Clinical study of transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate associated with bladder transitional cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate in patients with bladder cancer appears to influence the prognosis and affects the decision about therapeutic modality. Therefore, it is important to characterize transitional cell carcinoma associated with bladder cancer. METHODS: From April 1980 to December 1998, 81 male patients underwent total cystoprostatectomies for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The 81 cystoprostatectomy specimens were examined to clarify the characteristics of prostatic involvement by transitional cell carcinoma. The extent, origin, mode of spread and risk factor of prostatic involvement as well as the prognosis were investigated. In 13 of 15 patients with prostatic involvement the prostate was examined by sequential step sections. RESULTS: Prostatic involvement was observed in 15 of 81 patients (18.5%). Prostatic urethral involvement, invasion to prostatic duct/acinus, prostatic stromal invasion and extraprostatic extension and/or seminal vesicle involvement were recognized in 12 (80%), 14 (93.3%), six (40%), and five (33.3%) of the 15 patients, respectively. Twelve of the 15 patients (80%) with prostatic involvement had papillary or non-papillary tumors (i.e. carcinoma in situ) both in the prostatic urethra and prostatic duct. In 10 of these 12 patients (88.3%), there was contiguity between prostatic urethral and ductal tumors. Seven of the 23 patients (30.4%) with carcinoma in situ of the bladder showed prostatic involvement, which increased to 50% in the presence of carcinoma in situ of the trigone or bladder neck. CONCLUSIONS: Eighty per cent of the patients with prostatic involvement showed papillary or non-papillary tumors both in the prostatic urethra and prostatic duct. There was a high level of contiguity between both tumors. Patients with carcinoma in situ of the trigone or bladder neck revealed significantly higher incidence of prostatic involvement.     

Pathomorphological study of HCV antibody-positive liver cirrhosis

A morphological investigation was carried out to study the pathological features of liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The materials consisted of liver specimens taken from 47 cases of anti-HCV antibody-positive liver cirrhosis (37 by surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma and 10 by autopsy), and from 21 cases of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive liver cirrhosis as the control. Liver specimens containing more than 10 regenerative nodules were examined. In addition, a histometric study was conducted to determine the degree of fibrosis and the size of regenerative nodule using a computer image-analysis system. The results showed that the histological characteristics of HCV antibody-positive liver cirrhosis are: (i) broadly expanded fibrous septa and small regenerative nodules; (ii) relatively strong inflammatory reaction and prominent lymphoid aggretation in the fibrous septum; and (iii) mild regenerative activity of the liver parenchyma, and infrequent liver cell dysplasia. These findings may facilitate better understanding of the pathology of HCV antibody-positive liver cirrhosis and more accurate pathological diagnosis by needle biopsy.     

Antiproliferative effects of 5-fluorouracil and interferon-alpha in combination on a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line in vitro and in vivo

Background and Aim: We investigated the antiproliferative effects of interferon‐alpha (IFN‐α) and 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) in combination on a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line. Method: In the in vitro study, IFN‐α and/or 5‐FU was added to the culture of the poorly differentiated‐type HCC cell line, HAK‐1B, and their antiproliferative effects and additional or synergic effects in combination treatment were examined. In the in vivo study, HAK‐1B cells were transplanted into nude mice and the changes in tumor volume and weight, apoptosis, BrdU and cyclin A positive cells, and artery‐like blood vessels were investigated. Expressions of angiogenesis factors and IFN‐α receptor (IFNAR‐2) were examined in the developed tumors. Results: In vitro growth of HAK‐1B cells was suppressed dose‐dependently to 5‐FU, but the addition of IFN‐α did not induce additional or synergic effects. In vivo growth in terms of tumor diameter and weight was suppressed at most in the IFN‐α + 5‐FU (combination) group, that is, the tumor volume became 29.3% and the tumor weight became 54.7% of the control. In the combination group, numbers of BrdU‐positive S‐phase cells and cyclin A positive cells increased together with the increase in apoptotic cells, but there was no significant relation between the tumor shrinkage effects and angiogenesis factors or artery‐like blood vessels. In the combination group, INFAR‐2 decreased significantly in comparison to the other groups. Conclusion: The synergic growth‐suppression effects in the current in vivo study using the combination treatment are attributable to the enhanced induction of S‐phase arrest and of apoptosis.     

A case of urethral prolapse in a young girl

Urethral prolapse is rarely reported in the pediatric literature. We report a 4 year old female with urethral prolapse and discuss the etiology and the treatments in children documented in the literature.     

Churg–Strauss syndrome presenting with eosinophilic prostatitis

We report a patient with eosinophilic prostatitis associated with Churg-Strauss syndrome. A 74-year-old man, who had been treated for asthma, underwent transurethral resection of the prostate. After the operation he had a high temperature of approximately 40 degrees C. The differential blood count revealed marked eosinophilia of 77.5%. The patient received 20-mg prednisolone and dramatically became afebrile. The pathological diagnosis was eosinophilic prostatitis. These findings strongly indicate Churg-Strauss syndrome.     

Reduction of the DTH response is related to morphological changes of Langerhans cells in mice exposed to acute immobilization stress

There is a large body of evidence indicating that stress influences immune competence. For example, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis may be exacerbated by psychic stress and related to abnormalities in the cellular constituents of the immune system in the skin. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We therefore investigated the potential of acute immobilization stress to affect the DTH response in BALB/c mice. DTH was significantly reduced in an immobilization time-dependent manner when stress exposure was just before sensitization. Although the number of Langerhans cells (LC) did not change under these conditions, marked alteration of LC morphology was observed with a significant decrease in area. Recovery of LC was observed within 24 h when the DTH response was also restored. Expression of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which inhibits LC antigen presentation, was significantly increased up to 1.6-fold in nerve fibres of immobilized mice. We conclude that stress-induced suppression of DTH could be due to reduction of LC antigen presentation with morphological change in association with CGRP elevation.     

Cutaneous oxalate granulomas in a haemodialysed patient: report of a case with unique clinical features

We report a patient undergoing haemodialysis, who developed multiple subcutaneous nodules. Histology showed that the noduies were composed of deposits of crystals in the dermis, with an associated foreign-body reaction. The crystalline deposits were identified as calcium oxalate by histochemical staining, polarizing microscopy, and analytical electron microscopy.     

Anti-asthma effect of an antiviral drug, acyclovir: a clinical case and experimental study

Background Although acyclovir (9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl) guaninc) is an antiviral drug that inhibits DNA polymerase of herpes virus, we have had the experience of an asthmatic patient's peak flow rate being improved by oral administration of acyclovir. Objective The aim of this experiment is whether acyclovir has anti-asthma effects using an asthma model in guinea-pigs. Methods The airway response was induced by a single inhalation of calcium ionophore A23187 (2 mg/mL). The airway obstruction was estimated by the ratio of expiration to inspiration time (E/I). The peribronchial eosinophil infiltration and eosinophil influx into bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid 7 h after the inhalation were also examined. To assess the effects of acyclovir (1, 10, and 100 mg/kg), aminophylline (20mg/kg) and pemirolast potassium (TBX, 20mg/kg) on A23187-induccd asthmatic response, the drugs were intraperitoneally administered before the inhalation. Results The immediate airway obstruction was significantly suppressed by acyclovir (10 mg/kg) and aminophylline, whereas different doses of acyclovir (1 and 100mg/kg) and TBX showed only a small inhibitory effect on the airway obstruction. On the other hand, the peribronchial eosinophilia was most successfully inhibited by TBX. Acyclovir (10 mg/kg) and aminophylline also suppressed the eosinophilia significantly. Furthermore, acyclovir significantly suppressed eosinophil influx into BAL fluid, whereas aminophylline and TBX weakly suppressed the influx. Conclusion These results suggest that acyclovir exhibits not only antiviral but also anti-asthma activity.