Role of fine needle aspirate mapping and touch imprint preparations in the evaluation of azoospermia

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and touch imprint cytology (TIC) in the evaluation of azoospermia. STUDY DESIGN: FNAC, TIC and open testicular biopsy (OTB) were used to evaluate 31 azoospermic men. RESULTS: OTB revealed normal spermatogenesis (10), spermatogenic arrest (12), Sertoli cell only syndrome (SCO) (7) and unsatisfactory cases (2). Cytologic examinations (TIC vs. FNAC) revealed normal spermatogenesis (11 vs. 9), spermatogenic arrest (13 vs. 7), SCO (2 vs. 1) and unsatisfactory cases (5 vs. 5). Sensitivity and specificity of TIC and FNAC were 98% vs. 83% and 100% vs. 93%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Testicular FNAC is a reliable and simple method for the evaluation of azoospermia.     

In vivo humoral immune responses to isolated pneumococcal polysaccharides are dependent on the presence of associated TLR ligands

We determined whether T cell-independent Ig isotype responses to isolated pneumococcal polysaccharides (PPS) required TLR signaling in vivo. IgG anti-PPS responses to PPS3, PPS14, and C-polysaccharide (C-PS) were virtually undetectable in TLR2(-/-) mice, whereas specific IgM induction was variably reduced compared with wild-type mice. All PPS-containing preparations induced IL-6 and TNF-alpha from wild-type, but not TLR2-/-, macrophages. TLR2 activity was distinct from that of PPS, in that it was phenol extractable. Immunization of wild-type mice with phenol-extracted PPS14 also resulted in a marked reduction in the IgG, although not the IgM-anti-PPS14, response compared with untreated PPS14. The commercial 23-valent PPS vaccine, Pneumovax-23 also contained TLR ligands (TLR2 and TLR4), which were absolutely critical for the IgG-inducing activity of the vaccine in mice. Finally, the commercial pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Prevnar, contained a TLR2 ligand(s) that substantially enhanced both the primary and secondary anti-PPS responses in mice, especially the type 1 IgG isotypes. These data strongly suggest the absolute need for a distinct, TLR-dependent second signal for inducing in vivo IgG T cell-independent humoral immune responses to isolated pneumococcal polysaccharide Ags and highlight the potential importance of previously unappreciated copurified and/or contaminating TLR ligands in PPS vaccine preparations.     

Differential responses in water use efficiency in two varieties of Catharanthus roseus under drought stress

Two varieties, rosea and alba, of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. were screened for their water use efficiency under two watering regimes, viz. 60 and 100% filed capacity in the present study. Drought stress was imposed at 60% filed capacity from 30 to 70 days after sowing, while the control pots were maintained at 100% filed capacity throughout the entire growth period. Leaf area duration, cumulative water transpired, water use efficiency, net assimilation rate, mean transpiration rate, harvest index, biomass and yield under the water deficit level were measured from both stressed and well-watered control plants. Water use efficiency significantly increased in both varieties under water stress. Drought stress decreased leaf area duration, cumulative water transpired, net assimilation rate, mean transpiration rate, harvest index, and biomass yield in both varieties studied. Among the varieties, rosea variety showed the best results.     

Variation in the free amino acid content of skeletal muscle of Ophicephalus punctatus (Bloch)

The skeletal muscle of Ophicephalus punctatus contains nine essential free amino acids, arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine and lysine, and eight non-essential amino acids, alanine, aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, tyrosine, proline and serine. Histidine and lysine dominated the free amino acids pool. Seasonal variation was detected in the levels of histidine, arginine, leucine, phenylalanine, glycine, cystine and serine with highest values occurring in April and again in November. Changes were also detected in the concentrations of certain amino acids as the fish grew in size. Levels of free amino acids did not significantly differ between sexes. Factors effecting variation are discussed.     

Acetazolamide Inhibits the Level of Tyrosinase and Melanin: An Enzyme Kinetic,In Vitro,In Vivo,and In Silico Studies

Melanin is the major factor that determines skin color and protects from ultraviolet radiation. In present study we evaluated the anti‐melanogenesis effect of acetazolamide (ACZ) using four different approaches: enzyme kinetic, in vitro, in vivo and in silico. ACZ demonstrated significant inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ 7.895 ± 0.24 μm ) against tyrosinase as compared to the standard drug kojic acid (IC₅₀ 16.84 ± 0.64 μm ) and kinetic analyses showed that ACZ is a non‐competitive inhibitor without cytotoxic effect. In in vitro experiments, A375 human melanoma cells were treated with 20 or 40 μm of ACZ with or without 50 μm of l ‐DOPA. Western blot results showed that ACZ significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the expression level of tyrosinase at 40 μm . Zebrafish embryos were treated with 10, 20 or 40 μm of ACZ and of positive control kojic acid. At 72 h of treatment with ACZ and kojic acid, ACZ significantly (P < 0.001) decreased the embryos pigmentation to 40.8% of untreated embryos at the dose of 40 μm of ACZ while kojic acid decreased only 25.0% of pigmentation at the same dose of kojic acid. In silico docking were performed against tyrosinase using PyRx tool. Docking studies suggested that His244, Asn260 and His85 are the major interacting residues in the binding site of the protein. In conclusion, our results suggest that ACZ is a good candidate for the inhibition of melanin and it could be used as a lead for developing the drugs for hyperpigmentary disorders and skin whitening.     

Cytologic findings of a pleomorphic adenoma of the breast: a case report

BACKGROUND: Pleomorphic adenoma of the breast is a rare benign tumor. Only a few cases have been reported. The histologic features have been described well. However, the cytologic findings have been described in only a few papers. CASE: A 47-year-old female presented with a left breast mass of several months' duration. The clinical and mammographic findings were highly suspicious for malignancy. Following an aspiration biopsy diagnosis of "positive for malignancy," the mass was excised. The histologic diagnosis was pleomorphic adenoma (mixed tumor of salivary gland type) rather than carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The cytologic presentation of pleomorphic adenoma of the breast can masquerade as that of a malignant tumor, in this case colloid carcinoma. This case delineates the cytomorphologicfeatures of pleomorphic adenoma, which may mimic carcinoma.     

Effect of the purinergic receptor P2X7 on Chlamydia infection in cervical epithelial cells and vaginally infected mice

Ligation of the purinergic receptor, P2X7R, with its agonist ATP has been previously shown to inhibit intracellular infection by chlamydiae and mycobacteria in macrophages. The effect of P2X7R on chlamydial infection had never been investigated in the preferred target cells of chlamydiae, cervical epithelial cells, nor in vaginally infected mice. In this study, we show that treatment of epithelial cells with P2X7R agonists inhibits partially Chlamydia infection in epithelial cells. Chelation of ATP with magnesium or pretreatment with a P2X7R antagonist blocks the inhibitory effects of ATP. Similarly to previous results obtained with macrophages, ATP-mediated inhibition of infection in epithelial cells requires activation of host-cell phospholipase D. Vaginal infection was also more efficient in P2X7R-deficient mice, which also displayed a higher level of acute inflammation in the endocervix, oviduct, and mesosalpingeal tissues than in infected wild-type mice. However, secretion of IL-1beta, which requires P2X7R ligation during infection by other pathogens, was decreased mildly and only at short times of infection. Taken together, these results suggest that P2X7R affects Chlamydia infection by directly inhibiting infection in epithelial cells, rather than through the ability of P2X7R to modulate IL-1beta secretion.     

Adverse effects of atrioventricular synchronous right ventricular pacing on left ventricular sympathetic activity, efficiency, and hemodynamic status

Right ventricular (RV) pacing is now recognized to play a role in the development of heart failure in patients with and without underlying left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. We used the cardiac norepinephrine spillover method to test the hypothesis that RV pacing is associated with cardiac sympathetic activation. We studied 8 patients with normal LV function using temporary right atrial and ventricular pacing wires. All measurements were carried out during a fixed atrial pacing rate. The radiotracer norepinephrine spillover technique was employed to measure total body and cardiac sympathetic activity while changes in LV performance were evaluated with a high-fidelity manometer catheter. Atrioventricular synchronous RV pacing, compared with atrial pacing alone, was associated with a 65% increase in cardiac norepinephrine spillover, an increase in LV end-diastolic pressure, and a reduction in myocardial efficiency. These responses may play a role in the development of heart failure and poor outcomes that are associated with chronic RV pacing.     

Vandachostylis ‘Sri-Siam’: an intergeneric hybrid with superior qualities as evidenced by its biochemical fragrance and transcriptome profiles

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Vandachostylis ‘Sri-Siam’ is a fragrant orchid, suitable as a potted plant for the floriculture and perfumery industries due to its...     

Design of New and Potent Diethyl Thiobarbiturates as Urease Inhibitors: A Computational Approach

Urease is an important enzyme both in agriculture and medicine research. Strategies based on urease inhibition is critically considered as the first line treatment of infections caused by urease producing bacteria. Since, urease possess agro-chemical and medicinal importance, thus, it is necessary to search for the novel compounds capable of inhibiting this enzyme. Several computational methods were employed to design novel and potent urease inhibitors in this work. First docking simulations of known compounds consists of a set of arylidine barbiturates (termed as reference) were performed on the Bacillus pasteurii (BP) urease. Subsequently, two fold strategies were used to design new compounds against urease. Stage 1 comprised of the energy minimization of enzyme-ligand complexes of reference compounds and the accurate prediction of the molecular mechanics generalized born (MMGB) interaction energies. In the second stage, new urease inhibitors were then designed by the substitution of different groups consecutively in the aryl ring of the thiobarbiturates and N, N-diethyl thiobarbiturates of the reference ligands.. The enzyme-ligand complexes with lowest interaction energies or energies close to the calculated interaction energies of the reference molecules, were selected for the consequent chemical manipulation. This was followed by the substitution of different groups on the 2 and 5 positions of the aryl ring. As a result, several new and potent diethyl thiobarbiturates were predicted as urease inhibitors. This approach reflects a logical progression for early stage drug discovery that can be exploited to successfully identify potential drug candidates.