Investigation of, the cause of low sperm motility in asthenozoospermic patients by multiple quantitative tests

Multiple tests were done on the ejaculates of 10 asthenozoospermic patients and nine healthy normozoospermic volunteers in an attempt to identify individually the cause of low sperm motility in these patients. Possible defects in the sperm plasma membrane and the motility apparatus of sperm, and in epididymal function affecting the development of motility, were investigated. The presence of seminal sperm antibodies or any motility-inhibiting factors in the seminal plasma that could be removed by washing were also tested. Each test was positive in only one or two patients but axonemal dysfunction was identified in nine patients. Removal of seminal plasma from asthenozoospermic samples did not improve sperm motility to any greater extent than with donor ejaculates, and the motile sperm of these patients exhibited characteristics mostly similar to those of donors under various incubation conditions. Selection procedures are, therefore, required to obtain samples of good quality sperm from such asthenozoospermic ejaculates.     

Relationship between the gastric myoelectric and mechanical activity in the genesis of ulcers in indomethacin-insulin-treated rats

We have proposed that gastric contractile activity mechanically induces ulcers in the nonsteroid antiinflammatory drug (NSAID)-treated rat. This study examines first the relationship between number (dose) of peristaltic contractions applied to the mucosa and the ulcer score. Second, it examines the relative roles of: altered gastric myoelectrical activity (MEA) resulting from indomethacin (Indo) pretreatment, insulin-induced gastric peristalsis, and a combination of the two in the generation of mucosal lesions. Third, it examines the effect of exogenous prostaglandin on the Indo-altered MEA and relates it to ulcerogenesis. Indo pretreatment increased gastric tone and MEA. In such animals, the dose of peristaltic contractions applied to the gastric wall was related to the ulcer score in a dose-dependent manner. Exogenous prostaglandin (PG) reversed the MEA effect of Indo and reduced ulceration. It is postulated that an altered smooth muscle state secondary to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis (PG-S) renders the mucosa vulnerable to injury by peristaltic action.This study was supported by the Fast Foundation.     

阴道毛滴虫代谢产物体外对精子活力的影响

目的 :研究阴道毛滴虫代谢产物体外对人精子活力的影响。　方法 :阴道毛滴虫体外培养 ,除去虫体 ,留取培养液 ,稀释成三个浓度 ;将 10例正常生育男性的优化精子分为等体积的 4份 ,组成以下 4组 :A组加入未培养滴虫的空白培养液 ,B ,C ,D组依次加入前述浓度梯度的培养液 (1.2× 10 9/L、6× 10 8/L、1.2× 10 8/L) ,分别于 30s、1、2、4和 6h时采用计算机辅助精子分析系统 (CASA)分析精子运动参数。　结果 :阴道毛滴虫浓度在 6× 10 8/L以上时 ,精子的活率和活力与对照组相比都显著降低 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,并呈浓度依赖性和时间依赖性。　结论 :阴道毛滴虫代谢产物体外能抑制精子活力 ,可能是造成不孕不育的原因之一。     

Regional differences in oesophageal motor function

Abstract  We tested the hypotheses that oesophageal bolus transit and motor function vary regionally, with bolus viscosity and with body position. In healthy volunteers, we measured the bolus head advance time, bolus presence time and bolus transit time in the proximal and distal oesophagus using water and viscous materials. We compared concurrent manometric responses. Bolus head advance time, bolus presence time and bolus transit time were longer in the distal oesophagus during water and viscous swallows in the upright and supine positions. The total bolus head advance time and transit time, measured across the entire oesophageal body, were shorter for water than viscous swallows. The amplitudes of peristaltic pressure waves were lower for viscous swallows, and varied as a function of region. These studies demonstrated true functional differences between the proximal and distal oesophagus using multichannel intraluminal impedance and that the viscosity of the bolus is a determinant of oesophageal function.     

Role of 4-1BB in Allograft Rejection Mediated by CD8+ T Cells

Blockade of traditional costimulatory molecules fails to inhibit rejection in many models where CD8+ T cells are sufficient to mediate rejection. This observation demonstrates that in many settings CD8+ T cells are not dependent upon CD28 or CD154 signals to mediate rejection. 4-1BB (CD137) has been shown to be an important regulatory molecule for CD8+ T cells in a variety of nontransplant models. Here we show that blocking the 4-1BB pathway significantly inhibited rejection of intestinal allografts by CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells. This effect was associated with significantly decreased expression of the genes encoding TNFalpha and secondary lymphoid chemokine (SLC) within the spleens of recipient mice. Disruption of the 4-1BB pathway also impaired the priming of alloantigen-specific CD8+ T cells and the accumulation of recipient dendritic cells within the spleen. These data directly demonstrate an important role for 4-1BB in allograft rejection; particularly rejection mediated by CD8+ T cells. Our data suggest that in addition to providing a direct costimulatory signal to T cells, the 4-1BB pathway may regulate other important steps in the immune response such as the migration of T cells and dendritic cells.     

Ghrelin does not stimulate gastrointestinal motility and gastric emptying: an experimental study of conscious dogs

Ghrelin is a peptide that was discovered in endocrine cells of the stomach. However, its action in regulating the fasted and fed motor activity of the digestive tract is not fully understood. In the present study, we examined the effects of an intravenous (i.v.) injection of canine ghrelin on the physiological fasted and fed motor activities in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum and colon of freely moving conscious dogs. An i.v. injection of canine ghrelin released growth hormone in a dose-dependent manner; however, it did not stimulate the motor activity of the digestive tract in either the fasted or the fed state. Moreover, an i.v. injection of high-dose canine ghrelin significantly reduced the motility index in the gastric body in the fasted state. Ghrelin did not accelerate gastric emptying, either. These results differ from previous reports dealing with rodents. It is significant that such results were obtained in research with dogs, which are larger animals.     

Effect of L(+)-tartrate on some biochemical and enzymatic parameters in normal and glycollate treated rats

Some biochemical and enzymatic constituents were determined in the small intestinal tract tissues of normal and sodium glycollate treated adult male rats. Alterations were observed with respect to certain lipids and carbohydrate fractions in the glycollate fed rats. DNA content was also elevated in this group. The functions of the cell membrane is likely to be affected as reflected in the levels of transport ATPases and orthophospho-hydrolases. The activities of the two marker enzymes in the intestinal brush border, namely alkaline phosphatase and leucylnaphthylamidase were reduced in the glycollate administered group. Administration of L(+)-tartrate, which is a mild laxative and has a regulatory influence on oxalate metabolism, lowered the activities of Na+, K(+)- and Ca(2+)-ATPases. There was a distinct lowering in the level of acid phosphatase in the tartrate treated rats.     

Comparative study of two computerized semen motility analyzers

Semen analysis is one of the primary tests carried out to investigate the infertile male. Subjective evaluation of semen is often prone to observer bias and error. To eliminate this, a number of computerized semen analyzers have recently been introduced into the market and we have evaluated two of the more popular models, the Cell Soft Semen Analyzer and the Hamilton Thorn Motility Analyzer (HTM 2000). The Cell Soft identifies sperm on the basis of user defined values for cell size and luminosity whereas the Hamilton Thorn identifies sperm by motility, and then applies the computer-calculated average size and luminosity of all moving objects to non moving sperm cells. Semen samples from 25 normal donors and 25 subfertile patients were analyzed using these two models of computerized semen analyzers, and also by an experienced technician using both the Makler chamber and the hemocytometer. The results obtained from the two automated analyzers were compared with those obtained by subjective evaluation. Variation in sperm count and motility were analyzed according to the sperm density. Four groups, less than 30 million/ml with debris, less than 30 million/ml, 30-50 million/ml, and greater than 50 million/ml were studied. The majority of patients fit into the first two groups. We observed that the HTM 2000 is superior to the Cell Soft in evaluating sperm count within the patient population group. For our donor population with an average sperm count of greater than 85 million/ml both systems provide extremely accurate counts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of meal volume on gastric emptying

Abstract While the volume of a liquid meal has been identified as the principal accelerator of gastric emptying of liquids, the relationship between meal volume and gastric emptying of solids has been controversial. With solid foods, the need to reduce solid foods into small particles (trituration) before passage might obscure the effect of meal volume on solid propulsion. To distinguish trituration from driving force as the rate-limiting factor for emptying, 75 (1.6 mm) nylon spheres were fed along with different amounts of steak meals (150, 300 and 600 g), or alternatively, 50, 100 or 200 (1.6 mm) nylon spheres were fed to six dogs with 300 g steak meals. To examine the effect of meal volume on gastric emptying, we studied the effect of different meal volumes on the speed of gastric emptying of liquids (150, 300, 600 and 1200 ml of phosphate buffer) and solids (150, 300 and 600 g of cooked beef steak) in five dogs with duodenal fistulas. Intestinal inhibition was eliminated by diverting all chyme through the fistulas. In the absence of intestinal feedback, we found that gastric emptying of steak and spheres were different in that steak emptying was independent of meal volume (g min^-1 was constant across 150–600 g) while sphere emptying was affected by the number of spheres in the stomach and that liquid emptying was dependent on the meal volume (ml min^-1 increased across 150–1200 ml). Thus, meal volume accelerated gastric emptying provided the process is not rate-limited by trituration.     

Localization of small intestinal bleeding

The preoperative identification of a bleeding site is not always possible, particularly when bleeding originates in the small intestine. Small vascular abnormalities, such as the telangiectatic lesion described in this report, comprise about 40–60% of such cases. Preoperative location using arteriography, radionuclide bleeding scan, and enteroclysis were nondiagnostic. The lesion was demonstrated by intraoperative endoscopy. A segment of small intestine was resected, and the patient made an uneventful recovery.