[Tuberous sclerosis associated with renal angiomyolipoma, pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis and subungual fibroma: report of a case].

We report a case of tuberous sclerosis associated with bilateral renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs), pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and subungual fibroma of hands and feet. A 42-year-old woman who was diagnosed as tuberous sclerosis at the age of 18 complained of left flank pain and abdominal fullness. Bilateral renal AMLs were pointed out when complete examinations were performed for hypertension at the age of 32.

Antitumor killer lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of a patient with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Background: Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with bladder cancer also contain cells possessing cytotoxic activity against autologous tumor cells. These cells are phenotypically heterogenous and include natural killer (NK) and cytotoxic T cells. This study investigated the role of cytotoxic lymphocytes directed against autologous bladder cancer cells.

[A case of pyelitis cystica diagnosed with utilization of ureterofiberscope].

We herein report a case of pyelitis cystica in 65-year-old woman. She was referred to our hospital in order to have a treatment for a stone in the ureter on left side. Excretory urogram showed hydronephrosis on left, and multiple, small, smooth and round filling defects in the renal pelvis on right side.

Relationship between area under the concentration versus time curve of cyclosporin A, creatinine clearance, hematocrit value, and other clinical factors in Japanese renal transplant patients.

We evaluated the relationship between the area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) of cyclosporin A (CsA) and several other clinical factors, because the clinical utility of AUC monitoring has been ambiguous. Fifty-four clinical time courses from 14 Japanese renal transplant patients during hospitalization, in the period from April 1990 to March 1997, were examined. In a bivariate regression analysis there was no correlation between the AUC and the daily dose of CsA (mg/kg/day) when the individual data or total series data were analyzed.

Azathioprine-induced megaloblastic anemia with pancytopenia 22 years after living-related renal transplantation.

Macrocytosis and megaloblastic changes in the bone marrow are frequently seen in renal transplant recipients treated with azathioprine (Az). However, severe anemia is a rare side effect of Az. We recently observed a case of severe megaloblastic anemia with pancytopenia in a renal transplant recipient who had been receiving Az therapy for 22 years.

[Adenocarcinoma of the bladder 19 years after the augmentation ileocystoplasty: report of a case].

We report a case of adenocarcinoma of the augmented bladder 19 years after ileocystolasty. The patient was a 53-year-old man who underwent right nephrectomy and ileocystoplasty (Pyrah's method) for contracted bladder due to tuberculosis in 1965. In another hospital, transurethral resection (TUR) was performed against a tumor in the anastomotic site between the bladder and the ileal segment in 1996.

Increase of growth-associated protein-43 immunoreactivity following cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis in rats.

We examined the effect of inflammation on immunoreactivity of growth-associated protein (GAP-43) in the rat urinary bladder in which acute cystitis was induced with cyclophosphamide (CPA). Following CPA injection, the number of GAP-43 labeled nerves was significantly increased in the muscle layer. Immunoreactivity of PGP9.

Nephron sparing surgery for de novo renal cell carcinoma in an allograft kidney: a case report.

De novo renal cell carcinoma in a renal allograft is rare and has special implications in renal transplant recipients. We describe a patient with a renal allograft who developed a de novo renal cell carcinoma in the functioning renal allograft 258 months after transplantation. The patient underwent enucleation of the tumor because preoperative MRI showed it was well-encapsulated.

[Adenocarcinoma occurring 37 years after augmentation ileocystoplasty for tuberculous bladder atrophy: report of a case].

A 55-year-old woman was admitted with urinary frequency. She had undergone augmentation ileocystoplasty due to tuberculous bladder atrophy 37 years previously. Cystoscopy revealed a tumor on the posterior wall which had been augmented with the ileum.

Intra-operative autotransfusion in radical cystectomy.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of intra-operative autotransfusion (IAT) as a method of decreasing or avoiding homologous blood transfusion during radical cystectomy.

Patients And Methods: IAT was performed in 10 patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of six patients without and group 2 of four patients with pre-deposited blood.

Assessment of the availability of intraoperative autotransfusion in urological operations.

Purpose: Intraoperative autotransfusion in urological operations has the risks of reinfusing urine constituents, bacteria and cancer cells. We assessed the efficacy of intraoperative autotransfusion and leukocyte removal filters to separate red blood cells from these constituents.

Materials And Methods: Concentrated red blood cells were mixed with urine, bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and tumor cells (KK47 and ACHN), and processed with the intraoperative autotransfusion device.

[Hemo-lymphangioma of the scrotum: a case report].

A 3-year-old boy was referred because of a painless mass in the left scrotum. On palpation, the mass was discriminated from the testis, epididymis and spermatic cord and showed transillumination. A part of the mass was dark purple in color.

[Experimental bladder stone production by human uropathogenic bacteria].

To investigate the formation of infection stones by 5 bacterial species isolated from patients with urinary calculi, such as Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, a zinc disc was implanted and 10(6) bacteria were surgically inoculated at the same time into the bladder of male Wistar rats (10 rats per group). Urinary pH was measured on days 1, 3, 5 and 7. The rats were killed on day 7 and the bladder examined for the formation of infection stones.

Clinical experience of orthotopic urinary reservoirs in male patients with bladder cancer.

Between 1988 and 1996, 23 male patients with bladder cancer underwent bladder substitution after cystectomy, using either the hemi-Kock, Hautmann, and Reddy procedures. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 36 months, with a range of 3 to 85 months. There were no perioperative deaths, and early postoperative complications occurred in 7 patients (30%); transient urine leak from the pouch in 4, wound infection in 3 and pyelonephritis in 2 patients.

[Immunohistochemical study on endothelin in rat kidney].

To elucidate the role of endothelin (ET) in the kidney, we immunohistochemically examined the precise distribution of various forms of ET-peptides in the rat kidney, using specific polyclonal antibodies to each precursor (Big ET-1, Big ET-2 and Big ET-3), and anti-mature ET antibodies. Immunoreactivity of Big ET-1 was localized mainly in some vascular endothelial cells, glomerular mesangial cells and epithelial cells of proximal tubules in the renal cortex and inner-medullary collecting ducts. The distribution of immunoreactivity for mature ETs was similar to those of Big ET-1.

Assessment of the effects of low dialysate flow rates on removal rates and clearance using high flux membranes.

The effects of the low dialysate flow rates on the removal rate and clearance of urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, beta 2-microglobulin and myoglobin, using high flux membranes were studied. The removal rates for all substances were not significantly decreased. Although clearance of urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid was significantly decreased (p < 0.

Quality of life survey of urinary diversion patients: comparison of continent urinary diversion versus ileal conduit.

Background: Continent urinary reservoirs (CUR) have become one of the major options for patients requiring urinary diversion to improve their quality of life (QOL). To assess whether CUR enhanced postoperative QOL, we surveyed patients with CUR and ileal conduit (IC) using a questionnaire sent by mail.

Patients And Methods: The questionnaire consisted of 133 questions that covered physical and mental status, social life, sexual habits and symptoms related to urinary diversions.

[Electron microscopic study on the surface of long-term indwelling silver-protein-coated urethral catheters (Urotopic Ag Protein)].

In order to determine the bacterial and crystal adherence to long-term indwelling urethral catheters, we performed a scanning electron microscopic study utilizing commercially available silver-protein-coated latex (Urotopic Ag Protein) and silicone urethral catheters that were left in place for over 4 weeks. Microorganisms and crystals frequently were associated with fibrillar materials. On the surface of silicone catheters bacteria often were embedded in the amorphous matrix.

[Clinical analysis of bladder cancer patients treated by radical cystectomy].

We assessed the treatment outcome of 105 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder treated by total cystectomy at our university hospital, between 1979 and 1993. The patients consisted of 84 men and 21 women (male to female ratio : 4:1), between 45 and 82 years old (mean, 65.5 years old).

A natural variant of bovine dopamine beta-monooxygenase with phenylalanine as residue 208: purification and characterization of the variant homo- and heterotetramers of (F208)4 and (F208)2(L208)2.

Bovine dopamine beta-monooxygenase was purified from each of 18 individual adrenal glands by the method we have developed for the rapid purification of the enzyme from a single adrenal gland. Differential peptide mapping of the 18 enzyme preparations following fluorescence labeling of their cysteine residues revealed the presence of a novel variant with Phe as residue 208 in 14 adrenal glands; seven of them were homozygous for the variant allele and the remaining seven heterozygous. The variant enzyme was a tetramer and exhibited kinetic and structural properties similar to those of the wild-type tetramer (L208)4.

Comparison of neurogenic contraction and relaxation in canine corpus cavernosum and penile artery and vein.

Functional roles of autonomic efferent nerves were compared in the isolated canine corpus cavernosum, penile artery and penile vein that participate in the penile erection by changing blood distribution. Nicotine produced moderate contraction in the arterial strips, but only a slight or no contraction in the corpus and venous strips. The contraction was suppressed or reversed to a relaxation by prazosin.