Urological robotic surgery: preliminary experience with the Zeus system.

Aim: We performed robotic or robotically-assisted laparoscopic surgery for urological diseases, and evaluated the ef ficacy and safety of this surgery.

Methods: Between November 2003 and June 2004, we performed laparoscopic surgery with the Zeus system in eight cases. Three adrenalectomy cases of cortical adenoma presenting with Cushing syndrome and primary aldosteronism, and two cases of nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma in dialyzed patients were performed solely with Zeus.

CT virtual endoscopy of the stomach: comparison study with gastric fiberscopy.

Background: We evaluated the value of computed tomographic (CT) gastric virtual endoscopy (VE) by comparing it with real gastric fiberscopy (GF).

Methods: Sixty-six VE findings in 63 patients were compared with lesions found with GF. After a GF examination, the examinees were given bubble-making granules for the stomach and placed in a supine position on the CT table.

[Natural history of unruptured cerebral aneurysms of the unoperated and observed cases].

Purpose: Natural history of unruptured cerebral aneurysms is still a matter of discussion. In this study, we investigated the prognosis of unruptured cerebral aneurysms of unoperated cases in a prospective design.

Methods: Between September, 1992 and December, 2001, we have encountered a 256 cases of unruptured cerebral aneurysms.

[Clinical experiences of endotoxin removal in urinary obstruction: report of two cases].

Clinical experiences of endotoxin removal using polymyxin B immobilized fiber column (PMX) in two septic shock patients are reported. Case 1: A 74-year-old man with bladder cancer received a total cystectomy and a ileal conduit 19 years before he was referred to our hospital with complaints of high fever and general fatigue. Physical examination and laboratory data revealed severe hypotension, and pyuria.

[Three successful case reports of advanced gastric cancer with chemotherapy].

We report three successful cases with continuous systemic chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer. Case 1: A 67-year-old male with gastric cancer. Abdominal CT showed the invasion in the pancreas and as a result, continuous systemic infusion of low-dose cisplatin (CDDP 20 mg/day) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU 1,000 mg/day) was performed.

[A case of liver metastasis of gastric cancer responding well to TS-1].

We report the case of a 79-year-old female with gastric cancer accompanied by liver metastasis that was successfully treated by TS-1, a novel oral fluoropyrimidine derivative. Abdominal CT scan showed a low-density area in the lateral segment of the liver and lymph node swelling in the right side of the abdominal aorta. One treatment course consisted of 4 weeks of TS-1 administration (100 mg daily) followed by a 2-week break.

[Long-term prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with adoptive immunotherapy].

Adoptive immunotherapy was performed for patients with multiple hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using LAK cells via the hepatic arterial catheter. One case study: A 45-year-old male patient was performed an absolute-non-cure operation. The operation was a success.

[Acute mediastinitis].

Causes, diagnosis, treatment and mortality about acute mediastinitis were described. Two cases of our experience were demonstrated with chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and operative findings. Prevention, recognition, prompt diagnosis and early treatment of the disease were emphasized.

[A case of abdominal desmoid tumor that was difficult to differentiate from urachal tumor].

A 76-year-old male patient complained of frequent urination. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed a heterogeneous mass involving his bladder, prostate and Sigmoid colon. He was diagnosed with an invasive urachal tumor and surgery was performed due to severe tumor adhesion to adjacent organs.

[Liver intervention].

Interventional radiology is now widely performed for the treatment of liver tumors, because surgery is sometimes limited by poor liver function. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) is an effective therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Lipiodol TACE shows a strong antitumor effect because of the overflow of excess iodized oil into the portal veins, and segmental TACE is recommended to avoid deteriorating liver function.

Elastase expression by infiltrating neutrophils in gliomas.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil elastase is a neutral protease released by activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils and plays a crucial role in maintaining host defense. However, under certain conditions, this enzyme damages normal tissue and facilitates infiltration of tumor cells. In this study, surgical specimens were obtained from the tumor core and infiltrating margin of the glioma of 12 patients with astrocytoma of varying degrees of malignancy, and the specimens were tested for the presence of elastase by immunohistochemical analysis.

[Bilateral homonymous hemianopsia with atrial fibrillation].

We encountered an 80-year-old man with sudden bilateral visual disturbance. When he was admitted to the hospital, his blood pressure was 138/70 mmHg, and an ECG revealed atrial fibrillation. Neurological examination showed only bilateral homonymous hemianopsia with no nystagmus or impairment of eye movement.

[Hemorrhagic colon ulcer as a side effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in five aged patients].

A report is presented of five aged patients with hemorrhagic colon ulcer, which was strongly suspected to be a side effect of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). All patients were suffering from orthopedic diseases and NSAIDs were administered for pain: Zaltoprofen for one patient and slow-releasing diclofenac for the other four. Four patients had being treated underlying diabetes mellitus and three of them were being treated with sulfonylurea.

Efficacy and toxicity of thromboxane synthetase inhibitor for cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The efficacy and possible side effects of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthetase inhibitor in the treatment of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were assessed for 24 patients who presented with grades I to IV of the Hunt and Hess classification. All patients underwent aneurysmal clipping within 48 hours after SAH. Postoperatively, TXA2 synthetase inhibitor, Cataclot [sodium (E)-3-[p-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]-2-propenoate] was administered to 13 patients by continuous drip infusion at a dose of 1 microgram/kg/min for 8 to 14 days (group A).

Multiple intracerebral arteriovenous malformations in deep structure--case report.

The authors describe a case of multiple intracerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in a 23-year-old male with two distinct, deep-seated AVMs. One was located in the left basal ganglia, which had bled twice, and the other in the splenium. They were removed separately.