Genitourinary paraganglioma: Demographic,pathologic, and clinical characteristics in the surveillance,epidemiology, and end results database (2000–2012)

Background

Extra-adrenal paragangliomas (PGLs) are infrequent, benign, and neuroendocrine tumors arising from chromaffin cells of the autonomic nervous system. Most PGLs are sporadic, but up to 32% are associated with inherited syndromes such as neurofibromatosis type 1, von Hippel-Lindau disease, and familial PGL. Although most PGLs develop above the umbilicus, they have been reported in the genitourinary (GU) tract. Owing to the paucity of literature on the rates of GU PGL, the objective of our study is to describe the demographic, pathologic, and clinical characteristics of GU PGL, and compare them to non-GU sites of PGL using the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database.

Radiographic correlation of symptomatic and asymptomatic flexible flatfoot in young male adults

The purpose was to evaluate the value of radiology to distinguish between symptomatic and asymptomatic flexible flatfeet in young male adults. Among young male army recruits, 56 feet of 28 recruits were diagnosed as otherwise normal, flexible flatfoot with invisible longitudinal arch on stance and either symptomatic or asymptomatic unilaterally or bilaterally. The talus-first metatarsal and calcaneal pitch angles were measured on weight-bearing lateral radiographs, and the results were evaluated statistically. The talus-first metatarsal angle showed statistical significance in both non-parametric and logistic regression tests, but the calcaneal pitch angle showed statistical significance only in non-parametric test between symptomatic and asymptomatic flatfoot groups. Although the single gender and number of samples limit the applicability of our study, these results caused us to make an interpretation that increased talus-first metatarsal angle might be an important risk factor of being symptomatic in otherwise normal flexible flatfoot.     

The impact of extracellular and intracellular Ca2＋ on ethanol-induced smooth muscle contraction

Aim： To evaluate the impact of extracellular and intracellular Ca2＋ on contractions induced by ethanol in smooth muscle. Methods： Longitudinal smooth muscle strips were prepared from the gastric fundi of mice. The contractions of smooth muscle strips were recorded with an isometric force displacement transducer. Results： Ethanol （164 mmol/L） produced reproducible contractions in isolated gastric fundal strips of mice. Although lidocaine （50 and 100 μmol/L）, a local anesthetic agent, and hexamethonium （100 and 500 μmol/L）, a ganglionic blocking agent, failed to affect these contractions, verapamil （1-50 μmol/L） and nifedipine （1-50 pmol/L）, selective blockers of L-type Ca2＋ channels, significantly inhibited the contractile responses of ethanol. Using a Ca2＋-free medium nearly eliminated these contractions in the same tissue. Ryanodine （1-50 μmol/L） and ruthenium red （10-100 pmol/L）, selective blockers of intracellular Ca2＋ channels/ryanodine receptors; cyclopiazonic acid （CPA; 1-10 μmol/L）, a selective inhibitor of sarcoplasmic reticulum （SR） Ca2＋-ATPase; and caffeine （0.5-5 mmol/L）, a depleting agent of intracellular Ca2＋ stores, significantly inhibited the contractile responses induced by ethanol. In addition, the com- bination of caffeine （5 mmol/L） plus CPA （10 μmol/L）, and ryanodine （10 μmol/L） plus CPA （10 μmol/L）, caused further inhibition of contractions in response to ethanol. This inhibition was significantly different from those associated with caffeine, ryanodine or CPA. Furthermore the combination of caffeine （5 mmol/L）, ryanodine （10 μmol/L） and CPA（IO pmol/L） eliminated the contractions induced by ethanol in isolated gastric fundal strips of mice. Conclusion： Both extracellular and intracellular Ca2＋ may have important roles in regulating contractions induced by ethanol in the mouse gastric fundus.     

Melatonin levels in premenopausal women with fibromyalgia syndrome

The fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic, widespread pain disorder of unknown etiology. It has been suggest that familial component, environmental factors, endocrine and neurotransmitter alterations, and psychological factors may contribute to the development of FMS. The role of melatonin in FMS is unclear. Some studies describe a lower nocturnal peak and a decreased secretion of melatonin in women with FMS when compared with healthy matched controls. The aim of the present study was to determine the possible role of melatonin in FMS patients. We examined the characteristics and levels of melatonin in 25 consecutive premenopausal women with FMS. Serum blood samples were collected from 25 patients and 20 the age and gender matched healthy controls. Melatonin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Then, the results were compared with those from healthy subjects. Serum melatonin levels of FMS patients were not statistically different from those of controls (P > 0.05). No association was observed between melatonin levels of patients with FMS and disease duration, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and pain scores. Our results demonstrate that melatonin levels were similar in patients with FMS and healthy controls. Further studies are needed to determine the possible role of melatonin.