Prostatic carcinosarcoma: A case report and review of literature

A unique case of carcinosarcoma of the prostate detected in a 71-year-old man is presented. Pelvic exenteration was performed, and the resected prostatic mass was found to consist of two histologically distinct elements; adenocarcinoma and sarcoma with focal osteosarcomatous element. The patient is still alive with neither metastasis nor recurrence. This is the 42nd case of carcinosarcoma of the prostate to be reported in the literature.     

Parvovirus B19-associated haemophagocytic syndrome with lymphadenopathy resembling histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease)

A 15-year-old girl developed a haemophagocytic syndrome caused by human parvovirus B19 (PVB19). The cervical lymph node histology, resembling that of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL, Kikuchi's disease), included several transformed lymphocytes, numerous histiocytes, and massive necrosis. We detected PVB19-positive cells in the lymph node by immunohistochemistry. Possible autoimmune mechanisms in HNL-like diseases triggered by PVB19 are discussed.     

Resection of local recurrence of renal cell carcinoma in a hemodialysis patient 6 years after radical nephrectomy

Left radical nephrectomy was performed on a 39-year-old-man because of renal cell carcinoma (grade 1, clear cell and granular cell carcinoma: pT3b pN0 pM0), 6 years after the beginning of hemodialysis. The second surgical intervention for local recurrence was performed 6 years after the first operation (grade 2 > 3, clear cell and granular cell carcinoma). This is the second published case report of the resection of a local recurrence of renal cell carcinoma after nephrectomy in a hemodialysis patient. Even after the curative operation, follow up for local recurrence should be continued in hemodialysis patients, especially for high stage renal cell carcinoma.     

Minocycline-induced hemolytic anemia

A case of drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia is described. A 2 year old boy exhibited sudden anemia and hemoglobinuria after administration of minocycline (MINO). The specific immunoglobulin G antibody against MINO was demonstrated in the patient's serum by western blotting. This is a rare example where anti-minocycline immune complex-mediated hemolysis was responsible for an intravascular hemolytic process.     

Use of Protease Inhibitors to Improve Calcitonin Absorption from the Small and Large Intestine in Rats

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of protease inhibitors on the absorption of calcitonin from different regions of the intestine in rats. The absorption experiments were investigated by in-situ use of closed intestinal loops in rats and stability of calcitonin was examined in mucosal homogenates and intestinal fluids. The intestinal absorption of calcitonin was evaluated by measurement of its hypocalcaemic effect. No substantial hypocalcaemic response was observed when calcitonin was administered into the jejunum or colon. A slight hypocalcaemic effect was observed after administration of calcitonin into the ileum. Of the co-administered protease inhibitors, bacitracin (20 mM) strongly promoted calcitonin absorption from the jejunum, ileum and colon. A significant hypocalcaemic effect was also obtained after intestinal administration of calcitonin with soybean trypsin inhibitor (10mgmL^?1), camostat mesylate (20mM) or aprotinin (2mgmL^?1). In the stability experiment, bacitracin reduced the degradation of calcitonin in the different intestinal homogenates. Soybean trypsin inhibitor significantly reduced the degradation of calcitonin in the fluids of the small intestine. We also examined the different endopeptidases in gut luminal fluids and the different exopeptidases in gut mucosal homogenates of rats. The ranking order for the total endopeptidase activity of the intestinal fluids was jejunum > ileum > colon. That for total exopeptidase activity of the intestinal mucosa was jejunum > ileum > colon. These results suggest that endo- and exopeptidases might be responsible for the hydrolysis of calcitonin and that protease inhibitors might usefully improve absorption of calcitonin to the systemic circulation from the large intestine.