Impact of Polypharmacy and Risk Factors for Exacerbation of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Patients with Urological Conditions: A Retrospective Study in a Japanese Municipal Hospital.

Polypharmacy exacerbates lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Japan exhibits a higher prevalence of concomitant medication use in drug therapy than other countries. Previous age- and sex-specific reports exist; however, none include patients of all ages. Therefore, this retrospective study determined the impact of polypharmacy and its associated risk factors on LUTS exacerbation in outpatients with urological conditions. We included patients receiving medication who visited the Department of Urology at the Gifu Municipal Hospital (Gifu, Japan) between January, 2018 and December, 2018. The association between LUTS and polypharmacy and the risk factors for LUTS exacerbation were investigated. Patients were categorized into two groups according to their polypharmacy status. We performed propensity score matching and compared the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) between the groups using the unpaired t-test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the risk factors, including "polypharmacy" and "taking multiple anticholinergic medications" for LUTS exacerbation. When comparing the IPSS between the groups, the polypharmacy group was found to have significantly higher scores than the non-polypharmacy group in six items, including "total score" and "storage score." Multiple logistic regression analysis results showed high significance in three items, including "polypharmacy" (odds ratio (OR) = 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-2.71) and "taking multiple anticholinergic medications" (OR = 8.68, 95% CI: 1.05-71.7). In conclusion, this study revealed that "polypharmacy" and "taking multiple anticholinergic medications" were risk factors for LUTS. Particularly, "polypharmacy" is associated with storage symptom exacerbation. Therefore, eliminating "polypharmacy" and "taking multiple anticholinergic medications" is expected to improve LUTS.

Fourth national Japanese antimicrobial susceptibility pattern surveillance program: Bacterial isolates from patients with complicated urinary tract infections.

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial pathogens isolated from patients with complicated urinary tract infections were analyzed using the national surveillance data, comprising 793 bacterial strains from eight clinically relevant species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected for the fourth national surveillance project from July 2020 to December 2021 by the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, the Japanese Association for Infectious Disease, and the Japanese Society of Clinical Microbiology. Surveillance was supervised with the cooperation of 43 medical institutions throughout Japan. RESULTS: Fluoroquinolone required a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2-64 mg/L to inhibit the 330 tested Escherichia coli strains. The proportion of levofloxacin-resistant E. coli strains increased from 28.6% in 2008 to 29.6% in 2011, 38.5% in 2015, and 44.5% in 2021. The proportion of levofloxacin-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa also increased from previous survey results, showing a continuing downward trend. Conversely, the proportion of levofloxacin-resistant strains of Enterococcus faecalis decreased relative to previous reports. Neither multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa nor carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae were detected. For methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the proportion of vancomycin-susceptible strains (MIC of 2 µg/mL) decreased from 14.7% to 7.7%. DISCUSSION: Bacterial strains that produced extended-spectrum ß-lactamase included E. coli (82/330 strains, 24.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (11/68 strains, 16.2%), and Proteus mirabilis (4/26 strains, 15.4%). As compared to previous surveillance reports, these strains showed an increase in proportion over the years.

[Effectiveness of Pharmaceutical Intervention While Administering 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride through a Collaboration of Physicians and Pharmacists].

5-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride is a highly effective drug in reducing tumor residuals in transurethral resection of the bladder tumors; however, hypotension is a serious side effect that causes clinical problems. To avoid serious side effects, a pharmacist, in consultation with a physician, decided to discontinue the antihypertensive medication, and the effect of this pharmaceutical intervention was examined retrospectively. This study included patients who received 5-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride at Gifu Municipal Hospital and were instructed to continue receiving their usual antihypertensive medication on the day of surgery. The control group comprised 17 patients before the pharmaceutical intervention, and the intervention group comprised 18 patients after the pharmaceutical intervention. The difference in systolic blood pressure before and after 5-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride administration was -19.4±22.5 mmHg in the control group and -2.8±16.0 mmHg in the intervention group. The intervention group showed a significantly lower decrease in blood pressure(p=0.019). Intervention to avoid hypotension through the collaboration between physicians and pharmacists may be effective in improving the safety of 5-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride.

Prediction of presence of fastidious bacteria by the Fully Automated Urine Particle Analyzer UF-1000i in the case of ineffective antimicrobial therapy for urinary tract infection.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have reported associations between fastidious bacteria that are difficult to grow and isolate in conventional urine culture conditions and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Because the Fully Automated Urine Particle Analyzer UF-1000i (hereinafter referred to as "UF-1000i") detects fastidious bacteria without being affected by culture conditions, owing to its flow cytometry-based principle, we evaluated the robustness of UF-1000i detection using clinical urine samples from patients with UTIs following ineffective antimicrobial therapy. METHODS: A total of 150 patients diagnosed with UTIs were enrolled, and their laboratory findings were analyzed, focusing on the discrepancy in bacterial numbers between UF-1000i and conventional culture at each antimicrobial therapy effectiveness classification. In addition, gene identification was conducted by molecular analysis using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and next-generation sequencing (NGS) to elucidate the reason for the presence of fastidious bacteria in these samples. RESULTS: The ineffective therapy cases showed more than 100-fold discrepancy in bacterial counts, with a higher proportion (30.8%) than effective therapy cases without secondary administration (5.7%) between the bacterial counts in UF-1000i and conventional culture methods. The presence rates of fastidious bacteria were 100% and 66.7% in discrepant cases of ineffective and effective without secondary administrations, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that discrepancies in bacterial numbers between the conventional culture method and UF-1000i measurement at the primary visit can predict the presence of fastidious bacteria, especially in cases of ineffective antimicrobial therapy.

[Paratesticular Low-Grade Fibromyxoid Sarcoma: A Case Report].

A 36-year-old man presented with painless swelling in the right side scrotum. Ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic tumor with mosaic pattern. Plain computed tomograghy (CT) revealed a 67 mm scrotal cystic lesion with low density area. We suspected an intrascrotal tumor and performed right side radical orchiectomy. The removed sample was yellow clear and elastic hard. A 7 cm multilocular cystic tumor was present on the head side of the normal testis. The cut-surface and the contents of the mass revealed a jelly-like viscous liquid. On the microscopic examination, the tumor was composed of mucinous stroma and spindle-shaped atypical cells with hyperchromatic oval nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm. There was a characteristic network of blood vessesls with hyperhyalinization in the myxoid zones. Immunohistochemically, CDK4, MDM2, AE1/AE3, S-100, Alpha-SMA and desmin were negative, but MUC4 showed focal cytoplasmic positivity in the neoplastic cells. In the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay, no FUS-CREB3L2/FUS-CREB3L1 fusion transcripts were identified although the detectable messages of the housekeeping genes were noted. The tumour was finally diagnosed as a paratesticular low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma. Postoperative course was uneventful and no recurrence or metastasis was seen four months after the operation.

Low Body Mass Index as a Predictive Factor for Postoperative Infectious Complications after Ureterorenoscopic Lithotripsy.

Background and Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate predictive factors of postoperative fever (POF) after ureterorenoscopic lithotripsy (URSL). Materials and Methods: A total of 594 consecutive patients who underwent URSL for urinary stone disease at Gifu Municipal Hospital and Chuno Kosei Hospital between April 2016 and January 2021 were enrolled in this study. In all patients, antibiotics were routinely administered intraoperatively and the next day after surgery. We used rigid and/or flexible ureterorenoscopes depending on the stone location for URSL. Stones were fragmented using a holmium: YAG laser. The fragments of the stone were manually removed as much as possible using a stone basket catheter. A ureteral stent was placed at the end of the surgery in all cases. Results: The median age and body mass index (BMI) in all patients were 62 years and 23.8 kg/m2, respectively. The median operation duration was 52 min. The most common URSL-related complication was POF in 28 (4.7%) patients. In these patients, the rates of antibiotic administration and ureteral stent insertion before surgery were significantly higher than in those without POF. In multivariate analysis, BMI was associated with POF after URSL. There were no significant differences in predicting POF after surgery in patients who had bacteriuria or received antibiotics before surgery. Conclusions: A low BMI was significantly associated with POF after URS or URSL.

Efficacy of cabazitaxel and the influence of clinical factors on the overall survival of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer: A local experience of a multicenter retrospective study.

AIM: To date, the optimal sequencing of life-prolonging therapies for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) remains unclear owing to a lack of prospective trials. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cabazitaxel (CBZ) treatment and examine the prognostic factors for oncological outcomes in patients with mCRPC who received CBZ after docetaxel (DOC). METHODS: This multi-institutional retrospective study included 44 patients with mCRPC who received CBZ. All enrolled patients had histologically confirmed prostate cancer (PCa) with distant metastases and had received DOC before CBZ administration. The primary endpoint was the oncological outcomes, including the overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints were adverse events due to CBZ and rates of ≥30% reduction in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 9.2 months (range, 0.2-34 months). During this time, 34 patients (77%) died of PCa. The median OS and PFS were 12.2 (range, 0.2-34 months) and 1.4 months (range, 0.4-17 months), respectively. According to the PSA decline rate, patients who achieved a ≥30% reduction in PSA levels had significantly longer OS than those who showed a <30% reduction in PSA levels (P = 0.002). Regarding the number of cycles of CBZ, patients who received ≥4 cycles of CBZ showed significantly longer OS than those who received <4 cycles of CBZ (P < 0.001). Patients who had visceral metastasis showed significantly shorter OS than those without visceral metastasis (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that CBZ was effective and safe in Japanese local patients in a real-world setting. Patients with mCRPC who received ≥4 cycles of CBZ showed a ≥30% reduction in the serum PSA levels, and did not have visceral metastasis might achieve longer OS.

Efficacy and Safety of Enzalutamide in a Real-World Cohort of Japanese Patients With Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: It has been reported that some adverse events (AEs) of enzalutamide (ENZ) occur more frequently in Japanese patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) due to higher steady-state trough plasma concentrations of ENZ (CSS, ENZ) and its active metabolite (NDE), (CSS, NDE). Thus, we investigated the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of ENZ in Japanese patients with CRPC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients were administered ENZ at a standard dose (160 mg/day) or reduced doses (80 or 120 mg/day). Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), AEs, CSS, ENZ, and CSS, NDE were examined. RESULTS: A maximum PSA decrement of ≥50% from baseline was achieved in 92% of patients. AEs were few (>20%) and mild. No differences in CSS, ENZ and CSS, NDE between other ethnic groups in previous literature and our subjects was observed. CONCLUSION: ENZ shows adequate efficacy and safety in Japanese patients with CRPC, even if administered at reduced doses in real-world conditions.

The third national Japanese antimicrobial susceptibility pattern surveillance program: Bacterial isolates from complicated urinary tract infection patients.

The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial pathogens isolated from patients with complicated urinary tract infections were analyzed using national surveillance data. The data consisted of 881 bacterial strains from eight clinically relevant species. The data were collected for the third national surveillance project from January 2015 to March 2016 by the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, the Japanese Association for Infectious Disease, and the Japanese Society of Clinical Microbiology. Surveillance was undertaken with the cooperation of 41 medical institutions throughout Japan. Fluoroquinolone required a MIC90 of 2-64 mg/L to inhibit the 325 Escherichia coli strains tested and the proportion of levofloxacin resistant E. coli strains increased to 38.5% from 29.6% in 2011 and 28.6% in 2008. The proportion of levofloxacin resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis decreased from previous reports and the proportion of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae remained low. Among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, strains with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (minimum inhibitory concentration, 2 µg/mL) increased to 14.7% from 5.5%. Bacterial strains that produced extended-spectrum ß-lactamase included E. coli (79 of 325 strains, 24.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (9 of 177 strains, 7.7%), and Proteus mirabilis (6 of 55 strains, 10.9%). The proportion of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains increased from previous surveillance reports.

Comparison of MRI visualization between linearly placed iron-containing and non-iron-containing fiducial markers for prostate radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Visualizing the gold marker (GM) in CT and MRI is critical, especially for registration in high-precision radiotherapy. GM sizes vary. Large markers are easily visualized in MRI. Small GMs show fewer artefacts in CT but are harder to detect in MRI because the signal is influenced by metal in MRI. Therefore, we compared MRI visualization between linearly placed new iron-containing marker and non-iron containing marker. METHODS: 27 patients underwent CT/MRI fusion-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy. The gold markers were placed by urologists. An iron-containing Gold Anchor™ (GA) marker (diameter, 0.28 mm; length, 10 mm) was placed by using a 22 G needle on one side of the prostate linearly. A non-iron-containing VISICOIL™ (VIS) marker (diameter, 0.35 mm; length, 10 mm) was placed by using a 19 G needle on the opposite side linearly. T2* weighted MRI was mostly performed. Two Radiation Oncologists and one Radiation Technologist evaluated and assigned visual quality scores (GA shape, CT artefacts, MRI signal voids). RESULTS: The mean visualization scores of artefacts were similar between GA and VIS in planning CT. GM visualization in MRI of the prostate was better for GA than for VIS. The visibility of the linear shape of the GA was 3.4-4.1 points when the VIS was 5 points (1 is worst and 5 is best). CONCLUSION: Visualization quality was similar between GA (iron-containing marker) and VIS (non-iron-containing marker) in planning CT, but was better for GA than for VIS in MRI. To achieve high-precision radiotherapy, an iron-containing gold marker was useful for CT and MRI registration. Advances in knowledge: An iron-containing fiducial marker was useful for CT and MRI registration, especially in high-precision radiotherapy, such as stereotactic body radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Visibility of an iron-containing fiducial marker in magnetic resonance imaging for high-precision external beam prostate radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Visualization of fiducial gold markers is critical for registration on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for imaging-guided radiotherapy. Although larger markers provide better visualization on MRI, they tend to generate artifacts on CT. MRI is strongly influenced by the presence of metals, such as iron, in the body. Here we compared efficacies of a 0.5% iron-containing gold marker (GM) and a traditional non-iron-containing marker. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients underwent CT/MRI fusion-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Markers were placed by urologists under local anesthesia. Gold Anchor (GA; diameter: 0.28 mm; length: 10 mm), an iron-containing marker, was placed on the right side of the prostate using a 22-G needle and VISICOIL (VIS; diameter: 0.35 mm; length: 10 mm), a non-iron-containing marker, was placed on the left side using a 19-G needle. T2*-weighted images MRI sequences were obtained. Two radiation oncologists and a radiation technologist evaluated and assigned scores for visual quality on a five-point scale (1, poor; 5, best visibility). RESULTS: Artifact generation on CT was slightly greater with GA than with VIS. The mean marker visualization scores on MRI of all three observers were significantly superior for GA than for VIS (3.5 vs 3.2, 3.9 vs 3.2, and 4.0 vs 2.9). The actual size of the spherical GA was about 2 mm in diameter, but the signal void on MRI was approximately 5 mm. CONCLUSION: Although both markers were well visualized and can be recommended clinically, the results suggest that GA has some subtle advantages for quantitative visualization that could prove useful in certain situations of stereotactic body radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Comparison of MRI sequences in ideal fiducial maker-based radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

AIM: Prostate contouring using CT alone is difficult. To overcome the uncertainty, CT/MRI registration using a fiducial marker is generally performed. However, visualization of the marker itself can be difficult with MRI. This study aimed to determine the optimal MRI pulse sequence for defining the marker as well as the prostate outline among five sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 21 consecutive patients with prostate cancer were enrolled. Two gold fiducial markers were placed before CT/MRI examination. We used the following five sequences: T1-weighted spin-echo (T1WI; TR/TE, 400-650/8 ms); T2-weighted fast spin-echo (T2WI; 4000/80); T2*-2D-weighted gradient echo (T2*2D; 700/18); T2*-3D-weighted gradient echo (T2*3D; TR/TE1/deltaTE, 37/14/7.3); and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted spin-echo (CE-T1WI; 400-650/8). Qualitative image analysis of the sequences was performed by three observers. These observers subjectively scored all images on a scale of 1-3 (1 = unclear, 2 = moderate, 3 = well visualized). A higher score indicated better visualization. RESULTS: T2WI was significantly superior to the other sequences in terms of prostate definition. T2*2D and T2*3D were strongly superior to the other sequences and were significantly superior in terms of fiducial marker definition. CONCLUSIONS: T2*2D and T2*3D are superior to the other sequences for prostate contouring and marker identification. Therefore, we recommend initial T2*3D and T2*2D examinations.

Efficacy of butylscopolamine in obtaining clear MR image for intensity-modulated radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: The use of butylscopolamine in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the prostate is controversial in the context of diagnostic imaging where local invasion and the presence of metastases are evaluated. However, in radiation oncology, MRI is performed as part of the simulation process, and the objectives differ to the diagnostic setting. MRI is primarily used for accurate target delineation; hence, the use of an agent to reduce intestinal peristalsis and increase image quality may be beneficial. The impact of butylscopolamine on MRI for radiation oncology purposes has not previously been described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of butylscopolamine in MRI acquired for radiation oncology simulation of the prostate. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In total, 67 patients were enrolled in this study. Thirty-five patients received intramuscular injection of butylscopolamine (group A) and 32 patients did not (group B). Visualization of the prostate outline and detection of fiducial gold markers (GMs) in the prostate were evaluated on MRI. Two blinded radiation oncologists (ROs) and one radiation technologist (RT) scored the image quality of the detection of prostate outline and recognition of GMs in the prostate on a scale of 1-5 (1 = poor; 5 = excellent), and the results were evaluated using Mann-Whitney U test and p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: On MRI, group A was statistically superior to group B in terms of fiducial marker detection by two ROs (p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in RT scoring. Furthermore, on MRI, group A was statistically superior to group B in terms of the detection of the prostate outline by an RT. CONCLUSIONS: Butylscopolamine is effective with respect to detection of the prostate outline and GM recognition (without endorectal coil). The addition of butylscopolamine is simple and cost efficient. We recommend the use of butylscopolamine routinely to obtain good MR images, particularly in the detection of GMs.

Fiducial marker for prostate radiotherapy: comparison of 0.35- and 0.5-mm-diameter computed tomography and magnetic resonance images.

PURPOSE: When performing intensity-modulated radiotherapy for prostate cancer, a marker is inserted into the prostate to enable the recognition of its position using cone-beam computed tomography (CT). However, it is difficult to recognize the prostatic outline using CT alone. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can depict the prostatic outline better than CT. In treatment plans using CT and MRI registration, various markers are used in institutions; however, the selection of an optimal marker size is difficult. Comparison of a different fiducial marker study was conducted using phantom, but no study in vivo was found. Therefore, we prospectively investigated the effects of different marker diameter sizes using CT and MR images. METHODS: Thirty-one consecutive patients were enrolled in this study. CT and MRI were performed 3 weeks after marker placement. The 0.35-mm-diameter marker was placed on the left side of the prostate, and the 0.5-mm-diameter marker was placed on the right side. The length of each marker was 10 mm. The better MRI image was selected between those obtained using T2*-two-dimensional weighted image (T2*2D) and T2*-three-dimensional weighted image (T2*3D). Two observers evaluated and scored the prostatic outline image quality as well as visualized the prostatic markers using CT and MRI. RESULTS: MRI was significantly superior to CT in depicting the prostatic outline. The CT artifacts were significantly lesser for the 0.35-mm-diameter marker than for the 0.5-mm-diameter marker. The degree of marker recognition using MRI was significantly better with the 0.5-mm-diameter marker. CONCLUSION: The 0.5-mm-diameter fiducial marker had significantly better visualization than the 0.35-mm-diameter marker. While CT artifacts were significantly worse with the 0.5-mm-diameter marker, the artifact level was tolerable for clinical practice. Therefore, we recommend the 0.5-mm-diameter diameter marker in terms of prostatic outline and marker visualization using MRI.

Japanese nationwide surveillance in 2011 of antibacterial susceptibility patterns of clinical isolates from complicated urinary tract infection cases.

To investigate antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of various bacterial pathogens isolated from complicated urinary tract infection (UTI) cases, the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, the Japanese Association of Infectious Disease, and the Japanese Society of Clinical Microbiology conducted the second nationwide surveillance from January to September 2011. With the cooperation of 42 medical institutions throughout Japan, 1036 strains belonging to 8 clinically relevant bacterial species were collected. Among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain, the vancomycin (VCM) MIC for 5.5% (3/55) of the strains was 2 µg/mL. Ampicillin, VCM, and linezolid were relatively active against 209 Enterococcus faecalis strains. The proportion of fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant strains was >20%. The MIC90 of FQs against the 382 Escherichia coli strains was 2-64 mg/L and the proportion resistant to FQs was approximately 30%. However, susceptibility of E. coli to sitafloxacin was still high (MIC90 = 2 mg/L). Fifty-eight (15.2%) of 382 E. coli, 6 (4.5%) of 132 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 1 (2.4%) of 41 Klebsiella oxytoca and 4 (6.8%) of 59 Proteus mirabilis strains were suspected of producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase. Of 93 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, the proportions resistant to imipenem, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin were 21.5%, 4.3%, and 20.4%, respectively. Four strains (4.3%) were found to be multidrug-resistant. In complicated UTI cases, all of MRSA and E. faecalis were susceptible to all anti-MRSA agents. Sitafloxacin was active against other FQ-resistant E. coli strains. The isolation of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing and multidrug-resistant strains increased.

The nationwide study of bacterial pathogens associated with urinary tract infections conducted by the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy.

This study was conducted by the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and is the first nationwide study on bacterial pathogens isolated from patients with urinary tract infections at 28 hospitals throughout Japan between January 2008 and June 2008. A total of 688 bacterial strains were isolated from adult patients with urinary tract infections. The strains investigated in this study are as follows: Enterococcus faecalis (n = 140), Escherichia coli (n = 255), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 93), Proteus mirabilis (n = 42), Serratia marcescens (n = 44), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 114). The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 39 antibacterial agents used for these strains were determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) manual. All Enterococcus faecalis strains were susceptible to ampicillin and vancomycin. Although a majority of the E. faecalis strains were susceptible to linezolid, 11 strains (7.8%) were found to be intermediately resistant. The proportions of fluoroquinolone-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and S. marcescens strains were 35.7%, 29.3%, 18.3%, and 15.2%, respectively. The proportions of E. coli, P. mirabilis, K. pneumoniae, and S. marcescens strains producing extended-spectrum ß-lactamase were 5.1%, 11.9%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. The proportions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to carbapenems, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones were 9.2%, 4.4%, and 34.8%, respectively, and among them, 2 strains (1.8%) were found to be multidrug resistant. These data present important information for the proper treatment of urinary tract infections and will serve as a useful reference for periodic surveillance studies in the future.

[A case of mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma of the kidney].

We report a case of mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma (MTSCC) of the kidney. A 68-years old female consulted a primary hospital with a chief complaint of back pain. Computed tomography revealed the tumor of the left kidney, so she was referred to our department. The tumor, 45 x 42 mm in length, was slightly enhanced, and that had well-defined margins. We performed radical nephrectomy. Pathological findings suggested MTSCC. MTSCC is a rare type of renal cell carcinoma composed of a combination of low-grade tubular cuboidal cells and spindle cells in a mucinous stroma. The immunohistochemistry is effective in its diagnosis.

[Disseminated nocardiosis presenting as retroperitoneal abscess: a case report].

A 64-year-old man presented to our emergency room with right back pain on July 10, 2009. At the emergency room, abdominal enhanced computed tomography revealed a cystic lesion in the retroperitoneum. Then he was referred to our department. We performed percutaneous drainage of the retroperitoneal lesion and aspirated white pus. The retroperitoneal cystic lesion proved to be an abscess. Microscopic examination of a Gram stained specimen of the abscess revealed gram-positive bacillary fragments ; therefore, we suspected the pathogen to be Nocardia. He had a history of chronic glomerulonephritis and had received treatment consisting of 20 mg prednisolone, and 75 mg cyclosporine per day. He was regularly visiting the department of cardiovascular for follow-up of chronic heart failure. On the day before his visit to our emergency room, his chest X-ray medicine had revealed a nodular shadow. Then he was referred to the department of respiratory medicine and was scheduled to receive a bronchoscopy later. We suspected the nodule of the lung also to be an abscess of Nocardia. Later, head computed tomography (CT) revealed a brain abscess the pathogen of which was Nocardia. Nocardia is a filamentous, gram-positive, branched bacterium and classified as an aerobic actinobacteria. Nocardia species are difficult to diagnose due to non-specific clinical and histological manifestation. We report this case of disseminated nocardiosis presenting as retroperitoneal abscess. The disseminated nocardiosis was diagnosed without delay by percutaneous drainage and appropriate treatment was provided.

[Case report of inflammatory pseudotumor that occurred at the ureteropelvic junction].

A 60-year-old woman underwent detailed examinations for hepatic disorders and pancreatic tumor at the Department of Internal Medicine. A tumor mass in her left renal pelvis and a thickened wall in her left ureter were observed on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. Retrograde ureteropyelography and drip infusion pyelography images showed a stenosis in 1 vertebral body from the left ureteropelvic junction. Urinary cytology finding was class III-a; however, malignancy could not be disregarded. Since the patient continued to experience severe dorsal pain, a left nephroureterectomy was subsequently performed at the patient's request. Pathological tests showed no malignant findings, and based on the chronic pyelonephritis, we diagnosed her condition as an inflammatory pseudotumor. Not many inflammatory pseudotumors are found in the urinary tract, and even fewer are manifest in the renal pelvis and ureter. Although inflammatory pseudotumors are generally benign, cases of repeated local recurrence exist. Therefore, a meticulous follow-up observation is required.

[Prostate cancer detected from pleural effusion: two case reports].

Prostate cancer is rarely detected from abnormal chest radiographs. We report two cases of prostate cancer detected from pleural effusion. Case 1 is a 76-year-old man who consulted the department of internal medicine of our hospital with dyspnea and abdominal fullness. Pleural effusion and multiple hepatic tumors of unknown origin were pointed out, but he refused any further investigation or treatment for them. Six months later, he consulted a family doctor with urinary frequency and lumbago. Increased serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level to 864 ng/ml was recognized, then he was referred to our department. Under diagnosis of prostate cancer, T4NOM1c, maximal androgen blockade (MAB) was performed. Serum PSA level was decreased once to 8.1 ng/ml, but then rose gradually and he died 13 months after the beginning of the therapy. Case 2 was a 78-year-old man who was referred to our department to determine the origin of carcinomatous pleuritis detected in a routine general check up of hepatitis C. The serum PSA level was increased to 12,900 ng/ml, and the diagnosis was prostate cancer, T3aNOM1c. Although MAB was performed, the serum PSA level did not decrease markedly. He died 16 month after the beginning of the therapy.