Voluntary Donors Research Articles

Exploring the increasing need for plasma collection: Perspectives of voluntary nonremunerated donors on payment for plasma in Canada.

The aim of this paper is to understand how voluntary nonremunerated plasma donors in Canada view payment for plasma and the emerging commercial sector. There is a growing global demand for plasma, to produce plasma-derived medical products. Source plasma for these products is collected through voluntary nonremunerated donation, sometimes by a national blood service, or by a commercial plasma collector, remunerating donors. This paper presents findings from qualitative semi-structured interviews with source plasma donors in three new source plasma centres in Canada. Interview data were analysed using abductive analysis, an interpretivist approach that builds on grounded theory. This study indicates that there are a range of perspectives on payment for plasma and the emerging commercial sector, from disinterest in payment, to opposition to payment based on the belief that it could undermine donating to help others, and risk public health and safety. One fifth of participants are open to CBS paying donors if it is necessary to increase national sufficiency of plasma. Almost two thirds of participants are opposed to commercial plasma collection in Canada, claiming that it could undermine Canada's public healthcare system, raising questions about transparency and accountability of the commercial plasma industry. Findings point to important areas for future study, on publicly collected source plasma, the emerging commercial plasma sector, and the role of the donor as a social actor in a complex political system.

An mRNA Profiling Study of Vaginal Swabs from Pre- and Postmenopausal Women.

Body fluid identification by means of mRNA profiling provides valuable supplementary information in forensic investigations. In particular, the detection of vaginal mucosa mRNA markers is highly relevant in sexual assault cases. Although the vagina undergoes characteristic age-related physiological changes over a lifetime, few studies have evaluated the efficacy of vaginal mRNA markers in women of different ages. In this multicentric study, a 19-plex mRNA profiling assay including vaginal-specific markers (CYP2B7P1, MUC4, MYOZ1) was tested in a collection of 6-20-month-old vaginal swabs obtained from pre- (n = 84) and postmenopausal (n = 55) female volunteer donors. Overall, participating laboratories were able to correctly identify ~85% of samples as vaginal mucosa by mRNA profiling. The assay's success rate did not differ between the two age groups and was not affected by the time interval between swab collection and RNA analysis. MYOZ1 resulted a less sensitive vaginal marker compared to MUC4 and CYP2B7P1. A significant relative increase in the contribution to the total amplification signal was observed for MUC4, compared to CYP2B7P1 and MYOZ1, in postmenopausal women. Observation of other body fluids and tissues different from vaginal mucosa was also evaluated in connection to information on previous sexual activity and menstrual cycle phase at the time of sampling.

Ethics in transfusion medicine: Are the intricate layers of ethics all universal? A global view.

Ethical principles have been considered, and in several respects regulated, along the entire blood procurement chain from donor motivation to transfusion to the patient. Consent of donors and voluntary non-remunerated donation are fields which have been addressed by codes of ethics and legislation. Caring for donor health is an area of further development of ethical standards. In part, blood products have also become a market, where commercial principles may synergize, but also creating issues in equality and maintaining human dignity that challenge societal solutions. At the bedside, the main global challenge remains to procure enough blood products for each patient in medical need. Allocation of rare blood, ethical evaluation of transfusion triggers, attitudes towards refusing blood transfusion and provision of blood products to remote settings are areas which should receive consideration.

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome in Voluntary Ovum Donors: A Case Series

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome in Voluntary Ovum Donors: A Case Series

Optimization of Platelet-Rich Plasma Preparation for Use in Clinical Practice

INTRODUCTION Development of effective biological products, based on human platelets, is very actual in regenerative medicine. The initial material for biological products’ obtaining is platelet-rich plasma (PRP), but the method of PRP isolation has not yet been standardized.AIM To assess the quality of platelets in PRP, harvested by different centrifugation modes.MATERIAL AND METHODS For platelet study, venous blood was harvested from volunteer donors. We used 3 methods for PRP-preparation, each methods included 2-stage centrifugation: 5 min 300g and 17 min 700g (Group 1); 10 min 300g and 10 min 700g (Group 2); 15 min 300g and 5 min 700g (Group 3). Platelets were examined using morphofunctional method based on vital cell staining.RESULTS In Group 1 and Group 2, the overall safety of biologically high-grade platelets in PRP was similar and estimated 55-60% of their total content in the blood. In Group 3 the safety of biologically high-grade platelets was only 30% (p<0,05).CONCLUSION The centrifugation modes «5 min 300 g / 700 g 17 min» and «10 min 300 g / 10 min 700 g» allowed researchers to obtain equal quality PRP, while «10 min 300 g / 10 min 700 g» mode has a number of instrumental benefits.

Comparison of Volunteer Non-Remunerated Donors and Replacement Donors.

There are mainly two types of blood donor in Nepal i.e., Voluntary Non-Remunerated Donor and Replacement Donor. The main aim of this study is to compare between Voluntary Non-Remunerated Donor and Replacement Donor. This is retrospective and cross-sectional study conducted in the blood transfusion Service, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. The study was conducted on both Voluntary Non-Remunerated Donor and Replacement Donor who came to blood transfusion Service and voluntary blood donation program. All the blood donors donating in blood transfusion Service were considered as the study population. Out of total 25951 donors, there were 15565(60.02%) Voluntary Non-Remunerated Donor and 10386(39.97%) Replacement Donor. On the whole, there were 21938(84.59%) male donors and 3995(15.40%) female donors. The male Replacement Donor was 14273(93.12%) followed by a male Voluntary Non-Remunerated Donor 7582(73.71%). The female Voluntary Non-Remunerated Donor was 2703(67.65 %) followed by female Replacement Donor 1292(32.34 %). This study concludes that the Voluntary Non-Remunerated Donor is quite low, in comparison to Replacement Donor. 100 % Voluntary Non-Remunerated Donor could not be achieved due to lack of awareness about health and voluntary type of blood donation.

What influences decisions to donate plasma? A rapid review of the literature.

Plasma has become an essential ingredient for various medical treatments. Many blood collection agencies rely on voluntary non-remunerated donation when collecting plasma, but at present many do not collect sufficient plasma to meet domestic demands. This rapid review sought to explore the factors that have been found to influence people's decisions to donate plasma to inform future research. Searches were conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, Social Sciences Citation Index and CINAHL for peer-reviewed journal articles that discussed plasma donation and the factors associated with donor behaviour. Pertinent information from included articles was extracted and arranged in themes. In total, 33 articles were included in this review. Three main themes were identified by the authors. The first focused on site-level factors related to blood collection agencies' engagement with plasma donors and their influence on plasma donation experiences. The second theme considered how individual characteristics and experiences influence willingness to donate plasma. The third theme examined social and cultural-level factors, such as how social networks and community shape perceptions and experiences with donation. Our findings suggest that the current understanding of plasma donation is focused mainly on converting whole blood donors and also centres on individual-level factors to donation. Further research must examine what factors attract non-whole blood donors to become plasma donors, focusing on broader social-level influences. This review will inform policies and interventions for blood collection agencies to increase plasma donors.

Heat wave exposure and semen quality in sperm donation volunteers: A retrospective longitudinal study in south China

BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested an association between non-optimum ambient temperature and decreased semen quality. However, the effect of exposure to heat waves on semen quality remains unclear. MethodsVolunteers who intended to donate sperm in Guangdong provincial human sperm bank enrolled. Heat waves were defined by temperature threshold and duration, with a total of 9 definitions were employed, specifying daily mean temperature exceeding the 85th, 90th, or 95th percentile for at least 2, 3, or 4 consecutive days. Residential exposure to heat waves during 0–90 days before ejaculation was evaluated using a validated gridded dataset on ambient temperature. Association and potential windows of susceptibility were evaluated and identified using linear mixed models and distributed lag non-linear models. ResultsA total of 2183 sperm donation volunteers underwent 8632 semen analyses from 2018 to 2019. Exposure to heat wave defined as daily mean temperature exceeding the 95th percentile for at least 4 consecutive days (P95–D4) was significantly associated with a 0.11 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03, 0.18) ml, 3.36 (1.35, 5.38) × 106/ml, 16.93 (7.95, 25.91) × 106, and 2.11% (1.4%, 2.83%) reduction in semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number, and normal forms, respectively; whereas exposure to heat wave defined as P90–D4 was significantly associated with a 1.98% (1.47%, 2.48%) and 2.08% (1.57%, 2.58%) reduction in total motility and progressive motility, respectively. Sperm count and morphology were susceptible to heat wave exposure during the early stage of spermatogenesis, while sperm motility was susceptible to exposure during the late stage. ConclusionHeat wave exposure was significantly associated with a reduction in semen quality. The windows of susceptibility during 0–90 days before ejaculation varied across sperm count, motility, and morphology. Our findings suggest that reducing heat wave exposure before ejaculation may benefit sperm donation volunteers and those attempting to conceive.

Necessity of Implementing Ferritin Testing for Regular Blood Donors – A Cross-sectional Analysis of Serum Ferritin Levels in Individuals Donating Blood at Various Frequencies in a Year at a Regional Blood Transfusion Center

Background and Objectives: The virtuous act of blood donations should be encouraged and promoted by all means while safeguarding the well-being of the donor. If regular blood donations lead to iron store depletion in any individual, it may be identified and preventive measures should be taken. The current practice of hemoglobin (Hb) testing alone before donation may not detect the depletion of iron stores. Yet, a policy to introduce tests for iron stores and iron supplementation in regular donors requires extensive research in this area because of the cost and feasibility concerns. The objectives were to study the prevalence of subclinical anemia among voluntary blood donors using serum ferritin levels attending the blood transfusion center and to compare the average Hb and serum ferritin levels of donors across different age groups, gender, and donation frequencies. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on 300 consecutively enrolled voluntary whole-blood donors (December 2018–November 2019) who fulfilled eligibility criteria. Donors were further divided into four groups, depending on their number of donations. Their samples were tested for Hb and serum ferritin to check for reduced body iron stores. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 300 regular voluntary donors were included in the study. 57.7% of donors were in the age group of 20–29 years, of which 83.33% were males. The total prevalence of subclinical anemia was 16%, in whom 54.2% were males and 45.8% were females. Out of the total female donors in our study (50), 44% suffered from subclinical anemia. Out of the total male donors in the study (250), 10.4% suffered from subclinical anemia. There was a significant association between frequency of donation and subclinical anemia (odds ratio [OR] =6.36, P < 0.001). There was a significant association between subclinical anemia across gender (high for females; OR = 6.76, P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between the frequency of donation and serum ferritin (Spearman correlation coefficient: −0.299), but there was no correlation observed between the frequency of donation and Hb levels. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the depletion of iron store with increasing donation frequency. This calls for continual supervision of body iron stores rather than Hb alone to ensure the continuous supply of healthy blood donors.

The Pattern of Rh Phenotype among Voluntary Blood Donors – A Single-Center Observation from North India

Background: Human blood is precious and its availability and requirement are important elements of a comprehensive health-care delivery. Healthy voluntary donors are key sources to maintain the supply of human blood, and due care is warranted to ensure that the right blood reaches the right patient. Blood donor screening is standard practice, and the knowledge of ABO and Rh phenotype study is important. Prevalence and pattern of Rh phenotypes in a particular area may be important for various functioning of any blood bank. Materials and Method: Various centers frequently showcase prevalence pattern of Rh phenotype at a specified centre or region. A similar study was undertaken from collected data of voluntary blood donors in our tertiary care center. Results: Out of 2000 donor samples, B, A, O, and AB were in the decreasing order of frequency with 33.3%, 29.6%, 25.7%, and 11.4%, respectively. The most common Rh antigens observed were e (97.1%), followed by D (93.8%), C (88.45%), c (51.05%), and E (18.45%). Out of eight phenotypes in D-positive donors, R1R1 (DCCee), R1r (DCcee), and R1R2 (DCcEe) were most frequently observed. In D-negative donors, rr (ddccee), r’r (ddCcee), and r’r’ (CCddee) were the most common. Conclusion: The Rh phenotype pattern in our centre had diverse pattern and knowledge of this would guide further studies.

The Spectrum of ABO and Rhesus Blood Group Systems in a Blood Center in Southern Karnataka

Introduction: Hereditary characteristics, such as ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood group antigens, are helpful for population genetic studies, for settling medicolegal disputes, and most vitally immunologic safety of blood during transfusion. Having firm knowledge of blood grouping is essential for managing the collection of blood banks. It can lower the likelihood of morbidity and mortality brought on by lack of blood in specific areas. The objective of our study was to screen and determine the frequencies of the occurrence of ABO and Rh blood groups among residents from both the urban and rural populations of the South Karnataka region. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study. The study was conducted in a blood center and included all the donors from January 17 to December 22. Hemoglobin estimation was estimated by copper sulfate method and ERMA INC-PCE-210 3-Part analyzer. After blood bank validation, Tulip Diagnostics Limited standard anti-sera of anti-A, anti-B, and anti-D were used to conduct antigen–antibody slide agglutination test to determine the ABO grouping and Rh typing following blood donation. Simple percentages were used to report data on the ABO and Rh blood group distribution patterns. Results: Out of 19497 donors, predominant age group was 25–29 years (29.46%). The male:female ratio was 108:1. Voluntary donors (91.03%) were more than replacement donors, with predominant donors being Rh positive. Maximum donors had the blood group O (42.5%), followed by B > A > AB. There were also four Bombay blood group donors in our study. Conclusion: Good knowledge and understanding of blood grouping have an imperative involvement in the management of blood bank inventory. It can help to minimize the morbidity and mortality rate due to lack of blood in a particular geographical area.

Incidence of Hepatitis B in Volunteer Donors at Regional Blood Center (RBC) Peshawar

The objective of our study was to assess the incidence of hepatitis B in volunteer donors at Regional Blood Center (RBC) Peshawar. The current study was prospective study carried out at the Regional Blood Center (RBC) Peshawar from 20/10/2022 31/12/2022. A complete clinical examination was carried out for all the volunteers. Under aseptic condition, 5ml blood sample was collected from all the enrolled individuals. The plasma was separated and was screened for HBsAg. Data analysis was done by using IBM SPSS. 23 version. In the current study, a total of 463 volunteer blood donors were included. The male volunteers were 460 (99.35%) whereas female volunteers were 3 (0.65%). The mean age (SD) in our study was 27.66 (4.63) years with maximum age of 55 years and minimum age of 18 years. The overall incidence of hepatitis B was 12 (2.59%). Our study concludes that hepatitis B is highly prevalent amongst volunteer blood donors.

Increasing the efficiency of osseointegration in dental implantation in patients with diabetic osteopathy by remodeling bone tissue and intensifying its density.

The purpose of the study was to increase the effectiveness of osseointegration of implants in dental implantation in patients with rapidly progressing generalized periodontitis combined with diabetic osteopathy by restoring normal remodeling of bone tissue and intensifying its density. The study included 84 patients aged 30 to 50 years (average 41.9±2.36 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with generalized periodontitis, among them 56 women and 28 men and 19 volunteer donors without periodontal and detected somatic pathology, identical by gender and age. Surgical intervention for the installation of dental implants was performed in 3 groups of patients identical by gender and age: I, II and III groups. Groups I and II included 52 patients (26 patients in each) with rapidly progressing generalized periodontitis, with type 2 diabetes, complicated by systemic osteoporosis, who differed only in the prescribed treatment complex. Group III was formed by patients with a similar pathology of periodontal tissues, but without background diabetic osteopathy (32 patients), who received an identical treatment complex with patients in Group II. During the surgical intervention, 282 dental implants were installed: 92 implants in group I patients, 89 implants in group II, and 101 dental implants in group III. At the same time, we strove to ensure that the percentage of the performed operations was approximately the same. The analysis of the obtained data of laboratory studies showed that in patients with diabetic osteopathy with rapidly progressing periodontitis and rapidly progressing generalized periodontitis without background pathology, a deeper imbalance of the processes of bone remodeling with high level of both – bone resorption and osteogenesis is observed, which causes acceleration of the destruction of periodontal bone tissue and their loss. At the same time, it was found that with a complex and correct selection of antiresorptive therapy, the level of markers of bone metabolism approaches the norm, which is positively reflected in the dynamics and frequency of osseointegration of dental implants. Our research and received data from laboratory studies showed that in patients with rapidly progressing generalized periodontitis with and without diabetic osteopathy, there is an inhomogeneity and imbalance in the functioning of bone remodeling, which negatively affects the process of osseointegration of dental implants and requires a complex approach in the selection of antiresorptive therapy. Inclusion in the protocol of dental implantation of recombinant morphogenetic protein in patients with diabetes with osteopathology leads to completion of osseointegration of dental implants in the term up to 3 months, and monotherapy with ossein-hydroxyapatite complex in patients with rapidly progressing generalized periodontitis has a similar effect on the osseointegration process – it accelerates the recovery of bone tissue around dental implants.

Distribution of ABO and Rhesus (RHD) blood groups among blood donors in Republic of Congo

Aims: The ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood group systems are most important in population genetic study and for blood transfusion purposes. This study was conducted to determine the distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among Congolese blood donors. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at National Center for Blood Transfusion, over a period of 5 years from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2015. This study included the blood transfusion centers of Brazzaville, Pointe Noire and other localities grouped together in the North and Southwest coordination. Blood grouping ABO and Rhesus were determined using conventional blood typing procedures based on Beth-Vincent and Simonin-Michon methods. Results: Out of 266,055 blood donors included, 217,990 (81.9%) were male and 48,065 (18.1%) were female donors. Most donors were young adults, representing the age group of 18–30 (45%). The majority were replacement (62.4%) while the remainder was voluntary donors (37.6%). The most prevalent blood group was O (56.6%), followed by blood groups A (20.3%) and B (20.1%), whereas the least prevalent blood group was AB (2.9%). The majority 97.6% were Rh D positive, and 2.4% were Rh D negative. Conclusion: The study has a significant implication regarding the inventory management of blood transfusion center in Republic of Congo.

Infaq and Shadaqah for Education: Prohibited Fees or Social Responsibility?

This research aims to analyze the relationship between voluntary donations (infaq) and prohibited fees in the Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation No. 44 of 2012, as well as the views of Islamic scholars regarding the position of voluntary donations as a means of financing education. The research method used is a normative approach that utilizes legal and comparative approaches. The research findings indicate that voluntary donations, also known as infaq, shadaqah, or amal jariyah, are considered a prohibited fee under the Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation No. 44 of 2012. However, in practice, these voluntary donations meet the criteria for fees as described in Article 11 of the regulation and are viewed by Islamic scholars as a form of social responsibility in the field of education. It is not permissible for these donations to be binding on the donor in terms of the amount and time of donation.
 Highlights :
 
 This research examines the connection between voluntary donations (infaq) and prohibited fees in education financing under Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation No. 44 of 2012.
 The findings show that although infaq is considered a prohibited fee, it is viewed as a form of social responsibility in education by Islamic scholars.
 It should not be binding on the donor in terms of the amount and time of donation.
 
 Keywords: infaq, shadaqah, voluntary donations, education financing, Islamic scholars.

“Are we barking up the wrong tree? Too much emphasis on Cutibacterium acnes and ignoring other pathogens”— a study based on next-generation sequencing of normal and diseased discs

BACKGROUNDThe majority of literature on bacterial flora in the disc stands disadvantaged in utilizing traditional culture methods and targeting a single bacterium, Cutibacterium acnes. PURPOSEOur objective was to document the diversity in the bacterial flora between normal and degenerated discs for shortlisting potential pathogens using next-generation genomic tools. STUDY DESIGNExperimental case-control study. METHODSResearchers employed 16S metagenome sequencing to profile bacterial diversity in magnetic resonance imaging normal healthy discs from brain-dead organ voluntary donors (n=20) and 40 degenerated disc samples harvested during surgery (Modic [MC]=20 and non-Modic [NMC]=20). The V3-V4 region was amplified using universal bacterial primers 341F and 806R, and the libraries were sequenced using Illumina NovoSeq 6000 platform. Statistical significance was set at bacteria with a minimum of 100 operational taxonomic unit (OTU) and present in at least 70% of the samples. The quality check-filtered reads were processed using the QIIME-2 pipeline. The OTU clustering and taxonomic classification were carried out for the merged reads using the Greengenes/SILVA reference database. Validation was done by identification of bacterial metabolites in samples using the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry approach. RESULTSAbundant bacteria differing widely in diversity, as evidenced by Alfa and Beta diversity analysis, were present in all control and degenerative samples. The number of bacterial genera was 27 (14-gram-positive: 13-gram-negative) in the control group, 23 (10-gram-positive: 11-gram-negative) in the Modic group, and 16 (11-gram-positive: 5-gram-negative) in the non-Modic group. In the Modic group, gram-negative bacteria OTUs were found to be predominant (more than 50% of the total bacteria identified), whereas in control and non-Modic groups the OTUs of gram-positive bacteria were predominant. Species-level analysis revealed an abundance of opportunistic gram-negative pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Sphingomonos paucibacillus, and Ochrobactrum quorumnocens in the discs with Modic changes, more than in non-Modic discs. The presence of bacterial metabolites and quorum-sensing molecules like N-decanoyl-L-homoserine lactone, 6-hydroxynicotinic acid, 2-aminoacetophenone, 4-hydroxy-3-polyprenylbenzoate, PE (16:1(9Z)/18:0) and phthalic acid validated the colonization and cell-cell communication of bacteria in disc ruling out contamination theory. Cutibacterium acnes was not the predominant bacteria in any of the three groups of discs and in fact was in the 16th position in the order of abundance in the control discs (0.72%), seventh position in the Modic discs (1.41%), and 12th position (0.53%) in the non-Modic discs. CONCLUSIONThis study identified a predominance of gram-negative bacteria in degenerated discs and highlights that Cutibacterium acnes may not be the only degeneration-causing bacteria. This may be attributed to the environment, diet, and lifestyle habits of the sample population. Though the study does not reveal the exact pathogen, it may pave the way for future studies on the subject. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEThese findings invite further investigation into causal relationships of bacterial profile with disc degeneration phenotypes as well as phenotype-driven clinical treatment protocols.

Epidemiological Prevalence Of Viral Hepatitis And HIV Infection Among Volunteer Blood Donors In Kinshasa

The objective of this work was to determine the epidemiological profile and the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C infections as well as that of HIV among volunteer donors of the National Blood Transfusion Center of Kinshasa. To achieve this, a prospective, epidemiological and descriptive study was undertaken at the laboratory department of the National Blood Transfusion Center in October 2019, by collecting 464 donors who attended the CNTS during the period from November 24 to December 23, 2019. Profiles The epidemiological incidence rates of HBV, HCV and HIV were respectively 11.4% 95% CI [10.6% 34.0%]. 401 subjects or 86.4% were male against 63 subjects or 13.6% female.

Anti-Müllerian hormone predicts positive sperm retrieval in men with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia-findings from a multi-centric cross-sectional study.

Is it possible to identify a reliable marker of successful sperm retrieval (+SR) in men with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (iNOA) undergoing microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE)? A higher likelihood of +SR during mTESE is observed in men with iNOA and lower preoperative serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, with good predictive accuracy achieved using an AMH threshold of <4 ng/ml. AMH has been previously linked to +SR in men with iNOA undergoing mTESE prior to ART. A multi-centre cross-sectional study was carried out with a cohort of 117 men with iNOA undergoing mTESE at three tertiary-referral centres. Data from 117 consecutive white-European men with iNOA presenting for primary couple's infertility associated with a pure male factor at three centres were analysed. Descriptive statistics was applied to compare patients with negative (-SR) versus +SR at mTESE. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to predict +SR at mTESE, after adjusting for possible confounders. Diagnostic accuracy of the factors associated with +SR was assessed. Decision curve analyses were used to display the clinical benefit. Overall, 60 (51.3%) men had an -SR and 57 (48.7%) had a +SR at mTESE. Patients with +SR had lower levels of baseline AMH (P = 0.005) and higher levels of estradiol (E2) (P = 0.01). At multivariate logistic regression analysis, lower levels of AMH (odds ratio: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.64-0.93, P = 0.03) were associated with +SR at mTESE, after adjusting for possible confounders (e.g. age, mean testicular volume, FSH, and E2). A threshold of AMH <4 ng/ml achieved the highest accuracy for +SR at mTESE, with an AUC of 70.3% (95% CI: 59.8-80.7). Decision curve analysis displayed the net clinical benefit of using an AMH <4 ng/ml threshold. There is a need for external validation in even larger cohorts, across different centres and ethnicities. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis to provide high level of evidence are lacking in the context of AMH and SR rates in men with iNOA. Current findings suggest that slightly more than one in two men with iNOA had -SR at mTESE. Overall, men with iNOA with lower levels of AMH had a significantly higher percentage of successful SR at surgery. A threshold of <4 ng/ml for circulating AMH ensured satisfactory sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values in the context of +SR at mTESE. This work was supported by voluntary donations from the Urological Research Institute (URI). All authors declare no conflict of interest. N/A.

Glycopeptide Antibiotics Impair Neutrophil Effector Functions

Introduction: Neutrophilic granulocytes represent the first line of defense against microorganisms. Granulocytes phagocytose microorganisms and specifically synthesize oxygen radicals against them, which eventually kills the invaders. Methods: Neutrophilic granulocytes were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy volunteer donors. Putative interference of new-generation antibiotics with neutrophil function was tested using a collection of granulocyte-stimulating agents and Amplex™ Red-based plate assay and flow cytometry-based respiratory burst assays. In addition, phagocytosis of E. coli, IL-8 production, bactericidal activity, and CD62L expression of granulocytes were evaluated. Results: Of note, we found that the two glycopeptide antibiotics dalbavancin and teicoplanin inhibited ROS production upon granulocyte activation via different signaling pathways in a dose-dependent manner. Dalbavancin also blocked the PMA-induced shedding of CD62L. In contrast, the oxazolidinone antibiotics tedizolid and linezolid had no effect on neutrophil function, while the combination of ceftazidime/avibactam dose dependently inhibited the fMLP/Cytochalasin B-induced granulocyte burst in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, we showed that dalbavancin and teicoplanin as well as sulfametrole/trimethoprim and ceftazidime/avibactam inhibited baseline and PMA-induced IL-8 production by neutrophilic granulocytes. Moreover, dalbavancin impaired the bactericidal activity of neutrophilic granulocytes. Conclusion: We here identified hitherto unknown inhibitory effects of several classes of antibiotics on the effector functions of neutrophilic granulocytes.

Association between central obesity and semen quality: A cross-sectional study in 4513 Chinese sperm donation volunteers.

General obesity classified by body mass index has been linked to a reduction in semen quality; however, evidence on the adverse effect of central obesity on semen quality remains limited. To investigate the association between central obesity and semen quality. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 4513 sperm donation volunteers in Guangdong Provincial Human Sperm Bank during 2018-2021. Three central obesity indicators, including waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio, were measured using a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis for each subject. Semen analysis was conducted according to the World Health Organization laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen 5th edition. Linear regression models and unconditional logistic regression models were used to quantify the association between central obesity and semen parameters. With adjustment for age, race, education level, marital status, fertility status, occupation, year of semen collection, abstinence period, ambient temperature, and relative humidity, central obesity defined as waist circumference ≥90cm, waist-to-hip ratio ≥0.9, or waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5 was significantly associated with a 0.27 (95% confidence interval: 0.15, 0.38) mL, 14.47 (3.60, 25.34) × 106 , 7.06 (0.46, 13.76)× 106 , and 6.80 (0.42, 13.18) × 106 reduction in semen volume, total sperm number, total motile sperm number, and total progressive motile sperm number, respectively, and a 53% (10%, 112%) increase in odds of below the World Health Organization 2010 reference value for semen volume. These associations did not significantly vary across age. Similar results were observed for central obesity defined using each of the three indicators, except that subjects with a waist circumference ≥90cm had a slightly higher total motility (estimated change: 1.30%; 95% confidence interval: 0.27%, 2.34%) and progressive motility (estimated change: 1.27%; 95% confidence interval: 0.23%, 2.31%). We found that central obesity was significantly associated with a reduction in semen volume, total sperm number, total motile sperm number, and total progressive motile sperm number. Future studies are warranted to confirm our results in other regions and populations.