Dietary supplementation with cranberry concentrate tablets may increase the risk of nephrolithiasis.

Objectives: Cranberry juice has been recommended for patients with recurrent urinary tract infections. However, cranberry juice has a moderately high concentration of oxalate, a common component of kidney stones, and should be limited in patients with a history of nephrolithiasis. Cranberry concentrate tablets are currently available at nutrition stores and are sold as promoters of urinary tract health.

Clinical and radiological findings in patients with gas forming renal abscess treated conservatively.

Purpose: Emphysematous pyelonephritis in diabetics is considered a potentially lethal infection. Mortality rates of patients treated conservatively approaches 80% in some series. These patients often present with signs of sepsis or septic shock.

Endoscopic management of upper tract urothelial tumors.

We evaluated renal-preserving endourology in the diagnosis and management of upper tract urothelial tumors. Referral patients were identified for the endourologic management of upper urinary tract tumors between January 1990 and May 1996 at two tertiary care referral centers. Chart reviews, indications for intervention, and treatment outcomes were assessed.

Successful use of fluconazole for treatment of urinary tract fungal infections.

Two cases are reported that demonstrate significant activity of the new antifungal agent, fluconazole, in treating urinary tract fungal infections. One patient was severely immunocompromised with the underlying complication of renal failure and the other presented with a much simpler case of candidal cystitis that responded quickly despite unfavorable in vitro susceptibility testing.

Treatment of experimental bladder cancer with hyperthermia and phase transition liposomes containing methotrexate.

Serially transplanted murine bladder cancer was treated with localized capacitive radiofrequency hyperthermia and liposome-delivered methotrexate (MTX). Liposomes were manufactured to retain MTX at 37C but specifically release encapsulated MTX as they passed through preheated tumors. When compared to controls, neither free MTX nor liposome-delivered MTX caused significant tumoricidal activity.