ObjectiveThe authors provide a prospective evaluation of long-term results after bilioenteric anastomoses for benign biliary stricture. Summary Background DataWith the advent of laparoscopic techniques, the frequency of bile duct injury after operation has increased. Reports on the operative management of these injuries have not provided long-term follow-up. Over a similar period, reports of both endoscopic and invasive radiographic methods as primary treatment for bile duct stricture have compared success rates to antiquated surgical reports. MethodsA protocol whereby preoperative radiographic (e.g., cholangiogram, computed tomographic scan, ultrasound), biochemical (e.g., alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin), and clinical evaluation was combined with ongoing postoperative evaluation and follow-up at approximately 6-month intervals. A total of 1 1 1 patients were evaluated from 1985 to 1995. Patients

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Varicocele is a prevalent pathology among infertile men. The mechanisms linking this condition to infertility, however, are poorly understood. Our previous work showed a relationship between sperm functional quality and the ability of spermatozoa to respond to capacitating conditions with increased membrane fluidity and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Given the reported association between varicocele, oxidative stress, and sperm dysfunction, we hypothesized that spermatozoa from infertile patients with varicocele might have a combined defect at the level of membrane fluidity and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Semen samples from infertile patients with and without grade II/III left varicocele were evaluated for motion parameters (computer-assisted semen analysis [CASA]), hyperactivation (CASA), incidence and intensity of protein tyrosine phosphorylation (phosphotyrosine immunofluorescence and western blotting), and membrane fluidity (Laurdan fluorometry), before and after a capacitating incubation (6 hr at 37 degrees C in Ham's F10/BSA, 5% CO(2)). Spermatozoa from varicocele samples presented a decreased response to the capacitating challenge, showing significantly lower motility, hyperactivation, incidence and intensity of tyrosine phosphorylation, and membrane fluidity. The findings reported in this article indicate that the sperm dysfunction associated to infertile varicocele coexists with decreased sperm plasma membrane fluidity and tyrosine phosphorylation. These deficiencies represent potential new pathophysiological mechanisms underlying varicocele-related infertility.

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