275 PENTOXIFYLLINE ADDED TO FREEZING EXTENDER HAS A DELETERIOUS EFFECT ON POST-THAW BOAR SPERM QUALITY AND IN VITRO FERTILIZATION RATE

Pentoxifylline, a methylxanthine derivative, is considered to be a hyperactivation and acrosome reaction-improving agent. The purpose of this study was to test how the addition of pentoxifylline to freezing extender influences post-thaw sperm motility and membrane integrity. The ability of thawed spermatozoa to fertilize in vitro-matured oocytes was also assessed. Pooled ejaculate sperm-rich fractions collected from three fertile boars were frozen in 0.5-mL straws after being diluted in lactose/egg yolk/glycerol/Orvus-ES-Paste extender (0 pentoxifylline = control) or the same extender supplemented with 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 mM pentoxifylline. To evaluate post-thaw sperm survival, the percentage of total motile spermatozoa and rapid progressive spermatozoa (CASA system) and plasma membrane and acrosome integrity (flow cytometry) were assessed. Data from six replicates were analyzed in a split plot design using a PROMIXED model. The addition of 4, 8, 16, and 32 mM pentoxifylline to freezing extender significantly decreased progressive and total motility (P < 0.001) compared with control (4.5/26.6%, 4.5/24.5%, 2.8/20.5%, 0.6/11.4%, and 13.2/49.7% for the 4, 8, 16, and 32 mM pentoxifylline groups and the control group, respectively). The same was observed for sperm viability; the percentage of viable spermatozoa with intact acrosomes was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in pentoxifylline-treated groups compared with the control group, chiefly in the 16 mm, and 32 mM pentoxifylline groups (54, 11.6, and 6.2% for control, 16 and 32 mM, respectively). To evaluate in vitro fertilization parameters, cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured in BSA-free NCSU23 medium with 10% porcine follicular fluid, 0.1% cysteine, 10 ng EGF, 10 IU/mL eCG, and 10 IU/mL hCG, in a incubator at 39�C and 5% CO2. After 40-44 h of maturation, oocytes (n = 1067, in three replicates) were denuded of cumulus cells, washed, transferred to droplets (30 oocytes in 50 �L) of TBM medium supplemented with 2 mM caffeine and 0.2% BSA, and inseminated (2000 thawed sperm/oocyte). After a co-incubation period of 6 h, oocytes were washed and transferred to droplets (500 �L) of NCSU23 with 0.4% BSA for another 10-14 h, then fixed and stained for 72 h, and examined under a phase-contrast microscope. Data were analyzed as split plot design using a PROMIXED model. The addition of pentoxifylline to the freezing extender reduced significantly (P < 0.001) the penetration rate (51.4, 17.5, 15.8, 17.8, 9.5, and 4.8% for the 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 mM pentoxifylline groups, respectively) and the efficiency (monospermic oocytes/total inseminated oocytes) of fertilization (34.8, 14.6, 14.7, 15.5, 7.9, and 4.8% for the 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 mM pentoxifylline groups, respectively) as compared with the control group (the first value in each of these two cases). It is therefore concluded that pentoxifylline added to the freezing extender has a deleterious effect on post-thaw boar sperm quality and on their ability to fertilize the oocytes in vitro. This work was supported by CICYT (AGL05-0471).

[Malnutrition of home-based hospital patients]

OBJECTIVE

We pretend to know the nutritional state in all patients that are being treated in the the Home Care Services Hospital Based (HCSHB) units, be which is their entrance causes and we also pretend to know the prevalence of undernutrition.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE

To know the prevalence of nutritional treatments in the HCSHB units, their relationship with the nutritional state, the pathology and the patient's origin inside the sanitary environment.

ENVIRONMENT

A Multicentric study, in which the HCSHB units of three hospitals of the Valencia Community have intervened.

PATIENT

40 patients that remained in that moment entered by different causes in the HCSHB units.

VARIABLES

Sex, age. Origin service, pathology, Subjective Global Valuation (SGV), IMC, nutritional support, type of nutritional support, albumin, Cholesterol, lymphocytes.

RESULTS

The half age has been of 77,45 years (SD 11 years) with 67,5% of males. The patients, in all the cases, came from hospital Services, being the pathology responsible for the entrance mainly the oncological 32,5%, surgical 7,5%, neurological 7,5% and 52,5% others. According to GSV 52.5% present a good nutritional status, 37.5% had a suspect of under nourishment and 10% had a clear under nourishment. The IBM for the 12.5% of the patients is < or = 20 and the IBM for the 42.5% < or = 22. The 35% were receiving nutritional support, supplements the 78% and oral enteral nutrition the 14% of the patients. We have found a lineal relation between the IBM and the levels of albumin that the patients presented, also with the figures of cholesterol and it has not been found any relationship with the lymphocytes number.

The impact of selected water quality parameters on the inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores by monochloramine and ozone

Selected water quality parameters-pH, dissolved organic carbon, turbidity (NTU), and temperature-were tested for their potential effects on ozone and monochloramine inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores. In oxidant demand-free phosphate-buffer, temperature had the strongest influence on inactivation kinetics when using ozone, pH had a smaller but significant impact on B. subtilis spore inactivation with both monochloramine and ozone. Where monochloramine was applied, modeling and experimental measurements confirmed that dichloramine levels were too low to produce significant inactivation effects under these experimental conditions. It was demonstrated that oxidant demand-free phosphate buffer may not be an adequate environmental analogue for inactivation responses in natural waters.

Clinical efficacy of anti-pneumococcal vaccination in patients with COPD

BACKGROUND

A study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) in immunocompetent patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS

A randomised controlled trial was carried out in 596 patients with COPD of mean (SD) age 65.8 (9.7) years, 298 of whom received PPV. The main outcome was radiographically proven community acquired pneumonia (CAP) of pneumococcal or unknown aetiology after a mean period of 979 days (range 20-1454).

RESULTS

There were 58 first episodes of CAP caused by pneumococcus or of unknown aetiology, 25 in the intervention group and 33 in the non-intervention group. Kaplan-Meier survival curves for CAP did not show significant differences between the intervention and non-intervention arms (log rank test = 1.15, p = 0.28) in the whole group of patients. The efficacy of PPV in all patients was 24% (95% CI -24 to 54; p = 0.333). In the subgroup aged <65 years the efficacy of PPV was 76% (95% CI 20 to 93; p = 0.013), while in those with severe functional obstruction (forced expiratory volume in 1 second <40%) it was 48% (95% CI -7 to 80; p = 0.076). In younger patients with severe airflow obstruction the efficacy was 91% (95% CI 35 to 99; p = 0.002). There were only five cases of non-bacteraemic pneumococcal CAP, all in the non-intervention group (log rank test = 5.03; p = 0.025). Multivariate analysis gave a hazard ratio for unknown and pneumococcal CAP in the vaccinated group, adjusted for age, of 0.20 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.68; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

PPV is effective in preventing CAP in patients with COPD aged less than 65 years and in those with severe airflow obstruction. No differences were found among the other groups of patients with COPD.

Impact of the Tsunami on healthcare systems

The Tsunami that struck on 26 December 2004 caused one of the worst disasters in modern times. The three papers that follow are based on an ICMH Tsunami Expert Review Committee meeting that took place in Male, Maldives, in April 2005

A large outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning associated with eating escolar fish (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum)

In August 2003, an outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning occurred at a retreat centre in California, USA. In a retrospective cohort study, 42 (75%) of the 56 dinner attendees who ate escolar fish (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) met the case definition. Individuals who ate at least 2 oz of fish were 1.5 times more likely to develop symptoms than those who ate less (relative risk 1.5, 95% confidence interval 0.9-2.6), and to develop more symptoms (median 7 vs. 3 symptoms, P = 0.03). Patients who took medicine had a longer duration of symptoms than those who did not (median 4 vs. 1.5 h, P = 0.05), and experienced a greater number of symptoms (median 8 vs. 3 symptoms, P = 0.0002). Samples of fish contained markedly elevated histamine levels (from 2000 to 3800 ppm). This is one of the largest reported outbreaks of scombroid fish poisoning in the United States and was associated with a rare vehicle for scombroid fish poisoning, escolar.

Method for the Evaluation of the Reorganization Energy of Electron Transfer Reactions Produced under Restricted Geometry Conditions

The kinetics of the electron transfer reactions between S(2)O(8)(2-) and the complexes (Ru(NH(3))(5)L)(2+) (L = pyridine, pyrazine, and 4-cyanopyridine) have been studied in micellar (SDS) solutions. A method for the evaluation of the reorganization energy of these reactions, based on the comparison of their rate constants, is proposed. From the results obtained, we concluded that the observed rate constants go through a minimum for the surfactant concentration in which the reorganization energy goes through a maximum. The method can be applied to any kind of restricted geometry conditions.

11 TIME OF INSEMINATION RELATIVE TO OVULATION EXPLAINS FERTILITY VARIATIONS OFFROZEN - THAWED SPERMATOZOA BETWEEN FARMS

Swine fertility after AI with frozen-thawed spermatozoa varies between trials. As thawed spermatozoa have an extremely limited life span in the female genital tract, fertility of frozen-thawed spermatozoa depends mainly on the time of insemination relative to ovulation. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the time of insemination relative to ovulation could explain the farm differences in fertility when frozen-thawed spermatozoa are used. Pooled sperm-rich fractions collected from three mature Pietrain boars were diluted in lactose/egg-yolk/glicerol/Orvus-ES-Paste extender, loaded in 0.5-mL straws (1 × 109 cells/mL), and frozen under controlled conditions (Carvajal et al. 2003 J. Androl. 25, 389–396). Thawing was conducted in a waterbath at 37°C for 20 s. Inseminations were performed using the deep intrauterine insemination technique (Martínez et al. 2002 Reproduction 123, 167–170) with 1 × 109 thawed spermatozoa (post-thaw motility >50%) diluted in 5 mL of Beltsville thaw solution (BTS). Ninety-seven and 82 weaned sows (parity 2–7) in farms A and B, respectively, were twice inseminated at 30 and 36 h after onset of estrus (estrus detection was performed twice a day by allowing females nose-to-nose contact with a mature boar and by applying back pressure). At insemination time, both ovaries were checked for ovulation by transrectal ultrasonography and sows were classified into three groups: F sows (follicles visible during the two examinations), O sows (ovulation visible during at least one examination), and C sows (corpora lutea visible during both examinations). Data were analysed with ANOVA and chi-square test, and are reported as % or mean ± SEM. Overall farrowing rates differed (P < 0.01) between farms: 70.1% (68/97) and 51.22% (42/82) in farms A and B, respectively. Litter size did not differ (P > 0.05) between farms (9.18 ± 0.24 and 9 ± 0.39 in farms A and B, respectively). Distribution of sows among F, O, and C groups differed (P < 0.05) between farms. Seventeen (17.52%), 70 (72.16%), and 10 (10.31%) sows in farm A and 33 (40.24%), 24 (29.27%), and 25 (30.49%) sows in farm B were classified as F, O, and C, respectively. Fertility in F, O, or C sows did not differ (P > 0.05) between farms. Farrowing rates and litter size in O sows (82.98% and 9.45 ± 0.23) were higher (P < 0.05) than in F (48% and 8.67 ± 0.54) and C (48.57% and 7.55 ± 0.62) sows. We can conclude that time of insemination relative to ovulation explains fertility differences between farms when frozen-thawed spermatozoa are used. This work was supported by INIA (RZ01-019) and INFO (CARM).

266 ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF BOAR SEMINAL PLASMA

It has been established that antioxidants in seminal plasma play an important role in protecting the spermatozoa against oxidative stress-induced damage. This study was conducted to measure the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of boar seminal plasma. Fifty-four ejaculates were collected from 17 mature boars of proven fertility by the gloved-hand technique. Ejaculates were collected separately in different fractions (pre-sperm, sperm-rich, and post-sperm) according to their macroscopic (color) characteristics. After centrifugation (2400g for 3 min), the sperm pellet was discarded; the supernatant was recentrifuged and filtered through a 10-μm nylon mesh filter to remove debris or clumped spermatozoa. The seminal plasma was frozen at -20°C until further use. After thawing at room temperature, seminal plasma aliquots of 5 μL were immediately assessed for total antioxidant capacity. TAC was measured using the ABTS/H2O2/HRP decoloration method (Cano A et al. 2000 Redox Report 5, 365–370) which allows differentiation between hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activity capacity. TAC units were expressed as micromolar (μM) Trolox equivalents. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Only the hydrophilic activity was measurable, with the lipophilic activity being undetected. The overall TAC of seminal samples (mean ± SEM) was 1623.7 ± 56.28 μM, ranging from 674 to 2428 μM. Different TACs were observed among males (P < 0.05) and between ejaculates of the same male (P < 0.05). Ejaculate fraction had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on the TAC levels. The post-sperm fraction had a significantly lower TAC level (1104.09 ± 57.66 μM) than the pre-sperm and sperm-rich fractions (1611.95 ± 153.68 μM and 1356.136 ± 72.47 μM, respectively, P < 0.001). In conclusion, hydrophilic antioxidant activity represented the main contribution to the TAC in boar seminal plasma, showing differences among males, between ejaculates of the same male, and also between the different ejaculate fractions. This work was supported by CICYT (AGF98-0533; AGL01-0471) and INIA (RZ01-019).

Tachykinins and tachykinin receptors: structure and activity relationships

In addition to the classical neurotransmitters, acetylcholine and noradrenaline, a wide number of peptides with neurotransmitter activity have been identified in the past few years. Among them, the tachykinins substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB) appear to act as mediators of nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) excitatory neurotransmission. Tachykinins interact with specific membrane proteins, belonging to the family of G protein-coupling cell membrane receptors. Until now, three tachykinin receptors termed NK1 (NK1R), NK2 (NK2R) and NK3 (NK3R) have been cloned in different species. A large amount of reports suggests that these peptides are involved in nociception and neuroimmunomodulation, and in the development of different diseases such as bronchial asthma, inflammatory bowel syndrome and psychiatric disorders. Tachykinin receptor antagonists are therefore promising, therapeutically relevant agents. However, and in spite of extensive research, the obtention of selective antagonists of tachykinin receptors have revealed very difficult. An understanding of how ligands interact with their receptors is essential to permit a rational design of compounds acting selectively at the tachykinin receptor level. The major aim of the present article is to review the structure-activity data that exist for tachykinins and their receptors, with the purpose of getting insight into basic structural requirements that determine ligand/receptor interaction.

92THE ADDITION OF SEMINAL PLASMA FROM INDIVIDUAL BOARS TO FREEZING EXTENDER CAN IMPROVE THE POST-THAW SPERM SURVIVAL

Contradictory results have been reported about the effect of seminal plasma (SP) on the freezability of mammalian spermatozoa. In pigs, current methods for sperm cryopreservation involve removing seminal plasma. Therefore, no conclusive evidence of the potential effect of SP on the freezability of boar spermatozoa has been reported. In this study, we evaluate the effect of the addition of low concentrations of SP from individual boars to the freezing extender on post-thaw sperm survival. Sperm cryopreservation procedure included: dilution of sperm-rich fraction in Beltsville Thaw Solution extender (BTS), cooling to 17°C for 16h, centrifugation at 2400g for 3min, dilution in lactose/egg-yolk/glycerol/Equex Stem (freezing extender) to a final concentration of 1×109 spermmL−1, dispensing into 0.5-mL straws, and freezing in a programmable cell freezer at 20°Cmin−1. Thawing was carried out in a waterbath at 37°C for 20s. Post-thaw sperm survival was assessed by progressive sperm motility (PSM) using a CASA system (SCA); plasma membrane integrity (PMI) and acrosome membrane integrity (AMI) were assessed by flow cytometric procedures (SYBR-14/PI and FITC-PNA/PI, respectively) at 30 and 150min post-thawing in BTS-diluted thaw spermatozoa held in a waterbath at 37°C. Four individual seminal plasma donors (SP1 to SP4) were selected in a preliminary study in which 48 ejaculates from 12 boars (4 ejaculates/boar) were cryopreserved. Then the boars were classified into 3 groups (good, moderate and bad freezers) based on their post-thaw sperm survival. SP1 and SP2 were good freezers (&gt;60% PSM and PMI), SP3 was a moderate freezer (40–60% PSM and PMI) and SP4 was a bad freezer (&lt;40% PSM and PMI). In the main experiment, pooled sperm-rich fractions collected from 9 mature hybrid boars were divided into five aliquots and each was diluted with freezing extender supplemented with 0% (control) or 10% of SP (1–4). Data from eight replicates were analyzed as a split plot design using a PROMIXED model. The addition of SP to freezing extender had a significant effect (P&lt;0.05) on post-thaw sperm survival compared to control. Moreover, there were significant differences (P&lt;0.05) between SP donors. PSM, PMI and AMI were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in SP1 (56.71±4.30; 57.16±4.01 and 57.22±4.01, respectively) and SP2 (59.48±4.30; 60.17±4.01 and 60.05±4.01, respectively) compared to control (50.39±4.30; 49.98±4.01 and 49.54±4.01, respectively). There were no differences (P&gt;0.05) between SP3, SP4 and control. These results indicate that the addition of SP from particular boars (good freezers) to freezing extender may improve post-thaw sperm survival. Individual differences in the SP composition should explain the above results. Supported by INIA (RZ01-019) and MCYT (AGL2001-0471).

Activation of human lung semicarbazide sensitive amine oxidase by a low molecular weight component present in human plasma

Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) encodes a wide family of enzymes named E.C.1.4.3.6 [amine:oxygen oxidoreductase (deaminating) (copper containing)] that metabolises primary aliphatic and aromatic amines. It is present in almost all vascularised and nonvascularised mammalian tissues, and it is also present in soluble form in plasma. SSAO appears to show different functions depending on the tissue where it is expressed. Here we describe, for the first time, the activation of the SSAO from human lung by human plasma. The extent of activation was greater when the human plasma came from diabetic and heart infarcted patients. A kinetic mechanism of such effect is proposed. The activation was lost after the plasma was dialysed, indicating a low molecular weight component (MW <3800 Da) to be responsible. The activator component is heat stable and resistant to proteolysis by chymotrypsin and trypsin and also resistant to perchloric acid treatment. However, treatment with 35% formic acid, completely abolished activation, suggesting involvement of lipid material. The possibility of that lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), an amphiphilic phospholipid derived from the phosphatidylcholine, the major component in plasma accumulated in pathological conditions, was studied. LPC was shown to behave as a "competitive activator" of human lung SSAO at concentrations below its critical micellar concentration (CMC value=50 microM). Thus LPC may be a component of the SSAO activatory material present in human plasma.

Immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using truncated nucleoproteins of Reston Ebola virus

We developed an immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using partial recombinant nucleoproteins (rNP) of Reston Ebola virus (EBO-R) and Zaire Ebola virus (EBO-Z). We examined the reaction of 10 sera from cynomolgus macaques naturally infected with EBO-R to each of the partial rNP in the IgG ELISA. All the sera reacted to the C-terminal halves of the rNP of both EBO-R and EBO-Z. Most of the sera reacted to the RdeltaC (amino acid (aa) 360-739), and Rdelta6 (aa 451-551) and/or Rdelta8 (aa 631-739) at a higher dilution than to the corresponding truncated rNPs of EBO-Z. The results indicate that this IgG ELISA is useful for detecting EBO-R specific antibody, and may have a potential to discriminate EBO-R infection from other subtypes.

Determination of kanamycin in serum by solid-phase extraction, pre-capillary derivatization and capillary electrophoresis

An effective method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the determination of kanamycin in human serum was developed and validated. Off-line SPE was employed for the isolation of kanamycin from serum on a carboxypropyl-bonded phase (CBA) weak cation-exchange cartridge. A mixture of 0.2 M borate (pH 10.5)-methanol (50:50, v/v) was used as analyte eluting solvent. After pre-capillary derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde/mercaptoacetic acid reagent, the sample was analyzed by CE with a separation buffer of 30 mM borax, pH 10.0, containing 16% (v/v) methanol. A linear response over the concentration range 5-40 microgram/ml was obtained with a detection limit of 2 microgram/ml. Intra-day and inter-day precision were 6.2 and 10.3% RSD, respectively. Recoveries of approximately 90% were found. For the determination of lower levels of kanamycin (<5 microgram/ml), NH(4)OH (25%, w/v)-methanol (30:70, v/v) was used for analyte elution. After evaporation, reconstitution and derivatization, the sample was analyzed by on-line field-amplified sample stacking (FASS) CE. Good linearity in the concentration range 0.4-5 microgram/ml was obtained with a detection limit of 0.1 microgram/ml. Intra-day and inter-day RSD were 3.4 and 11.2%, respectively. Recoveries of approximately 60% were found. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of kanamycin in sera of tuberculosis patients at peak level and trough level concentrations.