Treatment of hemospermia caused by dilated seminal vesicles by direct drug injection guided by ultrasonography

Bilateral seminal vesicle puncture and injection of drugs with ultrasound guidance were performed in patients with hemospermia resistant to conservative therapy and with dilated seminal vesicles. Of 7 patients 6 had resolution of hemospermia for 2 to 3 months and then relapse. No side effect was noted.     

Assessment of regional and transmural myocardial perfusion by means of intraoperative myocardial contrast echocardiography during coronary artery bypass grafting.

By using intraoperative myocardial contrast echocardiography, we assessed regional myocardial perfusion and transmural blood flow distribution immediately after myocardial revascularization. A total of 62 revascularized myocardial areas were studied in 31 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. The revascularized areas were divided into three different areas: S area, supplied by significantly stenosed coronary arteries (43 areas); C area, supplied by coronary collateral situation associated with totally occluded coronary arteries (12 areas); MI area, preexisting transmural myocardial infarction (7 areas). Myocardial contrast echocardiography was obtained by direct injection of 2 ml of sonicated 5% human albumin into the saphenous vein grafts at rest and during atrial pacing. Each area was divided into two layers of endocardial and epicardial halves, and myocardial enhancement of peak intensity was measured for each half and endocardial/epicardial gray level ratio was calculated: (1) The peak intensity of myocardial enhancement in S area and C area was significantly higher than that in MI area at rest as well as during pacing after myocardial revascularization. There was no significant difference in the peak intensity between S area and C area both at rest and during pacing. In S area the peak intensity significantly increased during pacing (p < 0.01), whereas it did not change in C area and MI area. (2) S area demonstrated no significant change in endocardial/epicardial intensity ratio during pacing. In contrast, the ratio in C area significantly decreased during pacing. (3) In S area with preoperative percent increase of segmental wall thickening lower than 25%, there was a significant correlation (r = 0.84, p < 0.001) between the peak intensity of myocardial enhancement and the postoperative changes of percent increase of segmental wall thickening in the revascularized areas. Thus, immediately after myocardial revascularization, intraoperative myocardial contrast echocardiography could provide a quantitative assessment of regional myocardial perfusion as well as blood flow distribution in the areas with myocardial infarction and with coronary collateral situation and in the areas supplied by stenosed coronary arteries.     

Acid phosphatase-producing androgen-independent subline of rat prostatic adenocarcinoma (Dunning R3327 tumor) in cell culture

Establishment of a cell line derived from the androgen-independent subline of rat prostatic adenocarcinoma (Dunning R3327 tumor) is reported. Cells of this line produced acid phosphatase. When the cultured cells were transplanted to Copenhagen rats, solid tumors were formed. Histologically, the tumor consisted of spindle-shaped, large and bizarre polygonal cells; this feature was almost identical to that of the original tumor. Chromosomes were in the triploid range with seven frequently appearing marker chromosomes.