Testicular torsion: Evaluation of contralateral testicular histology

Infertility may occur in patients with unilateral testicular torsion whose contralateral testis is intact. Depending on this observation, the physicians have begun to examine the contralateral testis. In the present prospective study we aimed to examine the histopathologic alterations occurring in the contralateral testicle with time. Sixty adult male albino rats were included in the programme, and following experimental torsion the histopathologic findings, especially those in the contralateral testis, were evaluated after 4–12 weeks. Long-term and high degree torsion of the testicle led to varying degrees of deterioration in the germinal epithelium and interstitial cells of the contralateral testicle. Histopathologic alterations were reversed in 12 weeks. Tubular diameter and testicular volume also decreased in accordance with the histopathologic alteration. In our opinion, orchiectomy following torsion of one testicle will limit potential histopathologic alterations in the contralateral testicle.     

Percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy of lumbar spinal facets: The results of 46 cases

The results of percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy of lumbar spinal facets in 46 patients followed at least three months (mean 15 months) are reported and compared with those reported previously. Satisfactory pain relief three months after the procedure was achieved in 36.4 percent of patients without operations and in 41.7 percent of patients with operations other than fusion.No patient had previously undergone fusion.Treatment of low-back pain by using radio-frequency thermocoagulation of spinal facets is a simple, safe, and well-tolerated procedure. It can be used to relief of pain in spite of decreasing rates of success within the follow-up period.     

Osseous destruction and rupture of the extensor tendon caused by sarcoidosis of the finger.

We describe a woman with osseous destruction and rupture of the extensor tendon as a result of sarcoidosis in the left third finger with no evidence of systemic involvement. The tendon was repaired and she was successfully treated with prednisone.     

The vascular plasminogen activator as source of the fibrinolytic potential observed during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Increased fibrinolytic activity is a well recognized constant finding observed during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The purpose of the present work was to study and estimate the factors involved in the plasminogen activation and prekallikrein-kallikrein systems in a population of adult patients undergoing open heart surgery with CPB. Plasminogen activator activity determinations with a fibrinolytic method as well as plasminogen activation and prekallikrein-kallikrein determinations with synthetic substrates were carried out. Our results indicate that no active fibrinolysis but a fibrinolytic potential, similar to that observed in blood obtained after venous occlusion, can be demonstrated in circulating plasma during CPB. This fibrinolytic potential is related to the presence of vascular plasminogen activator released from endothelial cells by the CPB stimulus.     

Hospital utilization and increasing old age in the user of care?]

Data are presented on hospital stay for the population 65 years-old and over, measured in percentage over the total for Spain, for the 1978 to 1988 period, by gender, for each province and autonomous region (Comunidad Autónoma). The country's total for the last available year was 35%. Except in Baleares and Murcia, the proportion of hospital stays increased in all Regions, especially in Navarra, where it increased from 23% to 51%. After adjusting for age, the increase in the proportion of hospital stays in the study population was due to an increase in utilization per person. The proportion, which was 13.3% in 1978, raised to 23.8% in 1988, with an adjusted value of 21.3%.     

维生素E琥珀酸酯诱导人胃腺癌细胞凋亡途径

目的　探讨维生素E琥珀酸酯 (VES)诱导人胃腺癌SGC -790 1细胞凋亡的死亡受体 (Fas)信号转导途径。方法　人胃腺癌SGC -790 1细胞经不同剂量VES(5,10 ,2 0 μg/ml)处理 ,同时做琥珀酸、维生素E和空白对照 ,采用DAPI(4,6-贰脒基 -2 -苯基吲哚 )荧光染色法观察细胞凋亡情况 ,用WesternBlot法检测Fas、带有死亡结构域的Fas相关蛋白 (FADD)和天冬氨酸特异性半胱氨酸蛋白酶 (caspase -8)蛋白表达情况 ,Fas和FADD反义寡聚核苷分别转染SGC -790 1细胞后 ,用荧光法检测caspase -8活性。 结果　经VES处理后的细胞DAPI染色可见凋亡的形态学改变 ,2 0 μg/mlVES处理 48h后的细胞凋亡率为 89.6% ;VES处理 48h后Fas、FADD和caspase -8蛋白表达明显增加 ,且呈剂量 -效应关系 ;阻断Fas可明显抑制FADD蛋白表达 ,Fas和FADD反义寡聚核苷转染细胞后caspase -8活性明显降低 (P <0 .0 1) ,其中阻断Fas的效果高于阻断FADD。结论　维生素E琥珀酸酯诱导人胃腺癌SGC -790 1细胞凋亡过程中启动了Fas信号转导途径 ,VES启动Fas后 ,FADD将Fas和caspase -8联接起来 ,活化caspases级联反应 ,从而构成Fas/FADD/caspase -8的凋亡信号途径     

Evaluation of leukocyte arylsulphatase a, serum interleukin-6 and urinary heparan sulphate following tamoxifen therapy in breast cancer.

Leukocyte arylsulphatase A (AS-A) was shown to be significantly high in newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients. Previous reports imply a connection between serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and breast cancer, possibly through a modulation of enzymes involved in estrogen synthesis. Abnormal distribution of heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in malignant breast epithelial cells suggests that they play a key role in the regulation of cell growth. Estradiol is believed to be effective in modulating glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and their depolymerizing enzymes. Therefore, in this study, attempts were made to evaluate the activity of leukocyte arylsulphatase A, serum interleukin-6, urinary GAGs and heparan sulphate (HS) in response to tamoxifen (TAM) therapy in mastectomised breast cancer patients. Thirty-four patients (aged 30-82 years) were administered TAM (20 mg twice daily). Blood and urine samples of each patient were collected three times (at the beginning, and in third and sixth month of TAM therapy), and biochemical parameters were measured. There was no difference between baseline leukocyte AS-A activity and that measured after three months. At the end of six months, enzyme activity was significantly higher than the former values (p=0.022), but within the reference intervals reported in the literature. Although this increase might imply a normalization, the duration of TAM therapy is not long enough to make a decision about either regression or aggravation of the disease. TAM did not have any effect on serum IL-6, urinary HS and GAG levels which may be due to insensitivity of these variables to TAM during the short period of therapy. Both urinary GAG and HS levels measured at sixth month exhibited a positive correlation with the baseline level of leukocyte AS-A (p=0.005 and 0.009, respectively), suggesting that positive responses to the drug might be seen in patients with low AS-A activity.