Partial obstruction of the seminal path, a frequent cause of oligozoospermia in men

The objective of this clinical study was to determine the real frequency and clinical importance of partial obstruction of the seminal path in patients with oligozoospermia. We have designed a prospective clinical study including men with oligozoospermia seen at an andrological consultation in both private and institutional hospitals. A testicular biopsy was done on all patients under local anaesthesia. A complete study for sterility was also done [hormonal determinations: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, testicular ultrasound, semen analysis, testicular Doppler ultrasound, etc.]. We have made a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of testicular biopsy (percentage of tubules with Sertoli cell only or with hyalinization; mean tubular diameter; number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, young spermatids, mature spermatids and Sertoli cells; and evaluation of testicular interstitium: number of Leydig cell clusters, presence of angiectasis, presence of perivascular inflammation). Sixty one per cent of all oligozoospermia cases were obstructive. The principal cause of obstructive oligozoospermia was the presence of testicular varicocele. In obstructive oligozoospermia, the tubular diameter and number of mature spermatids are statistically significantly higher than in non- obstructive oligozoospermia. Obstructive oligozoospermia is a frequent condition caused by partial obstruction of seminal path. A quantitative analysis of the testicular biopsy is the only method of diagnosis.      

Urinary levels of tissue kallikrein in the South African Black and Indian hypertensives

It is accepted that Black subjects differ from White and Indian hypertensives in their response to hypotensive agents. Black hypertensives in the USA have a lower urinary tissue kallikrein (TK) excretion levels compared to White hypertensives. It has been suggested that Black patients respond better to thiazide diuretics compared to beta-blockers because thiazides increase whereas beta-blockers decrease tissue kallikrein excretion. This study compares the excretion of urinary TK in Black and Indian hypertensive and normotensive subjects. Urinary TK levels were measured with the selective, synthetic peptic substrate with the sequence of H-D-Val-Leu-Arg-pNA. Ten hypertensive patients on placebo therapy and 10 normotensive Black and Indian subjects provided three samples at weeks 0, 2 and 4 for the determination of urinary TK. The results were analysed using analysis of variance to compare the two racial groups. There were no significant differences in urinary TK values of the three bi-weekly individual samples. Urinary tissue kallikrein values (ng TK/microg protein) in Indian hypertensives were in general lower than Black hypertensives.     

Static balance improvement in elderly after dorsiflexors electrostimulation training

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of dorsiflexors ElectroStimulation (ES) training, on postural tasks of increasing difficulty in the elderly. Twenty-one elderly adults were randomly assigned into one of two groups: a Training (TG) and a Control Group (CG). The TG (n=10) performed (4 weeks, 4 s/week, 40 min/session) superimposed (electrically evoked and voluntary activation) isometric dorsiflexions (ankle 100°) while seated. Biphasic, rectangular symmetrical pulses (300 ms, 70 Hz, 20–60 mA) were used to provoke maximal muscle activation. Participants performed three static balance tasks (Normal Quiet Stance, Sharpened Romberg, and One-Legged Stance) during which postural sway was quantified using maximum range and standard deviation of Centre of Pressure displacement (Kistler 9281C, 1,000 Hz). Bipolar surface electrodes were used to record the Electromyographic activity (EMG) of Tibialis Anterior, Medial Gastrocnemius, Rectus Femoris and Semi-Tendineous. Two-dimensional kinematic data were collected (60 Hz) and analyzed using the APAS Motion Analysis software. The body was modeled as a five-segment rigid link system. Isometric dorsiflexion moment/angular position relationship was also established using a Cybex dynamometer. ES training resulted in decreased postural sway (P<0.05), greater ankle muscles EMG activity (P<0.001), greater stability of the ankle joint (P<0.05) and significant changes in mean position of all three joints of the lower limb. In addition, dorsiflexion moment significantly (P<0.001) increased as a result of ES training. It is concluded that dorsiflexors ES training, could reduce postural sway and the use of ankle muscles, more characteristic of young adults, might appear in the elderly as well.     

Evaluation of activatory and inhibitory natural killer cell receptors in non-segmental vitiligo: a flow cytometric study

Background Recent observations established the role of altered cellular immunity and autoimmune hypothesis in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. There have been several reports discussing T‐cell and natural killer (NK) cell populations, but NK cell receptors were not evaluated in vitiligo. Objective The purpose of this investigation was to assess the role of T and NK cells as well as activatory and inhibitory NK cell receptor alterations in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and whether any aberrations were correlated with clinical findings of the disease. Patients/methods Fifty‐three patients with non‐segmental vitiligo and 45 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The percentages of lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes and CD3, CD4, CD8, CD14, CD16, CD56, CD45, CD45RA, CD54RO, CD28, CD80, CD94, CD158a, KIR3DL‐1 receptors as well as CD94, CD158a, KIR3DL‐1 receptors on CD16⁺ cells were detected by using flow cytometry. The patient and control groups were compared in terms of the results of flow cytometric analysis, and the results were assessed regarding the type and activity of vitiligo. Results The percentages of CD16⁺CD56⁺, CD3⁺CD16⁺CD56⁺, CD8⁺ and CD45RO⁺ cells were significantly increased in vitiligo group compared with the controls. No difference was detected between the patients and control groups in percentages of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD3^?CD16⁺CD56⁺, CD28⁺, CD45⁺, CD45RA⁺, CD94⁺, CD158a⁺ and KIR3DL‐1⁺ cells. The percentage of CD16⁺CD158a⁺ cells was significantly decreased in a randomized selected group of vitiligo patients. There were no differences in percentage expression of studied cell surface antigens between patients in the active or stable period. CD3⁺ cells were significantly increased in generalized form, and CD45RO⁺ cells were significantly increased in acral/acrofacial form when compared with the other types of vitiligo. Conclusions These results indicate further evidence for T and NK cell abnormalities in non‐segmental vitiligo. The present data show that NK cell activation may be responsible in the pathogenesis of vitiligo in conformity with decreased inhibitory and increased activatory NK cell receptors.     

The Wellcome Trust population initiative

This paper describes what the Wellcome Trust has done and aims to do through its population initiative. The Trust is required to spend its funds to improve the physical welfare of mankind, and in this context there can be no more important issue than the rapid changes that are occurring in the human population. The Trust's first involvement was to help fund the New Delhi population summit covered by the world's scientific academics in 1993 and, following discussions with authorities in the field, initiated its funding programme in 1995. Through this programme, the Trust hopes to bring about improved understanding of the relationship between reproductive health, population growth, and sustainable development and create cadres of high quality research scientists in relevant disciplines. Uniquely, funding is available under this programme to suitably qualified applicants from any country other than the USA.      

Dopaminergic behaviour in chicken retina and the effect of form deprivation

Purpose: Dopamine (DA)is cinsidered to be a neurotransmitter involved in light-adaptive responses in the retina and has been implicated in the control of the eye growth include by form deprivation vitreal DOPAC was shown to be a good indicator of retinal dopaminergic activity. Methods/Results: Dopaminergic activity was highest during the light, with vitreal DOPAC levels rising within in 3 hof light exposure. Form deperivation attenuated dopaminergic activity, as the rise in vitreal DOPAC levels on light exposure was rediced in form-depeived eyes, compared with control eyes. Conclusion: The lack sustained activation of DA release may explain the role of DA in the control of eye-growth.     

Antihypertensive Effect and Tolerability of Perindopril in Indian Hypertensive and Type 2 Diabetic Patients: 1-Year Randomised, Double-Blind, Parallel Study vs Atenolol

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the antihypertensive effect and acceptability of a perindopril-based group with that of an atenolol-based group in Indian hypertensive type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: 100 ambulant patients aged between 35 and 69 years were recruited into this monocentric, randomised, double-blind study in two parallel groups for 1 year after a 1-month washout period on placebo. The setting was a tertiary care institution. PATIENTS: All patients had stable, essential hypertension between 95mm Hg and 115mm Hg, type 2 diabetes with glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1C)) <12%, and albuminuria between 300mg and 3.5g/24 hours. There were 50 patients per treatment group and two patient population groups were studied, intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP). The former constituted all patients, whilst the latter included those without major protocol deviation and who completed the 12-month study. INTERVENTIONS: The study drugs were perindopril 4 to 8mg once daily or atenolol 50 to 100mg once daily. In each group therapeutic adjustment was planned by doubling the dose and then by the addition of hydrochlorothiazide 25mg daily. Nifedipine 30 to 60mg daily was subsequently added if the desired drop in blood pressure was not obtained. The ITT group was analysed by Student's t-test, and a 2-way analysis of variance was performed for the PP population. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A comparison of the control of hypertension, biochemical abnormalities, blood sugar and adverse effects was performed in the atenolol group versus the perindopril group. RESULTS: On single-dose therapy after 1 month 17 patients (60%) had normal blood pressure [diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 相似文献