N-acetylcysteine inhibits proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion of human bladder cancer cells.

Objective: Bladder cancer is not only a major public health and economically burden for the patients but also a major clinical impact for Thai urologists. The authors' aim was to study the anti-metastatic effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), one of the cheap, safe and widely used over-the-counter-drugs in Thailand, on the human bladder cancer cells.

Material And Method: Effects of NAC at various concentrations on the growth, adhesion, migration, and invasion of the human bladder cancer cell line were assessed in vitro.

Ureteral calculi during pregnancy: review of the management at Ramathibodi Hospital.

Objective: To review our experiences with diagnosis and management of symptomatic ureteral calculi complicating pregnancy.

Material And Method: Medical records of all pregnant patients documented with symptomatic ureteral calculi treated at the Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital from 1990 to 2000 were reviewed. Presenting symptoms, diagnostic studies and management of ureteral stone were evaluated.

Ureterocalicostomy for reconstruction of complicated ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

Objective: To review our experience with ureterocalicostomy using the treatment of complicated ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction.

Material And Method: Medical records of all patients with complicated ureteropelvic junction obstruction treated by ureterocalicostomy from 1985 to 2000 were reviewed. Causes of UPJ obstruction, surgical techniques, peri-operative course and outcome were noted.

Penile fracture: long-term outcome of treatment.

Objective: Penile fracture is a rare injury, usually resulting from direct trauma to the erect penis during sexual intercourse. Immediate surgical treatment is the basis for the treatment of this injury due to the high rate of complications associated with delayed management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical presentations, diagnostic methods, and outcomes of the treatment.

Mitrofanoff procedure incombination with enterocystoplasty for detrusor hyperreflexia with external sphincter dyssynergia: one-year experience of 12 cases.

Twelve patients with the mean age of 35 years who had undergone Mitrofanoff procedure incombination with enterocystoplasty between 1998-1999 were interviewed. All of the patients had suprasacral spinal cord injuries for the mean of 3.5 years from the accident to the operation and failure of medical treatment to suppress hyperreflexic bladder.

Ejaculatory duct obstruction in the infertile male: experience of 7 cases at Ramathibodi Hospital.

Objective: To study the clinical presentations, management, outcomes as well as pregnancy rate of ejaculatory duct obstruction treated at the Division of Urology, Ramathibodi Hospital.

Material And Method: This retrospective study was done from 1980 to 1999 and information from the medical records of the patients of ejaculatory duct obstruction was obtained. Phone and mail were used for long-term follow-up.

Interstitial laser coagulation for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 3 year-follow-up of 30 cases.

Objective: To report the results and 3 year-follow-up of treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using interstitial laser coagulation.

Material And Method: Thirty men with BPH underwent treatment with interstitial laser coagulation between December 1996 and April 1997. Their average age was 68 years old.

Risk factors of urethral involvement of bladder cancer after radical cystectomy with orthotopic neobladder in females.

The cystectomy and urethrectomy specimens of 20 females with invasive bladder cancer were studied for evidence of urethral involvement. The bladder showed transitional cell carcinoma in 18 cases (90%) and squamous cell carcinoma in 2 cases (10%). Urethral involvement was found in 5 cases (25%).

Stricture of the male urethra: 29 years experience of 323 cases.

The authors reported 323 cases of male urethral stricture managed at Ramathibodi Hospital from 1969 to 1998 (29 years period). Etiology included traumatic causes 237 (73%) and post infection 54 cases (16%). The managements were urethroplasties 281 cases (87%), urethrotomy 21 cases (6%) and dilatation 21 cases (6%).

Urethral diverticulum in females: 25 years experience at Ramathibodi Hospital.

We retrospectively reviewed the urethral diverticulum in females from 1972 to 1997. Sixty seven patients were found in this study. Nine per cent were nulliparous and the rest were multiparous with the mean of 2.

Vesico-vaginal fistula: experience of 230 cases.

We reviewed 230 cases of vesico-vaginal fistula in Ramathibodi Hospital from 1969 to 1997. The cases of fistula included 164 cases after transabdominal hysterectomies, 5 cases after anterior colporrhaphies, 8 cases after radical hysterectomy, 23 cases after vaginal hysterectomy, 10 cases after prolonged or traumatic birth, 9 cases after radiation for cervical carcinoma, 7 cases of cervical cancer invasion, 2 cases after suprapubic cystolithotomy and 2 cases after pelvic fracture. Most of them were referred from other hospitals.

Traumatic testicular dislocation a review of 36 cases.

We retrospectively reviewed 36 patients who were treated in our institutes with traumatic testicular dislocation from 1975 to 1997. The mean patient age was 25 years old (18-38). Average time to present at the emergency room was 1 hour (0.

The urological complications of renal transplantation: an 11-year-experience at Ramathibodi Hospital.

From February 1986 to December 1996, renal transplantation was performed on 344 patients at Ramathibodi Hospital. The urological complications were retrospectively analyzed in 335 patients (338 renal transplants), 9 patients were lost to follow-up. There were 227 males and 108 females with age ranging from 15 to 62 years (mean age 40.

The usage of Andrographis paniculata following Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL).

One hundred consecutive cases with renal stones less than 3 cm in size and normal renal function underwent ESWL from January to March 1994. Out of these, 50 were given Andrographis paniculata tablets (250 mg), 4 tablests tid, 25 were given cotrimoxazole 2 tablets bid and 25 received norfloxacin 200 mg bid, started immediately after ESWL and continued for 5 days. All tolerated the treatment well and none had complications.

Effects of Folia orthosiphonis on urinary stone promoters and inhibitors.

Yaa-Knuatmaeo or Folia orthosiphonis showed both favourable and non favourable effects of stone prevention. Uric acid and uric acid containing stone may be prevented by the increased alkalinity of the urine after drinking Orthosiphon tea. The unfavourable effect of orthosiphon being the excretion of oxalate in the urine may result in higher risk of stone formation.

Sterilization in Thailand.

Sterilization in Thailand began in the 40ies but the slow progress was due to lack of government support. In 1970 the government declared the population policy that resulted in the development of the tubal resection and vasectomy programs in the governmental hospitals and private sectors. The current total number of sterilizations reaches 200,000 cases annually with female to male ratio of 4:1.

Rhabdomyosarcoma in Thai children.

Twenty-six cases of rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosed from a total of 845 Thai children with childhood malignancy who had been treated at the Department of Pediatrics Ramathibodi Hospital, from May 1970 to December 1982 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 16 boys and 10 girls, aged 3 months to 13 years old (mean age was 5.6 +/- 4.

Djenkol bean as a cause of urolithiasis.

An 8-year-old boy was admitted into the hospital with symptoms of anuria after consumption of 12 djenkol beans. Laparotomy showed a urethral calculus, size 2.0 x 0.