Effect of sodium fluoride on male mouse fertility.

Sodium fluoride (NaF), an environmental pollutant, has been tested for its impact on fertility in several species of laboratory animals. A literature demonstrated that NaF adversely affects sperm motility, morphology, capacitation, and the acrosome reaction. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these alterations have not yet been elucidated.

Ultrashort stretched-pulse L-band laser using carbon-nanotube saturable absorber.

In the paper, a passively mode-locked erbium-doped fiber ring laser in the long-wavelength band (L-band) is presented by using a single-wall nanotube saturable absorber (SWNT-SA). The optical properties of the SWNT-SA are compared with those in the C-band in view of the absorbance spectrum and the power-dependent transmittance of the SWNT-SA film. The effects of the net cavity dispersion and the length of the erbium-doped fiber (EDF) on L-band stretched pulse generation are discussed.

FDG Uptake on Positron Emission Tomography Correlates with Survival and Time to Recurrence in Patients with Stage I Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Patients with stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a wide variation in outcomes, most likely because there are undetected metastases at presentation. We retrospectively reviewed patients with early stage lung cancer to determine if FDG uptake of the primary tumor as measured on positron emission tomography (PET) at the time of diagnosis was associated with overall survival (OS) or time to recurrence (TTR).

Methods: We reviewed the Tumor Registry at our institution and identified 336 consecutive patients diagnosed with stage I NSCLC over a 5-year period who underwent an FDG-PET/computed tomography within 90 days before surgery.

Bisphenol-A affects male fertility via fertility-related proteins in spermatozoa.

The xenoestrogen bisphenol-A (BPA) is a widespread environmental contaminant that has been studied for its impact on male fertility in several species of animals and humans. Growing evidence suggests that xenoestrogens can bind to receptors on spermatozoa and thus alter sperm function. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of varying concentrations of BPA (0.

Improving litter size by boar spermatozoa: application of combined H33258/CTC staining in field trial with artificial insemination.

Conventional semen analysis offers basic information on infertility; however, its clinical value in predicting fertility status is unclear. To establish an accurate diagnosis of male fertility, semen analysis under capacitation condition is necessary because only capacitated spermatozoa are capable of fertilizing oocytes. The objective of this study was to verify male fertility based on conventional semen analysis before and after capacitation, including the assessment of motility (%), motion kinematics, and capacitation status of spermatozoa.

Comparison of supraspinatus cross-sectional areas according to shoulder abduction angles.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in the supraspinatus cross-sectional areas according to shoulder abduction angles, using ultrasonography. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects consisted of 40 individuals (20 males and 20 females). The cross-sectional areas of the supraspinatus of all subjects were measured with ultrasonography at abduction angle of 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120°.

Discovery of predictive biomarkers for litter size in boar spermatozoa.

Conventional semen analysis has been used for prognosis and diagnosis of male fertility. Although this tool is essential for providing initial quantitative information about semen, it remains a subject of debate. Therefore, development of new methods for the prognosis and diagnosis of male fertility should be seriously considered for animal species of economic importance as well as for humans.

Change of hemopexin level is associated with the severity of sepsis in endotoxemic rat model and the outcome of septic patients.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to uncover the role of hemopexin (HPX) as anti-inflammatory mediator in animals and humans.

Materials And Methods: We injected rats with 5 and 10 mg/kg of lipopolysaccharide to induce low- and high-grade endotoxemia (LGE and HGE), respectively, and we measured serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, and HPX at 0, 1, 3, and 6 hours after the injection. In a clinical study, we measured the initial serum HPX concentrations of septic shock patients.

The effects of bronchoscope diameter on the diagnostic yield of transbronchial lung biopsy of peripheral pulmonary nodules.

Background: Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) is a valuable diagnostic tool for peripheral pulmonary lesions. The diagnostic yield of TBLB reportedly ranges from 41%-60%. Many studies demonstrated the various factors that influence the yield of TBLB, including size, location, and distance from the carina or pleura.

Suggestions for improving perihilar cholangiocarcinoma staging based on an evaluation of the seventh edition AJCC system.

The first separate staging system for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma was introduced by the seventh edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) manual. To determine whether it strengthens the prognostic value, a comparative analysis with the sixth edition was performed, through which some areas for improvements were identified. The tumor-nodes-metastasis (TNM) stage and R status of 378 operated perihilar cholangiocarcinoma patients between 1990 and 2011 were reviewed.

Supracolloidal polymer chains of diblock copolymer micelles.

Directional attraction with lateral repulsion between colloidal nanoparticles can create their supracolloidal chains. Here, we demonstrate supracolloidal polymers of diblock copolymer micelles, which were polymerized by adjusting the polarity of the solvent. We also synthesized supracolloidal random and block copolymer chains.

Listening to music during transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy decreases anxiety, pain and dissatisfaction in patients: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To determine whether listening to music during transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided 12-core needle prostate biopsy decreases anxiety, pain and dissatisfaction among patients and results in a more comfortable and better tolerated procedure.

Patients And Methods: 76 male patients who underwent TRUS-guided prostate biopsy between March 2013 and June 2014 were randomized into the following groups: no music (group I, n = 38) or classical music (group II, n = 38) during the procedure. Before TRUS-guided prostate biopsy, lidocaine gel was instilled into the rectum.

Surgical Strategy for T2 Gallbladder Cancer According to Tumor Location.

Background: Radical cholecystectomy is recommended for T2 gallbladder cancer. However, it is unclear whether hepatic resection is essential for peritoneal-side gallbladder cancer.

Methods: From January 2000 to December 2011, we identified T2 gallbladder cancer patients who had undergone curative intent surgery.

Increased frequency of aneuploidy in long-lived spermatozoa.

Aneuploidy commonly causes spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and aneuploid births in humans. Notably, the majority of sex chromosome aneuploidies in live births have a paternal origin. An increased frequency of aneuploidy is also associated with male infertility.

Angiographic and clinical result of endovascular treatment in paraclinoid aneurysms.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of an immediate and mid-term angiographic and clinical follow-up of endovascular treatment for paraclinoid aneurysms.

Materials And Methods: From January 2002 to December 2012, a total of 113 consecutive patients (mean age: 56.2 years) with 116 paraclinoid saccular aneurysms (ruptured or unruptured) were treated with endovascular coiling procedures.

Clues to the electrical switching mechanism of carbazole-containing polyimide thin films.

The mechanism behind electrical memory behavior of carbazole-containing polyimides (PIs) in nanoscale thin films was investigated. For this investigation, a series of poly(3,3'-dihydroxy-4,4'-biphenylene-co-3,3'-bis(N-ethylenyloxycarbazole)-4,4'-biphenylene hexafluoro-isopropylidenedi-phthalimide)s (6F-HAB-HABCZn PIs) with various compositions was synthesized as a model carbazole-containing polymer system. The thermal properties, band gaps, and molecular orbital levels of the PIs were determined.

Double-looped Mach-Zehnder interferometer for achieving multiple ring-down interferograms.

We put forward a double-looped Mach-Zehnder interferometer for acquiring continuous ring-down interferograms with two fiber-loop cavities with slightly different optical path lengths. Each group of pulses through the sample and reference loops creates a ring-down pulse train with equal time intervals in Vernier fashion, and interferes with each other to produce multiple ring-down interferograms successively by scanning of a delay line. The system requires a scanning range of only a few millimeters to obtain multiple ring-down interferograms.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of selenium in oral buccal mucosa and small intestinal mucosa during intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Background: The aim of this study were to investigate whether selenium treatment attenuates lipid peroxidation and downregulates the NF-κB pathway in small intestinal mucosa and to examine whether the effect of selenium is also observed in oral buccal mucosa, during small intestinal IR injury.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen rats were assigned into three groups: sham, IR, and IR + selenium. Saline or selenium was administered through a tail vein.

Investigation of ginsenosides in different tissues after elicitor treatment in Panax ginseng.

Background: The effect of methyl jasmonate (MJ) on ginsenoside production in different organs of ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) was evaluated after the whole plant was dipped in an MJ-containing solution. MJ can induce the production of antioxidant defense genes and secondary metabolites in plants. In ginseng, MJ treatment in adventitious root resulted in the increase of dammarenediol synthase expression but a decrease of cycloartenol synthase expression, thereby enhancing ginsenoside biosynthesis.

PINCH-2 presents functional copy number variation and suppresses migration of colon cancer cells by paracrine activity.

In recent years, characterization of cancer and its environment has become necessary. However, studies of the cancer microenvironment remain insufficient. Copy number variations (CNVs) occur in 40% of cancer-related genes, but few studies have reported the correlation between CNVs in morphologically normal tissues adjacent to cancer and cancer progression.

Hemin improves insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle in high fat-fed mice.

The present study examined whether hemin could prevent the development of high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance in the liver and skeletal muscle using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. A four-week high-fat feeding to mice increased the body weight, fat mass, and plasma levels of insulin and lipid, which were reduced by hemin. High-fat diet reduced whole body glucose uptake, which were increased by hemin.

Spatially resolved magnetic field structure in the disk of a T Tauri star.

Magnetic fields in accretion disks play a dominant part during the star formation process but have hitherto been observationally poorly constrained. Field strengths have been inferred on T Tauri stars and possibly in the innermost part of their accretion disks, but the strength and morphology of the field in the bulk of a disk have not been observed. Spatially unresolved measurements of polarized emission (arising from elongated dust grains aligned perpendicularly to the field) imply average fields aligned with the disks.

Effects of motor vehicle exhaust on male reproductive function and associated proteins.

Air pollution is consistently associated with various diseases and subsequent death among children, adult, and elderly people worldwide. Motor vehicle exhaust contributes to a large proportion of the air pollution present. The motor vehicle exhaust systems emit a variety of toxic components, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, ozone, particulate matter, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

A comprehensive proteomic approach to identifying capacitation related proteins in boar spermatozoa.

Background: Mammalian spermatozoa must undergo capacitation, before becoming competent for fertilization. Despite its importance, the fundamental molecular mechanisms of capacitation are poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, we applied a proteomic approach for identifying capacitation-related proteins in boar spermatozoa in order to elucidate the events more precisely.

Clinicopathologic analysis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors in duodenum and small intestine.

Background: The prognosis about duodenal GISTs is debatable. The purpose of this study is to compare the characteristics and the prognostic factors in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) located in the duodenum with those located in the small intestine.

Methods: One hundred-one patients with GIST located in the duodenum (n = 40), or small intestine (n = 61) underwent resection between 1996 and 2010.