A case of secondary bladder tumor the origin (gastric cancer) of which could not be identified before autopsy

Primary bladder tumor is the most frequent malignant tumor in the field of urology, whereas the incidence of secondary bladder tumor from a distant organ is quite rare. We report here a 21-year-old female patient with metastatic bladder tumor from gastric cancer. She came to our hospital with a complaint of only bladder irritability. Cystoscopical and cytological examinations revealed rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder. She did not respond to radiation therapy and combined chemotherapy, consisting of actinomycin D, vincristine and cyclophosphamide, and died 91 days after admission. Autopsy revealed a primary tumor of poorly differentiated scirrhus carcinoma of the stomach. Thus this was a quite rare case of metastatic bladder carcinoma characterized by bladder irritability without gastrointestinal symptoms.     

Sulprostone-induced reduction of myocardial infarct size in the rabbit by activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

1. This study examined whether (i) a 1 h pretreatment with or (ii) a continuous infusion of sulprostone reduces myocardial infarct size arising from coronary artery occlusion (60 min) and reperfusion (120 min) in the anaesthetized rabbit. In addition, we investigated whether the observed cardioprotective effect of this selective agonist of prostanoid EP1/EP3 receptors were due to the activation of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. 2. In anaesthetized rabbits pretreated with vehicle (5% ethanol in 0.9% saline; 0.05 ml min-1, i.v.) infarct size (expressed as a percentage of the area at risk) after 60 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 120 min of reperfusion was 59 +/- 4% (n = 10). Pretreatment of rabbits with sulprostone (1.0 microgram kg-1 min-1 for 1 h, discontinued immediately prior to coronary artery occlusion) did not reduce infarct size (60 +/- 4%; n = 4). In contrast, a continuous infusion of sulprostone (1.0 microgram kg-1 min-1) starting 10 min prior to the onset of LAL occlusion and continued throughout the experiment, significantly reduced infarct size (41 +/- 5%, n = 6) when compared to the respective vehicle-treated controls (57 +/- 4%, n = 10; P < 0.05). Sulprostone (pretreatment or continuous infusion) had no effect on any of the haemodynamic parameters measured. 3. The reduction in infarct size afforded by continuous infusion of sulprostone was abolished by pretreatment of rabbits with the KATP channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD 5 micrograms kg-1; 63 +/- 4%; n = 6). When administered alone, 5-HD had no effect on infarct size when compared to control (52 +/- 6, n = 10). 4. We propose that a continuous infusion of the selective EP1/EP3 prostanoid receptor agonist, sulprostone, reduces infarct size in the anaesthetized rabbit by a mechanism that involves the opening of KATP channels.     

Hemorrhagic cystitis after bone marrow transplantation: importance of a thin sectioning technique on urinary sediments for diagnosis.

We used a thin-sectioning technique for the electron microscopic detection of viral particles within the cells of urinary sediments in three recipients who developed hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Results of viral cultures of urine and electron microscopic (EM) observations on urinary sediments were consistent in only one recipient. In this recipient, EM observations revealed many viral particles within the cells of urinary sediments with diameter of about 80 nm corresponding to adenovirus, of which type 11 was produced in viral cultures. In one of the other two recipients many viral particles with a mean diameter of 41.6 nm corresponding to papovavirus were observed, but viral cultures using conventional cells were negative. Re-cultures using HEK cells produced polyomavirus BK. EM observation was a clue to the correct diagnosis. In the remaining recipient, no viral particles were observed within the cells of urinary sediments, suggesting the hemorrhagic cystitis to be of non-viral origin, despite a positive result of viral culture. These results suggest that a thin-sectioning technique on the cells of urinary sediments is important for the differential diagnosis between a viral-induced and non-viral hemorrhagic cystitis.     

A case of ischias as a complication of internal iliac artery embolization

A case of severe right radicular ischias following embolization is reported. Gelfoam powder and pledgets were used for right internal iliac artery embolization in the case of intractable bladder cancer hemorrhage. It is supposed that previous radiotherapy and fine embolic material may be the contributing factors to this complication.     

Reduction by prostaglandin E1 or prostaglandin E0 of myocardial infarct size in the rabbit by activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

1. This study examined whether pretreatment of rabbits with infusions of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) or prostaglandin E0 (PGE0) (which were terminated prior to the onset of ischaemia) reduce myocardial infarct size arising from coronary artery occlusion (60 min) and reperfusion (120 min). In addition, we investigated whether the observed cardioprotective effects of these two prostaglandins were due to the activation of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. 2. In the anaesthetized rabbit, infarct size (expressed as a percentage of the area at risk) after 60 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 2 h of reperfusion was 59 +/- 4% (n = 10). PGE1 or PGE0 treatment (1.0 micrograms kg-1 min-1), administered as 1 h pretreatments (0.05 ml min-1, i.v.), significantly reduced infarct size to 44 +/- 6% (n = 6) or 42 +/- 1% (n = 6), respectively. PGE1 or PGE0 pretreatment resulted in a significant reduction in mean arterial blood pressure, which returned to baseline within 15 min of discontinuation of the infusion (i.e. prior to LAL ligation). 3. The reduction in infarct size afforded by PGE1 was abolished by pretreatment of rabbits with the KATP channel blockers, glibenclamide (60 +/- 4%; n = 8) or 5-hydroxydecanoate (58 +/- 6%; n = 6). Similarly, glibenclamide also largely attenuated the reduction in infarct size afforded by PGE0 (52 +/- 3%; n = 8). 4. We propose that a 1 h pretreatment of PGE1 or PGE0 reduces infarct size by activating protein kinase C resulting in the opening of KATP channels.     

Aquatically acquired Aeromonas hydrophila wound infection. A report of 3 cases

The occurrence of Aeromonas hydrophila wound infections in healthy hosts after water-associated injury is being reported more frequently. This paper reports our experience with 3 such cases and outlines the importance of recognising the association between a water-related injury and this organism.     

Amplification of FISH signals using intermittent microwave irradiation for analysis of chromosomal instability in gastric cancer.

Gastrointestinal tract tumours are notorious for their difficulty in relation to conventional cytogenetic analysis. In particular, necrosis, the presence of stromal inflammatory and other cells, and poor attachment of tumour cells have led to problems with the quality and reliability of cytogenetic preparations, even with the recently developed fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) technique. Furthermore, background autofluorescence masks the weak hybridisation signals in the nuclei. To overcome this problem, brief microwave treatment was applied for the identification of centromeres by in situ hybridisation in gastric cancer cells. Using this technique, a panel of 17 centromeric specific alpha-satellite probes was used to detect chromosomal instability in these cells. Lymphocyte controls and cancer cells subjected to irradiation achieved the hybridisation threshold in 30 minutes, providing a significant difference when compared with the non-irradiated samples (mean (SD) frequency of diploid cells 97% (2.1%) v 76% (4.6%), respectively). Therefore, this protocol of intermittent microwave treatment is recommended as a simple, rapid, and highly reproducible technique for application to various types of probe. It also gives well defined hybridisation signals and reduces background "noise".