A retrospective analysis of 82 cases of cancer of the penis

OBJECTIVE: To identify prognostic factors for penile cancer and to evaluate the treatment strategy for early-stage disease, proposed recently by the European Board of Urology (EBU). PATIENT AND METHODS: The records of 82 patients consecutively referred to the uro-oncological centre at Aarhus University Hospital between 1965 and 1993 were reviewed. The importance of tumour stage, differentiation, patient age, local control and regional lymph node control were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Cox multivariate analysis identified differentiation (odds ratio [OR] = 6.04), UJCC-1978 T-stage (OR = 1.88) and age (OR = 1.04) as independent prognostic variables for survival. Penile amputation in tumours < 4 cm in diameter improved local control but not survival. Regional control and survival were not significantly improved by prophylactic adenectomy. CONCLUSION: Differentiation, T-stage and age were prognostic factors for survival. The results support the EBU treatment strategy involving penis-conserving therapy and watchful waiting for early-stage disease.     

The mitochondrial toxin produced by Streptomyces griseus strains isolated from an indoor environment is valinomycin

Actinomycete isolates from indoor air and dust in water-damaged schools and children's day care centers were tested for toxicity by using boar spermatozoa as an indicator. Toxicity was detected in extracts of four strains which caused a loss of sperm motility, and the 50% effective concentrations (EC50) were 10 to 63 ng (dry weight) ml of extended boar semen-1. The four strains were identified as Streptomyces griseus strains by 16S ribosomal DNA and chemotaxonomic methods. The four S. griseus strains had similar effects on sperm cells, including loss of motility and swelling of mitochondria, but we observed no loss of plasma membrane integrity or depletion of cellular ATP. None of the effects was observed with sperm cells exposed to extracts of other indoor actinomycete isolates at concentrations of >/=5,000 to 72,000 ng ml-1. The toxin was purified from all four strains and was identified as a dodecadepsipeptide, and the fragmentation pattern obtained by tandem mass spectrometry was identical to that of valinomycin. Commercial valinomycin had effects in sperm cells that were identical to the effects of the four indoor isolates of S. griseus. The EC50 of purified toxin from the S. griseus strains were 1 to 3 ng ml of extended boar semen-1, and the EC50 of commercial valinomycin was 2 ng ml of extended boar semen-1. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of ionophoric toxin producers in an indoor environment and the first report of valinomycin-producing strains identified as S. griseus.     

Fluoro-Green and Fluoro-Red: two new fluorescent retrograde tracers with a number of unique properties

A sample of 443 Pakistani infants from four different socioeconomic areas was followed longitudinally study the emergence of the primary teeth. The mean ages of emergence of the primary teeth, without regard what kind of tooth and dental ages of the primary teeth were calculated. The subjects showed no sexual dimorphism in the emergence times of the primary teeth. The children from poor areas. were ahead by statistically significant differences from upper middle class, for emergence of the primary teeth 17-20. On comparison with Swedish standards (H?gg & Taranger, 1985) Pakistani children are delayed, by a statistically significant difference, in the emergence of primary teeth 1-16, however, they were at par in the emergence of 17-20 primary teeth.     

Pentoxifylline inhibits hypoxia-induced upregulation of tumor cell tissue factor and vascular endothelial growth factor

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of CT and MRI in the diagnosis of longitudinal stress fracture of the tibia (LSFT). A retrospective study of imaging findings was performed in 15 patients with LSFT. The CT and MR images were compared for detection of fracture line, callus, bone marrow edema, and soft tissues changes. The CT and MRI techniques allowed the detection of the fracture line in 82 and 73 % of cases, respectively. The callus was always visualized with CT or MRI. The MRI technique had a markedly higher sensitivity than CT in the detection of bone marrow edema (73 vs 18 %) and soft tissue lesions (87 vs 9 %). This may cause a misleading aggressive appearance on MRI. Computed tomography remains the best imaging modality for diagnosis of LSFT. However, MRI findings should be known to obviate the performance of CT or bone biopsy.     

Localization and quantitation of active renin in monkey kidney by radioinhibitor binding and in vitro autoradiography

We developed an in vitro autoradiographic method to localize and quantify active renin in primate tissues. Active renin in monkey kidney sections was labeled with the primate specific renin inhibitor, 3H-CGP29287, and quantitated with autoradiography and computerized densitometry. Microscopic emulsion autoradiography was carried out to clarify the detailed localization of the binding. Non-specific binding to aspartyl proteases other than renin was blocked using 1 mumol/L of N-acetyl-pepstatin. To assess the usefulness of this procedure, binding of 3H-CGP29287 was examined both by film and emulsion autoradiography in the kidneys of monkeys (Macaca fuscata) that were given chronically either an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (trandolapril), an angiotensin II receptor antagonist (E4177), or vehicle. 3H-CGP29287 was found to bind very selectively to the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) under control conditions. In monkeys treated with trandolapril or E4177, 3H-CGP29287 binding was increased in proportion to the increase in renal renin concentration determined enzymatically; in these kidneys, emulsion autoradiography revealed radioinhibitor binding extending far from the JGA. The potency of a series of unlabeled renin inhibitor in competing for 3H-CGP29287 binding in the autoradiographic system closely paralleled their potencies, as determined in inhibiting renin by an enzymatic assay. This technique permits specific labeling of the catalytic site of renin in the monkey kidney sections.     

Chlorine gas induced acute lung injury in isolated rabbit lung

This study was designed to investigate the pathogenesis of chlorine gas (Cl2) induced acute lung injury and oedema. Isolated blood-perfused rabbit lungs were ventilated either with air (n=7) or air plus 500 parts per million (ppm) of Cl2 (n=7) for 10 min. Capillary pressure, measured by analysing the pressure/time transients of pulmonary arterial, venous and double (both arterial and venous) occlusions, was unchanged in both groups. In Cl2-exposed lungs, the fluid filtration rate increased from -0.228+/-0.25 to 1.823+/-1.23 mL min(-1) x 100 g(-1) (p<0.001) and the filtration coefficient increased from 0.091+/-0.01 to 0.259+/-0.07 mL x min(-1) x cmH2O(-1) x 100 g(-1) (p<0.001). No changes were observed in the control lungs. The extravascular lung water/blood-free dry weight ratio was 8.6+/-1.6 in the Cl2 group and 4.0+/-0.5 in the control group (p<0.001), confirming that the increase in lung weight was related to accumulation of extravascular fluid. Although the alveolar flooding by oedema is explained, in part, by the Cl2-induced epithelial injury, our results suggest that Cl2 exposure induces acute lung injury and oedema due to an increased microvascular permeability.     

The effect of thrombin on the uptake and transformation of arachidonic acid by human platelets

Washed human platelets take up arachidonic acid from plasma and incorporate the fatty acid into the major classes of complex lipids. Thrombin impairs net incorporation. It activates endogenous phospholipases which liberate arachidonic acid from phospholipids. As a consequence of thrombin induced aggregation platelets release arachidonic acid intermediates formed by the action of platelet fatty acid cyclooxygenase and by platelet fatty acid lipoxygenase. Cyclooxygenase, but not lipoxygenase, is inhibited by aspirin and indomethicin. Analysis of the pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism may furnish new insight into platelet function and into disorders of primary hemostasis.     

Gastrointestinal disorders: the role of diet in cause and management

Diet has a definite role in certain gastrointestinal disorders, and dietary manipulation often is beneficial. In other cases, such as peptic ulcer, traditional dietary therapy cannot be justified by available evidence.