Use of lymphocytic DNA by the urothelium of bladder tumors

In 35 rats tumors of the urinary bladder were induced by nitrosomethylurea. A rubber loop was established on the neck of the urinary bladder and tightened for 1.5 h. This allowed one to completely isolate the tumor from the circulation. Shortly after the tightening of the loop 3H-thymidine was injected intraperitoneally. The rats were sacrificed at different times after the loop was removed. The tumors were examined by histoautoradiography. Lymphocytes were the first labeled cells that appeared in the stroma of the tumors 9 h after operation. Following 36 hours the radioisotope was detectable in the epitheliocytes. That meant that the label was reutilized by the tumor urothelium. It was shown that the only donor of the isotope could be a live labeled lymphocyte transmitting its own DNA in the course of a direct contact with the tumor cell. That was a manifestation of the trophic function of lymphocytes. It is concluded that lymphocytes support the proliferative activity of the tumorous tissue.     

Evaluation of human bladder tumors by ultrastructural morphometric techniques

To estimate the malignancy of the human urinary bladder tumors, various cellular components of normal and neoplastic bladder epithelial cells were examined using morphometric techniques at the electron microscopic level. Nuclear to cytoplasmic ratios were found to be 1:5 in normal epithelial cells, 1:4 in superficial grade 1 (G1) tumor cells, 1:3 in superficial grade 2 (G2) tumor cells and 1:2 in invasive grade 3 (G3) tumor cells. Nuclear volumes were largest in G3 tumor cells, but no differences were seen in cell volumes between normal epithelial and tumor cells. The volumes and surface areas of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and lysosomes per cell decreased progressively from G1 to G3 tumor cells. The volume density of tonofilaments was increased in G1, but decreased in G2 and G3 tumor cells. The cisternal thickness of the rER and Golgi complex was also increased in G1 tumor cells. From these results, it was concluded that morphometric analysis may be useful in evaluating the degree of differentiation and invasive potential of human bladder tumor cells in the low and intermediate risk groups.     

Grading of urinary bladder tumors by automated microscopic image analysis

Studies were undertaken on biopsies from urinary papillomas and urothelial carcinomas of different grades (G1 to G3) along with normal urinary bladder mucosa from a total of 220 patients. They were performed by use of automated microscopic image analysis (system Robotron A 6471, software AMBA/R). As a result, the tumor grading was improved and lead to the separation of both papillomas and G1-carcinomas with high proliferative activity. In addition, it was possible to divide the G2-carcinomas into 2 groups which probably show a different biological behaviour.     

Sympathetic innervation of the rectum and bladder of the skate and parallel effects of ATP and adrenalin

1. Longitudinal muscles of the rectum of the skate are first briefly excited and then inhibited by stimulation of the sympathetic nerve fibres. 2. ATP, adrenalin and noradrenalin also produce inhibition. 3. 5HT is strongly excitatory but acetylcholine is only excitatory above 1 microM. 4. The rectum contracts strongly to mechanical stimulation; the response is not blocked by TTX. 5. The inhibitory actions of sympathetic stimulation or ATP were not blocked by guanethidine, propranalol, antazoline, theophylline or bee venom (apamin). 6. ATP continued to produce inhibition after the nerve response was blocked by TTX. 7. The urinary bladder gives slow rhythmic contractions, which are inhibited by nerve stimulation and by adrenalin but ATP has no action. 8. 5HT is strongly excitatory but acetylcholine has little action.     

On some improvements in the preparation of high-resolution radioautographs by the flat substrate method

Summary The flat substrate method of preparing high-resolution radioautographs is generally preferred for quantitative studies. Some experience with this method is reported. A glass slide holding device for the ultramicrotome is described. With it the transfer of sections to the easily damaged collodion-membrane is possible under microscopical control.     

3D realtime echography and echography assisted by a robotic arm for investigating astronauts in the ISS from the ground

As human will stay for long duration in isolated sites like ISS there will be a need to perform quick and reliable diagnosis to evaluate the gravity of the pathology in presence of clinical symptoms. Many pathological situations (abnormal heart rate, pericardic collection, mitral prolaps, cholecystis, renal lithiasis, normal and ectopic pregnancies, ovarian cyst, acute appendicitis, phlebitis ... ) may occur even if all the astronauts are absolutely normal and healthy preflight. Ultrasound echography and Doppler are non invasive methods easy to use in space and very well adapted and used in routine for such diagnosis at the hospital. The objective of the present project was to design a method that guarantee a reliable echographic diagnostic in an isolated site (space station or earth site) by a Medical Doctor located at the expert site that should be the Nasa control center for ISS. It is supposed that there is only a non sonographer person in the isolated site and that the transmission system (audio, video, numeric..) is the only link between the 2 sites. Two options are proposed: (a) A 3D realtime acquisition echograph that can record quickly all the echos of a volume containing the organ suspected to have a lesion, all these echo information being sent to the ground and processed by the ground experts, (b) A robotic arm that hangs the echo probe in the isolated site tele-operated (through sattelite network) from the ground by an expert in clinical ultrasound. (As the expert moves the joystick of his ground computer the robotic arm reproduces the same movements on the probe).     

Diagnosis of cerebello-pontine angle tumors

History and results of investigations in 34 patients with cerebello-pontine angle tumours are presented. Tumour was diagnosed in the first, audiological stage of the disease only in 4 patients. In 7 more patients additional symptoms of central nervous system focal disorders occurred. The remaining 23 patients were in the third stage of the disease with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. The main reason for such a late diagnosis of the tumour was neglecting of the early audiological symptoms of the disease by patients and by general practitioners as well.     

Characterization of ploidy level in bladder tumors and selected site specimens by flow cytometry

The histopathological grade of atypia was compared with the ploidy level in biopsy specimens from bladder tumors and six grossly normal areas (selected sites). The study included investigation of 303 specimens from 45 patients. The results demonstrated a high correlation between the grade of atypia and the occurrence of aneuploid cell populations. The selected site specimens were diploid in patients with low grade malignant tumors, while high grade malignant tumors were associated with aneuploid selected site specimens in 20% of the cases. The divergence of ploidy level in the tumor and selected site specimens found in some cases clearly demonstrated that the carcinogenic process in the bladder may lead to clonal heterogeneity. Flow cytometric analysis seems suited for mapping of the ploidy levels in different parts of the bladder. The possible importance of the additional information is discussed.