Prostatic evaluation by transrectal sonography with histopathologic correlation: the echopenic appearance of early carcinoma

Fifty-two patients with clinical stage A and B carcinomas of the prostate were imaged by ultrasound (US) transrectally with a 5-MHz linear array transducer and transabdominally with a 3-MHz sector scanner prior to radical prostatectomy. The fresh specimens of 44 prostate glands were scanned in a water bath with a 5-MHz linear array transducer in multiple planes. In all cases, histopathologic correlation was obtained. Prostatic carcinoma presented as an echopenic lesion in 54% of the specimens, as a slightly hypoechoic area in 22%, and could not be identified in 24% because of its isoechoic characteristics. In contrast to many previous reports, no instance of echogenic cancer was observed.     

Peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma: diagnosis with biphasic radiography compared with fiberoptic endoscopy

The diagnostic value of biphasic radiographic examination of the stomach and duodenum was compared with that of fiberoptic endoscopy in a prospective, blinded study of 385 patients with dyspepsia. This investigation was directed at gastric malignancies and peptic ulcers. Methodologically there is no absolute standard for a study of this kind because histologic examination is useful for detection of cancer but inadequate for ulcers. As an alternative, kappa indexes and the sensitivity and specificity, as derived by Hui and Walter, were calculated and compared. For the detection of gastric carcinoma, radiographic and endoscopic findings had almost perfect agreement beyond chance. For gastric ulcers, radiography and endoscopy had substantial agreement, which became perfect if small ulcers (less than 5 mm) were excluded. For duodenal ulcers, radiography had a lower sensitivity than endoscopy; this disagreement disappeared if small ulcers were excluded. Both methods have equal merit; choice of the initial diagnostic procedure will therefore depend on cost, discomfort to the patient, and risk of complications.     

Pathology of Penile Cancer

The majority of malignant tumors of the penis are squamous cell carcinomas. The origin is mostly the inner lining of the mucosa of the glans, the coronal sulcus, and the foreskin. Other tumors, such as basal cell carcinoma, are very rare. Numerous different subtypes have been reported and have been integrated into the new World Health Organization 2016 classification. These subtypes have distinct features and outcomes, and it is important to make the difference from a pathological point of view. During the last 2 decades, major progress has been made and it has become obvious that human papilloma virus (HPV) infection plays a major role. Mostly the morphological aspects will lead the pathologist to classify the carcinoma into HPV-related and nonrelated carcinoma. Although polymerase chain reaction is the gold standard for HPV detection, immunohistochemistry is also useful. These tumors have to be staged according to the pTNM system; nevertheless, two different systems exist, and the pathologist should tell whether he/she uses the European (Union for International Cancer Control) or the American (American Joint Committee on Cancer) staging system.     

Recovery of autologous erythrocytes in transfused patients

A microcapillary method utilizing phthalate esters or an ultracentrifuge method are both capable of separating autologous from homologous erythrocytes in polytransfused patients. The microcapillary technique which is readily adaptable to blood bank laboratories provides a previously unavailable method for defining blood group antigen typings in transfused patients. Such typings are of vital importance in the laboratory evaluation of transfused patients with multiple or weak blood group antibodies.     

Total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) and exercise

The relationship between physical activity, physical fitness and total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) was examined in the Northern Ireland Health and Activity Survey. This was a cross-sectional population study (n = 1600) using a two-stage probability sample of the population. TRAP was calculated using the sum of the individual serum antioxidant concentrations (urate, protein thiols, ascorbate, alpha tocopherol and bilirubin) multiplied by their respective stoichiometric values. Physical fitness was determined by estimation of VO2max by extrapolation from submaximal oxygen uptake, and physical activity was recorded by computer-assisted interview. Mean serum TRAP concentrations were significantly higher in males (653 +/- 8.2 mumol/l, mean +/- SEM) compared to females (564 +/- 8.0 mumol/l) (p < 0.0001). Both male and female smokers had significantly lower TRAP values than non-smokers (males p < 0.0001, females p = 0.02). In females, there was a positive relationship of TRAP with age (p < 0.001) and body mass index (p < 0.001) but a negative relationship with physical fitness (p < 0.05). The known beneficial effects of exercise and activity do not appear to be directly mediated through increased antioxidant status.      

Paracrine regulation of fat cell formation in bone marrow cultures via adiponectin and prostaglandins

Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, was recently shown to have potential therapeutic applications in diabetes and obesity because of its influence on glucose and lipid metabolism. We found that brown fat in normal human bone marrow contains this protein and used marrow-derived preadipocyte lines and long-term cultures to explore potential roles in hematopoiesis. Recombinant adiponectin blocked fat cell formation in long-term bone marrow cultures and inhibited the differentiation of cloned stromal preadipocytes. Adiponectin also caused elevated expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by these stromal cells and induced release of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). The COX-2 inhibitor Dup-697 prevented the inhibitory action of adiponectin on preadipocyte differentiation, suggesting involvement of stromal cell-derived prostanoids. Furthermore, adiponectin failed to block fat cell generation when bone marrow cells were derived from B6,129S(Ptgs2tm1Jed) (COX-2(+/-)) mice. These observations show that preadipocytes represent direct targets for adiponectin action, establishing a paracrine negative feedback loop for fat regulation. They also link adiponectin to the COX-2-dependent PGs that are critical in this process.