Digital phenotyping for quantification of genetic diversity in inbred guava (Psidium guajava) families

Digital image analysis of seeds has been used for the identification of cultivars, determination of seed color and mechanical damage, and classification of different seed sizes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of digital image analysis of seeds for the quantification of genetic diversity among genotypes of inbred guava (Psidium guajava L.) families. The SAS Mini equipment, which consists of a capture module and a software program for analysis, was employed for the capture and analysis of the seed images. Different genetic diversity quantification strategies were tested using the Ward-Modified Location Model method. The set of variables related to geometry of the seeds was the largest contributor to divergence among the guava genotypes. The use of seed descriptors obtained by digital image analysis via the SAS system was efficient at quantifying the genetic diversity among genotypes of inbred guava families associated with the use of the Ward-Modified Location Model method.

Detection of myocardial ischemia by electron beam CT: Experimental studies

Purpose: To determine if contrast-enhanced electron beam CT (EBCT) can detect areas of acute myocardial ischemia, and if pharmacological stress testing improves the diagnostic accuracy of EBCT.

Material and Methods: We injected 0.5 ml/kg and 1.0 ml/kg b.w. of iopromide at a rate of 4 ml/s into the right atrium of 5 ventilated female minipigs at rest and after occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Both ventricles were examined at six short axis levels with an EBCT unit. Myocardial perfusion was calculated from the time-density curves of four left ventricular myocardial segments and the aorta. We also tested the effect of the contrast agent on myocardial density after i.v. administration of 0.6 mg/kg dipyridamole before and after LAD occlusion.

Results: At rest, the contrast agent increased myocardial density by 28±2 HU, corresponding to a myocardial perfusion estimate of 67±7 ml/min/100 g. After dipyridamole, myocardial density increased by 29±4 HU. Following occlusion of the LAD, anteroseptal myocardium displayed 10±4 HU density increase. The area of non-enhancement corresponded to ischemic myocardium in stained pathologic sections.

Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced stress EBCT can be used to detect areas of myocardial ischemia, and EBCT stress perfusion imaging may be necessary to consistently differentiate ischemic from non-ischemic myocardial tissue.

["Die grosse Barb" in the museum of the University of Marburg. An early documentation of acromegaly]

The university museum for cultural history in the castle of Marburg has a portrait "Die grosse Barb", which represents a women suffering from acromegaly. She shows the typical pathologic alterations: thickening of the skin folds, thickening of the lips and the eyelids, growth of bones and cartilages, lengthening of the nose, enlargement of the ears, protrusion of the zygoma, mandible and the chin. Acromegaly is a consequence of enhanced secretion of growth hormone, which occurs also as a symptom of several syndromes, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, McCune-Albright-syndrome, and NAME syndrome (Carney complex type I). The most remarkable symptom of acromegaly is the gigantism. This occurs also in androgen-deficient states, such as the Klinefelter syndrome and some more genetic syndromes, of which the Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome, the Sotos syndrome, the Marfan syndrome, the homocystinuria, and the fragile X-syndrome may be mentioned. Nothing is known on the further fate of the patient shown in the portrait. It is also unknown, whether she owes her position as a chambermaid to her gigantism, for it was a common use in courts to have people with abnormal body shapes in attendance.

Serum Levels of Testosterone Precursors, Testosterone and Estradiol in 10 Animal Species

Blood levels of testosterone precursors, i.e. pregnenolone, progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstendione, DHEA, and delta 5-androstendiol as well as testosterone and estradiol are measured in 10 animals each of 10 different species. The determination is done by radioimmunoassay with steroidspecific antibodies. Precursors of the delta 5-pathway (DHEA, androstendiol) are low in the red deer, dog, cat, rat and guinea pig. Precursors of the delta 4-pathway (progesterone, 17-hydroxprogesterone, androstendione) are lower in the bull, boar, ram, stallion and rabbit thus indicating a predominance of different pathways in the animal species studied herein. Pregnenolone concentrations are of equal height in all animals, testosterone is lowest in the cat and stallion. In the latter species the estradiol/testosterone ratio is spectacular high.

Monoclonal antibodies against antigens expressed by human sperm

The production and characterization of 21 mouse monoclonal antibodies (TüS1-TüS21) with specificity predominantly for human spermatozoa antigens is described. Reactivity of cells from human ejaculates, peripheral blood and several organs was determined using the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP)-technique as well as the indirect immunofluorescence test. 15 of the monoclonal antibodies reacted with various regions of human sperm and often also with their precursor cells in the testis. Cross-reactivity with animal spermatozoa was frequently observed.

Male accessory gland infection

Male accessory gland infection (MAGI) is a consequence of canalicular spreading of agents via urethra, prostate gland, seminal vesicles, deferent duct, epididymis and testis. Haematogenous infections are rare. The main infectious agents are Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis, and also enterobacteriae at a lesser frequency. Characteristic symptoms of MAGI are leukocytospermia, enhanced concentration of cytokines and reactive oxygen species. As complications, obstruction of the ductus epididymidis and/or another duct section, impairment of spermatogenesis in orchitis, impairment of sperm function, and dysfunctions of the male accessory glands may occur. Reduction of male fertility is a rare consequence. The treatment has to consider specific antibiotics.

Azoospermia in a renal transplant recipient during sirolimus (rapamycin) treatment

Sirolimus is used as a powerful immunosuppressant drug in patients after organ transplantation. It was shown to block spermatogenesis by interrupting the stem cell factor/c-kit system. Oligozoospermia was shown in single patients. In addition, a decrease of testosterone and an increase of gonadotropin levels were observed. We report on a young patient who showed azoospermia during the treatment with sirolimus after renal transplantation. After changing the immunosuppression to tacrolimus, spermatogenesis of the patient recovered. Five months after cessation of the treatment with sirolimus, a sperm concentration of 8 x 10(6) ml(-1) was found. Depression of spermatogenesis is an important side effect in younger men who aspire paternity, so that waiving of sirolimus is advisable in these patients.

[Urogenital chlamydial infections in women and men]

Genital infections with Chlamydia trachomatis occur in all social groups in Germany. About 100,000 German women are sterile because of tubal scarring due to chlamydiae. Genital chlamydial infections are asymptomatic in 70% of patients, even if salpingitis occurs. Typical symptoms of chlamydial infection are purulent cervicitis with vaginal discharge, painful cervical bleeding because of endometritis, lower abdominal pain with dyspareunia, and upper abdominal pain because of perihepatitis. DNA amplification tests on first voided urine or cervical swab are the most sensitive routine tests. Specific serum antibodies to C. trachomatis indicate a previous infection in sterile women. For treatment, a 10-14 day course of doxycycline 200 mg daily or a macrolide antibiotic in the patient as well as in the sexual partner is recommended. In the male, C. trachomatis causes urethritis and epididymitis. Opinions differ about involvement of the prostate gland and seminal vesicles. Identification of C. trachomatis antigen or DNA in the accessory gland secretions is not sufficiently reproducible. The two vectors are easily diagnosed in urethral swabs or in urine. The occurrence of chlamydial antibodies in serum or in seminal fluid is not a sign of current infection. Reliable studies which indicate a reduced fertility of men infected with C. trachomatis are not available.

Multicentre, phase II trial on the safety and efficacy of topical tacrolimus ointment for the treatment of lichen sclerosus

BACKGROUND

Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease causing significant sclerosis, atrophy and pruritus. Treatment remains unsatisfactory, with potent corticosteroids being the most effective therapy.

OBJECTIVES

To conduct a multicentre, phase II trial to assess the safety and efficacy of tacrolimus ointment 0.1% for the treatment of lichen sclerosus with a follow-up period of 18 months at 10 university and teaching hospitals in Germany and Austria.

METHODS

Eighty-four patients (49 women, 32 men and three girls) aged between 5 and 85 years with long-standing, active lichen sclerosus (79 with anogenital and five with extragenital localization) were treated with topical tacrolimus ointment 0.1% twice daily for 16 weeks. Computerized analysis of the lesional area was performed. The primary endpoint was clearance of active lichen sclerosus. Secondary endpoints were time to optimal response, reduction of sclerosis and duration of remission.

RESULTS

The primary endpoint (clearance of active lichen sclerosus) was reached by 43% of patients at 24 weeks of treatment. Partial resolution was reached in 34% of patients. Maximal effects occurred between week 10 and 24 of therapy. Treatment led to a significant reduction of the total lesional area (P < 0.01) and to a significant decline in the total symptom score (P < 0.005). Symptoms (e.g. itching) and findings (erythema, erosions and induration) showed significant improvement. No serious adverse events were observed. There were three (9%) recurrences during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Topical tacrolimus ointment 0.1% was safe and effective for the treatment of long-standing active lichen sclerosus.

[Syphilis]

The incidence of syphilis, an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum, is low worldwide. The knowledge of its symptoms is however important, since the infectivity is high and therapy is comparatively easy. The first feature of an infection is the chancre, which is nearly always located in the genital region. In half of the infected patients after 8-12 weeks, if untreated, a generalisation takes place, during which the bacteria affect all organ systems. At first the skin diseases are most prominent; in long-term disease (late syphilis) symptoms of the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system become more relevant. In the chancre the infectious agent may be proven natively, but not in a culture. At about 3-6 weeks after infection specific serum antibodies may be proven with very sensitive and specific methods. Mainly the TPHA and FTA tests are used. These tests allow a reliable diagnosis to be made also in cases with ambiguous clinical features. The treatment of syphilis is performed by using parenteral depot penicillins for 14 days. It may also be applied as post-exposure prophylaxis. Specifics of the course have to be take into consideration in cases of coexisting HIV infections and neurosyphilis. The disease has a favourable prognosis, when treatment starts early enough.

Are antisperm antibodies indeed sperm-specific?

Antisperm antibodies (ASA) are present in a high percentage of infertile patients. The development of ASA in the male depends on the sequestration of antigens on germ cells, the testis being an immune privileged region. In this study, we investigated the specificity of ASA binding to sperm antigens by exposing a number of organ preparations to ASA. In none of the organ homogenates was a significant difference between the results of the Western blot with ASA-containing fluids, neither serum nor seminal plasma, and those without ASA observed. We conclude from our results that the ASA tested in our study obviously are sperm-specific. ASA as an autoimmune are thus restricted to spermatozoa. The antigens are suitable for trials in immune therapy, they may also serve for the development of antigen-specific diagnosis and treatment in infertility. They also indicate cognate antigens of possible immune contraceptive agents.

Male breast cancer--an andrological disease: risk factors and diagnosis

Gynaecomastia, the enlargement of the male breast, is considered as an andrological disease. To date, a review on male breast cancer (MBC) has not been published in an andrological journal. The papers underlying this review were published from authors of different institutions: Clinical Genetics, Dermatology, Gynaecology, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Pathology, Psychiatry, Radiology and Surgery. MBC accounts for approximately 1% of breast cancer patients. A total of 182 men died of breast cancer in 1999, in Germany. In the US, 1500 new cases per year occur. MBC accounts for <5% of surgically removed breast lumps. Diseases with increased oestrogen action increase the risk of MBC. Mutations of distinct genes are estimated to account for up to roughly 10% of MBC. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are responsible for approximately 80% of the families with hereditary breast cancer. The diagnosis of MBC is not possible without histological examination. Different diagnostic procedures such as clinical diagnosis, sonography, mammography, fine-needle biopsy and core needle facilitate the decision whether a biopsy is necessary.

Personality, coping and sperm count

Previous research has suggested an association between personality traits and coping, as well as between coping and sperm concentration. In the present study, both domains of research were combined, leading to the formulation of specific hypotheses. A total of 54 healthy volunteers were given questionnaires twice to assess personality traits and coping behaviour. Participants also produced up to three semen specimens. As hypothesized, active coping was correlated negatively with neuroticism (r = -0.59) and positively with conscientiousness (r = 0.56), whereas sperm concentration was correlated negatively with both active coping (r = -0.28) and conscientiousness (r = -0.37). The relationship between conscientiousness and sperm concentration did not appear to be mediated by active coping. Although the correlations were small, evidence is mounting that psychological aspects and male sperm parameters are not independent. The present findings, however, should not lead to the conclusion that conscientiousness and active forms of coping are characteristics of infertile patients.

Polymernetzwerke als Aktor-Sensor-Systeme für die Automatisierung biomedizinischer Geräte / Polymer Networks as Actuator and Sensor Systems to be Used for Automation of Biomedical Devices

Polymer networks are based on molecules which are covalently or physically connected in a three-dimensional network. In presence of an appropriate solvent these networks swell by solvent absorption to form gels. These gels, which are called hydrogels in case of water absorption, are able to change their volume by more than a hundred-fold. During the swelling or shrinking process the hydrogels perform a mechanical work. Their volume standardized working capacity can be ten-times larger than that of an electromagnet. Due to their simple design, miniaturisation properties, and their ability to realize many automatic sensor and actuator functions, smart hydrogels offer new solutions in biomedical technology.

The impact of treatment experiences on the course of infertility distress in male patients

BACKGROUND

Previous research on infertile males has delivered equivocal findings on the course of infertility distress in males. The present longitudinal study examines whether there are differentials associated with specific treatment experiences (i.e. duration of treatment, the diagnosis received, and treatment failure of assisted reproductive technologies).

METHODS

The sample consisted of 118 patients who twice visited an andrology clinic on their own initiative for fertility work-ups. Baseline and follow-up examinations were > or = 6 months apart. Prior to each fertility work-up, patients completed a questionnaire assessing distress due to infertility.

RESULTS

No uniform course of distress could be detected. A significant interaction between treatment experiences indicated that distress rises significantly only in those patients who were in treatment > or = 17 months and experienced treatment failure between the first and the second psychological evaluation. For the diagnosis of male infertility, however, neither a direct nor an indirect impact was identified.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates that the interaction of specific treatment experiences is associated with changes in distress of infertile males.

Localization of binding sites of naturally occurring antisperm antibodies on human spermatozoa by immunofluorescence

Antisperm antibodies (ASA) may affect sperm motility, acrosome reaction, sperm penetration of cervical mucus, binding to the zona pellucida, and sperm-egg fusion. We investigated the localization of ASA of infertile men or men after vasectomy bound on the sperm surface using an immunofluorescence method. Binding occurred in the acrosomal region, midpiece, and tail. Most of the ASA in both groups of patients bound to the midpiece alone or in combination with other regions of spermatozoa. Only few ASA samples showed binding to all the three sperm regions. A combination of binding to the acrosomal region and to the midpiece was never observed. In infertile patients with ASA, the binding site was compared with sperm parameters. ASA binding to the sperm head influenced the acrosome reaction. Binding of ASA on tail and/or midpiece was not associated with a significant alteration of viability and motility. Immunofluorescence appears to be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of immune infertility, in particular when impairment of the acrosome activity is suggested.

Testosteronsubstitution beim alternden Mann

Testosterone effects different organs. Thus, a substitution of testosterone in the case of hormone deficiency seems plausible. By analysing 61 randomized studies, we demonstrated that in men older than 65 years there is an increase in bone mass (but not a decrease in fracture risk), an increase in lean body mass, and an increase in erythropoiesis. Changes in cardiovascular parameters, serum lipids, muscle mass, sexual functions, cognition and mood, however, are not clearly proven. The prostate is not negatively influenced. The lack of clear hazards from testosterone substitution in the aging male does not indicate unrestricted treatment safety. Until all doubts are cleared, each treatment should be carefully documented and monitored.