Hemangioma of the Prostatic Urethra: Hematospermia and Massive Postejaculation Hematuria with Clot Retention

The case of a 53-year-old man with hematospermia and massive postejaculation hematuria that caused urinary retention is described. This is the sixth case in the English and Japanese language literature. Cystourethroscopic examination revealed that a solitary raised tumor was present just distal to the vermontanum, and that bleeding was from its apex. Histologic examination of an excisional biopsy sample showed features compatible with hemangioma.     

Leukocyte-Endothelium Interaction in the Rat Mesenteric Microcirculation during Halothane or Sevoflurane Anesthesia

Background: The effects of inhalational anesthetics on the microcirculation, including leukocyte dynamics, remain to be clarified. The authors investigated halothane and sevoflurane anesthesia to determine if these agents evoked leukocyte adhesion through endothelial cell-dependent mechanisms involving such adhesion molecules.

Methods: Rats were anesthetized with halothane or sevoflurane in 100% oxygen and the lungs were mechanically ventilated. Leukocyte behavior in mesenteric venules was recorded through intravital video microscopy under monitoring microvascular hemodynamics. To examine the mechanisms for leukocyte rolling and adhesion, these studies were repeated after animals were pretreated with a monoclonal antibody against P-selectin (MAb PB1.3) or against intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; MAb 1A29): P-selectin required for rolling of circulating leukocytes and ICAM-1 for firm adhesive interactions with leukocyte integrins.

Results: Under baseline anesthetic conditions (1 minimum alveolar concentration [MAC]), venular wall shear rates, an index of the disperse force on marginating leukocytes, in the sevoflurane-treated rats were about two times higher than those with halothane. At 2 MAC, halothane caused a marked arteriolar constriction and decreasing shear rates concurrent with an increasing density of venular leukocyte adhesion. Sevoflurane at 2 MAC induced leukocyte rolling and adhesion, which were attenuated by PB1.3 and 1A29, without alterations in the wall shear rates. Halothane-induced leukocyte adhesion was not prevented by PB1.3 but it was by 1A29.     

Mechanisms of pinacidil-induced vasodilatation

The mechanism of the vasodilator effect of pinacidil was examined. Pinacidil (0.1–100 μM) inhibited the increases in cytosolic Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) and muscle tension due to norepinephrine in rat aorta. In contrast, a Ca²⁺ channel blocker, verapamil, inhibited the norepinephrine-stimulated [Ca²⁺]_i more strongly than the contraction. Higher concentrations of pinacidil (3–100 μM) inhibited the verapamil-insensitive portion of the contraction and [Ca²⁺]_i. An inhibitor of ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels, glibenclamide, antagonized the inhibitory effect of low concentrations ( 10 pM) of pinacidol. Pinacidil did not change the contraction induced by Ca²⁺ in vascular smooth muscle permeabilized with Staphylococcus aureus -toxin. Norepinephrine (in the presence of GTP), 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (in the absence of GTP), and treatment with GTP_γS potentiated the contraction of permeabilized smooth muscle induced by the addition of Ca²⁺. Pinacidil (100 μM) inhibited the potentiation due to GTP_γS or noepinephrine but not to phorbol ester. These results suggest that pinacidil has dual effects on vascular smooth muscle contraction. At lower concentrations (>0.1 μM), it decreases [Ca²⁺]_i, possibly by activating ATP-sensitive K+ channels. At higher concentrations (> 3 μM), it may additionally inhibit the receptor-mediated, GTP-binding protein-coupled phosphatidyl inositol turnover.     

Hepatic infarction with portal thrombosis

A case of hepatic infarction with portal thrombosis is reported. A 63-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices was admitted for treatment of the esophagel varices. Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) were performed. Two months later, she experienced right hypochondralgia and right flank pain. Serum transaminase levels were suddenly elevated, and computed tomography scans of the liver showed multiple small nodular lesions. Her condition worsened, and she died of hepatic failure. Autopsy revealed splenic and portal vein thrombosis, multiple hepatic infarction, and evidence of chronic pancreatitis. We believe that liver cirrhosis and chronic pancreatitis were the main risk factors for the portal thrombosis, and the treatment for esophageal varices appeared to have triggered the thrombosis. The hepatic infarction was caused by the portal thrombosis.     

Clinical studies on the occurrence and the pathogenesis of optociliary veins

We reviewed retrospectively 20 cases of optociliary vein over the past 5 years. Fifteen of the 20 cases (75%) were over 40 years of age. There was no sex differences (9 males and 11 females). Causative ocular diseases were: central retinal vein occlusion (14 cases, 70%); optic disc drusen (2 cases, 10%); and optic nerve sheath meningioma, high myopia, glaucoma, congenital anomaly (1 case each, total 20%). The number of patients with an optociliary vein was high in central retinal vein occlusion (14/190 cases, 7.4%). We concluded that occurrence of optociliary vein is not restricted to cases with optic nerve sheath meningioma and this shunt vessel may occur under other conditions in which central retinal venous return is seriously disturbed. The most common cause of optociliary vein is central retinal vein occlusion.     

应用小鼠在Y形迷宫中的自主选择能力测定急性及慢性东莨菪碱与吗啡对记忆的影响

应用Ｙ型迷宫研究了急性与慢性东莨菪碱和吗啡对小鼠记忆能力的影响。单剂量东莨菪碱（１ｍｇ／ｋｇｉｐ）和吗啡（１０ｍｇ／ｋｇｉｐ）均能显著损害小鼠的短时记忆（ｗｏｒｋｉｎｇｍｅｍｏｒｙ）。重复给药后东莨菪碱的这种作用很快消失。但吗啡每天一次，连续３次给药这种作用加强，连续５次给药这种作用反而减弱。东莨菪碱不能损害小鼠长时记忆（ｒｅｆｅｒｅｎｃｅｍｅｍｏｒｙ），而吗啡对长时记忆有损害作用。结果还提示小鼠短时记忆不受自发活动能力的影响。     

Structural determination of geometrical isomers of microcystins LR and RR from cyanobacteria by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic techniques

A nondestructive method using a combination of three 2D NMR techniques, DQF-COSY (double quantum filter correlation spectroscopy), HMQC (1H-detected multiple quantum coherence), and HMBC (heteronuclear multiple bond correlation), were developed for structural determination of microcystins, toxic heptapeptides produced by cyanobacteria. With this procedure we were able to assign all carbons and protons of microcystins LR (1) and RR (2), thus determining the constituent amino acid sequences. The procedure was also applied to the microcystin-associated nontoxic minor components, which have molecular weights and amino acid compositions similar to those of 1 and 2 and toxicities different from those of 1 and 2. From detailed analysis of these spectra we rapidly deduced that the minor components are geometrical isomers with respect to C-7 of the diene in Adda of the parent toxins. The structures were finally confirmed to be 3 and 4 by ROESY (rotating frame nuclear Overhauser and exchange spectroscopy) technique.     

Experimental study on choline acetyltransferase activity measurement for brachial plexus injury

We studied choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity in a rat model of brachial plexus injury. In experiment 1, we found that the CAT activity was remarkably high in the anterior roots and low in the posterior roots. In experiment 2, nerve root segments were extracted and examined for CAT activity in the root avulsion group (group A) and the plexus severance group (group B). CAT activity decreased day by day in group A, reaching about 1/20 of the normal 5 days postoperatively. By contrast, in group B activity decreased only slightly, and even at 90 days postoperatively was about 6,000 cpm (one-half normal level). As a result, CAT activity enabled us to distinghish postganglionic from preganglionic injury of the cervical roots. Furthermore, it was a useful adjunct for minimizing nerve loss in intercostal nerve transfer, distinguishing motor and sensory branches of the intercostal nerve, and evaluating the motor nerve activity. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.