bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A case of bleeding shock induced by injury of the intercostal artery following percutaneous nephrolithotripsy
Authors: Kakinoki Hiroaki , Yamaguchi Yukako , Yukimoto Minika , Kakinoki Yuka , Udo Kazuma , Tobu Shohei , Takeshita Go , Egashira Yoshiaki , Yamaguchi Ken , Noguchi Mitsuru
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The risk of postoperative bleeding complications should be concerned to perform percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. Most of the vascular injuries occurred at the peripheral renal artery in the previous reports. We experienced a case of bleeding shock induced by the injury of the intercostal artery in the abdominal wall following percutaneous nephrolithotripsy.

Case presentation

A 56‐year‐old woman had been in the bleeding shock status on the 2nd day after percutaneous nephrolithotoripsy. Emergently, contrast‐enhanced computed tomography was performed and extravasation of contrast agents was seen in the abdominal wall. Injuries of the intercostal artery were identified in the angiography and controlled by transcatheter arterial embolization.

Conclusion

The intercostal arteries could be injured in the anterolateral zone of the abdominal wall over the end of the ribs. Contrast‐enhanced computed tomography was useful to detect the bleeding point. Transcatheter arterial embolization was an effective and safe method to control bleedings from them.
Both sides of irrigation management: An empirical analysis of smallholders' perception of co‐management of irrigation systems
Authors: Salman Maher , Fertő Imre , Pek Eva
Published: October 2023

Growing water imbalance requires a systematic development process to enable the agriculture sector to address what it faces as challenges. However, the overall longevity and efficiency of developed infrastructure become doubtful if water users are not involved in the development process. Thus, the assessment of the impact of irrigation improvement on all sides of the management, including smallholders, is fundamental. The paper investigates the impact of irrigation improvement on farmers' satisfaction with transferred water services in the Old Lands in Egypt. A counterfactual analysis, relying on four alternative estimation methods, is introduced to measure the average treatment effect of irrigation improvement on farmers' perceptions of reliability, flexibility and equity of the water service. Such indicators' selection was planned under the assumption that combined social and engineering‐based approaches to impact assessments are more suitable to represent the perspectives of all stakeholders. The results of the analysis are consistent and show that increases in perceptions are positive and significant in each case, as the result of the improvement. The paper argues that modern infrastructure framed in successful co‐management can work towards a mutual interest.
Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract as an Infection‐Control Measure in Intensive Care Unit Patients
Authors: Occhipinti Donna J. , Itokazu Gail , Danziger Larry H.
Published: October 2023

Infection is responsible for a large percentage of morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Conventional infection‐control measures are directed at decreasing infection by exogenous sources and have had variable success in significantly reducing nosocomial infection rates. Selective gastrointestinal decontamination with topical nonabsorbable antibiotics attempts to reduce infection by eliminating intestinal mucosal colonization by pathogenic microorganisms. These antibiotics are selectively bactericidal against gram‐negative organisms and yeasts, thereby leaving the normal flora (mainly anaerobes) unharmed. In the majority of clinical trials, selective decontamination effectively reduced colonization and infection among ICU patients, with the most significant reductions observed in gram‐negative respiratory infections. Resistance to the antimicrobials was not documented in the majority of trials; however, follow‐up periods were minimal and may not have been adequate to detect selection of resistant strains. Reductions in infection do not alter mortality; however, patients without significant underlying disease appear to be the subgroup that will most likely benefit.
Bioequivalence of Soft Gelatin Capsules and Oral Solution of a New Cyclosporine Formulation
Authors: Kovarik John M. , Mueller Edgar A. , Johnston Atholl , Hitzenberger Gerhart , Kutz Klaus
Published: October 2023

Study Objective. To compare the bioavailability of cyclosporine from two oral dosage forms of a new microemulsion formulation.

Design. Open, randomized, three‐treatment, three‐period crossover investigation.

Setting. University‐affiliated clinical pharmacology research unit.

Patients. Twenty‐four healthy male volunteers.

Interventions. Single oral administrations of cyclosporine 180 mg given as a soft gelatin capsule (reference), an oral solution under fasting conditions, and the oral solution mixed with orange juice.

Measurements and Main Results. Serial venous blood samples were obtained over 48 hours after each administration to measure cyclosporine in whole blood by a specific monoclonal radioimmunoassay. For all three treatments, the mean maximum blood concentration (Cmax) of approximately 1100 ng/ml was reached at about 1.3 hours (tmax) after administration; the area under the blood concentration‐time curve (AUC) was, on average, 4700 ng·hr/ml. Bioequivalence was conclusively demonstrated for both the absorption rate (Cmax and tmax) and extent (AUC) of cyclosporine among the treatments inasmuch as the point estimates and 90% confidence intervals were within the respective equivalence ranges.

Conclusions. When administered in conjunction with routine concentration monitoring, the two oral dosage forms of the new microemulsion formulation of cyclosporine can be interchanged without need for dosage adjustments. In addition, the oral solution can be mixed with fruit juice without affecting the rate or extent of cyclosporine absorption.
Use of Proteinase Inhibitors in Clinical Practice
Authors: Pollard Richard B.
Published: October 2023

Drugs that are currently available for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the nucleoside analogs, are limited in their usefulness both by the fact that they all act at the same site of virus replication and because of the development of drug resistance. One of the major areas of HIV research therefore has been the development of new drugs, with the proteinase inhibitors showing promise in clinical trials. Proteinase inhibitors act at a different stage in the virus life cycle and are relatively nontoxic. Saquinavir mesylate (Hoffmann‐La Roche, Nutley, NJ) is the most extensively tested and appears to have activity, as assessed by immunologic and virologic methods in small trials and in one AIDS Clinical Trials Group study. Continuing research in phase 3 studies will help to clarify the most appropriate use for this drug.
Reversal of the Electrocardiographic Effects of Cocaine by Lidocaine. Part 2. Concentration‐Effect Relationships
Authors: Grawe Jeffrey J. , Hariman Robert J. , Winecoff Allison P. , Fischer James H. , Bauman Jerry L.
Published: October 2023

Ventricular arrhythmias due to cocaine may be related to its ability to slow ventricular conduction or prolong repolarization. We previously showed that lidocaine reversed QRS prolongation due to cocaine. The purposes of these experiments were to characterize cocaines concentration‐effect relationship on both ventricular conduction and repolarization, and to determine the effects of lidocaine on these relationships. The effects of lidocaine on cocaine‐induced electrocardiographic changes were studied in 20 isolated, Tyrode‐perfused guinea pig hearts. Variables at cocaine concentrations ranging from 3–195 μM were measured and repeated in the presence of a fixed concentration of lidocaine 30 μM. Using nonlinear regression analysis, the sigmoid Emax and simple Emax models were fit to cocaine concentration versus percentage change in QRS plots. Measures of best fit indicated that this relationship was best described by the sigmoid Emax model. Compared with cocaine alone, the curve for cocaine with lidocaine showed a greater EC50 (concentration at 50% of maximum effect) (59 vs 100 pM) but similar Emax (371 vs 367%), consistent with competition. Similar values were obtained from the linear transformation of the data. Cocaine concentration versus percentage change in the JTC interval showed a biphasic effect: concentrations below 65 μM prolonged JTC, but those above 65 μM had no effect or decreased JTC. In contrast to changes in QRS, addition of lidocaine increased the effects of cocaine on JTC: area under the concentration‐effect curve for cocaine alone was 720 versus 859 μM% for cocaine with lidocaine. Lidocaine reverses cocaine‐induced slowed ventricular conduction through competition for binding, but it appeared to increase cocaine‐induced prolongation of repolarization. These findings can be explained by the different effects on sodium and potassium currents depending on cocaine concentration, and may have important implications regarding mechanisms and therapy of cocaine‐induced arrhythmias.
Effects of Short‐Term Stimulation of Serotoninergic Pathways on the Pulsatile Secretion of Luteinizing Hormone in the Absence and Presence of Acute Opiate‐Receptor Blockage
Authors: URBAN RANDALL J. , VELDHUIS JOHANNES D.
Published: October 2023

To investigate the role of the serotoninergic system in regulating pulsatile gonadotropin secretion in man, we tested the influences of a novel selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitor (fluoxetine HCl) on episodic LH release in men. Spontaneous LH pulsatility was assessed by computerized analysis of serial LH concentrations measured in blood samples withdrawn at 10 min intervals for 24 h. Possible alterations in pituitary responsiveness were tested by administering three consecutive two‐hourly intravenous pulses of GnRH (10 μg, 10 μg, and 100 μg). The effects of fluoxetine (20 mg orally three times daily for one wk) were assessed in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled design. Compared with the placebo, fluoxetine elicited no changes in 24 h mean serum LH concentrations, LH pulse characteristics (Cluster analysis), or LH secretion and clearance parameters assessed in response to exogenous GnRH administration (deconvolution analysis) in the presence of normal opiatergic tone (nine healthy young men), and during acute blockade of the opiatergic system (seven young men treated with the mu‐opiate receptor antagonist, naltrexone). In summary, a selective enhancer of serotoninergic activity (fluoxetine HCl) does not affect pulsatile LH release basally or in the presence of acute inhibitory opiatergic tone. Since this probe does modify prolactin secretion in man, we conclude that stimulation of the serotoninergic system by this selective neuroendocrine probe shows no demonstrable coupling between the serotoninergic and the opiatergic pathways that modulate pulsatile LH release in man.
Rat Tumor Leydig Cells as a Test System for the Study of Sertoli Cell Factors That Stimulate Steroidogenesis
Authors: VERHOEVEN GUIDO , CAILLEAU JEAN
Published: October 2023

Transplantable rat Leydig cell tumor H‐540 was used to study the interactions between Leydig and Sertoli cells. These tumor cells maintain their steroidogenic capacity when cultured. Their responsiveness to a number of agonists that affect normal Leydig cells is markedly changed. Steroidogenesis can no longer be stimulated by luteinizing hormone (LH), but the cells remain responsive to dibutyrylcyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) and cholera toxin. Cultured cells mainly produce C21‐steroids, but the ability to produce androgens can be restored by pretreatment with dbcAMP. Coculture with Sertoli cells increases steroidogenesis in H‐540 cells, and this effect is enhanced by follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH). Experiments with a two‐chamber culture system show that these effects are mediated by one or more diffusible factors, some of which may be short‐acting. SCF, a Sertoli cell‐derived factor that stimulates normal Leydig cells, is not the mediator in this system since it is unable to stimulate steroidogenesis in Leydig tumor cells. Immunoneutralization experiments show that insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) is a permissive factor required to maintain steroidogenesis in Leydig tumor monocultures and in cocultures with Sertoli cells, but addition of IGF‐I does not mimic the stimulatory effect of coculture. It was concluded that factors other than SCF and IGF‐I must be involved in the stimulatory effects of coculture, and that H‐540 cells may be a useful tool for the study of these factors.
Correlation of Sperm Motion Parameters with Fertility in Rats Treated Subchronically with Epichlorohydrin
Authors: TOTH G. P. , STOBER J. A. , ZENICK H. , READ E. J. , CHRIST S. A. , SMITH M. K.
Published: October 2023

We investigated the relationship between fertility and sperm motion endpoints in rats treated subchronically with the male reproductive toxicant, epichlorohydrin (ECH). Male rats were given ECH orally for 23 days at dosages of 0, 6.25, 12.5, or 25 mg/kg/day. They were mated twice (at 19 and 22 days) to estimate fertility by (1) detection of fertilized ova (presence of sperm head and tail or two pronuclei) 18 hours after mating and by (2) counting implants on day 14 of gestation. Both indices showed dose‐related reductions (P < 0.001). Motion parameters of cauda epididymal sperm were assessed using the CellSoft computer‐assisted sperm motion analysis (CASA) system after the rats were asphyxiated on day 25. Curvilinear velocity, straight‐line velocity, linearity, and amplitude of lateral head displacement were reduced in a dose‐related manner. The fertility indices, percent fertilized ova, and percent implantation on day 14 of gestation were correlated significantly (r = 0.68; P = 0.0001). The following motion parameters were also correlated significantly with fertility (P < 0.0003; r1 = percent fertilized ova and r2 = percent implantation): linearity (r1 = 0.42; r2 = 0.40), amplitude of lateral head displacement (r1 = 0.54; r2 = 0.48), curvilinear velocity (r1 = 0.53; r2 = 0.50), straight‐line velocity (r1 = 0.55; r2 = 0.50), and percent motile sperm (r1 = 0.42; r2 = 0.32). These results suggest a relationship between toxicant‐induced reductions in sperm motion and fertility.
Facilitative Effect of Pulsed Addition of Dibutyryl cAMP on the Acrosome Reaction of Noncapacitated Human Spermatozoa
Authors: ANDERSON ROBERT A. , FEATHERGILL KENNETH A. , DE JONGE CHRISTOPHER J. , MACK STEPHEN R. , ZANEVELD LOURENS J.D.
Published: October 2023

Abstract: The in vitro acrosome reaction of noncapacitated human spermatozoa was induced by both calcium ionophore (A23187) and dibutyryl adenosine cyclic monophosphate (Bu2cAMP), a membrane permeant cyclic nucleotide analog, in a dose‐dependent manner. Maximal frequencies of acrosome‐reacted spermatozoa above baseline values (12%; 90% confidence limits = 10.6 to 14.2%) were similar for Bu2cAMP and A23187 (24.5% and 25.1%, respectively). The concentration of Bu2cAMP required for a half‐maximal response was 14.3 μmol/L, while that for A23187 was 24.5 pmol/L. The ability of A23187 to induce the acrosome reaction depended on the presence of calcium ion in the incubation medium. The A23187‐induced reaction was prevented by the inclusion of human serum albumin in the medium; the inhibitory effect of albumin was partially reversed after preincubation of spermatozoa for 3 hours under capacitating conditions. In contrast, the Bu2cAMP‐induced acrosome reaction was unaffected by either Ca2+ or albumin. Pulsed addition of Bu2cAMP enhanced the frequency of acrosome‐reacted spermatozoa. This effect appeared to be influenced by pulse frequency: additions made every 5 minutes produced a greater maximal response than additions made every 2 minutes or every 15 minutes. The maximum theoretical acrosome reaction above baseline values (12%) was 88% of the total number of cells, accounting for almost the entire sperm population. Pulsed addition of A23187 did not increase the frequency of acrosome‐reacted spermatozoa above values obtained from single equimolar additions of this agent. These data indicate that: (1) intracellular mechanisms for the human acrosome reaction are functional in noncapacitated spermatozoa; (2) the acrosome reaction can be separated from the process of capacitation; and (3) the acrosome reaction is affected by the pattern, as well as the type, of activation.
Participation of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP) as a Humoral Mediator in the Erectile Response of Canine Corpus Cavernosum Penis
Authors: YEH KANG‐HSIUNG , AOKI HIKARU , MATSUZAKA JUNICHI , RA SHIBUN , SATO FUMIO , FUJIOKA TOMOAKI , OHHORI TSUTOMU , KUBO TAKASHI , YASUDA NAOKI
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: The ability of anti‐vasoactive intestinal peptide (anti‐VIP) serum to suppress the electrically induced relaxation of the corpus cavernosum was evaluated in vitro to define the role of VIP in penile erection. Strips of canine corpora cavernosa were placed in 5‐ml organ chambers containing oxygenated Krebs‐Ringer solution. They were stretched and fixed in place at both ends and pretreated with 2 × 10−7 M noradrenaline (NA). NA was given to produce an optimal state of isometric smooth muscle contraction so that subsequent electrical field stimulation (EFS) could induce a good range of measurable relaxation response. This response was deemed to be an in vitro representation of penile erection. After NA treatment the cavernous tension rose markedly by 2–2.5 g; it then declined by up to 1–1.2 g upon EFS. Anti‐VIP serum (1:16) or atropine sulfate (10−6 M) was added at various time points between NA administration and EFS. When anti‐VIP serum was administered, subsequent EFS‐induced relaxation was attenuated by 20%–55% compared to the control EFS treatments. The degree of attenuation depended upon the frequency of EFS applied, being 20.6% ± 4.0% at 20 Hz and 54.7% ± 6.3% at 2 Hz. Atropine administered additionally following anti‐VIP serum produced no further attenuation. However, atropine alone was capable of producing up to 23.7% ± 3.5% attenuation. When anti‐VIP serum was administered following atropine, the degree of attenuation that ensured was the sum of the attenuations produced by each of the two substances independently. These results indicated that both VIP and acetylcholine were involved in the EFS‐induced erectile response, the contribution of the former being greater than that of the latter. A considerable portion of the EFS‐induced cavernous relaxation, however, appeared to be dependent on factors other than VIP and acetylcholine.
Human Osteoblast‐Like Cells Contain Specific, Saturable, High‐Affinity Glucocorticoid, Androgen, Estrogen, and 1α,—Dihydroxycholecalciferol Receptors
Authors: LIESEGANG PETER , ROMALO GABRIELA , SUDMANN MARGARETE , WOLF LUTZ , SCHWEIKERT HANS‐UDO
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Glucocorticoids, androgens, estrogens and 1α,25‐dihydroxycholecalciferol (1α,25‐(OH)2D3) exert a variety of effects on bone homeostasis. We have measured the receptors for these hormones in cultured human osteoblast‐like cells. Specific binding was found with each of the four steroids tested, namely maximum binding capacities, Bmax, of 2,581 (1,368–4,223), 146 (101–237), 176 (20–552), and 387 (290–620) fmol mg DNA−1 (mean, range) for [3H]dexamethasone, [3H]5α‐dihydrotestosterone, [3H]17β‐estradiol ([3H]E2), and [3H]1α,25‐(OH)2D3, respectively. The corresponding apparent dissociation constants were 13.3 (9.2–22.2), 0.43 (0.23–0.94), 0.45 (0.17–0.88), and 0.020 (0.008–0.030) nM, respectively. Both high‐affinity, low‐capacity and low‐affinity, high‐capacity specific [3H]E2 binding were demonstrable. In conclusion, we could demonstrate that human osteoblast‐like cells contain specific glucocorticoid receptors. In addition specific androgen, estrogen, and 1α,25‐(OH)2D3 binding was demonstrated. These cells contain several times more binding sites for dexamethasone than for dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, and 1α,25‐(OH)2D3, a feature that might contribute to the marked sensitivity of human bone to glucocorticoids.
FSH Is Produced by GnRH‐Deficient Men and Is Suppressed by Testosterone
Authors: WINTERS STEPHEN J.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Because there is an unexpected action of testosterone (T) to increase follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) production in the absence of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) in the rat, the effects of T treatment on circulating FSH were studied in men with GnRH deficiency. FSH immunoreactivity was identified in serum using a sensitive two‐site immunoassay in each of five untreated GnRH‐deficient men. Analysis by gel filtration chromatography revealed that circulating immunoreactive FSH coeluted with radiolabeled authentic FSH. T enanthate treatment suppressed serum FSH levels in each subject from (mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM]) 1.02 ± 0.94 to 0.26 ± 0.21 mIU/ml (P = 0.061, Wilcoxon rank sum test). Thus, FSH is produced in GnRH‐deficient men, but there is no evidence for the stimulatory effect of T on FSH production in the absence of GnRH, as observed in the rat. These preliminary data provide further evidence that male contraceptive strategies using GnRH antagonists to suppress LH and FSH production in normal men will not be counteracted by T replacement therapy, although the issue deserves further attention in that study population.
Increased Levels of Interleukin‐6 in Seminal Plasma of Infertile Men
Authors: NAZ RAJESH K. , KAPLAN PAUL
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: The presence of various cytokines, namely the tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α), interferon (IFN‐γ), and interleukins (IL‐1β and IL‐6), was investigated in seminal plasma of fertile, infertile, and immunoinfertile men using specific immunoradiometric assays. TNF‐α and IL‐1β were not detected. IFN‐γ was detected, but the differences between the levels of fertile and infertile/immunoinfertile were not significant (P > 0.05). IL‐6 was detected in seminal plasma with significantly higher levels in infertile/immunoinfertile men compared to those of fertile men. IL‐6 was also present in sera, and interestingly, the levels in sera were lower than those in seminal plasma. IL‐6 levels in seminal plasma correlated significantly with some sperm parameters and penetration rates in the human sperm penetration assay (SPA). These findings suggest that IL‐6 is associated with infertility and may be of importance in specific diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
A Morphometric Comparison of the Nuclear Morphology of Fresh and Frozen‐Thawed Human Zona‐Bound and Unbound Sperm
Authors: THOMPSON LISA A. , BROOK PHILLIP F. , WARREN M. ALISTAIR , BARRATT CHRISTOPHER L.R. , COOKE IAN D.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: The role of sperm nuclear morphology in zona binding and the effect of cryopreservation on sperm nuclear morphology have been investigated using objective criteria. The nuclear dimensions of fresh and frozen‐thawed sperm heads that had been prepared by the swim‐up (SU) technique, and bound to human oocytes in vitro, were measured using a computer‐assisted image analyzer. These were compared with each other and also to sperm in the SU samples and those that had not bound to the zona pellucida. The unbound (UB) sperm and SU sperm had very similar nuclear morphology. In contrast, the nuclear morphology of the zona‐bound (ZB) sperm differed significantly (P < 0.05) from that of the SU and UB sperm. These differences were found specifically between area, breadth, and roundness in the SU and ZB sperm preparations, and between area and roundness in the UB and ZB sperm preparations; the ZB sperm had smaller but rounder nuclei than either the SU or UB sperm. In addition, the frozen‐thawed sperm in the SU and UB groups showed a trend towards smaller nuclei than the corresponding fresh groups, whereas the frozen‐thawed ZB sperm had significantly (P < 0.05) smaller nuclear dimensions than the fresh ZB sperm. From the present study it appears that the ZB sperm are a morphologically distinct population, although it is not yet clear whether these differences reflect functional events that occur in the sperm head during its maturation or changes at the level of the sperm's DNA after the initial stage of zona binding. In addition, cryopreservation was found to cause a marked reduction in the head dimensions of the ZB sperm. Such a reduction might reflect a compaction of the sperm's DNA as a result of the freeze‐thawing process.
A New Approach to Study the Architectural Arrangement of Spermatogenic Stages Revealed Little Evidence of a Partial Wave Along the Length of Human Seminiferous Tubules
Authors: JOHNSON LARRY
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Although evidence of the spermatogenic wave in humans has been reported, little is known about the architectural arrangement of stages along the length of tubules in men with varied rates of sperm production. To conduct these studies, methodology is needed to stage relatively long lengths of straight portions of tubules in several men. Testes obtained at autopsy were glutaraldehyde perfused. Six men representing a range of daily sperm production were selected for this study. Wedges composed of groups of seminiferous tubules attached to the rete testis and separated by testicular septa were teased apart from the remaining testicular tissue, fixed in osmium, and oriented during Epon embedding. This orientation allowed for sections to be cut perpendicular to the length of the group of tubules, beginning at the end near where the tubules had been attached to the rete testis. Also, a tubule isolated away from the rete testis was oriented for perpendicular sectioning forone of the men. Several serial sections were cut at a setting of 22 μm, and each was optically sectioned approximately at 7 μm and photographed using Nomarski optics. Because many cytoplasmic and nuclear features of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids were distinguished in photomicrographs produced by Nomarskl optics, this optical system facilitated the identification of stages of the spermatogenuc cycle in human seminiferous tubules. Hence, the three‐dimensional architectural arrangement of spermatogenic stages can be evaluatedand staged in thick, serial sections of straight, oriented human seminiferous tubules by optical sectioning and Nomarski optics. No evidence of a complete wave composed of all six stages was observed inany man, regardless of sperm production rate, even when the helical arrangement of stages was considered. When plotted in two dimensions, two to three tubular segments were composed of consecutive stages in an angular direction down the length of the tubule stages. Based on a new approach, there appeared to be a helical arrangement of subsequent stages in a partial wave, but no complete wave was observed in human seminiferous tubules.
In Vivo Model for Chronic Direct Intratesticular Drug Adminstration
Authors: JAROW JONATHAN P. , KEENEY DIANE S. , ROBAIRE BERNARD , EWING LARRY L. , ZIRKIN BARRY R.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: The efficacy and toxicity of a new method for chronic direct intratesticular drug infusion were assessed in a rat model. To this end, luteinizing hormone (LH) or buffer was infused via mini‐osmotic pumps for 14 days directly into the parenchyma of Copenhagen rat testes. The surgical manipulation and direct infusion of buffer did not have any apparent adverse effect upon either spermatogenesis or steroidogenesis as measured by testis weight, homogenization‐resistant spermatid count, and in vitro response of the testes to a maximally stimulating concentration of LH. Histologic studies revealed only a localized inflammatory response in the testis around the Silastic tubing leading from the mini‐osmotic pump to the testis. The biologic efficacy of direct infusion into the testis was assessed by determining the ability of mini‐osmotic pump‐infused LH to maintain steroidogenesis for 14 days in animals whose pituitary function was suppressed by simultaneous subcutaneous placement of testosterone/estradiol capsules. Steroidogenesis was found to be maintained quantitatively in testes infused with an appropriate dose of LH. At a given LH dose, the directly infused testes were found to produce fivefold more testosterone than contralateral testes and 10‐fold more testosterone than testes from rats receiving systemic administration of the same dose of LH. We conclude that the mini‐osmotic pump system is a useful means to chronically administer a high concentration of LH, and presumably other agents, to the testis without any significant adverse effects.
Neuropeptides in the Human Penis: An Immunohistochemical Study
Authors: HAUSER‐KRONBERGER CORNELIA , HACKER GERHARD W. , GRAF ANTON‐H. , MACK DORIS , SUNDLER FRANK , DIETZE OTTO , FRICK JULIAN
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: In the present study, the distribution of neuropeptides in the human penis is demonstrated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). IHC screening detected a complex network of nerve fibers containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), peptide histidine‐methionine (PHM), prepro‐VIP (111–122), neuropeptide Y (NPY), C‐flanking peptide of NPY (C‐PON), calcitonin gene‐related peptide, subetance P, and galanin Immunoreactivities. Special attention was also given to the recently isolated, VIP‐related lizard peptide helospectin, which could also be detected in neuronal elements in the penis. Colocalization studies showed the coexistence of VIP, PHM, and partly helospectin, and of NPY with C‐PON within nerve fibers in the cavernous and spongious body, the glans penis, and the the urethra.
Effects of Macrophage Depletion at Different Times after Treatment with Ethylene Dimethane Sulfonate (EDS) on the Regeneration of Leydig Cells in the Adult Rat
Authors: GAYTAN F. , BELLIDO C. , MORALES C. , REYMUNDO C. , AGUILAR E. , VAN ROOUEN N.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Testicular macrophages were selectively depleted in the right testes of adult rats by an intratesticular injection of dichloromethylene diphosphonate‐containing liposomes (Cl2MDP‐Ip), whereas the left testes were injected with 0.9% NaCl and served as control. Before or after Leydig cell destruction with ethylene dimethane sulfonate (EDS), treatment with Cl2MDP‐Ip/NaCl was given at different times to study the requirements of macrophages in the different stages of Leydig cell regeneration. On day 30 after EDS treatment, new Leydig cells were abundant in the left, macrophage‐containing testes. However, in the right, macrophage‐depleted testes, the number of Leydig cells was related to the time elapsed between EDS treatment and macrophage depletion. When macrophages were depleted on day 10 before or on days 4 or 10 after EDS treatment, new Leydig cells were nearly absent at 30 days. However, when macrophages were depleted on days 16 or 22 after EDS treatment, Leydig cells were found at 30 days, but their numbers were equivalent to the number of Leydig cells that were already present in EDS‐treated animals at the time the macrophages were depleted. These results indicate that macrophages are needed for the differentiation of Leydig cells from mesenchymal precursors, as well as for the proliferative activity of the newly formed Leydig cells, possibly through the secretion of essential growth factors.
The Immunohistochemical Localization of α2‐Macroglobulin in Rat Testes Is Consistent with Its Role in Germ Cell Movement and Spermiation
Authors: ZHU LI‐JI , CHENG C. YAN , PHILLIPS DAVID M. , BARDIN C. WAYNE
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT:α2‐Macroglobulin (α2‐MG) is a nonspecific protease inhibitor and binding protein for peptide hormones that was recently isolated from Sertoli cell‐enriched culture medium and shown to be the same protein as α2‐MG in serum. The present study was conducted to determine the localization of α2‐MG in the seminiferous epithelium in order to gain insight into its possible site(s) of action. Immunostainable α2‐MG was present in the lumen of the tubules consistent with its proposed role as a protease inhibitor needed to inactivate the protease released from defective spermatozoa in the male reproductive tract. Immunoreactive α2‐MG was also localized adjacent to the heads of elongated spermatids, the most mobile cells in the seminiferous epithelium; immunostainable α2‐MG was not observed adjacent to round spermatids and spermatocytes, which are relatively less mobile. The intensity of the staining around the elongated spermatids was dependent on the stage of the spermatogenic cycle. Stainable α2‐MG was present adjacent to the spermatids in stage XI soon after the elongation process began. Immunoreactive product was in stages XI‐XIV but only faintly visible. The most intense staining reaction for α2‐MG was in stages XI‐XIV; it was reduced in stage VII; and virtually no α2‐MG was detectable in stages VIII‐ X at and just after spermiation. The postnatal changes of α2‐MG in the testis was also examined. During the first 2 weeks after birth, α2‐MG was not detected in the seminiferous epithelium. Positive α2‐MG staining was detected in Sertoli cells by 21 days of age, which progressively increased. By day 42, α2‐MG was mainly in the perinuclear region of the Sertoli cells and in the longer cytoplasmic processes extending to the heads of the elongate spermatids. Conclusions: (1) The localization of α2‐MG adjacent to etongated spermatids suggests that this molecule is secreted to limit the action of proteases that are required for migration of these germ cells in the epithelium; and (2) the marked reduction of α2‐MG just prior to spermiation allows for maximal activity of proteases that facilitate this process.
Coenzyme Q10 Concentrations in Normal and Pathological Human Seminal Fluid
Authors: MANCINI ANTONIO , de MARINIS LAURA , ORADEI ALESSANDRO , HALLGASS MARIA ELENA , CONTE GIANLUIGI , POZZA DIEGO , LITTARRU GIAN PAOLO
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels were assayed in total seminal fluid or both in seminal fluid and seminal plasma in 77 subjects with normal or pathological findings at standard semen analysis. CoQ10 levels showed a significant correlation with sperm count and with sperm motility. An interesting exception was constituted by patients with varicocele, in whom the correlation with sperm concentration was preserved, whereas the correlation with sperm motility was lacking. Moreover, they showed an increased ratio of plasma CoQ to total seminal CoQ10 in comparison with the other subjects.

These data suggest a pathophysiological meaning of CoQ10 in human seminal fluid and a possible molecular defect in varicocele patients. CoQ10 measurement could represent an important examination in infertile patients; moreover, from these results a rationale might arise for a possible treatment with exogenous CoQ10 in dyspermic patients.
Site‐specifically radiolabeled nanobodies for imaging blood‐brain barrier penetration and targeting in the brain
Authors: Li Yingbo , Wang Junfeng
Published: October 2023

Nanobodies (Nbs) hold significant potential in molecular imaging due to their unique characteristics. However, there are challenges to overcome when it comes to brain imaging. To address these obstacles, collaborative efforts and interdisciplinary research are needed. This article aims to raise awareness and encourage collaboration among researchers from various fields to find solutions for effective brain imaging using Nbs. By fostering cooperation and knowledge sharing, we can make progress in overcoming the existing limitations and pave the way for improved molecular imaging techniques in the future.
The effects of icon updating on user visual discrimination under different working memory load
Authors: Chen Mo , Li Jing , Zhu Yanfei
Published: October 2023

To lessen users' feelings of unease and stress after icons are updated, this study investigates icon recognition and discrimination in terms of icon color and location under different working memory (WM) loads. At low WM load, changing the color or position of the icons has little effect on icon recognition. The icon color update will affect the user's accuracy when less information is presented, but it will not affect participants' reaction time. As for position updates, it is better to update icons' positions within the same row rather than across rows. At high WM load, although subjects responded faster to color than location, subjects were more accurate with location than with color. It can be concluded that color updates are preferred for entertaining user interfaces that demand quick responses, while location updates are preferable for human–computer interfaces that focus on accuracy. From the results of high WM load, subjects are more sensitive to color brightness. The more drastic the color difference, especially if the change level was at levels of 20% or 40%, the subjects' responses would be more obvious.
Non‐enzymatic glycation reduces glucose transport in the human cartilage endplate independently of matrix porosity or proteoglycan content
Authors: Jung Jae‐Young , Habib Mohamed , Morrissette Luke J. , Timmons Shannon C. , Maerz Tristan , Fields Aaron J.
Published: October 2023

Background

Intervertebral disc degeneration is associated with low back pain, which is a leading cause of disability. While the precise causes of disc degeneration are unknown, inadequate nutrient and metabolite transport through the cartilage endplate (CEP) may be one important factor. Prior work shows that CEP transport properties depend on the porosity of the CEP matrix, but little is known about the role of CEP characteristics that could influence transport properties independently from porosity. Here, we show that CEP transport properties depend on the extent of non‐enzymatic glycation of the CEP matrix.

Methods and Results

Using in vitro ribosylation to induce non‐enzymatic glycation and promote the formation of advanced glycation end products, we found that ribosylation reduced glucose partition coefficients in human cadaveric lumbar CEP tissues by 10.7%, on average, compared with donor‐ and site‐matched CEP tissues that did not undergo ribosylation (p = 0.04). These reductions in glucose uptake were observed in the absence of differences in CEP porosity (p = 0.89) or in the amounts of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs, p = 0.47) or collagen (p = 0.61). To investigate whether ribosylation altered electrostatic interactions between fixed charges on the sGAG molecules and the mobile free ions, we measured the charge density in the CEP matrix using equilibrium partitioning of a cationic contrast agent using micro‐computed tomography. After contrast enhancement, mean X‐ray attenuation was 11.9% lower in the CEP tissues that had undergone ribosylation (p = 0.02), implying the CEP matrix was less negatively charged.

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings indicate that non‐enzymatic glycation negatively impacts glucose transport in the CEP independent of matrix porosity or sGAG content and that the effects may be mediated by alterations to matrix charge density.
Study on ecological stoichiometry homeostasis characteristics of different halophytes in the Yellow River Delta
Authors: Zhao Yinghan , Li Tian , Sun Jingkuan , Liu Junhan , Fu Zhanyong
Published: October 2023

Ecological stoichiometric homeostasis represents the physiological and biochemical adaptations of organisms to variations in environmental conditions and plays a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem stability. However, existing literature predominantly concentrates on the changes in plant homeostasis under different external environments. There is a paucity of comparative analyses focusing on the stoichiometric homeostasis attributes among different types of halophytes, particularly using these halophytes as a primary investigative lens. In this study, by analyzing the differences in organ and soil ecological stoichiometry as well as salt accumulation characteristics of three halophytes (Phragmites communis, Suaeda salsa, and Tamarix chinensis) in the Yellow River Delta, we revealed the salt ion enrichment capacity and stoichiometric homeostasis characteristics of the three halophytes and clarified the adaptive capacity of the three halophytes in saline soil environments. Our results indicated that S. salsa accumulated more Na+ and Mg2+, while P. communis maintained a low salt content in its surrounding soil. The soil C:N ratios of P. communis and S. salsa negatively correlated with most ions, while T. chinensis displayed a positive correlation with ions. S. salsa demonstrated the highest ion enrichment but the least homeostasis, whereas T. chinensis showed superior homeostasis. We hypothesize that T. chinensis might have experienced a faster growth rate during the study period, and P. communis' topsoil appears to be more conducive for plant growth. The different salt tolerance strategies of these plants influenced homeostasis, with S. salsa demonstrating greater adaptability to soil modifications and higher potential in saline land management. These insights enhance our understanding of the physiological and ecological adaptations of halophytes and their contribution to improving the quality of saline soils in the Yellow River Delta.
Applications of nanomaterials as treatments and diagnostic biosensors in microbial infections
Authors: Zou Yi , Tao Shihan , Li Jing , Wu Min , Zhou Xikun
Published: October 2023

Microbial infection is a major medical problem that seriously threatens public health. The abuse of antibiotics that help evolve the emergence of new drug‐resistance mechanisms has led to the wide‐spread and fast expansion of drug‐resistant bacteria, ultimately evolving into superbugs. This significantly impairs the timely and effective treatment of infections, thus threatening global human well‐being. Not all are pessimistic. Nanomaterials have emerged as an innovative choice. Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, superior bactericidal effects, and high biocompatibility, nanomaterials may help eradicate drug‐resistant bacteria to achieve complete remission of infectious diseases. As biological materials, nanomaterials can also improve the efficacy of existing drugs and treatments and even facilitate diagnostic efficiency. In this review, we aim to comprehensively summarize the antibacterial properties of different kinds of nanomaterials and their applications in other spheres related to treating infectious diseases (targeted therapy, phototherapy, vaccine development, and microbial diagnosis). We highlight the latest advances of nanomaterials in treating infectious diseases in different body systems. Finally, we conclude by discussing the weaknesses of currently available materials and unresolved scientific problems, which may provide insights into the development of approved agents that adequately overcome the notorious drug resistance and thereby provide unprecedented discoveries to improve treatments of the most severe bacterial infections.
Patients have less disruptive virtual MH care after COVID
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: October 2023

Following the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic and the subsequent transition to telehealth services, patients experienced significantly less disruption in care in the nine months following the pandemic, according to a new study published in Psychiatric Services.
Accelerometry‐assessed sleep clusters and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents
Authors: Wang Mingming , Flexeder Claudia , Harris Carla P. , Thiering Elisabeth , Koletzko Sibylle , Bauer Carl‐Peter , Schulte‐Körne Gerd , von Berg Andrea , Berdel Dietrich , Heinrich Joachim , Schulz Holger , Schikowski Tamara , Peters Annette , Standl Marie
Published: October 2023

Objective

This study aimed to identify sleep clusters based on objective multidimensional sleep characteristics and test their associations with adolescent cardiometabolic health.

Methods

The authors included 1090 participants aged 14.3 to 16.4 years (mean = 15.2 years) who wore 7‐day accelerometers during the 15‐year follow‐up of the German Infant Study on the influence of Nutrition Intervention PLUS environmental and genetic influences on allergy development (GINIplus) and the Influence of Lifestyle factors on the development of the Immune System and Allergies in East and West Germany (LISA) birth cohorts. K‐means cluster analysis was performed across 12 sleep characteristics reflecting sleep quantity, quality, schedule, variability, and regularity. Cardiometabolic risk factors included fat mass index (FMI), blood pressure, triglycerides, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, and insulin resistance (n = 505). Linear and logistic regression models were examined.

Results

Five sleep clusters were identified: good sleep (n = 337); delayed sleep phase (n = 244); sleep irregularity and variability (n = 108); fragmented sleep (n = 313); and prolonged sleep latency (n = 88). The “prolonged sleep latency” cluster was associated with increased sex‐scaled FMI (β = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.15–0.62) compared with the “good sleep” cluster. The “sleep irregularity and variability” cluster was associated with increased odds of high triglycerides only in male individuals (odds ratio: 9.50, 95% CI: 3.22–28.07), but this finding was not confirmed in linear models.

Conclusions

The prolonged sleep latency cluster was associated with higher FMI in adolescents, whereas the sleep irregularity and variability cluster was specifically linked to elevated triglycerides (≥1.7 mmol/L) in male individuals.
Global AI Initiatives: from Theory to Practice
Authors: Singh Vandana , Bilal Dania , Cox Andrew , Chidziwisano George Hope , Dinneen Jesse David
Published: October 2023

Information Sciences is deeply invested in improving the future of AI globally. Information science researchers provide a critical voice in the growth of AI by bringing in perspectives related to AI Ethics, diversity, equity, inclusion, and AI education for all. AI is seeping into everyday life and is often a source of concern for people whose lives are impacted. The concerns of losing employment, inequitable access, and biases create a fear of AI among people. Library and information science educators and researchers have a rich history of working with local communities and representing local contexts. This experience places us in an important position to understand and evaluate AI applications and their varied impact in different contexts; for example, the same library‐related AI application would have different results in Europe versus Africa. However, AI and its applications in the global context are yet to be discussed and understood in the information science community.
Tuning Confined States and Valley G‐Factors by Quantum Dot Design in Bilayer Graphene
Authors: Mayer Dennis , Knothe Angelika
Published: October 2023

Electrostatically confined quantum dots in bilayer graphene have shown potential as building blocks for quantum technologies. To operate the dots, e.g., as qubits, a precise understanding and control of the confined states and their properties is required. Herein, a large‐scale numerical characterization of confined quantum states in bilayer graphene dots is performed over an extensive range of gate‐tunable parameters such as the dot size, depth, shape, and the bilayer graphene gap. The dot states’ orbital degeneracy, wave function distribution, and valley g‐factor are established and the parametric dependencies to achieve different regimes are provided. It is found that the dot states are highly susceptible to gate‐dependent confinement and material parameters, enabling efficient tuning of confined states and valley g‐factor modulation by quantum dot design.