Semen Quality of Infertile Couples — Comparison between Smokers and Non-Smokers

Comparison of semen quality was undertaken between 60 smoking and 50 non-smoking men attending infertility investigation. As far as possible, other factors which might influence semen quality were eliminated. The men were allocated into groups according to sperm density and number of cigarettes smoked per day. The percentage of motile sperm in heavy smokers with oligozoospermia and the total sperm count were lower, the difference being significant at the 1% and 5% levels, respectively. No correlation was found in percentage of sperm with morphologically abnormal heads, midpieces or tails. Heavy smoking may have a detrimental effect on the motility of sperm. Further studies are needed to explain the mechanisms by which smoking affects spermatogenesis.     

An outbreak of pneumonia associated with S. pneumoniae at a military training facility in Finland in 2006

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a well‐known cause of community‐acquired bacterial pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to assess the cause and extent of the outbreak of pneumonia which occurred among military recruits following a 1‐week hard encampment in Finland. We also assessed the carriage rate and molecular characteristics of the S. pneumoniae isolates. All pneumococcal isolates were studied for antibiotic susceptibility, serotyped, genotyped by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and the presence of pneumococcal rlrA pilus islet was detected. The genotype results defined by MLST corresponded with the serotype results. S. pneumoniae serotype 7F, ST2331, seemed to be associated with an outbreak of pneumonia and nasopharyngeal carriage among 43 military recruits. Of the 43 military recruits, five (12%) were hospitalized with pneumonia and two (40%) of them were positive for S. pneumoniae serotype 7F, ST2331 by blood culture. Eighteen (42%) of the 43 men were found to be positive for S. pneumoniae by nasopharyngeal culture, and nine (50%) of them carried pneumococcal serotype 7F, ST2331. The outbreak strain covered 55% of all the pneumococcal findings. Outbreaks of invasive pneumococcal disease seem to occur in a crowded environment such as a military training facility even among previously healthy young men.     

Immunoelectron microscopic findings in oral mucosa of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and linear IgA disease

Abstract – Two patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and one with linear IgA disease were examined. Two of the patients had oral lesions and all three showed IgA deposits detected by direct immunofluorescence in apparently normal buccal mucosa. To localize the target structures for IgA deposition, biopsy specimens were taken from normal appearing buccal mucosa for immunoelectron microscopy. The patients with dermatitis herpetiformis had distinct IgA deposits in the upper connective tissue. These were often associated with elastic fibers and occasionally also with capillary walls. In contrast, the patient with linear IgA disease had IgA deposition at the subbasal lamina. Though the clinical expressions may be similar the present immunoelectron microscopic fmdings in oral mucosa clearly differentiate dermatitis herpetiformis from linear IgA disease.     

Skewed secondary sex ratio in the offspring of carriers of the 214G > A mutation of the RS1 gene

Carriers of X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (RS) were previously suggested to give birth to an excess of boys. We determined the carrier status for the 214G > A mutation of the RS1 gene in 202 females belonging to a large RS founder pedigree. The secondary sex ratio (SSR) in the offspring of 149 carriers was 129.8 ( z = 2.25), which differed significantly from that of the Finnish population (SSR 106) but not from that of 53 non-carrier females belonging to the same pedigree (SSR 116.7; z = 0.51). Since possible causes for the skewed SSR include factors affecting fertilisation, implantation and embryonic death, we searched for expression of RS1 in various placental and uterine cells and found that, in addition to the retina, RS1 is expressed in the uterus. We hypothesize that the RS1 protein has a role in implantation or embryonic survival.     

Renovascular Hypertension in a Child with Rett's Syndrome

ABSTRACT. A girl with Rett's syndrome and renovascular hypertension because of a stenosis in the right renal artery is described. The girl was operated on twice because of the stenosis. Her blood pressure normalized after the second operation in which the artery was reconstructed. High blood pressure causes neurological symptoms which may be difficult to distinguish from the basic disease. The importance of the measurement of blood pressure in every child with neurological symptoms is emphazised. The possibility of an association between renovascular hypertension and Rett's syndrome should be studied in large series.     

Enhanced IgE response to Candida albicans in postoperative invasive candidiasis

Background Invasive candidiasis is a life-threatening complication problem in postoperative and immunocompromized patients, e.g. those treated by intensive care. Candida is frequently cultured from the mucous membranes of hospital patients and fungal cultures offer httle diagnostic help. Other diagnostic methods, such as blood cultures, serology and diagnostic imaging techniques produce results too late and, if positive, low sensitivity. Objective To study the value of Candida-specific antibodies, especially those of IgE class, in diagnosing invasive Candida infection. Methods The immunoglobulins IgE, IgG and IgM responses to antigens of Candida albicans in the sera of 14 patients with culture, biopsy and/or autopsy proven postoperative invasive candidiasis and of 11 colonized and 19 non-colonized operated patients were studied by mannan radioallergosorbent test (RAST), mannan enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting. Results Detection of IgE antibodies to C. albicans polysaccharide (mannan) and protein antigens proved specific and sensitive in diagnostics of invasive candidiasis after major abdominal surgery. IgE rose early in the course of the infection and the method made a clear distinction between invasive infection and mucous colonization. Immunoblotting for protein antibodies was most sensitive while nitrocellulose-RAST for mannan antibodies was most specific. The combined use of immunoblotting and RAST increased the sensitivity and the specificity. Determinations of anti-Candida IgG and IgM antibodies had low sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion Critically ill patients with invasive candidiasis develop IgE antibodies to Candida antigens probably because of disturbed TH₁/TH₂ responses. Determination of specific IgE antibodies can be used as a diagnostic aid in the early stage of invasive Candida infection.     

Benign mucous membrane pemphigoid with linear IgA deposits in oral mucosa

Two patients with severe oral ulcerations and concomitant lesions in the nose, eyes and genitals were examined. The immunofluorescence (IFL) studies of buccal and genital mucosa revealed that the only deposited immunoglobulin was IgA. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed the linear pattern of IgA deposition and localized IgA in lamina lucida in both patients. Dapsone 50 mg daily was effective in controlling the disease activity partially in the first and completely in the second patient. The results suggest that our patients had benign mucous membrane pemphigoid (BMMP) with linear IgA deposition but do not exclude a mucosal form of a newly recognized bullous skin disease termed linear IgA disease.