Organ-Specific and Mixed Responses to Pembrolizumab in Patients with Unresectable or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

To investigate the organ-specific response and clinical outcomes of mixed responses (MRs) to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (ur/mUC), we retrospectively analyzed 136 patients who received pembrolizumab. The total objective response rate (ORR) and organ-specific ORR were determined for each lesion according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 as follows: (i) complete response (CR), (ii) partial response (PR), (iii) stable disease (SD), and (iv) progressive disease (PD). Most of the organ-specific ORR was 30−40%, but bone metastasis was only 5%. There was a significant difference in overall survival (OS) between responders and non-responders with locally advanced lesions and lymph node, lung, or liver metastases (HR 9.02 (3.63−22.4) p < 0.0001; HR 3.63 (1.97−6.69), p < 0.0001; HR 2.75 (1.35−5.59), p = 0.0053; and HR 3.17 (1.00−10.0), p = 0.049, respectively). MR was defined as occurring when PD happened in one lesion plus either CR or PR occurred in another lesion simultaneously, and 12 cases were applicable. MR was significantly associated with a poorer prognosis than that of the responder group (CR or PR; HR 0.09 (0.02−0.35), p = 0.004). Patients with bone metastases benefitted less. Care may be needed to treat patients with MR as well as patients with pure PD. Further studies should be conducted in the future.

[A Practical Technique for Challenging Ureterocystoneostomy : Application of Casale Vesicostomy with Rink-Modification].

In order to treat the iatrogenic ureteral stricture of more than 8 cm length after transurethral ureterolithotripsy, we planned to perform ureterocystoneostomy with psoas hitch and Boari flap. Because of the longer defect of the affected ureter than presurgically expected and the rigid and thickened ureteral stump resulting from chronic inflammation, anti-reflux technique by forming submucosal tunnel could not be achieved as in the standard Boari flap and we reluctantly anastomosed the ureteral stump to the end of the tubularized bladder wall flap in end-to-end fashion. In order to secure the anti-reflux mechanism we created a submucosal tunnel in the posterior bladder wall according to the technique reported by Casale and Rink where it originally worked as anti-incontinence mechanism of catheterizable vesicostomy. The follow-up examinations showed no recurrence of ureteral stricture nor occurrence of vesicoureteral reflux.

Use of the novel curved GOKU balloon catheter for acute-angled lesions in palliative surgery for congenital heart disease: comparison with a conventional straight balloon.

Obstruction develops commonly at the acute-angled portion of the vessels following palliative surgery, such as systemic-pulmonary shunt (SP shunt), right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery shunt (RV-PA shunt) in the Norwood-Sano procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and cavopulmonary (Glenn) anastomosis. Although balloon angioplasty is a treatment option, dilation with existing straight balloons is sometimes ineffective and technically complicated because of balloon slippage and target vessel distortion. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a curved GOKU balloon catheter for balloon angioplasty in postoperative acute-angled lesions associated with palliative surgery for congenital heart disease. We reviewed patients who underwent balloon angioplasty for angled lesions complicated by SP shunt, RV-PA shunt, or Glenn anastomosis, using the novel curved GOKU or a conventional balloon catheter, such as a Sterling balloon catheter. We evaluated patients' backgrounds, balloon specifications, target lesion anatomical features and angles, and short-term outcomes. We evaluated 45 procedures in 18 patients. A curved GOKU was used in 20 procedures, and a Sterling balloon in 25 procedures. The angulation of the lesions at maximum balloon inflation was significantly smaller using a curved GOKU vs a Sterling balloon [70-120 (mean ± standard deviation, 97 ± 40) degrees vs 110-180 (149 ± 46) degrees, respectively; p < 0.001], while the original angle was similar between the groups. Patients' short-term outcomes with the curved GOKU were excellent, with a significantly better percent increase in minimum lumen diameter of 0-220% (92% ± 66%) vs 0-46% (18% ± 15%) with the Sterling balloon (p < 00.1) and with less frequent balloon slippage. The curved GOKU was more effective in balloon angioplasty for acute-angled lesions compared with a conventional straight balloon, likely because of better conformability to the lesion angle and slip resistance.

Percutaneous pulmonary artery debanding.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data on palliative or total percutaneous pulmonary artery debanding (p-debanding), particularly with use of a stent. METHODS: Twelve p-debandings in eight patients were included in this study. Age at pulmonary artery banding (PAB) ranged from 3 days to 1 year (median, 13 days), while p-debanding was performed at 2-157 (7) months. The body weight at the p-debanding ranged from 3.2 to 22.2 (7.3) kg. We chose the balloon diameter of 30-50% to the circumference of the band for palliative, and larger than 50% for total p-debanding, respectively. In either way, the balloon diameter did not exceed 1.5 times the reference vessel diameter. Stent was implanted for palliative p-debanding in 2 patients. RESULTS: 1. The circumference of the band ranged from 16 to 23 (20) mm, while the balloon diameter ranged from 20-60 (40)% to that, where larger than 50% was used for 2 procedures intended total p-debanding. 2. PAB diameter increased from 2.5-4.7 (3.0) mm to 2.8-9.5 (4.5) mm (p<0.01), however, there was no significant change in the diameter in 2 procedures. In one patient, p-debanding was the definitive treatment associated with spontaneous near closure of muscular ventricular septal defect, in another patient of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, severely depressed left ventricular ejection fraction was recovered following p-debanding. 3. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) increased from 64-97 (80)% to 66-95 (90)% (p<0.01), while in 10 procedures of 6 patients where the indication of p-debanding was hypoxia, SaO2 increased in 8 procedures. There was no significant pulmonary hypertension following p-debanding. CONCLUSION: Palliative or total p-debanding using balloon and/or stenting is generally feasible and effective. A balloon diameter 35-50% to the band circumference in palliative, and more than 50% in total p-debanding, while in either way less than 1.5 times the reference vessel diameter, is safe.

[Horseshoe Kidney Associated with Ejaculation Disorder after Laparoscopic Heminephrectomy : A Case Report].

A 27-year-old man was referred to our hospital with right-sided back pain and renal dysfunction. Computed tomography revealed a right-sided horseshoe kidney with hydronephrosis and a thin renal cortex. Diuretic renography revealed a nonfunctioning right kidney. We diagnosed the patient with a symptomatic nonfunctioning right kidney and performed laparoscopic right heminephrectomy. His right-sided back pain reduced postoperatively ; however, he developed retrograde ejaculation, which was attributable to intraoperative injury to the superior hypogastric nerve plexus. We treated the patient with amoxapine (an antidepressant), which led to improvement in retrograde ejaculation.

Clinical benefit of early treatment with bone-modifying agents for preventing skeletal-related events in patients with genitourinary cancer with bone metastasis: A multi-institutional retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical benefit of bone-modifying agents and identify the risk factors of skeletal-related events in patients with genitourinary cancer with newly diagnosed bone metastasis. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective study including a total of 650 patients with bone metastasis of the following cancer types: hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (n = 443), castration-resistant prostate cancer (n = 50), renal cell carcinoma (n = 80) and urothelial carcinoma (n = 77). Clinical factors at the time of diagnosis of bone metastasis were analyzed. Early treatment with bone-modifying agents was defined as follows: administration of bone-modifying agents before the development of skeletal-related events and within 6 months from the diagnosis of bone metastasis. RESULTS: During the follow-up period (median 19.0 months, interquartile range 6.0-43.8 months), skeletal-related events were reported in 88 (20%) patients with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, 17 (34%) patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer, 58 (73%) patients with renal cell carcinoma and 34 (44%) patients with urothelial carcinoma. Early treatment with bone-modifying agents significantly prolonged the time to the first skeletal-related event in castration-resistant prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma, but not in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Bone pain and elevated alkaline phosphatase levels were independent predictive risk factors of the first skeletal-related event. The subgroup analysis showed that early treatment with bone-modifying agents was associated with prolonged time to the first skeletal-related events in patients with bone pain or elevated alkaline phosphatase levels. CONCLUSIONS: Early treatment with bone-modifying agents should be considered, especially for patients with bone pain and elevated alkaline phosphatase levels, to prevent skeletal-related events in patients with genitourinary cancer with bone metastasis.

Transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects with Amplatzer® duct occluder I; The first case report in Japan.

We report the first case of transcatheter perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD) closure in Japan where none of existing devices for VSD closure has been approved. The pmVSD was successfully closed with first generation Amplatzer® duct occluder (ADO-I; St Jude Medical, St Paul, MN, USA). The procedure was performed under general anesthesia with transesophageal echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance. The left ventricular volume overload after the procedure was remarkably improved and no major complications occurred. ADO-I can be a safe and effective option for transcatheter pmVSD closure. The incidence of heart block may be less than reported with the original device. .

[Predictive Factors of Biochemical Recurrence in Positive Surgical Margin Patients by Radical Prostatectomy].

The predictive factors for biochemical recurrence (BCR) were investigated in patients with positive surgical margin of the extirpated prostate by radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). The records of 365 patients who underwent RRP in our hospital between January 2002 and December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who had received additional therapy before or after RRP, who had not been followed up for more than a year after surgery, and who had pN1 lesions were excluded from the study. Positive surgical margin was observed in 112 cases. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) before surgery ≥20 ng/ml, biopsy positive core ratio ≥40%, Gleason score of the surgical specimen ≥8, and postoperative PSA nadir ≥0.01 ng/ml were identified as significant predictors of BCR.

Prevention Technique of Postoperative Inguinal Hernia in Patients Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy for Localized Prostate Cancer.

To prevent inguinal hernia after retropubic radical prostatectomy, many urologists have utilized a prevention technique of inguinal hernia at the same time as retropubic radical prostatectomy. Here, we report the clinical benefit of the prevention technique of inguinal hernia as well as risk factors for the incidence of inguinal hernia. We investigated the medical records of 223 men who underwent retropubic radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer between January 2007 and March 2013 at our medical center. We assessed the association between the postoperative inguinal hernia and variables such as age, body mass index, and previous abdominal surgery. Inguinal hernia-free survival was analyzed to verify risk factors of postoperative inguinal hernia. Of 223 patients, 67 (30 %) received prevention of inguinal hernia and 156 (70 %) did not. The median follow-up period after retropubic radical prostatectomy was 36 months (range, 3-58 months). Thirty one (14 %) patients developed unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia after retropubic radical prostatectomy. The rate of postoperative inguinal hernia in prevented and non-prevented group was 3 % (2 of 67) and 19 % (29 of 156), respectively (P < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U test). Moreover, postoperative inguinal hernia-free survival in the prevention group was significantly longer than that in the non-prevented group (P < 0.01, log-rank test). In the prevention group, 1-, 2-, and 3-year inguinal hernia-free survival rates were 100 %, 96 %, and 96 %, respectively. Other clinical factors including age, body mass index, previous abdominal surgery, and previous inguinal hernia were not associated with the incidence of inguinal hernia in our cohort. The prevention technique was simple and safe to perform, and it could increase inguinal hernia-free survival rates after retropubic radical prostatectomy.

[Case of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis complicated by simultaneous septic pulmonary embolism].

A 57-year-old man with fever-up and multiple nodules in the peripheral area of the lungs on the chest CT was referred to the department of respiratory medicine of our hospital for further examination. The whole body CT disclosed a space-occupying lesion in the left frontal lobe of his brain, an irregular mass in the left kidney, and swelling of paraaortic lymph nodes. A pathological diagnosis could not be made from the results of the bronchoscopic examination and percutaneous needle biopsy for the renal mass. Left nephrectomy and lymph node dissection were carried out because of possible renal malignancy with distant metastases. The renal lesion was diagnosed as xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis histopathologically. After the nephrectomy, the multiple lung nodules disappeared spontaneously leaving scars in some lesions. Septic pulmonary embolism was highly suspected on the basis of the clinical course. The brain nodule also decreased in size significantly and is currently under careful surveillance.

[A case of giant bladder stone in a young man with neither lower urinary tract dysfunction nor foreign body in the bladder].

A 38-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of lower urinary tract symptoms. He had undergone extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy to remove a right renal stone two times when he was 24 years old. Since examinations revealed right staghorn calculi and a giant bladder stone, vesicolithotomy was carried out. The removed stone measured 95 × 75 × 55 mm and weighed 250 g. We hypothesized that a fragment of the upper urinary tract stone had reached the bladder which could not be discharged spontaneously, and grew in the bladder. After the operation, uroflowmetry and voiding cystourethrography were performed and the results indicated no abnormalities in the lower urinary tract function.

[A case of testicular tumor presenting with acute scrotum].

A 37-year-old man visited our hospital with a chief complaint of sudden onset of right scrotal pain. Because spermatic cord torsion was suspected, an exploratory incision was made. There was no spermatic cord torsion, but an induration was palpated in a part of the right testis. Because a testicular tumor was strongly suspected, right high orchiectomy was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was a pT1 seminoma. Our experience with this case suggests that testicular tumor should be considered in the differential diagnoses of acute scrotum.

Novel curved balloon catheter for dilating postoperative angled lesions associated with congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the surface stress generated by a novel curved balloon and assess its efficacy for treating angular lesions associated with congenital heart disease. BACKGROUND: Obstructions at the anastomosis of aortopulmonary shunts and cavopulmonary connections may occur postoperatively. Catheter interventions are often performed for such lesions; however, acute angulation may cause balloon slippage or inappropriate stress on the vessel wall. METHODS: We dilated the curved balloon in a curved vessel model and measured the resultant wall stress and its distribution. Clinical evaluations were performed using this balloon in angled lesions. RESULTS: In the curved vessel model, curved balloons generated uniform stress on the lesser and greater curvatures (curved type, lesser/greater = 0.343 MPa/0.327 MPa; P = 0.61), whereas straight balloons caused disproportionate stress (straight type, lesser/greater = 0.358 MPa/0.254 MPa; P = 0.19). However, the difference in average stress was not statistically significant. Furthermore, the stress was uniform along the entire length of the curved balloon, but differed between the mid and end portions of the straight balloon. Curved balloon dilations were performed for 10 lesions in 7 patients. The curved balloon conformed well to the angulated lesion without slipping. The median percent change in the minimal lumen diameter (MLD) was 64% (range, 0-206%). In 5 lesions, MLD increased by ≥50%. Oxygen saturation increased by 5% (0-9%). CONCLUSIONS: Although further clinical evaluation is necessary, this novel curved balloon may be a reasonable alternative in angled lesions, providing better conformability and preventing excessive stress to the vessel wall adjacent to the stenosis.

[Chronic urinary retention in women caused by primary bladder neck obstruction : report of two cases treated successfully with transurethral resection of bladder neck].

A 60-year-old female was referred to our hospital for the treatment of chronic urinary retention which had compelled her to continue clean intermittent self catheterization (CIC) for several years. After further examination including physical examinations, urodynamic study, cystography, and urethrocystoscopy, she was diagnosed with primary bladder neck obstruction (PBNO). Transurethral resection of the bladder neck (TURBN) was performed to relieve the bladder outlet obstruction and she was free from CIC thereafter. Another 61-year-old female on CIC was also referred to our hospital and diagnosed with PBNO through detailed examinations including urodynamics. She was also successfully relieved of CIC after TURBN. Primary bladder neck obstruction is a condition which can be effectively treated by a less-invasive procedure when properly diagnosed by urodynamic examination. Urologists must keep this rare condition in mind as a possible cause of chronic urinary retention in women.

[Brain metastasis which appeared during complete response of lung metastatic lesion by sunitinib treatment in a patient with renal cell carcinoma].

A 59-year-old man underwent radical nephrectomy for left renal cell carcinoma with multiple lung metastases (cT3bN0M1) in May 2010. Pathological diagnosis was clear cell carcinoma, G2 and pT3b. After sunitinib treatment for 7 months computed tomography (CT) revealed complete response of lung lesions and the treatment was continued. After 10 months, the patient complained of right hemiplegia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 3 cm tumor in his frontal lobe of cerebrum. He underwent surgical resection of the tumor and pathological diagnosis was metastatic renal cell carcinoma. He has been well without local recurrence or distant metastasis for 18 months.

[Tubercular prostatic abscess following intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy].

We report a case of tubercular prostatic abscess in a male patient who had undergone intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy for bladder carcinoma in situ. The abscess was successfully treated with transurethral resection of the prostate for drainage and subsequent antituberculous regime of chemotherapy.

[A case of acute pulmonary thromboembolism after retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy : a case report].

A 65-year old woman underwent retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy, for left renal mass which was suspected to be renal cell carcinoma. On the 2nd postoperation day, she suddenly complained of dyspnea and chest pain. Enhanced computed tomography revealed a defect of peripheral pulmonary artery, and ventilation-perfusion lung scanning showed large defect of the uptake in bilateral lung fields. Based on the arterial blood gas and imagings, she was diagnosed with a PTE (pulmonary thromboembolism). Thrombolytic therapy and anti-coagulant therapy were started. Thereafter, she recovered from hypoxia. However, these therapies gave rise to postoperative hemorrhage resulting in a massive retroperitoneal hematoma.