Flow microfluorometric analysis of murine spermatozoa fails to detect H-2 antigens

The presence of class 1 and class 2 histocompatibility antigens on murine sperm was investigated by flow microfluorometry. Monoclonal anti-H-2Kk (class 1), anti-Iak (specificity 2, class 2) and allo-anti-Iak (class 2) antisera were used in direct or indirect fluorescence labelling experiments to probe the expression of class 1 and class 2 antigens on epididymal mouse spermatozoa. Sperm-specific antibodies were generated by intraperitoneal immunization of both male and female C3H/HeN mice with syngeneic spermatozoa. Sperm-specific antigens were detected in 68-85% of syngeneic mouse sperm and 65-90% of allogeneic mouse sperm examined. Conversely, these antibodies did not stain syngeneic or allogeneic lymphocytes above the background of the negative control. Mouse sperm samples failed to exhibit specific fluorescence above the background of negative control values with antibodies against either class 1 or class 2 MHC antigens. We have established the sensitive, objective and economical assay of sperm membrane antigens with fluorochrome-labelled antibodies by flow microfluorometry. By use of this sensitive and objective technique we have not detected MHC antigens on murine sperm. We conclude that these MHC antigens are not expressed on sperm at a level to be practically detectable.     

Psychiatric morbidity in policemen and the effect of brief psychotherapeutic intervention — a pilot study

The level of psychiatric morbidity and perceived sources of stress among police officers were investigated using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and a stress situation questionnaire, which were sent to 171 officers. Half of the responders were invited to attend group counselling sessions weekly for 12 weeks. Outcome measures studied were a second GHQ completed at the end of the treatment period and the amounts of sick leave taken in the 12-week period before, during and after the treatment period. The results were that 61 people returned the first GHQ of whom 59 were male and of whom 14 were classed as ‘cases’. Of the 31 assigned to the treatment group, 22 attended at least one session. Responses to the stress situation questionnaire and the content of counselling sessions tended to confirm the impression that internal aspects of the organization were viewed as prime sources of stress and dissatisfaction. There were no significant changes in GHQ score within or between groups, nor were there significant differences in the amount of sick leave taken. Nevertheless the sessions appeared to be valued and we conclude that this sort of intervention is at least feasible. We recommend that similar studies measure psychiatric morbidity during treatment and at follow-up, rather than immediately after finishing, when reactions to this termination are prominent.     

Immunology: High fecundity rates following in- vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in antiphospholipid antibody seropositive women treated with heparin and aspirin

This study was undertaken to explore whether intervention withheparin and aspirin (H/A) in selected patients undergoing in-vitrofertilization (TVF) and embryo transfer could improve fecundityrates. Specifically, it explored the possibility that womendiagnosed with organic pelvic disease who demonstrated antiphospholipidantibodies (APA) could benefit from H/A administration in asimilar manner to that used in patients with recurrent pregnancyloss. We used an enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay forsix different phospholipids to identify patients who expressedAPA before they underwent IVF/embryo transfer. This study wasconfined to the first IVF/embryo transfer cycle that followedassessment of APA status and accordingly, the number of IVF/embryotransfer cycles corresponds with the number of patients treated.APA seropositive patients were treated with aspirin, 81 mg orallyq.d., and heparin 5000 IU s.c. b.i.d., beginning on day 1 ofcontrolled ovarian stimulation. The endpoint for success wasa live birth or an ultrasound confirming fetal cardiac activity(a viable pregnancy). The prevalence of APA in patients diagnosedwith organic pelvic disease (53%) was much higher than in thosewithout female pathology (14%). The administration of H/A toAPA seropositive patients significantly (P < 0.05) improvedthe viable pregnancy rate (49%) compared to the untreated APAseropositive group (16%). The viable pregnancy rate for APAseropositive women treated with H/A was also significantly (P< 0.001) higher than for untreated APA seronegative patients(27%). We conclude that all women undergoing IVF/embryo transfershould be tested for APA prior to initiating ovarian stimulation,and those with APA seropositivity should be treated with H/A.     

db/db mice exhibit severe wound-healing impairments compared with other murine diabetic strains in a silicone-splinted excisional wound model

The pathophysiology of diabetic wound healing and the identification of new agents to improve clinical outcomes continue to be areas of intense research. There currently exist more than 10 different murine models of diabetes. The degree to which wound healing is impaired in these different mouse models has never been directly compared. We determined whether differences in wound impairment exist between diabetic models in order to elucidate which model would be the best to evaluate new treatment strategies. Three well-accepted mouse models of diabetes were used in this study: db/db, Akita, and streptozocin (STZ)-induced C57BL/6J. Using an excisional model of wound healing, we demonstrated that db/db mice exhibit severe impairments in wound healing compared with STZ and Akita mice. Excisional wounds in db/db mice show a statistically significant delay in wound closure, decreased granulation tissue formation, decreased wound bed vascularity, and markedly diminished proliferation compared with STZ, Akita, and control mice. There was no difference in the rate of epithelialization of the full-thickness wounds between the diabetic or control mice. Our results suggest that splinted db/db mice may be the most appropriate model for studying diabetic wound-healing interventions as they demonstrate the most significant impairment in wound healing. This study utilized a novel model of wound healing developed in our laboratory that stents wounds open using silicone splints to minimize the effects of wound contraction. As such, it was not possible to directly compare the results of this study with other studies that did not use this wound model.     

Conservative management of a major post-intubation tracheal injury and review of current management

Tracheal rupture represents a rare but serious complication of intubation. We discuss a case of a major post-intubation rupture. After investigation with CT scan tracheoscopy and bronchoscopy a low tracheostomy was formed protecting the rupture from pressure changes associated with ventilation. The patient was managed with minimal surgical intervention, low tracheostomy with antibiotic cover and monitoring in the intensive care unit for 24 h before being woken and moved to a ward after 48 h. The patient made a full and uncomplicated recovery and was discharged 2 weeks after the original injury. Most of the literature on the subject is made up of review of case reports that conclude management of such a major tear must be with surgical repair. This however confers significant morbidity and an associated high mortality. We suggest an alternative management protocol.     

Relationship of knee joint proprioception to pain and disability in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

Proprioception plays an integral role in neuromotor control of the knee joint and deficits in knee joint proprioception are well documented in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the functional relevance of these deficits is not clear. This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between knee joint proprioception and pain and disability in a large cohort of individuals with knee OA. Two hundred and twenty participants (145 F, 75 M) with symptomatic knee OA were recruited from the community. Five non-weight bearing active tests with ipsilateral limb matching responses were performed at 20 degrees and 40 degrees flexion to measure knee joint position sense. Pain and disability were assessed by self-reported questionnaires and objective measures of balance and gait. Results showed little association between knee joint position sense variables and measures of pain and disability (r values <0.24, most p>0.05). When comparing participants with the worst and best joint position sense, no significant differences in pain and disability could be found (p>0.05). While our study design does not allow causality to be established, these results suggest that deficits in joint position sense may be due to factors other than pain and that deficits are not large enough to impact upon disability.     

Least-square conformal brain mapping with spring energy

The human brain cortex is a highly convoluted sheet. Mapping of the cortical surface into a canonical coordinate space is an important tool for the study of the structure and function of the brain. Here, we present a technique based on least-square conformal mapping with spring energy for the mapping of the cortical surface. This method aims to reduce the metric and area distortion while maintaining the conformal map and computation efficiency. We demonstrate through numerical results that this method effectively controls metric and area distortion, and is computational efficient. This technique is particularly useful for fast visualization of the brain cortex.