Experimental uremia in male rats: effect of interval between partial nephrectomies on testicular function

Testicular function in stepwise-nephrectomized rats, with a different interval between the two operations, was studied suing male Wistar rats. Serum levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine in stepwise-nephrectomized rats were significantly elevated compared to those in sham-operated rats ( p  < 0.001). With a 1-day interval between the two operations, these concentrations were considerably higher ( p  < 0.001) than those in 7-day interval rats. While serum LH levels were significantly reduced ( p  < 0.001) in 1-day interval rats, FSH levels in this group were considerably higher ( p  < 0.001) than in other groups. Serum concentrations of androstenedione in 1-day interval rats were significantly suppressed compared to other groups ( p  < 0.01). Serum testosterone levels in stepwise-nephrectomized rats were considerably lower ( p  < 0.001) than in sham-operated rats. It is assumed that testicular function in stepwise-nephrectomized rats is influenced by the interval between the two operations.     

Ultrastructure of the Testis in an XX-Male with Normal Plasma Testosterone

Hormonal and ultrastructural examinations of the testis were performed in an XX-male. Plasma levels of testosterone and prolactin were within the normal range, but FSH and LH were higher than the normal range. The response of testosterone to the administration of HCG is within the normal range. In the interstitium marked hyperplasia of Leydig cells was observed. The presence of paracrystalline inclusions and the absence of Reinke's crystals were representative changes in Leydig cells. Seminiferous tubules were filled with Sertoli cells and spermatogenesis was completely abolished. Intermediate filaments were abundant and annulate lamellae were absent in Sertoli cells.     

Laparoscopic Wedge Resection of the Stomach for Submucosal Tumor

We performed laparoscopic wedge resection of the stomach in two patients with submucosal gastric tumor. Three trocars were inserted in addition to a laparoscope. After the blood vessels surrounding the tumors had been ligated with ENDO CUPs, we used ENDO GIA (a linear endoscopic stapling device) four times and then wedge resection was performed. The operative time was 3h33m in Case 1 and 2.5h in Case 2, and bleeding was minimal in both cases. The postoperative courses were uneventful, and intestinal peristalsis recovered rapidly with minimal wound pain. These results suggest that laparoscopic wedge resection of the stomach, a radical procedure, is indicated for submucosal tumor of the stomach.     

Motor Mapping with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Comparison with Electrical Cortical Stimulation

The aim of the present study was to evaluate motor area mapping using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) compared with electrical cortical stimulation (ECS). Motor mapping with fMRI and ECS were retrospectively compared in seven patients with refractory epilepsy in which the primary motor (M1) areas were identified by fMRI and ECS mapping between 2012 and 2019. A right finger tapping task was used for fMRI motor mapping. Blood oxygen level-dependent activation was detected in the left precentral gyrus (PreCG)/postcentral gyrus (PostCG) along the “hand knob” of the central sulcus in all seven patients. Bilateral supplementary motor areas (SMAs) were also activated (n = 6), and the cerebellar hemisphere showed activation on the right side (n = 3) and bilateral side (n = 4). Furthermore, the premotor area (PM) and posterior parietal cortex (PPC) were also activated on the left side (n = 1) and bilateral sides (n = 2). The M1 and sensory area (S1) detected by ECS included fMRI-activated PreCG/PostCG areas with broader extent. This study showed that fMRI motor mapping was locationally well correlated to the activation of M1/S1 by ECS, but the spatial extent was not concordant. In addition, the involvement of SMA, PM/PPC, and the cerebellum in simple voluntary movement was also suggested. Combination analysis of fMRI and ECS motor mapping contributes to precise localization of M1/S1.     

Eye Movement Network Originating from Frontal Eye Field: Electric Cortical Stimulation and Diffusion Tensor Imaging

This study investigated the networks originating from frontal eye fields (FEFs) using electric cortical stimulation and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Seven patients with intractable focal epilepsy, in which FEFs were identified by electrical cortical stimulation, were enrolled in this study. Electric stimulation at 50 Hz was applied to the electrodes for functional mapping. DTI was used to identify the subcortical fibers originating from the FEFs with two regions of interests (ROIs) in the FEF and contralateral paramedian pontine reticular formation (PPRF). FEFs were found in the superior precentral sulcus (pre-CS) in six patients and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) in three patients. DTI detected fibers connecting FEFs and contralateral PPRFs, passing within the internal capsule. The fibers were located close to the lateral antero-superior border of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and medial posterior border of the globus pallidus internus (GPi). This study found the characteristic subcortical networks of the FEF. These tracts should be noted to prevent complications of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the STN or GPi.     

The evaluation of human papillomavirus DNA testing in primary screening for cervical lesions in a large Japanese population

To examine the utility of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing for the screening of cervical cancer and its precursors, a prospective cohort study was performed in which a total of 8156 women with a median age of 36 years were enrolled. Two smear samples scraped from the uterine cervix were served for Papanicolaou test and HPV DNA testing (Hybrid Capture-II system). HPV-positive samples were further examined for HPV subtype using a DNA microarray chip. Women with cytologic abnormality or those with high-risk HPV DNA were further examined by colposcopy to determine histologic diagnosis. High-risk HPV DNA was detected in 11% of the general population, with higher prevalence of specific types, including 52, 16, 58, 51, 56, and 18. As expected, younger women were likely to have increased frequency of HPV infection. Notably, HPV DNA testing detected all 45 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3, while cytologic findings were negative in 6 of these cases. It is of particular interest that CIN was commonly associated with multiple HPV types, while invasive cancers had a single type of HPV. In terms of both sensitivity and positive predictive value in detecting the CIN, HPV DNA testing is superior to cytology. However, most importantly, HPV DNA testing in combination with cytology significantly improved the efficacy to CIN screening.     

Fine structure of the cap enameloid and of the dental epithelial cells during enameloid mineralisation and early maturation stages in the tilapia, a teleost

Morphological features of the cap enameloid and dental epithelial cells were investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy during the various stages of enameloid mineralisation and early maturation in the tilapia. The pattern of mineralisation along collagen fibrils in the enameloid differed from that in the dentine. Many matrix vesicles were found in the predentine and in the enameloid, suggesting that they may be involved in the initial mineralisation in both regions. Most of the organic matrix disappeared from the cap enameloid during mineralisation and maturation. The disappearance of the organic matrix could be divided into 2 stages. Initially a fine network-like matrix, which probably consisted of glycosaminoglycans and extended between collagen fibrils, began to disappear. At the same time, fine crystallites and electron-dense, fine granular material covered the collagen fibrils as mineralisation of the enameloid began. In the second stage, the maturation of the enameloid, the collagen fibrils degenerated completely and disappeared from the cap enameloid, being replaced by large numbers of large crystals. At the mineralisation stage, the numbers of lysosomal bodies tended to increase in the inner dental epithelial (IDE) cells, which contained a well developed Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER). At the early stage of maturation, a ruffled border was noted at the distal ends of the IDE cells, which contained many mitochondria and lysosomal bodies, but less rER. These features suggest that the cells actively absorb the organic matrix, which includes collagen fibrils, in the cap enameloid. The outer dental epithelial (ODE) cells were translucent cells that contained well developed labyrinthine canalicular spaces from the onset of the mineralisation stage to the middle stage of maturation. The IDE and ODE cells were clearly involved in the mineralisation of the cap enameloid at the mineralisation and maturation stages.