Differentiation of Smooth Muscle Cells from Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Cells Implanted in the Freeze-Injured Mouse Urinary Bladder

Background: The multipotency of human amniotic mesenchymal cells (HAMCs) has been reported, but the role of HAMCs in urinary tract regeneration is unknown. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine if cells derived from HAMCs support the structural and functional reconstruction of freeze-injured mouse bladders. Design, setting, and participants: HAMCs were harvested from an amnion membrane, and cells were cultured for 7 d prior to injection into the freeze-injured bladder walls of nude mice. Intervention: Three days prior to implantation, the posterior bladder walls were freeze injured for 30 s. The cultured HAMC-derived cells (0.5 x 10(5) cells per 50 mu l) were implanted into the injured regions. Control bladders received a cell-free injection. At 1, 2, 4, and 6 wk after the cell implantation, the experimental bladders were extirpated. Measurements: The bladder tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry for alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA). The HAMC-derived cells were detected by antihuman nuclei antibody (HuNu). Separately, bladder muscle strips were examined for contractile responses to potassium. Results and limitations: At 1 wk after implantation, the HAMC-derived cells, which were detected by HuNu, differentiated into muscular layers composed of SMA-positive cells. From 2 to 6 wk after implantation, abundant layers of SMA-positive and HuNu-positive cells developed. In control bladders, few SMA-positive cells remained at the injured regions at 1 wk, but by 6 wk, more were present. At 1 wk, the contractile responses to potassium of the cell-implanted bladders were significantly higher than those of the control-injected ones. Control-injected bladders also recovered by 6 wk, but the rate of recovery was slower. Conclusions: Freeze-injured mouse bladders implanted with HAMC-derived cells recovered morphology and function faster than control-injected bladders.ArticleEUROPEAN UROLOGY. 58(2):299-306 (2010)journal articl

A Novel Technique for the Avoiding Catheter Dislodgment Caused by Atrio-Ventricular Dissociation after Elimination of the Accessory Pathway

We hypothesized that the atrio-ventricular (AV) dissociation occurring after elimination of the accessory pathway conduction during right ventricular (RV) pacing made the stability of the ablation catheter worse. We confirmed this hypothesis by using a pacing model. As a simulation model, sequential ventriculo-atrial (VA) pacing was designed and stud ied in 20 pa tients without VA conduction. Prior to the sequential VA pacing, 3 catheters were positioned in the RV, right atrium (RA) and at the tricuspid valve annulus (TVA), respectively. The sequential VA pacing consisted of continuous RV pacing at a cycle length of 600 ms and RA pacing. The RA was paced at an interval of 125 ms following the RV pacing. To induce AV dissociation, RA pacing was abruptly terminated during continuous sequential VA pacing. We observed the motion of the catheter tip on the TVA before and after RA pacing using fluoroscopy in the 30? right anterior oblique (RAO) and 45? left anterior oblique (LAO) views. The catheter tip position in the end-systolic and end-diastolic phases was confirmed in each projection, and the distance of the catheter tip between these 2 phases was measured. The mean value of the catheter tip distance between the 2 phases obtained with sequential VA pacing and fusion beats was 7.5 ± 3.2 and 21.0 ± 8.3 mm in the RAO (P < 0.001) and 8.0 ± 4.5 and 19.0 ± 8.6 mm in the LAO views (P < 0.001), respectively. Further, we proposed a new pacing maneuver to stabilize the ablation catheter position after the elimination of accessory pathway conduction. Using sequential VA pacing, we examined catheter tip movement during RF current delivery in 6 patients with the concealed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. During RF current delivery, catheter dislodgment did not occur in any patients after the accessory pathway was eliminated when no fusion beats occurred. In conclusion, AV dissociation occurring after elimination of the accessory pathway conduction during RV pacing worsened the stability of the ablation catheter. Furthermore, a new pacing maneuver during the RF application provided a useful method for maintaining stable catheter position for catheter ablation of accessory pathways

Different expression of macrophages and microglia in rat spinal cord contusion injury model at morphological and regional levels.

Macrophages and microglia are implicated in spinal cord injury, but their precise role is not clear. In the present study, activation of these cells was examined in a spinal cord injury model using 2 different antibodies against ED1 clone and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1). Activation was observed at 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after contusion injury and was compared with sham operated controls. Our results indicate that activation could be observed in both the dorsal funiculus and the ventral white matter area in the spinal cord at 5 mm rostral to the epicenter of injury. For both cells, there was a gradual increase in activation from 1-4 weeks, followed by down-regulation for up to 12 weeks. As a result, we could stain macrophages by ED1 and microglia by Iba1. We concluded that macrophages may play a role in the phagocytosis of denatured dendrites after spinal cord injury, while microglia may have some cooperative functions, as they were found scattered near the macrophages.</p

Enhancing effects of salicylate on tonic and phasic block of Na+ channels by class 1 antiarrhythmic agents in the ventricular myocytes and the guinea pig papillary muscle

AbstractObjective: To study the interaction between salicylate and class 1 antiarrhythmic agents. Methods: The effects of salicylate on class 1 antiarrhythmic agent-induced tonic and phasic block of the Na+ current (INa) of ventricular myocytes and the upstroke velocity of the action potential (Vmax) of papillary muscles were examined by both the patch clamp technique and conventional microelectrode techniques. Results: Salicylate enhanced quinidine-induced tonic and phasic block of INa at a holding potential of −100 mV but not at a holding potential of −140 mV; this enhancement was accompanied by a shift of the h∞ curve in the presence of quinidine in a further hyperpolarized direction, although salicylate alone did not affect INa. Salicylate enhanced the tonic and phasic block of Vmax induced by quinidine, aprindine and disopyramide but had little effect on that induced by procainamide or mexiletine; the enhancing effects were related to the liposolubility of the drugs. Conclusions: Salicylate enhanced tonic and phasic block of Na+ channels induced by class 1 highly liposoluble antiarrhythmic agents. Based on the modulated receptor hypothesis, it is probable that this enhancement was mediated by an increase in the affinity of Na+ channel blockers with high lipid solubility to the inactivated state channels

ミュラー管遺残と精管, 射精管との交通:症例報告および文献的考察

14ヵ月男児.患者は繰り返す左精巣上体炎で入院となった.超音波検査では膀胱後部に円形の嚢胞性腫瘤を認め, 排尿時膀胱造影では後部尿道と交通していた.更に内視鏡の結果では, 嚢胞は精阜の中央に尿道との交通を認め, 嚢胞壁の生検では扁平上皮と判明した.以上より, 拡張した前立腺小子宮と診断し, 左精管結紮術を施行した.拡張した前立腺小子宮に精管が開口することは, きわめて稀な病態であると考えられたA 14-month-old boy with repeated left acute epididymitis was admitted to our department. Ultrasonography detected a midline round cystic mass in a retrovesical region. This was easily opacified by cystourethrography and seen to have a free communication with the posterior urethra. Since urethroscopy revealed a passable orifice in the center of the verumontanum, while a cystic-wall biopsy specimen showed squamous epithelium, we considered this cystic lesion to be an enlarged prostatic utricle. Vasography showed that the bilateral vasa was implanted directly into this cystic lesion, and was the possible cause of his left epididymitis. Ligature of the left vas deferens was performed to prevent left epididymitis. An enlarged prostatic utricle involving the vasa is a rare presentation

膀胱癌による直腸輪状狭窄の3例

Invasive bladder cancers frequently show lymphatic or hematogenous metastasis. Furthermore, aggressive local invasion into adjacent structures is also commonly observed. However, the occurrence of rectal stricture due to infiltration by bladder cancer is relatively rare. Here, we report three patients with aggressive bladder cancer causing rectal obstruction.浸潤型の膀胱癌においては, リンパ行性や血行性の転移はよくみられ, また隣接臓器への局所浸潤も稀ではない.しかしながら膀胱癌の進展に伴う直腸狭窄症例は比較的稀である.われわれは膀胱癌に伴う直腸狭窄を3例経験し, その機序につき考察した(著者抄録

Sewer Culvert Installation Method to Accommodate Underground Construction in an Urban Area with Narrow Streets

In recent years, a reconstruction project for sewer pipelines has been progressing in Japan with the aim of renewing old sewer culverts. However, it is difficult to secure a sufficient base area for shafts in an urban area because many streets are narrow with a complex layout. As a result, construction in such urban areas is generally very demanding. In urban areas, there is a strong requirement for a safe, reliable and economical construction method that does not disturb the public's daily life and urban activities. With this in mind, we developed a new construction method called the 'shield switching type micro-tunneling method' which integrates the micro-tunneling method and shield method. In this method, pipeline is constructed first for sections that are gently curved or straight using the economical micro-tunneling method, and then the method is switched to the shield method for sections with a sharp curve or a series of curves without establishing an intermediate shaft. This paper provides the information, features and construction examples of this newly developed method