Sohei Tokunaka

Experience with Dimethyl Sulfoxide Treatment for Primary Localized Amyloidosis of the Bladder

We report a case of primary localized amyloidosis of the bladder treated successfully with transurethral resection and intravesical dimethyl sulfoxide instillation. Dimethyl sulfoxide bladder instillation is useful for the treatment of primary localized amyloidosis of the bladder.

The proportions of fiber types in human external urethral sphincter: electrophoretic analysis of myosin.

SummaryThe proportions of fast and slow myosin molecules in external urethral sphincter specimens from ten urodynamically normal male bladder carcinoma patients were estimated from the contents of fast and slow myosin light chains in two-dimensional electrophoretic gels. The percentages of fast and slow myosin molecules ranged from 5.0% to 61.4% with a mean of 35.5% and from 38.6% to 95.0% with a mean of 65.5% respectively. It is therefore concluded that the human external urethral sphincter is composed of both fast and slow muscle fibers as well as other voluntary muscles. The human external urethral sphincter is considered to be a highly fatigue-resistant muscle with a very high proportion of slow muscle fibers. In the cases studied so far, there is a great diversity in the proportions of fast and slow myosin molecules; the reason for this remains unknown.

Dimethylsulfoxide enhances the absorption of chemotherapeutic drug instilled into the bladder

SummaryWe examined the effect of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on the absorption of a chemotherapeutic drug instilled into the bladder. Female Wistar rats with bladder tumors underwent intravesical instillation of normal saline (S group) or 50% DMSO (D group) prior to the administration of pirarubicin (tetrahydropyranyl-Adriamycin). The absorption of pirarubicin was estimated histologically by observing its fluorescence. In the S group, fluorescence of pirarubicin was observed only in the epithelial layer of normal or hyperplastic regions and in the cells of superficial layers of the tumor. In the D group fluorescence was observed in the entire bladder wall of normal or hyperplastic regions and extended to deeper regions of the tumors than in the S group. These findings indicate enhancement of the absorption of pirarubicin by pretreatment with DMSO.

Proportions of fiber types in the external urethral sphincter of young nulliparous and old multiparous rabbits.

SummaryThe proportions of fast and slow myosin molecules in specimens of the external urethral sphincter (EUS) from 6 young nulliparous (6-month-old) and 6 old multiparous (2-year-old) rabbits were studied using myosin heavy chain electrophoresis. The percentages of fast and slow myosin molecules were 80.4±4.5% and 19.6±4.5% in the EUS from nulliparas, and 68.7±6.3% and 31.3±6.3% in the EUS from multiparas. The difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.01). We suggest that a selective decrease in the volume of type 2 (fast) muscle fibers and/or conversion of type 2 to type 1 (slow) muscle fibers had taken place in the EUS of old multiparas. The proportional change in the constitutent muscle fibers of the EUS with aging may play a role in human genuine stress incontinence.

Coexistence of Fast and Slow Myosin Isozymes in Human External Urethral Sphincter. A Preliminary Report

Human external urethral sphincter muscle was isolated for biochemical research. Myosin samples were prepared and pyrophosphate gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional electrophoresis were performed. Assignment in pyrophosphate gel of myosin isozymes of human external urethral sphincter was carried out by making comparisons with those from human rectus abdominis muscle. Myosin light chains in human external urethral sphincter were identified using two-dimensional electrophoresis. Human external urethral sphincter, similar to other voluntary muscles, is composed of fast and slow twitch muscle fibers, since fast and slow myosin components were shown in both pyrophosphate gel and two-dimensional electrophoretograms.

The Fiber Type of the Rabbits’ Striated External Urethral Sphincter: Electrophoretic Analysis of Myosin

The fiber type of the rabbits external urethral sphincter was investigated with OFarrells 2-dimensional electrophoresis of constituent proteins of glycerinated muscle, peptide mapping of myosin heavy chains and non-denaturing pyrophosphate gel electrophoresis of myosin. It was determined as fast type by all three methods. The relative proportions of muscle fibers which were estimated from myosin light chain contents were 88 per cent fast type and 12 per cent slow type. On the basis of the results presented, it was shown to be fast twitch muscle, but not identical to the psoas muscle.

Electrophoretic and Ultrastructural Analysis of the Rabbit’s Striated External Urethral Sphincter

The male rabbits external urethral sphincter was investigated with OFarrells 2-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of myosin light chains and electron microscopy. Its pattern of myosin light chains was different from that of the soleus (predominantly slow twitch muscle) but was very similar to that of the psoas (predominantly fast twitch muscle). Ultrastructurally it was shown to be red muscle resembling the soleus. Therefore the fiber type of the rabbits external urethral sphincter was determined to be the red (fast) type.

Case Report: Secondary Penile Carcinoma

We report a case of secondary penile carcinoma with primary tumor in the pancreas. Immunoperoxidase tissue staining of carbohydrate antigen 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen and prostate-specific antigen was useful for diagnosis of original tumor.

A Maternal Functioning Adrenocortical Adenoma Causing Fetal Female Pseudohermaphroditism

Fetal virilization induced by a maternal adrenal tumor is extremely rare. We report a case of a maternal adrenocortical tumor with Cushings syndrome causing fetal virilization.

Severe hypertension in infant with unilateral hypoplastic kidney

Unilateral renal hypoplasia unlike Ask-Upmark kidney (segmental renal hypoplasia) seldom causes hypertension. A case of an infant whose hypertension disappeared after removal of a hypoplastic kidney is reported. The removed kidney revealed no sign of Ask-Upmark lesion.