Prostate gland volume is a strong predictor of biopsy results in men 70 years or older with prostate-specific antigen levels of 2.0–10.0 ng/mL

PURPOSE: The incidence of prostate cancer, benign prostatic enlargement and serum level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) increase with patient age. Intermediate elevation of PSA in elderly populations is apt to be considered insignificant. We evaluated the impact of PSA and prostate volume on the presence of non-palpable prostate cancer in elderly men with an intermediate level of PSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical records of 154 men 70 years or older, with non-cancerous digital rectal examination findings and with serum PSA levels of 2.0-10.0 ng/mL, who underwent initial 6- to 10-core transrectal prostate biopsy, were reviewed for prostate volume, number of biopsy cores, PSA and associated parameters. Stepwise logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) models were used to determine the impacts of the parameters on the biopsy results. RESULTS: Overall cancer detection rate was 40/154 or 26.0%. Prostate-specific antigen showed no significant association with the presence of prostate cancer (P = 0.59, Mann-Whitney U-test), while prostate volume did (P < 0.0001). On stepwise logistic regression analysis, prostate volume (P = 0.024, 95% CI 1.008-1.116) and biopsy core density (P = 0.017, 95% CI 4.76-7.12 x 10(6)) were independently associated with a cancer diagnosis, whereas PSA density was not an independent factor for a positive biopsy result. The area under the ROC curve for prostate volume was significantly superior to that of PSA (0.802 vs. 0.529; P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: In men 70 years or older with gray zone PSA, prostate cancer patients are equally distributed over any PSA range. Although PSA has less impact on cancer presence than mere prostate volume, prostate cancer would be detected in a substantial proportion of older patients with PSA levels of 2.0-10.0 ng/mL.     

Pharmacological and Pharmacokinetic Characteristics of YM435, a Novel Dopamine DA1-Receptor Agonist,in Anaesthetized Dogs

Time-course of plasma concentration of unchanged drug of the dopamine DA₁-receptor agonist (–)-(S)-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7,8-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride hydrate (YM435), and its effects on blood pressure and renal blood flow were investigated in anaesthetized dogs. Continuous intravenous infusion of YM435 (0.1–3 μg kg^? min^?) rapidly increased renal blood flow and lowered blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner. These effects remained generally stable throughout the infusion period. Following the start of infusion, plasma concentration of unchanged drug also rose rapidly and dose-dependently and remained virtually constant throughout the infusion period. A significant correlation was observed between log YM435 plasma concentration and the increase in renal blood flow (r = 0.93, P < 0.0001) and between the former and the reduction in blood pressure (r = 0.93, p < 0.0001). The present results indicate that YM435 produces renal vasodilatation and lowering of blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner and with rapid onset following continuous intravenous infusion, and that these effects are generally stable throughout the period of infusion. These haemodynamic effects of YM435 were in good agreement with the time-course of plasma concentration of unchanged drug.     

Chronic Treatment with Prazosin Causes a Subtype-specific Increase in the α1-Adrenoceptor Density of the Stressed Rat Cerebral Cortex

The effects of chronic treatment with prazosin and of immobilization stress on the α₁-adrenoceptor subtypes in rat cerebral cortex have been examined. Prazosin-treated rats were allowed free access to tap water containing two different concentrations of prazosin (16 or 156 mg L^?) for 5 weeks. The mean plasma concentrations of prazosin were 5 ng mL^? in groups treated with a low dose and 8 or 14 ng mL^? in those treated with a high dose. Immobilization stress (2 h day^?, 2 weeks) or chronic treatment with a low dose of prazosin caused no significant change in the affinity for [³H]prazosin or in the maximum number of α₁-adrenoceptor sites (B_max). However, treatment with prazosin (low dose) combined with stress increased the density of α₁-adrenoceptors with low affinity for prazosin. Treatment with a high dose of prazosin increased the density of α_1L-adrenoceptors, irrespective of stress loading. The densities of α_1A- and α_1B-adrenoceptors with high affinity for prazosin were increased only after treatment with a high dose of prazosin in combination with stress. These results indicate that three distinct α₁-adrenoceptor subtypes, α_1A, α_1B and α_1L, might be affected differently by treatment with prazosin and by stress.     

Progressive prosopagnosia at a very early stage of frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Background: The present paper describes a patient with a right temporal lobe variant (RTLV) of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Methods: The study was undertaken when the patient was completely independent in her environment and had not complained of any cognitive problems. Results: Under general neuropsychological assessment, the patient showed no notable deficit other than a difficulty in recognizing famous people by looking at photographs of their faces. Subsequent in‐depth evaluation indicated prosopagnosia: the patient presented with an impaired ability to recognize the faces of famous people and family members, whereas her visuospatial abilities were intact. Because the patient was able to recognize familiar people by their voices, the impairment was not a general loss of knowledge about people, but an inability to access this knowledge from visual stimuli (i.e. via the visual modality). The patient also exhibited a ‘within‐category’ learning deficit; however, her ability to learn from ‘across‐category’ visual stimuli remained intact. Conclusions: Overall, the results of the present study support the proposed model of RTLV of FTLD, where the first sign would be the disruption of face recognition components, leading to a selective form of associative prosopagnosia. Further, the co‐occurrence of face and ‘within‐category’ object learning deficits favor an interpretation in which a more generalized deficit occurs ‘earlier’ in the sequence of events associated with the object recognition process.     

Long-term sequential changes of antibody to p40tax in HTLV-I carrier mothers and children

Antibody to p40^tax (anti-p40^tax) in serum specimens obtained sequentially from a human T cell lymphotropic virus type I carrier population of mothers and children were assayed. The prevalences of anti-p40^tax at the initial sampling were 88% (7/8) in children and 55% (16/29) in mothers. Two of the seven positive children lost their anti-p40^tax during the investigation period, resulting in a final prevalence of 63% (5/8) in children. However, anti-p40^tax status was constant in all the 22 mothers with multiple serum samples (15 remained positive and seven remained negative). A decline in the absorbance value of EIA for anti-p40^tax was observed in seven of the 15 anti-p40^tax positive mothers. This decline may result in the disappearance of anti-p40^tax in some of them.     

Retroperitoneal perforation of a pancreatic cyst during endoscopic retrograde pancreatography

A 70‐year‐old man was admitted to Ueno Municipal Hospital, Ueno, Japan, for evaluation of abdominal distension. Computed tomography showed a 1 × 1 cm cyst at the pancreas tail. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) showed a normal pancreatic duct after the first gentle injection and an enhanced cyst at the pancreas tail. Extravasation of the contrast medium occurred from the pancreatic duct to the superior‐dorsal extrapancreas at the same time of the next low‐pressure manual injection. Computed tomography showed extravasation of the contrast medium from the pancreas cyst to the retroperitoneal space after ERP. It was considered that the cyst wall weakness, in addition to slight elevated pancreatic duct pressure, caused the disruption of the cyst wall.     

Outcome analysis for conservative management of Peyronie''s disease

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively analysed the outcomes of conservative management of Peyronie's disease and determined the factors predicting successful outcome. METHODS: The study involved 31 patients with Peyronie's disease who were treated at our institute between 1985 and 2003. We assessed the efficacy of vitamin E for the improvement of the symptoms, and the factors which contributed to successful outcome with conservative management using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the relief rate between the vitamin E and no-medication groups. The overall estimated relief rate was 67.5% at 2 years from presentation. The multivariate analysis revealed plaque size to be the only significant factor predicting the relief from all symptoms in patients with conservative management. The rate was 100% in patients having a plaque size of 20 mm or smaller and 20.0% in those having a size of larger than 20 mm (P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: We could not confirm the benefit of vitamin E for Peyronie's disease. Plaque size was the only significant factor predicting the relief from all symptoms. Patients with larger plaque might fail to respond to the conservative management.     

A Case of Myosarcoma Following the Perivascular Injection of Thorotrast

A case of a 53-year-old male with development of myosarcomaat the site of thorotrast injection is described. Thorotrastwas injected 29 years ago for the preoperative angiographicexamination of brain injury when there was an accidental extravasationof the contrast medium. Recently, a firm tumor was detected in the left side of theneck but without causing any disturbance to swallowing or breathing.Biopsy examination revealed myosarcoma with deposition of thorotrastin the surrounding tissue. Roentgenographic examination of theabdomen also showed deposition of thorotrast in the spleen andupper abdominal lymph nodes.     

Treatment of Malignant Tumor in the Head and Neck: --Interdisciplinary Collaboration of Surgery and Radiotherapy--

Although the prime importance in treatment of head and neckcancer is eradication of tumors, due attention should be paidto the conservation of many important structures and functionsin the region. Just to mention a few of these important humanfunctions, there are phonation, digestion and facial expression.Simple surgical procedures specialized by otolaryngologistsare no longer satisfactory. Recently, radiotherapy of head and neck cancer has developedto a superlative degree and chemotherapy to a practical degreealthough much still remains to be satisfied. Our aim was toorganize an interdisciplinary group of specialists in surgery,radiotherapy and regional chemotherapy into a composite attackforce. We aimed at most effective treatment with the least ofside effects. Since 1961, our combined approach to cancer of the head andneck in close collaboration with radiotherapists has yieldedmuch improved results. This has led to an increasing numberof patients with satisfactory rehabilitation.

1. 1. Cancer of the maxilla: Even in the advanced cases combinedsurgery, radiotherapy and regional chemotherapy has led to thepreservation of important structures and functions. Many patientsare now allowed to return to social life and to their previousjobs.
2. 2. Cancer of the nasopharynx: Radiotherapy is the firstchoice.When the effect is less satisfactory, chemotherapy anda window-operationof the palate are performed.
3. 3. Tumorsof the tonsils: The majority of patients suffer fromthe reticulumcell sarcoma. Radiotherapy is the first choice.
4. 4. Cancerof the larynx: A full dose of radiotherapy is thefirst choice.Partial resections are done when indicated.
5. 5. Cancer of thetongue, hypopharynx and esophagus: Radiotherapyis the firstchoice in the majority of cases. Some need plasticsurgery.