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The present study was designed to construct reliable daily salivary progesterone profiles throughout the luteal phase to accurately evaluate the corpus luteum function. Furthermore, we investigated the clinical relevance of a simple midluteal salivary progesterone estimation for the diagnosis of luteal phase insufficiency by determining the diagnostic efficiency and cutoff values. A total of 121 women were divided into 3 groups; normal luteal function, luteal phase insufficiency and unclassified group, based on basal body temperature recordings and serum progesterone levels at 3 sampling points during the midluteal phase. Salivary progesterone values across the luteal phase of the normal luteal function group were significantly increased from day 1 to day 4, remained constant from day 5 to day 9 (mean ± SD, 318 ± 170 pmol/l on day 5, 287 ± 169 pmol/l on day 9; urinary LH surge = day 0) and decreased thereafter. Salivary progesterone concentrations in the luteal phase insufficiency group showed significantly lower values compared with those in the normal group between days 3 and 10. The cutoff values of 189 pmol/l in the midluteal phase yielded a sensitivity of 78.0% and a specificity of 76.5%. Our results suggest that daily salivary progesterone profiles during the luteal phase and a simple estimation of midluteal salivary progesterone appeared to be useful for the diagnosis of luteal phase defects.

The existence and time course of the human plasma membrane block to polyspermy were investigated by an in vitro fertilization assay using zona pellucida-free unfertilized oocytes, pronuclear oocytes and embryos. In the time course study using a high sperm concentration (10(5) spermatozoa ml-1), the number of penetrating spermatozoa at 30 and 60 min after insemination were 1.3 +/- 0.3 and 2.9 +/- 0.4, respectively. By 2 h after insemination, spermatozoa penetration reached a maximum. A lower maximum number of penetrating spermatozoa was observed at a low sperm concentration (10(4) spermatozoa ml-1), but the number of penetrating spermatozoa still reached a maximum by 2 h after insemination. A reinsemination experiment demonstrated that the number of penetrating spermatozoa was not significantly different between control and reinseminated oocytes, while sperm penetration was not observed in the oocyte beyond the two-cell stage. Furthermore, the number of binding spermatozoa decreased after fertilization and most of the four-cell stage embryos displayed no sperm binding. These results suggest that the plasma membrane block plays an important role in the prevention of polyspermy in the human oocyte, and that the plasma membrane block may involve permanent changes in the binding or fusion ability of spermatozoa in the oolemma after fertilization.

The present study was designed to compare the clinical efficacy of low-dose step-up follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) administration with conventional FSH protocol (FSH was injected daily starting with a dose of 150 IU), both combined with intrauterine insemination (IUI), for the treatment of unexplained infertility. A total of 97 unexplained infertility couples was randomly assigned to one or other of the two treatment groups, either conventional FSH with IUI (48 patients) or low-dose step-up FSH with IUI (49 patients), and only the first treatment cycle was evaluated in each protocol. The difference in pregnancy rates per cycle was not statistically significant between the low-dose FSH group and the conventional group [seven of 49 (14.3%) and seven of 48 (14.6%) respectively]. A significant reduction in the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was observed in the low-dose group (8.3% versus 27.1%, P < 0.05). The incidence of moderate OHSS requiring hospitalization was reduced significantly in the low-dose group (low-dose 0% versus conventional 16.7%, P < 0.01). However, the low-dose protocol did not completely prevent multiple pregnancies. Our results suggest that the low-dose step-up FSH treatment appeared to be useful for the treatment of unexplained infertility because of the high pregnancy rates and the significant decrease in the incidence of OHSS.

We investigated whether the incorporation of the sperm membrane into the oolemma contributes to the human plasma membrane block to polyspermy. We used zona pellucida–free oocytes fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or activated by parthenogenetic activation. Only two of the 35 pronuclear oocytes fertilized by spermatozoa (control) demonstrated one single penetrating spermatozoa. In contrast, the majority of ICSI and parthenogenetically activated pronuclear oocytes were penetrated with an average of three spermatozoa per oocyte. The number of fused and binding spermatozoa of ICSI and parthenogenetically activated oocytes were significantly higher than in control oocytes (3.5 ± 0.6 and 4.3 ± 0.6 for ICSI; 3.0 ± 0.3 and 3.8 ± 0.4 for activated and 0.2 ± 0.1 and 0.6 ± 0.2 for controls, respectively, P

Coliform group bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, salmonella and proteus were not detected in four samples of kusaya gravy, a kind of brine used for the production of special salt-dried fish in Japan. Vibrio parahaemolyticus at a level of 101/ml was presumptively detected only in one sample. When inoculated into the gravy at a level of 107-108/ml, none of these bacteria grew. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Escherichia coli and Proteus morganii rapidly decreased in number and were not detectable after 5 d. Staphylococcus aureus numbers reduced only 1 log cycle after incubation for 7 d in the gravy. These results indicate the safety of the gravy with respect to the organisms.

Objective To examine the reliability of the zona-free aged (1 day old) human unfertilized oocyte sperm penetration assay for assessing sperm fertilizing ability and to determine the predictive value of this assay for subsequent subzonal insemination (SUZI) outcomes. Design A total of 253 unfertilized oocytes from total fertilization failure patients and from good fertilization rate (>70%) patients in standard IVF were inseminated with donors' spermatozoa, and penetration rates were compared in each group. Two hundred seventy-two unfertilized oocytes from total fertilization failure, poor fertilization ( 30%) were inseminated with husbands' spermatozoa, and penetration rates were compared between the three groups. In 29 patients, the results of the zona-free assay performed in previous IVF were compared with the fertilization rates of subsequent SUZI. Results In the zona-free assay using donors' spermatozoa, there was no difference in penetration rates between the two groups (109/122, 89.3% versus 114/131, 87.0%). Penetration rates using partners' spermatozoa were positively correlated with fertilization rates in standard IVF (total fertilization failure 34/75, 45.3%; poor fertilization 56/77, 72.7%; normal fertilization 108/120, 90.0%). There was a significant difference in fertilization rates after SUZI between the patients with negative and positive penetration in zona-free assay (4/53, 7.5%, versus 54/174, 31.0%). Conclusion The zona-free human oocyte assay may primarily reflect sperm fertilizing ability. This assay also could be a reliable predictor for subsequent SUZI outcome.

The use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in combination with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) for ovulation induction has been advocated for the treatment, particularly by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) of various types of infertility. The present study was designed to compare the clinical efficacy of HMG alone with a short protocol of GnRHa/HMG for treatment of unexplained infertility. A total of 91 couples with unexplained infertility were randomly assigned to one of two treatments; either HMG with intra-uterine insemination (IUI) (45 patients, 62 cycles) or GnRHa/HMG with IUI (46 patients, 69 cycles) treatments. Progesterone concentrations on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration were significantly higher in HMG (1.5 +/- 0.9 ng/ml) versus GnRHa/HMG (0.8 +/- 0.6 ng/ml; P < 0.05) cycles. Furthermore, GnRHa suppressed the occurrences of premature luteinization (GnRHa/HMG 5.8% and HMG 24.2% respectively). However, there were no significant differences in HMG dose requirements, plasma oestradiol concentrations or follicular development on the day of HCG administration between the two groups. Nor were any significant differences found in the pregnancy rates between the two treatment protocols (GnRHa/HMG 13.0% and HMG 11.3% respectively). Our results suggest no beneficial effect of GnRHa/HMG compared to HMG alone for the treatment of unexplained infertility, based on pregnancy rates.

Field-emission current from titanium-oxide nanostructures is increased by ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The field-emission current after UV irradiation was tens of times larger than that before irradiation. The enhancement in electron emission by UV at 365 nm is larger than that at 405 nm. The increased emission current did not decrease after the irradiation was stopped but did decrease after the sample was exposed to air. This suggests that surface cleaning by photon induced reaction is the origin of the observed current enhancement.

Electron emission characteristics of needle-shaped titanium dioxide (TiO2) cathodes fabricated by a printing method and the change in current densities before and after ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation were investigated. A field enhanced surface treatment by applying a high electric field to the printed TiO2 cathodes was found to be effective for improvement in field emission, resulting in protrusion of TiO2 nanorods from the cathode surface and field emission at and above 2.5V∕μm with a current density of about 1mA∕cm2 at 8V∕μm. The emission current density of TiO2 cathodes can be increased by UV light irradiation with gradual increase and decrease from and to the initial level with and without UV light.

Membrane preparations from monkey and pig hypothalami bound [125]insulin specifically. The binding appeared to be greater by preparations from anterior than posterior portions of the pig hypothalamus. Binding was time dependent, and its dissociation was first order with a half-time at 22°C of 14 min. Desalanine insulin was as effective as native insulin in inhibiting the binding of [125I]insulin, while proinsulin was less effective and desoctapeptide insulin still less effective in accord with their biologic activities. Binding by membranes from cortex and thalamus appeared to be less than from hypothalamus. [125I]lnsulin was infused into an arterial split monkey brain preparation to determine if insulin that was blood borne bound specifically to the primate hypothalamus. Half the brain was perfused with [125I]insulin alone and the other half with [125I]insulin plus an excess of unlabeled insulin. Radioautography showed specific binding of insulin localized to the median eminence, infundibular nucleus, and microvessels. Thus, the monkey and pig hypothalami bind insulin with characteristics similar to those reported for known target tissues for insulin. Furthermore, insulin from the blood stream binds to specific anatomical structures in the hypothalamus of the monkey.

Four cases of hepatoma seen on follow-up angiograms of patients with liver cirrhosis are described. Hepatic angiography is the most useful method of detecting a hepatoma complicating liver cirrhosis, and it should be repeated following any minimal change in the serum alpha-fetoprotein level or when the radionuclide image suggests hepatoma, since a small hepatoma may be resectable.