Augmented platelet calcium uptake in response to serotonin stimulation in patients with major depression measured using Mn2+ influx and 45Ca2+ uptake.

There is an augmented platelet intracellular calcium response to serotonin stimulation in major depression. The role that calcium influx has in this process is not known. The objective of this study was to determine platelet calcium influx in response to serotonin by two methods, Mn2+ influx and 45Ca2+ uptake, in order to observe if the uptake response to serotonin was augmented in major depression by comparing the response to normal controls. The use of the two methods of calcium influx showed that serotonin stimulates calcium uptake into platelets. Furthermore, patients with major depression have significantly augmented platelet calcium uptake in response to serotonin. The interesting finding was that calcium uptake into platelets is biphasic, occurring immediately and after five minutes. These results may support the two pool model for calcium oscillations within cells whereby extracellular calcium is needed for intracellular calcium release, and for replenishment of depleted stores once intracellular calcium is released.

Report of a multicenter clinical evaluation of the Dura-II penile prosthesis.

PURPOSE: Information was collected during the first 2 years of an ongoing, prospective, multi-institutional evaluation of the Dura-II penile prosthesis. Evaluation included data on clinical outcomes and a patient satisfaction survey, and will continue for 5 years after implantation for each patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To date 196 patients have been evaluated. Surgical data, adverse events and information from satisfaction surveys are reported. RESULTS: At a followup of 13.4 +/- 8.4 months postoperatively, adverse events occurred in 8.2% of the patients, resulting in reoperation in 5.1%. There have been no mechanical failures. Overall satisfaction rates were 85% at 3 months, 83% at 1 year and 91% at 2 years after implantation, and levels of sexual functioning were correspondingly high. A majority of patients assigned high scores to rigidity, concealability, ability to have intercourse and erection size, although satisfaction with erection size ranked lower than the other measures. CONCLUSIONS: The Dura-II penile prosthesis provides a satisfactory result and has an acceptable level of complications associated with its use. Further followup will assess temporal changes in satisfaction rates and sexual functioning for these patients.

Transrectal US in evaluation of patients after radical prostatectomy. Part I. Normal postoperative anatomy.

The appearance of the prostatic fossa on transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) scans obtained after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) was studied in 25 patients believed to have no tumor on the basis of their level of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (< or = 0.4 ng/mL). The profile of the vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) in the midsagittal plane was tapered in 13 patients (52%) and nontapered in 12 patients (48%). The nontapered profile was associated with incontinence in nine of 11 patients (82%) followed up for less than 12 months but in only four of 14 patients (28%) followed up beyond 1 year. In 20 patients (80%), a hypoechoic soft-tissue lesion (average volume, 1.7 cm3) was seen anterior to the VUA and indented the anterior bladder wall. The length of the urethral high-pressure zone increased with muscular contraction of the pelvic floor. Knowledge of the baseline anatomic structures depicted on TRUS scans obtained after RRP may be useful in selection of tissue for TRUS-guided needle biopsy in patients with elevated levels of PSA. The many post-surgical changes reduced the specificity of the TRUS findings.

Transrectal US in evaluation of patients after radical prostatectomy. Part II. Transrectal US and biopsy findings in the presence of residual and early recurrent prostatic cancer.

The anatomic appearance of the prostatic fossa on transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) scans obtained after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) for carcinoma was studied in 16 patients in whom local recurrence was suspected on the basis of rising serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels above 0.4 ng/mL, negative pelvic computed tomographic scans, and negative bone scans. Findings in samples obtained with ultrasound (US)-guided biopsy were compared with those in samples obtained with digitally guided biopsy (DGB); each patient was his own control. When the postoperative anatomic appearance on TRUS scans was compared with that in patients without suspected recurrence of cancer, no significant difference was seen. Needle biopsy was positive for carcinoma in eight patients (50%): US-guided biopsy, in seven patients; DGB, in five patients; and both US-guided biopsy and DGB, in four patients. US-guided biopsy has limited usefulness over DGB in patients with rising PSA levels after RRP, but use of both DGB and US-guided biopsy may maximize sensitivity. The main value of TRUS may be in accurate positioning of the biopsy needle about the vesicourethral anastomosis.

[Methodologic approaches to assessing the noise level of health resorts and places of mass recreation of the population]. / Metodicheskie podkhody k otsenke shumogo rezhima kurortov i mest massovogo otdykha naseleniia.

Methodological approaches to the assessment of noise regime at health resorts and places of rest of the population were set forth when carrying out preventive and current sanitary surveillance. The sources governing the noise regime of health resorts and places of rest were identified, and the problems of zone arrangement of places of rest according to its type (long-term or short-term) analysed. Permissible noise levels were given for various functional zones and the measures for normalization of noise regime proposed.

Pregnancy following treatment of retrograde ejaculation with clomipramine hydrochloride. A report of 3 cases.

In 2 out of 3 cases of retrograde ejaculation treatment with clomipramine hydrochloride resulted in normal ejaculation and conception. The 3rd patient was only partially helped by the drug. The mechanisms of ejaculation, the causes of retrograde ejaculation, the management of the condition and the relevant pharmacological features of the tricyclic anti-depressants are discussed.

Empyema and the urban black.

Fifty consecutive Black patients with thoracic empyema were studied retrospectively. The causes of the empyema were penetrating thoracic trauma (27 cases), lung abscess (10), post-aspiration pulmonary disease (4), and pulmonary and pleural tuberculosis (4); a miscellaneous group of 5 patients had empyema complicating an infected pulmonary cyst, a hepatic amoebic abscess, necrotic pulmonary lymphoma, thoracic actinomycosis and blunt thoracic trauma. Fourteen patients had bronchopleural fistulas. Patients were treated by closed-tube thoracostomy drainage alone (6 cases), rib resection and drainage (36), pulmonary decortication alone (3), and pulmonary decortication in association with a thoracic operative procedure (5). Results of treatment were good in the majority of patients with empyema (41), in 7 cases results were poor, and 2 patients died. Serious underlying pulmonary disease was responsible for treatment failure. Empyema in the urban Black is associated with prolonged morbidity and severe social consequences.