Effect of warm ischemia on renal function during partial nephrectomy: assessment with new 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine scintigraphy parameter.

Objective: A decrease in renal function after partial nephrectomy caused by ischemic damage or nephron loss cannot be distinguished by conventional methods. We quantified renal function using a new 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG3) renal scintigraphy parameter.

Material And Methods: We included 32 patients with a normally functioning contralateral kidney who received open partial nephrectomy with average warm ischemic time of 26.

Renal parenchymal volume increases after contralateral nephrectomy: assessment using three-dimensional ultrasonography.

We investigated the relationship between changes in renal parenchymal volume (RPV) and renal function after a unilateral nephrectomy. In all 46 consecutive patients undergoing unilateral nephrectomy were included. Three-dimensional ultrasonography was performed before surgery (n=46) and at 4.

Symptoms Predictive for Efficacy of Naftopidil in Patients with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.

Objectives: To evaluate the lower urinary tract symptoms predicting the efficacy of the α1-adrenoreceptor (AR) antagonist naftopidil in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia.

Methods: The efficacy of naftopidil was examined on the basis of changes in the international prostate symptom score (IPSS). All patients received naftopidil (50 mg/day) for 12 weeks.

Evaluation of α2-integrin expression as a biomarker for tumor growth inhibition for the investigational integrin inhibitor E7820 in preclinical and clinical studies.

E7820 is an orally active inhibitor of α(2)-integrin mRNA expression, currently tested in phases I and II. We aimed to evaluate what levels of inhibition of integrin expression are needed to achieve tumor stasis in mice, and to compare this to the level of inhibition achieved in humans. Tumor growth inhibition was measured in mice bearing a pancreatic KP-1 tumor, dosed at 12.

N-(heteroarenesulfonyl)prolinamides-catalyzed aldol reaction between acetone and aryl trihalomethyl ketones.

Enantiomerically enriched trihalomethyl-substituted alcohols having a quaternary chiral carbon center can be prepared by the catalytic enantioselective cross-aldol reaction of acetone with trihalomethyl ketones by using N-(8-quinolinesulfonyl)prolinamide as an organocatalyst. The MO calculations elucidate that the hydrogen bonding between the sulfonimide proton and the 8-quinolyl nitrogen atom plays an important role in exerting the enantioselectivity of the reaction.

Notch modulates VEGF action in endothelial cells by inducing Matrix Metalloprotease activity.

Background: In the vasculature, Notch signaling functions as a downstream effecter of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) signaling. VEGF regulates sprouting angiogenesis in part by inducing and activating matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). This study sought to determine if VEGF regulation of MMPs was mediated via Notch signaling and to determine how Notch regulation of MMPs influenced endothelial cell morphogenesis.

Renal impairment after laparoscopic radical nephrectomy affects hypoglycaemic therapy.

What Is Known And Objective: Renal impairment is unavoidable after laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) and is an important consideration for drug therapy. It is possible that the renal impairment after LRN causes adverse reactions following reduced elimination of some renally excreted drugs, such as hypoglycaemic drugs. However, there are few studies of renal function in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the first week after LRN.

The role of selective transport in neuronal polarization.

Neurons are functionally and morphologically polarized and possess two distinct types of neurites: axons and dendrites. Key molecules for axon formation are transported along microtubules and accumulated at the distal end of the nascent axons. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the understanding of the mechanisms involved in selective transport in neurons.

Creation of a type 1 blue copper site within a de novo coiled-coil protein scaffold.

Type 1 blue copper proteins uniquely coordinate Cu(2+) in a trigonal planar geometry, formed by three strong equatorial ligands, His, His, and Cys, in the protein. We designed a stable Cu(2+) coordination scaffold composed of a four-stranded α-helical coiled-coil structure. Two His residues and one Cys residue were situated to form the trigonal planar geometry and to coordinate the Cu(2+) in the hydrophobic core of the scaffold.

Effect of tamsulosin on bladder microcirculation in a rat ischemia-reperfusion model, evaluated by pencil lens charge-coupled device microscopy system.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of tamsulosin hydrochloride on bladder microcirculation in a rat ischemia-reperfusion model using a pencil lens charge-coupled device microscopy system (PLCMS).

Methods: Changes in blood flow through a submucosal capillary of the rat bladder were measured during bladder filling using the PLCMS. One week after starting infusion of either physiological saline or tamsulosin, blood flow in the bladder was halted by bladder overdistention via an infusion of physiological saline.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound using a time-intensity curve for the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: • To evaluate the usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma by employing a time-intensity curve (TIC).

Patients And Methods: • From May 2008 to October 2009, CEUS was performed prior to surgery in 30 patients with renal masses. • In all, 10 of the 30 patients had cystic renal masses.

Relationship between renal parenchymal volume and single kidney glomerular filtration rate before and after unilateral nephrectomy.

Objectives: To measure the renal parenchymal volume (RPV) before and after unilateral nephrectomy and investigate the relationship between the RPV and single kidney glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Methods: From November 2003 to August 2009, 183 patients who had undergone unilateral nephrectomy were enrolled in the present study. All patients had undergone preoperative technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scintigraphy.

De novo detrusor underactivity after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate bladder function following laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, with a focus on de novo detrusor underactivity.

Methods: Records on pre- and postoperative urodynamic studies were retrospectively investigated in 110 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Patients exhibiting de novo detrusor underactivity were selected on the basis of an overt strain voiding pattern during the postoperative pressure flow study with detrusor pressure at a maximum flow rate <10 cm H(2)O accompanied by an increase in abdominal pressure.

[Solitary fibrous tumor of the seminal vesicle].

A 56-year-old man presented to our hospital with a pelvic mass. The tumor was diagnosed to occur from right seminal vesicle and to be a benign solitary fibrous tumor by transrectal tumor biopsy. The tumor enlarged during follow up, and he under-went resection of the tumor.

Clinical efficacy of a loading dose of naftopidil for patients with benign prostate hyperplasia.

Purpose: The efficacy of a loading dose of α(1)-adrenoreceptor antagonist for patients with benign prostate hyperplasia who did not improve at a low dose has not been determined. We performed a prospective study to estimate the efficacy of incremental naftopidil administration.

Methods: The efficacy of naftopidil was examined based on changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS).

Notch regulates the angiogenic response via induction of VEGFR-1.

Notch is a critical regulator of angiogenesis and arterial specification. We show that ectopic expression of activated Notch1 induces endothelial morphogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a VEGFR-1-dependent manner. Notch1-mediated upregulation of VEGFR-1 in HUVEC increased their responsiveness to the VEGFR-1 specific ligand, Placental Growth Factor (PlGF).

A square-planar Ni(II) complex with an N2S2 donor set similar to the active centre of nickel-containing superoxide dismutase and its reaction with superoxide.

The structure around the metal centre of a Ni(II) complex with an N(2)S(2) square-planar geometry, 1, prepared as a model compound of the NiSOD active site was drastically changed upon addition of potassium superoxide (KO(2)).

Multiplex real-time PCR assay for simultaneous quantification of BK polyomavirus, JC polyomavirus, and adenovirus DNA.

In recent years, virus-induced nephropathy caused mainly by BK polyomavirus (BKPyV), JC polyomavirus (JCPyV), and adenovirus has emerged as a problem in renal transplant patients. In the present study, we developed a multiplex real-time PCR assay to quantify the viral load of BKPyV, JCPyV, and adenovirus simultaneously. The dynamic range covered at least 6 orders of magnitude.

Periurethral injection of autologous adipose-derived stem cells for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy: report of two initial cases.

Objectives: To report a novel cell therapy using autologous adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSC) for stress urinary incontinence caused by urethral sphincteric deficiency and the outcomes in two initial cases undergoing periurethral injection of stem cells for the treatment of urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy.

Methods: Two patients with moderate stress incontinence after radical prostatectomy were enrolled. After liposuction of 250 mL of adipose tissue from the abdomen, we isolated ADSC from this tissue by using the Celution system.

Catalytic enantioselective hydrophosphonylation of ketimines using cinchona alkaloids.

Organocatalytic enantioselective hydrophosphonylation of ketimines using cinchona alkaloids and Na(2)CO(3) afforded products with high enantioselectivity. Both enantiomers of alpha-amino phosphonates can be prepared by using pseudoenantiomeric cinchona alkaloids. The catalyst loading of cinchona alkaloids can be reduced to 0.