Alpha-glucosidase activity and sperm motility

We correlated the activity of alpha-glucosidase in seminal plasma with the motility and differential motility of sperm. Significant positive correlations were found between the alpha-glucosidase activity and both motility and the percentage sperm with good forward progression. This supports the use of alpha-glucosidase in semen as a marker of epididymal function and specifically of the development of motility.     

A study on content and distribution of plasma and tissue fibronectin in rats using ELISA and immunofluorescence

Summary The content of plasma fibronectin and tissue extractable fibronectin in normal rats was measured with rocket immunoelectrophoresis and ELISA in the present study. The difference in tissue fibronectin distribution in various organs and the correlation between distribution and content of fibronectin have been studied. We suggest that tissue fibronectin may be a complex component. The change in plasma fibronectin reflects a dynamic balance existing between the tissue fibronectin pool and plasma fibronectin pool in normal rats. Plasma fibronectin and tissue fibronectin concentrations are not static, and they can only be maintained in a relatively stable state in normal rats.     

高效液相色谱法测定微量耳血中头孢他定的浓度

本文介绍采取微量耳血以高效液相色谱法测定头孢他定（Ｃｅｆｔａｚｉｄｉｍｅ）的血药浓度。血样经６％高氯酸沉淀蛋白，流动相为含２５％甲醇的０．０５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ醋酸铵溶液，以冰醋酸调节ｐＨ值至４～５，检测波长为２５４ｎｍ，内标物为头孢唑啉（Ｃｅｆａｚｏｌｉｎ）。经对家兔采取微量耳血测定其血药浓度，可知头孢他定为二室模型，Ｔ＿１／２α为０．１８±０．０５ｈ，Ｔ＿１／２β为１．７５±０．０７ｈ。并对３名住院病人静脉注射１ｇ头孢他定后定时分别取微量耳血进行分析，所得结果与文献基本一致。本文方法简便、快速，结果令人满意。     

孕妇血浆尿酸正常值及其在妊娠高血压综合征的诊断价值

测定了133名正常孕妇和133名妊高征患者的血浆尿酸,其平均值分别为324.00μmol/L和388.91μmol/L,有显著性差异,且尿酸增高程度与病情轻重有关,但两组尿酸分布大部分重叠。确定了孕妇血浆尿酸的95％正常值上限为445μmol/L,在此基础上评价了尿酸对妊高征的诊断价值,认为血浆尿酸只适合用于判断妊高征病情严重程度,不宜用于妊高征的诊断和鉴别诊断。     

The plasma kallikrein–kinin system and risk of cardiovascular disease in men

BACKGROUND: The plasma kallikrein-kinin system (PKKS) has been implicated in cardiovascular disease, but activation of the PKKS has not been directly probed in individuals at risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke. OBJECTIVE: To determine the involvement of the PKKS, including factor XI, in cardiovascular disease occurring in a nested case-control study from the Second Northwick Park Heart Study (NPHS-II). METHODS AND RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 10.7 years, 287 cases of CHD and stroke had been recorded and 542 age-matched controls were selected. When FXIIa-C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-inhibitor) concentrations were divided into tertiles (lowest tertile as reference), the odds ratios (ORs) at 95% CIs for CHD were 0.52 (0.34-0.80) in the middle tertile and 0.73 (0.49-1.09) in the highest tertile (P = 0.01 for the overall difference; P = 0.01 for CHD and stroke combined). For kallikrein-C1-inhibitor complexes, the ORs for stroke were 0.29 (0.12-0.72) and 0.67 (0.30-1.52) in the middle and high tertiles, respectively (P = 0.02). FXIIa-C1-inhibitor and kallikrein-C1-inhibitor complexes were negatively related to smoking and fibrinogen (P < 0.005). FXIa-inhibitor complexes correlated strongly with FXIIa-inhibitor complexes. CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of inhibitory complexes of the PKKS enzymes and particularly of FXIIa contribute to the risk of CHD and stroke in middle-aged men. This observation supports the involvement of the PKKS in atherothrombosis.     

The Effect of Desensitization Protocols on Human Splenic B-Cell Populations In Vivo

Rituximab, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) all have been suggested to have an effect on antibody producing cells, however, supporting data are lacking. To assess the impact of these agents on splenic B‐cell populations in vivo, we retrospectively examined 25 spleens removed from patients treated with these agents as part of desensitization protocols in either ABO incompatible or positive crossmatch living donor kidney transplantation. These were compared to control (CTL) spleens removed for trauma. CTLs and spleens removed at transplant after multiple pretransplant plasmaphereses (PP) plus low‐dose IVIG showed similar large numbers of naïve B cells (CD20⁺ and CD79⁺), plasma cells (CD138⁺) and memory B cells (CD27⁺ cells). Adding rituximab to this PP/IVIG regimen reduced the number naïve B cells, but had no effect on memory or plasma cells. Combination treatment (PP/IVIG, rituximab and rATG) showed a trend toward the reduction of CD27⁺ cells, but again plasma cells were unchanged. We conclude that none of these protocols reduces splenic plasma cells in vivo. PP/low‐dose IVIG does not alter splenic B cells, but the addition of rituximab decreases mature B cells. Memory B cells may be affected by combination therapy including rATG and requires further study.     

精浆尿酸的检测及其与精液参数的相关性研究

目的：建立精浆尿酸（UA）的检测方法并探讨精浆UA水平与精液参数的相关性。方法：根据检测血清UA的方法加以改良建立检测精浆UA的方法,并观察批内变异和不同技术人员检测结果之间的差异以评价方法的可接受性。同时分析138例男性精浆UA水平与患者年龄、禁欲时间、精液量、pH、精子密度、活动率、a＋b级精子百分率和正常形态精子百分率之间的相关性。结果：精浆UA检测方法的批内变异为9.16%,2位技术人员的检测结果没有显著性差异（P=0.541）。精浆UA水平与正常形态精子百分率呈正相关（r=0.350,P=0.025）,与精子活动率和a＋b级精子百分率有呈正相关的趋势（r=0.147和0.156,P=0.085和0.068）,而与精液分析其他参数如精液量、pH、精子密度、禁欲时间以及患者年龄等无相关性。结论：通过对血清UA检测方法加以改良可以建立可接受的精浆UA检测方法。精子形态学、活动率及a＋b级精子百分率可能与精浆UA水平高低有关。     

半自动生化分析仪检测精浆α葡糖苷酶活性的研究

目的:建立半自动生化分析仪检测精浆α葡糖苷酶活性的方法。方法:同时用半自动生化分析仪法(速率法)和手工葡萄糖氧化酶法检测51例精液常规分析参数均正常的男性精浆α葡糖苷酶活性,计算批内和批间变异系数以及正常参考值范围,并分析两种方法检测结果的相关性。结果:2例α葡糖苷酶活性不同的精浆样本用半自动生化分析仪法检测的批内变异系数分别为12.63%和9.13%,批间变异系数分别为10.67%和13.49%,正常参考值范围为102.28～555.08U/L。半自动生化分析仪法和手工法检测的精浆α葡糖苷酶活性呈显著正相关(r=0.792,P<0.01)。结论:半自动生化分析仪检测精浆α葡糖苷酶活性法简便、省时,节省试剂,结果稳定可靠。建议在男科实验室推广使用半自动生化分析仪法检测精浆α葡糖苷酶活性。     

Preemptive Plasmapheresis and Recurrence of FSGS in High-Risk Renal Transplant Recipients

Recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) following transplantation is ascribed to the presence of a circulating FSGS permeability factor (FSPF). Plasmapheresis (PP) can induce remission of proteinuria in recurrent FSGS. This study addressed the efficacy of pre-transplant PP in decreasing the incidence of recurrence in high-risk patients. Ten patients at high-risk for FSGS recurrence because of rapid progression to renal failure (n = 4) or prior transplant recurrence of FSGS (n = 6) underwent a course of 8 PP treatments in the peri-operative period. Recurrences were identified by proteinuria >3 g/day and confirmed by biopsy. Seven patients, including all 4 with first grafts and 3 of 6 with prior recurrence, were free of recurrence at follow-up (238-1258 days). Final serum creatinine in 8 patients with functioning kidneys averaged 1.53 mg/dL. FSGS recurred within 3 months in 3 patients, each of whom had lost prior transplants to recurrent FSGS. Two of these progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and the third has significant renal dysfunction. Based on inclusion criteria, recurrence rates of 60% were expected if no treatment was given. Therefore, PP may decrease the incidence of recurrent FSGS in high-risk patients. Definitive conclusions regarding optimal management can only be drawn from larger, randomized, controlled studies.     

Long-term application of diethylstilbestrol upregulates expressions of μ- and m-calpains in pituitary intermediate lobe of female Wistar rats

BACKGROUND: During formation of prolactin neoplasia, how cells and its structure in adenohypophysis affect prolactin cells should be further studied. Intermediate lobe can be regarded as a driving region to release prolactin (PRL) and may promote formation of prolactin neoplasia in pituitary anterior lobe. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of diethylstilbestrol (DES) on the expressions of μ and m-calpains in pituitary intermediate lobe of female Wistar rats. DESIGN: Observational contrast animal study. SETTING: Beijing Neurosurgical Institute. MATERIALS: A total of 21 female Wistar rats, 3 weeks old weighing 70–80 g were housed with free access to tap water and standard pellet food. They were kept in a CL-grade condition, at (24±1)℃ and a humidity of (55±5)%, and with a 12 hours day-night cycle. Caprine anti-μ- and m-calpains antibodies were provided by Santa Cruz Biotechnology, CA, USA; rabbit-anti-PRL antibodies by Dako, Denmark; rabbit-anti-ACTH antibody by Boster Company, Wuhan. METHODS: The experiment was carried out in Pathophysiological Department and Animal Laboratory, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute from August 2006 to January 2007. ① Rats were randomly divided into groups with 7 in each group, including vehicle control group, in which rats were injected intraperitoneally with sun-flower seed oil (1 mL/kg, twice a week) for 16 weeks; DES group, where animals were administered with DES (5 mg/kg, twice a week) for 16 weeks; DES + vehicle control group, in which DES was administered for 12 weeks at the same dose with those in DES group, and then was discontinued and replaced by sun-flower seed oil (1 mL/kg, twice a week) for the following 4 weeks. ② At 16 weeks later, pituitary tissue was dealt with HE staining and PRL immunohistochemical examination to observe evoke of tumor; meanwhile, immunohistochemical examination was used to observe expression of PRL of pituitary anterior lobe, expressions of μ- and m-calpains of pituitary intermediate lobe and distribution of adrenocorticotropin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Expression of PRL of pituitary anterior lobe, expressions of μ- and m-calpains of pituitary intermediate lobe and distribution of adrenocorticotropin. ② Morphological observation of pituitary tissue. RESULTS: All 21 rats were involved in the final analysis. ① Results of immunohistochemical examination: Morphological changes of neoplasia in DES group were strongly positive to PRL, and this suggested that formation of prolactin adenoma was observed in pituitary tissue. As compared with vehicle control group, expression of adrenoeorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was increased in both DES group and DES + vehicle control group. In addition, expressions of μ- and m-calpains in pituitary intermediate lobe were higher in DES group than that in vehicle control group. Otherwise, expressions of m-calpains in pituitary intermediate lobe was decreased in DES + vehicle control group, but expression of μ-calpains was still increased. ② Morphological observation of pituitary tissue: Gland tubes were orderly arranged in rats in vehicle control group. Anterior pituitary gland in rats of DES group demonstrated an apparent disappearance of gland tubes and a relatively large-scaled vasculature formation, namely the vascular lake lined by tightly arranged endothelial cells. Local integrated tumor cell arrangements were also detected. In addition, the border between the IL and the anterior lobe was locally blurred. The definite tumor-like changes in pituitary tissues were confirmed in 6 of 7 female Wistar rats in DES group, and one spontaneous occurrence of tumor formation was found in vehicle control group. In DES + vehicle control group, DES withdrawal led to the subtile emergence of gland tube cavity, although tumor-like cells still existed in 4 of 7 rats, suggesting occurrence of the tumor regression due to the withdrawal of DES. CONCLUSION: A long-term application of DES can enhance the expressions of ubiquitours neutral cysteine protease in pituitary intermediate lobe and this suggests that both of them play a key role in release of hormone and formation of prolactin neoplasia through directly promoting PRL expression and release of neighboring pituitary intermediate lobe.