Common bile duct calculi: updated experience with dissolution with methyl tertiary butyl ether

The authors describe their experience with methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in a larger series of patients than previously reported in order to acquaint physicians with both its effectiveness for dissolution of common bile duct calculi and the limitations of its use. Ten patients with 13 biliary calculi underwent percutaneous stone dissolution treatment with the experimental cholesterol solvent, MTBE. Three stones completely dissolved within 30 minutes, seven were reduced in size, and three were visibly unaffected. All stones not completely dissolved were easily extracted by means of a stone basket except for one in a patient taken to surgery. Although MTBE perfusion is an effective technique for management of biliary calculi, practitioners should be aware that its use is quite time consuming and its odor difficult to control.     

Expression of cadherins and CD44 isoforms in ovarian endometrial cysts

We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of cadherins and CD44 variants in 20 endometriomas, 20 cystadenomas, 20 borderline ovarian tumours as well as 20 ovarian carcinomas, and the serological and cystic fluid concentrations of soluble E-cadherin and soluble CD44 standard (sCD44sdt) in 20 endometriomas, 20 cystadenomas, six borderline and 11 carcinomas of the ovary. In endometriomas, immunostaining of E- and N-cadherin was negative (20 and 30% respectively). CD44 H, v3 and v6 immunostaining were detected in 63, 10 and 40% respectively. A difference in immunostaining for E-cadherin was found between endometriomas and cystadenomas (P < 0.001) and for N- cadherin between endometriomas and carcinomas (P < 0.001). A difference in CD44H immunostaining was observed between endometriomas and cystadenomas (P < 0.035) but not with borderline ovarian tumours and carcinomas. No difference in serum concentrations of soluble E- cadherins and CD44 standard was found between the four groups of tumours. Cystic fluid concentrations of E-cadherin were lower in endometriomas than in borderline tumours and ovarian carcinomas (P < 0.001). High concentrations of soluble CD44 standard cystic fluid were found in endometriomas than in other ovarian cysts. Endometriomas and borderline tumours share alterations of cadherins and CD44 isoforms which may help in the understanding of the aggressive and invasive potentials of endometriotic cells.      

Genital asymmetry in men

This study examined genital asymmetry in a large sample of men. The probands were 6544 non-delinquent men who were interviewed by the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction from 1938 to 1963. The measures were four indicators of penile and scrotal asymmetry, along with self-reported handedness, from Kinsey's interview protocol. Most men reported some degree of lateral asymmetry in their flaccid penis and in their testicles; less asymmetry was reported for their erect penis. The asymmetry typically occurred in the left direction, and this pattern occurred in both right- and nonright- handers. However, this 'leftward' pattern was significantly less pronounced in nonright-handers. The results are discussed in relation to previous findings of genital asymmetry in men, the possible relationship of genital asymmetry to functional cerebral asymmetry, and recent data suggesting genital asymmetry may predict patterns of cognitive performance and genital/sexual organ cancers.      

Prevalence of childhood asthma and allergic diseases in Ankara, Turkey

Kalyoncu AF, Selçuk ZT, Karakoca Y, Emri AS, Çöplü L, Şahin AA, Bariş YI. Prevalence of childhood asthma and allergic diseases in Ankara, Turkey.
The first epidemiologic survey of the prevalence of childhood asthma and other allergic disease in Ankara, Turkey, was done in May 1992. A questionnaire on factors influencing the atopic status and allergic symptoms was distributed to parents of 1226 children aged 6-12 years. In this questionnaire, parents were asked to give information about physician-diagnosed asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD), and self-reported wheezing and rhinoconjunctivitis (perennial or seasonal). The overall response rate was 85 % and included 502 boys (48.5%) and 534 girls (51.5%). The lifetime prevalences of asthma, wheezing, rhinoconjunctivitis, and AD were 17.4%, 23.3%, 28%, and 6.1%, respectively, and the reported prevalences for the last 12 months were 8.3%, 11.9%, 15.4%, and 4%, respectively. Asthma and other allergic disease had been recognized in 23.2% of the children during the last year; in half of these, more than one disease was present. Eight percent of the families kept pet animals; 95.4% of children had been breast-fed, of whom 61% for more than 6 months; and at least one person smoked at home in the case of 73.9% of children. Some health insurance was available to 72.8% of the families. Cumulative prevalences of wheezing, rhinoconjunctivitis, and AD were significantly associated with the presence of pets, passive smoking at home, and absence of health insurance. The prevalence of asthma was not affected by any of these factors except atopic family history. In conclusion, asthma and other allergic diseases constitute a major health problem for schoolchildren in Ankara.     

Evidence that the nitrergic neurotransmitter and endothelium-derived relaxing factor might be S-nitrosothiols in the mouse corpus cavernosum

The effects of thimerosal, a sulfhydryl oxidizing agent on nitrergic, endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations were investigated to examine the possibility that the nitrergic neurotransmitter and endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) could be S-nitrosothiol or free nitric oxide (NO) in the isolated mouse corpus cavernosum. Thimerosal (5 x 10(-6)-2 x 10(-5) M) inhibited or almost abolished electrical field stimulation--(EFS, 30V, 0.5 ms, 15 sec, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 Hz), acetylcholine--(ACh, 5 x 10(-8)-1.25 x 10(-6) M), glyceryl trinitrate--(GTN, 3 x 10(-7)-3 x 10(-6) M), and S-nitrosoglutathione--(GSNO, 5 x 10(-6)-1.25 x 10(-4) M) induced relaxations. Thiomerosal inhibition seems to be specific to L-arginine NO pathways since it had no effect on acidified sodium nitrite--(10(-4)-5 x 10(-4) M), photoactivated sodium nitrite--(2 x 10(-4) M), isoprenaline--(10(-6) M), or papaverine--(10(-4) M) elicited relaxations. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of thimerosal on the nitrergic, ACh- or GTN-induced relaxations were partly reversed by sulfhydryl-containing compounds, L-cysteine (10(-3) M), dithiothreitol (10(-3) M), or glutathione (10(-3) M). However L-methionine (10(-3) M), which contains a methyl group on the sulphur atom, failed to restore the thimerosal inhibition. Thimerosal did not change the contraction produced by 10(-4) M NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. These findings indicate that the nitrergic neurotransmitter as well as EDRF may not be free NO but NO-transferring molecules, probably S-nitrosothiols, in the mouse corpus cavernosum.     

Sertraline inhibits the contractile responses to noradrenaline, KCl and electrical field stimulation of rat isolated vas deferens

1. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sertraline, a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, on contractile responses to noradrenaline (NA), KCl, serotonin (5-HT) and electrical field stimulation of rat isolated vas deferens. 2. Pre-treatment with 10(-4) M sertraline showed inhibitory effects on responses to NA, KCl, 5-HT and electrical field stimulation, while pre-treatment with 10(-6) and 10(-5) M sertraline caused potentiation of responses to NA (10(-7) and 10(-6) M). 3. A voltage-dependent calcium channel activator, Bay K 8644, restored the inhibited responses when sertraline was washed out of the organ bath, although restoration could not be seen when sertraline was not removed. 4. The inhibition of the contractile responses by sertraline pre-treatment may be via a mechanism through calcium channels which is additional to the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitory effect of sertraline.     

The effects of paroxetine on rat isolated vas deferens.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether paroxetine (a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) can modify the contractile responses of isolated vas deferens. Some contractile agents, potassium chloride (KCl), adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), noradrenaline (NA), and electrical field stimulation (EFS) caused contractions both in epididymal and prostatic portions of vas deferens. Paroxetine (PX) in concentrations 10(-7) and 10(-6)M potentiated the contractions to KCl and ATP only in epididymal portion but in higher concentrations (10(-5) and 10(-4)M) inhibited the responses in both portions. NA responses were inhibited by PX in all concentrations used, both in prostatic and epididymal portions. Prazosin (PR), an alpha adrenergic receptor blocking agent, inhibited PX-induced potentiation observed for higher concentrations of KCl. PR also inhibited PX-induced potentiation on the responses to ATP in epididymal portion. Pretreatment with PX (10(-7) to 10(-6)M) increased the contractions to EFS but in 10(-5) and 10(-4)M concentrations inhibited them. Even though the preparations were washed out, the inhibited responses of contractile agents could not be restored. After a washout period for PX, when Bay K 8644 (calcium channel activator) was added to the bath medium, the contractile responses to KCl were partially restored. In calcium-free medium, KCl caused contractions in concentrations higher than 80 mM with lower amplitudes which were not affected by PX. Reserpinization did not change the inhibitory pattern of PX's effect on exogenously applied NA in all concentrations tested. In reserpinized rats, the potentiation caused by PX in exogenously applied ATP responses was not observed. In conclusion, we can say that PX has two different effects: inhibition and potentiation of contractions to various agonists. The inhibitory effect of the drug can be explained by a calcium channel blocking activity. The potentiating effect of the drug is mainly related to its presynaptic action, such as NA re-uptake inhibitory effect.