Determination of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in guinea pig and human prostate using HPLC

The finding of significant numbers of endocrine-paracrine (EP) cells in the prostate glands of guinea pigs and man suggests that these cells may be important in the regulation or modulation of prostatic function. Serotonin is a biogenic amine common to most prostatic EP cells. In order to extend current knowledge relating to these cells, an assay was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography to quantitate serotonin and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in guinea pig and human prostatic tissue extracts. Levels of serotonin and 5-HIAA in the guinea pig whole-gland preparation were 105.4 +/- 70.6 ng/g and 48.4 +/- 95.7 ng/g, respectively. Normal human prostatic tissue contained 1423.9 +/- 750.8 ng/g serotonin and 66.7 +/- 92.8 ng/g 5-HIAA. Recoveries ranged between 60 and 100%. The detection limits were 24 pg/injection for serotonin and 12 pg/injection for 5-HIAA. This assay provides an expeditious, specific and highly sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of monoamines in guinea pig and human prostatic tissue.     

PULMONARY OEDEMA FOLLOWING AIRWAY OBSTRUCTIN IN A PATIENT WITH HODGKIN'S DISEASE

We report a case of pulmonary oedema follwing airway obstructionin a patient who underwent biopsy of a tumo ur in volving theanterior mediastinum and neck. The occurrence of airway obstructionin patients with anterior mediastinal masses, and the pathogenesisof pulmonary oedema occurring in association with airway obstruction,are discussed.     

Surgical tactics in clotted hemothorax in patients with combined chest injuries

Based on the experience with treatment of 26 patients the authors recommend to use mainly conservative treatment with the intrapleural administration of fibrinolytic drugs. The method was used in 20 patients. All of them recovered.     

Renal Aspergilloma--A Case Illustrating the Problems of Medical Therapy

The second documented case of renal aspergilloma due to Aspergillusflavus is presented. The merits of the medical therapy thatfailed are discussed. Pathological examination showed a nidusof aspergillus around suture material persisting from a pyelolithotomyoperation 2 years before in India. We argue that this was thereason for the failure of the medical therapy. This is the firstcase of its kind reported.     

Traumatology of the alar ligaments

A postmortem study of craniocerebral traumas of varying severity was done to determine the pattern of injury of the alar ligaments. It was found that in the entire group of patients (n = 30) the alar ligaments were ruptured or suffused with blood 11 times. No close relationship was found between the massive nature of the cranial trauma and the severity of the injury of the alar ligaments. In some cases the alar ligaments were not at all involved even though the skull had suffered extensive osseous lesions, whereas on the other hand the ligaments were injured even though only soft parts had been involved (e.g., haematoma or dehiscent wounds of the scalp). Ruptures of the alar ligaments were typically involved in extended ruptures of the ligamentous apparatus (see Figure 6a involving the ligamentum apicis dentis, ligamentum transversum atlantis, m.atlanto-occipitalis anterior, m.tectoria, m.atlanto-axialis anterior et posterior). In some cases the pattern of injury of the alar ligaments was found to be decisive in enabling reconstruction of the course of the accident. Damage to the alar ligaments near the dens axis represent rotation injuries. On the other hand, insertion tears out of the condyli occipitales must be related to a lateral thrust tendency in indirect fracture of the skull (bursting fracture). Within this overall framework a new mechanism of fracture of the condylus occipitalis is described. As a matter of principle, the alar ligaments can become involved in consequence of rotation, traction and compression of the cranium.     

Haemoglobin A1 and congenital malformation

Two hundred and thirty pregnancies were studied in 196 diabetic women. Seven women with babies found to have major malformations had a higher median first trimester haemoglobin A1 (12.9%) than the median HbA1 (10.8%) in those with normal babies (p = 0.06). No relationship was found between the occurrence of minor malformations and first trimester maternal haemoglobin A1. Two of the seven congenital malformations were diagnosed antenatally at a time when therapeutic abortion could be offered. Expert antenatal ultrasound scanning should be offered to all pregnant diabetic women as poor glycaemic control at the time of conception and organogenesis, as evidenced by raised first trimester HbA1, predisposes to congenital malformation.     

Self-mutilation and self-blame in incest victims

A case is made for self-blame as the psychic link between children's experiences of incestuous sexual abuse and their self-mutilating behavior later in life. Representative case histories and the results of a small pilot study are presented to illustrate the author's theoretical formulation.