Mechanism of Sperm Immobilization by Escherichia coli

Aim. To explore the influence of Escherichia coli on the motility of human spermatozoa and its possible mechanism. Methods. Highly motile preparations of spermatozoa from normozoospermic patients were coincubated with Escherichia coli for 4 hours. At 1, 2 and 4 hours of incubation, sperm motility was determined. The factor responsible for sperm immobilization without agglutination was isolated and purified from filtrates. Results. This report confirms the immobilization of spermatozoa by E. coli and demonstrates sperm immobilization factor (SIF) excreted by E. coli. Further this factor was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel permeation chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. Purified SIF (56 kDa) caused instant immobilization without agglutination of human spermatozoa at 800 μg/mL and death at 2.1 mg/mL. Spermatozoa incubated with SIF revealed multiple and profound alterations involving all superficial structures of spermatozoa as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Conclusion. In conclusion, these results have shown immobilization of spermatozoa by E. coli and demonstrate a factor (SIF) produced and secreted by E. coli which causes variable structural damage as probable morphological correlates of immobilization

Somatic Mutations Profile of a Young Patient With Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Reveals Mutations in Genes Involved in Ion Channels

Background: Urothelial carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the bladder and is primarily considered as a disease of the elderly. Studies that address bladder tumor occurrence in young age groups are rare.Case Presentation: A 19-year-old male presented with a gross total painless hematuria. A histology after biopsy revealed a high-grade transitional cell carcinoma with lymph node metastasis. The patient succumbed to the disease on day 72 of the treatment. Here, we used whole-exome sequencing of a paired tumor-normal sample to identify the somatic mutations and the possible targets of treatment.Result: We predicted eight potential driver mutations (TP53 p.V157L, RB1 c.1498+1G>T, MED23 p.L1127P, CTNND1 p.S713C, NSD1 p.P2212A, MED17 p.G556V, DPYD p.Q814K, and SPEN p.S1078*). In addition, we predicted deleterious mutations in genes involved in the ion channels (CACNA1S p.E1581K, CACNG1 p.P71T, CACNG8 p.G404W, GRIN2B p.A1096T, KCNC1 p.G16V, KCNH4 p.E874K, KCNK9 p.R131S, P2RX7 p.A296D, and SCN8A p.R558H).Conclusions: Most likely, mutations in genes involved in ion channels may be responsible for the aggressive behavior of a tumor. Ion channels are the second largest class of drug targets, and may thus serve as a putative potential therapeutic target in advanced stage urothelial carcinoma

The complex relationship between human immunodeficiency virus infection and death in adults being treated for tuberculosis in Cape Town, South Africa

Background Despite recognised treatment strategies, mortality associated with tuberculosis (TB) remains significant. Risk factors for death during TB treatment have been described but the complex relationship between TB and HIV has not been fully understood. Methods A retrospective analysis of all deaths occurring during TB treatment in Cape Town, South Africa between 2009 and 2012 were done to investigate risk factors associated with this outcome. The main risk factor was HIV status at the start of treatment and its interaction with age, sex and other risk factors were evaluated using a binomial regression model and thus relative risks (RR) are reported. Results Overall in the 93,133 cases included in the study 4619 deaths (5 %) were recorded. Across all age groups HIV-positive patients were more than twice as likely to die as HIV-negative patients, RR = 2.19 (95 % CI: 2.03–2.37). However in an age specific analysis HIV-positive patients 15–24 and 25–34 years old were at an even higher risk of dying than HIV-negative patients, RR = 4.82 and RR = 3.76 respectively. Gender also modified the effect of HIV- with positive women having a higher risk of death than positive men, RR = 2.74 and RR = 1.94 respectively. Conclusion HIV carries an increased risk of death in this study but specific high-risk groups pertaining to the impact of HIV are identified. Innovative strategies to manage these high risk groups may contribute to reduction in HIV-associated death in TB patients

NK-CD11c+ Cell Crosstalk in Diabetes Enhances IL-6-Mediated Inflammation during Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

In this study, we developed a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using streptozotocin and nicotinamide and identified factors that increase susceptibility of T2DM mice to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). All Mtb-infected T2DM mice and 40% of uninfected T2DM mice died within 10 months, whereas all control mice survived. In Mtb-infected mice, T2DM increased the bacterial burden and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production in the lungs relative to those in uninfected T2DM mice and infected control mice. Levels of IL-6 also increased. Anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody treatment of Mtb-infected acute- and chronic-T2DM mice increased survival (to 100%) and reduced pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression. CD11c+ cells were the major source of IL-6 in Mtb-infected T2DM mice. Pulmonary natural killer (NK) cells in Mtb-infected T2DM mice further increased IL-6 production by autologous CD11c+ cells through their activating receptors. Anti-NK1.1 antibody treatment of Mtb-infected acute-T2DM mice increased survival and reduced pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression. Furthermore, IL-6 increased inflammatory cytokine production by T lymphocytes in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with T2DM. Overall, the results suggest that NK-CD11c+ cell interactions increase IL-6 production, which in turn drives the pathological immune response and mortality associated with Mtb infection in diabetic mice

Analysis of the bonding nature of molecular orbitals through a one-electron partitioning of electronic energy

A virial partitioning of the electronic energy into contributions from individual electrons enables a quantitative estimate of the bonding nature or molecular orbitals. A bonding index for molecular orbitals is proposed. Numerical results arc reported for H2O, CO, HCHO and LiCN

Robot-assisted pyeloplasty for pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction of lower moiety in partial duplex system: A technical challenge

Management of pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) in a duplex system is technically challenging as dissection at the pelvis may jeopardize the vascularity of the normal moiety ureter. Anastomosing the pelvis to the one single ureter will have a risk of future development of stricture which then will risk both the moieties. Robotic assistance enables appropriate tissue dissection; minimal handling of normal ureter and precision in suturing, overcoming the potential challenges involved in the minimally invasive management of such complex cases. We report the feasibility and efficacy of robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty in such case

Valency and molecular structure

Valency is defined for each molecular orbital. The molecular orbital valency values are shown to be a good measure of the bonding nature of the molecular orbital. Comparisons are made with photoelectron spectral studies and Mulliken overlap population analysis. The variation of molecular valency and molecular orbital valency with bond angle is studied. It is found that for all the molecules presently considered, energy is linearly related to valency and that the molecular valency reaches a maximum at the equilibrium bond angle. It is also shown that the molecular orbital valency can serve as a quantitatively reliable ordinate for Mulliken-Walsh diagrams