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“Previous studies concerning ultrasound evaluation of the seminal vesicles (SV) were performed on a limited series of subjects, and considered few parameters, often only before ejaculation and without assessing the patients sexual abstinence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the volume and the emptying characteristics of the SV and their possible correlations with scrotal and transrectal ultrasound features.\n\nThe SV of 368 men seeking medical care for couple infertility were evaluated by ultrasound. All patients underwent, during the same ultrasound

session, scrotal and transrectal evaluation, before and after ejaculation, PLX3397 and the ejaculate was subjected to semen analysis. A new parameter, SV ejection fraction, calculated as: [(SV volume before ejaculation SV volume after ejaculation)/SV volume before ejaculation] 100, was evaluated.\n\nAfter adjusting for sexual abstinence and age, both pre-ejaculatory SV volume and SV ejection fraction were positively associated with ejaculate volume. As assessed by receiver selleck kinase inhibitor operating characteristic curve, a cut-off for SV ejection fraction of 21.6 discriminates subjects with normal ejaculate volume (epsilon 1.5 ml) and pH (epsilon 7.2 ml) with both sensitivity and specificity equal to 75. Subjects with SV ejection fraction of 21.6 more often had a higher post-ejaculatory SV volume and ejaculatory

duct abnormalities. Furthermore, a higher post-ejaculatory SV volume was associated with a higher prostate volume and SV abnormalities. Higher epididymal and deferential diameters were also detected in subjects with a higher post-ejaculatory SV volume or reduced SV ejection fraction. No association between SV and testis ultrasound features or sperm parameters was observed. Associations with SV ejection fraction were confirmed in nested 1:1 casecontrol analysis.\n\nThe SV contribute

significantly to the ejaculate volume. A new parameter, SV ejection fraction, could be useful in assessing SV emptying. A SV ejection fraction of 21.6 was associated with prostatevesicular and epididymal ultrasound abnormalities.”
“Background: Seven genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been published in AIDS, and only associations in the HLA region on chromosome selleck chemical 6 and CXCR6 have passed genome-wide significance.\n\nMethods: We reanalyzed the data from 3 previously published GWAS, targeting specifically low-frequency SNPs (minor allele frequency <5%). Two groups composed of 365 slow progressors and 147 rapid progressors from Europe and the United States were compared with a control group of 1394 seronegative individuals using Eigenstrat corrections.\n\nResults: Of the 8584 SNPs with minor allele frequency <5% in cases and controls (Bonferroni threshold = 5.8 x 10(-6)), 4 SNPs showed statistical evidence of association with the slow progressor phenotype. The best result was for HCP5 rs2395029 [P = 8.54 x 10(-15), odds ratio (OR) = 3.