No abstract

Prostate biopsy is usually performed without anesthesia. We evaluated the patient's perception of pain/discomfort experienced during the procedure in terms of the type of anesthesia used: periprostatic infiltration with 2% lidocaine, or intrarectal instillation of lidocaine-prilocain cream. A total of 198 patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (control group, n=40) received sonographic gel intrarectally prior to biopsy, group 2 (n=75) were given intrarectal instillation of lidocaine-prilocain cream, and group 3 (n=80) received periprostatic anesthesia by injecting 10 ml of 2% lidocaine. Pain after each biopsy was assessed using an 11-point linear visual analog pain scale. The mean pain scores were 5.1 in group 1, 4.8 in group 2, and 2.5 in group 3, resulting in a significant difference between group 3 and both groups 1 and 2, but not between groups 1 and 2. The incidence of biopsy-related adverse events did not differ among groups. Transrectal ultrasonographic guided periprostatic anesthesia is superior to intarectal instillation of lidocaine-prilocain cream.

Tungsten (W) is increasingly shown to be toxic to various organisms, including plants. Apart from inactivation of molybdo-enzymes, other potential targets of W toxicity in plants, especially at the cellular level, have not yet been revealed. In the present study, the effect of W on the cortical microtubule array of interphase root tip cells was investigated, in combination with the possible antagonism of W for the pathway of molybdenum (Mo). Pisum sativum seedlings were treated with W, Mo or a combination of the two, and cortical microtubules were examined using tubulin immunofluorescnce and TEM. Treatments with anti-microtubule (oryzalin, colchicine and taxol) or anti-actomyosin (cytochalasin D, BDM or ML-7) drugs and W were also performed. W-affected cortical microtubules were low in number, short, not uniformly arranged and were resistant to anti-microtubule drugs. Cells pre-treated with oryzalin or colchicine and then treated with W displayed W-affected microtubules, while cortical microtubules pre-stabilized with taxol were resistant to W. Treatment with Mo and anti-actomyosin drugs prevented W from affecting cortical microtubules. Cortical microtubule recovery after W treatment was faster in Mo solution than in water. The results indicate that cortical microtubules of plant cells are indirectly affected by W, most probably through a mechanism depending on the in vivo antagonism of W for the Mo-binding site of Cnx1 protein.

IntroductionAdrenal myelolipomas are relatively rare, non-functioning benign tumours composed of mature fatty and active hematopoietic elements. They can be asymptomatic, even if their size is massive. Diagnosis is relatively simple using ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical resection through an extraperitoneal approach is advocated in cases of symptomatic or large myelolipomas exceeding 5-cm in diameter. Their low incidence seems to be increasing from 0.2% to 10% during the last decade.Case presentationWe present a case of a giant adrenal myelolipoma in a 68-year-old Caucasian male, who was presented with left lumbar pain. Renal ultrasound, CT and MRI demonstrated a well demarcated mass, with a maximum diameter of 10-cm. The differential diagnosis comprised the adrenal myelolipoma, the retroperitoneal liposarcoma and the renal angiomyolipoma. Thus, the patient was subjected to a left adrenalectomy.ConclusionMultiple theories have been proposed for the increasing frequency and natural course of the adrenal myelolipoma, with chronic adrenal stimulation and the contemporary stressful lifestyle to be the most appealing. Surgical treatment is advocated through an extraperitoneal approach because of the quicker recovery of the patient and the smaller postoperative complication rate.

Spontaneous perforation of the ureter should be suspected after renal colic. Endourologic treatment offers excellent results, even for the management of acute complications.