Development of somatic hybrids Solanum × michoacanum Bitter. (Rydb.) (+) S. tuberosum L. and autofused 4x S. × michoacanum plants as potential sources of late blight resistance for potato breeding

Phytophthora infestans resistant somatic hybrids of S. × michoacanum (+) S. tuberosum and autofused 4 x S. × michoacanum were obtained. Our material is promising to introgress resistance from S. × michoacanum into cultivated potato background. Solanum × michoacanum (Bitter.) Rydb. (mch) is a wild diploid (2n = 2x = 24) potato species derived from spontaneous cross of S. bulbocastanum and S. pinnatisectum. This hybrid is a 1 EBN (endosperm balance number) species and can cross effectively only with other 1 EBN species. Plants of mch are resistant to Phytophthora infestans (Mont) de Bary. To introgress late blight resistance genes from mch into S. tuberosum (tbr), genepool somatic hybridization between mch and susceptible diploid potato clones (2n = 2x = 24) or potato cultivar Rywal (2n = 4x = 48) was performed. In total 18,775 calli were obtained from postfusion products from which 1,482 formed shoots. The Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR), Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences (CAPS) and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses confirmed hybrid nature of 228 plants and 116 autofused 4x mch. After evaluation of morphological features, flowering, pollen stainability, tuberization and ploidy level, 118 somatic hybrids and 116 autofused 4x mch were tested for late blight resistance using the detached leaf assay. After two seasons of testing three somatic hybrids and 109 4x mch were resistant. Resistant forms have adequate pollen stainability for use in crossing programme and are a promising material useful for introgression resistance from mch into the cultivated potato background.

[Penile implants]

Many patients presenting with erectile dysfunction have been successfully treated with techniques mentioned earlier in this issue. However patients with an insufficient response are still candidates for the treatment with penile implants. For this reason it is mandatory to know about the indications, the systems and the operative techniques of penile implants. In a time of decreasing numbers of implant surgery this method still remains a valuable tool for the therapy of erectile dysfunction.

Clinical, cytogenetic and molecular analysis of three 46,XX males

Cytogenetic analysis, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were applied to characterize the Y-chromosomal breakpoints of three XX male patients. Two of these patients show a breakpoint within a protein kinase gene, PRKY, previously described as a hotspot of ectopic recombination between homologous regions on X and Y chromosomes during male meiosis. The slightly different clinical phenotypes of the three patients cannot be correlated with the localization of the breakpoints.

Intracervical placement of catheter balloon at hysterosalpingography

OBJECTIVE -- To describe the technique of hysterosalpingography with endocervical placement of the balloon of the catheter rather than endometrial placement. PATIENTS -- 48 consecutive patients undergoing hysterosalpingography in the course of infertility work-up at a university hospital. METHOD -- With the patient in the lithotomy position, the cervix is visualized and cleansed. The catheter and balloon are inserted in the cervical canal and inflated with the contrast agent. The contrast agent is injected slowly at low pressure, and three to six spot films are obtained. Only gentle traction can be applied by this method, so oblique views are obtained early in the examination. RESULTS -- Balloon placement was atraumatic. Although good views were obtained more frequently than with traditional techniques, about one-quarter of the studies were unsatisfactory. CONCLUSION -- This method is easy, atraumatic, and allows excellent visualization of the entire endometrial cavity and upper intracervical canal.

Endometrial assessment by vaginal ultrasonography before endometrial sampling in patients with postmenopausal bleeding

Endometrial sampling is the mainstay of management of the postmenopausal patient with uterine bleeding. Thirty women with postmenopausal bleeding were studied prospectively. Before endometrial sampling, a vaginal probe ultrasonographic examination was performed. Eleven patients demonstrated a thin "pencil line" endometrial echo in which the maximum anteroposterior thickness on the long axis view was less than or equal to 5 mm. All eleven patients had minimal tissue obtained on biopsy and a pathology report of "tissue insufficient for diagnosis." Seventeen patients had an echogenic endometrium greater than or equal to 6 mm. Pathology reports of their samples revealed tissue insufficient for diagnosis (two cases), proliferative endometrium (six), secretory endometrium (three), hyperplastic endometrium (three), polyp (two), and endometrial cancer (one case). Two additional patients had no endometrial echo visualized because of associated myomas. These findings suggest (1) that the absence of significant endometrial tissue (echo less than or equal to 5 mm) on vaginal ultrasonography in cases with postmenopausal bleeding is uniformly associated with tissue insufficient for diagnosis, and (2) when endometrial thickness is greater than or equal to 6 mm the histologic diagnosis should be determined in the pathology laboratory.

Long-term results of deep dorsal penile vein transsection in venous impotence

29 individuals with venous impotence underwent transsection of the deep dorsal penile vein, of the superficial and ectopic veins, if any. 19 patients responded initially with either spontaneous erections or increased sensitivity of the cavernous bodies to intracorporeal papaverine. 1 patient developed postoperative priapism. The majority of patients who failed to respond had major leakage into the cavernous veins or abnormal connections between the spongious and cavernous bodies. An intraoperative decrease of flow rates to induce and maintain erection was found to be indicative for response. 10 individuals developed secondary erectile dysfunction 4-24 months after the initial response. A more extensive surgical approach should be considered to improve long-term success rates.

Comparative evaluation of New York City and modified Thayer-Martin media for isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Commercially manufactured New York City (NYC) medium and modified Thayer-Martin (MTM) medium were compared for their ability to isolate Neisseria gonorrhoeae from clinical specimens. Twenty-seven public health laboratories throughout California evaluated 4,802 specimens collected from patients attending either sexually transmitted disease or family planning clinics. Total of 726 and 737 N. gonorrhoeae isolates were recovered from NYC and MTM medium, respectively. Although less contamination was noted on NYC medium, MTM medium was equivalent to commercially prepared NYC medium for the isolation of N. gonorrhoeae from clinical specimens.