Relationship of sperm superoxide dismutase-like activity with other sperm-specific enzymes and experimentally induced lipid peroxidation in infertile men

Summary. Superoxide dismutase-like activity (SOD-like), isoenzyme lactate dehydrogenase-C4 (LDH-C4) and NADH-diaphorase activities in spermatozoa have been investigated from 58 normozoospermic and 27 oligozoospermic men. Significantly higher SOD-like, LDH-C4 and diaphorase activities ( P <0.01, P <0.005 and P <0.0001, respectively) were detected in spermatozoa from oligozoospermic men, compared to the activities found in normozoospermic samples. SOD-like activity (mean±SE) in oligozoospermic samples amounted to 8.3±1.6 U 10⁻⁸ spermatozoa, while in spermatozoa in normozoospermic men with a sperm concentration above 20 million of spermatozoa per ml amounted to 4.2±0.5 U 10⁻⁸. There was a close correlation between the SOD-like activity and biochemical indicators of the presence of residual cytoplasm i.e. isoenzyme LDH-C4 and NADH-diaphorase (r = 0.53 and r = 0.66 in normozoospermic and r = 0.63 and r = 0.54 in oligozoospermic men, respectively). A positive relationship between SOD-like activity and experimentally-induced lipid peroxidation was detected in 54 infertile men (r = 0.30; P <0.05). These findings suggest that a higher level of superoxide dismutase-like activity may reflect a defect in the development or maturation of spermatozoa and, thereby, a decreased fertility potential. Hence, determination of SOD-like activity may give information on the state of maturity of human spermatozoa, while its role in the antioxidative protection remains to be determined.     

Ketorolac and Enoxaparin Affect Arterial Thrombosis and Bleeding in the Rabbit

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may interfere with hemostasis during the perioperative period, and the combination of NSAID and enoxaparin could increase this effect. The aim of this prospective, blinded experimental study was to assess these effects using a model of arterial thrombosis and bleeding in the rabbit.

Methods: After anesthesia was induced and monitors placed, the common carotid arteries were exposed, and 60% stenosis of the right common carotid artery was produced. Twenty minutes later, a compression injury of the artery was produced that triggered a series of cyclic episodes of thrombosis and clot lysis. This was manifested as cyclic flow reductions (CFR; measured with an electromagnetic flow meter). After the first flow reduction was noted, the rabbits were immediately and randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 10 each) that received intravenous infusions: control, ketorolac (2 mg/kg), enoxaparin (0.5 mg/kg), and ketorolac plus enoxaparin (2 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively). The number of CFRs that occurred in the subsequent 20-min period was used as a measure of treatment effect. The contralateral common carotid artery was exposed, and both stenosis and injury were produced. The ability of the administered drug to prevent thrombosis was assessed as the number of CFRs that occurred during the first 20-min period after vessel injury. In addition, both before and after group assignment and drug injection, bleeding times were noted and a platelet aggregation test was performed. Laparotomy was followed by a spleen section, and the extent of the wound and the amount of splenic bleeding were measured.

Results: The treatment effect was indicated by the median number of CFRs, which was 5.5 in the control group, 1 in the ketorolac group, 2 in the enoxaparin group, and 0 in the ketorolac + enoxaparin group. The prevention effect was indicated by the median number of CFRs, which was 4 in the control group, 0 in the ketorolac group, 2 in the enoxaparin group, and 0.5 in the ketorolac + enoxaparin group. Bleeding time was significantly lengthened in the enoxaparin and in the ketorolac + enoxaparin groups. Splenic and wound bleeding was greater in the ketorolac group. Platelet aggregation was completely inhibited in the ketorolac and the ketorolac + enoxaparin groups.     

Influence of melatonin on bovine pulmonary vascular and bronchial airway smooth muscle tone

The influence of melatonin on tension of isolated bovine pulmonary vascular and bronchial smooth muscle rings were examined in these experiments. Melatonin caused a dose-dependent relaxation of precontracted (30 mM KCl) pulmonary artery and vein, although the effect is greater in arterial smooth muscle. This relaxant response was blocked by preincubating vessels with antagonists of vasoactive intestinal peptide or Substance P. In bronchial smooth muscle, melatonin caused a small contractile response. These experiments demonstrate that in response to melatonin the pulmonary vasculature relaxes, while in airway smooth muscle the reverse, constriction, occurs. It is hypothesized that nocturnal exaggeration of asthma may, in part, be due to changes in circulating levels of melatonin.     

Human balance and posture control during standing and walking

The common denominator in the assessment of human balance and posture is the inverted pendulum model. If we focus on appropriate versions of the model we can use it to identify the gravitational and acceleration perturbations and pinpoint the motor mechanisms that can defend against any perturbation.

We saw that in quiet standing an ankle strategy applies only in the A/P direction and that a separate hip load/unload strategy by the hip abd/adductors is the totally dominant defence in the M/L direction when standing with feet side by side. In other standing positions (tandem, or intermediate) the two mechanisms still work separately, but their roles reverse. In the tandem position M/L balance is an ankle mechanism (invertors/evertors) while in the A/P direction a hip load/unloading mechanism dominates.

During initiation and termination of gait these two separate mechanisms control the trajectory of the COP to ensure the desired acceleration and deceleration of the COM. During initiation the initial acceleration of the COM forward towards the stance limb is achieved by a posterior and lateral movement of the COP towards the swing limb. After this release phase there is a sudden loading of the stance limb which shifts the COP to the stance limb. The COM is now accelerated forward and laterally towards the future position of the swinging foot. Also M/L shifts of the COP were controlled by the hip abductors/adductors and all A/P shifts were under the control of the ankle plantar/dorsiflexors. During termination the trajectory of both COM and COP reverse. As the final weight-bearing on the stance foot takes place the COM is passing forward along the medial border of that foot. Hyperactivity of that foot's plantarflexors takes the COP forward and when the final foot begins to bear weight the COP moves rapidly across and suddenly stops at a position ahead of the future position of the COM. Then the plantarflexors of both feet release and allow the COP to move posteriorly and approach the COM and meet it as quiet stance is achieved. The inverted pendulum model permitted us to understand the separate roles of the two mechanisms during these critical unbalancing and rebalancing periods.

During walking the inverted pendulum model explained the dynamics of the balance of HAT in both the A/P and M/L directions. Here the model includes the couple due to the acceleration of the weight-bearing hip as well as gravitational perturbations. The exclusive control of A/P balance and posture are the hip extensors and flexors, while in the M/L direction the dominant control is with the hip abductors with very minor adductor involvement. At the ankle the inverted pendulum model sees the COM passing forward along the medial border to the weight-bearing foot. The model predicts that during single support the body is falling forward and being accelerated medially towards the future position of the swing foot. The model predicts an insignificant role of the ankle invertors/evertors in the M/L control. Rather, the future position of the swing foot is the critical variable or more specifically the lateral displacement from the COM at the start of single support. The position is actually under the control of the hip abd/adductors during the previous early swing phase.

The critical importance of the hip abductors/adductors in balance during all phases of standing and walking is now evident. This separate mechanism is important from a neural control perspective and clinically it focuses major attention on therapy and potential problems with some surgical procedures. On the other hand the minuscule role of the ankle invertors/evertors is important to note. Except for the tandem standing position these muscles have negligible involvement in balance control.     

Role of endothelin in the exercise intolerance of chronic heart failure

In conclusion, plasma levels of the endothelialderived vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 (but not those of other neurohormonal vasoconstrictor factors), measured during exercise correlated closely with objective variables of exercise capacity in patients with heart failure. These findings suggest that endothelin-1 may contribute to exercise intolerance in patients with heart failure, perhaps by limiting the ability of the peripheral vasculature to dilate during exercise.     

Reflective practice: a critique of the work of Argyris and Schön

The seminal work of Argyris and Schon on action theories, technical rationality and reflective practice is reviewed, it is argued that their work reflects important inconsistencies between their theorizing and the pedagogical interventions they implemented/recommended The implications of the results of these inconsistencies, which appear mirrored in nurse-education programmes in the United Kingdom and Australia, are discussed Tentative suggestions for the provision of a more adequate practical pedagogy are included     

Bifurcation properties of the two process model

Abstract Daan's two process model is known to be one of the most powerful models, covering various situations from free-running to sleep deprivation. In this study, bifurcation properties of the model dynamics as function of a gap, D , between the threshold processes are clarified using a circle map. As a function of D , we will show that the model has the different types of the mutual entrainment regions that are intervened by the tangent bifurcation. The variable behavior of human circadian rhythm is suggested to be systematically understood based on the bifurcation properties of the two process model.     

Efficacy and Costs of Patient-controlled Analgesia versus Regularly Administered Intramuscular Opioid Therapy

Background: Many studies have shown in the efficacy of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). However, it is not clear whether PCA has clinical or economic benefits in addition to efficient analgesia. The current study was designed to evaluate these issues by comparing PCA with regularly administered intramuscular injections of opioids after hysterectomy.

Methods: This prospective study included 126 patients who underwent abdominal hysterectomy and were randomly assigned to receive PCA or regularly timed intramuscular injections of morphine during a period of 48 h. Doses were adjusted to provide satisfactory analgesia in both treatment groups. Pain at rest and with movement, functional recovery, drug side effects, and patient satisfactory were measured using rating scales and questionnaires. The costs of PCA and intramuscular therapy were calculated based on personnel time and drug and material requirements.

Results: Comparable analgesia was observed with the two treatment methods, with no significant differences in the incidence of side effects or patient satisfaction. The medication dosage had to be adjusted significantly more frequently in the intramuscular group than in the PCA patients. The PCA did not favor a faster recuperation time compared with intramuscular therapy in terms of times of ambulation, resumption of liquid and solid diet, passage of bowel gas, or hospital discharge. The results of the economic evaluation, which used a cost-minimization model and sensitivity analyses, showed that PCA was more costly than regular intramuscular injections despite the fact that no costs for the pump were included in the analyses. Cost differences in nursing time favoring PCA were offset by drug and material costs associated with this type of treatment.     

Insights from latent partition analysis into categories inherent in wellness-illness

How health–disease is perceived or conceptualized is important for nursing research There is increasing evidence that individual representations are important in constructing the experience of health–disease What is the personal saliency of health–disease for the individual? To explore the patterns of meaning inherent in health–disease, a card sort was undertaken among 15 healthy individuals and 15 individuals with chronic renal disease Both groups were given 28 cards to sort twice once for when they felt ‘well’ and again for when they felt ‘ill’ The theoretical basis underlying the items of the card sort was a model of wellness-illness being developed Latent partition analysis was used to cluster the concepts from each data set followed by multi-dimensional scaling to analyse the structure of the intercategory probability estimates A possible unidimensional pattern of meaning (harmony) emerged for the ‘well’ data and a two-dimensional pattern (disharmony and optimism) for the ‘ill’ data This represents a preliminary step in the development of a theoretical model that would permit assessment of the meaning of health–disease for the individual