Leucocyte populations in semen and male accessory gland function: relationship with antisperm antibodies and seminal quality

Semen samples from 279 infertility patients attending an Immunological Centre were analysed to evaluate the relationship between the populations of leucocytes, seminal quality, antisperm antibodies, and seminal vesicle function. The most frequent finding between leucocytospermic samples was asthenozoospermia (57%), whereas in non-leucocytospermic samples normozoospermia was the most frequent finding (47%). In the samples with asthenozoospermia, granulocytes predominated, whereas in those with oligozoospermia and azoospermia a reduction in the number of macrophages and lymphocytes was observed, suggesting an obstructive process at the level of epididymis and/or vas deferens where these leucocytes are mostly produced. In the case of hypofunction of the seminal vesicles there was a predominance in granulocytes. The increased levels of each type of leucocytes affected seminal quality only when seminal vesicles were affected. Only the elevated granulocytes count was related to a decrease in sperm motility. In those samples with leucocytospermia, positive antisperm antibodies (ASA) were associated with low sperm motility, low sperm normal morphology, and low value of seminal corrected fructose, whereas, in the absence of leucocytospermia, ASA, were more related to low sperm counts. These data suggest that granulocytes were more related to seminal vesicles dysfunction and sperm motility changes, and that ASA may be observed in the presence or absence of leucocytospermia.     

Pseudotumor associated with polytetrafluoroethylene sleeves

We report the case of a patient who was operated on in February 2001. We performed a wedge resection of the upper right lobe. The pathologic examination demonstrated a lung adenocarcinoma (pT2N0M0, R0). We used staple line reinforcement material (ePTFE) during the operation because the patient had an important emphysema. We re-operated in January 2005 because during follow-up we observed a suspicious image that suggested a tumoral relapse. Histopathological study showed extrinsic material compatible with the one used in the original resection.     

Effects of a toxin from the mucus of the caribbean sea anemone (Bunodosoma granulifera) on the ionic currents of single ventricular mammalian cardiomyocytes

The effects were studied of a toxin (Bainh) isolated from the secretion of the Caribbean sea anemone Bunodosoma granulifera on electrical and mechanical activities of rat ventricular muscle. The effects on the ionic currents of single rat and dog ventricular cardiomyocytes were studied using the whole-cell recording patch-clamp technique. In the concentration range from 1 to 10 mg/ml, Bainh increased the force of contraction and induced an increase in action potential duration of ventricular multicellular preparations. In single cardiomyocytes, at concentrations up to 10 mg/ml Bainh showed no significant effects on the sodium current. However, at 0.5–1 mg/ml it increased the L-type Ca current (I_CaL) by 25–50%. This increase in I_CaL was not voltage dependent and was reversible after washout. The transient outward current was not significantly affected by Bainh (1–10 mg/ml). In this concentration range, Bainh markedly (≈75%) increased the inward-going rectifier current, I_K1. This effect that was not voltage dependent and was fully reversible upon returning to control solution. It is suggested that these effects on ionic currents could explain the positive inotropic action of Bainh on cardiac multicellular preparations.     

Guidelines for Community-Acquired Pneumonia Within Disease Management Programs

Several national and international organizations have developed and published guidelines for the treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Guidelines from Europe, the US, Canada and Latin America classify patients in different groups based on the severity of pneumonia, site of care and presence of risk factors for resistant organisms. The initial antibacterial therapy is designed to cover only the likely organisms able to infect a particular group of patients. An evaluation of current guidelines indicates that there are significant similarities in regard to classification of patients and initial antibacterial therapy. One objective of this review is to present the clinician with a practical approach to antibacterial selection based on current published guidelines for CAP.Although most of the care recommended in guidelines is evidence-based and associated with better clinical outcomes and/or decreased healthcare cost, there is still a significant gap between recommended care and actual care of patients with CAP. Dissemination of guidelines at the local level has proved to have a minimal effect in changing local practices. To bring the local care of patients with CAP closer to the care recommended in guidelines, it is necessary to have an appropriate plan for guideline implementation. This review provides the clinician and other healthcare decision-makers with a methodology for implementation of national guidelines at the local hospital level.     

Calorimetric study of blends of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) fractions

Preparative temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) on commercial linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) samples has been performed. The resulting fractions exhibited a bimodal and a unimodal distribution, respectively. Two LLDPE fractions of low (5 CH₃/1000 C) and high (21 CH₃/1000 C) short-chain branching content were solution-mixed with the LDPE central fraction (16 CH₃/1000 C). Indirect evidence based on differential scanning calorimetry results suggest that the fractions with similar branch contents are more miscible than those with dissimilar ones.     

Suppressor response in lepromatous leprosy patients: role of Leu 2a cells.

The contribution of non-specific suppressor mechanisms to the overall immunoregulatory defect observed in lepromatous leprosy was evaluated. Con A-induced suppression was assayed using the standard two-stage test in 27 lepromatous leprosy patients, 19 of them during the quiescent stage (LL) and eight during erythema nodosum lepromatosum (ENL). Lymphocytes from normal individuals react in this assay, yielding higher suppression as the numbers of Con A-induced suppressor cells (Leu 2a+ cells) increase. In contrast, two patterns of response were observed in both LL and ENL patients: those giving lower suppression as the number of suppressor cells increased (LL-A and ENL-A) and those responding with the normal pattern (LL-B and ENL-B). The abnormal dose-response profile was not related to the disease stage, as both ENL and LL patients were included in groups with normal or atypical response. Reaction of the potential suppressor cells with anti-Leu 2a antibody abolished suppression in LL-B and normals, whereas Con A-induced suppression was unchanged or higher in ENL-A, ENL-B and LL-A, indicating that in these patients Leu 2a+ cells interfered with the generation of Con A-induced suppression. The contribution of spontaneous suppression was examined and it was shown that suppressor activity in the absence of Con A stimulus was higher in ENL (both ENL-A and ENL-B) and LL-A. Thus, it appears that the occurrence of high spontaneous suppressor activity, probably related to in vivo activation, is associated with a relative inability to generate de novo suppression after Con A stimulation in these patients.     

I Get by with a Little Help from my Family and Friends: Adolescents' Support for Diabetes Care

Evaluated and compared the support provided by family membersand friends for adolescents' diabetes care. Family and friendsupport also were examined in relation to other measures ofsocial support, to demographic variables (age, gender, durationof diabetes) and to adherence. Using a structured interview,74 adolescents with diabetes described the ways that familymembers and friends provided support for diabetes management(insulin shots, blood glucose monitoring, eating proper meals,exercise), and for helping them to "feel good about their diabetes."Families provided more support than friends for three managementtasks (insulin injections, blood glucose monitoring, meals);this support was largely instrumental. In contrast, friendsprovided more emotional support for diabetes than families.Greater family support was related to younger age, shorter diseaseduration, and better treatment adherence. Implications of thefindings include encouraging parents to remain involved in adolescents'treatment management, and involving peers as supportive companionsfor meals and exercise.