Semen copper in normal and infertile subjects

Summary Concentration of copper in seminal plasma was found to be less than that of normal in cases of oligospermia and azoospermia. It was more in oligoasthenospermia and asthenospermia when compared with that normal. Chances of initiation of sperm motility by copper is discussed alongwith the inhibitory role it plays.Acknowledgment. Authors are thankful to Dr. A. R. N. Setalwad, Assistant Professor in Preventive and Social Medicine for the statistical analysis of the study he did.     

Semen electrolytes in normal and infertile subjects. II. Zinc

Summary Zinc levels in seminal plasma of normal subjects are compared with those of oligospermic, asthenospermic and azoospermic. A linear direct relationship seems to exist between zinc in seminal plasma and motility of spermatozoans. The possible implications of this are discussed.Acknowledgment. Authors are thankful to Mr P. Gopinath, Assistant Professor in Physiology, for valuable criticism on the article and to Mr N.T. Pabani for technical assistance.     

Sister chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes of normal and alcoholic subjects.

The effects of alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and age on sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency in human lymphocytes were assessed by means of multiple linear regression. An increase in SCE rates was associated with alcohol consumption (p = 0.0001), smoking (p = 0.0231), and, to a small extent (p = 0.057), age. These three confounding factors explain 48% of the inter-personal variation in SCE rates among subjects studied.     

Sister chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes of normal and alcoholic subjects

The effects of alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and age on sister chromatid exchangen (SCE) frequency in human lymphocytes were assessed by means of multiple linear regression. An increase in SCE rates was associated with alcohol consumption (p=0.0001), smoking (p=0.0231), and, to a small extent (p=0.057), age. These three confounding factors explain 48% of the inter-personal variation in SCE rates among subjects studied.We are grateful to Dr D. Krapavickaité for performing, the statistical analysis, and to Mrs V. Navickiené for technical assistance. We also wish to thank Dr B. Lambert (Stockholm, Sweden) for his valuable suggestions.     

Determination of methylguanidine in serum and urine from normal and uremic subjects

Riassunto Viene descritto un metodo di dosaggio della metilguanidina nel siero e nell'urina e vengono riportati i valori normali della concentrazione serica (0.008±0.002 mg/100 ml) e della eliminazione urinaria (1.83±0.29 mg/24 h). Tanto la concentrazione serica quanto la eliminazione urinaria degli uremici sono risultate elevate.

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Supported by the National Institutes of Health (Contract No. PH-43-68-1466).     

The behavior of copper complex forming hydroxyphenazine in normal and leukemic mice

Zusammenfassung Die Reaktion und die Ablagerungsstellen von Hydroxyphenazin und Kupfer wurden in gesunden und leukämischen Mäusen untersucht.     

Specific rotation of phenylacetylglutamine excreted by cancer patients and normal subjects

Résumé On a isolé l'acide phénylacétylglutamine de l'urine de malades atteints de cancer et d'un sujet normal qui avaient absorbé de l'acide phénylacétique. Il n'y a pas de différence entre les rotations spécifiques de ces conjugués. Les résultats montrent que l'isomère optiquenon naturel d-glutamine ne se trouve pas dans certains sujets cancéreux.     

Possible presence of autoantibodies to zone pellucida in infertile women.

Of 52 serum samples from infertile women tested against isolated porcine oocytes by immunofluorescence, 8 produced intense reactions in zonae pellucidae, while only one of 52 sera from control subjects showed the reaction. Autoantibodies to the zona may be present in these women.     

Staphylococcus epidermidis in the circulating blood of normal and thrombocytopenic human subjects: Immunological data

Summary Immunological studies, performed with human sera and rabbit antisera upon some strains ofStaph. epidermidis carried in the circulating blood of normal and thrombocytopenic subjects, indicate that the reactivity is very low and almost completely related to antigenic properties common toStaph. aureus.     

The binding of tritiated dexamethasone to lymphocytes of normal and leukemic subjects]

Specific binding sites for 3H-dexamethasone, possessing the characteristics of glucocorticoid receptors, were demonstrated in normal human circulating lymphocytes. The number of glucocorticoid receptors was found different from normal in half of the acute or chronic lymphoid leukaemias studied. A correlation between the number of glucocorticoid receptors and the therapeutical benefit of the glucocorticoid administration will be performed, including these preliminary observations.     

The effects of secretin on urinary volume and electrolytes in normal subjects and patients with chronic pancreatic disease

Zusammenfassung Injektion von Sekretin ruft bei normalen Versuchspersonen Diuresis und Vermehrung der Natrium- und Alkali-Ausscheidung hervor. Diese Wirkungen sind vermindert bei Patienten mit chronischer Pankreaserkrankung. Der mögliche Mechanismus und die praktische Bedeutung dieser Beobachtungen werden diskutiert.

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Supported successively by grants from the Royal Free Hospital Endowment Fund.     

Effect of long acting somatostatin-analogue,SMS 201995, on gut hormone secretion in normal subjects

Summary SMS 201 995 is a new long acting analogue of somatostatin. We have investigated its effect on basal and meal stimulated secretion of gut hormones and have shown that after a single s. c. injection of 50 g it lowers significantly the basal plasma levels of pancreatic polypeptide, secretin, motilin, pancreatic glucagon and insulin, it also effectively suppresses the postprandial release of pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin, secretin, gastric inhibitory peptide, pancreatic glucagon and insulin. Except for the usual brief discomfort of an injection, no symptoms or untoward effects were observed.     

Effect of long acting somatostatin-analogue, SMS 201 995, on gut hormone secretion in normal subjects

SMS 201 995 is a new long acting analogue of somatostatin. We have investigated its effect on basal and meal stimulated secretion of gut hormones and have shown that after a single s.c. injection of 50 micrograms it lowers significantly the basal plasma levels of pancreatic polypeptide, secretin, motilin, pancreatic glucagon and insulin, it also effectively suppresses the postprandial release of pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin, secretin, gastric inhibitory peptide, pancreatic glucagon and insulin. Except for the usual brief discomfort of an injection, no symptoms or untoward effects were observed.     

Effect of high doses of somatostatin on adenylate cyclase activity in peripheral mononuclear leukocytes from normal subjects and from acute leukemia patients

Summary In normal lymphocytes somatostatin non-competitively inhibited basal (ID₅₀ 5×10^–4 M) and isoproterenol- and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity (Ac). In acute leukemia blasts, non-responsive to isoproterenol, forskolin, which activates the catalytic subunit, stimulated and somatostatin inhibited Ac, thus indicating the leukemic enzyme, though defective, retains the inhibitory pathway and catalyst function.