Scrotal heat stress causes sperm chromatin damage and cysteinyl aspartate-spicific proteinases 3 changes in fertile men

Purpose

To observe changes in semen parameters, sperm DNA integrity, chromatin condensation and cysteinyl aspartate-spicific proteinases (Caspase-3) in adult healthy men after scrotal heat stress (SHS).

Methods

The scrotums of 19 healthy male volunteers were exposed to the condition of 40–43 °C SHS belt warming 40 min each day for successive 2 days per week. The course of SHS was continuously 3 months. Routine semen analysis, hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test, eosin Y (EY) staining sperm HOS and chromatin dispersion (HOS/SCD) test, HOS and aniline blue (HOS/AB) staining test were carried out before, during and after SHS. The activated Caspase 3 levels of spermatozoa were determined with a microtiter plate reader.

Results

The mean parameters of sperm concentration, motility and normal morphological sperm were significantly decreased in groups with sperm being collected during SHS 1, 2 and 3 months when compared with those in groups of pre-SHS (P < 0.01). Statistically significant differences of sperm DNA fragmentation, normal sperm membrane and vitality, and Caspase-3 activity were observed between the groups of before SHS and after SHS 3 months and the groups of during SHS 1, 2 and 3 months (P < 0.001). Three months the SHS stopped, various parameters recovered to the level before SHS. Abnormal sperm with HOS/AB and HOS/SCD showed a negatively significant correlation with normal sperm by HOS/EY test, and WBC in semen showed a positively significant correlation with Caspase-3 activity. The percentage of abnormal sperm by using the test of HOS/SCD showed a positively significant correlation with that of HOS/AB.

Conclusions

The continuously constant SHS can impact the semen quality, sperm DNA integrity, chromatin condensation and Caspase-3, and the combination of HOS plus AB test may simultaneously determine the integrity of membrane and chromatin condensation at the same spermatozoon.     

Long-term persistence of immunity induced by OVA-coupled gas-filled microbubble vaccination partially protects mice against infection by OVA-expressing Listeria

Vaccination aims at generating memory immune responses able to protect individuals against pathogenic challenges over long periods of time. Subunit vaccine formulations based on safe, but poorly immunogenic, antigenic entities must be combined with adjuvant molecules to make them efficient against infections. We have previously shown that gas-filled microbubbles (MB) are potent antigen-delivery systems. This study compares the ability of various ovalbumin-associated MB (OVA-MB) formulations to induce antigen-specific memory immune responses and evaluates long-term protection toward bacterial infections. When initially testing dendritic cells reactivity to MB constituents, palmitic acid exhibited the highest degree of activation. Subcutaneous immunization of naïve wild-type mice with the OVA-MB formulation comprising the highest palmitic acid content and devoid of PEG2000 was found to trigger the more pronounced Th1-type response, as reflected by robust IFN-γ and IL-2 production. Both T cell and antibody responses persisted for at least 6 months after immunization. At that time, systemic infection with OVA-expressing Listeria monocytgenes was performed. Partial protection of vaccinated mice was demonstrated by reduction of the bacterial load in both the spleen and liver. We conclude that antigen-bound MB exhibit promising properties as a vaccine candidate ensuring prolonged maintenance of protective immunity.     

Clinical significance of various diagnostic techniques and emerging antimicrobial resistance pattern of Helicobacter Pylori from Gastric Biopsy Samples

Background: There is no single technique that can meet the criteria in identification of Helicobacter pylori. The diagnosis is important asantimicrobial resistance is frequently observed and associated with treatment failure. The present study was conducted to evaluate diagnostic tests for identification of H pylori and to assess their antimicrobial resistance pattern. Materials and Methods: Biopsies of gastric tissue from 200 patients with disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract were studied for detection of H pylori by various methods like culture, H and E staining and urease test. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out by Kirby Bauer’s disc diffusion method. Results: Out of 200 patients, H pylori was detected by rapid urease test, H and E staining and culture in 26.5%, 14.5% and 2.5% cases respectively. H and E was taken as the gold standard. Sensitivity of urease test was 76.6% and of culture 13.3%. Specificity of urease was 81.7% in comparison with culture which showed 99.4% specificity. Metronidazole (05) showed high level of resistance followed by amoxicillin (03) and norfloxacillin (03). Tetracycline, erythromycin, levofloxacin and cotrimoxazole showed one resistance each to H pylori. Conclusion: H and E is taken as the gold standard according to CDC. Urease test is a better screening procedure than culture. H pylori resistance to metronidazole in our zone was highest. This is due to general and extensive use of metronidazole for other infectious diseases. Our study suggests need for a systematic approach to determine antibiogram of the strains before considering the drug regimens.     

在不同组织中淀粉样物质5种染色法的比较

目的：探寻淀粉样物质更好的特殊染色方法。方法：采用甲醇刚果红、甲基紫、Bennhola氏刚果红、Freudenthal氏刚果红、碱性刚果红5种染色,显微镜下观察组织切片中淀粉样蛋白的染色情况。结果：喉部组织、皮肤组织、肾穿刺组织经甲醇刚果红、甲基紫、Bennhola氏刚果红、Freudenthal氏刚果红、碱性刚果红染色方法分别将淀粉样物质均染成红色但其鲜艳程度不同,背景着色程度不同。结论：喉部组织、皮肤组织、肾穿刺组织在淀粉样物质选择特殊染色方法时甲醇刚果红是阳性着色部位最准确、色彩最鲜明、背景最干净的方法。     

Pulmonary oncocytoma: a case report

A 70-year-old man complained of no discomfort was admitted to our hospital because of a nodules was found in his lung. Chest computer tomography showed a nodules arising from the upper lobe of the left lung, and the lesion became larger in 2 years follow-up period. The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery of lobectomy to remove the nodules. Histologically, the tumor specimen contained multiple glandular structures with oncocytic cells lining. Immunohistochemical staining showed the tissue did not include some neuroendocrine granules. Finally, He was diagnosed as pulmonary oncocytoma. The patient discharged from our hospital after surgery and with no recurrence in 29 months period.     

免疫酶染色试验检测斯氏狸殖吸虫抗体的研究

目的探索用免疫酶染色试验检测斯氏狸殖吸虫病抗体的敏感性和特异性。方法从病犬肺虫囊中收集斯氏狸殖吸虫成虫,冰冻切片,制作抗原片。采用免疫酶染色试验(IEST)检测斯氏狸殖吸虫病人和病鼠血清抗体。试验设健康大鼠血清对照及其他寄生虫病血清对照。结果斯氏狸殖吸虫病人和病鼠血清特异抗体阳性率分别为96.7%和97.4%。实验动物从感染后第2周开始抗体检测阳性,第4周阳性率达97.4%,持续10周。结论免疫酶染色试验敏感性高、特异性强,对斯氏狸殖吸虫病的早期诊断有重要参考价值。     

Distribution of nitric oxide synthase-containing nerves in the aganglionic intestine of mutant rats: A histochemical study

We examined the distribution of nerves containing nitric oxide synthase in the intestine of congenitally aganglionic rats, using a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase histochemical method for whole-mount and cryostat specimens. A constricted intestinal segment extends from the terminal ileum to the anus in this mutant. No nerve elements with the activity were found in the affected terminal ileum, cecum, and proximal colon. Although intrinsic ganglionic neurons were absent along the constricted intestine, nerve fibers with the activity were found in both the submucous and intermuscular layers distal to the proximal colon. These fibers increased in density towards the rectum, forming hypertrophic nerve bundles and unusual fiber networks. However, positive fibers were never seen within the circular and longitudinal musculature of the constricted lesion. Some of these hypertrophic nerve bundles were continuous with ectopic ganglia that were situated in the adventitial connective tissue around the lower rectum and in the submucosa near the anus. The hypertrophic nerve bundles seemed to have an extrinsic origin; some of them may have originated from ectopic ganglia. These results suggest that the defective distribution of nerves containing nitric oxide synthase may be involved in the pathogenesis of congenital colonic aganglionosis.     

Vaccine Adjuvant Systems containing monophosphoryl lipid A and QS-21 induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses against hepatitis B surface antigen which persist for at least 4 years after vaccination

BackgroundRecombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was used as a model antigen to evaluate persistence of cellular and humoral immune responses when formulated with three different Adjuvant Systems containing 3-O-desacyl-4′-monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and QS-21, in an oil-in-water emulsion (AS02_B and AS02_V), or with liposomes (AS01_B).MethodsThis is an open, 4-year follow-up of a previous randomised, double-blind study. Healthy subjects aged 18–40 years received three vaccine doses on a month 0, 1, 10 schedule and were initially followed for 18 months. A total of 93 subjects (AS02_B: n = 30; AS02_V: n = 28; AS01_B: n = 35) were enrolled in this follow-up and had an additional blood sample taken at Year 4 (NCT02153320). The primary endpoint was the frequency of HBsAg-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells expressing cytokines upon short-term in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with HBsAg-derived peptides. Secondary endpoints were anti-HBs antibody titres and frequency of HBsAg-specific memory B-cells.ResultsA strong and persistent specific CD4⁺ T-cell response was observed at Year 4 in all groups. HBsAg-specific CD4⁺ T-cells expressed mainly CD40L and IL-2, and to a lesser extent TNF-α and IFN-γ. HBsAg-specific CD8⁺ T-cells were not detected in any group. A high, persistent HBsAg-specific humoral immune response was observed in all groups, with all subjects seroprotected (antibody titre ≥10 mIU/mL) at Year 4. The geometric mean antibody titre at Year 4 was above 100,000 mIU/mL in all groups. A strong memory B-cell response was observed post-dose 2, which tended to increase post-dose 3 and persisted at Year 4 in all groups.ConclusionThe MPL/QS-21/HBsAg vaccine formulations induced persistent immune responses up to 4 years after first vaccination. These Adjuvant Systems offer potential for combination with recombinant, synthetic or highly purified subunit vaccines, particularly for vaccination against challenging diseases, or in specific populations, although additional studies are needed.     

TRANSVAC research infrastructure – Results and lessons learned from the European network of vaccine research and development

TRANSVAC was a collaborative infrastructure project aimed at enhancing European translational vaccine research and training. The objective of this four year project (2009–2013), funded under the European Commission's (EC) seventh framework programme (FP7), was to support European collaboration in the vaccine field, principally through the provision of transnational access (TNA) to critical vaccine research and development (R&D) infrastructures, as well as by improving and harmonising the services provided by these infrastructures through joint research activities (JRA). The project successfully provided all available services to advance 29 projects and, through engaging all vaccine stakeholders, successfully laid down the blueprint for the implementation of a permanent research infrastructure for early vaccine R&D in Europe.     

脂联素在大肠癌中的表达及临床意义

目的 研究脂联素在大肠癌组织中的表达, 探讨其与临床病理因素的关系和意义.方法 应用免疫组织化学SABC法,检测42例大肠癌组织、20例大肠腺瘤和42例大肠正常黏膜组织中脂联素的表达情况,以图像分析软件进行半定量测定.结果 正常大肠组、腺瘤组中脂联素均匀表达于大肠组织腺管的腺胞细胞膜及细胞浆,大肠癌组中脂联素在肿瘤细胞的胞膜及胞浆少量表达,染色浅,阳性细胞呈散在、片状或灶状分布,脂联素在正常组、腺瘤组和大肠癌组的表达依次减少( 43.03±4.89、38.71±6.80、15.55±3.81),大肠癌组与正常对照组、腺瘤组比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),其表达水平与大肠癌的分化程度、淋巴结转移、Dukes分期有关.结论 脂联素在大肠癌中低表达,脂联素的减少与大肠癌的发生发展密切相关, 脂联素有望成为治疗和监测大肠癌的重要手段之一.