Hemangioma of the Prostatic Urethra: Hematospermia and Massive Postejaculation Hematuria with Clot Retention

The case of a 53-year-old man with hematospermia and massive postejaculation hematuria that caused urinary retention is described. This is the sixth case in the English and Japanese language literature. Cystourethroscopic examination revealed that a solitary raised tumor was present just distal to the vermontanum, and that bleeding was from its apex. Histologic examination of an excisional biopsy sample showed features compatible with hemangioma.     

Effects of Zinc on Production of Active Oxygen Species by Rat Neutrophils

Abstract: The effects of zinc on the production of active oxygen species were investigated in rat neutrophils by chemilumi-nescence and spectrophotometric assays. The luminol-dependent chemiluminescence in unstimulated neutrophils showed a single peak. Zinc at concentrations lower than 0.1 mM augmented the intensity of chemiluminescence and showed a bimodal pattern, the first peak of which was inhibited by superoxide dismutase and catalase, while the second peak disappeared in the presence of catalase, but was unaffected by superoxide dismutase. At the same concentrations of zinc, O₂^? and H₂O₂ production increased, but secretion and activity of myeloperoxidase were not affected. Zinc at 0.1 mM enhanced the second peak of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, and concomitantly O₂^? and H₂O₂ production of neutrophils stimulated with formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. Homogenized neutrophils showed a bimodal pattern on induction by zinc, the second peak of which was inhibited slightly by catalase and completely by sodium azide, but was not inhibited by superoxide dismutase. Zinc-induced O₂^? production was inhibited by pertussis toxin, but was not significantly inhibited by a protein kinase C inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H-7), or a calmodulin antagonist, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7). These results suggest that zinc can augment luminol-dependent chemiluminescence by increasing O₂^? production through the classical signal transduction pathway, and by increasing H₂O₂ not via O₂^?.     

Clinical results of intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion combined with surgery in patients with peritoneal recurrence from gastric cancer

Six patients with peritoneal recurrence after radical operation for gastric cancer were treated by an intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion (IPHP) combined with surgery (IPHP group). Immediately after surgery, a 2-hour IPHP was performed, using a perfusate containing 10 micrograms/ml of MMC, warmed at the inflow temperature of 46.5 +/- 1.1 degree C. Within the same period of time, 5 patients with intra-abdominal recurrent gastric cancer (control group) were treated by an intraperitoneal administration of MMC 10 mg combined with surgery. These 11 patients had malignant peritoneal effusion and, although in 3 of the control group, ascitic effusion did re-accumulate rapidly soon after surgery, the 6 patients of IPHP group did not re-accumulate post-hyperthermically. The average survival duration of IPHP group is 13.6 +/- 10. 6 months, whereas that for controls is 3.0 +/- 2.1 months. Again, the survival rate for IPHP group surpassed that for controls at p = 0.012 and p = 0.008, in a generalized Wilcoxon method and Logrank method, respectively. Post-hyperthermically, hypoproteinemia and thrombocytopenia occurred transitorily. These results show that IPHP using MMC combined with surgery is a safe, reliable treatment for patients with peritoneal recurrence due to gastric cancer.     

The role of HLA-DR4 in the long-term prognosis of IgA nephropathy

The study was performed to clarify the relationship between the long-term prognosis of IgA nephropathy and the HLA-DR4 antigen. From the 130 patients typed for HLA antigens, stable (n = 42) and progressive (n = 45) patient groups were selected. DR4 frequency was not different in the two groups (stable, 66.7 vs. progressive, 53.3%). However, the frequencies of HLA-DR4 and B35 in the 130 patients were significantly higher than those in the national control (DR4; 60.0 vs. 41.6%; B35:30.0 vs. 15.5%). We concluded that DR4 played no role in the long-term prognosis of IgA nephropathy, but that B35 and DR4 were associated with the disease in the Japanese population.     

A new strategy for management of retroperitoneal tumors with supradiaphragmatic vena caval thrombi

A new surgical technique to treat retroperitoneal tumors with supradiaphragmatic vena caval invasion is described. In this technique, hepatic warm ischemia can be avoided with reversed hepatic outflow through the portal vein and neither hypothermic circulatory arrest nor cardiopulmonary bypass is necessary using centrifugal blood pump-driven bypass.     

Experimental study on choline acetyltransferase activity measurement for brachial plexus injury

We studied choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity in a rat model of brachial plexus injury. In experiment 1, we found that the CAT activity was remarkably high in the anterior roots and low in the posterior roots. In experiment 2, nerve root segments were extracted and examined for CAT activity in the root avulsion group (group A) and the plexus severance group (group B). CAT activity decreased day by day in group A, reaching about 1/20 of the normal 5 days postoperatively. By contrast, in group B activity decreased only slightly, and even at 90 days postoperatively was about 6,000 cpm (one-half normal level). As a result, CAT activity enabled us to distinghish postganglionic from preganglionic injury of the cervical roots. Furthermore, it was a useful adjunct for minimizing nerve loss in intercostal nerve transfer, distinguishing motor and sensory branches of the intercostal nerve, and evaluating the motor nerve activity. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Developmental toxicity potential of grayanotoxin I in mice and chicks

Developmental toxicity potential of grayanotoxin I (GTX I), a toxic diterpenoid contained in plants of the family Ericaceae, with sodium ionophore activity, was studied in mice and chicks. In mice, intraperitoneal injections of 1.5 mg GTX I/kg body weight of mouse for three consecutive days during the organogenetic period caused some dams to die, but neither embryotoxicity nor teratogenicity was detected. In chicks, a single injection of 0.1-1.0 microgram GTX I per egg into the extraembryonic coelom on day 1.5 or 2 of incubation, or into the amnionic cavity on day 3 or 4 of incubation induced neither embryotoxic nor teratogenic signs, but 10 micrograms GTX I per egg showed lethal effects when applied on each of those days.     

Anorexia nervosa with neutropenia--response of neutrophils to G-CSF]

A 50-year-old woman with anorexia nervosa was admitted for evaluation of neutropenia (WBC 1,600/microliters). Her bone marrow was gelatinous, and myeloid cells had decreased. Homogeneous substance deposited in the marrow, stained by alcian blue (pH 2.5), indicative of acid mucopolysaccharides. CFU-G and CFU-GM were decreased in number and myeloid pool in the bone marrow also decreased. Anti-neutrophilic antibody was negative. Neutropenia may be related to myeloid hypoplasia, due to increase of acid mucopolysaccharides replacing adipose cells in the bone marrow under long-term mal-nutritional state. Neutrophils markedly increased by administration of rhG-CSF 5.0 micrograms/kg/day for 14 days without the first peak. Serum G-CSF level did not increase (less than 60 pg/ml). It is effective to administer G-CSF to anorexia nervosa with neutropenia.     

Maturation of Pulmonary Metastases of Wilms' Tumor after Therapy: A Case Report

A case is reported of Wilms' tumor associated with multiple pulmonary metastases histologically showing maturation of the tumor cells at 9 years after the resection of the primary tumor and intensive therapy. A huge tumor of a 22-month-old patient's right kidney was resected. The tumor was diagnosed as Wilms' tumor of mesenchymal type (stage 1), which consisted of predominantly immature mesenchymal tissue including rhabdomyoblasts, smooth muscle and fibrous tissue, and few blastemal and epithelial components. Intensive preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy with actinomycin D and vincristine and postoperative irradiation therapy totaling 16 Gy were carried out. The patient was regularly followed up uneventfully until 9 years after the surgery. On routine chest x ray at the age of 10 years 11 months, multiple pulmonary nodules were found. The excised nodules from the bilateral lungs disclosed similar histology, exclusively composed of dense collagen bundles and fibrocytes intermingled with mature striated muscle bundles. No immature tumor components were detected. The possible effect of intensive therapy in this maturation was stressed, although spontaneous benign differentiation of tumor cells cannot be excluded.     

Maffucci’s syndrome associated with spindle cell hemangioendothelioma

 The case of a 49-year-old man with Maffucci’s syndrome, who developed multiple spindle cell hemangioendotheliomas, is presented. The case provides support for recent reports suggesting an association between this peculiar vascular lesion and skeletal enchondromatosis.