Hand-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy combined with caliceal ureterostomy for the treatment of post-traumatic ureteropelvic junction disruption.

Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) disruption seldom occurs in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. The diagnosis of UPJ disruption is delayed in more than 50% of patients, and it can lead to difficulty in further treatment or increase the risk of nephrectomy. We present a 25-year-old man who was found to have left UPJ disruption 2 months after blunt abdominal trauma and who was successfully treated by partial nephrectomy combined with caliceal ureterostomy under hand-assisted laparoscopy.

A retrospective study comparing tension-free vaginal tape and transobturator suburethral tape for surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence --- a preliminary report.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and complications of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) versus tension-free transobturator vaginal tape (TVT-O) from inside to outside for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women.

Methods: Retrospectively, 35 patients with SUI were recruited into this study; 18 patients were assigned to the TVT procedure and 17 patients to the TVT-O operation. Preoperative evaluation included subjective symptoms according to the SEAPI incontinence score (IC score), objective assessment by urodynamic study (including cystometry, electromyography, urethral pressure profile, uroflow), and bead chain voiding cystourethrogram.

Percutaneous nephroscopic resection of renal pelvic fibroepithelial polyp.

Benign fibroepithelial polyps of the renal pelvis are extremely rare, and are frequently mistaken for transitional cell carcinoma. Diagnosis is usually made following nephrectomy or nephroureterectomy for an assumed malignancy of the renal pelvis. We report a 56-year-old female with a right renal pelvic fibroepithelial polyp successfully treated by percutaneous nephroscopic resection.

Protective effects of eugenol against oxidized LDL-induced cytotoxicity and adhesion molecule expression in endothelial cells.

Eugenol, a natural constituent of a number of aromatic plants and their essential oil fractions, has several biological effects. However, its protective effects against endothelial injury remain unclarified. This study investigates how eugenol affects human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) dysfunction mediated by oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL).

Protective effects of honokiol against oxidized LDL-induced cytotoxicity and adhesion molecule expression in endothelial cells.

Honokiol, a compound extracted from Chinese medicinal herb Magnolia officinalis, has several biological effects. However, its protective effects against endothelial injury remain unclarified. In this study, we examined whether honokiol prevented oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction.

Rosiglitazone inhibits endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis.

Rosiglitazone, an insulin sensitizer, is known to offer beneficial effects in retarding atherosclerotic vascular diseases. Since proliferation and angiogenesis are involved in initiation and plaque instability, two critical steps in the cardiovascular events, this study was designed to evaluate the mechanisms of rosiglitazone on endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis. Rosiglitazone-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells were analyzed for growth rate by use of cell number counting, 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay as well as 3H-thymidine incorporation.

Hypercholesterolemia, not metabolic syndrome, related to adhesion of monocytes to cultured endothelium in nondiabetic subjects.

The interaction of leukocytes and endothelium plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Previous studies found that adhesion of leukocytes to endothelium is greater in subjects with hypercholesterolemia. It is not clear if metabolic syndrome, a contributing risk factor of cardiovascular disease, is related to this adhesion.

Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound in red wine, protects against oxidized LDL-induced cytotoxicity in endothelial cells.

Background: Resveratrol, a polyphenolic constituent of red wine, has antioxidant effects. However, its protective effects against oxLDL-induced endothelial injury remained unclarified.

Methods: Primary human umbilical vein endothelial cell cultures (HUVECs) treated with oxLDL (200 microg/ml) were used to explore the protective effect of resveratrol.

Treatment of emphysematous pyelonephritis with broad-spectrum antibacterials and percutaneous renal drainage: an analysis of 10 patients.

Background: This retrospective study was designed to determine the efficacy of broad-spectrum antibacterials combined with percutaneous renal drainage in the treatment of emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN).

Methods: From July 1992 to September 2002, 10 patients (nine females and one male) with EPN were managed at our institution. All patients had diabetes and presented with fever and chills, flank pain or tenderness, vomiting, and altered consciousness.