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Biomedical subjects

A T Cockett

Publications and source records attributed to A T Cockett.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Relationship between testicular volume and presence of varicocele. A comparative study.

The varicocele, present in many of the male partners of infertile couples continues to generate controversy, particularly as related to its diagnosis and pathophysiology. The purpose of our study was to determine the relationship between testicular volume and the presence or absence of a varicocele. Testicular volume was determined by the use of an orchiometer; the presence of a varicocele was determined by palpation during a Valsalva maneuver. The patients utilized in the study were those seen in our Andrology and General Urology Clinics; 291 patients with varicoceles and 83 control patients (no evidence of varicocele) were used. The left (mean = 21.4 mL) and right (mean = 23.4 mL) testicular volumes of patients with a varicocele were significantly reduced compared with that of the control group (left, mean = 23.4 mL; right, mean = 26.2 mL; p = 0.0041 and p = 0.002, respectively). The testicular volume corrected on the basis of the body mass (V/m2) also was significantly reduced in the varicocele group compared with controls (left p = 0.007; right p = 0.001). Reduced testicular volume relative to body size may be detected prior to actual demonstration of the stress pattern and the presence of a varicocele, and may be useful in early diagnosis. It is suggested that measurement of testicular volume may be a useful adjunct to routine examination of the infertile male.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effect of intravesical administration of tumor necrosis serum and human recombinant tumor necrosis factor on a murine bladder tumor.

The effect of intravesical administration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on the implantability and growth of bladder cancer was studied using the murine tumor model, MBT-2. Crude TNF was prepared from serum (TNS) of BCG infected rats after injection of endotoxin or the recombinant product of human TNF-alpha was used. Treatment was begun 24 hr. or seven days after tumor instillation and repeated three times. Tumor implantability and tumor weight were determined on day 21. Low dose TNF (200 U), given in the form of TNS, failed to suppress the growth of established tumors (seven-day tumor). It did, however, significantly reduce tumor implantability. The growth of seven-day tumors was significantly suppressed by administration of higher dose of TNF (3,700 U) given in recombinant form.

Administration, Intravesical↗
PubMed1987

Intraluminal interleukin 2 and bacillus Calmette-Guerin for treatment of bladder cancer: a preliminary report.

The authors treated 13 patients who had undergone resection of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with a combination of 3,500 units of interleukin 2 and half the recommended dose of bacillus Calmette-Guerin. Of the patients 11 (85 per cent) remained free of tumor for a mean of 13 months (range 6 to 24 months). These results are comparable to those with bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy alone. However, a longer followup with a large number of patients is needed to assess the efficacy of this modality compared to conventional bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy. Side effects after treatment were minor, self limiting (fever, hematuria and bladder irritability) and lasted for 24 hours.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Significance of testicular size measurement in andrology: II. Correlation of testicular size with testicular function.

The testicular sizes of 305 men were measured by a recently developed orchidometer and related to 9 other known parameters of testicular function. Mean testicular size had the strongest correlation with serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels, total sperm count and sperm concentration, while a significant correlation also was noted with sperm motility, percentage of live sperm, sperm morphology (normal and immature forms), and serum luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels. Sperm quantity had stronger correlations with testicular size than did sperm quality, although both were impaired in testes smaller than 14 ml. It is concluded that the size of the testis bears a direct correlation with testicular function and, thus, it can be helpful to assess rapidly andrological status during the initial physical examination.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Reduction of bladder cancer growth in mice treated with intravesical Bacillus Calmette Guerin and systemic interleukin 2.

The effect of systemic administration of Interleukin 2 (IL2) on intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy was studied in an established murine bladder tumor, MBT-2. BCG (100 micrograms.) was administered intravesically on days 7 and 14 after seeding bladders with MBT-2 cells. IL2 (5,000 U/injection) was given intraperitoneally every eight hours for 10 times (days seven through 10 and 14 through 17). BCG or IL2 therapy alone failed to reduce incidence of tumor implantation and tumor weight; whereas, combined treatment with BCG and IL2 reduced tumor weight significantly compared to saline or BCG treated mice. Cytotoxicity was assessed in a four-hour 75Semethionine-release assay. Augmentation of natural killer cell activity was only observed in mice treated with BCG plus IL2. MBT-2 target cells were not lysed by spleen cells from mice treated with BCG or saline. IL2 therapy produced lymphokine-activated killer cell activity, though combining BCG with IL2 suppressed this activity after each course of treatment. The results suggest that combined treatment with IL2 enhances the therapeutic effect of BCG therapy. However, this enhancement of antitumor activity is not clearly explained by augmentation of natural killer or in vivo-generated lymphokine-activated killer cells.

Administration, Intravesical↗
PubMed1986

Structure and function of the epididymis.

Testicular spermatozoa are functionally immature in that they cannot fertilize ova. It was first demonstrated by Young that spermatozoa undergo certain changes as they migrate through the epididymis. He proposed that spermatozoa ripen during epididymal transit. It is now known that specific maturational changes occur in spermatozoa during epididymal transit which result in their developing the ability to fertilize ova. Concomitant with this functional maturity are changes in spermatozoal morphology, motility, chemistry, permeability, density and metabolism. It is apparent that in some way not understood these changes are necessary for sperm to achieve the ability to complete the fertilization process. When these mechanisms are understood, we may be able to effectively treat conditions such as necrospermia or abnormally low sperm motility. Furthermore, with the development of the hamster-egg penetration test a "new" type of male infertility has become evident in recent years; the inability of otherwise normal sperm to penetrate an ovum. It is during epididymal transit that this ability is normally acquired. Thus, any insight into how sperm attain the capacity to penetrate an ovum could lead to an effective treatment of patients whose sperm do not have this ability. In addition, the epididymis holds significant promise as the site of action for a male contraceptive. Thus, it is the purpose of this review to describe the structure and function of the mammalian epididymis with particular emphasis on the factors regulating sperm maturation.

Androgens↗
PubMed1986

The effect of graded unilateral testicular biopsy on the reproductive capacity of male rats.

Fifty adult rats were subjected to unilateral testicular biopsy removing either 0.01, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 cc of testicular parenchyma. In addition, 20 rats underwent either hemicastration or sham surgery. After a 30-day recovery period each male was housed with two cycling females for 20 days. At the end of this breeding trial the percentage of fertile males, percentage of pregnant females and resulting embryo scores (no. of embryos X size of embryos) were determined for each group of male rats. After an additional 30 days (60 days post-biopsy) a second breeding trial was performed so as to note any long-term changes in fertility. In addition to the fertility parameters, mean seminiferous tubule diameters and serum testosterone levels were noted. After the first breeding trial the percentage of fertile males and percentage of pregnant females were inversely proportional to the amount of biopsy material removed (p less than 0.05). However, the hemicastrate and sham-operated groups did not differ from the O cc control animals. The results of the second breeding trial showed a significant improvement in the percentage of females becoming pregnant (p less than 0.05) and a tendency for improvement in the percentage of fertile males when compared to data of the first breeding trial. In addition, we found the mean seminiferous tubular diameter of the biopsied testes to be inversely proportional to the size of the biopsy (p less than 0.01) with no apparent effect on the contralateral testes. We conclude that removing relatively large amounts of testicular parenchyma during unilateral testicular biopsy transiently affects male reproductive capacity, at least in the healthy animal model studied here.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Peritonitis and abdominal free air due to intraperitoneal bladder perforation associated with indwelling urethral catheter drainage.

Perforation of the bladder related to long-term indwelling Foley catheter drainage is a rare and serious complication. We report 2 cases of bladder perforation leading to generalized peritonitis and free intraperitoneal air. These cases re-emphasize the importance of considering bladder perforation in the differential diagnosis of the acute abdomen and of performing a complete abdominal exploration when the site of perforation is not easily detectable.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1985

Histological changes occurring in the contralateral testes of prepubertal rats subjected to various durations of unilateral spermatic cord torsion.

Prepubertal rats were exposed to unilateral spermatic cord torsion for 0, 1, 3, 5, 9 or 12 hours duration. At the end of this time the damaged testes were either removed or untwisted and pexed into place. The animals were then allowed to mature to 77 days of age at which time the contralateral testes were examined for 12 histological parameters and scored according to the degree of pathology noted in each. Pathological changes in the contralateral testes were found to be dependent on the duration of spermatic cord torsion but were less severe in the orchiectomized group. Thus, removal of the damaged organ minimized the long-term damage to the contralateral testes. We also noted that specific histological parameters of the contralateral testes correlated well with fertility and that specific changes in the ipsilateral testes predicted contralateral pathology.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Renal trauma: evaluation by computerized tomography.

The diagnosis and appropriate management of patients with renal trauma have remained controversial. From July 1981 to June 1984 we evaluated with computerized tomography 22 selected patients suspected of sustaining major renal trauma. Of these patients 17 were managed successfully with conservative therapy and 5 underwent surgical exploration. Only 2 patients required arteriography because of excellent renal delineation provided by computerized tomography scanning. Computerized tomography provides the most precise anatomical detail of renal injuries as well as valuable information regarding other retroperitoneal and intra-abdominal structures, often resulting in the identification of associated and unsuspected injuries. We advocate the use of computerized tomography as the primary diagnostic modality in patients suspected of sustaining major renal injury and/or other organ injuries. This change in diagnostic studies has facilitated greatly the diagnosis and treatment of kidney injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Penile tourniquet injury due to a coil of hair.

Penile strangulation caused by a coil of hair frequently is an unrecognized clinical entity with severe potential complications, such as urethrocutaneous fistulas, necrosis of the glans and partial or complete amputation of the glans. We report on a 7-year-old boy with a tourniquet injury to the penis secondary to a strand of hair.

Child↗
PubMed1984

Successful thrombolytic therapy in two patients with renal vein thrombosis.

Thrombolytic therapy was administered to two patients with angiographically documented renal vein thrombosis. One patient with bilateral thrombotic disease complicating membranous glomerulonephritis was treated with systemic streptokinase; the second patient had unilateral renal vein thrombosis associated with chronic pyelonephritis and was treated with streptokinase and urokinase administered directly into the involved vessel. Lysis of all thrombus material was demonstrated by follow-up renal venography and was associated with a gratifying improvement of clinical well-being and laboratory function. These cases demonstrate the feasibility of dissolving renal vein thrombi of presumed recent onset and suggest that rapid lysis of the thrombus accelerates functional and clinical recovery.

Drug Therapy, Combination↗
PubMed1984

Marcello Mapighi--a tribute.

Marcello Malpighi was probably the best known member of the faculty at the Medical School of Bologna. He was an anatomist, physiologist, botanist , and an entomologist . It was not until his appearance that the real value of the microscope was appreciated. He studied the embryologic form of the kidney and depicted in drawings how it was modified into the adult. He demonstrated the capillary anastomosis between the arteries and veins which was implicit in William Harvey's writings. He was a physician to Pope Innocent XII. Most historians call him one of the most charming personalities in the history of medicine.

Anatomy↗
PubMed1984

Effect of sympathetic denervation of rat internal genitalia on daily sperm output.

Using the technique of vasocystostomy, daily sperm output was determined in rats undergoing surgical removal of the sympathetic nerves to the internal genitalia. Between ten and fourteen days after denervation, the daily sperm output significantly (p less than 0.001) decreased below presurgical rates and those of sham-operated control animals (p less than 0.01). This change occurred without changes in plasma testosterone concentration or testicular histology. These data suggest neural control of sperm transport in the rat.

Animals↗