Implantation, interception and contraception

The factors involved in post-fertilization events leading toimplantation in mammals are discussed with special referenceto potential forms of interception. The stages of embryonicgrowth until implantation are considered initially. The growthand differentiation of the uterine endometrium is then described,followed by the events occurring during the apposition and invasionof the implanting embryo. Several potential approaches to newforms of interception are considered, and the advantages anddisadvantages of each of them are evaluated. Among them, newvaccines against the zona pellucida, inactivation of the secretionsof the blastocyst, hatching, the activity of the pinopodes,and the endometrial proteins produced in the secretory phaseseem to offer various and varied targets. Some existing methodsof fertility regulation may act by affecting these stages ofdevelopment, e.g. RU486 may interfere with pinopod function.Various physiological and embryonic consequences of interferingwith these stages of pregnancy are discussed.     

Immunologic reactivity of (C57BL/6 × A/Sn)F1 mice in mixed Mycoplasma-virus infection

Mixed infection of hybrid mice, highly resistant to Rauscher virus, with this virus andMycoplasma arthritidis was accompanied by progressive inhibition of populations of splenic rosetteforming (REC) and plaque-forming (PFC) cells and led to induction of malignant erythroblastosis, cytologically identical with Rauscher's leukemia. During mixed infection of the hybrid mice withAcholeplasma laidlawii and Rauscher virus the immune response was almost completely suppressed on the 21st day and considerable splenomegaly was observed, but by the 62nd day of infection the RFC and PFC populations and also the weight of the spleens had regained the control level. The possible role of mycoplasmas in the induction and development of Rauscher's leukemia is discussed.N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician O. V. Baroyan.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 88, No. 9, pp. 327–329, September, 1979.     

Integrity of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier in early Parkinson's disease

Dysfunction of the blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCB) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, we assayed serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 30 parkinsonian patients and 30 controls for concentrations of albumin and IgG. The CSF/serum ratio for albumin (AQ), IgG (GQ), IgG-index as well as determination of oligoclonal bands were used to evaluate BCB function and to quantify humoral immune response within the central nervous system (CNS). Levels of AQ, GQ and IgG-index did not significantly differ in both groups. We found no dysfunction of the blood–CSF barrier or signs of local synthesis of IgG in the central nervous system of parkinsonian patients. Our data do not support the hypothesis of a dysfunctional BCB that contributes to pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PD.     

Immunoregulatory characteristics of human recombinant angiogenin

Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 115, N ^o 5, pp. 510–512, May, 1993     

LH syndrome and brain catecholamine levels after lesions of the nigrostriatal bundle

Lesions of the nigrostriatal bundle (NSB), whose fibers pass through the medial portions of the internal capsule and the immediately adjacent lateral hypothalamus (LH), produced a more severe aphagia, adipsia, and disturbance of water regulation than did lesions of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB). When deprived of food, animals with NSB lesions drank significantly less than controls and animals with MFB lesions. NSB lesions also produced greater decreases in telencephalic content of the catecholamines than MFB lesions, while the reverse was true for serotonin. Water intake during food deprivation was highly correlated with telencephalic catecholamine levels in animals with NSB lesions. Thus, the inability to regulate water intake in the absence of food, one of the characteristic and long lasting effects of the LH syndrome, appears to be due to destruction of the NSB and the consequent decline in telencephalic content of catecholamines.     

Quantitation of antigen-specific immune responses in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals by limiting dilution analysis

The lymphocyte proliferative response to recall antigens is lost following HIV infection. We sought to devise a means by which the functional immune status of persons in the early stages of HIV infection could be monitored quantitatively. The response to tetanus toxoid was examined in 45 HIV-infected individuals and 11 controls using conventional lymphocyte proliferative assays concurrently with limiting dilution analysis utilizing the secretion of interleukin-2 as the measure of a response. Our data show that the limiting dilution analysis detects tetanus toxoid-reactive T cells in 80% of those tested, as compared to only 44% by proliferation. However, the frequency of tetanus-reactive T cells in HIV-infected individuals (median frequency = 1/59,156) is decrease five-fold as compared to seronegative controls (median frequency = 1/11,599). Longitudinal studies demonstrated a time-dependent decrease in the frequency of tetanus-specific T cell responses in the HIV-infected individuals. Thus, the limiting dilution analysis is a quantitative approach for detecting antigen-specific T cells in HIV-infected individuals, and may be used to monitor changes in T cell function in HIV infection.     

Reproduction and thermoregulation in Peromyscus: Effects of chronic short days

Seven groups of laboratory reared Connecticut P. leucopus were exposed to a 9L:15D photoperiod for either 6, 9, 12, 20, 25, 32, or 36 weeks. An eighth group was maintained on 16L:8D. During the final 6 weeks all mice were cold exposed (13°C). Substantial reproductive regression occurred in females following 6 weeks exposure to 9L:15D relative to 16L:8D animals. In males, a slight decrease in testicular weight occurred following 6 weeks on 9L:15D; this effect was pronounced by 9 weeks, along with a decrease in seminal vesicle weight. Reproductive recrudescence occurred in females by week 32 and in males by week 36. Between 10 and 12 weeks on 9L:15D mice exhibited increases in nesting, incidence of daily torpor, and presence of the winter molt. These increases persisted through 36 weeks on 9L:15D. An increase in the interscapular brown fat pad occurred between 12 and 25 weeks. Reproductive and thermoregulatory characters respond differently to prolonged exposure to a short day photoperiod in this species.     

Regulation and selection of patients

During the past decades health legislation and regulation have been on the increase in most industrialized countries. The growing role of government in the provision and financing of health care, the need to correct given aspects of health care and the mandate to protect the underprivileged have been some of the many reasons for increased regulation. Different regulatory approaches and their respective advantages and disadvantages are reviewed in this paper. Particular attention is given to the crucial issue of how to regulate the access to scarce resources and how to cope within a legislative approach with the resulting patient selection.     

How defective spermatogenesis affects sperm DNA integrity

Spermatogenesis is the essential process to maintain and promote male fertility. It is extraordinarily complex with many regulatory elements and numerous steps. The process involves several cell types, regulatory molecules, repair mechanisms and epigenetic regulators. Evidence has shown that fertility can be negatively impacted by reduced sperm DNA integrity. Sources of sperm DNA damage include replication errors and causes of DNA fragmentation which include abortive apoptosis, defective maturation and oxidative stress. This review outlines the process of spermatogenesis, spermatogonial regulation and sperm differentiation; additionally, DNA damage and currently studied DNA repair mechanisms in spermatozoon are also covered.     

Scientific connotation of “treating different diseases with the same method” from the perspective of metabolic–immune dysregulation in inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis of digestive organs

Inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis develops in the context of chronic inflammation and is a significant cause of cancer within the digestive system. In the chronic inflammation microenvironment, the metabolic activity of tissue cells undergoes extensive changes, which interfere with the normal function of immune cells. Dysregulation of cell metabolism and immune function has been identified as a key factor contributing to inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis within the major digestive organs, such as the stomach, liver, and colorectum. This metabolic–immune imbalance also corresponds to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories of “yin-yang disharmony” and “disharmony between Ying-nutrients and Wei-defense.” The metabolic–immune imbalance has also been regarded as the key factor supporting “treatment of different diseases with the same method,” in which the same approach is adopted in the treatment of different conditions. In the TCM treatment process, it is necessary to first identify TCM patterns and then apply the corresponding TCM to correct the dysregulated metabolic and immune function, thereby blocking the progression from inflammation to malignancy. Our study findings deepen the TCM understanding of metabolic–immune dysregulation and the relationship between metabolic–immune dysregulation, pattern identification, and treatment method. They also provide new insights for the treatment of inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis in major digestive organs and help us further explore the scientific connotation of the TCM strategy of “treating different diseases with the same method.