A 12-year-old boy presented to the Naha Municipal Hospital complaining of back pain. After intravenous pyelography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography and biopsy, he was suspected to have sarcoma of the prostate and was referred to the University of the Ryukyus Hospital. Acute renal failure of the post renal type was evident, accompanied by minimal hydronephrosis. Emergency hemodialysis and right ureterostomy were performed, as was a transurethral prostate biopsy. The specimen showed a poorly differentiated sarcoma not otherwise classifiable. After recovery from surgery, chemotherapy was attempted over 2 months, but the patient died of tumor 250 days after admission.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

PubMed1999

Case of gonadoblastoma in a 9-year-old boy without physical abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: A 9-year-old boy was admitted to Jikei University Hospital complaining of gradual enlarging of the left scrotal contents. METHODS/RESULTS: Physical examination was significant for bilateral descended testicles. No abnormalities were detected in the testicles or along the spermatic cords. Scrotal ultrasound showed that hyperechoic shadows were recognized in the central area of the left testicle. Subsequent testicular biopsy and histopathological examination showed intratubular malignant germ cells in the testicular tubules. One week later, left orchiectomy was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathological evaluation revealed gonadoblastoma. Gonadoblastoma, a rare gonadal neoplasm, is composed of germ cells and sex cord derivatives and usually occurs in phenotypically female patients with gonadal dysgenesis. To date, only three cases of gonadoblastoma have been reported in anatomically normal male patients with scrotal testicles. We report on a case of gonadoblastoma unaccompanied by a germ cell tumor in a physically normal male.

Child↗

PubMed1999

Jarzynski equality for the transitions between nonequilibrium steady states.

Jarzynski equality [Phys. Rev. E 56, 5018 (1997)], which has been considered to be valid for the transitions between equilibrium states, is found to be applicable to the transitions between nonequilibrium stationary states satisfying certain conditions. Also numerical results confirm its validity. Its relevance for nonequilibrium thermodynamics of the operational formalism is discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1999

Effect of injury to the dorsal funiculus of the thoracic spinal cord on micturition in decerebrate and freely-moving cats.

Bladder sensation is transmitted both via the spinothalamic tract in the lateral funiculus and the dorsal system in the dorsal funiculus. We transected the dorsal funiculus in 10 female cats to clarify the functional roles of these two ascending pathways. The dorsal funiculus was transected at T10 in 5 decerebrate and 5 freely-moving cats, and micturition parameters were compared before and after transection. Transection of the dorsal funiculus did not affect any of the parameters of reflex micturition in the 5 decerebrate cats. Within 1 week after transection, 4 of the 5 freely-moving cats used the normal micturition posture, but the remaining one performed micturition in a prone position as if she had lost micturition sensation. All 5 cats urinated with a normal micturition posture by 2 weeks after transection. The mean single voided volume was decreased transiently up to 1 week, but returned to normal by 2 weeks after transection. None of the 5 cats had any residual urine before and after transection. Both the ascending and descending limbs of the micturition reflex pass through the lateral funiculus. Bladder sensation is transmitted both via the spinothalamic tract coursing in the lateral funiculus and the dorsal system in the dorsal funiculus. The dorsal system may play a major role in the transmission of bladder sensation to the cerebral cortex, but may not be essential.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Marked reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of beta-lactams in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus produced by epicatechin gallate, an ingredient of green tea (Camellia sinensis).

We found that epicatechin gallate, a constituent of an extract of tea leaves (green tea) markedly lowered the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oxacillin and other beta-lactams, but not of other antibacterial agents tested, in strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial action of epicatechin gallate plus oxacillin was a bactericidal one.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1999

Phenolic constituents of Cassia seeds and antibacterial effect of some naphthalenes and anthraquinones on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Thirteen phenolic glycosides including six new compounds were isolated from seeds of Cassia tora (Leguminosae). The structures of the new compounds, rubrofusarin triglucoside (7), nor-rubrofusarin gentiobioside (9), demethylflavasperone gentiobioside (10), torachrysone gentiobioside (11), torachrysone tetraglucoside (12) and torachrysone apioglucoside (13), were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence. The effects of the phenolic glycosides, their aglycones and several other compounds structurally related to them on Escherichia coli K12, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and some strains of Staphylococcus aureus were then examined. Among them, torachrysone (15), toralactone (16), aloe-emodin (18), rhein (19) and emodin (20) showed noticeable antibacterial effects on four strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2-64 micrograms/ml. On the other hand, the phenolic compounds tested did not show strong antibacterial effects on E. coli and P. aeruginosa.

Anthraquinones↗

PubMed1999

Moyamoya disease showing atypical angiographic findings--two case reports.

A 7-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl presented with moyamoya disease showing atypical angiographic findings. In these cases, the internal carotid artery (ICA) had a tapering occlusion just distal to the origin of the ophthalmic artery, whereas the top of the ICA was not occluded and was retrogradely supplied through the posterior communicating artery from the posterior circulation. Surgical treatment resolved the symptoms in both patients. Moyamoya disease may include a number of variant types not showing all the characteristic angiographic findings of moyamoya disease.

Carotid Artery, Internal↗

PubMed1999

[Double cancer observed from bladder cancer].

BACKGROUND: In recent years, despite of the improvement of treatment results for cancer and long life, the occurrence of second primary cancer was increased. In this paper, we analyzed present condition of double cancer observed with bladder cancer in our hospital. METHOD: Last 21 years, we have treated 969 cases (828 male and 141 female) of primary bladder cancer. For those cases, we analyzed in term of frequency, involved organ, age, interval between two cancer occurrence, risk factor and prognosis of double cancer patients. RESULT: Of 969 cases with bladder cancer, 81 cases (8.36%) had double cancer involving 6 cases (0.61%) of triple cancer. In sex, 70 males (9.78%) and 11 females (7.80%) had double cancer. As involved organs, 25 cases (3.02%) had in prostate, 23 cases (2.37%) in stomach, 3 case (2.13%) in breast, 14 cases (1.44%) in colon and rectum. In diagnosis timing of complicated cancer from bladder cancer, 28 cases (34.6%) were diagnosed previously to bladder, 28 cases (34.6%) were simultaneously and 31 cases (38.3%) were secondary. An average interval of diagnosis of two cancer were 49 +/- 42.5 months. An average age of occurrence of second cancer was 70.3 +/- 8.8 years. Actual survival rate from diagnosis of bladder cancer were 90.8%, 68.6%, 53.3% and 30.3%, after 1, 3, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Ten cases were dead by bladder cancer, 21 cases by complicated cancer and 16 cases by another cause. CONCLUSION: The incidence of double cancer with bladder cancer were increased. Prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer were gradually increased as complicated organs in Japan. The prognosis of double cancer patients with bladder cancer was poor than single bladder cancer patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Fornix of vagina suspension for cystocele].

OBJECTIVE: Bladder neck hypermobility causes cystocele in middle to old elderly women. We developed an easy and useful surgical technique for cystocele. METHODS: Thirteen patients with cystocele (grade 2-4) were operated by fornix of the vagina suspension. Patients were placed on lithotomy position under general or spinal anesthesia. Lower midline or lower abdominal transverse incision was made to open the peritoneum and denuded vesicouterine pouch. Several nylon sutures were placed on the lateral side of exposed fornix of the vagina. These sutures were suspended to anterior layer of the rectus sheath. Fornix of the vagina was fixed to the rectus muscle, so the prolapsed bladder wall was pulled up in normal position. RESULTS: Operating time ranged from 15-110 minutes (average 73 minutes). Ten patients of thirteen were successful up to 2-43 months postoperatively. Cystocele recurred in three patients of thirteen. Two patients was re-operated by the same method, but one of them recurred. Two of three recurrent patients had grade 4 cystocele. CONCLUSION: Fornix of the vagina suspension for cystocele seems useful and promising because of easy procedure without serious morbidity, especially in elderly high-risk patients.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

[Screening of urogenital malignancies by transabdominal ultrasonography in "human dry dock"].

BACKGROUND: Transabdominal ultrasonography (US) has been widely accepted as a diagnostic method with which to examine multiple organs simultaneously. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of trans-abdominal US to screen for urogenital malignancies. METHODS: From 1993 through 1997 109,077 men and 28,023 women underwent abdominal US to screen for abdominal and pelvic diseases as part of a regular health check-up program at the Tokyu Medical Health Center. RESULTS: Twelve renal cell cancers (RCCs), 7 bladder tumors (BTs), 4 prostatic cancers (PCs), and 1 testicular tumor (TT) were detected. All cancers were diagnosed pathologically and treated surgically except for one PC. Surgical pathological examination and conventional imaging revealed that all 12 RCCa and 6 of the 7 BTs were of less advanced stage than pT1N0M0. However, all 3 PCs and the TT were pT3N0-1M0 and pT1N3M0, respectively. The stage and grade of these 12 RCCs were significantly lower than those of 29 symptomatic RCCs. All 12 patients with RCC patients and 6 of the 7 patients with BT had no urological symptom, whereas 3 of the 4 patients with PC and the patient with TT had urogenital symptoms. Microscopic examination of the urine revealed both red blood cells and tumors cells in two of the seven patients with BT. All four patients with PC had serum levels of prostatic-specific antigen greater than 4 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that screening by transabdominal US as part of regular health check-ups can detect many types of urogenital malignancy. In particular, US is useful for detecting low-grade and low-stage RCCs and superficial BTs but is less sensitive for early-stage PCs and TTs.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Urethritis].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1999

[Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism treated with HCG monotherapy: report of 3 cases].

We report 3 cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) monotherapy on plasma testosterone levels, which were related to clinical results. The patients were males 29, 21 and 14 years old. Each received 5,000 units of HCG subcutaneously or intramuscularly twice or three times a week for 16 to 40 months. Genital effects, including an increase in testicular volume were seen in all patients after 2 or 3 months. The increase in plasma testosterone level after HCG therapy was significantly correlated with the genital effects similarly to other treatments. Moreover, spermatozoa appeared in one case.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

[A case of neurocysticercosis with multiple intraparenchymal and intraventricular cysts].

Neurocysticercosis is a rare disease, and no association with intraventricular cysts has been reported in Japan. We report a case of neurocysticercosis that presented the unique symptom of a fourth ventricular cyst. A 55-year-old man with a 7 year history of neurocysticercosis and hydrocephalus developed a positional headache and vomiting 3 months after an L-P shunt, and was admitted to our hospital. MRI showed multiple intraparenchymal cysts, ventricular enlargement and an intraventricular cyst in the fourth ventricle. The cyst and the cysticercus in the fourth ventricle were totally removed via the suboccipital approach. Histological examination showed characteristics of cysticercus. Two weeks after this surgery, V-P shunt with neuroendoscopical observation of the ventricle was performed. A small cyst was detected in the right lateral ventricle. The symptoms disappeared after surgery. Following surgery, a therapeutic course of albendazole was administered at a daily dose of 600 mg for 30 days. MRI after administration of the anticysticercal drug revealed reduction in the size of the cysts.

Cerebral Ventricles↗

PubMed1999

[Transurethral resection of the prostate for patients with dementia].

During the period from July 1995 to June 1996 we performed transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) on 824 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Among them, 13 were dementia patients between 74 and 96 years old; they presented with urinary hesitancy in 6, retention in 4, frequency in 2 and incontinence in 1 patient. Past history included stroke in 7, hypertension in 6, pulmonary tuberculosis in 4, diabetes in 3, asthma in 2, angina pectoris in 1, Parkinson's disease in 1, pneumonia in 1, and hepatitis in 1. Careful preoperative examination revealed that they were proper candidates for TURP. They underwent TURP under spinal anesthesia. The mean operative time was 34 min, ranging from 20 to 60 min. The adenoma resected weighed 24 g on the average, ranging from 7.5 to 48 g. During surgery, although hypotension was noted in 2 patients, there was no serious morbidity. Their mental condition was well controlled with ketamine and diazepam during and after surgery. Postoperative complications included acute myocardial infarction in 1, multiple gastric ulcer in 1, and decubitus in 1. None died within 3 months after TURP, 3 died there after, and 10 patients were alive at the mean follow-up period of 26 months. Six patients reported good urination, 3 reported some improvement in urination after surgery, although requiring intermittent catheterization and 1 developed mild incontinence. In conclusion, TURP appears to provide some benefit in selected patients with dementia and should not be considered to be a contraindication for such patients.

Aged↗