Laboratory and Clinical Medicine. Pharmacy

Scientific and practical quarterly peer-reviewed journal

 

ISSN 2712-9330 (Online)

In this review, authors conduct a short fragment of an in-depth analysis of the 6th Edition (2021) of the WHO procedural manual for human semen analyses comparing with 5th Edition (2010) one. Highlighting the pitfalls we clarify the key points of problems. Also, authors note the well way for basic semen examination for laboratory in Russia at the present time.
The current achievements in human semen examination have gone a way in 3.5 century duration. Understanding and analyzing scientific discoveries of the past, acquaintance with scientists of the era of accumulation of initial knowledge about semen samples are paramount and mandatory for protection and improvement of demography globally. The first part of the review is presented which clarifies historical fragments from origin idea of semen examination to emergence of laboratory manual.
Clinical cytology is a section of clinical morphological diagnostics that considers changes in cellular composition and allows to identify various pathological conditions of tissues and organs, as well as to conduct early diagnosis of precancerous changes, benign and malignant neoplasms. This is an actively developing branch of diagnostic medicine, closely related to the development of other fundamental disciplines (histology, pathophysiology, biochemistry, etc.), and due to the minimally invasive vector of morphological diagnostics and the high prevalence of infectious and oncological diseases in the population, this branch of medical science is becoming increasingly popular.
In Russia, clinical cytology has developed within the framework of clinical laboratory medicine, which causes a different development process from Europe, the USA and other countries of the world (where cytopathology is a section of pathological anatomy or clinical pathology).
The article reflects the history of thalidomide, synthesized by the West German pharmaceutical company Chemie Gr?nenthal in 1954. Initially the drug was promoted as an effective hypnotic, devoid of the adverse effects of barbiturates. The drug became very popular in Germany and beyond its borders, and had been used in more than 40 countries. At some point thalidomide began to be offered for the treatment of nausea in pregnancy. However with time a gradual increase in the incidence of congenital malformations in children whose mothers took thalidomide during pregnancy was noted. Two doctors – Widukind Lenz and William McBride – are known for drawing public attention to the dangerous consequences of the drug usage in pregnancy. Initially, thalidomide manufacturers denied their guilt, however a numerous number lawsuits obliged pharmaceutical companies to pay huge financial compensations to the victims of thalidomide.
In the United States, FDA employee Francis Kelsey became famous for not giving permission for thalidomide for the US pharmaceutical market despite its unrestricted usage in European countries. The article provides information about some thalidomide victims who were able to live an active life and become famous. After the recognition of the thalidomide tragedy the therapeutic usage of the drug seemed to be irrevocably terminated. However, in 1964 the Israeli doctor Yakov Sheskin almost by occasion discovered the therapeutic effect of thalidomide on some types of leprosy. In subsequent years the effectiveness of the drug was reported in a number of other diseases. However, the “thalidomide tragedy” with its teratogenicity is still holding back the widespread use of the drug. The bad experience of thalidomide should be a painful lesson for the pharmaceutical industry, but unfortunately, the story can be repeated, that is exemplified by the obesity drug scandal this year.