The preoperative pad test as a predictor of urinary incontinence and quality of life after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a prospective, observational, clinical study.

Purpose: To assess whether the preoperative 1-h pad test could predict postoperative urinary incontinence and quality of life after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Methods: A total of 329 patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy between 2013 and 2016 were prospectively enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into the preoperative urinary continence group and the preoperative urinary incontinence group according to the 1-h pad test.

The association between local atherosclerosis of the prostatic artery and benign prostatic enlargement in humans: Putative mechanism of chronic ischemia for prostatic enlargement.

Background: To investigate the possible pathogenesis of the benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) induced by local atherosclerosis, the association between local atherosclerosis and prostatic enlargement was investigated, and molecular biological analyses were performed using human prostatectomy specimens.

Methods: A total of 69 consecutive patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) participated in this prospective study. To evaluate actual local atherosclerosis, prostatic arteries were removed during RARP.

Overriding TKI resistance of renal cell carcinoma by combination therapy with IL-6 receptor blockade.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a tumor entity with poor prognosis due to limited therapy options. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) represent the standard of care for RCCs, however a significant proportion of RCC patients develop resistance to this therapy. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is considered to be associated with poor prognosis in RCCs.

Impact of Sulfatase-2 on cancer progression and prognosis in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Heparan sulfate-specific endosulfatase-2 (SULF-2) can modulate the signaling of heparan sulfate proteoglycan-binding proteins. The involvement of SULF-2 in cancer growth varies by cancer type. The roles of SULF-2 expression in the progression and prognosis of renal cell carcinomas (RCC) have not yet been fully clarified.

Impact of Body Habitus on Operative Difficulties during Extraperitoneal Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether patients' body habitus affects the operative difficulties associated with extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). Therefore, the associations between body habitus and perioperative outcomes of surgery, including bleeding, operative time, and resection margins, were evaluated.

Materials And Methods: Between August 2010 and July 2012, 40 consecutive patients with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and abdominal X-ray examinations underwent extraperitoneal LRP for localized prostate cancer at our institution.

[Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: surgical techniques].

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for the patients with localized prostate cancer is increasingly being adopted around the world. The da Vinci surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) provides the advantages of simplification and precision of exposure and suturing because of allowing movements of the robotic arm in real time with increased degree of freedom and magnified 3-dimensional view. Therefore, RARP has been expected to provide superior therapeutic benefit to patients in terms of surgical outcome to open or laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Timing of Urinary Pad Exchanges Was the Most Important Factor Affecting Quality of Life in the Early Postoperative Period After Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy.

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of pad use for postprostatectomy incontinence on urinary quality of life (QoL) after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) in the early postoperative period.

Methods: Ninety patients underwent RARP simultaneously completed International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and modified pad use questionnaire that evaluated pad use and urinary QoL and a 24-hour pad test. Pad use was also assessed by pad form, pad size, the number of pad exchanges per day, and the timing of pad exchanges (i.

Expression and Function of LPA1 in Bladder Cancer.

Purpose: LPA is one of several physiologically active lipid mediators that promote cell proliferation and invasion, and are present in serum, ascites and urine. LPA receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor that is considered a potential therapeutic target for some malignant cancers. We evaluated the expression of LPA receptors in bladder cancer and the effect of LPA in bladder cancer invasion.

Current techniques to improve outcomes for early return of urinary continence following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Although open retropubic radical prostatectomy has been the most commonly used surgical technique for patients with localized prostate cancer for decades, robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has recently become an alternative option and widely used in Japan as well as around the world. RARP has been shown to have higher postoperative continent rates than retropubic and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy; however, urinary incontinence has remained one of the most significant causes for concern among patients who seek surgical treatment for prostate cancer, even after the introduction of RARP. The literature has shown that certain technical modifications to improve urinary continence are advocated as potential aids to reduce the risk of urinary incontinence after RARP.

The presence of antibodies against the AD2 epitope of cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B is associated with acute rejection after renal transplantation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between antibodies against cytomegalovirus (CMV) glycoprotein B (gB) and acute rejection after transplantation. Seventy-seven consecutive renal transplant recipients in a D + /R+ setting were studied. Biopsy-proven rejection occurred in 35% of the recipients.

Urinary incontinence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: pathophysiology and intraoperative techniques to improve surgical outcome.

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy has been shown to have comparable and possibly improved postoperative continent rates compared with retropubic and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. However, postoperative urinary incontinence has remained one of the most bothersome postoperative complications. The basic concept of the intraoperative technique to improve postoperative urinary continence is to maintain as normal anatomical and functional structure in the pelvis as possible.

Involvement of stretch-induced Rho-kinase activation in the generation of bladder tone.

Aims: The present study investigated the role of the Rho-kinase (ROK) pathway in the maintenance of bladder tone during the storage phase, and its effects on bladder compliance.

Methods: Muscle strips from isolated rat bladder (detrusor strips) were used to evaluate the effects of the ROK inhibitors Y-27632 and HA-1077 on resting tension, which is independent of G-protein coupled pathways. Stretch-induced ROK activation was assessed by measuring phosphorylation of MYPT1 (myosin phosphatase targeting subunit) using Western blotting.

Humanised antihuman IL-6R antibody with interferon inhibits renal cell carcinoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo through suppressed SOCS3 expression.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), one of the proinflammatory cytokines, is considered to be one of the factors associated with poor prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Suppressor of cytokine signalling-3 (SOCS3) is rapidly up-regulated by IL-6 and a negative regulator of cytokine signalling. SOCS3 not only suppresses cytokine-mediated JAK/STAT signalling, but also sustains MAPK pathways.

Does body habitus of patients affect operative difficulty during retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy?

Background And Purpose: Because of the limited working space available during retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN), the body habitus of the patient is likely to affect the risk of operative difficulties. This study sought to determine whether anthropometric measurements based on CT and abdominal radiography could be used to predict operative difficulties during retroperitoneal LRN.

Patients And Methods: Between August 2004 and January 2012, 96 consecutive patients with preoperative CT and abdominal radiography examinations underwent retroperitoneal LRN for a T(1) or T(2) stage renal tumor at our institution.

Does periprostatic local anesthesia for prostate biopsy affect the operative difficulty of open radical prostatectomy? A prospective randomized trial.

Objectives: Periprostatic local anesthesia for transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy requires additional needle punctures and injection of local anesthetics into the periprostatic area. This study sought to determine the influence of periprostatic local anesthesia on the surgical difficulty of open radical prostatectomy (RP).

Patients And Methods: A total of 241 consecutive patients who underwent TRUS-guided prostate needle biopsy were randomized to receive either periprostatic nerve block (Anesthesia group; n=120) or no anesthesia (Control group; n=121).

Laparoscopic nephrectomy, ex vivo angioplasty, and renal autotransplant for a renal artery aneurysm: a case report.

We describe in this report the case of a renal aneurysm in a 42-year-old woman. The aneurysm measured 27 mm in diameter, and was sited at the first bifurcation of the renal artery. We performed laparoscopic nephrectomy, ex vivo angioplasty and renal autotransplant to avoid ischemic damage to the kidney during reconstruction.

New classification for men with lower urinary tract symptoms: cluster analysis using the International Prostate Symptom Score.

Subjects And Methods: • Secondary analysis of anonymous data from 10,434 patients enrolled in a postmarketing surveillance study of tamsulosin in Japan was performed. Data were prospectively collected through the central register from men diagnosed with LUTS in 1100 medical institutions between October 2004 and March 2005. • Those who had received an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist within 1 week before the initial visit were excluded.

The effect of atherosclerosis-induced chronic bladder ischemia on bladder function in the rat.

Aims: To develop a rat model of atherosclerosis-induced chronic bladder ischemia and investigate the effect of chronic bladder ischemia on voiding behavior and bladder function.

Methods: Adult male rats were divided into three groups. The arterial injury (AI) group underwent endothelial injury of the iliac arteries and received a 2% cholesterol diet.

Long-term administration of prazosin improves bladder storage function: results from a study in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of long-term administration of the α(1) -adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin on afferent inputs from the lower urinary tract (LUT).

Methods: Twenty female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were randomized to receive a 4-week course of prazosin (0.12 mg/kg per day) or vehicle; 10 female Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were given vehicle.

Effect of long-term prazosin and yohimbine administration on c-Fos expression in spinal neurons: inhibitory effect of alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptors on afferents from the lower urinary tract.

Introduction: To investigate the effects of long-term administration of the α(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin and the α(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine on afferent inputs from the lower urinary tract by evaluating c-Fos expression in the spinal cord.

Materials And Methods: Prazosin or yohimbine was administered for 4 weeks in rats using an osmotic pump. Effects of these agents on urodynamic parameters were determined by continuous cystometry in conscious rats.

Suppression of SOCS3 increases susceptibility of renal cell carcinoma to interferon-α.

Interferon (IFN)-α is one of the most commonly used agents in immunotherapy for patients with advanced stage renal cell carcinoma. However, because of the drug resistance to IFN-α, its benefits are limited. In this study, we examined whether repression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins, which are involved in the IFN-induced signaling pathway, can overcome the IFN resistance of renal cell carcinoma.

Alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists improve bladder storage function through reduction of afferent activity in rats with bladder outlet obstruction.

Aims: Using a rat BOO model, we determined whether α1-adrenoceptor (AR) antagonists (silodosin, prazosin) improve the bladder storage function by reducing afferent input from the lower urinary tract.

Materials And Methods: Male rats received partial bladder outlet obstruction or sham surgery were used. Four weeks following surgery, their voiding behavior was measured in a metabolic cage.

Association between antibody response against cytomegalovirus strain-specific glycoprotein H epitopes and HLA-DR.

The gH of CMV is a major target for strain-specific neutralizing antibodies. To verify whether there is a correlation between HLA-DR type and strain-specific antibodies, antibodies against CMV gH in potential donors and recipients for renal transplantation were investigated. Among 471 subjects, 404 (86%) showed reactivity to CMV gH, but no antibodies against gH were detected in 67 (14%) subjects.