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.     

Techniques to Ablate Premature Ventricular Ectopy Arising from the Coronary Sinus System

Frequent ventricular ectopy is often the cause of debilitating symptoms, even in the absence of structural heart disease or malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Mapping and ablation technology has evolved to offer permanent elimination of the ventricular ectopy as a means to manage symptoms. The majority of idiopathic ventricular ectopy originate from the endocardium, but some can only be ablated using an epicardial approach. 1 - 3 This paper describes two case reports that highlight some challenges of ablating symptomatic premature ventricular contractions arising from the coronary sinus system (CSS). (PACE 2011; 34:e74–e77)     

Reflux Nephropathy and Primary Vesicoureteric Reflux in Adults

We have studied the clinical features and course of adults withreflex nephropathy and/or primary vesicoureteric reflux, payingparticular attention to the differences between males and females,and the presenting features that influence prognosis. In ourseries of 293 patients, females outnumbered males in the ratio5:1 and most presented with urinary infection, whereas malesmost commonly presented with features of renal damage such asproteinuria, hypertension or renal failure. Males more commonlyhad bilateral scarring and persistent reflux. One hundred and forty-seven patients were followed for two yearsor more (range 2–19 years); deterioration in renal functionoccurred in 55 (37 per cent). Risk factors for a rise in plasmacreatinine were, in descending order, the presence of proteinuria,an elevated plasma creatinine concentration, bilateral scarring,male sex and the presence of hypertension. Stepwise multipleregression analysis showed that the independent risk factorswere proteinuria, elevated plasma creatinine concentration andhypertension; gender and the presence of persistent reflux hadno independent influence on the course of renal failure.     

Prazosin-induced Blockade of Extraneuronal Uptake Facilitates Dopaminergic Modulation of Muscle Twitches in Rat Vas Deferens

Preliminary findings in our laboratory have shown that prazosin augmented the inhibitory effects of dopamine on the electrically-evoked muscle twitches in rat vas deferens. In this study, we opted to investigate the underlying mechanism and whether a prazosin-induced blockade of extraneuronal uptake process may be involved. Cumulative additions of dopamine (1.8 times 10^?7-4.4 times 10^?5m) elicited slight (<30%) but dose-related inhibition of electrically-evoked (0.05 Hz, 1 ms duration and supramaximal voltage) muscle twitches of the vas deferens. Pretreatment with cocaine (10 μm), prazosin (50 nm) or oestradiol (10 μm) produced comparable potentiation of the inhibitory responses of dopamine; the pD₂ values to dopamine amounted to 4.47 ± 0.20, 4.72 ± 0.21 and 4.56 ± 0.19, respectively. A lower concentration of prazosin (5 nm) failed to alter dopaminergic responses. Further potentiation of dopamine responses was demonstrated in tissues preincubated with a combination of cocaine plus prazosin (50 nm), or cocaine plus oestradiol (pD₂, 5.40 ± 0.11 and 5.42 . 0.05, respectively). However, a mixture of all three drugs failed to elicit any further increase in dopamine responses, a finding that may suggest an extraneuronal uptake blocking activity for prazosin. Inhibition of muscle twitches evoked by bromocriptine, a dopaminoceptor agonist which is not a substrate for extraneuronal uptake, was not affected by prazosin (50 nm) pretreatment. The findings presented in this study emphasize the role of dopamine in modulating noradrenergic neurotransmission in rat vas deferens. More importantly, the results suggest that prazosin may act to block the extraneuronal uptake at noradrenergic sites, an effect that may account for its capability to facilitate dopaminergic modulation of noradrenergic neurotransmission.     

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA IN QATAR

Background. There is an increasing incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and skin cancer in general among various countries, where the sun is implicated as an important causative factor. Methods. Results of clinical and histopathologic examination and the incidence rate of BCCS were recorded over a period of 5 years at Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. Results. Basal cell carcinoma is the commonest skin cancer in Qatar. The average annual incidence per 100,000 residents of working manpower, standardized to the 1986 census, is 9.9 for both sexes and at all ages. Expatriates formed the highest proportion and of these, Europeans were predominant. The tumor was more frequent in men, on sun-exposed areas, was mostly of the nodular and infiltrative type, and occurred in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th decades. As a whole, persons with relatively heavily pigmented skin constituted 66.7% of the patients. Conclusions. Intense sunlight exposure during outdoor work and leisure activities in Qatar puts residents at increased risk for nonmelanoma skin cancer, even in persons with relatively pigmented skin.