Magnetic resonance imaging of the male pelvic floor: the anatomical configuration and dynamic movement in healthy men.

The male pelvic organs and the rhabdosphincter were visualized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in five young male volunteers (mean age, 25.6 years). The prostate was crescent-shaped in three subjects and doughnut-shaped in two subjects.

Ileal neobladder for bladder substitution after radical cystectomy.

Background: Studer's ileal neobladder is technically simple, and favorable clinical results have been reported. However, there have been only a few follow-up studies on this type of ileal neobladder. We reviewed the clinical outcomes of patients who received Studer's ileal neobladder, with a minor modification, in our institution.

[Recent progress in surgical management for urogenital cancers--improvement of patients' QOL following surgery].

We report our experience of urinary reconstruction with ileal neobladder, and nerves-paring radical cystoprostatectomy or radical prostatectomy in an attempt to improve quality of life (QOL) in patients following surgery. While the ileal neobladder is not always indicated for patients who require cystectomy for invasive bladder carcinoma, voiding through the urethra in this urinary reconstruction contributes to improvement of post-cystectomy QOL. Daytime continence is achieved in 90% of patients.

Voiding dysfunction in ileal neobladder.

Purpose: We attempt to understand better the voiding mechanism and determine the causes of voiding dysfunction in ileal neobladder patients.

Materials And Methods: The voiding condition in 12 bladder cancer patients who had undergone neobladder construction after radical cystectomy was examined by pressure-flow study and voiding cystourethrography. The patients were classified into 2 groups based on the maximum flow rate in a pressure-flow study: fine voiders (6), with a maximum flow rate of 15 ml.

Morphological and pharmacological characterization of guinea-pig prostatic smooth muscle cells in vitro.

Background: Prostatic smooth muscle is thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of bladder outlet obstruction in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy. However, the physiology of prostatic smooth muscle cells remains largely unknown, in part due to the lack of a suitable model system. We therefore sought to establish an in vitro culture of guinea pig prostatic smooth muscle cells.