Aim： To perform quality control studies on testicular volume measurements for a multi-center epidemiological study of male reproductive function. Methods： We constructed a data matrix with a balanced assignment for ...Aim： To perform quality control studies on testicular volume measurements for a multi-center epidemiological study of male reproductive function. Methods： We constructed a data matrix with a balanced assignment for 2 consecutive days by ten investigators （andrological career： 4-21 years） from five institutions and 12 male volunteers aged 20-26 years. Testicular volume was measured by Prader＇s orchidometer. A skilled technician also performed an ultrasound estimate of testicular volume. Results： A statistically significant inter-investigator variation was found for both testes （P 〈 0.05）. In addition, there was a statistically significant investigator-by-volunteer interaction in testicular volume measurement （P 〈 0.01）. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the two measurements performed on consecutive days for either testis. The testicular volumes for both the right and left testes as estimated by ultrasonography were smaller than results using the orchidometer. However, there was no statistical significance （P 〉 0.05）. The difference in experiences of the investigators did not significantly correlate with accuracy of measurements in either testis. Conclusion： The present study revealed significant differences in the results of estimation of testicular volume among the ten investigators, but intra-investigator variation was not considerable. Improved training and proper standardization of the measurement will be necessary before starting a multi-center study based on an andrological examination.展开更多
Aim:To perform quality control studies on testicular volume measurements for a multi-center epidemiological study of male reproductive function.Methods:We constructed a data matrix with a balanced assignment for 2 con...Aim:To perform quality control studies on testicular volume measurements for a multi-center epidemiological study of male reproductive function.Methods:We constructed a data matrix with a balanced assignment for 2 consecutive days by ten investigators(andrological career:4-21 years)from five institutions and 12 male volunteers aged 20-26 years.Testicular volume was measured by Prader's orchidometer.A skilled technician also perfornled an ultrasound estimate of testicular volume.Results:A statistically significant inter-investigator variation was found *'or both testes (P<0.05).In addition,there was a statistically significant investigator-by-volunteer interaction in testicular volume measurement(P<0.01).However,there was no statistically significant difference in the two measurements performed on consecutive days for either testis.The testicular volumes for both the right and left testes as estimated by ultrasonog- raphy were smaller than results using the orchidometer.However,there was no statistical significance(P>0.05).The difference in experiences of the investigators did not significantly correlate with accuracy of measurements in either testis.Conclusion:The present study revealed significant differences in the results of estimation of testicular volume among the ten investigators,but intra-investigator variation was not considerable.Improved training and proper standardization of the measurement will be necessary before starting a multi-center study based on an andrological examination,展开更多
Androgen replacement therapy （ART） efficacy on late-onset hypogonadism （LOH） has been widely investigated in Western countries; however, it remains controversial whether ART can improve health and prolong active l...Androgen replacement therapy （ART） efficacy on late-onset hypogonadism （LOH） has been widely investigated in Western countries; however, it remains controversial whether ART can improve health and prolong active lifestyles. We prospectively assessed long-term ART effects on the physical and mental statuses of aging men with LOH in Japan. The primary endpoint was health-related quality of life assessed by questionnaires. Secondary endpoints included glycemic control, lipid parameters, blood pressure, waist circumference, body composition, muscular strength, International Prostate Symptom Scores （IPSS）, International Index of Erectile Function-5 （IIEF-5） scores, and serum prostate-specific antigen levels. Of the 1637 eligible volunteers, 334 patients 〉 40 years with LOH were randomly assigned to either the ART （n = 169） or control groups （n = 165）. Fifty-two weeks after the initial treatment, ART significantly affected the role physical subdomain of the short form-36 health survey （SF-36） scale （P= 0.0318）. ART was also associated with significant decreases in waist circumstance （P = 0.002） and serum triglyceride （TG） （P = 0.013） and with significant increases in whole-body and leg muscle mass volumes （P= 0.071 and 0.0108, respectively）, serum hemoglobin （P 〈 0.001）, IPSS voiding subscore （P = 0.0418）, and the second question on I IEF-5 （P = 0.0049）. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of severe adverse events. In conclusion, in patients with LOH, long-term ART exerted beneficial effects on Role Physical subdomain of the SF-36 scale, serum TG, waist circumstance, muscle mass volume, voiding subscore of IPSS, and the second question of IIEF-5. We hope our study will contribute to the future development of this area.展开更多
This study aimed to ascertain the current status of Japanese sperm banking for young cancer patients. During 2015, we mailed the directors of 695 institutes where sperm cryopreservation might be performed with questio...This study aimed to ascertain the current status of Japanese sperm banking for young cancer patients. During 2015, we mailed the directors of 695 institutes where sperm cryopreservation might be performed with questionnaires requesting information on the number of patients, age, precryopreservation chemotherapy, semen analyses results and diagnoses, cryopreservation success rate, and causes of unsuccessful cryopreservation. Of these 695 institutes, 92 had cryopreserved sperm before chemotherapy within the study period. In all, 820 cancer patients （237 testicular, 383 hematological, 46 bone and soft tissue, 20 brain, and 134 other malignancy） consulted the responding institutes for sperm cryopreservation. Except for testicular tumor, the number of patients whose sperm was preserved before cancer treatment was low compared to that of young cancer patients. Approximately 20% of patients with malignancies other than testicular tumor underwent chemotherapy before cryopreservation. The success rate of cryopreservation in hematological malignancy was 82.5%, significantly lower than that of both the testicular cancer （93.6%） and other malignancy groups （95.6%） （P 〈 0.05）. The primary reasons for preservation failure were azoospermia and poor semen quality. Patients with hematological malignancies had a higher rate of unsuccessful cryopreservation compared to those in other groups, possibly due to the large number of patients requesting sperm cryopreservation after chemotherapy induction. In Japan, information regarding sperm banking prior to cancer treatment appears to be lacking. Information regarding sperm preservation before chemotherapy should be provided to all Japanese oncologists.展开更多
文摘Aim： To perform quality control studies on testicular volume measurements for a multi-center epidemiological study of male reproductive function. Methods： We constructed a data matrix with a balanced assignment for 2 consecutive days by ten investigators （andrological career： 4-21 years） from five institutions and 12 male volunteers aged 20-26 years. Testicular volume was measured by Prader＇s orchidometer. A skilled technician also performed an ultrasound estimate of testicular volume. Results： A statistically significant inter-investigator variation was found for both testes （P 〈 0.05）. In addition, there was a statistically significant investigator-by-volunteer interaction in testicular volume measurement （P 〈 0.01）. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the two measurements performed on consecutive days for either testis. The testicular volumes for both the right and left testes as estimated by ultrasonography were smaller than results using the orchidometer. However, there was no statistical significance （P 〉 0.05）. The difference in experiences of the investigators did not significantly correlate with accuracy of measurements in either testis. Conclusion： The present study revealed significant differences in the results of estimation of testicular volume among the ten investigators, but intra-investigator variation was not considerable. Improved training and proper standardization of the measurement will be necessary before starting a multi-center study based on an andrological examination.
文摘Aim:To perform quality control studies on testicular volume measurements for a multi-center epidemiological study of male reproductive function.Methods:We constructed a data matrix with a balanced assignment for 2 consecutive days by ten investigators(andrological career:4-21 years)from five institutions and 12 male volunteers aged 20-26 years.Testicular volume was measured by Prader's orchidometer.A skilled technician also perfornled an ultrasound estimate of testicular volume.Results:A statistically significant inter-investigator variation was found *'or both testes (P<0.05).In addition,there was a statistically significant investigator-by-volunteer interaction in testicular volume measurement(P<0.01).However,there was no statistically significant difference in the two measurements performed on consecutive days for either testis.The testicular volumes for both the right and left testes as estimated by ultrasonog- raphy were smaller than results using the orchidometer.However,there was no statistical significance(P>0.05).The difference in experiences of the investigators did not significantly correlate with accuracy of measurements in either testis.Conclusion:The present study revealed significant differences in the results of estimation of testicular volume among the ten investigators,but intra-investigator variation was not considerable.Improved training and proper standardization of the measurement will be necessary before starting a multi-center study based on an andrological examination,
文摘Androgen replacement therapy （ART） efficacy on late-onset hypogonadism （LOH） has been widely investigated in Western countries; however, it remains controversial whether ART can improve health and prolong active lifestyles. We prospectively assessed long-term ART effects on the physical and mental statuses of aging men with LOH in Japan. The primary endpoint was health-related quality of life assessed by questionnaires. Secondary endpoints included glycemic control, lipid parameters, blood pressure, waist circumference, body composition, muscular strength, International Prostate Symptom Scores （IPSS）, International Index of Erectile Function-5 （IIEF-5） scores, and serum prostate-specific antigen levels. Of the 1637 eligible volunteers, 334 patients 〉 40 years with LOH were randomly assigned to either the ART （n = 169） or control groups （n = 165）. Fifty-two weeks after the initial treatment, ART significantly affected the role physical subdomain of the short form-36 health survey （SF-36） scale （P= 0.0318）. ART was also associated with significant decreases in waist circumstance （P = 0.002） and serum triglyceride （TG） （P = 0.013） and with significant increases in whole-body and leg muscle mass volumes （P= 0.071 and 0.0108, respectively）, serum hemoglobin （P 〈 0.001）, IPSS voiding subscore （P = 0.0418）, and the second question on I IEF-5 （P = 0.0049）. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of severe adverse events. In conclusion, in patients with LOH, long-term ART exerted beneficial effects on Role Physical subdomain of the SF-36 scale, serum TG, waist circumstance, muscle mass volume, voiding subscore of IPSS, and the second question of IIEF-5. We hope our study will contribute to the future development of this area.
文摘This study aimed to ascertain the current status of Japanese sperm banking for young cancer patients. During 2015, we mailed the directors of 695 institutes where sperm cryopreservation might be performed with questionnaires requesting information on the number of patients, age, precryopreservation chemotherapy, semen analyses results and diagnoses, cryopreservation success rate, and causes of unsuccessful cryopreservation. Of these 695 institutes, 92 had cryopreserved sperm before chemotherapy within the study period. In all, 820 cancer patients （237 testicular, 383 hematological, 46 bone and soft tissue, 20 brain, and 134 other malignancy） consulted the responding institutes for sperm cryopreservation. Except for testicular tumor, the number of patients whose sperm was preserved before cancer treatment was low compared to that of young cancer patients. Approximately 20% of patients with malignancies other than testicular tumor underwent chemotherapy before cryopreservation. The success rate of cryopreservation in hematological malignancy was 82.5%, significantly lower than that of both the testicular cancer （93.6%） and other malignancy groups （95.6%） （P 〈 0.05）. The primary reasons for preservation failure were azoospermia and poor semen quality. Patients with hematological malignancies had a higher rate of unsuccessful cryopreservation compared to those in other groups, possibly due to the large number of patients requesting sperm cryopreservation after chemotherapy induction. In Japan, information regarding sperm banking prior to cancer treatment appears to be lacking. Information regarding sperm preservation before chemotherapy should be provided to all Japanese oncologists.
