Multifactorial analysis of the pyuria after transurethral prostatectomy]

Multifactorial analysis on 395 patients revealed important factors which prolong the pyuria after transurethral prostatectomy. They were the age of the patient, anemia and leukocytosis before surgery. These are factors which relate with the defense mechanism of the patient. Local factors, such as the duration of indwelling urethral catheter, the size of the prostate or prostatic bed and preoperative infection, were not so important for prolonging the pyuria after transurethral prostatectomy. The time of the resection and weight of the prostate had an intimate relation each other, and the former was the more important factor. The use of antimicrobials probably controlled these local risk factors, thus making them unimportant in the prolongation of the pyuria after transurethral prostatectomy.     

Protective effect of prostaglandins D2, E1 and I2 against cerebral hypoxia/anoxia in mice

The protective effect of prostaglandins (PGs) against cerebral hypoxia/anoxia was investigated with a variety of experimental models in relation to their CNS depressant effects in mice. Furthermore, the effect of PGs on the changes of cerebral energy metabolites and cyclic nucleotide was examined in hypoxic mice. Mice were given s.c. doses of PGs 30 min before tests. Among the PGs tested, treatment with PGD2, PGE1 and PGI2 Na showed a consistent and dose-dependent protection against cerebral anoxia induced by all models studied: histotoxic anoxia by KCN, hypobaric hypoxia, normobaric hypoxia and decapitation-induced gasping. However, PGA1, PGA2, PGB1, PGB2, PGE2, PGF1 alpha, PGF2 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha at a dose of 3 mg/kg were without effect against normobaric hypoxia and gasping duration. The three PGs, i.e. PGD2, PGE1 and PGI2 which showed anti-hypoxic effects decreased locomotor activity and potentiated hexobarbital-induced sleep. On the other hand, PGE2, PGA1, PGA2 and PGB2 also caused a decrease in locomotor activity. Similarly, PGE2 and PGA1 caused a potentiation of hexobarbital-induced sleep, but interestingly they did not cause clear-cut increase in cerebral resistance to hypoxia, in contrast with the former three PGs. Thus general depression of CNS function appears not to be responsible for the PGD2-, PGE1- and PGI2-induced increase in cerebral resistance to hypoxia. The levels of Cr-P and ATP were significantly reduced and those of ADP and AMP were markedly elevated in hypoxic brain, resulting in a decrease in a calculated energy charge potential. The lactate level and lactate/pyruvate ratio increased and the glucose level decreased markedly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Abdominal vagotomy attenuates interleukin-1β-induced nitric oxide release in the paraventricular nucleus region in conscious rats

Nitric oxide (NO) has recently been shown to modulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis response to interleukin-1β (IL-1β). We measured levels of nitrite (NO₂⁻) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) region using an in vivo brain microdialysis technique in conscious rats. Intraperitoneally administered IL-1β produced a significant increase in both NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ levels in the PVN region. We also examined the possible involvement of the abdominal vagal afferent nerves in this effect. In abdominal-vagotomized rats, the increase was significantly attenuated compared to that in sham-operated rats. Our results suggest that the abdominal vagal afferent nerves are involved in intraperitoneally administered IL-1β-induced NO release in the PVN region.     

Parent-to-child transmission is relatively common in the spread of the human polyomavirus JC virus.

JC polyomavirus (JCV), the causative agent of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, is ubiquitous in the human population, infecting children asymptomatically and then persisting in renal tissue. In most adults, renal JCV replicates and the progeny are excreted in urine. We used this urinary JCV to elucidate the routes of JCV transmission. A 610-bp JCV DNA region (IG region) encompassing the 3'-terminal sequences of both T-antigen and VP1 (major capsid protein) genes was amplified by means of PCR from urine specimens collected from all members of seven families. JCV strains were then unequivocally identified by the nucleotide sequences of the amplified IG regions. We could identify 18 distinctive JCV strains from 27 individuals. Different JCV strains were detected from all unrelated persons. However, the same viral strain was detected from one (four families), two (one family), or three offspring (one family) as well as from the fathers (three families) or from the mothers (three families). In total, the JCV strains detected in half of the JCV-positive children were identified in their parents. Since most humans are infected during childhood, these findings indicated that JCV is transmitted frequently from parents to children. We roughly estimated that 50% of JCV transmission occurs by this route and that the other 50% occurs outside the family.     

Studies on the polymerization of bifunctional monomers. XVII. Cyclopolymerization of malealdehyde and the structure of the polymer

Polymerizations of malealdehyde were carried out with alkalimetal alkoxides, AlEt₃, pyridine, AlEt₃? TiCl₄ and BF₃OEt₂ as catalysts. All the polymers obtained with other catalysts than AlEt₃ and AlEt₃? TiCl₄ were composed only of the cyclized unit (dialkoxydihydrofuran ring) (> 95%) and the 1.2-addition structure (< 5%). IR spectra of the polymers obtained with AlEt₃ and AlEt₃? TiCl₄ catalysts were suggestive of the presence of five-membered lactone rings which may occur as a result of termination by hydride transfer. The steric structure (cis vs. trans) of the dialkoxydihydrofuran ring in polymer was inferred from the comparison of the IR spectra of the polymer with those of the isomeric dialkoxydihydrofurans in the 800 cm^?1 region. Anionic catalysts gave higher contents of the cis configuration, while coordinated anionic catalysts gave comparable amounts of the cis and trans structures.     

Coenzyme models, 6. Addition reaction of sulfite ion to monomeric and polymeric nicotinamides. Correlation between equilibria and reaction rates

Rate and association constants (k and K) for the addition of sulfite ions to five nicotinamides substituted at the ring nitrogen, ( 2a–e ), and to poly(1-(4-vinylbenzyl)nicotinamide chloride) (poly{1-[4-(3-aminocarbonylpyridiniomethyl)phenyl]ethylene chloride}) (poly( 1 )) were determined at 30°C in aqueous systems. It was found that the reaction parameters for the addition of SO to poly( 1 ) are markedly enhanced (20500-fold in the k term and 510-fold in the K term) compared with the addition to the corresponding monomeric compound, 3-aminocarbonyl-1-benzylpyridinium chloride ( 2d ), and the enhancements are suppressed with increased ionic strengths. These enhanced reaction parameters for poly( 1 ) are deviated to the upper area by two logarithmic units from a linear log K vs. logk relationship which holds for monomeric nicotinamides. This means that the rate constant is enhanced more effectively that the association constant in the polymeric system. Plots of log K_CN^? vs. log K and of log k_{f, CN}- vs. log k- gave good linear relationships. The plot for poly( 1 ), greatly deviated again to the upper area. The SO ion interacts with poly( 1 ), a cationic polyelectrolyte, more strongly than the CN^? ion.     

Relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: detection and treatment

PURPOSE: To evaluate the optimal management strategy during clinical remission and after relapse in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). METHODS: Sixty-six patients with relapse of NHL from a state of clinical remission between 1987 and 1997 were analyzed retrospectively. The pattern of relapses, diagnostic methods used for relapses, and clinical outcome of salvage treatment were analyzed with attention to time after the achievement of clinical remission. RESULTS: Thirty-three relapses (50%) occurred within 12 months, and the remainder occurred gradually from 12-48 months after the first remission. Diagnosis of relapse in 61 of the 66 patients (93%) was made at unscheduled evaluations prompted by symptoms, on physical examinations, or because of high LDH levels. The 1- and 5-year cause-specific survival rates after relapse were 56.7% and 39.4%, respectively. The 1- and 5-year relapse-free survival rates were 50.1% and 35.0%, respectively. The 5-year relapse-free survival rate in patients with late relapse (49.5%) was significantly better than in those with early relapse (21.2%) (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Time to relapse may be a useful factor to determine optimal management strategy in NHL patients.     

Caudal epidural anesthesia during intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer

It has been suggested that pain control during intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer is insufficient in most hospitals in Japan. Our hospital began using caudal epidural anesthesia during high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy in 2011. The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively investigate the effects of caudal epidural anesthesia during HDR intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer patients. Caudal epidural anesthesia for 34 cervical cancer patients was performed during HDR intracavitary brachytherapy between October 2011 and August 2013. We used the patients'' self-reported Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score at the first session of HDR intracavitary brachytherapy as a subjective evaluation of pain. We compared NRS scores of the patients with anesthesia with those of 30 patients who underwent HDR intracavitary brachytherapy without sacral epidural anesthesia at our hospital between May 2010 and August 2011. Caudal epidural anesthesia succeeded in 33 patients (97%), and the NRS score was recorded in 30 patients. The mean NRS score of the anesthesia group was 5.17 ± 2.97, significantly lower than that of the control group''s 6.80 ± 2.59 (P = 0.035). The caudal epidural block resulted in no side-effects. Caudal epidural anesthesia is an effective and safe anesthesia option during HDR intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer.     

Magnetic resonance imaging patterns in patients with multiple myeloma

Sixty-one consecutive patients with multiple myeloma were studied with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the spine. Sagittal T1-weighted and short inversion time (TI) inversion recovery (STIR) images were obtained. The MR patterns of the bone marrow were classified as diffuse (D) ( n  = 26), nodular (N) ( n  = 11), D + N ( n  = 13) or normal (n) ( n  = 11). Abnormal patterns were seen in 50 (82%) of the 61 patients. Correlations were found between the MR imaging patterns and some laboratory findings (WBC, haematocrit, platelet count, serum albumin, and percentage of marrow plasmacytosis). The survival of the patients with abnormal MRI patterns was significantly poorer than that of the patients with normal patterns. However, the survival of patients with a nodular pattern did not differ from those with a normal pattern. The MR imaging pattern of the bone marrow in patients with multiple myeloma is a useful factor in the assessment of prognosis.