An evaluation of the hypo-osmotic sperm swelling test as a predictor of fertilizing capacity in vitro

The ability of sperm to swell in hypo-osmotic conditions was examined in 211 semen samples from the partners of patients about to undergo oocyte retrieval for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The test was performed using aliquots of semen, the remainder of which was then prepared for IVF. No significant difference was found, in either the percentage of swollen sperm or the type of swelling response, between samples that achieved fertilization in vitro and those that did not, or between any of the diagnostic categories of infertility (tubal damage, unexplained infertility, oligospermia). In samples which achieved fertilization in vitro there were correlations between sperm swelling and sperm motility (r = -0.51) and abnormal morphology (r = 0.33), but no such correlations were demonstrated in samples that failed to achieve fertilization. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the percentage of swollen sperm in semen (mean motility 64%), in samples immediately after preparation for IVF (mean motility 96%) or in capacitated sperm 24 h after preparation (mean motility 91%). These results demonstrate that the hypo-osmotic sperm swelling test does not assist in the prediction of the fertilizing capacity of human sperm in vitro.     

Ultrasound Biomicroscopic Dark Room Provocative Test

Purpose : To compare the clinical application value of Ultrasound biomicrsocpic dark room provocative test with the traditional dark room test in screening primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG).Methods: 22 eyes with PACG in prodromal stage and 30 eyes with deep anterior chamber and wide angle of 15 normal persons were observed in this trail. All 52 eyes were performed traditional dark room provocative test and ultrasound biomicorosopic darkroom test respectively. With different positive diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity of the two methods were compared using chi-squared analysis.Results : After staying in the dark room for 2 hours, In case group, IOP in 10 of 22 eyes rose more than 1. 07kPa(1kPa = 7.5mmHg), in 12 eyes less than 1.07kPa or had no changes; appositional angle closure were found by Goldmann gonioscopy in 8 eyes : 3 eyes in two quadrants, 5 eyes in more than two quadrants; the appositional angle closure was found by UBM in 15 eyes; 3 eyes in one quadrants, 5 eyes in two quadrants, 7 eyes     

A critical commentary and updating of the guinea pig maximization test

The guinea pig maximization test (GPMT) of Magnusson and Kligman was published in 1969. Since then, a vast body of practical experience with the test has been accumulated. New information requires that certain aspects of the procedure be reevaluated, especially with regard to the interpretation of challenge results. In particular, awareness of the phenomenon of hyperirritable skin (the 'angry back' phenomenon) suggests that presently used controls are not always adequate and may overstate allergenicity owing to false-positive reactions. The control group should be exposed to a chemical insult at induction which provokes an inflammatory reaction comparable to the test substance. We present strategies to distinguish irritant from allergic responses. Allergic reactions should persist on rechallenge weeks later, while nonspecific irritant reactions generally fade and are irreproducible in particular animals. Finally, when a chemical is identified as a contact sensitizer of risk is necessary to estimate the relevance of the test result to usage in the real world.     

Assessment of sexual abuse and trauma: Clinical measures

Examined are several measures currently used in the assessment of child abuse, sexual abuse, and trauma. These measures include structured clinical interviews, self report measures, screening inventory, symptom checklist, and some measures that include decision making properties. Issues and implications for clinical practice are explored.     

Treatment of diabetic autonomic neuropathy with an aldose reductase inhibitor

To evaluate the effects of the aldose reductase inhibitor Ponalrestat (Statil) on diabetic autonomic neuropathy, a double-blind placebo controlled trial was carried out on a group of 34 diabetic patients with documented cardiac autonomic neuropathy. After a 4-week, placebo run-in period, patients were randomised for treatment with 600 mg Statil or placebo for another 24 weeks. Moreover, the reliability of the autonomic nerve function tests was investigated by comparing the results at onset and at week 4. Fifteen patients treated with Statil and 12 with placebo completed the study. Neither symptom scores nor cardiovascular reflexes, pupil reflexes and skin vasomotor reflexes improved after Statil therapy, which led us to conclude that Statil is not effective in the treatment of diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Reliability coefficients for cardiovascular reflexes and pupil reflex showed high values, ranging from 60% to 80%. Therefore these methods are recommended in future therapy trials.     

Studies on the optimal conditions for inactivation of Bordetella pertussis organisms with glutaraldehyde for preparation of a safe and potent pertussis vaccine

The optimal conditions for inactivation of Bordetella pertussis organisms with glutaraldehyde for the production of a safe and potent whole cell pertussis vaccine were investigated. Two bacterial harvests from B. pertussis strain 10536 were treated with glutaraldehyde, each with 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1% concentrations of glutaraldehyde for 10, 60 and 120 min. The nine types of glutaraldehyde-inactivated pertussis vaccine (GIPV) and conventional heat-inactivated pertussis vaccine (HIPV) preparations made from two bacterial harvests were comparatively evaluated for the mouse weight gain test (MWGT), potency, and the histamine-sensitization (HS) and leucocytosis-promoting-factor (LPF) tests. The minimum period for killing the B. pertussis organisms with glutaraldehyde was>10 min for 0.025%, 10 min for 0.05% and 5 min for 0.1% concentration. The average loss in opacity varied from 5 to 10% for GIPV preparations and was 14% for HIPV preparations. The GIPV preparations except those inactivated with 0.025% glutaraldehyde for 10 min (GIPV-A) were much less toxic than the HIPV preparations in the MWGT. The GIPV-A preparations did not pass the MWGT. The GIPV preparations were also much less toxic in HS and LPF tests than the HIPV preparation. The potency of GIPV preparations inactivated with 0.05% glutaraldehyde for 10 min (GIPV-D) was similar to that of HIPV preparations. The prolonged treatments with glutaraldehyde reduced the potency. The GIPV-D preparation with good potency and less toxicity was found to be inactivated with glutaraldehyde under optimal conditions. All the preparations were innocuous in the abnormal toxicity test.     

Optimal Selection of Sib Pairs from Random Samples for Linkage Analysis of a QTL Using the EDAC Test

Percentages of extremely concordant and extremely discordant sib pairs are calculated that maximize the power to detect a quantitative trait locus (QTL) under a variety of circumstances using the EDAC test. We assume a large fixed number of randomly sampled sib pairs, such as one would hope to find in the large twin registries, and limited resources to genotype a certain number of selected sib pairs. Our aim is to investigate whether optimal selection can be achieved when prior knowledge concerning the QTL gene action, QTL allele frequency, QTL effect size, and background (residual) sib correlation is limited or absent. To this end we calculate the best selection percentages for a large number of models, which differ in QTL gene action allele frequency, background correlation, and QTL effect size. By averaging these percentages over gene action, over allele frequency, over gene action, and over allele frequencies, we arrive at general recommendations concerning selection percentages. The soundness of these recommendations is subsequently in a number of test cases.     

电位滴定法测定胰激肽释放酶活力测试条件探讨

本文用ＦＩＰ推荐的方法，以具有国际单位的参照品为标样，滴定液为０．０１ｍｏｌ／ＬＮａＯＨ标准溶液，考查了以ＢＡＥＥ为底物的电位滴定法测定胰激肽释放酶活力的实验条件，通过正交试验得出直观和方差分析的结果，依据酶活力单位高、ＳＤ和ＲＳＤ％较小的原则，求出酶活力测定的最适条件是：酶反应温度为２５℃；缓冲液为０．００１５ｍｏｌ／ＬＮａ２Ｂ４Ｏ７－０．２５ｍｏｌ／ＬＮａＣＬ－２×１０（－４）ｍｏｌ／ＬＥＤＴＡ，ｐＨ为８．００；反应液中酶浓度为０．４８ＩＵ／ｍｌ；底物浓度为５×１０（－３）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ；胰蛋白酶抑制剂浓度为１２５μｇ／ｍｌ。胰激肽释放酶活力测定的实验数据的相对标准偏差小于５％。     

胎盘组织液氨基酸的含量测定及层析鉴别

本文采用层析法进行鉴定,用氨基酸分析仪测氨基酸的含量,为胎盘组织液的质量标准提供可靠依据。本法准确率为99%。     

黄曲霉毒素B_1及其代谢物与原发性肝癌关系的流行病学调查

本文应用酶联免疫测定法对广西壮族自治区原发性肝癌高发的扶绥县和低发的阳朔县,进行了黄曲霉毒素B_1及代谢物黄曲霉毒素M_1和原发性肝癌关系的流行病调查。结果发现,原发性肝癌的死亡率与黄曲霉毒素B_1摄入量,晨尿黄曲霉毒素M_1排出量呈明显的正相关。展尿黄曲霉毒素M_1排出量可作为人群接触黄曲霉毒素B_1水平的指标。原发性肝癌死亡率与玉米、花生和花生油的摄入量有关。