Effects of adipocytes on the proliferation and differentiation of prostate cancer cells in a 3-D culture model.

Objective: To investigate how the mechanism of adipocyte-prostate cancer cell interaction affects the proliferation and differentiation of prostate cancer cells.

Methods: An androgen-dependent cell line (LNCaP), two androgen-independent cell lines (PC-3, DU145), and mature adipocytes harvested from male Wistar rats were used. Cancer cells were co-cultured with the isolated mature adipocytes in 3-D collagen gel matrix culture.

Microwave tissue coagulator induces renal apoptotic damage to preserved normal renal tissue following partial nephrectomy.

Background: We assessed the extent of apoptotic damage induced by the microwave tissue coagulator (MTC) in the preserved normal renal tissue following partial nephrectomy.

Methods: Eleven patients who underwent nonischemic partial nephrectomy with MTC (group M) were enrolled in this study. The other 11 patients who underwent cold-ischemic partial nephrectomy without the use of MTC were enrolled as controls (group C).

The effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemo-radiation therapy on MRI staging in invasive bladder cancer: comparative study based on the pathological examination of whole layer bladder wall.

Objective: We evaluated the correlation of radiological findings obtained by MRI study with pathological diagnosis in invasive bladder cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with or without radiation.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Twenty-seven patients, who underwent total or partial cystectomy for invasive bladder tumors, were enrolled into the present study. Eight cases had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy following the staging biopsy (group A), ten cases had received chemo-radiation therapy following the staging biopsy (group B), and nine cases had received preoperative staging biopsy alone (group C).

[Metachronous testicular seminoma with an interval of 14 years from the first nonseminomatous testicular tumor: a case report].

A 32-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of right scrotal swelling. He had a past history of left testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT), stage IIB 14 years ago. He had undergone chemotherapy with 3 courses of PEP and retroperitoneal lymphnode dissection revealing pathological CR.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the urachus.

A 64-year-old man was admitted with complaints of abdominal pain and pollakisuria. A soft mass was palpable under his navel. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 9 x 6 cm tumor, which was composed of a cystic lesion arising from the urachus and a solid mass component at the urinary bladder dome.

Management of extrinsic malignant ureteral obstruction with urinary diversion.

Objective: The effectiveness of urinary diversion for patients with renal insufficiency due to extrinsic ureteral obstruction was assessed.

Methods: Between 1990 and 2003, 30 males and 45 females, ranging 36-90 years of age (average, 62.7) who had secondary ureteral obstruction due to either a retroperitoneal or pelvic invasion of malignant disease, underwent nephrostomy or ureteral stenting using a double-J stent without side holes.

Oncologic assessment of hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for urothelial tumors of the upper tract: comparison with conventional open nephroureterectomy.

Purpose: To evaluate the oncologic results of our operative technique, hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (HRNU), for the treatment of upper-tract urothelial cancer, various perioperative parameters and oncologic outcomes were compared for HRNU and conventional open nephroureterectomy (CONU).

Patients And Methods: Thirty-six patients with clinical stage T(1,2)N(0)M(0) renal-pelvic and ureteral tumors underwent HRNU. A retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy was carried out with hand assistance via a lower-abdominal midline incision.

Prostate-specific antigen assay using whole blood samples spotted on filter paper and its application to mass screening for prostate cancer.

Aim: The disc assay system for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a novel technique using a small amount of whole blood on filter paper. The accuracy of this assay system and its feasibility for use in prostate cancer mass screening were evaluated.

Methods: In the first arm of the study, to evaluate the accuracy of the disc assay system, PSA values were determined by both a disc assay system and a standard serum assay system using the same blood samples obtained from 420 outpatients.

Renal-tissue damage induced by laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using microwave tissue coagulator.

Background And Purpose: The microwave coagulator is a useful instrument that enables surgeons to perform partial nephrectomy without vascular clamping. The extent of postoperative thermal damage in surgically spared renal tissue has not been well examined. The present study was conducted to evaluate the tissue damage caused by microwave coagulation in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for small renal tumors.

Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha in human normal, benign, and malignant prostate tissue.

Objective: To investigate hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) protein expression in normal prostates (NP), benign prostatic glandular hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate adenocarcinoma (Pca).

Methods: HIF-1alpha protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens obtained from 13 cases of NP, 28 cases of BPH, and 34 cases of Pca. In cases of Pca, the relationship between HIF-1alpha protein expression and certain clinicopathological factors, such as clinicopathologic stage and Gleason score, was evaluated.

Nonionic contrast media are less nephrotoxic than ionic contrast media to rat renal cortical slices.

Background: Nephrotoxicity induced by contrast media (CM) is well recognized. Nonionic CM with lower osmolality than that of conventional ionic CM have been developed in an effort to reduce toxicity. However, the nephrotoxic effects of nonionic CM have not been well evaluated.

Hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary-tract urothelial tumors.

Purpose: We report our experience with hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary-tract urothelial cancer.

Patients And Methods: Our initial 10 cases of clinical stage T(1)N(0)M(0) renal pelvic and ureteral tumors treated with hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy are included in the present report. Nephrectomy was conducted retroperitoneoscopically with hand assistance via a lower-abdominal midline incision.

Annual PSA tests are not necessary for men with a PSA level below 2 ng/mL: findings of the Imari prostate cancer screening program.

Background: Annual changes in prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels detected by the Imari prostate cancer screening program were evaluated to establish a more efficient and cost-saving screening system, especially for men with low PSA levels.

Methods: Prostate specific antigen-based annual mass screenings for prostate cancer were conducted for men aged 60-69 in the Imari district, Saga, Japan. Between 1992 and 2000, 1822 men had their PSA levels tested.

Role of thymidine phosphorylase in an in vitro model of human bladder cancer invasion.

Purpose: It has been previously demonstrated that the angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase is elevated significantly in invasive bladder cancer. We report that it is not merely an incidental finding. Thymidine phosphorylase has a functional role in bladder cancer invasion.