Acupuncture has been used to treat infertility extensively, including ovulatory dysfunction, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), and male infertility. This review summarizes the ...recent studies which investigated the role of acupuncture in infertility. In conclusion, most of the existing studies suggest a positive effect of acupuncture in infertility treatment. Firstly, acupuncture may improve ovulation by modulating the central and peripheral nervous systems, the neuroendocrine and endocrine systems, the ovarian blood flow, and metabolism. Secondly, acupuncture can improve the outcome of IVF-ET, and the mechanisms may be related to the increased uterine blood flow, inhibited uterine motility, and the anesis of depression, anxiety and stress. Its effect on modulating immune function also suggests helpfulness in improving the outcome of IVF-ET. Finally, the studies suggest that acupuncture plays a positive role in male infertility, the mechanism of which is not yet clear. Even though a positive effect of acupuncture in infertility has been found, well-designed multi-center, prospective randomized controlled studies are still needed to provide more reliable and valid scientific evidence. Furthermore, it is urgent and necessary to clarify the mechanism of acupuncture for infertility.
The neutrophil granulocytes of a 1-year-old boy with severe recurrent infections were found to have almost no chemotactic responsiveness, impaired phagocytosis and reduced intracellular killing of ...Candida albicans "in vitro". During the course of a febrile illness of unknown etiology which was accompanied by a leukemoid reaction, phagocytic activity became normal; the chemotactic response was also increased but still remained slightly subnormal. Family studies suggested that the defect was an inherited autosomal recessive one.
Morphology of GvH reactions Heymer, B; Niethammer, D; Dieterle, U ...
Verhandlungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Pathologie,
1978, Letnik:
62
Journal Article
Three children with severe combined immunodeficiency have been isolated for 19-22 months. Two of the children have been placed into the isolation system directly after delivery; on child entered the ...isolation system at the age of 5 months. The influence of this situation on the psychic development of the children was studied by the means of direct observation as well as by psychometric test methods. An additional child which has been isolated between the age of 6 and 32 months was retested at the age of 4 and 6 years. The reported observation which include those of the parents and the team allow the conclusion, that a normal development is possible under these extreme conditions, when an optimal clinical and psychological support is maintained.
The mitochondrial inner membrane harbors a large number of metabolite carriers. The precursors of carrier proteins are synthesized in the cytosol and imported into mitochondria by the translocase of ...the outer membrane (TOM) and the carrier translocase of the inner membrane (TIM22). Molecular chaperones in the cytosol and intermembrane space bind to the hydrophobic precursors to prevent their aggregation. We report that the major metabolite channel of the outer membrane, termed porin or voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), promotes efficient import of carrier precursors. Porin interacts with carrier precursors arriving in the intermembrane space and recruits TIM22 complexes, thus ensuring an efficient transfer of the precursors to the inner membrane translocase. Porin channel mutants impaired in metabolite transport are not disturbed in carrier import into mitochondria. We conclude that porin serves distinct functions as outer membrane channel for metabolites and as coupling factor for protein translocation into the inner membrane.
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•Metabolite channel of mitochondrial outer membrane promotes protein import•Porin interacts with carrier precursors accumulated in the intermembrane space•Porin recruits the carrier translocase of the inner mitochondrial membrane•Dual role of porin as metabolite channel and as coupling factor in protein import
Ellenrieder et al. report that the major metabolite channel porin of the mitochondrial outer membrane promotes the import of carrier proteins to the mitochondrial inner membrane. Porin binds carrier precursors in the intermembrane space and recruits the carrier translocase of the inner membrane to facilitate transfer of the precursor proteins.