Advances in Biochemical Indices of Zooplankton Production.

Several new approaches for measuring zooplankton growth and production rates have been developed since the publication of the ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) Zooplankton Methodology Manual (Harris et al., 2000). In this review, we summarize the advances in biochemical methods made in recent years. Our approach explores the rationale behind each method, the design of calibration experiments, the advantages and limitations of each method and their suitability as proxies for in situ rates of zooplankton community growth and production. We also provide detailed protocols for the existing methods and information relevant to scientists wanting to apply, calibrate or develop these biochemical indices for zooplankton production.

[Risk factor of liver disorders caused by flutamide--statistical analysis using multivariate logistic regression analysis].

The antiandrogenic drug, flutamide (Odyne), is widely used in the treatment of carcinoma of prostate. It is well known that flutamide has adverse effects of liver disorders. To ascertain the risk of liver disorders before administering this drug, past history and lifestyle preferences were resurveyed in 123 patients who had been treated with flutamide. The results obtained were assessed in relation to the occurrence of liver disorders by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The incidence of liver disorders was 26% (33/123), with 64% of the disorders occurring within 9 months. The chi-square test for dependent variables revealed that three variables, i.e., body mass index, past history of liver disorders and elevated glutamic-pyruvic transaminase levels were significantly related to the incidence of liver disorders (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that a history of liver disorders and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were related to a higher incidence of liver disorders. Elevated ALT levels were associated with a higher incidence of liver disorders and smoking was related to a lower incidence of the liver disorders.

[Digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography and prostate specific antigen for diagnosis of prostate cancer in clinical urological practice-detection of impalpable cancer].

OBJECTIVE: The clinical usefulness of multimodality detection for prostate cancer by digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and serum PSA determination (PSA) was evaluated in this retrospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1344 symptomatic male patients who underwent DRE, TRUS and PSA in our outpatient clinic were studied. Prostate biopsies were performed when at least one diagnostic test was positive. RESULTS: Of 1344 patients, 436 (32.4%) had positive test results. Among 403 patients who underwent biopsy, 121 patients (30.0%) were found to have prostate cancer. The overall cancer detection rate was 9.0%. Among the 121 cancer patients, if examination had been carried out using only one or two tests, cancer would have not been detected in 22 patients (18.2%) by DRE alone, 27 patients (22.3%) by TRUS alone, 18 patients (14.9%) by PSA alone, 12 patients (9.9%) by a combination of DRE and TRUS, and 6 patients (5.0%) by a combination of DRE and PSA. Among the 121 patients with cancer, 22 (18.2%) had impalpable cancer. Impalpable cancer was more likely to be localized (77.3%) than palpable cancer (28.3%, p < 0.001) and more likely to be well or moderately differentiated (72.7%) than palpable cancer (41.4%, p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the need for multimodality detection using DRE, TRUS and PSA as complementary methods in order to minimize decrease in cancer detection. In particular, impalbable cancers not detectable by DRE were detected and were revealed to be more likely to be localized and amenable to curative therapy. These results therefore underscore the importance of multimodality detection for early diagnosis of prostate cancer in urological practice.

[A clinical study of decreased bone density in the patients treated with long-term luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue (LHRH-a)--the risk of iatrogenic osteoporosis due to treatment of carcinoma of prostate].

BACKGROUND: It is well known that androgens play an important role in bone metabolism and male hypogonadism induce osteoporosis. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (LHRH-a) which is essential for conservative therapy of prostatic carcinoma (CaP) ultimately reduces circulating testosterone to castration levels. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of decrease of bone mineral density in men receiving LHRH-a for CaP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-three man with CaP aged 63 to 95 years (mean 75.5 years) were included in this study. Seven patients received LHRH-a with estrogen drug, forty-six patients received LHRH-a with or without anti androgen drug. To estimate patient's bone density we use the second metacarpal bone density using a microdensitometry method. RESULTS: Blood level of sex hormone of the forty-six patients who were received LHRH-a without estrogen, was the same as that of castration. Patients who were treated more than twelve months had less bone density than patients who were treated less than eleven months. As the duration of medical castration period was prolonged, patients bone density were reduced. Whereas seven patients who received estrogen drug did not find a decrease of bone density regardless of duration of treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: Hypogonadism induced LHRH-a also reduce bone density, so there is a risk of iatrogenic osteoporosis caused by therapy for CaP with LHRH-a. Patients with osteoporosis easily suffer from a much complicated and pernicious bone fracture, so we should measure bone density of male patients same as female treated with LHRH-a for a long-term.

[Treatment results of radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer--biochemical failure analyzed from pathological findings at surgery].

OBJECTIVE: Recurrence is not rare after radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. The treatment results of radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer was evaluated in this retrospective study. METHODS: A total of 36 patients with localized prostate cancer (clinical stage: A, B) were treated with radical prostatectomy. Kaplan-Meier product limit method analyzed from biochemical failure was used to study the treatment results of radical prostatectomy, and Cox's proportional hazards model was used to analyze the influence of pathological findings at surgery on biochemical failure. RESULTS: Of all 36 patients, 24 (67%) had pT3 (N0-2) disease, and these patients received adjuvant hormonal therapy after surgery. Overall freedom from biochemical failure at 5 years after surgery was 53% (pT1-2N0; 83%, pT3N0-2; 40%). No significant difference was seen in the freedom from biochemical failure between patients grouped by pathological classification (p = 0.106), tumor grade (p = 0.476), proximal and distal margin involvement (p = 0.095) and regional lymph node metastasis (p = 0.482), but a significant difference was seen between patients grouped by capsule involvement (freedom from biochemical failure at 5 years in cases with positive capsule: 30%, p = 0.023) and seminal vesicle involvement (freedom from biochemical failure at 5 years in cases with positive seminal vesicles: 26%, p = 0.014). Cox's proportional hazards model, on the other hand, showed only that seminal vesicle involvement significantly influenced on biochemical failure (p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: We confirmed a high likelihood of biochemical failure and presumably less favorable prognosis in patients with seminal vesicle involvement. These results indicated that candidates for surgery should be selected pathologically by excluding those with seminal vesicle involvement in the preoperative evaluation.

[Computed tomography in the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis].

CT scans were carried out on 25 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. Of the 25 patients, tumors were identified in 24 patients (96%) and not in one patient on CT scan. Of the 24 patients the tumor was delineated as a solid mass in the renal pelvis and/or calyx in 15 and as an infiltrating mass in the renal parenchyma in 8 on CT scan. The depth of invasion was correctly estimated by CT in 18 of the 25 patients (72%). Whereas the tunica muscularis of the renal pelvis or the renal parenchyma was found involved in 3 of 10 patients (30%) in whom the diagnosis was made that the tumor was limited to the renal pelvic mucosa, the correct diagnosis was possible in 22 of 25 patients (88%) in whom the tumor was confined to the renal pelvic wall (pTa-pT2) or more invasive (pT3-pT4). In 6 of 7 patients with lymph nodes matastases enlarged lymph nodes were seen on the CT scan. In all 7 cases the primary tumor was classified as a pT3 or pT4 invasive disease. Based on the results presented above, it may be concluded that CT scan is valuable in making the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and also in determining whether the tumor has invaded beyond the renal pelvic wall, thereby providing guidelines for the adequate treatment.

[Partial colpocleisis for vesicovaginal fistulas].

Four patients with a vesicovaginal fistula were operated upon transvaginally using the Latzko technique of partial colpocleisis. In 3 of the 4 patients, the fistulas had been formed after total hysterectomy for myoma uteri or endometriosis. The periods from fistulization-to-surgery intervals in these 3 patients were 4 months, 12 months, and 4 years and 4 months, respectively. The fistulas in the remaining one patient had been formed after forceps delivery. The patient underwent surgery 8 days after delivery. An indwelling catheter was retained for 3 to 14 days after surgery. The 4 patients were all cured of vesicovaginal fistulas after a single operation. This paper describes our partial colpocleisis technique and discusses its clinical utility. The partial colpocleisis has the advantages of dispensing with such procedures as fistula excision, fistula opening suture, and suturation of the bladder musculature, and of closing the fistulas using a demucosated vaginal wall. Having minimal surgical invasiveness and being easy to perform and reliable, the technique appears to be excellent for coping with vesicovaginal fistulas.

[A comparative clinical trial of UFT treatment and intravesical adriamycin instillation to prevent recurrence of superficial bladder cancer].

UFT was administered to 27 patients with superficial bladder cancer and adriamycin administered intravesically to 26 patients with the same cancer as a measure to prevent the recurrence of the tumor following transurethral resection, and the rate of recurrence was compared between the two groups of patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups in background factors (e.g., primary or recurrent, single or multiple), histological malignancy and degree of infiltration. The non-relapsers accounted for 88.9% of patients at one year, 64.3% at two years, and 64.3% at three years in the UFT group and 96.2%, 76.8%, and 65.5%, respectively, in the adriamycin group. There was no significant difference in the rate of non-recurrence between the two groups; nor was there significant difference in the non-recurrence rate between them with respect to any of the background factors. UFT showed results which compared with those of adriamycin administered intravesically, and UFT was considered useful for preventing recurrence of superficial bladder cancer.

[A case of priapism successfully managed by local irradiation].

A 42-year-old man with priapism is reported. The condition did not improve by cavernous body irrigation with heparin, intravenous administration of anticoagulant, or various surgical shunt operations. However, the condition improved after local radiation therapy: a total dose of 6Gy, 1.5 Gy daily for 4 days, was given to a site 24 cm x 24 cm which covered the small pelvic cavity and the femoral area centering around the root of the penis. Improvement of the condition became evident from Day 3 of radiation therapy. For about 1 year since then the patient has been entirely free of recurrence.

[A clinical study of associated bladder cancer in patients with renal pelvic and ureteral cancer].

Retrospective study on the frequency of associated bladder cancer and the influence on the prognosis was carried out in 170 cases of renal pelvic and ureteral cancer. The number of cases of associated bladder cancer coexistent with renal pelvic and ureteral cancer was 31 (18.2%), and the number of subsequent cases 3 (19.4%). The frequency of occurrence of the primary tumor site was 27.2% in the renal pelvis, 45.6% in the ureter and 58.3% in both renal pelvis and ureter. Multiple tumors occurring in the renal pelvis and ureter occupy a high percentage. As for the degree of differentiation, many cases were subsequent to G1. As for the stage, a few cases with bladder cancer were subsequent to T4, but there was no definite tendency in the occurrence of bladder cancer. The prognosis of renal pelvic and ureteral cancer: the 10-year survival rate was 93.3% for G1, 66.6% for G2 and 12.4% for G3. As can be seen, there was good correlation with the pathological gradings. It must be remembered, however, that 5-year survival rates in cases of associated bladder cancer of coexistent type, in cases of subsequent type and in cases without associated bladder cancer were 56.2%, 72.7% and 64.8%, respectively: there was no significant difference. Bladder cancer associated with renal pelvic and ureteral cancer makes the therapy troublesome, but no influence on the prognosis was observed. Therapy in conformity with the pathological grading and stage is regarded as particularly important in cases of associated bladder cancer.

Profile of cardiac and coronary vasodilator effects of MS-857, a novel cardiotonic agent, assessed in isolated, blood-perfused heart preparations of the dog.

MS-857 is a novel orally active nonglycoside and nonsympathomimetic cardiotonic agent. Cardiovascular properties of MS-857 were assessed in isolated, blood-perfused papillary muscle, sinoatrial (SA) node, and atrioventricular (AV) node preparation of the dogs. MS-857 (0.3-100 nmol) was injected intraarterially (i.a.). In paced papillary muscles, the drug produced a dose-dependent increase in developed tension. In spontaneously beating papillary muscles, MS-857 was ineffective on the ventricular automaticity. The drug increased sinus rate in SA node preparations and shortened AV conduction time by accelerating AV nodal conduction in AV node preparations. In all preparations, MS-857 increased coronary blood flow. The drug produced no arrhythmia in all doses tested. At doses which MS-857 produced a 50% increase in developed tension of papillary muscle, the drug also produces coronary vasodilatation with minimal chronotropic and dromotropic effects. In having such a cardiovascular profile, MS-857 resembles both milrinone and MCI-154 among few cardiotonic agents.

Characterization of MS-857, a new and potent cardiotonic agent, in isolated mammalian cardiac muscles.

The positive inotropic activity of MS-857, a novel cardiotonic agent, was assessed in isolated atrial and ventricular muscle of several mammalian species. MS-857 (0.1-300 microM) increased the developed tension of the dog, rabbit, monkey, cat, and guinea pig ventricular muscles in a concentration-dependent manner. However, MS-857 failed to cause a positive inotropic effect in isolated rat ventricular muscle. In isolated guinea pig atria, MS-857 caused both positive inotropic and chronotropic effects. MS-857 was more selective for inotropy than for chronotropy as compared with either milrinone or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). The positive inotropic and chronotropic effects of MS-857 do not appear to be mediated by direct stimulation of alpha- or beta-adrenoceptors, histamine H1- or H2-receptors, or by release of endogenous catecholamines. The inotropic response to isoproterenol or histamine was potentiated by a relatively low concentration of MS-857. MS-857 increased both developed tension and intracellular cyclic AMP level in isolated dog right ventricular muscle. The time course of the elevation in cyclic AMP level was paralleled by that of increase in developed tension. Carbachol inhibited the increase in developed tension and cyclic AMP level caused by MS-857. These findings support the idea that cyclic AMP may be involved in the positive inotropic effect of MS-857.

[A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis accompanying an ectopic opening with vesicoureteral reflux of complete duplication of uretero pelvis].

Squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis is a relatively rare disease. Recently, we observed a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis with vesicoureteral reflux in a 49-year-old female patient. Her main symptom was abdominal pain on the left side. The complete duplications of uretero-pelvis on both sides, and vesicoureteral reflux in the upper left part of the kidney were recognized by means of various examinations. During the operation, a tumor was found in the upper left renal pelvis, and in the ureter belonging to the upper left renal pelvis. Pathologically, it was diagnosed as a squamous cell carcinoma. After the extraction of the left uretero-pelvis, 50 Gy of radiotherapy was administered to the patient. However, she died four months after the operation.

Cardiovascular properties of MS-857, a new and potent cardiotonic agent, on normal and failing hearts.

The cardiovascular properties of MS-857 [4-acetyl-1-methyl-7-(4-pyridyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3(2H)-isoquinolinone ], a novel cardiotonic agent, were investigated in anesthetized and conscious dogs. MS-857 (1-100 micrograms/kg i.v.) produced a significant and dose-dependent increase in cardiac contractility with relatively small changes in heart rate and blood pressure. This indicates a sizable separation between positive inotropic and other effects of MS-857. Oral administration of MS-857 to conscious dogs (0.1-1 mg/kg) also produced a sustained increase in cardiac contractility in a dose-dependent manner. The total duration of action was longer than 7 h at a dose of 1 mg/kg p.o. There occurred no arrhythmias and no changes in animal behavior. After chronic oral administration, MS-857 completely retained its activities, indicating the lack of tachyphylaxis. In the acute heart failure models induced by either propranolol or pentobarbital, MS-857 reversed the cardiac depressant effects of these drugs. Moreover, MS-857 also significantly improved the pentobarbital-induced heart failure in the heart-lung preparation. MS-857 did not inhibit the Na+, K+-ATPase, but inhibited the phosphodiesterase (PDE) III selectively, both of which were prepared from the dog ventricular muscle. Thus, MS-857 can be characterized as a potent nonsympathomimetic, nonglycoside cardiotonic drug with a selective inhibitory activity on PDE III. The cardiovascular properties revealed by this study strongly suggest that MS-857 will exert a beneficial effect in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

Absorption, distribution and excretion of sultopride in man and several animal species.

Single oral and intramuscular doses of 14C-sultopride to rat, rabbit and dog and single oral doses of sultopride to human volunteers were well absorbed. Mean blood levels of total 14C peaked at 0.4-1.1 h and declined with half-lives of 2, 1.5 and 3 h in rat, rabbit and dog, respectively. In man mean serum levels of unchanged drug attained a peak at 1.5 h and were eliminated with a half-life of 3.6 h. Highest concn. of radioactivity were found in rat liver, kidney, hypophysis, submaxillary gland and gastrointestinal tract. The concn. in the cerebrum and cerebellum were low. 14C-Sultopride passed through the placental barrier. 14C-Sultopride was poorly bound to plasma proteins (less than 25% bound) in all species. Repeated doses of the drug slightly increased the blood and tissue levels of 14C in the rat. Most of the dose was eliminated via the kidneys in all species. Male rats excreted larger amounts of 14C into bile and faeces. A high ratio of A.U.C. (milk)/(blood) (c. 3.5) was found in the lactating rat.

Biotransformation of sultopride in man and several animal species.

The biotransformation of sultopride has been investigated in rat, rabbit, dog and man. In man sultopride was metabolically stable, and about 90% of an oral dose was excreted in urine unchanged and 4% as oxo-sultopride. Rat, rabbit and dog metabolized sultopride more extensively and excreted less than 40% of an oral dose of 14C-sultopride in urine. Four similar metabolites were excreted by the three animal species but the relative portions differed. The major radioactive component in rat urine was O-desmethyl sultopride, whereas oxo-sultopride and O-desmethyl sultopride were the major urinary metabolites in rabbit. Dog formed N-desethyl sultopride and oxo-sultopride as major urinary metabolites. The male rat excreted smaller amounts of unchanged sultopride in urine than did the female rat. The unchanged sultopride excreted in rat urine was increased slightly by repeated administration.