Calcium enhanced delivery of tetraarginine-PEG-lipid-coated DNA/protamine complexes.

As we have previously reported the delivery of plasmid DNA (DNA) complexed with oligoarginine-PEG artificial lipids (oligoarginine/DNA complexes), we focused on tetra- and decaarginine (Arg4, Arg10) to improve transfection efficiency by both the formation of oligoarginine-coated DNA complexed with protamine (PD), and the addition of Ca(2+) after formation of complexes. The efficiency of DNA condensation was determined by gel electrophoresis. Cellular uptake and transfection efficiency were evaluated in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells using flow cytometry and luciferase assay. Oligoarginine-coated PD enhanced transfection efficiency significantly more than complexes where Arg10 in both vectors exhibited higher transfection efficiency than Arg4. As assessed by gel retardation assay, high gene expression by Arg10 may be explained by Arg4 binding DNA more strongly than Arg10. The addition of Ca(2+) to incubation medium increased transfection efficiency of Arg4-coated PD 70-fold, similar to that of Arg10-coated PD alone without an increase of cellular uptake, suggesting that Ca(2+) induced the release of DNA from complexes in endosomes. Only Arg4 with low cytotoxicity could gain an advantage from Ca(2+) in transfection, but Arg10 with relatively high cytotoxicity could not. The present results demonstrate that Arg4-coated PD with Ca(2+) has great potential as an efficient non-viral vector with low toxicity.

[Giant cystic pheochromocytoma: a case report].

The patient, a 59-year-old woman, was referred to our University Hospital for evaluation of a left mass. Ultrasonography revealed a left adrenal cystic mass. On excretory urograms, the left kidney was pressed downward by a suprarenal mass, and computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed an adrenal cyst. 131I-meta-iodo-benzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy showed prominent accumulation in the left adrenal mass and the capsule. Considering the elevation of catecholamines in both blood and urine samples, we performed a left adrenalectomy with a presumptive diagnosis of pheochromocytoma (tumor size: 11.6 x 7.5 x 6.5 cm, tumor weight 720 g). The subsequent pathological examination confirmed a left giant cystic pheochromocytoma. 131I-MIBG scintigraphy was the most useful tool in the diagnosis of the cystic pheochromocytoma.

Drug interactions between theophylline and H2-antagonists, roxatidine acetate hydrochloride and cimetidine: pharmacokinetic analysis in rats in vivo.

The effects of roxatidine acetate hydrochloride (Rox) on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline were compared to those of cimetidine in rats in vivo, Cimetidine or Rox was maintained at a steady state level using continuous infusion, then theophylline was injected into the rats as a bolus (7.5 mg/kg). Cimetidine showed competitive inhibition of theophylline elimination in vivo, with an inhibition constant (Ki) of 28.5 microM. Cimetidine significantly decreased the total body clearance and extended the plasma half-life of theophylline, but did not change its volume of distribution. In contrast, Rox did not significantly influence the pharmacokinetics of theophylline in rats. The in vivo animal model used in the present study for investigating the mechanism of the drug interaction showed good agreement with the results obtained in clinical and in vitro studies.

[Urethral condyloma acuminatum with severe dysplasia in a male patient detected human papillomavirus type 11: a case report].

We report a case of urethral condyloma acuminatum with severe dysplasia detected human papillomavirus (HPV) type 11. A 47-year-old male patient visited St. Luke's International Hospital complaining of tumor at the urethral meatus. One small papillary lesion was found and excised. Histopathological examination revealed condyloma acuminatum with severe dysplasia. Immunohistochemical detection for HPV antigen in the specimen of condyloma acuminatum was positive and that of severe dysplasia was negative. In an electron microscopical study, viral particles were demonstrated only in the specimen of condyloma acuminatum. Detection of HPV DNA was performed using in situ hybridization (ISH) and southern blot hybridization (SBH). HPV type 11 was found in both lesions. In conclusion, although previous studies have shown that HPV type 16/18 was especially correlated with genital severe dysplasia and carcinoma, the process of malignant transformation was suggested in the association with HPV type 11.

A case report of inflammatory pseudosarcoma of the urinary bladder.

A case of inflammatory pseudosarcoma of the urinary bladder in a 35-year-old Japanese male is presented. This benign lesion can easily be mistaken for spindle cell sarcoma since it consists of rhabdomyoblast-like elongated strap cells showing infiltrative growth, and whether it is benign or malignant is difficult to determine by microscopic examination. In this case, spindle cell proliferation extended among bundles of the superficial muscle layer. However, no abnormal mitoses, severe nuclear atypia or cellular pleomorphism could be seen, thus indicating inflammatory pseudosarcoma. Although the lesion was not completely resected, no recurrent disease has been clinically observed for two years following transurethral resection. Urologists and surgical pathologists must be able to detect this lesion in order to avoid unnecessary surgical procedures.

[Anti-bacterial zeolite balloon catheter and its potential for urinary tract infection control].

We present here a production of anti-bacterial zeolite balloon catheter and investigated its potential for controlling urinary tract infection. This anti-bacterial balloon catheter showed a bactericidal effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in vitro studies. The antibacterial effects were correlated with the concentration of anti-bacterial zeolite and size of catheter. We tried this catheter for 11 various urological patients who needed a long-term indwelling of a balloon catheter for lower urinary tract obstruction and neurogenic bladder. All patients were already indwelled silicon balloon catheter for 3 to 6 months and suffered with complicated urinary tract infection. Nine patients who had this anti-bacterial zeolite balloon catheter indwelled for 3 to 7 months and exchanged every 2 to 4 weeks, and no patient was taking antibiotics during this trial. Two patients (22.2%) showed good results by the urinary tract infection (UTI) criteria and 5 patients (55.4%) showed good effects by doctor's judgment. This anti-bacterial zeolite balloon catheter might be useful for patients who need long-term balloon catheter indwelling.