Distinct Expression of Cytokines and Mitogenic Inhibitory Factors in Semen of Fertile and Infertile Men

PROBLEM: To assess the effect of seminal plasma (SP) of fertile and infertile men on leukocyte mitogenic response, and the capability of sperm cells to produce IL-1. METHODS: This study included four groups: fertile men (donors, normal), infertile men with azoospermia (azoo), oligo-terato-asthenozoospermia (OTA), and OTA with genital infection (OTA-inf). Mouse spleen cell proliferation in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Concanavalin-A (Con-A) was examined in the presence of SP from the above four groups. Supernatants (sup) and lysates (lys) of sperm cells from fertile and oligoteratoasthenospermic (OTA) men were evaluated for IL-1 bioactivity by specific bioassay. RESULTS: Seminal plasma (SP) of the four groups were shown to inhibit the mitogenic response of mouse spleen cells to LPS and Con-A. SP of fertile men was significantly more inhibitory than SP from infertile men. Sperm cells from fertile and OTA infertile men constitutively produced IL-1. Sperm cells of both groups produced similar levels of IL-1 as examined in the supernatants and lysates. CONCLUSIONS: Seminal plasma of fertile men had more inhibitory mitogenic activity than that of OTA. Sperm cells constitutively produce IL-1. It is possible that the factors involved in this inhibition are not only anti-proliferative immune factors. Cytokines and inhibitory factors of mitogenesis in the seminal plasma may be involved in the physiology and pathophysiology of sperm functions and thus affect male fertility.     

Remarkable correlation between increased HLA-DQ antigen positive monocytes and prognosis of renal transplantation

Since cyclosporin A (CsA), a widely used immunosuppressive drug, strongly suppresses interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion, it is frequently difficult to estimate T lymphocyte activation in early acute rejection. We found that, when evaluated based on HLA-DQ antigen expression, monocyte activation in the peripheral blood of renal transplantation patients was a very sharp parameter in diagosing acute rejection. All of 16 episodes of early acute rejection, which were relatively easily suppressed by steroid pulse therapy, showed a sharp increase in the proportion of HLA-DQ antigen-positive monocytes (DQ⁺ mono) and a quick return of DQ⁺ mono to previous values, along with a fall in serum creatinine levels. Since, however, HLA-DR antigen-positive T lymphocytes (DR ⁺T) were markedly increased over a long period in episodes of therapy-resistant and chronic rejection, their prolonged high value was regarded as a parameter indicative of poor prognosis.     

Sequential occurrence of IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura: support for common pathogenesis

We report a patient who developed Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) 13 years after he presented with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). In both HSP and IgAN renal biopsy most commonly reveals focal proliferative glomerulonephritis on light microscopy and immunofluorescence displays mesangial IgA deposits. In addition, patients with HSP or IgAN have elevated serum IgA levels, circulating IgA immune complexes, IgA-bearing lymphocytes, immunoglobulin-producing cells, and binding of IgG to glomerular components of similar molecular weight. The occurrence of both diseases in the same patient or the same families and the presence of immune abnormalities compatible with HSP or IgAN in relatives of patients with these diseases suggest a common pathogenesis.     

Immunological and respiratory reactions in workers exposed to organic dusts

The relationship of skin reactivity and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels to the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and to ventilatory capacity is examined in workers exposed to different organic aerosols. The results from group of control workers similarly tested are also presented. Workers exposed to occupational allergens had positive skin tests more frequently than did controls, except for soy bean workers. Workers with positive skin tests to occupational allergens had a higher prevalence of almost all symptoms than those with negative skin tests although the differences did not always reach statistical significance. Workers with positive skin reactions in general had significantly higher serum IgE levels than did workers with negative skin reactions. There were across-shift reductions of ventilatory capacity in all groups of exposed workers, varying for forced vital capacity from 1.7% to 13.3%, for forced expiratory volume from 0.4%–21.9%, for maximum flow rates at 50% from 1.5% to 16.1% and for maximum flow rates at the last 25% of control vital capacity from 0% to 24.9%. There was, however, no correlation between acute and chronic lung function changes and skin reactivity or IgE values. Our data suggest that although exposure to organic aerosols may be associated with frequent immunologic reactions, these findings do not predict objective respiratory impairment.The research was supported in part by grant no. JBP 733 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., USA, and by grant no. RO1 OHO-2593-04 from the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga., USA     

中药抑抗灵治疗抗精子抗体介导的免疫性不育的实验研究Ⅰ

目的 :观察中药抑抗灵对抗精子抗体 (AsAb)介导的免疫性不育的疗效。　方法 :在建立AsAb介导的免疫性不育动物模型的基础上 ,将新西兰兔随机分为 4组 ,即抑抗灵治疗组 ,强的松治疗组 ,未治疗组及阴性对照组。抑抗灵治疗组再随机分为 3组 ,即低剂量组 ,中剂量组和高剂量组。疗程均为 4 5d ,分别在治疗的第 15、30、4 5d检测原血清AsAb呈阳性的雄、雌兔血清AsAb ,计算转阴率 ;检测顺从采精雄兔的精子密度 ,活力 ,活动率及精浆AsAb。　结果 :在抑抗灵治疗的第 15、30、4 5d ,雄、雌兔血清AsAb转阴率低剂量组分别为 30 %、6 0 %、10 0 %和4 4 .4 %、77.8%、10 0 % ;中剂量组分别为 30 %、5 5 .6 %、87.5 %和 4 0 %、6 0 %、10 0 % ;高剂量组分别为 33.3%、6 6 .7%、10 0 %和 4 0 %、6 6 .7%、10 0 %。强的松治疗组雄、雌兔血清AsAb转阴率 15、30、4 5d为 30 %、6 0 %、10 0 %和 30 %、70 %、10 0 %。未经治疗的雄、雌兔AsAb的自然转阴率 15、30、4 5d分别为 0、10 %、2 0 %。经统计 ,未治疗组与抑抗灵 3个剂量组 4 5d比较 ,未治疗组与强的松治疗组 4 5d比较 ,同一剂量抑抗灵治疗 4 5d与 15d血清AsAb转阴率比较差异均有显著性 (P均 <0 .0 5 )。治疗完成后检测顺从采精雄兔精浆AsAb ,经抑抗灵低、中、高剂量治     

钩端螺旋体核糖体提取物免疫保护作用的研究

作者对核糖体现有的制备方法进行了部分改进,从黄疸出血群赖型017株钩体中成功地制备了核糖体提取物。该提取物经SPA-ELISA 证实具有免疫原性,对40只受试豚鼠的保护试验结果表明,核糖体提取物对同型毒株的攻击具有明显的保护作用;结果还证明核糖体提取物能诱导机体的体液免疫反应。     

146例女性不孕症的病因分析

目的 分析女性不孕的病因。方法 收集1990-2000年我院女性不孕症146例，不孕时间2年以上。结果 不孕症的主要原因是子宫因素，感染因素及内分泌失调，原发性不孕以子宫因素为主，继发性不孕则以感染因素为主。结论 女性不孕症的原因常是多因素的，必须采用综合治疗，才能提高妊娠率。     

生殖激素检测在男性不育症诊断中的意义

本文报道了我院对３１５例男性不育症患者在第一次就诊时进行血清生殖激素ＦＳＨ、ＬＨ、Ｔ、ＰＲＬ、Ｅ２水平的检测，并进行详细的病史询问、常规体检和精液分析等检查。结果显示血清Ｔ值在不同的精子密度层次的男性不育症患者均呈正态分布。睾丸容积减少，ＦＳＨ、ＬＨ上升，Ｔ／ＬＨ下降，提示睾丸功能损害，并且Ｔ／ＬＨ的比值更能反映间质细胞的功能。血清ＰＲＬ和Ｅ２值在诊断高催乳素血症不育有意义，但在男性生育者和不生育者之间无明显差别。而且ＦＳＨ值在鉴别睾丸原发性与梗阻性无精子症是一项重要指标。作者讨论了血清生殖激素测定在不育症诊断中、在判定睾丸功能的损害程度中的意义。     

Selective drop-out in successive in-vitro fertilization attempts: the pendulum danger.

Success rates from in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in the long term are dependent on selection procedures with regard to continuation into further IVF episodes. Publications on success rates in successive episodes will give incentives to adapt selection criteria, but if these publications do not deal explicitly with patient selection, the adaptations might change their direction every time: the pendulum danger.     

Urine as an alternative to urethral swabs for the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis in infertile males

Swabbing the urethrae of men has been the traditional approach for collecting specimens for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis . Recently, however, urine testing using enzyme immunoassay has yielded promising results. A total of 105 patients attending the Andrology Clinic at Ga Rankuwa Hospital, Medunsa were included in the study. These patients were asymptomatic and had no urethral discharge. Three endo-urethral swabs and first-catch urine were collected fiom each patient. The urethral swabs were used for enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (IDEIA 111), tissue culture and direct immonufluorescent antibody (DFA) test (IMAGEN) to detect C. trachomatis . In addition about 15–30 ml of first-catch urine, or urine collected at least 2h after the previous micturition, was collected for each patient for EIA testing. Fifteen (14.3%) of 105 patients were positive on urethral swab EIA, in comparison with the DFA test in which 14 (13.3%) were positive. Eight (7.8%) were positive in tissue culture. Urine EIA was positive in 17 (16.2%) patients, of whom five (4.8%) were positive in urine EIA only. All EIA positive urines were confirmed by DFA. We recommend that first-catch urine or urine collected at least 2h after the previous micturition in infertile males may be considered a suitable alternative to urethral swab for chlamydial diagnosis because it is noninvasive and nontraumatic.