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.     

Nuclear p53 Overexpression in Bladder, Prostate, and Renal Carcinomas

Background :
The aim of this study was to examine nuclear p53 overexpression in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, adenocarcinoma of the prostate, and renal cell carcinoma.
Methods :
Forty-four pathologic specimens from 39 bladder cancer patients, 41 prostatic adenocarcinoma, and 39 renal cell carcinoma specimens were analyzed immunohistochemically with D07 monoclonal antibody to detect the expression of the mutant p53 gene. Overexpression was said to occur when the number of positively-stained tumor nuclei were≥ 10% in each specimen. p53 overexpression was correlated with the clinical and histopathological features of these cancers.
Results :
Nuclear p53 overexpression occurred in 18.2% of transitional cell bladder cancer specimens, 12.2% of prostate cancer specimens, and 17.9% of renal cell cancer specimens. Statistical analyses showed that grade, vascular invasion, and necrosis in bladder cancer, a high Gleason score in prostate cancer, and the 1-year mortality rate in renal cancer were significantly related with p53 nuclear overexpression (P<0.05).
Conclusion :
Using the D07 monoclonal antibody, nuclear p53 overexpression is relatively uncommon in urologic malignancies, and moderately correlates with several histopathological and clinical features of urologic malignancies.     

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain in schizophrenic and affective patients.

Water-suppressed 1H magnetic resonance spectra were recorded from two brain regions of psychiatric patients and normal volunteers. The two regions studied were (a) the basal ganglia structures surrounding the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle and (b) the occipital cortex. N-Acetylaspartate (NAA), phosphocreatine-creatine (PCr-Cr), choline and inositol resonances were seen in both regions. Ratios of metabolite peak integrals to PCr-Cr peak integral were calculated for each spectrum. To control for partial volume effects, comparisons between patients and controls were made only from identical regions i.e. basal ganglia vs basal ganglia, and likewise for occipital cortex. Metabolite ratios from the occipital region of patients were similar to those from the occipital region of normal subjects. Bipolar patients being treated with lithium had elevated NAA/PCr-Cr in the basal ganglia region when compared to normals. These patients also demonstrated elevated choline/PCr-Cr and inositol/PCr-Cr ratios in the basal ganglia region.     

Change of serum HPL level in maternal vein, umbilical cord vein and artery in mature and premature labour

The authors examined the possible role of HPL in the onset of labour. The HPL level of the maternal vein, the umbilical cord vein and artery was compared in vaginal mature (n = 16) and premature (n = 52) deliveries. The HPL concentration was also examined in mature (n = 18) and premature (n = 18) deliveries performed by caesarean section prior to the onset of labour. The results showed that: the serum HPL level in the maternal vein, the umbilical cord vein and artery was lower during the 33rd-36th and the 40th weeks in cases of vaginal delivery compared to elective caesarean section; The artery/vein ratio decreases during labour (A/V X 100 value), indicating that HPL metabolism in the fetus decreases during regular labour pains; The onset of premature labour and delivery was associated with lower HPL levels compared to normal pregnancy. The authors assume that the lower HPL level found in cases of vaginal delivery may be due to reduced placental perfusion, but they do not exclude the possible association of lower HPL concentrations in cases of premature delivery.     

Psychiatric rehabilitation in a French-speaking setting: current practices, future challenges]

This paper aims to assess current interventions in psychiatric rehabilitation in the French-speaking world and to discuss future developments. We review examples of policies and practices in Quebec and Europe and discuss the role and involvement of professionals; namely, the psychiatrists and the nursing staff. We also present different rehabilitation strategies and techniques used in the French-speaking world, such as case management, social-skills training, cognitive therapies for psychotic symptoms, family interventions, and return-to-work interventions. In conclusion, we invite psychiatrists to play a more active role in rehabilitation. We recommend the creation of small, specialized units closely linked to the needs of clients, and we propose to integrate social and medical interventions, rather than opposing them.     

Analgesic nephropathy in Hungary: the HANS study.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of analgesic nephropathy has improved significantly with modern imaging techniques. We reviewed a large portion of the Hungarian dialysis population to obtain additional insight into the problem. METHODS: Twenty-two participating dialysis units enrolled 1400 patients on renal replacement therapy between 1 January 1995 and 1 January 1998. Patients with no known aetiology (n = 284) were interviewed and studied with renal imaging. We assessed the presence of decreased renal mass combined with either bumpy contours, papillary calcification, or both. The subjects studied were interrogated extensively. RESULTS: Our survey suggested analgesic nephropathy in 47 of 1400 patients (3.3%), 3-fold higher than the EDTA database estimate for Hungary. The analgesics most commonly abused were phenacetin-containing mixtures. The driving symptoms were mainly headache and joint pain. Cardiovascular complications were more common than in the rest of the dialysis population, independent of smoking and lipid values (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Phenacetin should be banned. Our study results support the need for longitudinal cohort and case-control studies in Hungary.     

Altered tachykinergic influence on gastric mechanical activity in mdx mice

This study investigated whether alterations in gastric activity in dystrophic mdx mouse can be attributed to dysfunctions of tachykinins. Endoluminal pressure was recorded and the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), NK1 and NK2 neurokinin receptors was investigated by immunohistochemistry. SR48968, NK2 receptor antagonist, but not SR140333, NK1 receptor antagonist, decreased the tone only in mdx gastric preparations. In the presence of N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), inhibitor of NOS, SR48968 reduced the tone also in normal stomach. [Sar(9), Met(O(2))(11)]-SP, agonist of NK1 receptors, caused tetrodotoxin-sensitive relaxations, antagonized by SR140333 or l-NAME, with no difference in the potency or efficacy between normal and mdx preparations. [beta-Ala(8)]-NKA(4-10), an NK2 receptor agonist, induced SR48968-sensitive contractions in both types of preparations, although the maximal response of mdx tissues was significantly lower than normal preparations. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated a consistent reduction of nNOS and NK2 receptor expression in mdx stomach smooth muscle cells and no change in nNOS and NK1 receptor expression in neurones. In conclusion, in mdx stomach the activation of NK2 receptors plays a role in the development of the tone, associated with a reduced NO production by muscular nNOS. The hypo-responsiveness to NK2 receptors could depend on the reduced expression of these receptors.