Robot-assisted nephroureterectomy using the GelPoint Platform with a focus on optimizing the port position and specimen retrieval.

Introduction: One of the factors that makes robot-assisted nephroureterectomy difficult is that the optimal port position differs between nephrectomy and bladder cuff excision. In addition, how best to retrieve the specimen after resection while minimizing the size of the wound is a challenge in robot-assisted surgery. To solve these problems, we designed a surgical technique for robot-assisted nephroureterectomy using the GelPoint Platform with a focus on port position optimization and specimen retrieval.

Long-term outcomes of the Japanese hemodialysis patients with prostate cancer detected by prostate-specific antigen screening.

We investigated the long-term outcomes of the Japanese hemodialysis patients with prostate cancer detected by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. Clinical data of 646 male hemodialysis patients aged 55 years or older who started yearly PSA testing in the period from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2012 and were followed until December 31, 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The median follow-up period was 10.

The utility and limitation of inferior vena cava diameter as a dry weight marker.

Background: IVC diameter on expiration (IVCdexp) is measured by echocardiography routinely. It is used to estimate volume status and designated as a definitive marker for determining dry weight (DW) in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD).

Methods: A cross-sectional study.

Influence of albumin leakage on glycated albumin in patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing hemodialysis.

Glycated albumin (GA) is recommended as a better glycemic indicator than HbA1c in patients undergoing hemodialysis, because the red blood cell lifespan is generally faster than that in normal subjects. However, GA can be also affected by protein loss in urine and hemodialysis fluid. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of albumin leakage induced by hemodialysis on GA.

Evidence for Targeting Low-Molecular-Weight Proteins in Hemodialysis and Hemodiafiltration.

Background: With the identification of β2-microglobulin (β2MG) as an active participant in dialysis-related amyloid fibril formation, low-molecular-weight proteins (LMWPs) are now recognized as a distinct class of uremic toxins, and numerous compounds in this category have been identified. The class of LMWPs, although not precisely defined, has a molecular weight range of approximately 1,000-50,000 Da. With this in mind, dialysis prescriptions have been modified to increase the efficiency of uremic solute removal.

Factors associated with regular dental visits among hemodialysis patients.

Aim: To investigate awareness and attitudes about preventive dental visits among dialysis patients; to clarify the barriers to visiting the dentist.

Methods: Subjects included 141 dentate outpatients receiving hemodialysis treatment at two facilities, one with a dental department and the other without a dental department. We used a structured questionnaire to interview participants about their awareness of oral health management issues for dialysis patients, perceived oral symptoms and attitudes about dental visits.

Impact of Lanthanum Carbonate on Prognosis of Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study (Kawashima Study).

In hemodialysis patients, mineral and bone disorder is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and subsequent death through the progression of vascular calcification. Serum phosphorus plays a major role in this process. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed the effects of oral phosphate binder, lanthanum carbonate (LC), on the mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Treatment of renal anaemia with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in predialysis chronic kidney disease patients: Haemoglobin profile during the 6 months before initiation of dialysis.

Aim: Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are all effective for renal anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it was reported that the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration decreases to 8.4 g/dL during the initial phase of dialysis despite treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO).

Vascular access for long-term hemodialysis/hemodiafiltration patients.

Purpose: We investigated the characteristics of patients who received long-term hemodialysis/hemodiafiltration (HD/HDF) treatment for over 30 years at our group of hospitals and type of vascular access (VA) used.

Subjects And Methods: As of August 2014, 950 patients were receiving HD/HDF treatment at one of our hospitals. Of those, we investigated 41 (4.

Factors associated with pain during vascular access intervention therapy.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate and compare factors associated with pain during vascular access intervention therapy.

Subjects And Methods: Fifty patients provided informed consent to participate in a survey of pain by questionnaire after receiving dialysis treatment at our hospital. Balloons for use during the procedure were chosen at random in this prospective randomized control study.

Reduction or discontinuation of antibiotic prophylaxis in vascular access surgery, tendon sheath incision and PD catheter placement.

Purpose: Immune response in dialysis patients is suppressed and these patients are susceptible to bacterial infections. Therefore, minimal use of antibiotics in dialysis patients is recommended to avoid generating drug-resistant bacteria. However, minor surgeries including vascular access surgery, tendon sheath incision and peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter placement are inevitable in dialysis patients and evidence-based recommendations on the judicious use of antibiotics are not currently available for these procedures.

Simple surgical method for a native arteriovenous fistula of chronic hemodialysis patients and the patency rate.

Background/aim: The maintenance and control of vascular access in chronic hemodialysis patients are causing serious problems not only in the quality of life of patients but also in the medical economy. In this regard, we investigated the cumulative patency rate of native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as a vascular access.

Methods: Simple surgical method for a native AVF is selected.

Evaluation of sterilization using the MEH200® (cotton pack) in vascular access puncture.

Background: In recent years, chlorhexidine-alcohol has been attracting increasing attention for its role in skin antisepsis. There have been few reports on the infection frequency associated with vascular access and no reports on the infection frequency associated with antiseptics.

Aims: We investigated skin disinfection during vascular access puncture in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD).

[Neobladder-rectal fistula as early postoperative complication of radical cystectomy and orthotopic neobaldder construction].

We report a case of neobladder-rectal fistula that developed as an early postoperative complication of radical cystectomy and orthotopic neobladder construction procedures. A 75-year-old man underwent a radical cystectomy and orthotopic neobladder construction using Studer's method for locally invasive bladder cancer (cT2N0M0). The patient had severe watery diarrhea on postoperative day 20, and was diagnosed with a neobladder-rectal fistula based on cystography findings.

[Pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferation of the bladder-case report].

A 66-year-old man with a history of sporadic von Recklinghausen' s disease was treated for pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferation in the bladder. The patient had a history of repetitive recurrence of bladder carcinoma requiring transurethral resection (TUR) 4 times and 1 course of intravesical BCG instillation. Three months after the fourth TUR, an intravesical solid mass 4 cm in diameter was detected.

[Two cases of prostatic carcinoma causing a disorder of gastrointestinal transit due to rectal stenosis].

A 64-year-old man, was admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology at another hospital in October, 2005 because of constipation and urinary retention. Endoscopic and computed tomographic (CT) examinations of biopsy specimens obtained from the rectal mucous membrane which appeared to be thickened revealed evidence of proctitis but no evidence of malignancy. The patient was referred to our hospital because of a high prostate specific anyigen (PSA) level (74.

[A case of bilharziasis diagnosed 10 years later].

A 31-year-old Japanese man had macroscopic hematuria 5 or 6 years previously. When he was examined at a local hospital, he was pronounced normal. However he still had macroscopic hematuria, so he visited our department.