Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Cox

Publications and source records attributed to A Cox.

172 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

The hemizona assay: a simplified technique.

The hemizona assay is an important diagnostic tool in assessing human sperm fertilizing potential. Previous hemizona assay results have proven that this functional test is a good predictor of fertilization in vitro and can be used in clinical practice to supply additional information in male factor subfertility cases. The objective of this study was to compare two methods for cutting human zona pellucida into equal halves (manual handcutting versus micromanipulation) in order to examine the necessity of an expensive micromanipulator in performing this assay. Comparable results for recovery rate, diameter size of the hemizonae, and sperm binding were achieved with both methods. According to these results, the use of an expensive micromanipulator is not essential in performing the hemizona assay.

Female↗

Multicenter study on reproducibility of sperm morphology assessments.

Sperm morphology has always been considered an important tool in evaluating a man's fertilizing potential. The objective of this multicentric study was to evaluate intra- and interindividual variability and between-laboratory variation using the same or different criteria of sperm morphology assessment. Semen samples were obtained from 20 males and 32 smears were made of all samples. Eighty coded smears (4 per patient) were sent to 8 laboratories for morphology assessment. The centers applied different classification systems (strict criteria, WHO 1987, Düsseldorf criteria) and participants were asked to analyze the 80 smears twice, with an interval of 1 week between each participant's two analyses. Intraclass correlations between repeats showed that sperm morphology can be assessed with acceptable within observer reproducibility. Expected increases in imprecision were observed up to coefficients of variation of >30% with decreasing morphology scores, regardless of the classification system used. Agreement in correct classification of samples as normal/abnormal was obtained in 80% of cases. Differences in reproducibility between slides may reflect an important source of heterogeneity due to smear preparation. These results emphasize the importance of external quality control systems to improve the value of sperm morphology assessments in the investigation of the male partner in a subfertile couple.

Fertilization in Vitro↗

Production of immunohistochemical reactivity of mouse anti-epithelial monoclonal antibodies raised against human breast cancer cells.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 were obtained by fusing spleen cells from immunized mice with SP2/0 myeloma cells. The Mabs obtained show a high degree of specificity for epithelial cells. They react in a heterogeneous way with neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissues. Mabs 5D10, 2B4, and 3B7 recognize the same antigen (MW 80,000-90,000) in fresh tissue and in paraffin embedded sections. Mab 11F9 recognizes another antigen which can only be detected in unfixed tissue and not in paraffin sections. A preliminary study suggests a glycolipid nature of all recognized antigens. At least one of the monoclonal antibodies (5D10) developed can be used in an in vitro and in vivo model for the study of the invasiveness of MCF-7 cells.

Animals↗

Specific monoclonal antibodies reacting with human breast cancer cells.

Spleen cells from Balb/c mice immunized with human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) were fused with murine myeloma SP2/0 cells. Screening of the monoclonal antibodies produced was carried out on glutaraldehyde fixed cells coated on microtiterplates. An initial evaluation of the specificity was obtained by comparing the binding of the monoclonal antibodies to MCF-7 cells with the binding to human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Eight monoclonal antibodies reacting with different epitopes on the MCF-7 cells were obtained. On the basis of their clonal origin, isotype and reaction pattern towards the MCF-7 cells these monoclonal antibodies were subdivided into two classes. Both groups of antibodies reacted with fixed and unfixed MCF-7 cells. The cellular distribution of the antigens recognized by the monoclonal antibodies was determined. To check for specificity a panel of different cells (of human and animal origin) was evaluated by immunocytochemical techniques.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Steps towards Körner.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Community Health Services↗

Fat arms, obesity and choice of blood pressure cuff size in diabetic patients.

Four hundred consecutive diabetic patients had their mid-arm circumference (AC) measured and body mass index (BMI) calculated to determine the proportion of an unselected clinic group who would require a larger than standard adult blood pressure (BP) cuff and whether or not BMI could be used to predict AC and hence choice of appropriate BP cuff size. More than 75% of both men and women had an AC > or = 29cm, justifying a larger than standard adult cuff for their BP measurement. When patients were classified according to their BMI, at least 80% with a BMI > or = 30 and more than 70% with a BMI of 25-29 had a measured AC > or = 29cm, while less than a third of patients with a BMI > or = 25 had an AC > or = 29cm. These results indicate that, in a diabetic clinic, most patients with a BMI > or = 25 are likely to require an alternative adult BP cuff if their blood pressure is to be measured precisely.

Adult↗

Evaluation of the long-term results of single lung versus heart-lung transplantation for emphysema.

BACKGROUND: Heart and lung transplantation used to be the standard operation for patients with emphysema. Because of the shortage of donors, more patients are having single lung transplantation with satisfactory short-term results. METHODS: This study was performed to evaluate the long-term results of both groups. During the period between December 1985 and December 1993, 89 patients underwent lung transplantation, and 68 patients (43 male and 25 female) underwent single lung transplantation. There were 31 right and 37 left single lung transplantations with 24 bronchial revascularization procedures. RESULTS: The actuarial 5-year survival was 67% +/- 0.3% in single lung and 60% +/- 0.2% in heart-lung groups (p = 0.947). In the single lung group, two patients required a second single lung for air trapping and 11 patients (16%) had obliterative bronchiolitis, two of whom required retransplantation. In the heart-lung group, four patients (19%) had obliterative bronchiolitis, two of whom required retransplantation. The cumulative probability of developing obliterative brochiolitis at 3 and 5 years was 17% and 38% in the heart-lung transplantation group and 23% and 48% in the single lung transplantation group, respectively. The average forced expiratory volumes in 1 second at 3 and 5 years were 1.6 and 1.4 (L/min) (standard error +/- L/min) for single lung and 3 and 2.9 (L/min) standard error +/- 0.25) for heart-lung transplant recipients, respectively. The percentage of the predicted maximum oxygen consumption was 42% and 58% in single lung and heart lung groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term results in respiratory function, exercise capacity, and the quality of life of heart-lung transplant recipients are significantly better with survival compared with single lung transplant recipients. Although single lung transplantation for patients with emphysema makes better use of organs, the long-term results when compared with those of the heart-lung group needs to be evaluated further.

Adult↗

[The evolution of the sequences of the internal spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA for American species in the genus Nicotiana].

Phylogenetic relationships of 46 Nicotiana species were estimated from the sequences of internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Phylogenetic tree, built by parsimony method, was highly concordant with the conclusions of morphological and cytogenetical investigations. The reliability of dendrogram obtained was assessed by both bootstrap and jackknife analyses.

Base Sequence↗