Linoleate-rich triacylglycerol in Panax pseudo-ginseng improves erythrocyte deformability in vitro

With Reid's filtration techniques as a bioassay for evaluating red blood cell (RBC) deformability, we purified from Panax pseudo-ginseng an active component that improved the deformability of calcium-loaded RBC. NMR and mass spectrometric studies showed that the purified substance was a triacylglycerol (TG) with linoleic acid as the major fatty acid residue in the esterified positions of glycerol. The mechanism for this TG to improve RBC deformability could be a modification of membrane fluidity rather than a competitive antagonism with calcium ion.

Hearts with twisted atrioventricular connections: findings at MR imaging

The "crisscross" heart and the heart with "superoinferior ventricles" are closely related congenital cardiac malformations that are characterized by twisted atrioventricular connections. The authors studied the morphologic characteristics of three hearts with twisted atrioventricular connections as seen on magnetic resonance (MR) images. The most important clue to the diagnosis was the distorted atrioventricular connections that were demonstrated on serial images. The axes of the atrioventricular connections through the atrioventricular valves were not parallel to each other. The presence of unusual recesses in the cardiac chambers, the angulated or curved configuration of the atrial and ventricular septa, and the unexpected great arterial relationship for the given combination of segmental connections supported the findings of twisted atrioventricular connections. MR imaging facilitated the precise morphologic diagnosis of these hearts.

Effect of triacylglycerols on erythrocyte deformability in vitro

With Reid's filtration technique as a bioassay for evaluating red blood cell (RBC) deformability, we found that tripalmitolein, triolein and trilinolein improved the deformability of calcium-loaded RBC while glycerol, linoleic acid, dilinoleoyl phosphatidyl choline, trilpalmitin, tristearin, trilinolenin and triarachidonin did not. Maximal effect of tripalmitolein, triolein and trilinolein was achieved at 10(-9), 10(-10) and 10(-8) M respectively. We propose that only those triacylglycerols which contain fatty acids with one or two double bonds could modify RBC membrane fluidity and improve RBC deformability.

Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among dentists in Taiwan

To evaluate whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an occupational hazard in the dental environment, serum samples collected in 1990-1991 from 461 dentists were tested for the antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) with first- and second-generation HCV enzyme-linked immunoassays (EIAs). Five of the 363 (1.38%) serum samples were reactive by the first-generation (C100-3) HCV EIA. Of the same 363 samples and the other 98 samples, 3 (0.65%) were reactive by the second-generation test. Of the 5 first-generation EIA reactive samples, only the 2 samples showing an absorbance of greater than 2.0 were also reactive to the second-generation EIA. The other 3 low-absorbance samples became negative and were regarded as false positives. Among the 358 samples negative by the first-generation EIA, 1 was reacted by the second-generation EIA. Those samples positive by the first- and/or second-generation HCV EIA were analyzed further by cDNA/polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of HCV RNA. Only 1 of the 5 first-generation EIA reactive samples was positive by PCR, but 2 of the 3 second-generation EIA reactive samples were PCR positive. These results are comparable to the anti-HCV prevalence of healthy blood donors (0.95% by C100-3 assay) and pregnant women (0.63% by recombinant immunoblot assay). We conclude that the prevalence of HCV infection among dentists in Taiwan is low, and there is no increased risk of HCV infection through the practice of dentistry, at least in our area.

Tail beat frequency of human sperm: evaluated with sperm head fixation method and computer-assisted semen analysis

Tail beat frequency (TBF) of individual sperm in 15 semen samples was evaluated with a sperm head fixation method (SHFM). Motility parameters of the semen samples were also measured with computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). The TBF obtained from SHFM correlated best with beat cross-frequency obtained from CASA. The TBF measured soon after sperm head fixation also correlated well with total motility and rapid motility, but not with progress motility and critical motility measured with CASA. SHFM is a simple method for the study of tail beat frequency and the TBF of individual sperm is closely related to the overall motility in a semen sample.

Modification of human sperm function by human follicular fluid: a review

This review assesses whether human follicular fluid (hFF) is able to modify human sperm function in vitro. Addition of hFF has been found to stimulate the motility of washed human spermatozoa, to increase the percentage of hyperactivated spermatozoa, to induce the acrosome reaction, to attract spermatozoa to the site of fertilization and to facilitate penetration of the oocyte by spermatozoa. It is possible that hFF could provide a favourable environment around the oocyte for fertilization by spermatozoa. Inclusion of hFF in gamete transfer medium may also improve the success rate of assisted reproduction technology. Purification of individual components in hFF which modify different aspects of sperm function awaits further investigation.

Effect of an extract from Phyllanthus amarus on hepatitis B surface antigen gene expression in human hepatoma cells

It has been suggested that Phyllanthus amarus may be helpful in the treatment of hepatitis B virus infection. We studied the effect of an aqueous extract of P. amarus on the cultured hepatoma cell line HepA2. This cell line had been transfected with tandemly arranged HBV DNA and continued to synthesize and secrete both HBsAg and HBeAg. Extract of P. amarus reversibly inhibited cellular proliferation and suppressed HBsAg production but not HBeAg production in HepA2 cells. We also found that P. amarus suppressed HBsAg gene expression at mRNA level in a time-dependent manner, and selectively abolished the HBsAg gene promoter driven CAT activity. Our results demonstrate that P. amarus contains some active components which can suppress the HBsAg gene expression in human hepatoma cells. Such suppression may contribute the antiviral activity of P. amarus in vivo.

A motile human sperm head fixation method

In a solution containing less than 5% seminal fluid, human sperm has a tendency to attach its head on the smooth surface of an object. Based on such a phenomenon, a simple method was developed to fix sperm head on the surface of glass slide. This method was demonstrated by studying caffeine effect on the tail movement of human sperm in phosphate buffered saline. By analysing the images recorded on a videocassette, caffeine, a well known stimulator of human sperm motility, was shown to induce an immediate increase of sperm TBF (tail beat frequency) and the amplitude of TBF increase was found to be larger in sperm with lower basal TBF value. This method can provide a flock of head-fixed motile sperm for a precise sperm tail movement assessment or for other purposes.

Effect of pravastatin on fatty acid profile of low density lipoprotein in patients with hypercholesterolemia

We gave pravastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, to 21 hypercholesterolemic patients for 12 weeks after they had been on dietary therapy for 12 weeks. In addition to inducing a significant reduction of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, pravastatin significantly decreased the proportion of linoleic acid (18:2) and increased that of saturated (FA) (16:0 and 18:0) in the cholesterol ester of LDL. Linoleic acid was also reduced in the triglyceride of LDL. Besides, monounsaturated FA (16:1 and 18:1) were increased in the cholesterol ester, triglyceride and phospholipid of LDL, but the changes in monounsaturated FA were not statistically significant. The effect of pravastatin on the FA profile of LDL was similar to that of fibric acid derivatives. The mechanism as well as the clinical implication of these changes await further investigation.

Long-term nicotine exposure increases aortic endothelial cell death and enhances transendothelial macromolecular transport in rats

Repeated endothelial cell injury has been suggested as an initiating factor in atherogenesis. Dying or dead endothelial cells have been shown to make significant contributions to the local enhancement of transendothelial macromolecular transport. Since cigarette smoking is one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis, we examined the hypothesis that smoking accelerates atherogenesis by increasing the frequency of endothelial cell death and hence transendothelial macromolecular transport. Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were given nicotine at a weight-adjusted dose of 5 mg/kg body wt per day in their drinking water over a period of 6 weeks. A group of 16 age-matched male Sprague-Dawley rats not exposed to nicotine and maintained over the same time period served as the control group. In en face preparations of thoracic aorta, immunoglobulin G-containing dying or dead endothelial cells were identified by the indirect immunoperoxidase method, and endothelial leakage to Evans blue-albumin (EBA) complexes (5 minutes after intravenous injection) was visualized by fluorescence microscopy. The results showed that in nicotine-treated rats, 51% of dead endothelial cells were associated with EBA leakage, which was responsible for 57% of total EBA leaky foci. Both the frequency of endothelial cell death (0.94 +/- 0.11% versus 0.40 +/- 0.04%, p < 0.0001 by two-tailed, unpaired Student's t test) and the number density of EBA leaky foci (6.45 +/- 1.23/mm2 versus 3.30 +/- 0.49/mm2, p < 0.05 by two-tailed, unpaired t test) were significantly greater in nicotine-treated rats than in control rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Modification of the Wang tube to improve in vitro semen manipulation

The Wang tube was modified to improve in vitro semen manipulation, by adding another two racks to the anterior (posterior) wall of the low component of the Wang tube and supplying another four convex lenses symmetrical to those on the bottom wall. The former provides a slanted position leading to a complete real-time sperm separation image and benefiting low-quality sperm preparation when the modified Wang tube is turned on its side. The latter converses the microscope's light better and gives a clearer objective image.

Purification of a sperm motility stimulator from porcine follicular fluid

1. We purified a glycoprotein possessing a potent ability to stimulate porcine sperm motility, from porcine ovarian follicular fluid. 2. The protein, of molecular weight 52,000, has an N-terminal sequence similar to that of antithrombin III, indicating that it is identical to or highly homologous to antithrombin III. 3. Thus it is proposed that antithrombin III or its homologue is involved in the mammalian fertilization process.

Takayasu arteritis in Korean children: Clinical report of seventy cases

Seventy cases of Takayasu arteritis in Korean children are reported. There were 57 females and 13 males (male-to-female ratio; 1:4.4). The youngest patient was a 3-year-old female. Family history was positive in one patient. The most common chief complaints on admission were dyspnea, headache, palpitation, and edema which were due to hypertension and congestive heart failure. Hypertension was seen in 65 out of 70 patients (92.8%). The abdominal aorta, thoracic aorta, and renal arteries were the most commonly involved sites in these children. Two patients had nephrotic syndrome. The frequency of positive tuberculin reaction was much higher in children with Takayasu arteritis compared with the general population, and the intensity of the reaction was also stronger. The majority of the patients required immediate medical treatment to control congestive heart failure due to hypertension at initial presentation. When ESR was elevated, corticosteroid was administered. Surgical treatment showed good results in six out of ten cases. Percutaneous intraluminal angioplasty was effective for lowering the blood pressure in six out of nine cases. In three cases, restenosis occurred and angioplasty was repeated in two cases.

Astragalus membranaceus stimulates human sperm motility in vitro

Poor sperm motility is an important cause of male infertility. In an attempt to identify Chinese medicinal herbs that might improve human sperm motility in vitro, we screened water extracts of 18 herbs with a trans-membrane migration method which measured the percentage of sperm that moved across the 5 micron pores of a Nucleopore membrane from a semen-drug mixture into phosphate buffered saline during 2 hours incubation. Astragalus membranaceus was the only herb that showed a significant stimulatory effect. At 10 mg/ml, it increased the motility of sperm in semen to 146.6 +/- 22.6% of control. It also increased the motility of washed sperm to 138.2 +/- 13.8% of control. Purification of the active component(s) from this herb as well as its application in assisted reproduction technology await further investigation.

Human follicular fluid stimulates motility and velocity of washed human sperm in vitro

Human follicular fluid collected by laparoscopic oocyte pick-up during IVF was studied with a computer-assisted semen analyser to evaluate the effect of hFF on human sperm motility and velocity. Freshly ejaculated human sperm were washed with phosphate buffered saline and mixed with either PBS or hFF. At various incubation periods of time, hFF increased both sperm motility and velocity as compared with control (P less than 0.01). After incubation of sperm with hFF at 37 degrees C and 5% CO2 in air for 0, 1, 3, 6, and 12 h, the amplitude increase of motility were 49%, 77%, 330%, 2020%, and 3340% when individual control motility was considered to be 100%. The amplitude increase of curvilinear velocity were 43%, 51%, 67%, 152%, 278%, respectively. Comparison of the motility and velocity of the sperm treated with hFF between 0 and 12 h, showed that hFF preserved both motility and velocity in vitro (P less than 0.01). The stimulatory effect of hFF was retained after boiling at 100 degrees C for 30 min, or after being filtered through Amicon membrane cones, but it disappeared if the hFF had been pre-treated with chymotrypsin. However, hFF did not stimulate the motility and velocity of unwashed sperm in freshly ejaculated human semen. A non-dialyzable and heat-stable factor(s) with a molecular weight below 50,000 in hFF may improve and maintain the motility and velocity of washed human sperm. Whether this factor could be used to improve pregnancy rate in assisted reproduction awaits further investigation.

Hypertension in the elderly--a review

This report reviews the recent studies on the risks of excess morbidity and mortality from untreated hypertension in the elderly (aged 60 and above), and the possible benefits derived from therapeutic intervention. These studies suggest that the 'young-old' (aged 60-80) have definite measurable risks associated with elevated blood pressure, which are reduced by appropriate treatment, but the benefits of conventional treatment on those above 80 years old are not so clear cut. With these findings the review examines the existing issues, the accompanying risks, criteria and recommendations for evaluating the elderly hypertensive, and the modalities of treatment.

Defects of the interventricular septum of the heart: en face MR imaging in the oblique coronal plane

MR imaging in the oblique coronal plane can provide an en face image of ventricular septal defects by visualizing the entire circumference of the defect. This pictorial essay illustrates various types of ventricular septal defects as seen on these images.

MR anatomy of ventricular septal defect in double-outlet right ventricle with situs solitus and atrioventricular concordance

Surgical treatment of patients with double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) depends on the spatial relation between the associated ventricular septal defect (VSD) and the arterial valves. This study was performed to refine the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of VSD in DORV. Ten patients with DORV underwent MR imaging. Coronal, transverse, and oblique images were obtained with an electrocardiographic-gated multiple-section spin-echo technique. The transverse plane was the most valuable in defining the spatial relation of the VSD to the arterial valves. The site of fusion of the outlet septum with the VSD margin was diagnostically the most important feature in differentiating subaortic from subpulmonary VSD. The outlet septum fused with the anterior margin in subaortic VSD and the posterior margin in subpulmonary VSD; it was absent in doubly committed VSD. This study suggests that MR imaging can demonstrate the pertinent features of VSD and may be an indispensable adjunct to echocardiography in the preoperative evaluation of patients with DORV.

[Application of a trans-membrane migration method in the study of human sperm motility: a review]

Transmembrane migration method is a bioassay specifically designed to study drug effect on human sperm motility. It was first used in the study of sperm immobilizing agents which have a membrane stabilizing effect. Then it was used to investigate the relationship between calcium ion and sperm motility. Recently, this method has been used to screen drugs that stimulate sperm motility. It has also been modified for the study of porcine sperm motility. Computer assisted semen analysis showed that the transmembrane migration method is most suitable for studying drug effect on rapid and straight-forward motility of sperm.

Techniques for selection of normal-chromatin sperm preparations

Various sperm preparation techniques, swim-up and Percoll gradient, and the newly developed Wang's tube system, were evaluated for their ability to recover normal-chromatin sperm. Twenty human semen samples, collected by masturbation, were studied simultaneously with the three methods. Analysis by Acridine orange fluorescence test was performed on all samples. Pretreated semen contains 58 +/- 22% green sperm (fertile/normal). Treatment with Wang's tube system resulted in 99 +/- 1.0% green sperm; Percoll gradient, 78 +/- 11%; and swim-up technique, 72 +/- 15%. It would appear that Wang's tube system yields a high-quality sperm preparation with enough concentration, very active forward progression, and greatly improved sperm morphology, while containing normal-chromatin, double-stranded DNA.

Pentoxifylline stimulates human sperm motility both in vitro and after oral therapy

Pentoxifylline is a haemorrheologic agent often used in the treatment of peripheral vascular disorders. In this study, we measured sperm motility with a trans-membrane migration method and investigated the effect of this drug in the treatment of male infertility. We found that pentoxifylline increased motility of ejaculated spermatozoa in vitro from both normal and asthenozoospermic samples. After giving pentoxifylline to patients with asthenozoospermia for 3 months, sperm motility significantly increased, but sperm concentration did not increase. From the above results, it can be concluded that pentoxifylline is a useful drug in the treatment of normogonadotropic asthenozoospermia.

The periapical tissue reactions to a calcium phosphate cement in the teeth of monkeys

A calcium phosphate cement, Grossman sealer, and Sargenti N2 were compared under conditions where root canals of monkey incisors were deliberately overfilled and the apical tissue responses were evaluated histologically. The periapical tissues exposed to Sargenti N2 revealed severe irritation at all times through the 6-month experimental period. The reactions to Grossman sealer were milder but persisted throughout the observation period. The calcium-phosphate-cement treated animals showed mild tissue irritation after 1 month, but thereafter the adverse tissue reactions were minimal. New bone formation adjacent to the cement was also observed. These results point to the possibility that calcium phosphate cement might be used in simplified endodontic procedures. The compatibility of calcium phosphate cement with the periapical tissue suggests that the cement may have other applications in dentistry and medicine.

Human follicular fluid stimulates the motility of washed human sperm

Human follicular fluid (hFF) was collected by laparoscopic oocyte pickup during IVF to evaluate the effect of hFF on human sperm motility with a transmembrane migration method. Freshly ejaculated human sperm were washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and mixed with either PBS or hFF. Amplitude of motility increases were 38% and 72% in washed fertile sperm and washed asthenozoospermic sperm when individual control motility was considered to be 100%. The stimulatory effect of hFF was lost when preheated at 100 degrees C for 30 minutes. hFF collected from mature follicles stimulated sperm motility better than that collected from intermediate or immature follicles. hFF did not stimulate the motility of unwashed sperm in freshly ejaculated human semen. A heat labile factor(s) in hFF may stimulate the motility of washed human sperm. Whether this factor could be used to improve the success rate of IVF and artificial insemination awaits further investigation.