Yoshio Ishida

Multidirectional contraction of human hypertrophied prostate.

1. The purpose of the present investigation is to evaluate muscle contraction in two directions (longitudinal and circumferential to urethra) physiologically and morphologically for alpha-adrenoceptor agonists. 2. Norepinephrine (10(-7)-10(-4) M), phenylephrine (10(-7)-10(-4) M) and clonidine (10(-7)-10(-4) M) induced contractions in a dose-dependent manner on human prostate from patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). 3. No significant differences were observed between longitudinal and circumferential directions of human prostate in 50% of the maximal muscle contraction (EC50 values) and the maximal muscle contractions caused by any agents used. 4. Morphometric analysis for muscle in prostates was performed using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections stained by the Mallory-Azan method. 5. There was no significant difference in the density of the muscle area between longitudinal and circumferential directions of prostatic strips. 6. These results suggest that there are no significant differences in responsiveness of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and the smooth muscle contents in longitudinal and circumferential directions to urethra, for human hypertrophied prostate.

Measurement of a Car Driver’s Pulse Interval while Driving with One Hand

R-R interval measurement system for car drivers that allows measurement while the driver is driving with one hand has been developed. This system is intended for analysis of R-R interval fluctuation which is related to drowsiness and stress. R-R interval is the interval between R-waves in electrocardiogram (ECG). Our goal is to detect changes in R-R interval fluctuation and alert the driver to prevent drowsy driving. ECG was measured with a contact electrode on the steering wheel and a capacitive coupling electrode on the driver’s seat. ECG measurement with capacitive coupling is very sensitive to body motion. Baseline fluctuation can be as large as hundred times of the R-wave. In order to utilize differential amplification to reduce the fluctuation, an additional seat electrode was placed on top of the seat electrode with a paper insulator in between the two electrodes. The outputs of the upper seat electrode and the steering wheel electrode showed similar baseline fluctuation with respect to the lower seat electrode, while R-waves appeared only in the signal from the steering wheel electrode. Baseline fluctuation was reduced by taking the difference between the two signals. The proposed measurement method was evaluated in a real car. The system was capable of measuring R-waves of a passenger who held an electrode in the hand to simulate one hand driving while driving on a highway.

Effect of bunazosin, α1-adrenoceptor blocker, on multidirectional contractile response and localization of bunazosin binding sites in human hypertrophied prostate

1. Effects of bunazosin, an alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocker, on the contraction induced by norepinephrine in human hypertrophied prostate were examined in vitro. 2. Prostatic specimens showed maximum contraction at 10(-4) M norepinephrine in longitudinal and circumferential directions to the urethra. 3. Bunazosin (10(-7) M) blocked norepinephrine-induced contraction with a parallel shift of the dose-response curve in both directions (pA2: 8.76 +/- 0.15; pA2: 8.90 +/- 0.08, respectively). 4. Serial sections of prostates were also evaluated by autoradiography. The binding sites were diffusely distributed in the interstitium. 5. We concluded that bunazosin affects multidirectional contraction in prostates.

Influence of Cytotoxic Chemotherapy on Superoxide Production by Neutrophils in Cancer Patients

The influence of cytotoxic chemotherapy on the number and function of peripheral neutrophils was studied in time sequence in 9 cancer patients; 6 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of urothelium treated with CAP, the combination of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and cisplatin, and the other 3 with testicular tumor treated with PEB, the combination of cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin. The neutrophil function was evaluated by the superoxide production, measuring chemiluminescence of the neutrophil suspension by a photometer. The peripheral neutrophil count (PNC) significantly (p < 0.01) decreased with the nadir count of 280 +/- 100/mm2 16.4 days after cytotoxic chemotherapy and recovered to the normal level by the next course. The neutrophil function declined significantly (p < 0.01) as PNC decreased, reached the minimum almost at the same time as PNC, and returned to the normal level by the next course. Of the 9 cases, the neutrophil function in 6 cases reached the minimum on the same day as that of PNC. The study shows that cytotoxic chemotherapy appears to impair the host defense mechanism in cancer patients not only in inducing neutropenia but also in deteriorating neutrophil function at the same time.