Evidence for prostanoid biosynthesis as a biochemical feature of certain subclasses of non-small cell carcinomas of the lung as determined in established cell lines derived from human lung tumors

Detectable levels (greater than or equal to 0.2 pmol/10(6) cells) of one or more prostanoid species resultant to calcium ionophore A23187-induced biosynthesis from endogenous arachidonic acid were distributed in 28 cell lines derived from different histological classes of lung tumors as follows: large cell undifferentiated carcinoma (3 of 3 cell lines); adenosquamous carcinoma (1 of 2 cell lines); squamous cell carcinoma (0 of 2 cell lines); adenocarcinoma (9 of 10 cell lines); bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma (2 of 2 cell lines); and small cell carcinoma (1 of 9 cell lines). Using the mean levels of 9 alpha,11 beta-prostaglandin F2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, prostaglandin D2, prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha as an index of prostaglandin H (PGH) synthase activity, the distribution in cell lines representative of the different histological classes of human lung tumors exhibiting PGH synthase activity exceeding mean values greater than or equal to 2 pmol/10(6) cells was as follows: large cell undifferentiated carcinoma (3 of 3 cell lines), adenosquamous carcinoma (1 of 2 cell lines), adenocarcinoma (8 of 10) cell lines), bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma (2 of 2 cell lines) and small cell carcinoma (0 of 9 cell lines). Three different prostanoid species accumulated to mean levels greater than or equal to 2 pmol/10(6) cells. Prostaglandin E2 levels exceeded 2 pmol/10(6) cells in 14 of the 16 cell lines in which this prostanoid accumulated to detectable levels. Cumulative levels of prostaglandin F2 alpha exceeded 2 pmol/10(6) cells in 9 of the 15 cell lines in which prostaglandin F2 alpha reached detectable levels. Detectable levels of thromboxane B2 were observed in five cell lines with thromboxane B2 accumulation exceeding 2 pmol/10(6) cells in two of the five cell lines. 9 alpha,11 beta-prostaglandin F2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha accumulated to detectable levels in the culture medium of one cell line, while prostaglandin D2 accumulation to detectable levels was observed in two cell lines. Stimulation of cultured human lung tumor cells exhibiting PGH synthase activity greater than or equal to 2 pmol/10(6) cells in the presence of 10(-5) M exogenous arachidonic acid resulted in a 2- to 4-fold increase in the accumulation of individual prostanoids, while the inclusion of a 10(-5) M exogenous concentration of arachidonic acid failed to stimulate detectable prostanoid production in human lung tumor cells in which PGH synthase activity was not previously expressed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Histometric assessment of renal arterioles during DOCA and post-DOCA hypertension and hydralazine treatment in rats

It is now well established that structural changes in resistance vessels contribute to the long-term maintenance of many forms of hypertension. This study measured the time course of structural change in smaller resistance vessels during the development of deoxycorticosterone acetates (DOCA) hypertension and after cessation of DOCA in Wistar rats by histometric assessment of cross-sections of renal arterioles. The relationship of structural change to blood pressure was assessed by preventing hypertension during DOCA treatment with hydralazine. Blood pressure rose progressively during DOCA treatment reaching 192 +/- 3 mmHg compared with 132 +/- 2 mmHg in controls after 10 weeks. Five and 10 weeks after cessation of DOCA, following 10 weeks of DOCA treatment, post-DOCA reversal of hypertension was only partial. Medial area to internal elastic lamina (IEL) radius ratio, wall to lumen ratio and intimal area to IEL radius ratio of renal arterioles increased progressively during 10 weeks of DOCA treatment with partial reversal of the increased medial area and wall to lumen ratio 5 weeks post-DOCA. Hydralazine completely prevented hypertension in DOCA rats and also largely prevented structural change.     

Light microscopic study of the hypophyseal angioarchitecture in the rabbit

This study describes the hy-pophyseal angioarchitecture found in 79 adult New Zealand white rabbits. The pituitary glands and attached hypothalami were removed and carefully processed following routine histological methods, and the vascular organization was studied by light microscopy. Whole mounts of the pituitary median eminence complex were prepared and studied with a binocular dissecting microscope employing transmitted and epi-illumina-tion. Arterial blood was found to be directed primarily to the neurohypophysis by the superior hy-pophyseal artery (SHA) and the inferior hypophy-seal artery (IHA). A direct arterial blood supply was found to the adenohypophysis, but was limited solely to the pars intermedia by branches of the anterior hypophyseal artery (AHA) and the IHA. Capillaries of the pars intermedia were subdivided into an intermediate and a superficial plexus. The superficial plexus was situated between the intermediate plexus and the capillaries of the infundibular process. Capillaries of the superficial plexus did not form anastomoses between themselves, but ramified into the intermediate plexus to form a dense network of anastomosing capillaries that were continuous with capillaries of the pars distalis. A direct arterial blood supply was found only to the superficial plexus.     

Automated assay of N-acetyl-β-GLucosaminidase in normal and pathological human urine

An automated method for the assay of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase in human urine is described and a normal range of urinary N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity is reported. The automated method has been used routinely over a twelve month period in two London hospitals for monitoring the excretion of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase in renal transplant patients. The abnormal elevation of urinary N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase provides an early warning of rejection by indicating the presence of renal parenchymal damage. The automated assay of urinary N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase may also be used in screening for the presence of renal disease.     

Inflatable penile prostheses in patients undergoing cystoprostatectomy with urethrectomy

When urethrectomy is indicated in the male patient in combination with cystoprostatectomy for diffuse transitional cell carcinoma, an additional challenge to reconstruction and sexual rehabilitation will be encountered. Inflatable penile prostheses were implanted in 19 patients who had undergone cystoprostatectomy with prophylactic urethrectomy. Of the patients 13 underwent cystoprostatectomy with en bloc urethrectomy and delayed placement of an inflatable penile prosthesis. The remaining 6 patients required urethrectomy and simultaneous implantation of an inflatable penile prosthesis 6 to 12 weeks after radical cystectomy. All 19 patients healed appropriately and had an adequate functioning prosthesis. However, results in patients in whom the glandular urethra could be preserved safely were far superior to those in patients requiring total urethrectomy. This was so because of easier and improved cylinder placement with better support to the glans, increased glandular sensation and a more acceptable penile appearance. The inflatable penile prosthesis can be used successfully in the cystourethrectomy patient with gratifying results, especially when the glandular urethra remains intact.