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.     

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。     

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.     

Effect of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 on bone metabolic disorders in gastrectomized rats

The effect of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (1α(OH)D₃) on the metabolic bone disorders developed in gastrectomized rats were investigated biochemically and histomorphologically. 1α(OH)D₃ was suspended in 0.2 % Triton-X-100 aqueous solution after dissolving in a very small amount of ethanol, was given orally to the rats for 10 weeks. The sham operated animals and the gastrectomy control animals received the vehicle alone. Gastrectomy was followed by the development of the metabolic bone disorders after 10 weeks of observation. This was characterized by reduction in ash content of the femur and histologically by a disappearance of the trabecular bone in tibial metaphysis. Decrease Ca absorption from the intestines was demonstrated by a radiotracer technique. Biochemical studies showed significant decreases in serum 25(OH)D concentration in gastrectomized rats. These findings suggest that gastrectomy partially impairs intestinal absorption of calcium and results in a negative calcium balance, which may contribute to the development of bone metabolic disorders in rats. The administration of 1α(OH)D₃ increased dose-dependently serum calcium and Ca absorption from the intestine and prevented the development of bone metabolic disorders histomorphologically.     

Inhibition by a novel azole antifungal agent with a geranyl group on lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase of yeast.

AFK-108 (1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-((2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6- dienyloxy)ethyl]-1H-imidazole) is a new imidazole derivative characterized by a geranyl substituent showing strong antifungal activity. Azole antifungal agents are known to be potent inhibitors of lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase (P450(14)DM) of fungi. The role of the geranyl group of AFK-108 on interaction of AFK-108 with the target was studied by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae P450(14)DM as the model enzyme. AFK-108 and some of its derivatives bound to oxidized P450(14)DM with one-to-one stoichiometry and inhibited the demethylase activity. AFK-108 derivatives having the longer farnesyl or the shorter prenyl group showed lower affinity than AFK-108 for the enzyme. AFK-108 caused 100% inhibition at the equivalent concentration to P450(14)DM in the reaction mixture (0.07 microM), while the farnesyl derivative inhibited the activity by 60% at the same concentration. AFK-108 interfered with the binding of CO to the ferrous P450(14)DM. However, the interfering effect of the prenyl derivative was lower than that of AFK-108. Another AFK-108 derivative having the saturated 3,7-dimethyloctyl group was also a weaker inhibitor than AFK-108. These experiments suggest that the geranyl group of AFK-108 interacts with the substrate binding site of P450(14)DM that recognises the side chain of the substrate. AFK-108 is the first example of an azole derivative interacting with the side chain recognising region of the substrate binding site of P450(14)DM.