Barbara Darewicz

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE TUNICA ALBUGINEA IN CONGENITAL PENILE CURVATURE

PURPOSE We investigated the ultrastructure of the tunica albuginea in individuals with congenital penile curvature to explain the pathology of this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Included in our study were 15 patients 17 to 24 years old with congenital penile curvature. Study material consisted of samples of the tunica albuginea excised from the greater curvature of the corpus cavernosum during surgical correction. Control samples were obtained from the lesser curvature on the side opposite the study material during the same operation. The 2 types of tissue were analyzed using transmitter electron microscopy. RESULTS Ultrastructural examination of the control material revealed numerous collagen fibers that were homogenous in size and organization on cross section. Periodic striation was typical in collagen that produced fibers. In the study group the tunica albuginea structure had a chaotic pattern of collagen fibers that formed bundles with disrupted 3-dimensional organization. Diameter of the fibers differed greatly on cross section. We observed periodic widening and fragmentation of collagen fibers with the complete disappearance of striation and transformation into electron dense, fibrous granulated material. Disrupted fibroblasts without cell membrane and cellular organelles between collagen fibers were also visible. There was elastin accumulation without any morphological differences in the control and study groups. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that ultrastructural changes in the tunica albuginea may cause congenital penile curvature, possibly by altering mechanical properties.

Copper, Zinc, and Cu/Zn Ratio in Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder

Introduction: Many epidemiological and experimental studies report a strong role of chemical carcinogens in the etiology of bladder cancer. However, involvement of trace elements in the tumorigenesis of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder has been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between zinc, copper and bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Zinc and copper concentration and Cu/Zn ratio in two 36-sample series of bladder cancer tissue and sera from patients with this neoplasm were matched with those of the control group. The amount of trace elements in every tissue sample was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. This was correlated with tumor stage. Results: While the copper concentrations reached statistically higher values in the bladder cancer tissue, the zinc levels in the sera and bladder tissue of the patients with this carcinoma were substantially lower as compared to those of the control group. The serum Cu/Zn ratio was significantly higher in the bladder cancer group and this increase was greater in the patients with muscle-invasive neoplasm. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest a relationship between trace elements and the bladder cancer.

Successful microsurgical replantation of an amputated penis.

Traumatic amputation of the penis is a rare condition. The paper presents a 22-year old man who suffered a complete penile amputation in a result of an unfortunate accident. Microsurgical replantation of the penis was performed in the case with a complete return of sensation, sexual function and physiologic miction. Microsurgical replantation is the treatment of choice for this injury.

Phospholipid Composition and Electric Charge in Healthy and Cancerous Parts of Human Kidneys

Phospholipids are ubiquitous in nature and are essential for the lipid bilayer of cell membranes. Their structural and functional properties are pivotal for the survival of the cell. In this study the phospholipids of healthy and cancerous human renal tissues from the same patients are compared with special reference to the electric charge of the membrane. A simple and highly effective normal-phase method is described for analyzing phospholipids content. This work is focused on changes of phospholipids content (PtdIns, phosphatidylinositol; PtdSer, phosphatidylserine; PtdEtn, phosphatidylethanoloamine; PtdCho, phosphatidylcholine) in cell membranes of renal cancer of pT1 stage, G2 grade, without metastasis. Surface charge density of healthy and cancerous human renal tissues was measured by electrophoresis. The measurements were carried out at various pH of solution. Depending on the surface charge density as a function of pH, acidic (CTA) and basic (CTB) functional group concentrations and their average association constants with hydrogen (KAH) or hydroxyl (KBOH) ions were evaluated. The process of cancer transformation was accompanied by an increase in total amount of phospholipids as well as an increase in CTA and KBOH, whereas KAH and CTB were decreased compared with unchanged tumor cells.

Haemorrhagic complications of percutaneous lithotripsy: Original methods of treatment

Abstract698 patients treated for nephrolithiasis with the application of percutaneous lithotripsy were analysed. In 32 cases increased bleeding in the course of the procedure occurred. It was controlled without surgery with blood transfusion, constant renal saline flow maintenance, electrocoagulation, kidney parenchyma pressing with thick drain and approach canal tamponade. In one case the approach to the kidney was obtained surgically and the kidney parenchyma was stitched with haemostatic suture. One patient required selective embolization due to kidney haemorrhage after nephrostomy drain removal.

Lead concentration in the bladder tissue and blood of patients with bladder cancer

Abstract Objective. To investigate the relationship between lead and bladder cancer. Material and methods. The levels of lead concentration in blood and bladder cancer tissue from a sample set of 36 bladder cancer patients were measured and then compared with those of a normal group. The levels of lead obtained in the bladder cancer tissue were evaluated depending on the stage of the tumour. The level of lead concentration in each tissue sample was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results. The lead concentration reached statistically higher values in both the bladder cancer tissue and the blood of patients with this carcinoma compared with those of the control group. No relationship between lead concentration levels in the bladder cancer tissue and blood of patients with this neoplasm on stage of tumour was demonstrated. Conclusion. The results suggest that there is a relationship between exposure to lead and the initialization and development of bladder cancer.

Characterization of Human Bladder Cell Membrane During Cancer Transformation

Phenomena associated with changes in cell membranes are thought to play an important role in the cancer transformation. We hypothesized that the electrical charge of tumor cells can indirectly represent membrane-based changes that have occurred during cell transformation and may indicate tumor cell status. Here, we describe work showing that phospholipids, proteins content, and electric charge, are all altered in the cell membranes of pT2 stage/grade G3 bladder cancer. Qualitative and quantitative phospholipid composition and the presence of integral membrane proteins were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Protein composition was determined using selective hydrolysis of isolated bladder cell membrane proteins and peptide resolution. The surface charge density of human bladder cell membranes was determined using electrophoresis. Our results show that cancer transformation is associated with increased phospholipid levels and a decreased level of integral proteins. Moreover, the process of cancer transformation significantly enhanced changes in the surface charge density of the human bladder cell membrane. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that cell membrane structure and function are modified in bladder cancer cells and that further work in this area is warranted.

Glycosylation of proteins in healthy and pathological human renal tissues

Cancer development is connected with improper glycosylation of proteins. There are alterations in synthesis and expression of sugar structures. These changes can be important not only at early steps of tumor development but also in next stages connected with cancer invasiveness and its ability to form metastases. Oligosaccharide structures of glycans in tumors deviate from normal cells. Particularly relatively increased degrees of branching and sialylation of N-glycans, enhanced presentation of short-chain mucin-type O-glycans with sialylation and alterations in the expression of blood group ABO and Lewis epitopes can be observed. The main aim of our study was to assess changes in glycosylation of proteins in healthy, intermediate and cancer renal tissues. The study was performed on tissues taken from 15 clinical patients. The relative amounts of sugar structures of proteins with molecular mass above 30 kDa were determined by ELISA test with biotinylated lectins highly specific to proper sugar antigens. Higher expresion of all examined structures was revealed in cancer tissues. Increased levels of sialic acid, fucose, T and Tn antigens, in comparison with healthy state, are characteristic alterations of cancers cells

Microsurgical Replantation of the Amputated Penis and Scrotum in a 29-Year-Old Man

A 29-year-old mentally ill farmer underwent microsurgery for the resuturing of the penis and testicles which he himself had chopped off with an ax. Microsurgery of the urethra, corpora cavernosa, arteries and veins was begun 10 h after the trauma. The veins, arteries and testicles were anastomosed and covered with a free flap of the scrotum skin. Three weeks after surgery, the anastomosed tested showed good healing. However, in 65% of the penis, necrosis had occurred.

The Effects of Diet on Selenium Concentration in Serum in Patients With Cancer

The aim of this study was to determine serum levels of selenium (Se) in patients with larynx and urinary system cancers. We also estimated the influence of dietary habits on Se status in examined patients. The mean content of Se in serum of patients with urinary system cancer (48.94 ± 16.3 μ/l) and larynx cancer (51.00 ± 18.6 μ/l) was lower than the mean content of Se in the control group (68.25 ± 15.6 μg/l; P = 0.000006 or 64.03 ± 16.8 μg/l; P = 0.0112, respectively). In tissue only, the mean level of Se in patients with kidney cancer (75.37 ± 40.3 μg/l) was lower to compare with the dead body control group (220.68 ± 83.6 μg/l). We have observed the correlation between the content of Se in serum and tissue (r = 0.297; P = 0.002). Patients with studied cancers have deficiency of Se in serum and kidney tissue, and it depends on the diet in about 30%. Frequent consumption of eggs, ham, and wine has the biggest influence on the content of Se in serum of patients in Poland, whereas frequent consumption of pulses, eggs, bacon, and lard is connected with the content of Se in tissue.