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.     

Effects of FPL-55712 or indomethacin on leukotriene-induced coronary constriction in the intact pig heart

Intracoronary leukotriene D4, 0.1-3.0 micrograms (0.2-6.0 nmol), produced dose-dependent decreases in coronary flow of anesthetized pigs. Pretreatment with intracoronary FPL-55712 (0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg) reduced coronary constriction due to 1.0 micrograms leukotriene D4 by up to 77%. FPL-55712 did not produce sustained alterations in coronary flow, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, systemic arterial pressure, or heart rate. Indomethacin pretreatment (6 mg/kg i.v.) had no effect on leukotriene-induced coronary constriction. Inhibition produced by FPL-55712 may be useful in disease states involving leukotriene-mediated coronary constriction.     

Role of Delayed Indium-111 Labeled Leukocyte Scan in the Management of Crohn''s Disease

Comparison of nine patients with Crohn's disease who had a positive delayed (24 hr) 111indium leukocyte scan and 10 patients with negative scan showed no significant difference between the two groups for the Crohn's disease activity index, sedimentation rate, survival, complications, number of days in hospital, outpatient visits, or readmissions. Despite the apparent lack of statistical significance in Crohn's disease activity index, the scan was positive in nine of 16 patients with a Crohn's disease activity index more than 150, and none of three patients with Crohn's disease activity index less than 150. In the patients studied, there were no false-positive leukocyte scans. In nine of 10 patients with ileocolonic disease, scanning results correctly predicted the proper management. Six patients with positive scan and enteroclysis responded to medical treatment. Four patients had positive enteroclysis and negative scan; of these, three had radiographic features of chronic ileal stricture which was confirmed at operation. The results suggest that a negative delayed indium-111 leukocyte scan may be useful in diagnosis of chronic fibrotic ileal stricture.     

Activity of mitozolomide (NSC 353451), a new imidazotetrazine, against xenografts from human melanomas, sarcomas, and lung and colon carcinomas

The chemosensitivity of human tumor xenografts to mitozolomide, 8-carbamoyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)imidazo[5-1-d]-1,2,3,5-tetrazin-4(3H) -one, was studied in 3 different assay systems. In concentrations of 1 to 500 micrograms/ml, mitozolomide completely inhibited the colony-forming ability in soft agar of cell suspensions from sarcomas, melanomas, lung and colon cancers, and a mammary carcinoma. When a panel of tumors of the different histological types was tested for its sensitivity to mitozolomide in vitro, in the 6-day subrenal capsule assay in conventional mice, and, in some cases, as s.c. growing tumors in nude mice, good agreement between the different assay systems was seen. In most cases, a very pronounced antitumor effect was observed. The efficacy of mitozolomide was as good or better than that of the drugs clinically used against the tumor types tested. Tumor size measurements and histological examinations indicated that nude mice carrying a melanoma, a small cell lung cancer, and an osteosarcoma were cured of their tumors. The approach here used for evaluating the effect of a new drug on human cancers may be useful for selecting the tumor types which primarily should be studied in clinical trials. The results indicate that clinical responses to mitozolomide may be anticipated in sarcoma, melanoma, small cell lung cancer, and possibly in colon cancer.     

Ipomeanol 4-glucuronide, a major urinary metabolite of 4-ipomeanol in the rat

Urinary excretion and metabolism of 4-ipomeanol was studied in rats injected ip with the radiolabeled compound. There was a rapid elimination of radioactivity in the urine, amounting to 47% of the administrated dose within 4hr. One major metabolite was isolated and purified by HPLC. Analysis by analytical HPLC, beta-glucuronidase hydrolysis, and mass spectrometry identified this material as ipo-meanol 4-glucuronide. The large amount of this metabolite excreted suggests that 4-glucuronidation is an important detoxication reaction in vivo for 4-ipomeanol in rats.