Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0847097 (acidity)
 15,165 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The process of sperm transport is followed from ejaculate, through deposition in the vagina, into the oviducts where fertilization occurs. The cyclic influence of the sex hormones, governed by the female menstrual cycle, causes characteristic changes in the entire genital tract, resulting in different secretions, some of which are more favorable to the survival of sperm in their transport through the female genital tract. The level of acidity in the vagina can be influenced by sexual behavior and by secretions of the upper genital tract. A sufficient glucose content in the cervical mucus is essential for sperm survival. A literature review presents what has been learned regarding sperm transport from various recent studies. Transport at different times is seen to be both active and passive. Infertility studies have contributed to current knowledge regarding sperm transport and capacitation. The IUD seems to effect biochemical, biophysical, cytological, and histological changes in the epithelia and their fluids. In fact, the different types of IUDs exert differing antifertility effects. Inert IUDs seem to create disturbances in the endometrium, preventing implantation. Copper-bearing and medicated IUDs exert influences in addition to the foreign-body reaction. In fact, some of these IUDs cause changes in the entire genital tract.
 ...
PMID:Sperm migration in the human female genital tract with and without intrauterine devices. 700 46

Slash and burn farmers in southeast Asia are blamed for deforestation and are considered backward or ignorant. Efforts have been made by agricultural development experts to urge farmers to switch to fixed field methods. Slash and burn methods are used in upland areas with steep slopes, low soil fertility, and unpredictable natural hazards in order to allow survival in an environment made difficult for cultivation by other methods. Slash and burn farmers may be stable or migratory and use rotational or pioneering methods. Rotational methods involve clearing and burning a new plot every year, and then allowing regeneration of forest for 10-20 years. When population density is 40/square km, this method does not degrade the environment. Pioneering involves clearance of primary forest, cultivation for several years until soil fertility is destroyed, and then replacement with low productivity "imperata cylindrica grass." Pioneering tends to cause long-term environmental degradation. Humid tropic soils tend toward infertility, and in many areas of southeast Asia the soils are nutrient-poor and acidic. Ash from burning also reduces soil acidity. In northeast Thailand, 454 kg of calcium are released from burning one hectare of mature forest. The advantages are affordable natural fertilization and freedom from technical experts and imported spare parts. Frequent rotation also helps to expand the crops and provide disease protection. Population densities, competition for scarce resources, and social and economic pressures make the slash and burn technique inappropriate. As yet unavailable alternative farming techniques are needed which take advantage of slash and burn benefits. Slash and burn farmers are victims of deforestation even though they may appear to be the villains.
 ...
PMID:Slash-and-burn farmers: villains or victims? 1228 82

The aetiology and pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) is unclear but it appears to be associated with factors that disrupt the normal acidity of the vagina thus altering the equilibrium between the normal vaginal microbiota. BV has serious implications for female morbidity, including reports of pelvic inflammatory disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections and infertility. This paper reviewed new available information regarding possible factors contributing to the establishment of the BV vaginal biofilm, examined the proposed role of anaerobic microbial species recently detected by new culture-independent methods and discusses developments related to the effects of BV on human pregnancy. The literature search included Pubmed (NLM), LISTA (EBSCO), and Web of Science. Because of the complexity and diversity of population groups, diagnosis and methodology used, no meta-analysis was performed. Several anaerobic microbial species previously missed in the laboratory diagnosis of BV have been revealed while taking cognisance of newly proposed theories of infection, thereby improving our understanding and knowledge of the complex aetiology and pathogenesis of BV and its perceived role in adverse pregnancy outcomes.
...
PMID:Anaerobes and bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy: virulence factors contributing to vaginal colonisation. 2501 48

Variable charge soils have low agricultural productivity associated with low pH, low cation exchange capacity (CEC), and low pH buffering capacity (pHBC). As a result of rapid acidification rates, these soils are prone to infertility resulting from Al phytotoxicity and deficiency of P, Ca, Mg, and K, and thus require amendments that can ameliorate soil acidity and enhance soil CEC and pHBC. A 30-day pot experiment was carried out using a clay Ultisol and a sandy Ultisol amended with straw decayed products (SDPs) of peanut, pea, canola, and rice. The results showed that applying SDPs increased the soil CEC, organic matter content, and exchangeable base cations in the two Ultisols. The ameliorative effects of the SDPs were superior for the sandy Ultisol than for the clay Ultisol. The addition of SDPs significantly increased soil pH and pHBC of the two Ultisols, and simultaneously decreased soil exchangeable Al3+. Among them, the greatest effect was found in the treatment with pea straw decayed products (PeaSD). The soil pHs of clay Ultisol and sandy Ultisol treated with PeaSD were respectively 5.70 and 7.37 and were 1.26 and 2.63 pH units higher than those of control. Also, applying SDPs increased maize seedling biomass in both soils and the most significant effect was found in the treatment with PeaSD, which were 0.97 (clay Ultisol) and 2.5 (sandy Ultisol) times higher than in the respective controls. The results of this study demonstrated that carefully selected straws for SDP production can effectively improve soil chemical properties, enhanced soil pHBC, and thus promote agricultural sustainability.
 ...
PMID:Effects of straw decayed products of four crops on the amelioration of soil acidity and maize growth in two acidic Ultisols. 3295 66