PCR detection of distal Yp sequences in an XX true hermaphrodite

An XX true hermaphrodite was examined for the presence of Y-specific sequences using Southern-blotting and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Of 25 loci examined, only two, the proximal border of the pseudoautosomal region (PABY) and the sex determining region of the Y chromosome (SRY), were detected. A crossing over event in paternal meiosis, proximal to the SRY locus but distal to the zinc finger protein (ZFY) locus, presumably transferred to two loci to the X chromosome.

Modulation of N-methyl-N-amylnitrosamine-induced rat oesophageal tumourigenesis by dietary feeding of diosmin and hesperidin, both alone and in combination

The modifying effects of flavonoids diosmin and hesperidin during the initiation and post-initiation phases of oesophageal carcinogenesis initiated with N-methyl-N-amylnitrosamine (MNAN) were investigated in male Wistar rats. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except those treated each test chemical alone and control groups were given weekly intraperitoneal injections of MNAN (12.5 mg/kg body weight/injection) for 12 weeks to induce oesophageal neoplasms. For examining the modifying effects of 'initiation' treatment of test compounds, groups of animals were fed the diets containing 1000 ppm diosmin and 1000 ppm hesperidin, and the diet containing both compounds (900 ppm diosmin and 100 ppm hesperidin) for 13 weeks, starting 7 days before the MNAN dosing and then switched to the basal diet. For examining the modifying effects of 'post-initiation' treatment of these compounds, the groups given MNAN and a basal diet were switched to the experimental diets containing diosmin, hesperidin or diosmin combined with hesperidin at 1 week after the stop of MNAN injection, and maintained on these diets for 7 weeks. The other groups consisted of rats given test compounds alone or untreated rats. All animals were necropsied at the termination of the study (week 20) to determine the incidences of oesophageal neoplasms and preneoplasms, blood polyamine levels, and cell proliferation activity estimated by 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labelling index and by morphometric analysis of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions' protein (AgNORs). A number of oesophageal neoplasms developed in rats treated with MNAN alone (75% and 100% incidences of carcinoma and papilloma, respectively). 'Initiation' feeding of diosmin significantly decreased the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (P < 0.05). Also, 'initiation feeding' of both compounds singly or in combination caused a significant reduction in the multiplicities of oesophageal carcinoma and papilloma (diosmin, 78 and 58% reduction; hesperidin, 70 and 50% reduction; and the combination regimen, 70 and 30% reduction, P < 0.005). 'Post-initiation' feeding slightly decreased the multiplicities of these oesophageal neoplasms. Also, these dietary regimens reduced the multiplicities of preneoplastic lesions (hyperplasia and severe dysplasia; P < 0.05). There were no pathological alterations in rats treated with both compounds alone or the combined regimen alone or those in an untreated control group. Similarly, feeding of these compounds significantly decreased the expression of cell proliferation biomarkers (BrdU-labelling index and AgNORs number) of the non-lesional oesophageal epithelium (P < 0.05). Blood polyamine concentrations were also lowered in rats given the carcinogen and test compounds, both alone and in combination, when compared with those of rats given MNAN alone (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that diosmin and hesperidin supplementation, individually or in combination, is effective in inhibiting the development of oesophageal cancer induced by MNAN when given during the initiation phase, and such inhibition might be related to suppression of increased cell proliferation caused by MNAN in the oesophageal mucosa.

Suppression of spermatogenesis in patients with Behçet's disease treated with cyclophosphamide and colchicine

Reproductive function was studied in 31 adult male patients with Behçet's disease during treatment with cyclophosphamide and/or colchicine for 1 to 64 months. Semen was obtained from 27 patients. Azoospermia or severe oligospermia was found in 13 of 17 patients receiving cyclophosphamide with or without colchicine, whereas the sperm count was almost normal in six patients treated with colchicine alone and in four patients receiving neither drug (control patients). Blood samples were available for 31 patients. The mean follicle-stimulating hormone level among 12 cyclophosphamide-treated patients was significantly higher than that of 6 colchicine-treated patients and 6 control patients. These results indicate that cyclophosphamide impairs spermatogenesis in adult men, whereas colchicine does not.

Human chorionic gonadotropin detected in urinary concentrates from patients with malignant tumors of the testis, prostate, bladder, ureter and kidney

Human chorionic gonadotropin levels in concentrated 24-hour urine and serum were determined by a specific radioimmunoassay of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in 47 patients with genitourinary carcinoma. Elevated human chorionic gonadotropin levels in urine were observed in 6 of 8 patients with active testicular tumor, 3 of 14 with prostatic cancer, 2 of 10 with bladder cancer, 1 of 2 with ureteral or renal pelvic tumors and 2 of 6 with renal cancer. Of the 14 patients with positive urinary human chorionic gonadotropin 4 had undetectable human chorionic gonadotropin levels in the serum. The tumors of all 8 patients with nontesticular cancer who had increased urinary human chorionic gonadotropin levels were in an advanced clinical stage or of poor histological differentiation. Our results suggest that some nontrophoblastic carcinomas of the genitourinary system are capable of ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin, particularly if the malignancy is advanced or poorly differentiated. The radioimmunoassay of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in concentrated 24-hour urine specimens enhances the sensitivity of detection of ectopic human chorionic gonadotropin production.

Molecular cloning and mapping of 10 new probes on the human Y chromosome

We have developed a novel positive cloning vector whose use precludes the cloning of any fragments less than 0.8 kb as well as 3.4-kb EcoRI fragments of DYZ1, the largest repeating-DNA family on the long arm of the human Y chromosome. Using this vector, we subcloned inserts of a Y-chromosome-specific phage library constructed from EcoRI-digested flow-sorted Y-chromosome DNA. Ten novel Y-specific fragments were obtained. Their localization on the Y chromosome was determined by deletion mapping using clinical samples with structurally abnormal Y chromosomes. The long arm of the Y chromosome was divided into 12 segments by the novel probes in combination with established probes. The amelogenin-like sequence, mapped on the long arm in Human Gene Mapping 10, has been mapped on the short arm.

Measurement of inhibin concentrations in men: study of changes after castration and comparison with androgen levels in testicular tissue, spermatic venous blood, and peripheral venous blood

We measured serum inhibin levels in eight untreated patients with prostatic cancer undergoing castration by RIA using an antiserum against 31-kDa bovine follicular fluid inhibin. The inhibin concentrations in testicular tissue and spermatic venous blood were also measured in six of these patients. Serum inhibin levels (mean +/- SD, 377.8 +/- 212.1 U/L), declined rapidly after castration (15 min after, 233 +/- 171.4; 30 min, 224.6 +/- 156.6; 1 h, 181.5 +/- 95.9; 2 h, 174.3 +/- 69.4; 4 h, 122 +/- 6.4; 6 h, less than 120). High concentrations of inhibin were detected in testicular tissue (31,360 +/- 15,180 U/kg), and the levels in spermatic venous blood (3,178.3 +/- 1,386.8 U/L) were approximately 10 times greater than those in peripheral blood (385.5 +/- 233.1 U/L). Testosterone levels were 1,968.2 +/- 992.3 nmol/kg in testicular tissue and approximately 100 times greater in spermatic venous blood (1,631.6 +/- 389.7 nmol/L) than in peripheral blood (18.0 +/- 4.4 nmol/L). These results suggest that circulating inhibin in men mainly originates from testis and that one of the routes of secretion is via the bloodstream.

Endocrine effects of cyproterone acetate in patients with prostatic cancer

Cyproterone acetate was given to patients with stages C and D prostatic cancer and its effect on endocrine parameters was studied. At a daily oral dose of 100 mg. cyproterone acetate induced marked reduction in the size and consistency of tumor, while it caused moderate suppression of serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone levels. Elevation of serum prolactin levels was observed after treatment with cyproterone acetate but was to a lesser degree than that caused by estrogens.

47,XXX male: A clinical and molecular study

We report a 53-year-old Japanese male with a 47,XXX karyotype. His clinical features included hypoplastic scrotal testes (4 ml bilaterally), normally formed small penis (3.8 cm), relatively poor pubic hair development (Tanner stage 3), gynecomastia, age-appropriate male height (159.1 cm), and mental retardation (verbal IQ of 56). Serum testosterone was markedly reduced (0.6 nmol/L). A needle biopsy showed severe testicular degeneration. FISH analysis revealed complex mosaicism consisting of (1) 47,XXX cells with a single copy of SRY (n = 177), two copies of SRY (n = 3), and no SRY (n = 1); (2) 46,XX cells with a single copy of SRY (n = 9) and no SRY (n = 3); (3) 45,X cells with no SRY (n = 5); and (4) 48,XXXX cells with a single copy of SRY (n = 1) and two copies of SRY (n = 1). PCR analysis showed the presence of Yp portion with the breakpoint between DYS264 and AMELY. Microsatellite analysis demonstrated three alleles for DMD and AR. X-inactivation analysis for the methylation status of the AR gene showed random inactivation of the three X chromosomes. The results suggest that this 47,XXX male has resulted from abnormal X-Y interchange during paternal meiosis and X-X nondisjunction during maternal meiosis. Complex mosaicism may be due to the age-related increase in mitotic nondisjunction which is prone to occur in rapidly dividing lymphocytes and to the presence of two randomly inactivated X chromosomes which may behave asynchronously during mitosis, and clinical features of this male would primarily be explained by the genetic information on the SRY (+) der(X) chromosome and his advanced age.

Childbirth in true hermaphrodite

14-year-old Japanese girl with a 46,XX karyotype underwent an exploratory laparotomy for signs of virilization. The left ovary and other pelvic organs were of female type. The right gonad was found to be an ovotestis which was removed. At age of 25, the patient gave birth to a normal male infant by full-term, vaginal delivery. In the literature, this is the third case of normal delivery in 7 true hermaphrodites with pregnancy and childbirth.

Identification and characterization of monocyte subpopulations from patients with bronchial asthma

Monocytes are inflammatory cells that accumulate in the airway in asthma. Monocytes constitute a heterogenous cell population in normal subjects. The heterogeneity of monocytes from nine patients with mild asthma and nine normal subjects was studied by means of discontinuous density gradient centrifugation with use of bovine serum albumin. The rate of low-density monocytes recovered from patients with asthma was higher than that obtained from normal subjects. The functional activity of monocyte fractions from asthmatic and control subjects was assessed by using the release of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and the intensity of lysosomal enzymes, such as acid phosphatase and nonspecific esterase. The low-density cells produced less IL-1 beta than did cells of higher density in normal subjects. The IL-1 beta release was increased in low-density monocytes from subjects with asthma when compared with the same fraction from normal subjects (p < 0.01). The low-density monocytes had a higher activity of lysosomal enzymes than did cells of higher density in both asthmatic and normal subjects. Electron microscopic studies showed that low-density monocytes from the subjects with mild asthma appeared to have the morphologic characteristics of activated cells with more vacuoles in this periphery. This study shows that low-density monocytes from subjects with asthma retain the ability to be activated in vivo and in vitro and may orchestrate immune reactions in mild asthma.

Photostimulated desorption and ortho-para conversion of H2 on Ag surfaces

Photostimulated desorption and change of the ortho-para ratio of H2 physisorbed on Ag at 7 K are reported. After pump laser excitation at 193 nm neutral H2 desorbing in a nonthermal process is state selectively detected by resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization. At weak pump laser fluence the natural ortho-para conversion of H2 on Ag was monitored to proceed with a conversion time of approximately 780 s, which is in good agreement with predictions based on an electron-exchange-hyperfine-contact model. With increasing pump laser fluence, the ortho-para ratio decreases faster, suggesting photoassisted ortho-para H2 conversion.

Two XX male brothers

Two brothers with XX male syndrome with penoscrotal hypospadias are reported. Chromosomal analysis of cells from the peripheral blood, skin, and testes revealed a normal female karyotype in both subjects. Biopsy of both testes in the brothers showed histological features of normal immature testes and no evidence of ovarian structures. Neither vagina, uterus nor fallopian tubes could be detected either by exploratory laparotomy or retrograde urethrography. Results of endocrine studies on serum gonadotropins (LH and FSH) and testosterone levels as well as their responses to LH-RH and hCG stimulation tests were normal for age. Studies of various genetic markers, including the Xg blood type and erythrocyte enzymes, were performed in the probands and their parents. Possible explanations for the paradoxical occurrence of testes in XX males and for the familial occurrence are discussed.

Urethrectomy is harmful for preserving potency after radical cystectomy

Twenty-three patients who underwent conventional total cystectomy were examined regarding postoperative potency. Two patients who were subjected to simple cystectomy and whose partial prostate and whole seminal vesicles were left showed full erection and normal ejaculation 1-2 months after surgery, thus giving 100% potency after simple cystectomy. In contrast, of 12 patients who underwent radical cystectomy alone, only 3 (25%) regained potency postoperatively, and the strength and duration of erection were not satisfactory for 1 of the 3 patients. Nine patients who received radical cystectomy and urethrectomy did not show signs of potency postoperatively. The sum total postoperative potency rate in the 21 patients subjected to radical cystectomy was 14.3% (3/21). The facts may indicate that urethrectomy is harmful for postoperative potency because damage of the cavernous nerves probably takes place during surgery. To avoid nerve damage, the urethra should be left intact during radical cystectomy employing the nerve-sparing technique developed by Walsh and Donker unless the posterior urethra is invaded by bladder carcinoma. In addition, it was demonstrated that pelvic irradiation might cause impotency as neither pelvic lymph node dissection nor cisplatin administration had any influence on postoperative potency.

Extremely Narrow Band Gap,∼1·50Ev, Amorphous Silicon

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films were prepared by a layer-by-layer (LBL) argon treatment technique. Thin amorphous silicon layers are first deposited and then treated by Ar. Thick films are built up by repeatedly the process many times. By reducing the deposition rate during deposition time (T, sec), a-Si:H with the gaps narrower than 1·55eV were prepared at substrate temperature lower than 300°C. These narrow-gap films contained less than 2 at.% hydrogen and had rigid Si network. Also, these narrow gap films exhibited good light soaking stability.

Zero-point vibration of hydrogen adsorbed on Si and Pt surfaces

Hydrogen atoms adsorbed on Si(111) and Pt(111) were investigated by nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) using 1H(15N,alphagamma)12C. From measurements of the NRA spectrum at normal and tilted ion incidences the zero-point vibrational energies of H on Si(111) in the perpendicular and parallel directions were found to be 123.4+/-4.6 and 44.6+/-6.2 meV, respectively, which are consistent with harmonic potentials. The zero-point energies obtained for Pt(111)-H were 80.8+/-3.9 and 62.1+/-6.0 meV for perpendicular and parallel directions, respectively. These results indicate that the stretching mode is harmonic, while the bending mode is strongly anharmonic.

Leiomyoma of the male urethra

Benign urethral tumors are rare in both sexes. Leiomyoma of the male urethra is extremely rare, while 20 female cases have been reported. This is the first well-documented case of male urethral leiomyoma.

Observation of nuclear excitation by electron transition in 197Au with synchrotron X rays and an avalanche photodiode

We have succeeded in observing nuclear excitation by electron transition (NEET) in 197Au by a new method. Monochromatic x-rays of synchrotron radiation were used to ionize the K shell of gold atoms in a target foil. The internal-conversion electrons emitted from excited nuclei were detected with a silicon avalanche photodiode. At a photon energy of 80.989 keV, the NEET probability in 197Au was determined to be (5.0+/-0.6)x10(-8) from a comparison of the event number per photon between NEET and the nuclear resonance at 77.351 keV.