Pressure assessment in intercavernous embedding of bulboperineal urethra for treatment of urinary incontinence after prostatic operation.

AIM: To put forward criteria for the pressure assessment in the operation of intercavernous embedding of bulboperineal urethra for the treatment of urinary incontinence after prostatic operation. METHODS: A F14 urethral catheter is inserted during the operation and upon suturing the corpora cavemosa centrally, the catheter is slowly pushed in and pulled out in order that the operator feels a certain degree of close-fit resistance. The degree of tightness of the stitches, which regulate the compression pressure, is adjusted in accordance with this close-fit sensation. To further ascertain the adequacy of the force of compression, the bladder is filled with 300 ml physiological saline and observe the appropriateness (size and continuity) of the outflow stream when the lower abdomen is depressed with a pressure of 80-90 cm H2O. The operation was given to six patients suffered from urinary incontinence for 20 or more months after prostatic operation. RESULTS: Five cases achieved complete recovery, while the therapeutic effect of the 6th one was not satisfactory. A second stage operation was carried out 3 months later with the addition of one more stitch both proximally and distally to reinforce the compression force. The condition was improved dramatically. The follow-up period averaged 3.5 years. CONCLUSION: The adequacy of the compression pressure exerted by the juxtaposed corpora cavernosa is the key point determining the outcome of the operation. The measures for assessing the compression pressure suggested by the authors are helpful in obtaining the good results of the present paper (6/6 success) as compared with 25/34 success in the previous report.

[The reasonable design of the combined spinal epidural needles (CSEN) in aneasthesia].

This paper discusses the reasonable factors of parameters in CSEN design and has also raised some useful reasonable parameters concerned.

Experimental research on utilization of bioluminescent technique to substitute the current viability count for BCG vaccine.

The possibility of using the bioluminescent (BL) technique to substitute the traditional viability count of colony forming units (CFU) of BCG vaccine was investigated. The results showed there is a significant dose-dependent correlation between the concentration of standard adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and ATP BL value. The ultrasonic-chloroform method designed by us yielded the best results. The correlation coefficient values (r) of BL of the liquid and lyophilized vaccine were found to be 0.8 155 and 0.8 484 respectively (P less than 0.05). The coefficient of variation (CV) between the BL value of different lots of ATP obtained was 3.2-4.4%, much lower than that of CFU (CV = 10.4-11.2%). The presence of bacterial clumps within the vaccine had great influence on the bacterial ATP value and on the CFU viability count. 2.8 fg of ATP was found in each CFU formed in the vaccine with clumps, while it was only 0.94 fg in the vaccine without clumps, indicating the superiority of the BL method. The BL method has shown a high sensitivity, good reproducibility and simplicity in handling with quick results and high accuracy. Therefore, we consider that the BL method can be used to substitute the CFU method.

[Studies on the adherent factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with bioluminescence].

A bioluminescence method was established for quantifying the adhesion of P. aeruginosa to polystyrene and the adherent components were investigated. The results indicated that the slime polysaccharide (SPS) is an important adherent factor of some slime strains of P. aeruginosa. The adhered amount of washed slime strains could be increased by pre-coating of polystyrene with SPS obtained from PA3. The activity of PA3SPS could be inhibited by anti-PA3SPS antiserum and blocked by N-acetylglucosamine.

Characteristics of purified cows' milk xanthine oxidase and its submolecular characteristics.

Xanthine oxidase (EC 1.2.3.2) was purified from fresh cows' milk by differential centrifugation and hydroxylapatite chromatography in the absence of reducing agents and proteases. The purified isolate possessed an absorbance at 280 nm:absorbance at 450 nm ratio of 4.84; an absorbance (1 cm at 280 nm 1%) of 11.9; an activity:absorbance at 450 nm of 141, a specific activity of 3.59 units/mg; and detectable dehydrogenase activity. The enzyme preparation was obtained in a reversible oxidase form that could be partially converted to xanthine dehydrogenase in the presence of 10mM dithiothreitol or 1% mercaptoethanol. Amino acid analyses revealed that the enzyme was hydrophobic in nature and that lysine constituted its N-terminal residue. The protein contained 22 disulfide and 38 sulfhydryl groups, four of which were detectable in the undenatured protein complex. Discontinuous PAGE in the presence of selected dissociation agents did not result in further resolution. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE of the purified enzyme revealed a sharp zone with a molecular weight of 151,000 +/- 4000 (i.e., monomer). The purified enzyme exhibited oxidase activity in the presence of 6 M urea and following limited proteolysis by trypsin, chymotrypsin, plasmin, pancreatin, pepsin, and papain. Proteolyzed xanthine oxidase migrated as a single zone in polyacrylamide gels in the presence and absence of dissociating agents such as 1% mercaptoethanol and 6 M urea. Restricted digestion of xanthine oxidase by proteases was indicated by the presence of three major zones with molecular weights ranging from 85,000 to 100,000, 30,000 to 35,000, and 18,000 to 20,000 commonly observed in SDS gels. Amino acid profiles of the principal peptidyl fragments of trypsin-cleaved xanthine oxidase indicated their hydrophobic nature and lysine as the N-terminal residue for all fragments.

Blue-green color and composition of Stejneger's beaked whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) milk.

Two hundred ml of milk were obtained from a lactating Stejneger's beaked whale stranded at Ninilchik, Alaska on 21 Oct, 1980. Total solids (41%) were similar to values reported for sperm and belukha whales, while fat (17%) was half as great and crude protein (17%) was 2-4 times greater than in milk of these species. Lactose was not detected. Calcium (0.22%) was greater than reported for pigmy sperm whales but less than for blue whales. Phosphorus (0.07%) was less than for any of the above species. Sodium and potassium concentrations were 0.13% and 0.11%, respectively. Values (microgram/g) for other elements analyzed (magnesium, 42; iron, 35; copper, 2.6; zinc, 1.5; manganese, 0.3; selenium, 0.36) have not been reported for whale milk. Based on SDS-gel electropherograms, this whale milk did not contain a whey protein corresponding to cattle milk alpha-lactalbumin. A blue-green pigment in the milk was identified as biliverdin.