The effect of 5α androstandiol on the primate prostate

[No abstract available

The gubernaculum during testicular descent in the pig fetus

The role of the gubernaculum during testicular descent was investigated in a study of 119 male pig fetuses obtained at gestational ages ranging from 53 to 116 days. Histologically the gubernaculum was shown to consist of primitive mesenchymal cells with an abundant intercellular material containing glycosaminoglycans (mucopolysaccharides). Rapid descent of the testis through the inguinal canal occurred between 77 and 88 days' gestation, while sustained but slower descent occurred up to 109 days. There was a dramatic increase in the total wet mass of the gubernaculum at the commencement of rapid testicular descent from 77 to 81 days, and a further increase in wet mass during sustained descent from 91 to 95 days. In the period just prior to rapid testicular descent (day 74-81) the percentage increase in the water content of the gubernaculum was larger than the percentage increase in the dry mass. After descent of the testis (day 95-109) there was a decrease in the water content, but also an increase in the dry mass of the gubernaculum. No comparable increase in the water content of umbilical cord or striated muscle tissue occurred during the period of testicular descent. Thus, the marked swelling of the gubernaculum, which dilates the inguinal canal and scrotum and may possibly exert traction on the testis by the force of its expansion, is due largely to an accumulation of water by the gubernaculum. This process may be mediated by the intercellular glycosaminoglycans, since these poly-anionic macromolecules are known to have a large hydrodynamic volume and can act as a 'water trap'.Articl

Agenesis of the bladder and urethra: A case report

Agenesis of the bladder is an extremely rare congenital anomaly. We describe a girl with complete agenesis of the bladder and urethra, who is alive 2 years after bilateral cutaneous ureterostomy.Articl

Hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the gubernaculum during testicular descent in the fetus

The role of the gubernaculum during testicular descent was investigated in 115 male pig fetuses ranging from 68 to 109 days of gestation. Descent of the testis through the inguinal canal occurred between 77 and 94 days. There was a marked increase in the total and relative wet mass as well as the wet/dry mass ratio of the gubernaculum, denoting an increase in the water content of this structure during descent of the testis. Similar changes were not seen in other fetal tissues. Asymmetrical descent of the testes occurred in seven of the 40 fetuses between 81 and 92 days of gestation. Descended testes had gubernacula with a greater relative wet mass than the gubernacula of undescended testes. These findings indicate that the increase in mass of the gubernaculum plays an important part in testicular descent. An increase in both the DNA content (hyperplasia) and the RNA/DNA ratio (hypertrophy) was noted in the gubernaculum during descent of the testis. Hyperplasia in the gubernaculum occurred at a rapid rate initially and ceased after the completion of descent. Hyperplasia was also seen in the testis and epididymis, but occurred at a slower rate initially, with a rapid acceleration after the completion of descent. Cellular hypertrophy was not noted in the testis and epididymis, but did occur in umbilical cord tissue. If gonadotropins acting via androgen secretion by the testis provide the stimulus for these changes, the observed difference in response between the gubernaculum and testis could be due to a difference in end-organ sensitivity. However, it is also possible that some unidentified non-androgenic gubernaculotropin, possibly secreted by the fetal testis, provides the stimulus for gubernacular growth.Articl

Reflecting on GIS–related research in South Africa: 1980-2012

Since the early 1980s, geographic information systems (GIS) have increasingly been applied in research or used to support research in South Africa. The nature and extent of such research has not been investigated, and this paper seeks to address this hiatus. A number of academic databases were consulted to identify South African authored peer-reviewed academic papers and postgraduate dissertations referring to GIS in the title, keywords or abstract. A total of 468 papers and 238 dissertations were identified and analysed for temporal and spatial trends, fields of application and methods and techniques in GIS-related research. This paper shows that the use of GIS as a research technique in South African has increased considerably since the mid-1990s, reflected by continuing growth in peer-reviewed articles, but a decrease in postgraduate writings since 2005. Possible reasons for the observed trends are suggestedhttp://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rsag20/currenthttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03736245.2013.806106DOI:10.1080/03736245.2013.80610

Stab wounds associated with hematuria: A review of 67 cases

The clinical records of 67 patients who underwent surgical exploration for stab wounds associated with hematuria were reviewed in an attempt to evaluate the need for mandatory operation and to define criteria for possible nonoperative management of such cases. Minor renal injuries without associated intra-abdominal lacerations were found in 61% of the patients. Delayed renal hemorrhage occurred in 15% of the patients despite early exploration, suture and drainage of the kidney, and antibiotic prophylaxis. Of 7 nephrectomies 5 were performed for secondary hemorrhage. Postoperative pulmonary complications arose in 28% of the patients. A policy of mandatory operation on all patients with stab wounds and hematuria led to apparently needless surgery in 61% of the patients in this series. Retrospective analysis revealed that the rate of probably unnecessary operations could have been reduced to 24% by selecting for operation only those patients with signs of severe hemorrhage, associated intra-abdominal injury or major extravasation of contrast material on excretory urography.Articl

Prostate carcinoma - the value of T stage and grade in predicting metastases and prognosis

[No abstract available]Articl

The glycosaminoglycans of the gubernaculum during testicular descent in the fetus

Tissues were obtained from 387 male pig fetuses ranging from 60 to 120 days of gestation. The relative wet mass and water content of the gubernaculum increased and decreased after the period of testicular descent. The extracellular glycosaminoglycans (GAG) were assayed to determine whether these polyanionic macromolecules are responsible for the increased water content of the gubernaculum. The total GAG/wet tissue mass in the gubernaculum decreased during and increased after descent, while the total GAG/dry mass decreased during and after descent, indicating an accumulation of water during descent, with a loss of water and an increase in less hydrated tissue components after descent. The major GAG fraction in the gubernaculum was dermatan sulfate, but the percentage hyaluronate in the gubernaculum was two times higher than in striated muscle or umbilical cord, indicating that this GAG fraction may be responsible for the increased water content of the gubernaculum, which probably serves to dilate the inguinal canal and scrotum, thus facilitating descent.Articl

Measuring spirituality in South Africa: Validation of instruments developed in the USA

Spirituality is receiving increased attention in the context of the workplace. Research consistently shows that spirituality is significantly correlated with mental health and well-being. Most of the research on spirituality, particularly in the context of the workplace, is conducted with instruments developed in the USA. However, the inter-cultural measurement of constructs remains a concern, because instruments developed in one culture are not necessarily transferable to another culture. In the current study, the transferability of two spiritual measures developed in the USA, namely the Human Spirituality Scale (HSS) and the Organizational Spirituality Values Scale (OSVS) are considered for a sample from South Africa. The results confirm the construct validity of the HSS and the OSVS, but indicate that the factor structures of the HSS and the OSVS should be analysed and reconfirmed when used, particularly in a South African sample. The study provides evidence that the HSS and the OSVS cannot be transferred indiscriminately to a South African sample. This insight contributes to the quality of future research studies in South Africa, not only on the important aspect of spirituality, but also when applying instruments developed elsewhere in the world.http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/09540261.asp2015-07-01hb201