Ureterosciatic Hernia Treated with Laparoscopic Intraperitonization of the Ureter.

Ureterosciatic hernia (USH) is a rare benign disease. We report a case of USH treated with laparoscopic intraperitonization of the ureter. A 70-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with right abdominal pain lasting for 2 months.

Remarkable response to abiraterone acetate in castration-resistant prostate cancer patient with aggressive liver metastasis.

Introduction: The number of treatment options for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer has increased in recent years. Abiraterone, which selectively inhibits CYP17 in the androgen synthesis pathway, is widely used. Liver metastasis is one of the worst prognostic factors in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Ureteral Stone in the Distal Blind-ending Branch of a Bifid Ureter.

A bifid ureter with a distal blind-ending branch is a rare congenital anomaly. Most patients are asymptomatic; only patients with complications, such as infection, vesicoureteral reflux, or stone formation, present symptoms. We describe the case of a patient with urinary stone located in the distal blind-ending branch of a bifid ureter diagnosed during transurethral lithotripsy.

Individualized prostate-specific antigen threshold values to avoid overdiagnosis of prostate cancer and reduce unnecessary biopsy in elderly men.

Objective: To individualize prostate-specific antigen threshold values to avoid overdiagnosis of prostate cancer and reduce unnecessary biopsy in elderly men.

Methods: A total of 406 men aged over 70 years old with prostate-specific antigen levels between 4.0 and 20.

A rare case with a solitary fibrous tumour of the colon and an epithelioid angiomyolipoma of the kidney.

Solitary fibrous tumour is a soft tissue tumour composed of a subset of fibroblast-like cells and frequently needs immunohistochemical staining for final diagnosis. Epithelioid angiomyolipoma is a variant of angiomyolipoma but characterized by the absence of both adipocytes and abnormal blood vessels. We introduce a very rare case with the combination of these two tumours.

Predicting the probability of significant prostate cancer in Japanese men with serum prostate-specific antigen less than 10 ng/mL: development of a novel pre-biopsy nomogram.

Objectives: To develop and assess a new nomogram incorporating pre-biopsy clinical data to predict significant prostate cancer in Japanese men with a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of less than 10 ng/mL.

Methods: We collected pre-biopsy data from 620 men with a serum total PSA of less than 10 ng/mL. They included 491 men with a negative biopsy and 129 men who were confirmed to have histological prostate cancer and subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy.

Docetaxel in combination with prednisolone for hormone refractory prostate cancer.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel in combination with prednisolone in Japanese patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer.

Methods: Twenty patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) were administered a treatment regimen consisting of docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) once every 3 or 4 weeks and prednisolone 5 mg twice daily at our institution between 2006 and 2008.

Results: The patients received a median of 5.

Vitamin E succinate induced apoptosis and enhanced chemosensitivity to paclitaxel in human bladder cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

There have been several studies on the antitumor activities of vitamin E succinate (alpha-TOS) as complementary and alternative medicine. In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of alpha-TOS and the enhancement of chemosensitivity to paclitaxel by alpha-TOS in bladder cancer. KU-19-19 and 5637 bladder cancer cell lines were cultured in alpha-TOS and/or paclitaxel in vitro.

Renal damage inhibited in mice lacking angiotensinogen gene subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Objectives: To determine how angiotensin II (Ang II) contributes to renal interstitial fibrosis, the inflammatory response, and tubular cell apoptosis and proliferation in unilateral ureteral obstruction using mice genetically deficient in angiotensinogen (Agt(-/-)).

Methods: The left kidney of wild-type mice (WT; C57BL/6) and Agt(-/-) mice was obstructed for 2 weeks, and then both kidneys were harvested. The serum Ang II levels were determined by radioimmunoassay.

Tumour length of the largest focus predicts prostate-specific antigen-based recurrence after radical prostatectomy in clinically localized prostate cancer.

Objective: To investigate the possible significance of tumour dimensional variables, including maximum tumour diameter (MTD), maximum tumour area (MTA) and total tumour volume (TTV), with standard prognostic factors for predicting prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Patients And Methods: Serial whole sections of the prostate from 164 patients who had RP for localized prostate cancer were investigated. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used for univariate and multivariate analyses to test the relationships between biochemical failure and clinicopathological factors, including tumour dimensional variables.

Preoperative prognostic nomogram (probability table) for renal cell carcinoma based on TNM classification.

Purpose: Recently several prognostic nomograms have been developed to predict the prognosis of malignant diseases, including renal cell carcinoma. However, to our knowledge a preoperative prognostic nomogram that predicts survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma is not available. We developed a preoperative nomogram based on the TNM classification that predicts cause specific survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Gemcitabine and paclitaxel chemotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma in patients who have received prior cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and paclitaxel as a second-line regimen in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma.

Methods: Twenty patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma who were resistant to an M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) chemotherapy regimen were administered chemotherapy consisting of intravenous gemcitabine 2500 mg/m(2) and paclitaxel 150 mg/m(2) (GP) every 2 or 3 weeks.

Results: The patients received a median of 7.

The novel NF-kappaB activation inhibitor dehydroxymethyl-epoxyquinomicin suppresses anti-Thy1.1-induced glomerulonephritis in rats.

Background: NF-kappaB participates in the transcriptional regulation of numerous genes, and many studies have confirmed the activation of NF-kappaB in inflammatory renal diseases. Therefore, NF-kappaB is a promising target for the treatment of these diseases. We tested the effects of dehydroxymethyl-epoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), a novel NF-kappaB activation inhibitor, on anti-thy1.

The predictors of local recurrence after radical cystectomy in patients with invasive bladder cancer.

Objectives: To examine the association between local recurrence and distant metastasis or disease-specific survival and identify independent factor predictors for local recurrence.

Methods: We identified a study population of 146 consecutive patients treated surgically for invasive bladder cancer at our institution between 1987 and 2003. We clarified the relationship among local recurrence, distant metastasis and disease-specific survival and identified significant predictors for local recurrence.

Prediction of bone metastases by combination of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and prostate specific antigen in patients with prostate cancer.

Objective: The clinical value of serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and prostatic acid phosphatase (PACP) for the prediction of bone metastases in prostate cancer were investigated.

Methods: TRACP, PACP, ALP, and PSA serum levels were measured in 215 patients with prostate cancer, including 160 without and 55 with bone metastases. Correlation of serum marker levels with bone metastases was assessed using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis.

Prediction of extraprostatic extension by prostate specific antigen velocity, endorectal MRI, and biopsy Gleason score in clinically localized prostate cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical value of prostate specific antigen velocity (PSAV) in predicting the extraprostatic extension of clinically localized prostate cancer.

Methods: One hundred and three patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer were included in the analysis. The correlation between preoperative parameters, including PSA-based parameters, clinical stage, and histological biopsy findings, and the pathological findings were analyzed.

Simple stratification of survival using bone scan and serum C-reactive protein in prostate cancer patients with metastases.

Background: IL-6 has been reported to be a significant prognostic factor for prostate cancer and induces synthesis of C-reactive protein (CRP) by hepatocytes. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical value of serum CRP in prostate cancer patients with metastases.

Methods: The prognostic significance of serum CRP as well as tumor histology, extent of disease (EOD) on bone scan, serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and hemoglobin was assessed using Cox's proportional hazards model analyses in 126 prostate cancer patients with metastases treated with endocrine therapy.

Papillary renal cell carcinoma: clinicopathological characteristics in 40 patients.

Background: Two different subtypes of papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) have so far been identified, type-1 with small cells and pale cytoplasm and type-2 with large cells and eosinophilic cytoplasm. It has generally been accepted that type-1 tumors have favorable features in comparison with type-2 tumors, suggesting that these subtypes could be different clinicopathological entities, and, as a result, that the subtypes need to be characterized. Forty cases of PRCCs were reviewed, with special attention to the distinct clinicopathological difference and the response to cytokine therapy.

Clinical implications of tumor size and local extent of primary prostatic lesions in prostate cancer patients with metastases: value of endorectal magnetic resonance imaging in patients with metastases.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical significance of local assessment by endorectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in prostate cancer patients with metastases.

Methods: The local extent and tumor size were determined by endorectal MRI in 95 prostate cancer patients with metastases, and their clinical implications were assessed.

Results: The maximum diameter and tumor volume significantly correlated with the local extent of disease but not with extent of disease (EOD) on bone scan.

Long-term results of three different minimally invasive therapies for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia: comparison at a single institute.

Objective: We analyzed the efficacy and durability of three different minimally invasive therapies (MIT) for lower urinary symptoms performed at a single institution based on a 5-year prospective cohort study.

Methods: The pre- and postoperative evaluation was made in 103 patients with the following three MIT options: (i) transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT, n = 34); (ii) transurethral needle ablation (TUNA, n = 29); and (iii) transrectal high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU, n = 40).

Results: All three treatments significantly improved the symptom scores up to 2 years after treatment.

Interleukin 6 is associated with cachexia in patients with prostate cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between serum interleukin (IL)-6 and cachexia in patients with prostate cancer.

Methods: Serum levels of IL-6, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, and hemoglobin concentration were determined in 164 blood samples from patients with prostate cancer. The body mass index and performance status were also determined.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist as an angiogenic inhibitor in prostate cancer.

Background: Angiotensin II (AII) type 1 receptor (AT1R) antagonists are used widely as antihypertensive agents, and long-term AT1R blockade may have a protective effect against cancer. We previously demonstrated that specific AT1R blockade with candesartan, an AT1R antagonist, inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production and dramatically decreased lung metastasis of renal cancer by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. This study was then undertaken to investigate the effects of AT1R blockade using candesartan in prostate cancer (PCa).

Assessment of long-term quality of life using the FACT-BL questionnaire in patients with an ileal conduit, continent reservoir, or orthotopic neobladder.

Objective: To assess and compare quality of life (QOL) of patients followed for a long time who underwent an ileal conduit (IC), continent reservoir (CR) or ileal neobladder (NB) using FACT-BL, a bladder-cancer-specific questionnaire.

Methods: One hundred and forty-seven patients underwent radical cystectomy and urinary diversion for bladder cancer from 1987 to 2002 at our institution. Of them, 79 (54%) patients were asked to participate in this study.

Endocytoscopy: novel endoscopic imaging technology for in-situ observation of bladder cancer cells.

Background And Purpose: Recent advances in endoscopy have enabled microscopic imaging of live bladdercancer cells in situ. The newly developed Endocystoscopy system (Olympus Medical Systems Co., Tokyo, Japan) is a flexible digital endoscope that has more than a 450-fold magnifying power on a video monitor.