Acute effects of 1,1,1-trichloroethane,trichloroethylene, and toluene on the hematologic parameters in dogs

Mature cross-bred dogs were acutely exposed to 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and toluene. The changes in hematologic parameters, during and after exposure, are reported. A marked but temporary decrease in leukocytes was noted 30 min after the initation of exposure; no changes were observed in erythrocyte counts, hematocrit values, or thrombocytes counts with all three solvents. The decrease in the amount of neutrophils was particularly prominent. Based upon leukocyte differential counts, all types of leukocytes snowed a decrease. The decrease in leukocyte counts was the largest with exposure to trichloroethylene, followed by 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and toluene, respectively. A dose-response relationship was noted between exposure concentrations and decreased leukocyte counts,i.e., 1,1,1-trichloroethane and toluene from 200 to 700 ppm; trichloroethylene from 0 to 700 ppm.     

Vesicourethral Dysfunction Following Radical Surgery for Rectal Carcinoma: Change in Voiding Pattern on Sequential Urodynamic Studies and Impact of Nerve-Sparing Surgery

Objectives Urodynamic studies were performed to clarify vesicourethral dysfunction and recovery after rectal surgery for cancer.
Materials and Methods At 1, and 6 to 12 months after rectal surgery interviews and urodynamic studies (UDS) were performed on 51 consecutive patients, all without a prior history of voiding disorder (40 males and 11 females; median age, 60 years). Patients were divided into 2 groups, either with (preserved group, n = 17) or without (nonpreserved group, n = 34) preservation of the bilateral pelvic plexus during surgery. Comparisons of voiding status and urodynamic parameters were made between the 2 groups.
Results By 1 and 6 months after the operation normal voiding was achieved in 71 % (12/17) and 100% (13/13) of patients in the preserved group, and 6% (2/34) and 30% of patients (9/30) in the nonpreserved group, respectively (P< 0.001). Attainment of normal voiding in the nonpreserved group was preceded by the recovery of bladder sensation, while UDS demonstrated increases in vesical compliance and the disappearance of vesical denervation supersensitivity.
Conclusion A nerve-sparing procedure during radical surgery for rectal carcinoma preserved vesicourethral function. The urodynamic parameters relevant to postoperative recovery of voiding function were improved vesical compliance, disappearance of vesical denervation supersensitivity, and recovery of a bladder filling sensation.     

Selective isolation of acrosome-reacted human spermatozoa with progressive motility by using cell affinity chromatography on Concanavalin A Sepharose

Summary. In order to ensure fertility, mammalian spermatozoa have to undergo acrosome reaction, the most obvious morphological change during this being the exposure of the inner acrosomal membrane. In the present study, the acrosome-reacted human spermatozoa were successfully separated without loss of viability by using cell affinity chromatography on Concanavalin A (Con A) Sepharose. Con A demonstrated affinity for both the intact and the acrosome-reacted spermatozoa regardless of their viability; the latter, however, gave higher affinity than the former against Con A. Prior to the column chromatography, the immotile spermatozoa and the seminal plasma were excluded by means of a modified swim-down procedure and the resulting spermatozoa were subsequently immobilized by slow rate cooling in ice-cold water. Cell affinity chromatography was performed at 4 °C. To prevent mechanical trapping of the spermatozoa among the packed gel beads, the column was interconnected with a reservoir, the vertical drive of which was allowed to lose the gel bed and thereby release the trapped spermatozoa. Stepwise competitive elution with 5.0 μM mannose and 25% heat-inactivated human serum was capable of separating the intact spermatozoa and the acrosome-reacted spermatozoa from each other. The acrosome reaction rate of sperm fraction which was adsorbed to Con A Sepharose and eluted with 25% serum was found to be 83±2.3%, and motility and viability of these fractions were measured to be 80±6.3% and 83±7.6%, respectively ( n = 8, mean±SD). The status of the acrosome in a final preparation (motility 92%, acrosome reaction rate 88%) was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and 81% spermatozoa lost their acrosome cap.
Acrosome-reacted spermatozoa—     

The use of MCNU to a patient of primary myelofibrosis complicated with pericardial effusion and proteinuria

A case of primary myelofibrosis complicated with pericardial effusion and proteinuria is described. A 66-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of abdominal fullness and shortness of breath. On admission, hepatosplenomegaly and pericardial effusion were observed. Blood examination revealed leukoerythroblastic anemia and thrombocytosis with tear drop cells and giant platelets. Bone marrow aspiration was dry tap and its biopsy showed remarkable myelofibrosis. Urinalysis indicated severe proteinuria. Although neutrophilic alkaline phosphatase score was low, no signs of acute blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia was found. The diagnosis of an atypical type of primary myelofibrosis was obtained. Administration of MCNU was started in August 1987. Hepatosplenomegaly, pericardial effusion and proteinuria were gradually improved after the administration. The etiology of the pericardial effusion and proteinuria were not obvious, however, these facts suggest that these abnormal findings might be related to PMF itself and MCNU was effective to PNF.     

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the heart, report of a case and review of the literature

Primary cardiac neoplasms are unusual and are found in only about 0.0017% of autopsies. Approximately 25% of primary cardiac neoplasms are malignant. A case of primary leiomyosarcoma arising from the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery is reported. A 37-year-old man had sudden dyspnea and chest pain. Angiocardiography and MRI revealed moving masses throughout the right ventricle and the pulmonary arteries. An emergent surgery was performed. The multiple tumors were observed and incomplete resection was done. The patient was survived with the aid of a veno-arterial bypass as an assisted circulation on the first postoperative day. However, he gradually became deteriorated again and died 8 days after the operation due to the right ventricular failure. Eleven cases of the primary cardiac leiomyosarcoma including our case in the Japanese literature were reviewed briefly.     

Off-pump coronary bypass using interposed radial artery graft

We describe a patient with severely diseased ascending aorta and small internal mammary arteries, who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass to the left anterior descending coronary artery and right coronary artery using composite arterial grafts consisting of the pedicled proximal internal mammary artery and interposed radial artery graft. The interposed radial artery graft provides advantages, such as making coronary anastomosis on the beating heart easier and to increasing the flow potentiality of the internal mammary artery.