[Urinary Diversion Using an Appendicovesicostomy for Idiopathic Urethral Stricture : A Case Report].

A 55-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with dysuria. We were unable to catheterize her using a nelaton catheter because of a urethral stricture, resulting in a large residual urine volume on ultrasonography. The circumference of the periurethral tissue was also thickened and the entire length of the urethra was stenotic, without apparent cause, on magnetic resonance imaging. Biopsy did not reveal malignancy. The pathological diagnosis of the periurethral tissue was simply fibrosis, and there was no definitive diagnosis. We decided to place a guidewire to attempt transurethral dilation, but it was unsuccessful because of the urethral stricture. The patient then underwent Mitrofanoff appendicovesicostomy. Three years later, there was no difficulty with catheterization through the appendix, despite her suffering from a bladder stone during the interim. We consider the Mitrofanoff appendicovesicostomy a good substitute technique for catheterization in patients with very severe urethral stricture.

[Laparoscopic Radical Cystectomy in the Elderly Patients].

We compared the perioperative and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) between elderly patients over 75 years old and younger patients. Fifty-three patients underwent LRC between 2003 and 2014 at Tenriyorozu Hospital. Eighteen patients were classified as elderly (over 75) and the other 35 patients were considered young. The median operating time (434 vs 465 min, p＝0.35), estimated bloodloss (534 vs 525 g, p＝0.74), time to recommencing foodintake (7 vs 6 days, p＝1.00), and hospital stay (35 vs 32 days, p＝0.81) were not significantly different between the groups. Perioperative pyelonephritis was significantly more frequent in the elderly group (50% vs 20%, p＝0.02), while other complications were not significantly different between the two groups. The perioperative mortality rate was 0% in both groups. There were no significant differences between the elderly and young groups with respect to 2-year overall survival (74. 4% vs 91. 6%), cancer-specific survival (74. 4% vs 91. 6%), and recurrence-free survival (70.2% vs 81. 8%). LRC is a safe andefficient procedure for selected elderly patients.

[Case of juxtaglomerular cell tumor (reninoma) treated with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy].

We report a case of a 22-year-old male with juxtaglomerular cell tumor treated with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. He was referred to our hospital with hypertension, high concentration of plasma renin activity (PRA) and renal mass. Dynamic enhanced computed tomography showed 17-mm weak contrast-enhancing tumor at the upper pole of the left kidney. Renin suppression and stimulation test revealed autonomous renin secretion although renal venous sampling failed to show significant difference in the PRA between the right and left renal vein. We performed laparoscopic left partial nephrectomy. The histological diagnosis was juxtaglomerular cell tumor. After the operation, his blood pressure and PRA were immediately normalized. Juxtaglomerular cell tumor is an important renal tumor as a curable cause of secondary hypertension.

[A case with hepatitis and interstitial pneumonitis caused by intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation].

A 49-year man, with past history of right total nephroureterectomy due to urothelial carcinoma of the right renal pelvis in September 2006 and left partial ureterectomy due to contralateral ureteral recurrence in October 2007, underwent TUR-BT due to superficial high-grade recurrent bladder cancer. After TUR-Bt, he was treated with intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation at weekly intervals. Just after 5th instillation, he suffered a continuous high fever up to 38 degrees C and complained of general fatigue. Chest CT showed diffuse micronodular shadows in both lungs, and serum liver enzyme was markedly elevated. All cultures from his sputum and urine were negative for mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB-PCR test and quantiferon were also negative. These findings together with no improvement of the symptoms with anti-tuberculous treatment finally made us to judge that this was due to a hypersensitivity reaction to BCG. Soon after pulse steroid therapy, body temperature was normalized and the abnormal findings of the lung and liver disappeared.

[Comparison of intracytoplastic sperm injection outcomes with fresh and frozen-thawed testicular sperm].

Testicular sperm can be obtained from patients with non-obstructive azoospermia. However, there is not enough evidence concerning whether fresh or frozen-thawed sperm is better for successful pregnancy. We retrospectively compared initial treatment results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using fresh and frozen-thawed testicular sperm in our institution. From August 1997 to May 2006, a total of 27 cases including 18 cases using fresh sperm (269 oocytes) and 9 cases using frozen sperm (97 oocytes) were evaluated. In the fresh and frozen sperm groups 33.4 and 32.9%, respectively, developed good quality embryo. There was no significant difference between the two groups in successful pregnancy and birth rates.

Advantage of urological experience with both transperitoneal and retroperitoneal laparoscopy in lymph node biopsy for malignant lymphoma diagnosis.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic urologists are familiar with both transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches. That experience is an advantage when devising a strategy for intra-abdominal lymph node biopsy. We report the feasibility and effectiveness of laparoscopic biopsy using a urological laparoscopic technique for the treatment of patients with clinically suspected intra-abdominal lymphoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2010 to April 2015, a total of 22 patients underwent laparoscopic biopsy for suspected intra-abdominal lymphoma. We adopted a retroperitoneal approach for paraaortic or paracaval masses, whereas we used a transperitoneal approach for mesenteric, iliac, or obturator masses. Whenever possible, an entire node was removed; otherwise, the biopsy consisted of wedge resection sized at least 1 cm3. RESULTS: Biopsy specimens were obtained from the following lymph node sites: 10 paraaortic, 5 paracaval, 3 mesenteric, 2 obturator, 1 common iliac, and 1 perinephric fat. Laparoscopic lymph node biopsy was completed in all patients, and there were no conversions to open surgery. The median operating time was 97 minutes (range, 62-167 minutes). The estimated blood loss was <50 mL in all cases. Postoperatively, one patient (4.5%) had symptomatic chylous lymphocele that required surgical intervention. Precise diagnosis was established for all patients: malignant lymphoma in 20 patients and metastatic urothelial carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of unknown origin in 1 patient each. All lymphomas could be fully subclassified. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate use of the transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach is safe and effective for laparoscopic lymph node biopsy in patients with suspected intra-abdominal lymphoma.

Short-term effects of TNP-470 in combination with cisplatin in the rat model of bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the short-term effects of TNP-470 in combination with cisplatin in a rat model of bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following treatment of TNP-470 with or without cisplatin for 7 days, the states of angiogenesis, apoptosis and cell proliferation were evaluated in rat bladder cancer induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine. RESULTS: In comparison with untreated tumors, we noted a significantly decreased microvessel density (MVD) in the rat bladder cancer treated by TNP-470, and a significantly increased apoptotic index (AI) when treated by cisplatin. In TNP-470 plus cisplatin-treated tumors, both significantly decreased MVD and increased AI were observed in non-invasive and invasive rat bladder cancers in addition to a significantly decreased proliferation index (PI) in invasive cancer. CONCLUSION: The combination therapy of TNP-470 with cisplatin may act through both the inhibition of angiogenesis and induction of apoptosis, and invasive tumor cells may be much more sensitive to this combined therapy in rat bladder cancer.

Expression of a novel biomarker, EPCA, in adenocarcinomas and precancerous lesions in the prostate.

PURPOSE: EPCA, a nuclear matrix protein, has been identified as a novel prostate cancer marker through protein profiling analyses comparing prostate cancer and its normal counterpart. A recent study of prostate biopsy specimens revealed that EPCA stained positive in the cancer negative biopsy cores of individuals with cancer at later biopsy. We clarified the relationship between EPCA expression and clinicopathological parameters, including grade and stage. Morphological characteristics of EPCA positive cells in noncancerous tissues were also analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prostate tissue specimens were obtained from 50 patients with localized prostate cancer and 10 with invasive bladder cancer. EPCA expression was analyzed with a polyclonal antibody. Anti-P504S/anti-p63/anti-34betaE12 monoclonal antibodies were used for adjunct diagnosis for prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. A monoclonal antibody, CD45RO, was used to confirm inflammatory infiltrates surrounding focal atrophic glands. RESULTS: EPCA staining was positive in the prostate samples of 94% of patients with prostate cancer but it was completely negative in samples from patients with bladder cancer. There was no correlation of EPCA staining intensity with Gleason grade or pT stage. In noncancerous tissues adjacent to major cancer foci EPCA was positive in 86% of prostate cancers. Most EPCA positive glands adjacent to cancer consisted of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and proliferative inflammatory atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: EPCA seems to reflect nuclear matrix alterations that occur in the earlier stage of prostate carcinogenesis. Individuals in whom the prostate is influenced by this field effect may be detected with this new biomarker.

Angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma: Evaluation of microvessel density, vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinases.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, has a critical role in tumor growth and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement of angiogenesis and angiogenic factors in the pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 70 patients with RCC were studied. The situations of tumor angiogenesis were evaluated by assessing microvessel density (MVD) through CD31 immunostaining. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was detected immunohistochemically. RESULTS: The value of MVD ranged from 12.0 to 93.0 with a median of 39.91 in RCC. Of the 70 RCCs, the expression of VEGF was detected in 52 (74.3%), MMP-2 in 29 (41.4%) and MMP-9 in 19 (27.1%) cases. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations of the tumor stage with MVD, and the expression of VEGF and MMP-2 in RCC. Additionally, MVD was closely related to the expression of VEGF but was not related to the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in RCC. CONCLUSION: The degree of angiogenesis may be closely related to the tumor progression of RCC. The expression of VEGF may be responsible for angiogenesis in RCC, and both VEGF and MMP-2 expression may function as tumor associated angiogenic factors in RCC.

Determination of percent area density of epithelial and stromal components in development of prostatic hyperplasia in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the percent area density of epithelial and stromal components in the development of prostatic hyperplasia in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats. METHODS: The ventral lobes of prostates obtained from male SH rats and their normotensive counterparts, Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, were examined histopathologically at 15, 29, 40, and 54 weeks of age (5 SH and WKY rats each at each age group). The degree of prostatic hyperplasia was evaluated with a score-chart protocol, histoscore. The percent area density of epithelium and stroma of the ventral prostate were determined using a computerized image analysis system. RESULTS: Definite lesions of hyperplastic changes were demonstrated in the ventral prostate of SH rats from 15 to 54 weeks. In comparison with WKY rats, SH rats showed a significantly increased degree of prostatic hyperplasia as reflected by the histoscore values. Furthermore, the histoscore of the ventral prostate of SH rats increased with age (from 21.7 +/- 0.7 at 15 weeks to 26.1 +/- 0.4 at 54 weeks). The percent area density of epithelium and stroma were significantly increased in SH rats, and the ratio of stroma to epithelium ranged from 1:2.94 to 1:3.50 in SH rats but was maintained at 1:1.15 to 1:1.19 in WKY rats during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: The hyperplastic changes of the ventral prostate may develop with advancing age in SH rats. The development of prostatic hyperplasia may result from both epithelial and stromal proliferation and may be predominantly expressed as a glandular type in SH rats.