ABSTRACT
Patients receiving photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis AG), a new treatment for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and pathologic myopia, should be scheduled for follow-up every 12 weeks (+/-2 weeks) after the initial treatment. However, important data from clinical practice and from small series studies suggest that this period between treatment may be too long for some patients. In this pilot study we explore the safety and the possibility of improving the extent and duration of PDT benefit using feeder vessel treatment (FVT). This study suggests that the combination of verteporfin therapy and FVT is a safe procedure; it also suggests a possibility for prolonging the effect of verteporfin therapy.
Subject(s)
Choroidal Neovascularization/therapy , Light Coagulation/methods , Photochemotherapy/methods , Photosensitizing Agents/therapeutic use , Choroidal Neovascularization/diagnosis , Combined Modality Therapy , Fluorescein Angiography , Humans , Porphyrins/therapeutic use , Treatment Outcome , Verteporfin , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
By immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization at the electron microscopy level, and by the PCR technique, we have shown that HIV-1 binds and enters normal sperm; that viral particles, their antigens, and nucleic acid are present in sperm from HIV-1 infected men; and that such sperm can transfer HIV-1 like particles to normal human oocytes. We also present evidence that a galactosylceramide-like compound is present on the sperm membrane and could function as an alternative receptor for HIV.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/transmission , Disease Transmission, Infectious , Fertilization , HIV-1/isolation & purification , Oocytes/virology , Spermatozoa/virology , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/pathology , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/virology , Cell Membrane/physiology , Cell Membrane/ultrastructure , Female , Galactosylceramides/analysis , HIV-1/ultrastructure , Humans , In Situ Hybridization , Male , Microscopy, Electron , Polymerase Chain Reaction , RNA, Viral/analysis , Receptors, HIV/analysis , Spermatozoa/pathology , Spermatozoa/ultrastructureABSTRACT
The direct IgG mixed antiglobulin reaction (IgG MAR) test was carried out in 395 male subjects from infertile couples, selected on the basis of their seminal characteristics (sperm concentration greater than 10 X 10(6)/ml, sperm motility greater than 10%); attempts were made to correlate results with the seminologic aspects of the ejaculate. A significant correlation was observed between a positive MAR test and spontaneous sperm autogglutination. No correlation was observed, however, between test positivity and concentration, motility and sperm morphologic features, the macroscopic aspects studied (viscosity, fluidification), or increased concentration of leukocytes.
Subject(s)
Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Infertility/immunology , Semen/immunology , Female , Humans , Infertility, Female/immunology , Infertility, Male/immunology , Male , Sperm Agglutination , Sperm Motility , Spermatozoa/immunology , Spermatozoa/ultrastructureABSTRACT
Three procedures commonly employed in the extraction of soluble proteins from cervical mucus, for the application of the technique for the detection of sperm antibodies also in this biological fluid, were compared in order to establish which provided the highest yield. Studies were therefore carried out on 125 women with primary and secondary sterility characterized by good rheologic qualities of their mid-cycle cervical mucus and in presence of repeatedly poor PCTs, not justified by the seminal characteristics of their partners. The laboratory results and the statistical analysis have shown that as far as concerns IgG, liquefaction with bromelin and solubilization with Baker's buffer provide a better yield than ultracentrifugation; while bromelin alone has the best yield with IgA.
