Green light laser (KTP, 80 W) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

AIM: An attractive alternative for the management of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is the use of 80 W potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of this procedure in patients with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). METHODS: A total of 171 patients with obstructive BPH underwent the 80 W potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser procedures. Preoperatively the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), the maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), prostate volume and the post-void residual urine volume (PVR) were determined. Perioperative complications and postoperative blood loss, hospitalization, catheterization time, Qmax and PVR were also assessed. RESULTS: From the 171 patients, who underwent KTP laser procedure, 143 have been evaluated. The mean preoperative prostate volume was 43.9+/-17.1 (15-76). Eighty-nine patients (62.2%) were on chronic oral anticoagulant therapy (Coumarin or Aspirin 100). The mean applied energy was 170+/-65 kJ (100-275). There was no significant blood loss or fluid absorption during the KTP procedure. The mean Qmax values preoperatively and postoperatively were 3.4+/-4.3 and 16.3+/-7.3, respectively. PVR decreased from 74+/-47.7 mL preoperatively, to 16.6+/-21.5 mL postoperatively. Catheteriza-tion time was 1.4+/-0.8 days (0-5). CONCLUSION: KTP laser for the prostate represents a safe and effective treatment for patients with BPH. The procedure has a low rate of postoperative complications. It can be used for high risk patients especially for them who are receiving oral anticoagulation therapy.

The role of vitamin D in chorioallantoic membrane calcium transport.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) is essential for the transport of eggshell calcium to the embryo across the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). CAM contains the vitamin D receptor that increases following 1,25-(OH)2D3 injection into embryos at day 10 of incubation. Further, a single injection of 100 ng of 1,25-(OH)2D3 into vitamin D-deficient quail eggs at day 10 of incubation resulted in a significant increase in both body and yolk calcium. This is accompanied by an increase in carbonic anhydrase from low levels in deficiency to normal levels. Acetazolamide (AZ), a specific carbonic anhydrase inhibitor injected into the quail embryos, caused hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. This is similar to the hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia found in vitamin D-deficient embryos. These results suggest that one mechanism of action of vitamin D in the mobilization of eggshell calcium is the activation of carbonic anhydrase that acidifies the calcium carbonate shell.

Immunoaffinity purification of active rat recombinant 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor.

We have developed a large-scale immunoaffinity purification procedure for the recombinant vitamin D receptor. The purified receptor is homogeneous, and is bound by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 with a Kd of 5 x 10(-10) M. The isolated receptor binds to the osteocalcin vitamin D response element in the presence of porcine intestinal nuclear extract stripped of endogenous vitamin D receptor as well. However, the binding of D3 and the vitamin D3 response element does not completely assure a native conformation of the protein. The availability of large quantities of highly purified active vitamin D receptor makes possible detailed structural analysis.