Bacteriology of Cervix in Cases of Infertility: Effect on Human Sperm

ABSTRACT: Microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis isolated from cervices of infertile females possessed spermicidal activity. They also agglutinated the human spermatozoa in vitro and showed tail-to-tail agglutination. Cell-free supernatant of these organisms was found to be spermicidal but did not agglutinate spermatozoa in vitro. Spermicidal activity was increased with increase in age of the culture.     

Art and brain: insights from neuropsychology, biology and evolution

Art is a uniquely human activity associated fundamentally with symbolic and abstract cognition. Its practice in human societies throughout the world, coupled with seeming non‐functionality, has led to three major brain theories of art. (1) The localized brain regions and pathways theory links art to multiple neural regions. (2) The display of art and its aesthetics theory is tied to the biological motivation of courtship signals and mate selection strategies in animals. (3) The evolutionary theory links the symbolic nature of art to critical pivotal brain changes in Homo sapiens supporting increased development of language and hierarchical social grouping. Collectively, these theories point to art as a multi‐process cognition dependent on diverse brain regions and on redundancy in art‐related functional representation.     

Effect of environmental temperature on pleasure ratings of odors and tastes.

The pleasure ratings for alimentary and nonalimentary odors and tastes were tested in 10 subjects, at ambient temperatures 0°, 10°, 20°, 30° and 40°C. The taste stimuli were kept at 20°C and the odor stimuli at 36°C. The group median rating for all subjects and all nonalimentary substances did not change at any ambient temperatures. The increase in ambient temperature produced a moderate decrease in the median rating for alimentary stimuli. In another group of 8 subjects, alliesthesia was tested in a cold environment. Cold exposure almost completely suppressed negative alliesthesia to sweet stimuli. The return to 20°C restored alliesthesia. This phenomenon seems to be independent of the temperature of the solutions tasted. Nonalimentary odors were not affected by cooling.     

Elevating blood glucose level increases the retention of information from a public safety video

Seventy-two undergraduates, 41 female and 31 male, aged 19–38, who had eaten breakfast had their blood glucose levels measured at 10.00 a.m. Following this they watched a presentation on safety when living away from home and had their recall of this material tested. Then half the participants imbibed a drink containing 50 g of glucose while the other participants imbibed a drink containing saccharine. A 20 min lecture followed to allow absorption and then blood glucose level was again measured and a second safety presentation was followed by another memory test. The two groups did not differ in initial blood glucose levels but only the group drinking the glucose drink had significantly elevated blood glucose at second test. The two groups did not differ in memory recall at the first test but the glucose drink group recalled 20% more material after the drink. Analysis of covariance on the memory data with post-drink blood glucose level as a covariate attenuated the glucose effect suggesting that there is a relationship between glucose level and memory performance on this task. It is concluded that, although the precise mechanism by which enhanced memory performance occurs cannot be elucidated by these data, the results have practical significance for education. It is suggested that breakfast consisting of low glycaemic index foods may aid in challenging learning situations.     

Altered immunological reactivity in HIV-1-exposed uninfected neonates

This work aimed to evaluate immune events in HIV-1-exposed uninfected neonates born from mothers who control (G1) or not (G2) the plasma viral load, using unexposed neonates as controls. Cord blood from each neonate was collected, plasma and mononuclear cells were separated and the lymphoproliferation and cytokine pattern were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the in vitro lymphoproliferation induced by polyclonal activators was higher in the G2 neonates. Nevertheless, no cell culture responded to poll synthetic HIV-1 envelope peptides. The cytokine dosage in the plasma and supernatants of polyclonally-activated cultures demonstrated that, while IL-4 and IL-10 were the dominant cytokines produced in G1 and control groups, IFN-γ and TNF-α were significantly higher in G2 neonates. Systemic levels of IL-10 observed among the G1 neonates were higher in those born from anti-retroviral treated mothers. In summary, our results indicate an altered immune responsiveness in neonates exposed in utero to HIV and support the role of maternal anti-retroviral treatment to attenuate it.     

各种辅助泵对心室功能恢复的影响

应用自制隔膜泵、非捕动流叶轮泵和捕动流叶轮泵,以及临床应用的美国Ｓａｒｎｓ转子泵分别在迷你猪和小公牛身上做左心室或双心室辅助试验。结果显示搏动流泵在自然心脏衰竭时能维持动物主动脉压的搏动特性,从而降低周身而增加血流循环流量,而叶轮泵及转子泵因没有瓣膜返流能提高动物主动脉舒张压,增加自 脏冠状动脉灌注,因此搏动流叶轮泵对于衰竭心脏功能的恢复,最为有利。     

固冲汤加清热解毒药治疗脾肾亏虚型崩漏的止血疗效

目的 观察固冲汤加清热解毒药治疗脾肾亏虚型崩漏的止血疗效。方法 选取2018年1月~2019年2月我院收治的脾肾亏虚型功血患者50例,按照随机数字表法分为治疗组和对照组,每组25例。治疗组给予固冲汤加清热解毒药治疗,对照组给予妈富隆治疗,比较两组近期止血疗效、治疗前后症状积分、中医证候疗效、中医单项症状疗效及实验室检查指标[血红蛋白（HGB）、凝血酶原时间（PT）、部分凝血活酶时间（APTT）]。结果 治疗组近期止血总有效率为92.00%,高于对照组的80.00%,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。治疗组中医证候总有效率为96.00%,高于对照组的60.00%,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。两组阴道出血量、出血天数比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;两组神疲乏力、心悸气短、腰膝酸软、头晕耳鸣比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。治疗组HGB高于对照组[（99.24±12.39）g/L vs（92.08±17.47）g/L],PT、APTT低于对照组[（11.76±0.60）s vs（13.61±0.63）s]、[（33.43±1.60）s vs（37.72±1.80）s],差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 固冲汤加清热解毒药治疗脾肾亏虚型崩漏患者止血疗效确切,可增加机体免疫力,提高HGB含量,缩短PT、APTT时间,达到标本兼治,在改善患者症状、提高患者生活质量方面效果优于妈富隆。     

指,趾甲复合瓣移植的解剖学基础

在77只(足40,手37)标本上观察了指、趾甲及其周围组织的血供规律。甲床根部的血供来自指、趾两侧的动脉(指固有动脉或趾底动脉)横行吻合支形成的动脉弓的分支;甲床两侧血供来自指固有动脉或趾底动脉甲床支。血管进入甲床后互相吻合形成稠密的血管网。根据解剖学观察,建议临床可有选择地开展吻合血管的术式。指甲床血管较趾甲床血管要粗,这可能是指甲生长较快的原因之一。     

Human saliva and taste responses to acids varying in anions, titratable acidity, and pH

Twenty subjects recorded perceived sourness of solutions of citric + fumaric and of citric + tartaric acids, at pH 3.5 and titratable acidity (TiA) of 4.0 g/l on a moving chart, while parotid saliva flow was recorded via a sialometer . Sourness intensity and flow were greater when citric was the minor acid than when it was dominant. Subjects varied widely in calculated volume of saliva reservoir, but not flow rate (time to 2/3 reservoir vol.). In tartaric-fumaric acid mixtures varying in pH (3.0-3.75) at a constant TiA of 4.0 g/l, and varying in TiA (3.7-4.6 g/l) at a constant pH of 3.5, sourness intensity and parotid flow increased with acidity and decreased with pH. However, eight subjects with a high flow (HF = 1.2 +/- 0.28 g/2 min) and nine subjects with a low flow (LF = 0.43 +/- 0.11 g/2 min) differed widely: (a) In response to variation in stimulus pH and TiA, HF demonstrated marked alteration in flow, but little change in sourness ; LF responded at a lower absolute level, but showed marked changes in sourness and little change in flow; (b) Salivary pH was higher and Na+ was three times greater for the HF than for the LF subjects; and (c) Salivary Ca++ showed a direct relationship with flow and pH among the HF, but an inverse relationship for the LF subjects.     

DNA response to bleomycin in mammalian cells with variable degrees of chromatin condensation

BLM induces DNA degradation in living cells. We used CHO cells with maximal chromatin compactness (cells synchronized in metaphase), cells with chromatin decondensed by Na butyrate treatments, and control cells with normal chromatin condensation in order to analyze the correlation between chromatin compactness, DNA sensitivity to BLM, efficiency of repair of BLM-induced DNA lesions, and cell viability. We found that the DNA sensitivity to BLM and the efficiency of DNA repair is inversely correlated with the degree of chromatin coiling. Cells with decondensed chromatin are those showing higher DNA sensitivity to BLM but also those having the best efficiency to mend the damage. Accordingly, these cells show an amount of residual DNA lesions and a curve of growth similar to that of control cells. The situation is just the opposite for metaphase cells. The DNA of these cells is more resistant to BLM, but the damage is poorly repaired. The final result is that BLM induces a higher concentration of residual DNA lesions and a lower viability in metaphase than in control cells. Our results suggest that chromatin structure influences the quantity and repairability of the BLM-induced lesions, producing a higher incidence of double strand break in the DNA of cells with marked chromatin condensation. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

湖北省2010年血吸虫病防治目标考核评估

目的考核评估2010年湖北省63个县（市、区）（以下简称县）血吸虫病防治目标和效果。方法查阅、审核和分析湖北省63个血吸虫病流行县2009年和2010年血吸虫病防治资料;重点考核22个疫情控制县人、畜血吸虫病的感染情况,主要防治措施落实情况,资料整理和归档情况,考核和评估血吸虫病疫情现状。结果防治资料表明全省5433个流行村人群、家畜感染率均降至3%以下。22个县、66个抽样村2009-2010年资料均系统、规范整理,建立了以行政村为单位反映疫情变化的档案资料。现场考核的22个县66个流行村目前的人、畜感染率均降至2%以下,以县为单位,人群血清免疫学检查阳性率最高的是公安县（21.71%）,人群感染率最高的是石首市（1.33%）;家畜（耕牛）感染率最高的分别是松滋市（1.68%）、石首市（1.67%）和公安县（1.67%）。结论湖北省全部流行村人群、家畜感染率继续控制在3%以下,2010年没有发生本地感染的急性血吸虫病例,建立了以行政村为单位反映病情、螺情变化的档案资料,血吸虫病疫情得到进一步压缩和巩固。     

Neurotoxic lesions of the caudate-putamen on a reaching for food task in the rat: acute sensorimotor neglect and chronic qualitative motor impairment follow lateral lesions and improved success follows medial lesions

Reaching for food, or skilled reaching, is used as a test of basal ganglia function in preclinical studies as well as studies of human neurological conditions. Although changes in the end-point measure of success document the effects of neurotoxic cellular damage to the caudate-putamen and its treatment in rodents, there has been no examination of the cause of change in success after neurotoxic lesions of the striatum. This objective was addressed in the present study, in which rats trained to reach for single food pellets with one forelimb, received contralateral quinolinic acid or ibotenic acid lesions of the medial and lateral caudate-putamen. Over 21 postsurgical days, reaching performance was scored for success and qualitative changes in movement elements were examined using frame-by-frame video analysis. In the acute postoperative period, extending over 3 to 4 days, the rats with lateral lesions transported their forelimb and grasped the food, but then ignored the food and did not withdraw their limb to their mouth. After recovery of the withdrawal movement, the rats displayed chronic qualitative impairments in the rotatory movements of aiming, pronating, and supinating the forepaw. Medial quinolinic lesions improved success relative to control rats and did not change qualitative aspects of limb movement. The acute dissociation between transport and withdrawal, the chronic qualitative changes in movement elements, and the differential effect of medial and lateral injury on success, support a complex contribution of the caudate-putamen to skilled reaching that includes sensorimotor neglect, and quantitative and qualitative motoric changes.     

Central H1 and H2 receptor participation in the control of water and salt intake in rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the participation of brain H1 and H2 histaminergic receptors on water and salt intake induced by water deprivation (24 h), furosemide-induced sodium depletion and central angiotensinergic pharmacological stimulation in rats. Third ventricle injections of the H1 and H2 receptor antagonists, mepyramine (50, 100, 200 and 400 nmol) and cimetidine (100, 200 and 400 nmol), were unable to modify water intake induced by water deprivation and sodium depletion. Salt intake elicited by water deprivation and sodium depletion was reduced by the central administration of mepyramine, while intracerebroventricular administration of cimetidine had no effect. Water and salt intake evoked by central angiotensinergic stimulation (10 ng) was diminished by third ventricle injections of both mepyramine and cimetidine. Inhibition of the ingestive behaviors observed here is not a result of any illness-like effect produced by the intracerebroventricular injections of the histaminergic antagonists used, as demonstrated by an avoidance test. It was also shown that third ventricle injections of these compounds were unable to modify the hedonic behavior that leads rats to drink a tasty saccharin solution. We conclude that central histaminergic receptors participate in the control of salt intake induced by distinct physiological and pharmacological stimuli.     

Involvement of central H1 and H2 receptors in water intake induced by hyperosmolarity, hypovolemia and central cholinergic stimulation

In the present study we investigated the participation of central H1 and H2 histaminergic receptors in water intake induced by hyperosmolarity (evoked by intragastric salt load), by hypovolemia (promoted by the subcutaneous administration of polyethyleneglycol) and by the pharmacological stimulation of central cholinergic pathways by the muscarinic agonist carbachol in male Wistar rats. The data presented here show that the pharmacological blockade of central H1 histaminergic receptors by third ventricle injections of mepyramine significantly decreased water intake induced by hyperosmolarity, hypovolemia and by the intracerebroventricular injections of carbachol. On the other hand, the pharmacological blockade of central H2 histaminergic receptors by third ventricle injections of cimetidine significantly reduced water intake in hypovolemic and hyperosmotic animals, but failed to alter water intake induced by central cholinergic stimulation by carbachol. We conclude that H1 and H2 brain histaminergic receptors are involved in inducing thirst during hyperosmolarity and hypovolemia and that H1 histaminergic receptors located post-synaptically in relation to cholinergic pathways seem to be important in triggering drinking following central pharmacological cholinergic stimulation.     

New insights into the morphogenesis of the gubernaculum testis and the inguinal canal

There is no consensus about the role of the gubernaculum testis (GT). Nineteen human embryos (Carnegie stages 15–23), 36 fetuses (9 weeks to term), and eight neonates were examined. All the embryos and 25 fetuses (from weeks 9–16) were processed for paraffin wax histology and serially sectioned at 10 µm thickness. The remaining 11 fetuses and the eight neonates were fresh specimens that were dissected under a surgical microscope. The GT appeared during the embryonic period (stages 17–23) with a horseshoe‐shaped mesenchyme condensation of the superior concavity, which was observed in four different topographical regions sequentially through development. The GT was not attached at either of its ends in any of the specimens, not to the gonad or in the scrotal sac. The inguinal canal differentiates around the inguinal portion of the GT during the late embryonic period. After stage 21, the GT appears enveloped by an evagination of the peritoneal cavity. It has few striate muscular fibers and vessels. Although the GT does not appear to have the role traditionally attributed to it, it is still an essential structure and indirectly facilitates the descent of the testes. It contributes to the formation of the inguinal canal and then forges the pathway that the testes will subsequently take through the inguinal canal as they migrate from the abdominal cavity into the scrotal sac. Clin. Anat. 30:599–607, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.