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Water resources have uneven distributions over time, space, and source, thus, potential impacts related to water use should be evaluated by determining the differences in water resources rather than by simply summing water use. We propose a model for weighting renewable water resources and present a case study assessing water scarcity footprints as indicators of the potential impacts of water use based on a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). We assumed that the potential impact of a unit amount of water used is proportional to the land area or time required to obtain a unit of water from each water source. The water unavailability factor (fwua) was defined using a global hydrological modeling system with a global resolution of 0.5 × 0.5 degrees. This model can address the differences in water sources using an adjustable reference volume and temporal and spatial resolutions based on the flexible demands of users. The global virtual water flows were characterized using the fwua for each water source. Although nonrenewable and nonlocal blue water constituted only 3.8% of the total flow of the water footprint inventory, this increased to 29.7% of the total flow of the water scarcity footprint. We can estimate the potential impacts of water use that can be instinctively understood using fwua.

Water footprint assessments contribute to a better understanding of potential environmental impacts related to water and have become essential in water management. The methodologies for characterizing such assessments, however, usually fail to reflect temporal and spatial variations at local scales. In this paper, we employ four widely-used characterization factors, which were originally developed with global estimates of water demand and availability, to evaluate the impact that inter-basin transfer (IBT) of water has on water risk assessments and, consequently, on the evaluation of the soundness of water cycle. The study was conducted for two major river basins in Japan, where diversion channels were built to move water from the Tone river basin to the Arakawa river basin. Considering IBT, the available water in the Arakawa river basin increases a 45%, reducing the characterization factors a 44% on average and denoting their tendency to overestimate the risk in this basin, while the Tone river basin increased the characterization factors a 28% on average by IBT. Moreover, with a simple example we show how ambiguity in the definition of some characterization factors may cause significant changes in the result of the assessments. Finally, we concluded that local water footprint characterization can be more helpful in local assessment of water resources if the results are unanimous, Targetable, Replicable, Ameliorable, Comparable, and Engageable (uTRACE).

We quantify the potential impacts of global food production on freshwater availability (water scarcity footprint; WSF) by applying the water unavailability factor (fwua) as a characterization factor and a global water resource model based on life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). Each water source, including rainfall, surface water, and groundwater, has a distinct fwua that is estimated based on the renewability rate of each geographical water cycle. The aggregated consumptive water use level for food production (water footprint inventory; WI) was found to be 4344 km3/year, and the calculated global total WSF was 18,031 km3 H2Oeq/year, when considering the difference in water sources. According to the fwua concept, which is based on the land area required to obtain a unit volume of water from each source, the calculated annual impact can also be represented as 98.5 × 106 km2. This value implies that current agricultural activities requires a land area that is over six times larger than global total cropland. We also present the net import of the WI and WSF, highlighting the importance of quantitative assessments for utilizing global water resources to achieve sustainable water use globally.

Radiologic findings in cases of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma and leiomyoma were reported. These cases showed very similar findings: irregularly marginated large masses with central cyst formation and no calcification on CT and ultrasonography. Angiography showed tumor vessels and tumor stains. Cystic region due to central necrosis or hemorrhage was the most prominent radiologic finding in these cases. However, it was difficult to distinguish leiomyosarcoma from leiomyoma on the basis of the radiologic findings alone.

Effects of dopamine on human renal arteries were pharmacologically investigated in vitro. Norepinephrine (5 X 10(-10)-5 X 10(-5) M) produced concentration-dependent contractions of isolated renal arterial strips, which were significantly depressed by prior administration of phentolamine or phenoxybenzamine. Isoproterenol (4 X 10(-10)-4 X 10(-6) M) concentration dependently relaxed the strips under potassium contracture, but a high dose (4 X 10(-5) M) constricted them. Biphasic responses to isoproterenol were changed to concentration-dependent contractions by prior administration of propranolol, and abolished by propranolol together with phentolamine. Dopamine (5 X 10(-8)-5 X 10(-4) M) produced concentration-dependent contractions of human renal arteries, which were not significantly influenced by propranolol but which were reversed to relaxations by phentolamine. Dopamine-induced relaxations, which were obtained after administration of phentolamine, were not significantly affected by propranolol, but were significantly depressed by combined application of propranolol and haloperidol, or of propranolol and droperidol. Results suggest that isolated human renal arteries have dopaminergic receptors in their smooth muscles which show relaxations of renal arteries after alpha-adrenoceptor blockade.

Effects of some autonomic drugs on the isolated dog ureteral preparations showing spontaneous contractions were investigated quantitatively. Noradrenaline, adrenaline and phenylephrine produced increases in frequency and tension of the contractions which were reversed to decreases or depressed by phentolamine. Isoproterenol abolished the spontaneous contractions. Acetylcholine did not significantly change frequency and tension of the contractions. The results indicate that ureteral spontaneous contractions may be enhanced through an activation of alpha-adrenoceptors and be attenuated through an activation of beta-adrenoceptors. However, acetylcholine will not display an important role on the ureteral contractions.

Effects of prostaglandins (PGE1, PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and PGI2) on the isolated human minor calyceal strips were isometrically investigated in vitro. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha, 10(-7) to 10(-6) g/ml, increased the basal tone of spontaneous contractions. PGE1 and PGI2 did not affect the contractions of the isolated human minor calyceal strips. The increases on the basal tone induced by PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were not affected by the pretreatment with atropine, hexamethonium, and phentolamine. Following incubation in a Ca2+-free medium, spontaneous contractions and the responses to PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were abolished. The results suggest that the contractile effects of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha may not be mediated by activation of muscarinic, nicotinic, or alpha-adrenergic receptors and result from a consequent increase of the transmembrane Ca2+ influx.

Isolated dog urinary bladder showed spontaneous miniature contractions under a steady state. In dome preparations, norepinephrine and isoproterenol decreased the frequency of miniature contractions, while epinephrine produced biphasic responses on it; increase by low concentration and decrease by high concentrations. The height of miniature contractions was decreased by these drugs. In trigone preparations, norepinephrine and epinephrine increased the frequency of miniature contractions, while isoproterenol decreased it. These drugs decreased the height of miniature contractions. In both preparations, phentolamine enhanced the decreases in frequency and height by norepinephrine, epinephrine and isoproterenol, while propranolol depressed or reversed them. A computer analysis showed positive and significant correlations between changes in tension development of bladder and frequency and height of miniature contractions. Results indicate that miniature contractions in both dome and trigone of isolated dog urinary bladder are increased by activation of alpha-adrenoceptors and decreased by activation of beta-adrenoceptors.

Actions of some autonomic drugs on upper, middle and lower portion of isolated dog ureters under quiescent state were investigated quantitatively. Noradrenaline and adrenaline at lower concentrations evoked contractions in each portion of the ureters and increased the concentration-dependent frequency and tension of these contractions, but attenuated them at higher concentrations. Phentolamine significantly depressed these contractions, while propranolol enhanced them. Phenylephrine increased the concentration-dependent frequency and tension of contractions, which were suppressed by phentolamine. Acetylcholine at higher concentrations produced contractions of the ureters, and phentolamine or hexamethonium suppressed them. The results indicate that ureteral contractions may be stimulated through an activation of alpha-adrenoceptors and be attenuated through an activation of beta-adrenoceptors, and that acetylcholine may release noradrenaline from sympathetic nerve endings through an activation of presynaptic nicotinic receptors, resulting in ureteral contractions.

We report on an aldosterone-producing gigantic adrenocortical adenoma with calcifications and cysts, which we believe is rare.

The effects of primary prostaglandins (PGs) on the dome and trigone of the human urinary bladder were investigated in vitro. In the dome preparations, PGE1 (10(-9) to 10(-6) gm./ml.) showed a weak contractile effect, while PGE2 (10(-9) to 10(-6) gm./ml.) produced dose-dependent contractions. PGF2 alpha (10(-9) to 10(-6) gm./ml.) induced contractions greater than those induced by PGE1 and PGE2. In the trigone preparations, PGE1 (10(-9) to 10(-6) gm./ml.) had no effect, and PGE2 (10(-9) to 10(-6) gm./ml.) produced only a weak contractile response. PGF2 alpha (10(-9) to 10(-6) gm./ml.) showed a greater contractile potency than PGE2. Contractile responses of both preparations to PGE1, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were not affected by pretreatments of atropine, hexamethonium and phentolamine. These results suggest that the order of potency of primary PGs to induce contractile responses is PGF2 alpha greater than PGE2 greater than PGE1 in both the dome and the trigone preparations, and that the contractile effects of PGE1, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha may not be mediated by activation of muscarinic, nicotinic or adrenergic alpha-receptors.

A rare case of carcinosarcoma of the ureter is reported. Histologically, this neoplasia was an unusual heterologous carcinosarcoma of the ureter. 2 years after the initial total nephroureterectomy, the patient died from recurrence.

Effects of prostaglandins (PGs) E1, E2, E2 and F2 alpha on the vesical and urethral smooth muscles of dogs were isometrically investigated in vitro. In vesical smooth muscles, 10(-8)-10(-6) PGE1/ml produced biphasic responses in the dome preparations; relaxation at 10(-8) g/ml and contractions at 10(-7)-10(-6) g/ml. In the trigone preparations, 10(-8)-10(-6) g PGE1/ml caused dose-dependent contractions. 10(-8)-10(-6)M g PGE2/ml and 10(-7)-10(-6) g PGF2 alpha /ml induced dose-dependent contractions of the dome and the trigone preparations. In urethral smooth muscles, 10(-8)-10(-6) g PGE1/ml and 10(-8)-10(-6) g PGE2/ml produced dose-dependent relaxations, while 10(-8)-10(-6) g PGF2 alpha /ml caused dose-dependent contractions. Results indicate that PGE, particularly PGE2, is able to stimulate micturition through vesical contraction and urethral relaxation.