Cell mediated and humoral immunity in chronic suppurative otitis media

The present study was carried out on 75 patients suffering from chronic otitis media and 25 healthy age and sex matched controls. The T. rosette percentage were depressed in malnouirished immunity (CMI), but once malnutrition was treated the CMI was improved. Anergy to challenge does of 2 : 4 DNCB was not observed in any groups. Weak response was observed in 4% of controls, 18.7% of chronic otitis media patients and 5.7% of post treatment cases. Serum IgG, IgA and IgM levels were elevated in chronic otitis media patients from controls but once the infections were eliminated by treatment their values became insignificant (p 0.05) from controls. Presence of Malnutrition significantly contributed to suppression of CMI response but no suppression of humoral immunity was observed.     

Supervised atenolol therapy in the management of hemodialysis hypertension

BACKGROUND: Uncontrolled hypertension continues to be a common problem, particularly in noncompliant hemodialysis patients. Atenolol, a water soluble beta-blocker has a prolonged half-life in renal failure and may serve as a useful antihypertensive agent in these patients. METHODS: Hypertension was diagnosed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for 44 hours during an interdialytic interval in eight chronic hemodialysis patients receiving no antihypertensive therapy. An average daytime blood pressure greater than 140/90 mm Hg or an average nighttime blood pressure greater than 120/80 mm Hg was used to define uncontrolled hypertension. Patients were then administered atenolol (25 mg) following hemodialysis three times a week. The efficacy of therapy was judged by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring three weeks after instituting atenolol therapy. Blood pressure loads above the threshold blood pressures during the day or night were also calculated and compared before and after three weeks of atenolol therapy. RESULTS: The mean 44-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) fell from 144 +/- 14/80 +/- 7 mm Hg to 127 +/- 13/69 +/- 10 mm Hg (P < 0.001). The heart rate fell from 85 +/- 11 to 70 +/- 11 beats per minute. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure load was reduced from 71 +/- 25% and 30 +/- 24% to 35 +/- 26% and 11 +/- 17%, respectively (P < 0.001). There was a persistent antihypertensive effect over 44 hours. The blood pressure reduction was achieved without any increase in intradialytic symptomatic or asymptomatic hypotensive episodes, reduction in delivered dialysis, or statistically significant changes in serum potassium or glucose. CONCLUSIONS: A supervised administration of atenolol following hemodialysis effectively and safely controls hypertension in chronic hemodialysis patients. This therapy can be particularly valuable for noncompliant hemodialysis patients.     

The lateral pectoral flap

The lateral pectoral flap is a new pedicled flap based on the superficial thoracic artery which arises from the subscapular artery and courses along the lateral border of pectoralis major. The flap consists of skin, subcutaneous tissue and the underlying pectoral epimysium. It has been used successfully to resurface contralateral soft tissue defects over the fingers, thumb and dorsum of the hand in eight cases. The advantages of this flap are that it provides reliable soft tissue cover to the hand, which can be kept in an elevated position resting comfortably on the contralateral pectoral region with the forearm and arm aligned conveniently in the cross-chest position. It does not interfere with clothing and dressing the lower part of the body in contrast to the groin, hypogastric or lower abdominal flaps, and it allows early ambulation. Primary closure of the donor site in the majority of cases is an added benefit.     

Serum and tissue lycopene and biomarkers of oxidation in prostate cancer patients: a case-control study.

Dietary intake of tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene, an antioxidant carotenoid, has been shown in recent studies to reduce the risk of cancer. This study was conducted to investigate the serum and prostate tissue lycopene and other major carotenoid concentrations in cancer patients and their controls. Serum lipid and protein oxidation was also measured. Twelve prostate cancer patients and 12 age-matched subjects were used in the study. Significantly lower serum and tissue lycopene levels (44%, p = 0.04; 78%, p = 0.050, respectively) were observed in the cancer patients than in their controls. Serum and tissue beta-carotene and other major carotenoids did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.395 and p = 0.280, respectively). Although there was no difference (p = 0.760) in serum lipid peroxidation between cancer patients and their controls (7.09 +/- 0.74 and 6.81 +/- 0.56 mumol/l, respectively), serum protein thiol levels were significantly lower among the cancer patients (p = 0.026). This study demonstrates that the status of lycopene but not other carotenoids in prostate cancer patients is different from controls. The role of dietary lycopene in preventing oxidative damage of biomolecules and thereby reducing the risk of prostate cancer needs to be evaluated in future studies.     

Sperm Quality Improvement in Cryopreserved Human Semen

Purpose

We determined if separation of spermatozoa (washed) on a discontinuous colloidal suspension of silica (Percoll^†) density gradient before cryopreservation improves post-thaw motility compared to an unprocessed (raw) cryopreserved sample.

Materials and Methods

Ten normal healthy volunteers recruited into the andrology laboratory donor program were studied. Raw and washed cryopreserved spermatozoa were compared for loss of motility with time, motion characteristics, viability and membrane integrity after incubation for 1, 6 and 24 hours. Within group comparisons were made to baseline measurements (0 hours before incubation).

Results

Raw and washed cryopreserved spermatozoa showed statistically significant decreases in motility and other motion characteristics after thawing. There were significant decreases in motility and other motion characteristics after incubation periods of 1, 6 and 24 hours, and significant decreases in viability and membrane integrity at 6 and 24 hours in the unprocessed spermatozoa. Although, motility and motion characteristics of washed samples decreased significantly with longer incubation periods, loss of motility with time (longevity) was greater in raw samples. Washed samples retained greater sperm motility for up to 24 hours (p less than 0.03).

Conclusions

Specimens prepared by Percoll separation techniques before freezing offer the possibility of selecting spermatozoa that retain motility for up to 24 hours. This finding can be of benefit for couples undergoing intrauterine insemination to achieve pregnancy.