Onion peel extract and its constituent, quercetin inhibits human Slo3 in a pH and calcium dependent manner

Sperm function and male fertility are closely related to pH dependent K⁺ current (KSper) in human sperm, which is most likely composed of Slo3 and its auxiliary subunit leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 52 (LRRC52). Onion peel extract (OPE) and its major active ingredient quercetin are widely used as fertility enhancers; however, the effect of OPE and quercetin on Slo3 has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of quercetin on human Slo3 channels. Human Slo3 and LRRC52 were co-transfected into HEK293 cells and pharmacological properties were studied with the whole cell patch clamp technique. We successfully expressed and measured pH sensitive and calcium insensitive Slo3 currents in HEK293 cells. We found that OPE and its key ingredient quercetin inhibit Slo3 currents. Inhibition by quercetin is dose dependent and this degree of inhibition decreases with elevating internal alkalization and internal free calcium concentrations. Functional moieties in the quercetin polyphenolic ring govern the degree of inhibition of Slo3 by quercetin, and the composition of such functional moieties are sensitive to the pH of the medium. These results suggest that quercetin inhibits Slo3 in a pH and calcium dependent manner. Therefore, we surmise that quercetin induced depolarization in spermatozoa may enhance the voltage gated proton channel (Hv1), and activate non-selective cation channels of sperm (CatSper) dependent calcium influx to trigger sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction.

Slot 0, 018" ou 0,022": por que existem duas opções ? Um guia para a escolha / The 0.018" or 0.022" slot systems: why two options are available? A guide for indications

The first Edgewise brackets were utilized with gold wire and the slot designed with 0.022" high to present sufficient rigidity. When gold was replaced by stainless steel, cheaper and stiffer, it was proposed to reduce the slot size to 0.018". The two different sizes of brackets are used in contemporary orthodontics and many clinical orthodontists are unaware of the advantages they may have. The aim of this paper is to present, based on the orthodontic literature, the main characteristics influenced by the brackets slot size and compile data to drive orthodontists in choosing the bracket that best meets their clinical needs.

Os primeiros braquetes Edgewise eram utilizados com fios de ouro e concebidos com o slot de 0,022" de altura, para que apresentassem rigidez suficiente. Com a substituição do ouro pelo aço inoxidável, mais barato e mais rígido, foi proposta a redução do slot para 0,018". As duas diferentes dimensões de braquetes são utilizadas na Ortodontia contemporânea e muitos ortodontistas clínicos desconhecem suas vantagens. O objetivo deste artigo foi apresentar, baseando-se na literatura ortodôntica, as principais características influenciadas pelo tamanho do slot dos braquetes e compilar os dados para direcionar o ortodontista na escolha do braquete que melhor atenda às suas necessidades clínicas.

Effect of the Deep Sea Shark-liver Oil Component Food on Secretion Type Immunoglobulin A Density of Saliva in the Normal Man and Woman Adult / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

Secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) in saliva constitutes the first-line barrier to the entry of pathogens into the body, implying its critical role in mucosal immunity.To examine the effect of a shark liver oil (SLO)-containing diet on salivary s-IgA concentration in healthy male and female adults, 42 subjects were assigned to either placebo or 6 weeks of a 2,400 mg SLO-containing diet (1,500 mg as SLO) and assessed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial.Salivary s-IgA concentration significantly increased at week 6 in the SLO group (P = 0.033), but not in the placebo group.Moreover, there was a significant difference between groups in the magnitude of change from baseline to week 6.No intervention-related adverse event or abnormal changes of laboratory test parameters were observed throughout the study period.In conclusion, an SLO-containing diet increases salivary s-IgA in healthy adults.

Retrospective Study of Advanced Ovarian Cancer Cases Treated in Our Hospital / 日本農村医学会雑誌

Objective: To investigate unfavorable prognostic factors in advanced ovarian cancer.Materials and Methods: The medical records of 15 women diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer between January 2003 and December 2009 were examined. We compared some factors between the complete first-line chemotherapy group and the incomplete first-line chemotherapy group, and between the complete SLO/SDS group and the incomplete SLO/SDS group. Moreover, we performed multivariate analysis of prognostic factors.Results: The mean age of women in the incomplete first-line chemotherapy group was significantly advanced than that in the complete first-line chemotherapy group. The CA125 value for the complete SLO/SDS group was significantly lower than that for the incomplete SLO/SDS group. Multivariate analysis, found that advanced age, incomplete first-line chemotherapy and poor declined CA125 value were unfavorable prognostic factors in advanced ovarian cancer.Discussion: From advanced aged women with advanced ovarian cancer, it is necessary to obtain informed consent. As the case may be, we should consider providing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and palliative medicine.  To those patients with incomplete first-line chemotherapy and poor declined CA125 value, we should tell them that they could choose second-line chemotherapy and palliative medicine.Conclusion: It was found that advanced age, incomplete first-line chemotherapy and poor declined CA125 value, were unfavorable prognostic factors. In cases with these three factors, we should supply them with adequate information and treatment cautiously.

The Evaluation of Retinal Sensitivity using SLO Microperimetry in Diabetic Patients

PURPOSE: Microperimetry with the scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) allows precise point-to-point correlation between visual functions and retinal pathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the retinal sensitivity in patients with diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: We divided 15 eyes into 3 study based on the severity of the diabetic retinopathy and 5 healthy eyes as a control. Twenty eyes of 20 patients were prospectively examined with static manual microperimetry using the SLO (Scanning laser microscope 101, Rodenstock, Munich, Germany) to compare the retinal sensitivity according to the severity of retinal pathology. RESULTS: We observed a generalized decrease in retinal sensitivity in diabetic retinopathy patients. There was a significant decrease in retinal sensitivity over 5degrees in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that the higher the degree of diabetic retinopathy, retinal sensitivity decreased. A decreased in retinal sensitivity was also observed with retinal hemorrhage, exudate and neovascularization. It may help in making management decisions in diabetic patients by offering sensitive parameters in addition to the visual acuity.

The Assessment of Fixation Area and Prognostic Factors in Idiopathic Macular Holes after Vitrectomy with Microperimetry Using Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relation between recovery of visual function and microperimetric fixation area in eyes with idiophthic macular hole after vitrectomy. METHODS: We used SLO (Scanning laser microscope, Rodenstock, Germany) microperimetry to examine foveal retinal function and fixation area in 14 eyes with idiopathic macular hole following pars plana vitrectomy. The relation between those preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity and fixation area was studied. RESULTS: The macular hole size was correlated with preoperative visual acuity (p=0.026) and the closure of hole was related to the size of fixation area (p=0.003). The postoperative visual acuity was related to symptom duration before the vitrectomy (p=0.03), but not related to preoperative macular hole size. The fixation area correlated with the postoperative best corected visual acuity (p=0.043) and the direction of movement was variable. In most eyes, fixation area was located above the horizontal meridian. CONCLUSIONS: The fixation area was correlated with postoperative visual acuity and we think functional macular hole closure as well as anatomical closure were useful parameter of the success of macular hole surgery.

Two Types of Retinal Capillary Path in Humans using Fluorescein Leukocyte Angiography

PURPOSE: To explain hypothesis that there are two types of human retinal capillary pathways. One is simple type and the other is complex type. The former plays a role in blood flow regulation and the latter does capillary function itself. METHODS: We measured the length, tortousity, and flow velocity of human retinal capillaries using Fluorescein Leukocyte Angiography (FLA) with a Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (SLO) on two healthy adult male volunteers. We studied distribution and pathways of human retinal capillaries on the posterior pole. RESULTS: The lengths of capillaries were distributed with two peak incidence. One was 70 microgram and the other 240 microgram. There was no relationship between capillary length and tortousity. The correlation between capillary length and leukocyte velocity showed that the shorter capillary group has a wide range of velocity but the longer group has a narrow range of velocity. CONCLUSIONS: Two types of retinal capillary pathways exist on human retina. Compared with two types of capillaries on the cat retina described by Ben-nun et al, we found that the shorter capillary type plays a role in blood flow regulation and the longer type in capillary function itself.

Evaluation of Retinal Circulation Times in Rhegmatogeneous Retinal Detachment with SLO

This study was designed to evaluate the association between rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and retinal circulation times. We observed retinal circulation times in 30 patients with rhegmatogeneous retinal detachment before and after operation using the scanning laser ophthalmoscope. We measured arm to retina time(ART) and arteriovenous passage time(AVT) before the operations and after(average 2.5 weeks) successful reattachment of detached retina. Preoperative ART and AVP were 13.83 +/- 3.08 see and 2.91 +/- 0.69 see respectively, whereas postoperative ART and AVP were 13.60 +/- 2.99 see and 2.90 +/- 0.63 see in detached areas. There was no statistically significant difference between pre- and post-operative ART and AVP in detached retina(P>0.05). Preoperative ART and AVP in flat retinal area were 13.82 +/- 3.08 and 2.91 +/- 0.69 see respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between flat and detached area preoperatively (P>0.05). No significant correlation was noted between retinal circulation times and rhegmatogeneous retinal detachments by scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

Retinal circulation times in branch retinal vein occlusion

To investigate the retinal hemodynamics in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), we measured retinal circulation times using scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) and studied their relationships with clinical findings. Arm-retina time (ART) and arteriovenous passage time (AVP) were measured in 30 eyes of 30 patients. Mean ART was 13.07 seconds. ART showed no difference in relation to sex and systemic diseases, but increased with age. Mean AVPs were 3.00 sec. and 3.39 sec. in superotemporal and inferotemporal BRVO, respectively. AVPs were delayed significantly in occluded branch of retinal veins. AVP was delayed three-fold when the area of capillary nonperfusion was over 6 disc area, but showed no difference according to the duration of disease or macular edema. These results suggest that SLO may be a useful tool for studying retinal hemodynamics in BRVO.

Retinal Hemodynamic Study using a Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope in Diabetic Retinopahty

To investigate retinal hemodynamics in diabetic retinopathy, the perifoveral capillary leukocyte velocity for retinal microcirculation was measured in eyes of 16 control. 12 non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR) and 10 proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR) on the video fluorescein angiogram using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope(SLO 101, Rod-enstock, Munich, Germany) in 20 degrees retinal field. And the times of arm to retinal circulation, arterio-venous circulation and venous lamina flow for retinal macrocirculation were also measured in eyes of 18 control, 16 NPDR and 10 PDR in 40 degrees retinal field. There was not any statistically significant difference between control eyes(140.62 +/- 34.11 pixels/see, 1.21 +/- 0.29 mm/sec) and NPDR eyes(133.98 +/- 31.85 pixels/sec, 1.15 +/- 0.27 mm/sec) in mean perifoveal capillary leukocyte velocity(p=0.60). But it was significantly decreased in PDR eyes(108.80 +/- 26.19 pixels/see, 0.94 +/- 0.23 mm/sec) compared with control(p=0.01) and NPDR eyes(p=0.05). The were not any significant differences in the times of arm to retinal and arterio-venous circulation respectively(p>0.05) among the eyes of control(12.09 +/- 1.41 sec, 2.41 +/- 0.86 sec), NPDR(12.66 +/- 1.42 see, 2.32 +/- 0.96 sec) and PDR(12.90 +/- 1.51 see, 2.54 +/- 0.94 sec). But the venous lamina flow time was significantly decreased in eyes of NPDR(6.91 +/- 2.32 see, p=0.02) and PDR(7.03 +/- 1.89 sec, p=0.01) compared with that of control(5.46 +/- 1.18 see). These results indicate that a significant retinal microcirculatory deficit exists in the eyes of PDR, and venous lamina flow time may be a good index of retinal macrocirculatory deficit in diabetic retinopathy.