To analyse the semen for various parameters with special reference to lifestyle factors

Background: Male factor is responsible for infertility in 23% cases. Semen analysis is the cornerstone of infertility evaluation as it provides information on the functional status of seminiferous tubules, epididymis and accessory sex glands. Reports in recent years has shown that incidence of male infertility has increased as a result of various factors such as lifestyle, environmental pollution and stress.Methods: This prospective study was conducted on patients reporting for semen analysis in Department of Pathology, Subharti Medical College. The duration of the study was from October 2014 to September 2016 with a study sample of 196 cases. Semen analysis was done by manual method according to WHO 2010 criteria.Results: According to fertility scoring, out of 196 cases, 51 (26%) were infertile cases. With respect to infertile cases 82.4% were alcoholic, 80.4% tobacco smokers, 25.5% were tobacco chewers. These results were statistically significant. Out of 45 cases of oligozoospermia 37 (82.2%) were alcoholic, 36 (80%) were tobacco smoker and 10 (22.2%) were tobacco chewers. Out of 54 cases of asthenozoosperma 38 (70.4%) were alcoholic, 37 (68.5%) were tobacco smoker and 11 (20.4%) were tobacco chewers.Conclusions: Alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and tobacco chewing have a significant negative effect on the process of spermatogenesis, ultimately affecting sperm concentration, viability and motility. Hence clinician and fertility counselors need to be more focused to control infertility by modifying the life style factors.

Comparative Assessment of Some Target Detection Algorithms for Hyperspectral Images

Target detection is of particular interest in hyperspectral image analysis as many unknown and subtle signals (spectral response) unresolved by multispectral sensors can be discovered in hyperspectral images. The detection of signals in the form of small objects and targets from hyperspectral sensors has a wide range of applications both civilian and military. It has been observed that a number of target detection algorithms are in vogue; each has its own advantages and disadvantages and assumptions. The selection of a particular algorithm may depend on the amount of information available as per the requirement of the algorithm, application area, the computational complexity etc. In the present study, three algorithms, namely, orthogonal subspace projection (OSP), constrained energy minimization (CEM) and a nonlinear version of OSP called kernel orthogonal subspace projection (KOSP), have been investigated for target detection from hyperspectral remote sensing data. The efficacy of algorithms has been examined over two different hyperspectral datasets which include a synthetic image and an AVIRIS image. The quality of target detection from these algorithms has been evaluated through visual interpretation as well as through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The performance of OSP algorithm has been found to be better than or comparable to CEM algorithm. However, KOSP out performs both the algorithms.Defence Science Journal, 2013, 63(1), pp.53-62, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.376

The impact of tomato fruits containing multi-walled carbon nanotube residues on human intestinal epithelial cell barrier function and intestinal microbiome composition

Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) can positively regulate seed germination and enhance plant growth. However, clarification of the impact of plant organs containing absorbed CNMs on animal and human health is a critical step of risk assessment for new nano-agro-technology. In this study, we have taken a comprehensive approach to studying the effect tomato fruits derived from plants exposed to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have on gastrointestinal epithelial barrier integrity and their impact on the human commensal intestinal microbiota using an in vitro cell culture and batch human fecal suspension models. The effects of CNTs on selected pure cultures of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium and Lactobacillus acidophilus were also evaluated. This study demonstrated that CNT-containing fruits or the corresponding residual level of pure CNTs (0.001 mu g ml(-1)) was not sufficient to initiate a significant change in transepithelial resistance and on gene expression of the model T-84 human intestinal epithelial cells. However, at 10 mu g ml(-1) concentration CNTs were able to penetrate the cell membrane and change the gene expression profile of exposed cells. Moreover, extracts from CNT-containing fruits had minimal to no effect on human intestinal microbiota as revealed by culture-based analysis and 16S rRNA sequencing

Dose-Dependent Effects of Aloin on the Intestinal Bacterial Community Structure, Short Chain Fatty Acids Metabolism and Intestinal Epithelial Cell Permeability

Aloe leaf or purified aloin products possess numerous therapeutic and pharmaceutical properties. It is widely used as ingredients in a variety of food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Animal studies have shown that consumption of aloe or purified aloin cause intestinal goblet cell hyperplasia, and malignancy. Here, we tested antibacterial effects of aloin, against intestinal commensal microbiota. Minimum inhibitory concentration of aloin for several human commensal bacterial species (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) ranged from 1 to 4 mg/ml. Metabolism studies indicated that Enterococcus faecium was capable of degrading aloin into aloe-emodin at a slower-rate compared to Eubacterium spp. As a proof of concept, we incubated 3% rat fecal-slurry (an in vitro model to simulate human colon content) with 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/ml of aloin to test antimicrobial properties. Low aloin concentrations showed minor perturbations to intestinal bacteria, whereas high concentration increased Lactobacillus sp. counts. Aloin also decreased butyrate-production in fecal microbiota in a dose-dependent manner after 24 h exposure. The 16S rRNA sequence-data revealed that aloin decreases the abundance of butyrate-producing bacterial species. Transepithelial resistant result revealed that aloin alters the intestinal barrier-function at higher concentrations (500 μM). In conclusion, aloin exhibits antibacterial property for certain commensal bacteria and decreases butyrate-production in a dose -dependent manner.HIGHLIGHTS    –Aloin exhibits antibacterial properties for certain intestinal commensal bacteria.    –In rat fecal slurry (an in vitro model to simulate human colon content), longer aloin exposure (24 h) decreases the butyrate production in dose dependent manner.    –The 16s rRNA sequencing data show that aloin decreased the abundance of butyrate producing bacterial species.    –Rat intestinal commensal bacteria metabolized aloin into aloe-emodin.    –Aloin altered the intestinal epithelial cells barrier integrity, however, the metabolic product of aloin - Aloe-emodin did not alter epithelial cells permeability

Vaccination with attenuated Salmonella enterica Dublin expressing E coli O157:H7 outer membrane protein Intimin induces transient reduction of fecal shedding of E coli O157:H7 in cattle

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Escherichia coli </it>serogroup O157:H7 has emerged as an important zoonotic bacterial pathogen, causing a range of symptoms from self-limiting bloody diarrhea to severe hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome in humans. Beef and dairy cattle are considered the most important animal reservoirs for this pathogen. One of the important virulence characteristics of <it>E. coli </it>O157:H7 is the <it>eaeA </it>gene encoding the 97 kDa surface protein intimin. Intimin is required for attachment and effacement during the interaction of enterohemorrhagic <it>E. coli </it>with human and bovine neonatal enterocytes. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that an adaptive mucosal immune response directed against intimin will reduce or prevent enteric colonization and fecal shedding of <it>E. coli </it>O157:H7 in cattle.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cattle were orally inoculated with either milk (control), milk with live attenuated <it>Salmonella enterica </it>serovar Dublin (vector), or milk with live attenuated recombinant <it>S</it>. Dublin expressing intimin (vaccinated) on days 0, 14 and 28. On day 98, all calves were challenged orally with <it>E. coli </it>O157:H7 to evaluate whether vaccination with the recombinant <it>S</it>. Dublin expressing intimin would reduce the level of <it>E. coli </it>O157:H7 fecal shedding.</p> <p>During the first 28 days, vaccinated calves shed both the vector strain and the intimin-expressing <it>S</it>. Dublin strain at a similar level. The vector strain was shed for a significantly longer period as compared to the level of recombinant vaccine strain. Calves that received the intimin-expressed vaccine ceased shedding <it>S</it>. Dublin from day 28 to day 63. All calves were challenged with <it>E. coli </it>O157:H7 on day 98 to determine the effect on fecal shedding of <it>E. coli </it>O157:H7. The amount of <it>E. coli </it>O157:H7 in feces was measured for 30 days post-challenge. We observed a transient clearance of <it>E. coli </it>O157:H7 from the feces in the vaccinated calves. The magnitude of fecal <it>E. coli </it>O157:H7 shedding did not correlate with the presence of intimin-specific fecal IgA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Oral vaccination with live attenuated recombinant <it>S</it>. Dublin expressing intimin reduced enteric colonization and fecal shedding of <it>E. coli </it>O157:H7. However, the transient clearance of <it>E. coli </it>O157:H7 was not associated with an enhanced IgA-mediated mucosal immune response.</p

Systems Biology Analysis of Brucella Infected Peyers Patch Reveals Rapid Invasion with Modest Transient Perturbations of the Host Transcriptome

Brucella melitensis causes the most severe and acute symptoms of all Brucella species in human beings and infects hosts primarily through the oral route. The epithelium covering domed villi of jejunal-ileal Peyer’s patches is an important site of entry for several pathogens, including Brucella. Here, we use the calf ligated ileal loop model to study temporal in vivo Brucella-infected host molecular and morphological responses. Our results document Brucella bacteremia occurring within 30 min after intraluminal inoculation of the ileum without histopathologic traces of lesions. Based on a system biology Dynamic Bayesian Network modeling approach (DBN) of microarray data, a very early transient perturbation of the host enteric transcriptome was associated with the initial host response to Brucella contact that is rapidly averted allowing invasion and dissemination. A detailed analysis revealed active expression of Syndecan 2, Integrin alpha L and Integrin beta 2 genes, which may favor initial Brucella adhesion. Also, two intestinal barrier-related pathways (Tight Junction and Trefoil Factors Initiated Mucosal Healing) were significantly repressed in the early stage of infection, suggesting subversion of mucosal epithelial barrier function to facilitate Brucella transepithelial migration. Simultaneously, the strong activation of the innate immune response pathways would suggest that the host mounts an appropriate protective immune response; however, the expression of the two key genes that encode innate immunity anti-Brucella cytokines such as TNF-a and IL12p40 were not significantly changed throughout the study. Furthermore, the defective expression of Toll-Like Receptor Signaling pathways may partially explain the lack of proinflammatory cytokine production and consequently the absence of morphologically detectable inflammation at the site of infection. Cumulatively, our results indicate that the in vivo pathogenesis of the early infectious process of Brucella is primarily accomplished by compromising the mucosal immune barrier and subverting critical immune response mechanisms.The open access fee for this work was funded through the Texas A&M University Open Access to Knowledge (OAK) Fund

Systems Biology Analysis of Gene Expression during In Vivo Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis Enteric Colonization Reveals Role for Immune Tolerance

Survival and persistence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in the intestinal mucosa is associated with host immune tolerance. However, the initial events during MAP interaction with its host that lead to pathogen survival, granulomatous inflammation, and clinical disease progression are poorly defined. We hypothesize that immune tolerance is initiated upon initial contact of MAP with the intestinal Peyer's patch. To test our hypothesis, ligated ileal loops in neonatal calves were infected with MAP. Intestinal tissue RNAs were collected (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 hrs post-infection), processed, and hybridized to bovine gene expression microarrays. By comparing the gene transcription responses of calves infected with the MAP, informative complex patterns of expression were clearly visible. To interpret these complex data, changes in the gene expression were further analyzed by dynamic Bayesian analysis, and genes were grouped into the specific pathways and gene ontology categories to create a holistic model. This model revealed three different phases of responses: i) early (30 min and 1 hr post-infection), ii) intermediate (2, 4 and 8 hrs post-infection), and iii) late (12 hrs post-infection). We describe here the data that include expression profiles for perturbed pathways, as well as, mechanistic genes (genes predicted to have regulatory influence) that are associated with immune tolerance. In the Early Phase of MAP infection, multiple pathways were initiated in response to MAP invasion via receptor mediated endocytosis and changes in intestinal permeability. During the Intermediate Phase, perturbed pathways involved the inflammatory responses, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and cell-cell signaling. During the Late Phase of infection, gene responses associated with immune tolerance were initiated at the level of T-cell signaling. Our study provides evidence that MAP infection resulted in differentially regulated genes, perturbed pathways and specifically modified mechanistic genes contributing to the colonization of Peyer's patch

昭和20年代, 教室の日常と研究余話(第922回千葉医学会例会・第13回千葉精神科集談会)

<p>Unique MAA Arcs and Mechanistic Genes in Tight Junction Pathway.</p