A review of the effect of pesticide formulations on male fertility

Experimental studies suggest that large numbers of chemicals, environmental and industrial pollutants affect the male reproductive system. At present, almost no information is available on the effects of these adverse agents on human reproduction. Recent reports, however, suggest that in the past 50 years male fertility has declined based on qualitative and quantitative measurements of normal sperm. This study identifies‐among the active ingredients and solvents included in pesticide formulations registered in Italy‐the chemical agents with experimental evidence of male reproductive toxicity. Documents produced by international agencies and organizations such as IARC, EPA, WHO, and original papers from the international literature were systematically reviewed. The results indicate that several pesticide products notified in the Italian Registry contain active ingredients and/or solvents severely affecting testicular function and sperm morphology in laboratory animals. Therefore, exposure to reproductive toxicants occurring among manufacturers and users of pesticide formulations registered in Italy suggest further epidemiologic surveys should be conducted in this area.     

Evaluation of the Crithidia assay to distinguish between auto-immune chronic active hepatitis and systemic lupus erythematosus

The aim of this study was to determine if the Crithidia luciliae assay for auto-antibodies to double-stranded DNA, often positive in systemic lupus erythematosus, is always negative in auto-immune chronic active hepatitis (CAH) as has recently been suggested. Twenty-five patients were identified as having auto-immune CAH. Mean duration of follow-up was 10.5 years. Antinuclear antibodies were detected in 92%, smooth muscle antibodies in 76% and antimitochondrial antibodies in 16%. Antibodies to double-stranded DNA were detected by the Crithidia assay in four patients (16%). Two of these patients had positive tests on only one occasion and no features of systemic lupus erythematosus. In the other two the assay was persistently positive. During follow-up both developed arthritis and serositis but the liver lesion remained the dominant clinical feature. It was concluded that there is significant serological overlap between auto-immune CAH and systemic lupus erythematosus making the Crithidia assay unreliable in distinguishing between them.     

放免法检测乙型慢性活动性肝炎病人红细胞C3b受体的研究

用放免法检测乙型慢性活动性肝炎病人的红细胞ｃ３ｂ受体（ＫＢＣＣＲ１）．结果：病人ＲＢＣＣＲ１明显低于献血员（Ｐ＜０．０５）；抗－ＨＢｓ特异性免疫复合物阳性病人ＲＢＣＣＲ１明显低于阴性病人（Ｐ＜０．０１），与红细胞Ｃ３ｂ受体花环试验检测结果一致。表明乙型慢性活动性肝炎病人ＲＢＣＣＲ１数量减少，活性下降。其原因可能是特异性循环免疫复合物占据了ＲＢＣＣＲ１空位，使ＣＲ１活性下降。     

Soluble Fcγ receptors in periodontal lesions

Soluble Fcγ-binding components were detected in gingival fluid from periodontal lesions by incubation with biotinylated human Fcγ fragments. FcγIII receptor was identified by incubation of gingival fluid with monoclonal antibody. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electophoresis and Western transfer showed that most of the Fcγ-binding components had minimal mobility in a 4–15% gradient gel under nonreducing conditions. Under reducing conditions, the main band of Fcγ-binding components in gingival fluid migrated corresponding to protein A of 49 kDa. The pattern of Fcγ-binding components was similar in serum and gingival fluid except for the observation in gingival fluid of Fcγ-binding components migrating like standard proteins of 19 to 20 kDa, a size that corresponds to the polypeptide part of FcγII receptor and FcγIII receptor.     

Active oxygen species generated by monocytes and polymorphonuclear cells in Crohn's disease

Chemiluminescence (CL) analysis of monocytes and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) was performed on 13 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 10 healthy volunteers. The percentages of monocyte populations in mononuclear cells obtained from the patients with CD were greater than those from the healthy volunteers, but the numbers of PMNs were not different between the two groups. The peak level of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced CL activity generated by diluted whole blood from the patients with CD was more significantly elevated than that from the healthy volunteers, whereas the peak levels of opsonized zymosan-induced CL activity did not differ between the two groups. In monocytes, the peak levels of both PMA- and opsonized zymosan-induced CL activity were significantly higher in the patients with CD than in the healthy volunteers. CL in PMNs, however, showed no significant difference between CD and controls. It is suggested that monocytes of CD have a large capacity to generate active oxygen species. The present study suggests that excessive active oxygen species released by monocytes and perhaps macrophages may play an important role in formation of the intestinal lesions in CD.This work was supported by the Grant of Tokuteishitsukan from the Japanese Ministry of Welfare and Health.     

Undergraduate and postgraduate dental students''reflection on learning'': a qualitative study

The aim of this study was to explore undergraduate and postgraduate dental students' understanding of a good learning experience by using 'reflection on learning' as described by Schon. Four groups of Year 4 BDS students and one group of postgraduate students in dental public health took part in a series of focus group discussions. The responses were grouped into four broad themes (a) active, practical and positive learning; (b) interactive/together learning; (c) personal learning; (d) theory into practice. Six educational models of good learning proposed by the students are described.     

Why homocysteine is a risk factor of neurodegenerative diseases mini review

The receptor-mediated effects of homocysteine and homocysteic acid on neurons and lymphocytes are described. Activation of glutamate receptors by these ligands was shown to induce an increase in intracellular calcium concentration and the level of active forms of oxygen in both types of cells. This increase may serve as a signal for activation of apoptosis. Metabotropic receptors of group III stimulated the excitotoxic effect of homocysteine and homocysteic acid, while those of group I and II prevented it. It is proposed that selective agonists/antagonists of these metabotropic receptors can be used for correction of neuronal and immune cell metabolism during hyperhomocysteinemia.     

方格星虫酶解物成分分析及其抗氧化作用

用木瓜蛋白酶对方格星虫（Sipunculus nudus）进行酶促水解,并对酶解物冻干粉的成分进行了分析,其中粗蛋白质量分数为69.02%,多肽质量分数为60.60%,肽的平均链长为3.73个氨基酸残基,肽分子的平均相对分子质量为447.6;游离氨基酸占5.27%。氨基酸分析结果显示,方格星虫酶解物含有17种氨基酸（色氨酸未测）,其中人体必需氨基酸含量较高,占总氨基酸数的30.62%。方格星虫酶解物中还含有P、Fe、Mg、Mn、Zn、Cu、Se等至少12种矿质元素,以及含有抗氧化作用的营养成分,并通过动物试验证明了方格星虫酶解物具有显著的抗氧化作用。方格星虫酶解物可用于食品添加或用作功能性食品。     

养殖周期对中华鳖营养成分的影响研究

鳖一直被视作为滋补佳品。但以短期快速促生长方式生产的养殖中华鳖的质量与野生中华鳖有区别 [1 ] ,其主要原因是生长时间的差异 ,还是养殖环境等其他因素所造成 ,尚未见报道。本研究通过对相近环境条件下不同年龄的商品鳖和不同环境中同一年龄的商品鳖的营养成分的比较 ,了解养殖周期对商品鳖营养成分的影响 ,为选择合理的养殖周期提供理论依据。1　材　料　与　方　法　　由余杭生泰中华鳖养殖有限公司 (YT)提供 2、3龄相同养殖条件仿生养殖中华鳖各 6只 ,2龄中华鳖体重 450～ 50 0 g,3龄中华鳖体重 51 5～ 552 g,均为雄性。养殖池塘面…     

新生儿重组酵母乙肝疫苗接种免疫的研究

目的：探讨重组酵母乙肝疫苗新生儿接种后抗体应答持续时间，强化复种的必要性。方法：常规对新生儿0d(出生后当天)、1月、6月接种重组酵母乙肝疫苗后检测抗体应答情况，再随机分两组，一组为强化组，一组为常规组，并随访其5年的抗体应答情况。结果：新生儿常规接种法，于12个月后有一明显抗体应答下降期(0d、1月、6月、12月)，强化组乙肝表面抗体形成率高，持续时间均高于常规接种法。结论：新生儿乙肝疫苗0d、1月、6月、12月接种法有较好的远期保护效果，对现有的0d、1月、6月新生儿乙肝疫苗常规接种法，有强化接种的必要。