Minimally invasive endoscope-assisted endonasal trans-sphenoidal microsurgery for pituitary tumors: experience with 215 cases comparing with sublabial trans-sphenoidal approach

Recent advances in endoscopic surgery have developed an endonasal route suitable for pituitary surgery. The main goal of this article is to evaluate benefits of our endoscope-assisted endonasal trans-sphenoidal microsurgery for pituitary tumors in 215 consecutive cases. The pathological classifications of the 215 cases are as follows: 163 pituitary adenomas, 23 Rathke's cleft cysts, 17 craniopharyngiomas, and 12 others. The patients were surgically treated via the endonasal trans-sphenoidal approach using an operating microscope as the primary instrument for tumor resection. Endoscopes were used to complement the operating microscope in visualization. We compared the new approach to the sublabial trans-sphenoidal approach (197 cases) with respect to endocrinological outcomes and surgical complications. Our endonasal trans-sphenoidal approach was beneficial in eliminating the complications of lip numbness, which was often observed in patients undergoing sublabial surgery, and nasal septal perforation. In addition, endocrinological outcome comparable to those in the sublabial group was achieved in the endonasal group. We consider that the endoscope, which allows visualization of areas not seen with the operating microscope, should be used actively in conjunction with the operating microscope that provides three-dimensional visualization and is timesaving. Our surgical method for pituitary tumors provides good results with minimal invasion, by exploiting the advantages of a microscope and an endoscope.     

Chronic renal allograft nephropathy

Chronic rejection/chronic allograft nephropathy is the most prevalent cause of renal graft loss after the first year post-transplant. Chronic rejection/chronic allograft nephropathy is characterized by a slow progressive deterioration of graft function, often in combination with proteinuria and hypertension. Both immunologic and non-immunologic factors play key roles in the pathogenesis of chronic allograft nephropathy. Acute rejection episodes are the most prevalent risk factor for chronic rejection. Many risk factors for chronic allograft nephropathy have been identified, such as delayed graft function, nephron-dosing mismatch, repeated acute rejection episodes, and pathologically severe rejection. However, the precise pathogenesis of chronic allograft nephropathy remains elusive. The differential diagnosis of immunologically mediated chronic rejection and chronic rejection caused by non-immunologic factors is usually not possible using clinical parameters. The histopathologic findings of chronic allograft nephropathy are progressive interstitial fibrosis and remodelling of the vascular wall, and these findings are nonspecific. However, typical chronic transplant glomerulopathy, which affects glomerular tufts, as well as the multilayering of the peritubular capillary basement membrane, are characteristic of immunologic chronic rejection. Furthermore, in long-surviving patient with an allograft treated with a potent immunosuppressive agent, a calcineurin inhibitor, two or more concomitant independent lesions often develop. Therefore, the term "chronic allograft nephropathy" may be clinically preferable to "chronic rejection" to describe the gradual decline in graft function months or years after transplantation, in the absence of a well defined mechanism of graft dysfunction. The most effective way to prevent chronic allograft nephropathy is to avoid any kind of graft damage via either immunologic or non-immunologic mechanisms. Received: April 1, 2000 / Accepted: May 2, 2000     

Histological findings at the boundary of craniopharyngiomas

Although a craniopharyngioma is grossly well circumscribed, microscopically the borders are frequently irregular and may be associated with gliosis in the adjacent brain tissue. In the current study, we investigated the histology of the interface between craniopharyngiomas and surrounding normal structures such as the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Histologically, we classified the findings at the boundary of craniopharyngiomas into three types. In type 1, a relatively thick capsule-like tissue was identified at the boundary between the craniopharyngioma and surrounding normal structure composed of tumor cells and inflammatory changes. In type 2, a craniopharyngioma had a relatively clear cleavage between the surrounding gliosis. In type 3, the boundary had some interdigitation of the tumor in the surrounding gliotic layer adjacent to the craniopharyngioma. In types 1 and 3, surgeons may fail to accomplish complete resection of the tumor. These histological features may result in recurrence of craniopharyngioma even after gross total resection.     

Anti-drug pattern of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and analysis of mutation in drug-target genes

The antimycobacterial susceptibility test was performed and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to drugs was determined in 98 strains of Mycobacteium tuberculosis (MTB) isolated in Tokyo from 2000 to 2003, to find which were resistant to any of the four main anti-MTB drugs, isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RFP), streptomycin (SM), and ethambutol (EMB). 27strains of them were resistant only to SM, and 16 strains were resistant only to INH. 51 strains of them were resistant to not only INH but also other drugs. 38 strains were resistant to both INH and RFP. 19 strains were resistant to all four drugs, including 7 strains resistant to new quinolon anti-biotics also. Nucleotide or amino-acid mutations in drug resistant MTB genome were determined by DNA sequencing method. Mutation of codon 516, 526, or 531 of rpoB gene was detected in 98% of MTBs resistant to RFP. Deletion or insertion of katG gene or nucleotide mutation at regulatory region of ahpC gene was detected in MTBs highly resistant to INH. Amino acid mutation of katG gene, especially at codon 315, was detected in MTBs resistant to INH intermediate. Nucleotide mutations at regulatory region of inhA gene were detected in MTBs resistant to INH at low level. Amino acid mutation at codon 43 or 88 of rpsL gene was detected in MTBs highly resistant to SM, and nucleotide mutation at 512, 513, or 516 of rrs gene was detected in MTBs resistant to SM at low level. Amino acid mutation at codon 306 of embB gene was detected in 87% of MTBs resistant to EMB.     

Fertilization failure from a sperm chromatin defect in couples with unexplained infertility

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between unexplained infertility and fertilization failure from nucleoprotein defects in ejaculated human sperm and to study the usefulness of sperm chromatin assays, using AO fluorescence dye, to evaluate patients with unexplained infertility before treatment. STUDY DESIGN: From January 1999 to January 2000, 513 infertile couples had the clinical causes of their infertility assessed. During the next investigative period (February 2000-February 2001), 137 cases of unexplained infertility (n = 80) were chosen for this study, as were cases of tubal factor infertility (n = 57) as controls. The status of nuclear chromatin in ejaculated sperm was examined using acridine orange staining, followed by a conventional in vitro fertilization procedure. RESULTS: The number of patients with immature ejaculated sperm was 16 of 30 (53.3%) unexplained infertility cases involving fertilization failure, 8 of 50 (16.0%) unexplained infertility cases without fertilization failure and 5 of 57 (8.8%) tubal factor infertility cases. A significant difference was observed between unexplained infertility cases with fertilization failure and the other groups (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the nuclear immaturity of ejaculated human sperm may be 1 of the primary factors underlying unexplained infertility.