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The testicular function after orchiopexy for unilateral cryptorchism was examined for fertile state with the relation to the age at operation and the testicular size. Sperm concentration decreased with the age at operation, accompanying a rise of gonadotropins and a decrease of the testicular size. The testicular size decreased with the age at operation. sperm deterioration was correlated more with the testicular size in the normally descending side than that of the operated one. The gonadotropin level was inversely correlated with the size of the contralateral normally descending testis. These results indicate that fertility after unilateral orchiopexy is influenced by the age at operation as well as the development of the normally descending contralateral testis.

The follow-up study has been performed in 4 male patients with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus lasting for 4 to 15 years. Hydronephrosis or hydroureter appeared to be caused by polyuria with or without urinary tract obstruction. The efficacy of drainage operation is emphasized when polyuria surpasses the transporting ability of urine in the urinary tract.

Summary To measure testicular volume accurately, an ultrasonographic method was developed and the results obtained from this compared with those obtained by conventional measurements, namely (1) comparison with testis models, (2) an orchidometer, and (3) measurement of testicular volume by calipers through the scrotal skin. Data from these methods were compared with the actual volume measured at operation by slide calipers placed directly on the testis. The volume obtained by comparison with testis models or with an orchidometer tended to overestimate the actual volume. The volume measured by slide calipers on scrotal skin was also found to be incorrect. On the other hand, the volume measured by ultrasonography proved to be closer to, and to correlate well with, the actual volume, and was considered to be the best method.

In young rats consuming 1% NaCl drinking solution, unilateral nephrectomy and bilateral adrenal enucleation caused a hypertension. Plasma corticosterone concentration in hypertensive rats was not significantly higher than that of normotensive control rats in early hypertensive or chronic hypertensive stage. At the end of experiment, each rat received an intravenous injection of 0.4 microCi/g of 3H-lysine and was sacrificed 2 hours after the injection. Incorporation of 3H-lysine into collagen or elastin of the mesenteric artery and heart in hypertensive rats was greater than that of normotensive rats. Administration of phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride lower the blood pressure of hypertensive rats and reduced the incorporation of 3H-lysine into collagen and elastin of the mesenteric artery and heart. From these findings, increased protein synthesis of collagen and elastin in hypertensive rats appears to play an important role for the maintenance of adrenal regeneration hypertension.

Low level of plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) under altered dietary sodium and its elevation during bigeminy were found in a 40-year-old woman with idiopathic oedema. The natriuretic effect of this peptide and the role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in oedema formation in this disorder are discussed.

Ejaculated spermatozoa from an infertile patient were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. All spermatozoa had abnormalities in the tail region. The abnormalities were divided into three types: (a) spermatozoa with a spherical tail. The tail was larger than the head in volume. This type of abnormality accounted for about 60% of the population; (b) spermatozoa with a blunt tail. The tails were about 2 microns in diameter and about 7 microns in length. This type of abnormality accounted for about 30% of the population of an ejaculate; (c) spermatozoa without a tail. Some of these had only a rudimentary tail. About 10% of the population belonged to this type. In types A and B, all components of the tail, except for dynein arms, were observed, but they were severely disarranged. Biopsy specimens of the testes and of the nasal mucosa of this patient were also investigated. The testicular biopsy showed defects in manchette formation. Normal development of the manchette could not be observed. The nasal epithelium showed absence of the inner dynein arms in the cilia.

We have examined constitutional chromosome abnormalities and fragile sites in 40 patients with azoospermia. Chromosome abnormalities were found in four cases. Three cases showed a deletion of the long arm of the Y chromosome 46,X,del(Yq) and the other case had a ring of G group chromosome 46,XY,r(G). In a rare fragile sites test, four fragile site carriers were detected and three rare autosomal fragile sites were identified; fra(8)(q24.1), fra(11)(p15.1), and fra(17)(p12). The expression of these fragile sites were induced specifically by AT-specific DNA ligands, such as distamycin A and Hoechst 33258. In addition, one patient was found to be the case of double ascertainment of fragile sites, fra(8)(q24.1) and fra(17)(p12). The overall frequency of distamycin A-inducible fragile sites in azoospermia patients appeared to be higher than those reported for Japanese healthy subjects and cancer patients. However, no significant relation among fragile sites, clinical and histological findings has been detected so far.

To clarify prognostic factors for progression of superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (Ta, T1 and G1, G2), 159 patients, treated by transurethral resection from 1975 to 1988, were analysed concerning clinical findings, laboratory data, endoscopic findings and histopathological findings of the tumor. Histopathological findings included ABH blood group isoantigen (ABH) and Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (T-ag) as well as other result. Twenty two cases in the series showed progression; 10 with up-grading and up-staging, 12 with either one of them. Advanced age, positive urinary cytology, multiple or broad base tumor, G2 or T1 tumor, negative ABH and abnormal T-ag were closely associated with progression. By multivariate analysis of these factors, ABH, stage of the tumor, T-ag and form were shown to be important prognostic factors in this order. ABH and T-ag were not correlated with other clinicopathological factors in predicting tumor progression. Therefore we concluded that ABH and T-ag were much important for prediction concerning potential for progression of the superficial bladder cancer.

The authors report on a 43-year-old woman who had undergone unilateral adrenalectomy for a right suprarenal mass. The removed specimen was histopathologically defined as xanthofibroma, a hitherto unpublished adrenal tumour. The connective tissue protein of this rare tumour contained great amounts of collagen, non-collagenous protein and elastin. The significance of such abnormal proliferation of fibrous tissue and the conventional sonographic and CT features of this neoplasm are discussed.

Nineteen cases of sexual disturbance caused by endocrine dysfunction were surveyed for the clinical features. In hypogonadotropic hypogonadism ejaculatory failure was observed in 12 out of 13 cases. On the contrary, 2 of three hypergonadotropic patients preserved their ejaculation. The serum testosterone levels of hypogonadotropic and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism were less than 200 ng/dl. When the testosterone level decreased to less than 100 ng/dl, nine patients out of 13 complained loss of libido and 12 patients complained loss of ejaculation, but six patients preserved erectile function. Hyperprolactinemic patients showed loss of libido in 4, erectile failure in 4 and loss of ejaculation in 2. When good response to hCG test was present or the testicular volume was more than 4 ml, patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism showed good response to hCG therapy.

Expression of ras p21 was examined with monoclonal antibody RASK-3 in normal, benign hyperplasic, and cancerous prostates. In patients with stage D2 disease who received endocrine therapy, the relation between ras p21 expression, response to therapy, and prognosis was studied. In these patients, R 1881-binding protein (androgen receptor and progestin-binding protein) was also examined. Non-cancerous cells and most cancer cells from stage A patients did not express ras p21, while expression increased with both higher staging and grading. Staging pelvic lymphadenectomy was done in some stage A2-C cases, and presence of nodal metastasis was correlated with ras p21 expressions in the primary tumours. In stage D2, there was no correlation between ras p21 expression and R 1881-binding protein. Response to therapy and survival did not correlate with expression of ras p21, but was influenced by presence of R 1881-binding protein.

Androgen receptor was detected immunohistochemically in benign as well as malignant prostatic tissues by using a monoclonal rat anti-human androgen receptor antibody (AN 1-15). In both benign and malignant cells, the androgen receptor was exclusively localized in nuclei. In hyperplastic prostate, the androgen receptor was stained in the glandular and the stromal cells. In the gland, cells facing the lumen were stained more intensively than those adjacent to the basal membrane. In cancer tissue, receptor-positive and -negative cancer cells were intermingled. The percent of strongly positive cancer cells was correlated inversely with grade. Relapsed cells showed a low population of strongly positive cells irrespective of grade.

Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic factor and some vasoactive substances were determined in 8 patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma, 10 with idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia, 10 normotensive subjects and 12 patients with essential hypertension. Plasma atrial natriuretic factor concentration in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma was the highest among the examined groups. Adrenal surgery reduced plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic factor and aldosterone concomitant with the elevation in urinary sodium excretion, plasma renin activity and urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio. Withdrawal of trilostane (3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor) in patients with idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia increased plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic factor and aldosterone, and decreased the urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio, plasma renin activity and urinary sodium excretion. However, reduced urinary sodium excretion following trilostane treatment returned to the control level successively despite the high levels of plasma atrial natriuretic factor and aldosterone. Acute infusion of saline remarkably increased plasma atrial natriuretic factor concentration in patients with idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia and aldosterone-producing adenoma. These results suggest that a high level of atrial natriuretic factor is a characteristic feature in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma caused chiefly by the expansion of extracellular fluid volume, and circulating atrial natriuretic factor may contribute to regulation of the sodium escape phenomenon in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma or idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia.

A histochemical study on R1881-binding protein, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), prostate-specific antigen (PA) and r-seminoprotein was conducted. These parameters and histologic grades were compared to each other and with the responsiveness to endocrine therapy. A good correlation was found between histologic grade and presence or absence of R1881-binding protein in the tissue. Presence or absence of R1881-binding protein as well as histologic grade correlated well with responsiveness to endocrine therapy. Positive staining patterns of PAP, PA, and r-seminoprotein in the tissues were similar to each other, particularly between PA and r-seminoprotein. However, no correlation was found between the histologic grade and ratios of PAP, PA or r-seminoprotein-positive cells. Nor was any correlation seen between the ratio of these marker-positive cells and responsiveness to endocrine therapy.

Bilateral seminal vesicle puncture and injection of drugs with ultrasound guidance were performed in patients with hemospermia resistant to conservative therapy and with dilated seminal vesicles. Of 7 patients 6 had resolution of hemospermia for 2 to 3 months and then relapse. No side effect was noted. (J. Urol., 140: 991–992, 1988)

A 20-year-old male with complaints of dysuria and a sense of residual urine was diagnosed as having benign prostatic hypertrophy. He was treated by suprapubic prostatectomy. Benign prostatic hypertrophy in young men is very rare; this case seems to be the largest (380 g) among juvenile benign prostatic hypertrophy reported in the literature so far.

Testicular development was studied in prepubertal boys with retractile testes. Testicular volume, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the number of spermatogonia in the tubules were decreased in cases of unilateral retractile testis, when compared with values for the contralateral normally descended testis. On the other hand, in patients with a unilateral retractile testis and contralateral inguinal testis, there was no difference in the developmental parameters between the two testes. These results suggest that the retractile testis has developmental failures characteristic of a cryptorchid testis and therefore requires orchiopexy.

Androphilic protein in prostatic cancer was histochemically observed with dihydrotestosterone (DHT), R 1881, and mibolerone as ligands. Cancer cells were equally stained with fluorescent R 1881 and mibolerone, and this fluorescence seems to be made up of both the androgen receptor and progestin-binding protein. The staining with fluorescent DHT was weak. Sixty-two Stage D2 prostatic cancer patients were examined with histochemical androphilic protein, and they then received endocrine therapy. The presence of fluorescence of R 1881 was not correlated with grade, but a relationship between the presence of fluorescence and the response to endocrine therapy was noticed 6 months after the start of treatment. Moreover, fluorescence-positive patients showed better survival than fluorescence-negative patients. An examination with fluorescent DHT revealed a similar tendency to that of R 1881, but the frequency of positive fluorescence was lower, indicating that R 1881 is a suitable ligand in this type of study.

Comparison of the grades classified by Gleason with R-1881 binding which was attributable to total androphilic proteins in tissues was performed in 42 untreated and 13 relapsed prostatic cancers. Increasing malignancy correlated with loss of staining on R-1881 binding when examined both in primary pattern and in individual tumor cell clusters. In relapsed cancer, however, there was no R-1881 binding irrespective of any grades.