In vitro technique for isolating prostatic cells from blood.

An in vitro technique for isolating prostatic cells from blood has been applied to the study of circulating prostatic cells during a transurethral resection of the prostate. Our findings indicate that prostatic cells that are added to the blood in vitro can be isolated by the technique described and that cells resembling prostatic cells can be isolated from the blood of the patient undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate. Furthermore, the results of our study suggest that (i) in selected patients, needle biopsy of the prostate should be carried out prior to transurethral resection of the prostate and that (ii) patients who have multifocal adenocarcinoma diagnosed at the time of transurethral resection of the prostate may not be suitable candidates for future prostatectomy.     

Topical povidone-iodine reduces mortality from bacterial peritonitis

The efficacy of topical 10 and 1.5% povidone-iodine was assessed in a rat fecal peritonitis model. Both solutions were bactericidal in vitro. An LD₉₀ preparation of fecal peritonitis in the rat was then assessed and rats were assigned to control or four treatment groups consisting of lavage with saline, 10% povidone-iodine (2.5 ml/kg), povidone-iodine plus saline (600 ml/kg), or 1% cephalothin (600 ml/kg). Twenty-four-hour mortality rates were recorded. Quantitative peritoneal cultures were obtained before and 3 and 6 hr after lavage. Lavage was effective only with 1.5% povidone-iodine or when cephalothin was added. Each of these lavage solutions significantly reduced mortality (P < 0.05). Delayed intravenous cephalothin (200 mg/kg) reduced mortality significantly following 10 or 1.5% povidone-iodine. Failure of povidone irrigation is due to uncontrolled infection rather than to drug toxicity.