omoyoshi T

Substance P-containing axon terminals in the mucosa of the human urinary bladder: pre-embedding immunohistochemistry using cryostat sections for electron microscopy.

The ultrastructure of substance P (SP)-containing axon terminals in the mucosa of the human urinary bladder was studied. Numerous SP-immunoreactive varicose nerve fibers were seen in the lamina propria, and most of them ran freely in the connective tissue. Many SP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed beneath the epithelium, and perivascular SP-immunoreactive nerves were also found in the submucosal layer. We observed a total of 305 SP-immunoreactive (IR) axon terminals, of which most (89.6%) were free nerve endings at the ultrastructural level; the rest of the SR-IR axon terminale were seen in the vicinity of the epithelium and blood vessels in the lamina propria. Varicose regions of SP-IR axon terminals contained large granular and small agranular synaptic vesicles, and most of them partially lacked a Schwann cell sheath. In some SP-IR varicosities, synaptic vesicles were concentrated in the region without any Schwann cell sheath. Long storage (for more than 1 month) of fixed-tissue pieces in sucrose before freezing has improved the ultrastructure of cryostat sections in pre-embedding immunohistochemistry. Trypsin digestion for the purpose of exposing antigenic sites was also employed before applying the first antiserum.

Scanning Electron Microscopy Detects Bacteria within Infection Stones

The viability and location of bacteria within infection stones were investigated. Many stones were infected with urea-splitting bacteria, such as Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Large numbers of bacterial impressions and bodies were found in the interstices surrounded by crystals of apatite and struvite from the nuclei to the peripheral layers. The presence of bacterial colonies even in the nuclear portion of the stones suggests that bacteria participate in the initial stone formation as well as in growth of infection stones. Streptococcus faecalis, a nonurea -splitting bacteria, also was found in some infection stones and probably represents a superimposed infection as a result of changes in bacterial flora owing to treatment with antibiotics.

Primary malignant melanoma of the female urethra

Background. Malignant melanoma is one of the rarest tumors of the female urethra. The prognosis of urethral melanoma is poor.

Electron Microscopic Study of Mineral Deposits in Idiopathic Calcinosis of the Scrotum

An excised specimen from a 39-year-old man with idiopathic calcinosis of the scrotum was examined by electron microscopy. Mineral deposits were located in the dermis in which collagen fibers were numerous. These collagen fibers appeared mineralized to varying degrees. Mineral crystals frequently were present in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts near large deposits. The mineral portion was identified as a compound consisting of calcium and phosphorus, and the elementary mapping of calcium and phosphorus in the skin tissue was analyzed by an energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer. No calcification was observed in dartos muscle cells or in mast cells.

Nephron Sparing Surgery for De Novo Renal Cell Carcinoma in an Allograft Kidney: A Case Report

De novo renal cell carcinoma in a renal allograft is rare and has special implications in renal transplant recipients. We describe a patient with a renal allograft who developed a de novo renal cell carcinoma in the functioning renal allograft 258 months after transplantation. The patient underwent enucleation of the tumor because preoperative MRI showed it was well‐encapsulated. A DNA banding study showed that the tumor originated from the donor. Indications for conservative renal surgery in renal cell carcinoma have been increasing. Accordingly, 1 option in the treatment of de novo renal cell carcinoma in a functioning renal allograft is enucleation as a method of nephron sparing surgery.

Long-term Followup of Patients with Tumor Thrombi from Renal Cell Carcinoma and Total Replacement of the Inferior Vena Cava Using an Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Tubular Graft

PURPOSE Inferior vena caval resection and its reconstruction are sometimes necessary when the inferior vena cava is extensively involved by a large and fixed tumor thrombus from renal cell carcinoma or other malignancies. We successfully replaced the inferior vena cava using tubular expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) vascular grafts after en bloc removal of the tumor thrombus and inferior vena cava. We followed the patients long term and observed inferior vena caval patency. MATERIALS AND METHODS The 3 men and 2 women ranged from 42 to 75 years old. The renal tumors were on the right side in 4 patients and asynchronously bilateral in 1. The suprarenal inferior vena cava was replaced in 3 patients and the infrarenal portion was replaced in 2. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube grafts, 18 to 22 mm. in diameter and 5 to 12 cm. long, were externally stented in 3 patients and not stented in 2. RESULTS Followup ranged from 6 to 96 months (mean 58). Long-term patency of the graft was maintained in all patients. Of the patients 3 had no evidence of disease at 6 months and 2 died of recurrent tumor at 6 and 84 months. CONCLUSIONS Total replacement of the inferior vena cava using an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tubular graft may offer a feasible method with good patency rates in the long term.

Serum and corpuscular nickel and zinc in chronic hemodialysis patients

Serum and corpuscular nickel and zinc concentrations in 30 chronic hemodialysis patients were examined. Serum nickel and zinc levels before dialysis were 0.22 +/- 0.03 microgram/dl (normal value: 0.56 +/- 0.08 microgram/dl) and 70.0 +/- 13.4 micrograms/dl (normal value: 96 +/- 8 micrograms/dl) low, respectively. However, corpuscular nickel and zinc levels before dialysis were high: 1.25 +/- 0.24 microgram/dl (normal value: 0.88 +/- 0.17 microgram/dl) and 1,299 +/- 146 micrograms/dl (normal value: 1,120 +/- 80 micrograms/dl). Serum zinc levels significantly increased after dialysis, but serum nickel concentrations did not significantly increase during dialysis. Corpuscular nickel and zinc concentrations did not significantly change during dialysis.

Retroperitoneal Seminoma with Simultaneous Occurrence in the Prostate

We report a case of retroperitoneal seminoma with simultaneous occurrence in the prostate. The testes were normal on physical and ultrasound examination. In this case a multicentric occurrence of seminoma was considered rather than metastasis from the retroperitoneum to the prostate. Systemic chemotherapy with vincristine, peplomycin and cisplatin was effective for the prostatic as well as the retroperitoneal lesion.

Low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor immunoreactivity in the human urinary bladder

The localization of low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR) in the human urinary bladder was examined immunohistochemically using the mouse monoclonal antibody (ME20-4) against human LNGFR. LNGFR immunoreactivity was present in the human urinary bladder. The distribution of LNGFR-positive fibers was more abundant in the mucosa than in the muscle layer. Results also showed that some LNGFR-positive fiber bundles contained tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity. Electron microscopic examination revealed that LNGFR immunoreactivity was located on the surface of Schwann cells, and frequently on the interface of axons and Schwann cells.

Spontaneous Renal Subcapsular Hematoma in a Patient Undergoing Hemodialysis

We describe a patient on hemodialysis in whom a spontaneous renal subcapsular hematoma developed. The diagnosis was confirmed by computerized tomography and angiography, and the patient was treated conservatively. We recommend conservative management in such cases based on radiological findings that rule out underlying pathological changes.