Beneficial effects of the heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide system in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock.

Purpose: We evaluated the relations among the arterial carbon monoxide (CO) concentration, heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression by monocytes, oxidative stress, plasma levels of cytokines and bilirubin, and the outcome of patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.

Methods: Thirty-six patients who fulfilled the criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock and 21 other patients without sepsis during their stay in the intensive care unit were studied. HO-1 protein expression by monocytes, arterial CO, oxidative stress, bilirubin, and cytokines were measured.

Long-term results and management of ureteral transitional cell carcinoma using the holmium: YAG laser via rigid-ureteroscopy.

The standard operative procedure for ureteral transitional cell carcinoma is nephrouterectomy with partial cystectomy at the affected ureteral orifice. However, nephron-sparing surgery and endoscopic surgery and management have become common practice for low-grade and low-stage cases. We investigated the follow-up results of patients who underwent endoscopic surgery using the holmium:YAG laser, and evaluated its treatment effect.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity is reported to increase apoptosis, inhibit angiogenesis and reduce metastasis. We analyzed COX-2 expression in patients with invasive bladder cancer to evaluate the feasibility of selective COX-2 inhibitor treatment targeting COX-2. Forty patients with pathologically diagnosed invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (pT2-pT4) were evaluated.

Lactate dehydrogenase is a prognostic indicator for prostate cancer patients with bone metastasis.

We analyzed clinical data to identify prognostic indicators in prostate cancer patients with bone metastasis. The subjects were 60 patients with bone metastasis out of 165 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer at our clinic over 6 years from January 1998 to December 2003. The age at the initial diagnosis was 61 to 91 (mean: 73.

Potential for molecular-targeted therapy targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 for invasive bladder cancer.

Expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2/neu or HER-2) oncoprotein in invasive bladder cancer was examined by immunohistochemical staining in order to evaluate the potential for molecular-targeted therapy targeting HER-2 as a tailor-made treatment for patients with invasive bladder cancer. This study included 40 patients who were examined at Aichi Medical University Hospital and were pathologically diagnosed with invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (pT2 to pT4). Immunohistochemical staining using a Hercep test kit was performed to detect HER-2 expression, which was classified into four levels from 0 to 3+ by two experienced pathologists, with 2+ and 3+ determined as positive.

Transvascular fluid distribution of hyperoncotic Dextran solution.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to confirm the changes in extra-aand intravascular fluid distribution during an i.v. influsion of hyperoncotic Dextran solution.