approaches: method 1 leads to life expectancy free of disability at birth and at other ages; method 2 leads to life expectancy in good health. Results of the various calculations show that according to method 1 life expectancy free of disability at birth for men in the Netherlands was 58.8 years and for women 57.3 years (based on data from the period 1981–1985). Results of method 2 are different from method 1; life expectancy in good health for men was 58.9 years and for women 60.7 years. Results of both methods are compared with studies which have been carried out in other countries. The comparison shows that method 1 leads to results which deviate from the other studies while results of method 2 are to a large extent similar to the other studies. Reasons are given which explain why the results of method 1 deviate from the other studies. In spite of the fact that the two methods lead to different outcomes, the conclusion is drawn that the difference in health expectancy between men and women is much smaller than the difference in total life expectancy between men and women. The difference in total life expectancy by sex in the period 1981–1985 was 6.7 years.

The Eternal Triangle and Court Politics: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Sir Thomas Wyatt

The opinion of modern scholars is divided about the nature of Anne Boleyn's relationship to Sir Thomas Wyatt, the Tudor poet. On the basis of a few of his verses and three Catholic treatises, some writers have concluded that Anne and he were lovers. In these analyses not enough attention has been paid to the role of Henry VIII, the third member of this alleged lovers' triangle, who guarded his own honor and inquired into that of his wives, before, during, and after their marriages to him. A comment on the way in which the king viewed and defended his honor will be useful to this examination of the evidence customarily accepted as proof of Anne and Wyatt's love affair.A gentleman's honor, as Henry's contemporaries perceived it, was a complicated concept. First and foremost it was assumed that a man's birth and lineage would predispose him to chivalric acts on the battlefield where, in fact, only one cowardly lapse would stain his and his family's reputation forever. Secondly, the concept embodied the notion that it bestowed upon its holder certain social privileges and respect. During Henry's reign, moreover, the “realm and the community of honour” came to be viewed as “identical” with the sovereign power of the king at its head. One result of this “nationalization,” was that the behavior of crown dependants and servants affected the king's good name in both a personal and a public sense, and his ministers took care to do all that was appropriate to his reputation in settling disputes and in negotiating treaties.

Immunohistochemical localization of GABAergic cells in the developing human dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

GABAergic neurons were demonstrated in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of human foetuses of 21 weeks gestation using unlabelled antibodies against γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These inhibitory neurons are thus cytochemically identifiable prior to appearance of lamination, at a period when there is reportedly segregation of retinal afferents from both eyes and formation of morphologically defined synapses. Their presence in the prenatal period indicates that the morphological substrate responsible, in part, for the orientation sensitivity of the dLGN neurons exists before birth in man.

Risk of chromosomal disease due to radiation tentative estimate from the study of radiation-induced translocations in human fibroblasts

A sample of 214 reciprocal 2-break translocations observed in fibroblasts, both after accidental ‘in vivo’, and experimental ‘in vitro’ γ-irradiation, was studied. The distribution of the breaks along the chromosomes does not seem at random. The minimal possible imbalance that these translocations could induce by malsegregation, if they existed in germ cells, was estimated. These imbalances were compared with the chromosomal trisomies and monosomies known to be compatible with life after birth in man. It is concluded that about 2 5 of the radiation-induced translocations might induce a viable trisomy and/or monosomy. This result, similar to that previously obtained in human lymphocytes, indicates the validity of the extrapolation from one tissue to another, and hopefully to germ cells.

Milk antigen absorption in the preterm and term neonate.

The concentrations of beta-lactoglobulin was measured in the sera of 47 preterm an term neonates during the first few days of life under standardised conditions after feeding with a cows' milk'based formula. Preterm neonates, particularly those of less than 33 weeks' gestation, had higher serum concentrations of beta-lactoglobulin than term neonates given an equivalent mild feed. Prior feeding with breast milk did not diminish the amount of beta-lactoglobulin absorbed. Our results suggest tha te ability of the gastrointestinal tract to exclude antigenically intact food proteins increases with gestational age and that gut closure occurs normally before birth in man.

Tentative estimate of the risk of chromosomal disease due to radiation-induced translocations in man

An attempt to estimate one of the parameters establishing the risk of occurrence of abnormal live-born progeny by malsegregation of radiation-induced translocation is reported. A sample of 247 2-break translocations induced by γ-rays in human lymphocytes was studied in relation to the minimal possible imbalance they could induce in gametogenesis. These imbalances were compared with chromosomal trisomies and monosomies known to be compatible with life after birth in man. It is concluded that at least 106 out of 247 translocations should not give viable products in cases of malsegregation. A second comparison, with translocations ascertained in human subjects for various reasons, led to the conclusion that about 2 5 of the radiation-induced translocations might involve a risk of partial trisomies or monosomies. Cell survival and frequency of meiotic malsegregations are other parameters needed to make a correct estimate. A short discussion shows the difficulty of such estimates from inter-specific comparisons.

Glucose Intolerance Induced by Rubella Virus Infection after Birth in Man

Glucose Intolerance Induced by Rubella Virus Infection after Birth in Man

EARLY MODERN WESTERN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

A mountain of patient research and unabating industry representing fourteen years of study and many thousands of miles of travel in America and Europe have produced an indispensable tool for librarians, hymnologists, antiquaries, and bibliographers. Selma Bishop's new book, Isaac Watt's Hymns and Spiritual Songs, comes at a time when the English-speaking world commemorates the tercentenary of the great man's birth. The greatness of Watts and his work in hymnology cannot be missed even by a cursory examination of the 500 pages of Dr. Bishop's handsome volume, which show, too, how far-reaching was Watt's fame, spanning the centuries, and even waxing to the end of the last century. Over 670 editions of The Hymns and Spiritual Songs stretching from 1707 to 1881 are listed and located, and each is fully and meticulously described as it came under the scrutinizing eye of the bibliographer. The book must surely be the most exhaustive catalogue and description of the extant editions of Watt's great books. Dr. Bishop's volume should also prove of interest to the sociologist, as it affords a full record of the publishing history of a famous innovating religious work, showing its initial wide popularity and ultimate demise. One must not overlook Dr. Bishop's own collated and definitive edition of Watt's Hymns and Spiritual Songs, published by The Faith Press, London, in 1962, of which the present reviewer wrote in appraisement. That book and this new one should be in the hands of all serious students of hymns.

POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT OF SYMPATHETIC INNERVATION OF HUMAN MYOCARDIUM

Whereas much information has accumulated on myocardial adrenergic mechanisms in adult man, little is known about these mechanisms in the newborn child. The effects of norepinephrine (NE), isoproterenol (ISO), cocaine (C, 3×10−6M) and propranolol (P, 1×lO−6M) on contractile function were examined in isometrically contracting right atrial strips of 7 children age 5 months to 9 years, as well as in 4 papillary muscles and 3 atrial strips obtained at autopsy from 6 premature (estimated gestational age 18–34 weeks) and 1 full term infant. Dose-response curves to ISO in both groups were linear, parallel, and statistically identical. NE dose-response curves in both groups were also identical and shifted to the right of the ISO curves. P shifted the NE dose-response curve to the right in both groups to the same degree. Whereas C shifted the NE dose-response curve to the left in children, no shift was found in the newborn indicating that sympathetic innervation of the myocardium appears to be incomplete or functionally immature at birth in man. β-adrenergic receptors on the other hand are equally developed in the markedly premature infant and the older child and the myocardium may be expected to respond to catecholamines and β-adrenergic blockade in a similar manner in the two groups.

Evil Men's Birth in the Pure Land-reconsidered

Evil Men's Birth in the Pure Land-reconsidered