Prostatectomy restores the maturation competence of blood dendritic cell precursors and reverses the abnormal expansion of regulatory T lymphocytes.

Objective: To verify the presence of deviated dendritic cell (DC) precursors and of suppressor lymphocytes (Treg) in tumor bearing prostate cancer (PCa) patients and to monitor the corrective effect of tumor ablation.

Methods: Monocytes isolated from the blood of patients before and 1 month after prostatectomy were allowed to reach complete maturation (mDC) ex vivo in a clinical grade two-step process. T-regulatory cells were identified in the lymphocyte cell fraction by the CD4(+)CD25(high)FoxP3(+)/CD4(+)CD25(high)CD127(low/-) phenotype.

[Penile prosthesis implantation in kidney-transplanted patients].

Most kidney transplantations are performed on middle-aged men for whom problems of sexual potency are still of great importance. Although a functional renal graft improves the problem in some patients and others resolve with oral or intracavernous therapy, about 20% of patients do not have a good response. In non-responders, tricomponent penile prosthesis implantation is possible.

[Bladder augmentation and urinary diversions in kidney transplants].

There is some controversy about the safety of kidney transplant in patients with augmented or diverted urinary system: they are considered higher risk recipients in view of increased technical problems and infective complications leading to pyelonephritis and graft loss. The ureter of a transplanted kidney should be anastomosed into a reservoir with an adequate capacity, with low bladder pressure, with good compliance, and efficient voluntary empting. Ileal and sigmoid bladder augmentation, usually associated with clean intermittent catheterization, has become a well-accepted part of the urological practice and has been used for implantation of the transplant ureter.

[Prostate cancer: transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound for the treatment of local recurrence after radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy].

OBJECTIVES. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as salvage therapy for locally recurrent prostate cancer after external beam radiotherapy or recurrences located in the region of vesicourethral anastomosis after radical prostatectomy. METHODS.

Value of endorectal MRI and MRS in patients with elevated prostate-specific antigen levels and previous negative biopsies to localize peripheral zone tumours.

Aim: To evaluate prospectively the role of endorectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in detecting peripheral zone tumour in patients with total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values>or=4 ng/ml and one or more negative transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy rounds.

Material And Methods: Fifty-four consecutive men (mean age 65.4+/-5.

Identification of a tumor-initiating stem cell population in human renal carcinomas.

The purpose of the present study was to search for the presence of a tumor-initiating stem cell population in renal carcinomas. Based on the recent identification of mesenchymal stem cells in normal kidneys, we sorted cells expressing the mesenchymal stem cell marker CD105 from 5 human renal carcinomas. Because the CD105(+) but not the CD105(-) population showed enhanced tumorigenicity when injected in severely compromised immunodeficient (SCID) mice, we cloned and characterized CD105(+) cells and evaluated their stemness, differentiative ability, and serial tumor generation.

Quality of life in patients undergone oncopreventive intravesical treatment for superficial bladder cancer.

Objectives: Adjuvant intravesical therapy after TURB for superficial bladder cancer forces the patients to follow prolonged protocols of treatment. In our study we considered the quality of life of these patients.

Materials And Methods: We created a questionnaire of 52 items in order to analyse free time, working activity, sexual-relational activity, compliance and self esteem of patients undergone intravesical adjuvant therapy.

Activity of weekly paclitaxel in advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Objective: We evaluated efficacy and toxicity of weekly paclitaxel in metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).

Materials And Methods: Patients received weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 by 1-hour intravenous infusion. A course of therapy consisted of 6 weekly treatments and 2 weeks rest.

CD133+ renal progenitor cells contribute to tumor angiogenesis.

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that resident progenitor cells may contribute to tumor vascularization and growth. CD133+ cells were isolated from 30 human renal carcinomas and characterized as renal resident progenitor cells on the basis of the expression of renal embryonic and mesenchymal stem cell markers. CD133+ progenitors differentiated into endothelial and epithelial cells as the normal CD133+ counterpart present in renal tissue.

Experiences in US-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of 44 renal tumors in 31 patients: analysis of predictors for complications and technical success.

Purpose: Preliminary clinical studies have shown the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) of renal tumors, but only a few have analyzed the prognostic factors for technical success and there are no long-term results. Our objective was to statistically evaluate our mid-term results of percutaneous US-guided RFA in order to define predictors for complications and technical success.

Methods: We selected for treatment 44 tumors in 31 patients (24 with renal cell carcinoma, 7 with hereditary tumors, 15 with a solitary kidney), up to 5 cm in diameter.

Multicenter study on the use of gemcitabine to prevent recurrence of multiple-recurring superficial bladder tumors following intravesical antiblastic agents and/or BCG: evaluation of tolerance.

Objectives: The treatment of choice for superficial bladder TCC is endoscopic resection, followed or not by intravesical immuno/chemotherapy. Some patients are not responders to common intravesical therapy and are more exposed to disease progression. In this case the suitable treatment is radical cystectomy.

Erectile dysfunction after kidney transplantation: our 22 years of experience.

Aim: To evaluate the results of treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in kidney transplant recipients before and after the advent of sildenafil.

Materials And Methods: From 1981 through 2002, 971 male patients of mean age 53.4 years received a renal graft.

Kidney rupture: an unusual and oligosymptomatic complication in a dialysis patient with acquired cystic disease.

Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) is a complication of end-stage renal disease, the prevalence of which is related to dialysis duration; incidence of ACKD and associated conditions (neoplasia, hemorrhage) have decreased with improvements in renal transplantation and with the ageing of the dialysis population. This report regards spontaneous kidney rupture in a 57-year old patient, on home hemodialysis for 11 years, with ACKD for 5 years. At the end of a dialysis session, the patient reported sudden onset of colicky flank pain, followed by macrohematuria.

Expression of CD154 on renal cell carcinomas and effect on cell proliferation, motility and platelet-activating factor synthesis.

CD40 activation by CD154 may trigger diverse cellular responses, ranging from proliferation and differentiation to growth suppression and cell death, in normal and malignant cells. However, the pathophysiologic role of CD154 expressed by tumor cells remains unclear. We have investigated the expression of the CD40-CD154 system in 24 primary cultures derived from renal cell carcinomas, its correlation with tumor stage and its potential functional significance.

The use of the small caliber JJ stent with anti-reflux valve in double kidney transplant. Personal experience.

Background: In the experience of other authors, double kidney transplant have a higher complication rate (30%) if compared with single renal graft. In personal experience the use of small calibre ureteral stents with antireflux valve can reduce this complication rate.

Methods: From November 1999 to April 2001, at the A.

Use of small calibre JJ ureteral stent with anti-reflux valve in uretero-vesical anastomosis during renal transplantation.

Background: We report our experience in transplantation proceedings with the use of small caliber JJ ureteral stent with antireflux valve during uretero-vesical anastomosis.

Methods: During renal transplantations we usually perform an uretero-cystoneostomy with antireflux technique according to Lich Gregoir. In the past we used to intubate the uretero-vesical anastomosis only in particular cases; since April 1998 we performed 112 single and 8 double transplants and in all cases we positioned a 12 cm long paediatric 4.

[Nephron-sparing treatment of kidney neoplasms in transplanted kidney. Our experience].

Background: To evaluate survival rate, follow-up and renal function in patients treated with "nephron-sparing" approach due to cancer in a transplanted kidney.

Methods: During the 18 years' activity of our Transplantation Centre 3 renal carcinomas in transplanted kidneys (0.24%) have been found.

[Obstructive azoospermia. Instrumental diagnosis: echography and endoscopy].

Obstructive disorders of seminal tract are mainly distinguished in Proximal and Distal Obstructive Syndrome, following typical seminal pattern. Fine localization of obstruction is very important for prognostic and therapeutic evaluation. In Proximal Obstruction the role of echography and endoscopy is today poorly defined and usefull.

[The percutaneous treatment of the urological complications following kidney transplantation].

Renal transplantation is considered the treatment of choice in most cases of renal failure; the urologic complication rate ranges 1 to 10% in different surveys. This work was aimed at evaluating the application and results of interventional radiology in these cases. Since 1983, 24 patients (20 males and 4 females) whose age ranged from 18 to 63 years (mean age: 42 years) have been submitted to percutaneous maneuvers in our department.