Association of intestinal peptide transport with a protein related to the cadherin superfamily

The first step in oral absorption of many medically important peptide-based drugs is mediated by an intestinal proton-dependent peptide transporter. This transporter facilitates the oral absorption of beta-lactam antibiotics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors from the intestine into enterocytes lining the luminal wall. A monoclonal antibody that blocked uptake of cephalexin was used to identify and clone a gene that encodes an approximately 92-kilodalton membrane protein that was associated with the acquisition of peptide transport activity by transport-deficient cells. The amino acid sequence deduced from the complementary DNA sequence of the cloned gene indicated that this transport-associated protein shares several conserved structural elements with the cadherin superfamily of calcium-dependent, cell-cell adhesion proteins.

Spontaneous rupture of renal artery aneurysm

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Osteitis pubis as a mimic of prostatic pain

Thirty-five patients with pain suggesting a prostatic origin but with no evidence of active prostatic inflammation presented between 1979 and 1982 and were diagnosed as having osteitis pubis. The clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of osteitis pubis are presented together with the results of treatment.

The role of selective internal urethrotomy in the management of urethral stricture: a multi-centre evaluation

The advent of selective internal urethrotomy under direct vision has enabled precision endoscopic surgery to be undertaken on a wide range of urethral strictures. A multi-centre survey of 197 cases involving 322 urethrotomy procedures from 5 urological departments in England is reported. The overall results after a follow-up of up to 4 years suggest that there is no indication for further procedures currently existing in 160 (81%) of those cases subjected to selective internal urethrotomy. The additional injection of triamcinalone acetate into the strictured area prior to urethrotomy is recommended in resistant cases. The procedure of selective internal urethrotomy is, in our opinion; the best primary method for the treatment of urethral stricture, and it is hoped this will reduce the indications for anastomotic or substitution urethroplasty.

Consequences of vasectomy: an immunological and histological study related to subsequent fertility

Studies of 2 groups of patients 2 years and 8 years following vasectomy failed to demonstrate evidence of cell mediated immunity to sperm. Histological examination of testicular tissue from 11 patients undergoing reversal of vasectomy showed significant abnormalities in each. However, subsequent fertility within 15 months occurred in 7 (63.6%) of these patients. The nature of the testicular changes and the possible aetiological factors are discussed.

Reversal of vasectomy

Vasovasostomy to reverse a previous vasectomy for sterilization was attempted for 27 men, the procedure being technically impossible in only one case. A testicular biopsy was performed at the time of operation and a number were investigated for cell-mediated immunity to sperm and for the presence of circulating sperm-agglutinating and cytotoxic antibodies. The first 17 cases have been studied and of these there have been 11 pregnancies, ten of which have already come to term with the birth of normal infants, including one set of twins. Of the rest, two are known to have oligozoospermia and four have been lost to follow-up, although two of them were euspermic when last examined. In spite of these encouraging results, it is considered that there are no grounds for alterning the present basis of vasectomy counseling which is that the operation is likely to be irreversible.

Experience wiht vasovasostomy: operative technique and results

Between 1972 and 1977 vasovasostomy to reverse a previous vasectomy for contraception has been attempted in 27 cases. The procedure was abandoned as a technical impossiblity in only 1 case. The first 17 have been studied and in these there have been 11 pregnancies, 10 of which have already come to term with the birth of normal children, including one set of twins. Of the remainder, 2 are known to have oligozoospermia and 4 have been lost to follow-up although 2 of these were euspermic when last heard of. In spite of the encouraging results it is considered that there are no grounds for altering the present basis of vasectomy counselling in which the operation is described as likely to be irreversible.