Levels of cholesterol and phospholipids in freshly ejaculated sperm and Percoll-gradient-pelletted sperm from fertile and unexplained infertile men

Cholesterol and phospholipid levels were determined in individual sperm samples obtained from 20 fertile and 20 unexplained infertile men. The determination was performed on both washed freshly ejaculated sperm and Percoll-gradient-pelletted sperm. Although sperm cholesterol levels in unexplained infertile patients were significantly lower, i.e., 10.6 +/- 1.3 (mean +/- SD) nmol/10(7) freshly ejaculated sperm and 5.4 +/- 0.7 nmol/10(7) Percoll-gradient-pelletted sperm as compared with 19.9 +/- 1.9 nmol/10(7) and 12.6 +/- 1.5 nmol/10(7) for corresponding sperm populations in fertile donors. Motility parameters measured in 10 sperm samples of the two groups of fertile and unexplained infertile men revealed increases in the amplitude of lateral head displacement and decreases in percent of straightness in sperm tracks from unexplained infertile men.     

Mosquito densonucleosis virus non-structural protein NS2 is necessary for a productive infection

Mosquito densonucleosis viruses synthesize two non-structural proteins, NS1 and NS2. While NS1 has been studied relatively well, little is known about NS2. Antiserum was raised against a peptide near the N-terminus of NS2, and used to conduct Western blot analysis and immuno-fluorescence assays. Western blots revealed a prominent band near the expected size (41 kDa). Immuno-fluorescence studies of mosquito cells transfected with AeDNV indicate that NS2 has a wider distribution pattern than does NS1, and the distribution pattern appears to be a function of time post-infection. Nuclear localization of NS2 requires intact C-terminus but does not require additional viral proteins. Mutations ranging from complete NS2 knock-out to a single missense amino acid substitution in NS2 can significantly reduce viral replication and production of viable progeny.     

Epithelial Ovarian Cancer with Endometriosis is not Associated with Menopausal Status: a Co-Association Study at Prapokklao Hospital

Objective: To determine any association between the menopausal status and epithelial ovarian cancer coexistingwith endometriosis (EOC-E). In addition, the prevalence and possible risk factors were assessed. Methods: Medicalrecords of 172 women with epithelial ovarian cancer between January 2011 and December 2016 at Prapokklao Hospitalwere reviewed and divided into two groups: EOC-E defined as the case group and without endometriosis (EOC-NE)as the control group. Results: The proportion of EOC-E was 18% (31/172). There were no significant differencesbetween the two groups in baseline clinical characteristics and presenting symptoms except for history of smokingand abnormal uterine bleeding found more often in EOC-E cases. Most EOC-E were of clear cell histological typefollowed by endometrioid and serous types (35.5, 25.8 and 22.6 %; respectively). The clear cell type was 8 timesmore likely in the EOC-E than in the EOC-NE (OR 8.0, 95% CI 2.97-21.89, p-value <0.001) group. Nulliparity andsmoking increased risk of EOC-E 2 and 7 times, respectively (OR 2.3, 95%CI 1.03-5.00, p-value 0.041 and OR 7.4,95%CI 1.18-46.63, p-value 0.032). Conclusions: EOC-E are relatively common. Abnormal uterine bleeding is the onlysignificant presenting symptom in the EOC-E as compared with the EOC-NE group. Endometriosis was a predictivefactor for clear cell and endometrioid type I EOC. Menopausal status and age were not associated with a presentationof endometriosis with EOC.     

A global perspective on cadmium pollution and toxicity in non-occupationally exposed population

Cadmium is a non-essential element that has high rates of soil to plant transference compared with other non-essential elements, and certain plant species accumulate large amounts of cadmium from low cadmium content soils. In this paper, levels of cadmium found in major food groups are highlighted together with cadmium levels found in liver and kidney samples from non-occupationally exposed populations. Data on human kidney cadmium levels identified recently, including the study in our own laboratory, are compared with older studies. Human-tissue cadmium contents showed large variations among individuals, but sources of the variation remain unknown. Exposure levels of 30-50 microg per day have been estimated for adults and these levels have been linked to increased risk of bone fracture, cancer, kidney dysfunction and hypertension. Increased mortality was found among individuals showing signs of cadmium renal toxicity compared with those without such signs, suggesting that renal toxicity may be an early warning of complications, sub-clinical or clinical morbidity.     

Associations between human liver and kidney cadmium content and immunochemically detected CYP4A11 apoprotein

This present study was undertaken to assess potential effects of cadmium on CYP4A11 apoprotein in human liver and kidney as detected by Western blotting using a highly specific anti-peptide antibody. Liver and kidney cortex samples were autopsy specimens of 37 individuals (26 males and 11 females) whose ages ranged from 3 to 89 years. All were Caucasians who had not been exposed to cadmium in the workplace. Reduced CYP4A11 apoprotein levels were found in chronic hepatitis samples and in liver samples showing fatty changes. In contrast, increased CYP4A11 apoprotein levels were found in liver samples having higher cadmium content compared to the lower cadmium content samples. Increased CYP4A11 levels were also found in liver samples from female donors, compared to male donors; the difference being attributable to higher female liver cadmium burden. In distinction to liver, lowered CYP4A11 levels were seen in the kidney cortex samples which have high cadmium content. It is proposed here that the difference between the absolute cadmium burden of the liver and kidney samples may be responsible for the different patterns of expression of CYP4A11 in these two tissues. Further, since cadmium exposure may be associated with derangement in blood pressure control, it is interesting to note the possible relationship between altered CYP4A11-dependent production of arachidonic acid hydroxy and epoxy metabolites in kidney cortex and altered control of blood pressure. Our findings provide a possible link between these observations.     

Molecular evidence for novel tick-associated spotted fever group rickettsiae from Thailand

Ticks are of considerable medical and veterinary importance because they directly harm the host through their feeding action and indirectly through vectoring many bacterial pathogens. Despite many ticks being known from Thailand, very little is known about the bacteria they may harbor. We report here the results of a survey of tick-associated bacteria in Thailand. A total of 334 individuals representing 14 species of ticks in five genera were collected from 10 locations in Thailand and were examined for the human pathogens, Borrelia, Francisella, Rickettsia, and the common arthropod endosymbionts, Wolbachia, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using specific primers. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 30% (9/30) of Amblyomma testudinarium (Koch, 1844) collected from Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Nayok Province and 16.84% (16/95) of Hemaphysalis ornithophila (Hoogstraal and Kohls, 1959) collected from Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Nayok Province and Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, Chachoengsao Province. Rickettsial DNA was not detected in any of the other tick species and no DNA of Borrelia, Francisella, or Wolbachia was detected in any of 14 tick species. Phylogenetic relationships among the rickettsiae detected in this study and those of other rickettsiae were inferred from comparison of sequences of the 17-kDa antigen gene, the citrate synthase gene (gltA), and the 190-kDa outer membrane protein gene (ompA). Results indicated that the three Thai rickettsiae detected in this study represent new rickettsial genotypes and form a separate cluster among the spotted fever group rickettsiae.     

Endomyocardial Biopsy and Prevalence of Acute Cellular Rejection in Heart Transplantation

BackgroundPercutaneous endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) remains the criterion standard method for surveillance of allograft rejection after heart transplant (HT). However, data regarding utility of EMBs and prevalence of acute cellular rejection (ACR) in Asian populations are still limited. We aimed to report our experience in the use of EMBs and prevalence of ACR in HT recipients.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated all EMBs from consecutive HT recipients between January 2008 and December 2018. EMB pathology results were according to International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation 2004 revision of biopsy grading. We also divided patients into previous era and current era group (underwent HT before and after 2015) to compare prevalence of ACR and survival outcome.ResultsA total of 832 EMBs from 81 HT recipients were included. Pathologic reports revealed ACR grade 1R 22.8%, 2R 4.2%, and 3R 0.6%. At patient level, at least 1 episode of ACR grade 1R, 2R, and 3R were found in 70.6%, 24.7%, and 3.5% of the patients, respectively. When compared between era, frequency of EMB during the first year after HT in current era was significantly higher (9.74 ± 3.38 vs 4.93 ± 3.29, P < .001), but lower frequency of rejection grade ≥ 2R were found (2.3% vs 8.1%, P < .001). However, 1-year survival was not statistically different (76% in previous era vs 80% in current era, P = .37).ConclusionsFrom our study, prevalence of grade ≥ 2R rejection was approximately 5%, which is comparable with previous studies. Further studies are needed to evaluate proper interval and number of EMBs in HT recipients.     

Evaluation of mosquito densoviruses for controlling Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae): variation in efficiency due to virus strain and geographic origin of mosquitoes

Four mosquito densovirus strains were assayed for mortality and infectivity against Aedes aegypti larvae from different geographic regions. The viral titers were quantified by real-time PCR using TaqMan technology. Firstinstar larvae were exposed to the same titer of each densovirus strain for 48 hours. All strains of densoviruses exhibited larvicidal activity and caused more than 80% mortality and infectivity in the three mosquito strains. AalDNV-exposed larvae had the highest mortality rate. The mean time to death of AalDNV-exposed larvae was shorter than other DNVs-exposed larvae. We can conclude that different densovirus strains exhibit some variations in their pathogenicity to different populations of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. A few mosquitoes from Chachoengsao and Bangkok exposed to AeDNV and AThDNV survived to the adult stage to lay eggs and showed 22% to 50% vertical transmission in the F1 generation. Phylogenetic analysis of four densovirus strains indicated that mosquito densoviruses are separated into two distinct clades.     

Outbreak of postoperative endophthalmitis in a Thai tertiary care center.

We performed a study with a 1:3 ratio of case patients (n = 11) to control patients (n = 33) to evaluate risk factors for postoperative endophthalmitis in a Thai tertiary care center. Multivariate analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus and surgeon A were associated risk factors. Preoperative diabetes mellitus control and the improvement of infection control practices led to the termination of the outbreak.