Valoration of the FAS in the contralateral testis after unilateral testicular torsion. Experimental study in rats

The role the FAS and BCL-2 in the apoptosis of testicular cells in the contralateral testis after unilateral testicular torsion, was investigated. We compared with control group. These experiments were performed in male Wistar rats prepuberal old. FAS and BCL-2 determination is realized in cells cultures of contralateral testis. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry studies, using a FAS and BCL-2 specific monoclonal antibody, were utilized to value FAS y BCL-2 expression on testiculaires cells following unilateral testicular torsion. We observed an increase of expression of FAS and decrease of BCL-2 in the contralateral testis in comparison with control group. The present results may indicate that the expression of this molecules is implicated in cellular apoptosis.     

Operative Therapie der erektilen Dysfunktion

Zusammenfassung Mit dieser Arbeit soll im Zeitalter der Dominanz der oralen Pharmakotherapie bei der Behandlung erektiler Funktionsstörungen eine kritische Übersicht über den aktuellen Stellenwert der operativen Therapie der erektilen Dysfunktion gegeben werden. Als mögliche Therapieoptionen werden die penile Venenchirurgie, die arterielle Revaskularisationschirurgie und die penile Prothesenchirurgie beurteilt.Die Venenchirurgie hat heute aufgrund der Wirksamkeit der oralen und intrakavernösen Therapeutika, bedingt durch den Pathomechanismus der kavernovenösen Insuffizienz und durch die publizierten enttäuschenden Langzeitergebnisse ihren Stellenwert gänzlich verloren. Ähnlich verhält es sich mit den penilen Revaskularisationsoperationen, die heutzutage nur noch bei einem hochselektioniertem Patientengut ihre Berechtigung hat. Wichtige Selektionskriterien sind Patientenalter und Ausschluss eines Diabetes mellitus.Einzig die penile Prothesenchirurgie behauptet gegenüber der medikamentösen Therapie der Erektionsstörungen ihren Stellenwert. Hier überzeugen die guten Langzeitergebnisse, die hohe Patienten- und Partnerinnenzufriedenheit bzw. -akzeptanz und die funktionelle Haltbarkeit der in ihrer Mehrzahl dreiteilig, hydraulischen Implantate.

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The role of the carbachol test and concomitant diseases in patients with nonobstructive urinary retention undergoing sacral neuromodulation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the percutaneous nerve evaluation (PNE) test success in patients with nonobstructive urinary retention. A total of 24 PNE tests were performed in patients with nonobstructive urinary retention and in 18 patients, a carbachol test was performed during urodynamics. The diagnosis relating to the acontractile detrusor was also assessed and compared to the outcome of the PNE test. The PNE test was successful in eight of 24 patients (33.3%) with the the highest success rate being observed in patients after hysterectomy (80%). It was successful in five of 12 patients with negative carbachol tests and in three of six patients with positive carbachol tests. We conclude that sacral neuromodulation is an effective treatment option in patients with nonobstructive urinary retention. PNE tests should be performed in all patients with therapy resistant nonobstructive urinary retention, because predictive factors do not exist.     

Methylene blue as a successful treatment alternative for pharmacologically induced priapism

OBJECTIVE: Priapism is defined as prolonged and persistent erection of the penis without sexual stimulation. Etiologies of this condition are numerous. Treatment of priapism varies from a conservative medical to a drastic surgical approach. Recent findings indicate methylene blue (MB), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, to be a potential inhibitor of endothelial-mediated cavernous relaxation. This prompted us to assess the feasibility, use and effectiveness of MB in the treatment of priapism. METHODS: 12 patients were treated for priapism. Etiologies were: 10 drug-mediated (PGE(1) or papaverine/phentolamine mixture) after corpus cavernosum injection therapy (CCIT); 1 leukemia-induced, and 1 idiopathic high-flow priapism. The age range for all patients was 13-67 years, the average duration of priapism was 5.5 h after CCIT. MB was administered after blood aspiration of the corpora cavernosa. 5 ml of MB was injected intracavernously (i.c.) and left for 5 min. MB was then aspirated and the penis compressed for an additional 5 min. RESULTS: All patients with CCIT-induced priapism were cured with MB alone. The 2 patients who did not respond to MB underwent i.c. phenylephrine administration and embolization of the pudendal artery, respectively. The etiology and duration of priapism were the strongest predictors for success with i.c. administered MB. The primary side effects were a transient burning sensation and blue discoloration of the penis on injection of MB. The initial baseline erectile status was restored in all patients cured by MB. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that MB is a safe and highly effective treatment agent for short-term pharmacologically induced priapism. The application of MB shows virtually no significant side effects compared to the systemic and local complications induced by alpha-adrenergic agonists.     

Coexistence of three beta-adrenoceptor subtypes in white fat cells of various mammalian species.

The nature of the beta-adrenoceptors (beta-ARs) of the white fat cells of five mammalian species (rat, hamster, rabbit, dog and humans) was reassessed. The coexistence of at least three beta-ARs on the fat cell (except human) was demonstrated. Comparative binding and lipolysis studies were performed, using recently synthesized compounds selective for the atypical beta-AR of the rat brown fat cell and of the rat colon. beta 1- and beta 2-ARs have previously been identified in all the mammalian white fat cells using [125I]cyanopindolol ([125]CYP) or [3H]dihydroalprenolol. In addition to these receptors, we now demonstrated the existence of a third beta-AR directly involved in adrenergic-mediated lipolysis, and identified it in the white fat cells of the most commonly studied animal species, except humans. This receptor is not detected by the classically used beta-antagonist radioligands, explaining the discrepancies in reports on the nature of the beta-ARs of the adipose tissue. Pharmacological delineation of the third type of beta-AR-induced lipolysis showed this receptor to be rather similar to the previously proposed atypical beta-AR of brown and white rat fat cells. Its pharmacological properties were clarified, using new selective full agonists and partial agonists also acting as non-selective beta 1/beta 2-antagonists. The limits of [125]CYP as a radioligand were reported and the usefulness of BRL 37344, (+/-)-CGP 12177 and phenylethanolaminotralines derivatives (having an atypical beta-activity on intestinal motility) as major tools usable for atypical beta-AR activation was demonstrated. Moreover, confirming our previous results about the nature of the beta-ARs (beta 1- and beta 2-ARs) located in the fat cells of women (Mauriège et al., J. Lipid Res., 1987, 17, 156), no atypical beta-AR-mediated lipolysis was identified in abdominal adipose tissue from healthy women. The possible differences and similarities between this receptor and the recently cloned beta 3-AR are discussed.     

Influence on immunoreactive folate-binding proteins of extracellular folate concentration in cultured human cells.

The influence of extracellular folate concentration on cellular levels of the folate transport protein and its soluble product was studied directly in cultured human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (KB) cells. As determined by radioimmunoassay, levels of the folate transport protein and the soluble folate-binding protein were 58 +/- 17 (mean +/- SD) and 5 +/- 2 pmol/mg cell protein, respectively, in KB cells maintained in standard medium (containing 2,300 nM folic acid). These levels significantly increased to 182 +/- 34 and 26 +/- 6 pmol/mg cell protein, respectively, in KB cells serially passaged in low folate medium (containing 2-10 nM 5-methyltetrahydrofolate). Increases in folate-binding protein levels occurred more rapidly in KB cells serially passaged in very low folate medium containing less than 2 nM folate and were prevented by the addition of 100 nM 5-methyltetrahydrofolate or 0.1-1 microM 5-formyltetrahydrofolate to this medium. When KB cells which had been passaged in low folate medium were passaged back into either standard medium or low folate medium supplemented with reduced folates, the levels of both folate-binding proteins fell linearly towards the levels in KB cells continuously maintained in standard medium. The folate transport protein was identified in and underwent similar changes in human and mouse mammary tumor cells. These studies indicate that the folate transport system is probably regulated by the extracellular folate concentration through changes in intracellular metabolite levels.