scholarly journals SEMEN ANALYSIS; CORNER STONE IN EVALUATING INFERTILITY

2022 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 2224-27
Author(s):  
Aysha Khan ◽  
Zunera Shahbaz ◽  
Shagufta Yousaf ◽  
Abeera Ahmed ◽  
Fatima Sana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Count ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Semen Parameters ◽  
Military Hospital ◽  
Normal Male ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Normal Sperm ◽  
Health Organization

Objective: To study the patterns and distribution of various abnormal semen parameters in infertile males. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Karachi, from Nov 2019 to Oct 2020. Methodology: The study included 364 patients who presented with primary and secondary infertility. Consecutive convenient sampling was done. Semen analysis was performed using World Health Organization latest guidelines. Samples were categorized as normospermia, azoospermia, oligospermia, asthenozoospermia and necrospermia. Results: The study comprised of 364 samples of infertile males. Normal sperm count was observed in 317 (87%) males, azoospermia in 28 (7.6%) and oligospermia in 19 (5.2%) males. Low ejaculated volume and higher non-motile sperms were noted in oligospermia samples in comparison with normospermia samples. Asthenozoospermia was observed in 102 (28%) and oligoasthenospermia was noted in 15 (4.1%) samples. Conclusion: Good quality semen analysis is a corner stone to diagnose the cause of male infertility.Sperm concentration and motility are the important markers of normal male reproductive system and are related to each other.

scholarly journals ASSOCIATION OF VARICOCELE WITH OLIGOSPERMIA AND AZOSPERMIA

1969 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-307
Author(s):  
NAIK ZADA ◽  
SHAFI ULLAH KHAN ◽  
RIAZ AHMAD KHAN
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Count ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Semen Parameters ◽  
Male Factor ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Seminal Parameters ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Age Range

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of abnormal semen parameters among patients presenting withvaricocele1METHODS:It was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Urology Institute ofkidney diseases Hayat Abad Medical Complex Peshawar and Cenna hospital Saidu Sharif Swat. The studywas carried out on 139 human subjects with clinical evidence of varicocele between age range of 15-45years.The diagnosis of varicocele was based on palpable and/or visible scrotal lump of testicular veins(pampiniform plexus) and was diagnosed on the basis of clinical examination. Semen analysis was carriedout in all these patients and information wascollected on pre designed proforma.RESULTS:The study included a total of 139 patients with varicocele. The mean age of patient was 30 years(15-45) among the patients having symptoms of varicocele. The Mean ±SD for duration of varicocelesymptoms was 9.32 ± 9.70 months. 6.5% (n=9) patients were having azoospermia and 20.1% (n=28)patients had oligozoospermia.CONCLUSION: Patients with varicocele have poor seminal parameters in terms of sperm count i.e.oligozoospermia and azoospermia responsible for male factor infertility in majority ofcases.KEYWORDS:varicocele;seminal parameters;sperm count, infertility

scholarly journals SEMEN PARAMETERS

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (05) ◽  
pp. 589-596
Author(s):  
Haroon Latif Khan ◽  
Yousaf Latif Khan ◽  
Irfan Mehfooz ◽  
Muhammad Burhan ◽  
Saba Sardar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Semen Parameters ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Number Count ◽  
Who Criteria ◽  
Male Gametes ◽  
Health Organization

Semen is a pale whitish fluid secreted by male during ejaculation and containsspermatozoa which are male gametes essential of fertilizing the oocytes which are femalegametes. In a quest to evaluate male’s fertility potential semen is analyzed to look into some ofits characteristics and of the sperms contained within the semen analyzed. Method of collectioninfluences the results of Semen analysis as does the technique of analysis. Spermatozoa areexamined for number (count), shape (morphology) and movement (motility) in order to assesstheir quality. Non sperm cells, volume, Fructose level, pH, liquefaction are also checked asa part of routine analysis. Objectives: To describe the pattern of semen parameters in subfertilemales. To look into frequency and distribution of abnormal semen parameters in a groupof Pakistani males in Lahore. Methods: In this Retrospective, cross sectional, observationalstudy all males undergoing for evaluation and treatment for sub-fertility at a private AssistedReproductive Technology clinic in Lahore, Pakistan were included. Approval of the IRB wassought and data collection instrument was a specially designed Performa which was validatedby the biostatistician of LIFE research cell. Data was extracted from the files of LIFE (LahoreInstitute of Fertility and Endocrinology) and entered in SPSS version 15. Sampling techniquewas non-probability, consecutive. Semen analysis was done by methods defined by the WHO(World Health Organization). Results: Of total patient (n=679) 92.2% (626) males passed sampleat LIFE (Lahore institute of fertility and endocrinology) and (7.8%) 53 brought sample fromhome. Of the males who passed sample at LIFE (78.8%) 535 collected semen by masturbation,(11.9%) 81 by coitus; the source of sample of (9.3%) 63 males was not known. As 2-6 ml semenwas consider to be normal by WHO criteria, (80.6%) 547 males were in normal range (14.1%)96 found to be less than 2-6 ml and (5.3%) 36 found to be more than normal range. Accordingto WHO criteria 15 million/ml count is said to be normal, in our research (82.0%) 557 were foundto be normal, in (2.9%) 20 count was found to be less than 15 million/ml and in (5.9%) 40 countwas less than 1 million/ml. In (9.1%) 62 counts was found to be abnormally low. In this research(66.1%) 449 had normal sperm motility, (21.8%) 148 had less than 40% and abnormally lowsperm motility was found in (12.1%) 82 males. Conclusion: The results of the single semenanalysis are of limited utility and no decision should be taken on the bases of these results interm of diagnosis and treatment strategies.

scholarly journals G6PD DEFICIENCY

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (07) ◽  
pp. 881-886
Author(s):  
Zahra Rashid Khan ◽  
Shumaila Najeeb ◽  
Alina Amjad
Keyword(s):  
G6pd Deficiency ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Military Hospital ◽  
Radical Cure ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Enzyme Deficient ◽  
Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase

Context: Hyperbilirubinemia due to glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PD) deficiency can cause permanent neurological damage and death in neonates.Screening for the enzyme enables timely diagnosis and treatment in cases of G6PD relatedkernicterus. Knowledge of patient G6PD status is also important in treatment of malaria, adisease endemic in Pakistan. World Health Organization recommends mandatoryuse ofprimaquine for radical cure and eradication of malaria. Since, Primaquine, causes hemolysisin G6PD deficient cases, widespread adoption of the drug is viewed with caution. Aims: Thisstudy assessed frequency of G6PD deficiency in Pakistani noenates and examines the need forits screening based on local disease prevalence and malaria endemicity. Settings and Design:A cross sectional study was carried at Hematology Department, Army Medical College (NUST),in collaboration with Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.(January - August, 2011). Methodsand Material: The frequency of G6PD deficiency in newborn population was determined byquantitative (spectrophotometric) method. Cord blood (2.5 ml blood in K3EDTA bottle) sampleswere obtained from 240 newborns (male: female 1.2:1) after informed consent from parents.Statistical analysis used: Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS Windows version 17.Results: Frequency of G6PD deficient cases was 4.2%. Among the ten G6PD deficient patients,six had severe enzyme deficiency (<10% enzyme activity). Conclusions: The local prevalenceof G6PD deficiency and its potential complications qualify it as a disease that must be screenedfor. Also, prior knowledge of patient G6PD status enables the physician to revert to modifiedtreatment regimen for malaria only in enzyme deficient cases and not otherwise.

Evaluation of Drug Use Based on WHO Prescribing Indicator in Mizan- Tepi University Teaching Hospital, south Western Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Hambisa ◽  
Rediet Feleke ◽  
Ameha Zewudie ◽  
Mohammed Yimam
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
World Health ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Hospital Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Organization

Background:: Rational drug use comprises aspects of prescribing, dispensing and patient use of medicines for different health problems. This study is aimed to assess drug prescribing practice based on the world health organization prescribing indicators in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Methods:: An institutional based retrospective cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate prescribing practices in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Data were collected based on World health organization drug use indicators using prescription papers. 600 prescriptions dispensed through the general outpatient pharmacy of the hospital were collected by systematic random sampling method from prescriptions written for a 1-year time in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Results:: The present study found that the average number of drugs per prescription was 2.04 ± 0.87 in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital with a range between 1 and 5. Prescribing by generic name was 97.6 % and 47.8% of prescriptions contained antibiotics in the hospital. 27.7% of prescriptions contained at least one injectable medication in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. From prescribed drugs, 96.7% of them were prescribed from Ethiopian essential drug list. Conclusion:: Present study indicated that the average number of drugs prescribed per encounter, the percentage of generic prescribing and prescribing from the EDL were close to optimal value. However, the percentage of encounters with antibiotics and injections prescribed were found be very high. Thus, the study highlights some improvements in prescribing habits, particularly by focusing on the inappropriate consumption of antibiotics and injections.

scholarly journals The impact of coronavirus outbreak on breastfeeding guidelines among Brazilian hospitals and maternity services: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Walusa Assad Gonçalves-Ferri ◽  
◽  
Fábia Martins Pereira-Cellini ◽  
Kelly Coca ◽  
Davi Casale Aragon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Breastfeeding Support ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Maternity Services ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The World Health Organization recognizes exclusive breastfeeding a safe source of nutrition available for children in most humanitarian emergencies, as in the current pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Despite the Brazilian national guideline protecting breastfeeding practices, there are many concerns about protecting infants from their infected mothers. This study aimed to analyze how the Brazilian hospitals and maternity services promote and support mothers suspected or diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional and multicenter study which collected data from 24 Brazilian hospitals and maternity services between March and July 2020. Representatives of the institutions completed a questionnaire based on acts to promote and support breastfeeding, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and Brazil’s federal law recommendations. Results The results showed that in delivery rooms, 98.5% of the services prohibited immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between mothers and their infants and did not support mothers to initiate breastfeeding in the first hour. On the postnatal ward, 98.5% of the services allowed breastfeeding while implementing respiratory hygiene practices to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Companions for mothers were forbidden in 83.3% of the hospitals. Hospital discharge was mostly between 24 and 28 h (79.1%); discharge guidelines were not individualized. Additionally, a lack of support was noticed from the home environment’s health community network (83.3%). Hospital and home breast pumping were allowed (87.5%), but breast milk donation was not accepted (95.8%). There was a lack of guidance regarding the use of infant comforting strategies. Guidelines specific for vulnerable populations were not covered in the material evaluated. Conclusions In Brazil, hospitals have not followed recommendations to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding during the COVID-19 outbreak. The disagreement between international guidelines has been a major issue. The absence of recommendations on breastfeeding support during the pandemic led to difficulties in developing standards among hospitals in different regions of Brazil and other countries worldwide. The scientific community needs to discuss how to improve maternal and infant care services to protect breastfeeding in the current pandemic.

scholarly journals The Utilization of Protective Face Masks among Polish Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic: Do We Pass the Exam?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 841
Author(s):  
Radomir Reszke ◽  
Łukasz Matusiak ◽  
Piotr K. Krajewski ◽  
Marta Szepietowska ◽  
Rafał Białynicki-Birula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Medical Profession ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Internet Survey ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Who Criteria ◽  
The Face ◽  
Health Organization

Relevant personal protective measures during the COVID-19 pandemic include face masks, possibly decreasing the risk of infection among the general population and healthcare workers (HCW) if utilized properly. The aim of the study was to assess whether different Polish HCW utilize face masks according to the 2020 World Health Organization guidance (WHO) criteria. This cross-sectional study included 1156 respondents who participated in an internet survey evaluating mask-related behaviors. All the WHO criteria were complied with by 1.4% of participants, regardless of medical profession, specialty or place of employment. HCW mostly adhered to criterion 1 (C1; strict covering of the face and mouth with the mask; 90.8%), C4 (washing/disinfecting the hands after touching/taking off the mask; 49%) and C3 (taking off the mask properly without touching the anterior surface; 43.4%), whereas C2 (avoidance of touching the mask with hands) was complied with least commonly (6.8%). HCW with mask-induced itch (31.6%) complied to C2 less often (odds ratio 0.53; p = 0.01). The study reveals that Polish HCW rarely adhere to all the 2020 WHO guidance criteria on the use of masks, whereas the adherence to particular criteria is variable and may be associated with the presence of skin-related conditions and other factors. Better compliance with the recommendations in the future is necessary to increase personal safety of HCW and prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals Managing the Return to Football During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of the Head Team Physicians of the Football Bowl Subdivision Programs

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 232596712199204
Author(s):  
Alexander D. Slabaugh ◽  
John W. Belk ◽  
Jonathan C. Jackson ◽  
Richard J. Robins ◽  
Eric C. McCarty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
College Football ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Football Bowl Subdivision ◽  
Health Organization

Background: COVID-19 is a severe respiratory virus that spreads via person-to-person contact through respiratory droplets. Since being declared a pandemic in early March 2020, the World Health Organization had yet to release guidelines regarding the return of college or professional sports for the 2020-2021 season. Purpose: To survey the head orthopedic surgeons and primary care team physicians for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football teams so as to gauge the management of common COVID-19 issues for the fall 2020 college football season. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The head team orthopaedic surgeons and primary care physicians for all 130 FBS football teams were surveyed regarding their opinions on the management of college football during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 30 questions regarding testing, return-to-play protocol, isolating athletes, and other management issues were posed via email survey sent on June 5, 2020. Results: Of the 210 team physicians surveyed, 103 (49%) completed the questionnaire. Overall, 36.9% of respondents felt that it was unsafe for college athletes to return to playing football during fall 2020. While the majority of football programs (96.1%) were testing athletes for COVID-19 as they returned to campus, only 78.6% of programs required athletes to undergo a mandatory quarantine period before resuming involvement in athletic department activities. Of the programs that were quarantining their players upon return to campus, 20% did so for 1 week, 20% for 2 weeks, and 32.9% quarantined their athletes until they had a negative COVID-19 test. Conclusion: While US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines evolve and geographic regions experience a range of COVID-19 infections, determining a universal strategy for return to socialization and participation in sports remains a challenge. The current study highlighted areas of consensus and strong agreement, but the results also demonstrated a need for clarity and consistency in operations, leadership, and guidance for medical professionals in multiple areas as they attempt to safely mitigate risk for college football players amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals An analysis of heavy metals contamination and estimating the daily intakes of vegetables from Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 239784732098525
Author(s):  
Keneth Iceland Kasozi ◽  
Eric Oloya Otim ◽  
Herbert Izo Ninsiima ◽  
Gerald Zirintunda ◽  
Andrew Tamale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Daily Intakes

Background: Environmental contamination with elevated levels of copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr6+), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni)—all states of which are found in Uganda—raises health risk to the public. Pb, Cr6+, Cd, and Ni for instance are generally considered nonessential to cellular functions, notwithstanding the importance of the oxidative state of the metals in bioavailability. As such, we aimed in this study (i) to evaluate heavy metal concentrations in four vegetables from a typical open-air market in Uganda, (ii) to assess the safety of consuming these vegetables against the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits of heavy metals consumption, and (iii) to formulate a model of estimated daily intake (EDI) among consumers in the country. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in five georeferenced markets of Bushenyi district in January 2020. Amaranthus, cabbages, scarlet eggplants, and tomatoes were collected from open markets, processed, and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Modeled EDI, principal component (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were conducted to identify relationships in the samples. Results: The levels of essential elements in the four vegetables were found to fall from Co > Cu > Fe > Zn. Those of non-essential metals were significantly higher and followed the pattern Cd > Cr > Pb > Ni. The highest EDI values were those of Cu in scarlet eggplants, Zn in amaranthus, Fe in amaranthus, Co in amaranthus, Pb in cabbages, total Cr in scarlet eggplant, Cd in cabbages and tomatoes, and Ni in cabbages. In comparison to international limits, EDIs for Zn, Cu, Co and Fe were low while Ni in cabbages were high. PCA showed high variations in scarlet eggplant and amaranthus. The study vegetables were found to be related with each other, not according to the location of the markets from where they were obtained, but according to their species by CA. Conclusion: The presence of non-essential elements above WHO limits raises policy challenges for the consumption and marketing of vegetables in the study area. Furthermore, low EDIs of essential elements in the vegetables create demand for nutritious foods to promote healthy communities.

scholarly journals Regional differences in general practitioners’ behaviours regarding influenza vaccination: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Arlt ◽  
Kristina Flaegel ◽  
Katja Goetz ◽  
Jost Steinhaeuser
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Central Research Institute ◽  
World Health ◽  
Central Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background The World Health Organization recommends vaccination rates of 75% against seasonal influenza for patients over 65 years old. In the 2013/2014 season, the German vaccination rates ranged between 14 and 65%. This study aimed to compare the attitudes, personal characteristics and vaccination behaviours of general practitioners (GPs) in regions with high and low vaccination rates in Germany. Methods In May 2016, a questionnaire was sent to 1594 GPs practising in 16 districts with the highest and the lowest vaccination rates in Western and Eastern Germany as described by the Central Research Institute of Ambulatory Health Care in Germany for the 2013/2014 season. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were computed to identify potential factors associated with high vaccination rates. Results A total response rate of 32% (515/1594 participants) was observed in the study. GPs reported their attitudes towards vaccination in general and vaccination against influenza as mostly ‘very positive’ (80%, n = 352 and 65%, n = 288, respectively). GPs practising in regions with low vaccination rates reported their attitudes towards vaccinations in general (p = 0.004) and towards influenza vaccination (p = 0.001) more negatively than their colleagues from regions with high vaccination rates. Multiple logistic regression identified an increasing influence of year-dependent changing efficiency on GPs’ influenza rates as the strongest factor for predicting GPs from highly vaccinating regions (OR = 4.31 [1.12–16.60]), followed by the patient’s vaccination refusal despite GP advice due to already receiving a vaccination from another physician (OR = 3.20 [1.89–5.43]) and vaccination information gathering through medical colleagues (OR = 2.26 [1.19–4.29]). Conclusions The results of this study suggest a correlation between GPs’ attitudes and regional vaccination rates. Beneath GPs’ individual attitudes, the regional attitude patterns of patients, colleagues and medical assistants surrounding those GPs seem decisive and should be integrated into future campaigns to increase vaccination rates at a regional level.

scholarly journals Compliance with the 24-Hour Movement Behavior Guidelines and Associations with Adiposity in European Preschoolers: Results from the ToyBox-Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7499
Author(s):  
Marga Decraene ◽  
Vera Verbestel ◽  
Greet Cardon ◽  
Violeta Iotova ◽  
Berthold Koletzko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Movement Behavior ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Guideline Compliance ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
Health Organization

In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) published 24 h movement behavior guidelines for preschoolers with recommendations for physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), and sleep. The present study investigated the proportion of preschoolers complying with these guidelines (on a total week, weekdays and weekend days), and the associations with adiposity. This cross-sectional study included 2468 preschoolers (mean age: 4.75 years; 41.9% boys) from six European countries. The associations were investigated in the total sample and in girls and boys separately. PA was objectively assessed by step counts/day. Parent-reported questionnaires provided ST and sleep duration data. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the association between guideline compliance and adiposity indicators, i.e., body mass index (BMI) z-score and waist to height ratio (WHR). Only 10.1% of the preschoolers complied with the 24 h movement behavior guidelines, 69.2% with the sleep duration guideline, 39.8% with the ST guideline and 32.7% with the PA guideline. No association was found between guideline compliance with all three movement behaviors and adiposity. However, associations were found for isolated weekday screen time (BMI z-scores and WHR: p = 0.04) and weekend day sleep duration (BMI z-scores and WHR: p = 0.03) guideline compliance with both lower adiposity indicators. The latter association for sleep duration was also found in girls separately (BMI z-scores: p = 0.02; WHR: p = 0.03), but not in boys. Longitudinal studies, including intervention studies, are needed to increase preschoolers’ guideline compliance and to gain more insight into the manifestation of adiposity in children and its association with 24 h movement behaviors from a young age onwards.

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