X-ray microscopy of human spermatozoa shows change of mitochondrial morphology after capacitation

Using X-ray microscopy two morphologically distinct states were observed of the human spermatozoan mitochondria: (i) compact and tightly wrapped around the axoneme, and (ii) morphologically transformed, i.e. with circular areas of high X-ray transmission, either loosely wrapped around the axoneme or distended. The spermatozoa were examined at two stages of their post-ejaculation maturation process, i.e. as present in fresh ejaculated semen and after in-vitro capacitation. X-ray microscopy allowed sample preparation that was as simple as for conventional light microscopy whilst giving high resolution (30 nm) imaging of samples in liquid media compatible with the requirements of live biological specimens. The specimens were not fixed, stained or metal coated. These features make X-ray microscopy useful in the study of cells, particularly cells in suspension. The relative frequencies of the two morphological states of the mitochondria in seminal plasma and after in-vitro capacitation were compared. In seminal plasma, almost all spermatozoa had compact and tightly wrapped mitochondria. After harvesting by swim-up technique, an increase in the morphologically transformed state had occurred. However, the greatest increase in the morphologically transformed state occurred when the sample had been incubated under capacitating conditions. In this case almost all spermatozoa had morphologically transformed mitochondria.     

Proliferative responses of blood mononuclear cells (BMNC) in a cohort of elderly humans: role of lymphocyte phenotype and cytokine production

Age-related impaired T cell function is associated with increased mortality risk. The purpose of the present study was therefore to identify factors associated with the age-related decreased phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced proliferative response of lymphocytes in a cohort of 174 81-year-old humans and in 91 young controls. Decreased proliferation was associated with a reduced number of true naive CD4+ cells (CD62L+CD45RO-). Furthermore, a low IL-2-stimulated proliferation was correlated with a decreased PHA response in the elderly cohort, whereas reciprocal interactions of IL-10- and IL-2-producing cells were of importance in both elderly and young subjects. Accordingly, a minimum of true naive CD4+ cells was required for a normal proliferative response to PHA, perhaps by providing sufficient IL-2 which is critical for growth of naive as well as memory cells.     

Effects of G-CSF on telomere lengths in PBMCs from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: results from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Telomeres are unique terminal chromosomal structures, the length of which has been shown to decrease with cell division in vitro and with increased age in vivo for human somatic cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐1 infection, decrease of telomere length is primarily found in CD8⁺ T cells, and not in CD4⁺ T cells. In this double‐blind placebo‐controlled study, we investigated the effect of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) treatment combined with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on mean telomere length in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length showed no changes during G‐CSF treatment although the number of lymphocytes increased significantly. The mean TRF length correlated positively (R = 0.552, P = 0.009) and negatively (R = ?0.503, P = 0.02) to the proportion of CD4⁺ memory and naïve cells, respectively. Our data suggest that during G‐CSF treatment lymphocytes are recruited by a combination of central and peripheral proliferation.     

超强聚乙烯纤维增强树脂基托性能的实验研究

目的：评价在义齿基托树脂中加入超强聚乙烯纤维后的挠曲性能。方法：在义齿基托树脂中加入不同质量分数的超强聚乙烯纤维，测试其挠曲强度，与未加入纤维的基托树脂对比；同时在扫描电镜下观察其断面情况。结果：加入超强聚乙烯纤维的基托树脂的挠曲强度要高于对照组，在3．5wt％时达最大值，电镜结果显示纤维在基质中均匀分布。结论：超强聚乙烯纤维能提高义齿基托的挠曲强度。     

参枳消萎汤对慢性萎缩性胃炎癌前病(肝胃气滞证)变转归的影响

目的:探讨参枳消萎汤对慢性萎缩性胃炎(CAG)胃炎癌前病(PLGC)(肝胃气滞证)转归和血清三叶因子3(TFF3)及胃泌素-17的影响。方法:89例PLGC随机按数字表法以1∶1原则分为对照组44和观察组45例。对照组口服胃苏颗粒,15 g/次,3次/d。观察组采用参枳消萎汤内服,1剂/d。两组疗程均为16周。进行治疗前后胃黏膜组织病理学检查;进行治疗前后胃脘疼痛、饱胀、痞闷、嗳气、纳差评分;检测治疗前后TFF3和胃泌素-17水平。结果:观察组治疗后胃镜、胃黏膜临床病理疗效总有效率为100%,高于对照组的84.1%(P0.05);治疗后观察组萎缩程度,肠上皮化生(IM)和异型增生(Dys)病理评分均低于对照组(P0.01);观察组胃脘疼痛、饱胀、痞闷、嗳气、纳差等主要症状评分均低于对照组(P0.01);治疗后两组血清TFF3水平均显著下降,观察组下降更为明显(P0.01);两组血清胃泌素-17水平明显升高,观察组升高更为显著(P0.01)。结论:参枳消萎汤能阻断或逆转胃癌前病变(PLGC),延缓CAG向胃癌的发展,临床疗效显著。     

Divergent effects of increased serotonergic activity on psychophysiological parameters of human attention

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently combined to the antipsychotic medication of schizophrenia patients, to treat their depressed, cognitive or negative symptoms. No convincing neurochemical theory exists for this combination. The role of serotonin in those psychophysiological parameters of attention that are already found to be disturbed in schizophrenia, e.g. processing negativity (PN), mismatch negativity (MMN) and P300 amplitude, is poorly understood. In the present study the effects of increased serotonergic activity on these psychophysiological parameters is investigated. In a balanced, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over experiment 18 healthy male volunteers received an oral dose of either placebo or of 10 mg escitalopram (a highly specific SSRI) on two separate test days, after which they were tested in an auditory selective attention paradigm and a MMN paradigm. Escitalopram significantly increased PN and MMN compared to placebo, without affecting the P300 amplitude. Furthermore, administration of escitalopram resulted in a small, yet significant, reduction of task performance in the selective attention paradigm compared to placebo, while it did not affect reaction time. Contrary to what was expected, escitalopram enhanced PN and MMN, without affecting the P300 amplitude. The results are discussed in the light of dosage issues and subtypes of serotonergic receptors.     

参芪复肝颗粒对拉米夫定抗乙肝病毒增效作用的临床研究

目的:观察参芪复肝颗粒对拉米夫定抗乙肝病毒(HBV)的增效作用,及其对拉米夫定诱导HBV发生酪氨酸-蛋氨酸-天冬氨酸-天冬氨酸(YMDD)变异的影响。方法:将肝郁脾虚型中度慢性乙型肝炎患者100例随机分成2组,在治疗过程中治疗组脱落2例,对照组脱落1例,对照组34例采用拉米夫定片、甘草酸二铵注射液、门冬氨酸钾镁针等治疗;治疗组63例在对照组治疗基础上采用参芪复肝颗粒治疗。观察2组患者治疗前后肝功能[血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)]、乙肝病毒的脱氧核糖核酸(HBV-DNA)、乙肝病毒e抗原(HBeAg)、乙肝表面抗原(HBsAg)、HBeAb、YMDD变异等的变化。结果:HBV-DNA疗效总有效率治疗组为93.65%,对照组为76.47%。2组比较,差异有显著性意义(P0.05)。2组HBsAg阴转率、HBeAg阴转率、抗HBe阳转率比较,差异均无显著性意义(P0.05)。2组治疗12月YMDD变异情况比较,差异无显著性意义(P0.05);2组治疗18月时比较,差异有显著性意义(P0.05)。2组患者ALT复常情况治疗6月、12月时分别比较,差异均无显著性意义(P0.05);治疗18月时比较,差异有显著性意义(P0.05)。脱落率治疗组为3.08%,对照组为2.86%,2组比较,差异无显著性意义(P0.05)。结论:参芪复肝颗粒可增强拉米夫定抗HBV疗效,提高肝郁脾虚型中度慢性乙型肝炎患者HBV-DNA阴转率及有效抑制率,降低YMDD变异率,改善肝郁脾虚型中度慢性乙型肝炎患者的血清肝功能指标(ALT),具有护肝作用。