Aging-associated prostate smooth muscle hypercontractility in rats

Abstract Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a multifactorial disease, highly associated with aging and characterized by increased prostate smooth muscle (PSM) contractility. Animal models have been employed to explore the aging-associated PSM hypercontractility; however, studies have focused in old animals, neglecting the initial alterations in early ages. The determination of prostatic dysfunctions onset is crucial to understand the BPH pathophysiology and to propose new BPH treatments. Considering that PSM contractility in 10-month-old rats has already been explored, the aim of the present study was to characterize the PSM contractility in younger rats. Male Wistar control (3.5-month-old), 6- and 8-month-old rats were used. Concentration-response curves to phenylephrine and electrical-field stimulation (EFS) were conducted in prostate from all groups. For the first time, we showed that 6- and 8-month-old rats exhibit PSM hypercontractility. The increased prostate contractility to phenylephrine starts around at 6-month-old, worsening during the aging. The 8-month-old rats exhibited hypercontractility to phenylephrine and EFS compared to the control and 6-month-old groups. Reduced phenylephrine potency was observed in 8-month-old rats, indicating an increased age-dependent prostate sensibility to this agonist. Collectively, our findings support the use of 6- and 8-month-old aged rats as new models to explore prostate hypercontractility in BPH.

Mioquimia en hamartoma de músculo liso congénito: dos casos / Hamartomade myokymia in congenital smooth muscle: two cases

La mioquimia es un signo raro de presentación del hamartoma de músculo liso congénito. Este fenómeno resulta de la contracción espontánea, neuralmente inducida, de las fibras del músculo liso. Se presentan dos pacientes con mioquimia de comienzo neonatal como única manifestación de hamartoma de músculo liso congénito, uno de ellos asociado a tetralogía de Fallot.

Myokymia is an unusual manifestation of congenital smooth muscle hamartoma. This phenomenon results from neurally induced spontaneous contraction of dermal smooth muscle. We report two cases of neonatal miokymia as unique signs of congenital smooth muscle hamartoma, one of them in association with Fallot´s tetralogy.

Interstitial cells of Cajal and intestinal function in Trinidadian children / Células intersticiales de Cajal y función intestinal en niños trinitenses

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to compare the density of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in the bowel wall of children with Hirschsprung's disease (HD), anorectal malformations (ARM) and normal controls in Trinidad and Tobago. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Segments of bowel wall excised from eight children with HD, three controls and two children with ARM were immunostained with c-Kit primary antibody. Cells with features of ICCs were counted. RESULTS: All three controls and the two children with ARM had dense distribution of ICCs. Most children (6/8;75%) with HD had markedly reduced counts in aganglionic bowel. Two (25%) also had a decrease in ganglionic bowel. Possible influences were patient age and gender and the level of bowel sectioned. CONCLUSION: Analysis of this sample suggests that immunostaining for c-Kit positive cells might be a useful screening test in the assessment of bowel motility disorders. The possible effects of age, gender and the level of bowel sampled await determination.

OBJETIVO: Este estudio se llevó a cabo con el propósito de comparar la densidad de las células intersticiales de Cajal (CIC) en las paredes intestinales de niños con la enfermedad de Hirschprung (EH), y malformaciones anorectales (MAR), frente a controles normales en Trinidad Tobago. SUJETOS Y MÉTODOS: Segmentos de las paredes intestinales les fueron extirpados a ocho niños con EH; tres controles y dos niños con MAR fueron inmunoteñidos con anticuerpo primario c-kit. Se contaron las células con características de CIC. RESULTADOS: Los tres controles y los dos niños con MAR presentaban una distribución densa de CICs. La mayor parte de los niños (6/8; 75%) con EH tuvieron conteos marcadamente reducidos de intestino agangliónico. Dos niños (25%) también tuvieron una disminución de intestino gangliónico. Entre las influencias posibles se cuentan la edad y el género del paciente así como el nivel de intestino seccionado. CONCLUSIÓN: El análisis de esta muestra sugiere que la inmunotinción para células c-kit positivas podría ser un útil test de pesquisaje a la hora de evaluar desórdenes en la motilidad intestinal. Los efectos posibles de la edad, el género y el nivel de intestino muestreado, están pendientes de determinación.

Ileal atresia with segmental defect of intestinal musculature.

An unusual case of segmental defect of ileal musculature with terminal ileal atresia and ventricular septal defect is reported. Clinically the patient was diagnosed as ileal atresia. On exploration, there was type I atresia at ileocaecal junction with attendant ileal dilatation and an adjoining 5 cm x 4 cm segment resembling segmental dilatation of ileum, about 15 cm proximal to ileocaecal junction. Pathological examination of segmentally dilated ileum revealed focal absence of circular and longitudinal muscle coat without any evidence of necrosis or inflammation. The possible etiology and its relationship with congenital segmental dilatation of intestine is discussed.

Nevo de Becker: a propósito de 15 casos / Becker's nevus: 15 patients

Se presentan 15 pacientes con nevo de Becker (NB): 14 de sexo masculino y 1 de sexo femenino, cuyas edades oscilan entre 15 y 23 años, la mayoría de aparición en la adolescencia y dos congénitos. La localización más frecuente fue en la cara anterior del tórax, registrándose 2 casos en la espalda. Clínicamente, las lesiones fueron máculas hipercrónicas, entre 7 y 25 cm de diámetro, de bordes netos pero irregulares, con zonas de piel rugosa y la mayoría con hipertricosis. Histológicamente se observó en todos los casos: acantosis, elongación de redes de crestas, hiperpigmentación de la basal. En el caso Nº3 se encontró un hamartoma de músculo liso. El caso Nº14 asociaba una anomalía de tejido óseo: pectus carinatum. Se realiza una actualización bibliográfica del tema en base a la casuística presentada