Adult rat seminiferous tubules secrete a fraction greater than 30 kDa to regulate spermatogenesis

The present study was designed to examine the effects of a >30kDa fraction of medium conditioned for 2 days by adult rat seminiferoustubules on inhibin secretion by cultured tubules, and on spermatogenesisand fertility of male rats. Inhibin secretion was assayed byadding the >30 kDa fraction to 5 cm segments of adult ratseminiferous tubules and measuring inhibin by radioimmunoassayat 2 day intervals. Fertility was assayed by injecting malerats daily for up to 45 days with the >30 kDa fraction andthen mating them with a proestrus female, or by injecting for15 days and mating them with two female rats. The assay usedto evaluate the in-vivo effect of the >30 kDa fraction onthe testis involved an assessment of frequencies of seminiferoustubule stages scored by transillumination on intact tubules.The addition of the >30 kDa fraction to the adult rat seminiferoustubules cultured for 2 days resulted in an inhibition of inhibinsecretion into the medium. This effect was reversed when thefraction was removed and changed with fresh medium and culturedfor a further 4 days. The >30 kDa fraction administered i.p.to adult male rats resulted in a low fertilization rate comparedto control rats (67%) (P < 0.05). The assessment of frequenciesof seminiferous tubule stages scored by transillumination showedan increased frequency of stage VI and decreased frequency ofstages VII and VIII after treatment. The results of the presentstudy provide additional evidence that local regulation of Sertolicell function is mediated by a >30 kDa component or componentssecreted by adult seminiferous tubules which could arrest spermatogenesis.     

Streptococci from root canals in teeth with apical periodontitis receiving endodontic treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The object of this study was to investigate the diversity among streptococcal species isolated from root canals in conjunction with endodontic therapy and to characterize their production of extracellular proteins. STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive root canal samples (RCS) taken as bacteriological controls during root canal treatment of teeth with apical periodontitis were analyzed in a total of 100 clinical cases. Bacteria were isolated and classified by selective media and gas liquid chromatography. Streptococcal strains were identified by carbohydrate fermentation, hydrolysis of aesculin/arginine, and production of enzymes. Releases of extracellular proteins by streptococci and Enterococcus spp in fluid culture media were examined with SDS-PAGE and 2-dimension gel electrophoresis (2 DE). Extracellular proteins produced were quantified and qualitatively analyzed. Specific proteins were targeted with Western immunoblot assays. Comparisons were made with type strains. RESULTS: Of a total of 241 bacterial strains recovered in the first samples submitted, Streptococcus gordonii, S anginosus, and S oralis were the most frequently isolated streptococci. In 49 of 89 resubmitted samples showing bacterial growth, S gordonii and S oralis still predominated among streptococci. Other common bacterial isolates were Enterococcus spp, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Olsenella uli. Quantitative and qualitative differences in extracellular protein production were observed among clinical isolates and laboratory streptococcal strains. In similar conditions for growth, S intermedius, S anginosus, S oralis, and S gordonii were strong producers of extracellular proteins (>3.0 microg/mL), while Enterococcus spp and S mutans were weak. Whole cell protein extracts showed a different profile from that of extracellular proteins. The chaperone protein DnaK was recognized to be produced extracellularly by S gordonii, S oralis, S anginosus, and S parasanguis. CONCLUSIONS: Being strong producers of extracellular proteins and by virtue of common presence in teeth undergoing endodontic therapy, S gordonii, S anginosus, and S oralis may be of pathogenic significance in posttreatment apical periodontitis.     

Quantification of perfusion fMRI using a numerical model of arterial spin labeling that accounts for dynamic transit time effects.

A new approach to modeling the signal observed in arterial spin labeling (ASL) experiments during changing perfusion conditions is presented in this article. The new model uses numerical methods to extend first-order kinetic principles to include the changes in arrival time of the arterial tag that occur during neuronal activation. Estimation of the perfusion function from the ASL signal using this model is also demonstrated. The estimation algorithm uses a roughness penalty as well as prior information. The approach is demonstrated in numerical simulations and human experiments. The approach presented here is particularly suitable for fast ASL acquisition schemes, such as turbo continuous ASL (Turbo-CASL), which allows subtraction pairs to be acquired in less than 3 s but is sensitive to arrival time changes. This modeling approach can also be extended to other acquisition schemes.     

Molecular biology in prostate cancer

Summary Genes involved in cancer generation are usually tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Progressive genetic alterations in these genes are involved in the mechanisms of tumorigenesis. In prostate cancer, additionally several chromosomal loci that should harbor mutated genes have been proposed. Some genes have been found altered in prostate cancer, such as PTEN, TP53, AR, RNASEL (HPC1), ELAC2 (HPC2), CDKN2A and MSR1 and those can be natural targets for new strategies of treatment. Besides, gene therapy has been suggested to be suitable for prostate cancer treatment. This approach includesex vivo corrective therapy, suicide, and antisense therapy.     

Neonatal splenic necrosis not related to wandering spleen.

Splenic necrosis is extremely rare in neonates, the cases recorded so far being secondary to torsion of wandering organs. A newborn with an abdominal mass who underwent exchange transfusions through an umbilical catheter is presented here. Comprehensive investigation led to the suspicion of enteric duplication, but a splenic necrosis with no features of wandering spleen was found at laparotomy. The pathogenesis and preoperative diagnostic work-up of splenic necrosis are emphasised.