The active form of human blood coagulation factor X (FXa, EC 3.4.21.6) showing N-alpha-Benzoyl-L-isoleucyl-L-glutamyl-L-glycyl-L-arginine- p-nitroanilide (S-2222) hydrolyzing activity was first detected in human semen (seminal plasma) by affinity chromatography using anti-human coagulation factor X, and this enzyme activity was inhibited by anti-human FX. This enzyme has been associated with the human coagulation factor X (FX) in human semen (seminal plasma) by Western blot analysis, and the molecular mass of mature FX was also estimated to be 59 KDa by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis.

Blotting, Western↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Action of physiologically active materials in human semen during aging.

We examined the activities of some physiologically active substances (enzymes) in human seminal plasma from subjects in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. The average volume of semen per ejaculation in this investigation did not differ significantly depending on the age of the subject. Two age dependent patterns of decrease of substances in semen were observed, and the substances including tissue kallikrein and prostate specific antigen (PSA) basic arginine amidase in human seminal plasma showing the first pattern (a significant decrease in the 40s as compared to the 30s) might be initially secreted from the prostate gland, and whereas the glands secreting the other group of substances including active form coagulation factor X (FXa) and plasminogen are not now known. The levels of these substances in semen decrease in the subjects in their 30s. The coagulation and liquefaction times of human semen from older subjects were both prolonged with those of semen from younger subjects, and that such alteractions ultimately cause the age dependent declines of the motility of sperm and the ability of fertility.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A case-control study evaluating occult blood screening for colorectal cancer with hemoccult test and an immunochemical hemagglutination test.

A case control study to evaluate the occult blood screening for colorectal cancer was conducted in a town where colorectal cancer screening had been performed by Hemoccult test during the early years and subsequently by an immunochemical hemagglutination test. All residents aged >/=40 years had been offered the annual screening. Case series consisted of 51 subjects with fatal colorectal cancer. Three controls per case were selected from the list of residents who were alive at the time of diagnosis of the corresponding case and had been living in the town, matched by gender and by age. The odds ratio (OR) of dying of colorectal cancer for those having their most recent screening histories with Hemoccult test or the immunochemical test during the preceding 1 year and 1-2 year segment before case diagnosis were 0.20 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.08-0.49] and 0. 17 (95% CI: 0.04-0.75), respectively. The OR increased towards 1.0 as the number of years since the most recent screening increased. The OR of dying of colorectal cancer was calculated to be 0.19 (95% CI: 0.05-0.70) for those screened with the immunochemical test alone during the preceding 1 year after adjustment for previous screening histories with the Hemoccult test. Corresponding OR was 0.36 (95% CI: 0.11-1.17) for those screened with Hemoccult test during the preceding 1 year. These results suggest that screening for colorectal cancer by fecal occult blood testings or immunochemical test alone would reduce mortality and that efficacy of the screening would be higher for the immunochemical test than for Hemoccult test.

Case-Control Studies↗