Cavernous nerve graft reconstruction using an autologous nerve guide to restore potency.

Objective: To present our experience of cavernous nerve graft reconstruction, using an autologous nerve vein-guide technique, to restore potency.

Patients And Methods: Prostate cancers frequently require radical resection involving one or both cavernous nerves that usually results in erectile dysfunction; nerve grafting has been used to restore erectile function, but clinical results are unsatisfactory owing to inadequate surgical techniques. In all, eight patients with prostate cancer who required radical resection involving one cavernous nerve had sural nerve grafting, with two or three sutures using the autologous vein-guide technique, in our unit between 2004 and 2005.

The preventive effect of green tea on the gap junction intercellular communication in renal epithelial cells treated with a renal carcinogen.

Objective: Clinical studies imply that (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a main ingredient of green tea catechins, has a chemopreventive action against cancers and suppresses the proliferation of cancer cells. However, there is no report about its chemopreventive effect for renal cancer. We previously determined that renal carcinogens suppressed the gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) of renal epithelial cells.