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Masculinized females, named sex-reversed females (SRF), have a male phenotype but retain the female genotype (XX) and all spermatozoa produced in their testes carry the X chromosome. Masculinization of females leads to incomplete testicular development and the production of lower-quality semen. The mechanism of masculinization is unknown at present. Therefore, the aim of our study was to identify differentially abundant proteins in testicular semen of normal males and SRF using a difference in-gel electrophoresis approach. Masculinization seemed to not lead to significant changes in the testicular seminal plasma proteome, but did have an impact on the proteome of SRF and normal male sperm. We identified 26 proteins enriched (P< 0.05) in testicular male spermatozoa compared to SRF. A total of 28 proteins were also found to be differentially expressed (P< 0.05) in testicular SRF sperm in comparison to normal males. Bioinformatic analysis highlighted pathways associated with energy production for normal male spermatozoa and pathways related to protein remodeling for SRF sperm. Normal male spermatozoa seemed to be equipped with proteins participating in diverse metabolic pathways, focusing on producing the energy required for sperm movement. On the other hand, SRF spermatozoa were characterized by the enhanced expression of proteins associated with cytoskeletal structures and those related to remodeling, which could indicate that spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis are not fully accomplished. These results can be the basis for further research on the molecular mechanisms of masculinization and toward the development of a method for separating X and Y fish sperm.

Natural killer (NK) cell function can be modulated by the killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIR) which interact with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules on target cells. KIR‐ligand mismatching has recently been shown by van Bergen et al. (American Journal of Transplantation 2011; 11(9): 1959–1964) to be a significant risk factor for long‐term graft loss in HLA‐A, ‐B and ‐DR compatible kidney transplants. To verify this potentially important finding, we performed genotyping of 608 deceased‐donor kidney graft recipients and their HLA‐A, ‐B and ‐DR compatible donors for KIR and HLA, using samples and clinical data provided by the Collaborative Transplant Study. Graft survival of KIR‐ligand‐matched and ‐mismatched transplants was compared. We found no impact of KIR‐ligand mismatching on 10‐year graft survival in HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐DR compatible kidney transplants. Further analysis did not reveal a significant effect of recipient activating/inhibitory KIR or KIR genotypes on graft survival. Our data do not support the concept that KIR‐HLA matching might serve as a tool to improve long‐term renal allograft survival.

Natural killer (NK) cell function can be modulated by the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) which interact with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules on target cells. KIR-ligand mismatching has recently been shown by van Bergen et al. (American Journal of Transplantation 2011; 11(9): 1959–1964) to be a significant risk factor for long-term graft loss in HLA-A, -B and -DR compatible kidney transplants. To verify this potentially important finding, we performed genotyping of 608 deceased-donor kidney graft recipients and their HLA-A, -B and -DR compatible donors for KIR and HLA, using samples and clinical data provided by the Collaborative Transplant Study. Graft survival of KIR-ligand-matched and -mismatched transplants was compared. We found no impact of KIR-ligand mismatching on 10-year graft survival in HLA-A, -B, -DR compatible kidney transplants. Further analysis did not reveal a significant effect of recipient activating/inhibitory KIR or KIR genotypes on graft survival. Our data do not support the concept that KIR-HLA matching might serve as a tool to improve long-term renal allograft survival.

This paper deals with the problem of the replacement of mercury drop electrodes with solid electrodes in standard polarography. The screen-printed thick-film sensor with a three-electrode system was prepared. A working electrode was modified with nanopatterned nanostructures. Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown on the working electrode. The process of the nanotubes growing was tested to create a homogeneous (CNTs) and high density CNT layer directly on the thick-film silver (Ag) layer. Thereby, the modified electrode is presented to be very perspective in heavy metal detection using electrochemical methods because of improvement of detection properties. The authors were able to determine the concentration of cadmium ions in units of µmol/L.

Abstract: Aqueous extracts from leaves of the European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) are postulated to exert an anticancer efficacy by cytotoxic and/or immunological mechanisms of action. Although popular as an unconventional therapy modality, no controlled randomized clinical trials are available, reliably documenting a clinically beneficial antineoplastic potential of the various commercial mistletoe preparations. Since previous investigations have focused on the purified galactoside-specific lectin (Viscum album L. agglutinin, VAA) as major biological response modifier in the low-dose range, the objective of the present experimental study was to examine its effect on N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN)-induced carcinogenesis in the urinary bladder of rats, a suitable animal model for human disease. The carcinogen was fed by gavage in three fractionated low doses (150 mg/kg body weight each) to obtain low-grade and low-stage transitional cell carcinomas. From the onset of the experiment VAA was injected subcutaneously twice a week (1 ng/kg body weight) continuously for either 6 or 15 months. Following an experimental period of 6 months the incidence of bladder carcinomas was 10.2% in rats given exclusively BBN and 6.7% in those additionally treated with VAA. After an experimental time of 15 months 25.8% of the rats fed BBN only and 19.7% of the animals additionally receiving VAA had developed urothelial carcinomas. The differences of the tumor incidences did not reach the level of statistical significance, neither after an experimental duration of 6 (P = 0.88) nor of 15 months (P = 0.71). A difference was found in the size of the transitional cell carcinomas. They proved to be significantly larger (P = 0.02) in the rats additionally treated with VAA for 15 months (mean maximum diameter: 3.31 mm) than in those without lectin treatment (mean maximum diameter: 1.88 mm). Quantitative immunocytochemistry analyzing a panel of immune cells yielded no evidence for the ability of the lectin to provoke a substantial, biologically relevant local cellular immune response in the wall of tumor-free and tumor-bearing bladders. From the current experiment it is obvious that galactoside-specific mistletoe lectin failed to protect against, inhibit, delay or reduce development of chemically induced urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder even after long-term administration in the clinically recommended schedule. It seems highly unlikely that adjuvant treatment with mistletoe extracts or VAA might favorably influence bladder cancer in patients by immunological effector mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: There have been conflicting reports as to whether pancreatic ductal drainage achieved by endoscopy and lithotripsy improves the clinical outcome of patients with chronic pancreatitis. AIMS: To determine the clinical outcome in patients with chronic pancreatitis who received extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), and were followed up for two to eight years. METHODS: Eighty patients with severe chronic pancreatitis and endoscopically unretrievable obstructive stones underwent ESWL with a piezoelectric lithotripter between 1989 and 1996. Clinical status, relief of symptoms, further endoscopic or surgical interventions, and mortality were defined. RESULTS: Forty three (54%) patients were treated successfully with ESWL. The only feature associated with treatment success was the presence of a single stone rather than multiple stones. Successfully treated patients tended to experience less pain, although this did not reach statistical significance. A slight increase in weight was noted in our patients; however, there was no notable improvement in anomalous stools and diabetes mellitus. Five patients died due to extrapancreatic reasons. No pancreatic carcinomas developed. CONCLUSIONS: ESWL associated with endoscopic drainage is a safe technique that is particularly successful in patients with a single stone. However, pancreatic drainage by endoscopy and ESWL has almost no effect on pain in chronic pancreatitis. Furthermore, endoscopic management and ESWL does not prevent or postpone the development of glandular insufficiency.

Measurements with high-rate two-dimensional imaging gaseous detectors require an adequate data acquisition system which allows to handle and store the detector information. For this purpose, a transient recorder system has been developed and tested at the University of Siegen.