Association between erythropoietin requirements and antihypertensive agents.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACI) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) have been reported to increase recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) requirements. We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate an association of antihypertensive agents including these two with the rHuEPO dose in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Methods: We studied 625 patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy in 11 dialysis units.

Diagnostic value of serum prostate-specific antigen in hemodialysis patients.

Background: The value of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening was examined to detect prostate cancer in men receiving hemodialysis.

Methods: Forty-one male patients age 60-95 (median age, 70 years) receiving hemodialysis were investigated for PSA levels. We set the cut-off point at 4 ng/mL (the usual reference range).

Comparison of chromosomal aberrations detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization with clinical parameters, DNA ploidy and Ki 67 expression in renal cell carcinoma.

To evaluate the significance of chromosomal aberrations in renal cell carcinoma, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to determine its prevalence and correlation with clinical parameters of malignancy. In addition, correlation of chromosomal aberration with Ki 67 expression was analysed. We performed FISH with chromosome-specific DNA probes, and the signal number of pericentromeric sequences on chromosomes 3, 7, 9 and 17 was detected within interphase nuclei in touch preparations from tumour specimen.

Chromosome aberrations in renal tumors detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between chromosome aberrations detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and tumor grade, stage, venous involvement, and DNA ploidy status in 18 renal tumors. Using FISH with chromosome-specific DNA probes, the copy number of pericentromeric sequences on chromosomes 3, 7, 9, and 17 was detected within interphase nuclei in touch preparations from tumor specimens. Monosomy for chromosome 3 was detected in seven of 9 DNA diploid tumors, whereas all DNA aneuploid tumors demonstrated trisomy or tetrasomy for chromosome 7.

Genomic heterogeneity in bladder cancer as detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between genomic heterogeneity and tumour grade, stage and DNA content in 30 transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs) of the urinary bladder.

Materials And Methods: Tissue specimens from 30 patients (25 men and five women) with newly diagnosed TCC of the urinary bladder were examined for genomic heterogeneity using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with chromosome-specific DNA probes; the copy number of pericentromeric sequences on chromosomes 7, 9 and 17 was detected within interphase nuclei in contact preparations from the tumour specimens.

Results: The aneusomy of chromosomes 7, 9 and 17 was significantly higher in aneuploid than in diploid tumours (P < 0.