(Purpose) While urinary retention and urinary tract infections accompanying residual urine are often experienced following proximal femoral fractures (femoral neck fractures and trochanteric fractures) in clinical practice, the pathology of the onset of voiding dysfunction for this disease is unclear since the nervous system associated with urination is not damaged due to the fracture not reaching the pelvis. Therefore, we exploratorily examined the factors related to voiding dysfunction in proximal femoral fractures.

(Subjects and method) Among the patients who underwent surgery for proximal femoral fractures, we examined the relation between the proportion of cases in which withdrawing urine was required for residual urine after removing the urethral catheter and the differences in the fracture sites, pain, the ability to maintain a sitting position, the strength to bend the hip joints, and the volume of the iliopsoas muscle.

(Results) The proportion of cases in which withdrawing urine was required was higher in the group suffering trochanteric fractures than the group suffering femoral neck fractures (41% vs. 11%), while the strength to bend the hip joints was lower. Regarding trochanteric fractures, compared to the group in which no urine was withdrawn, the group in which urine was withdrawn included more of the unstable type in which the fracture reached the lesser trochanter, which is the femoral insertion of the iliopsoas muscle (56% vs. 82%), in addition to having a significant decrease in the strength to bend the hip joints. Regarding trochanteric fractures, compared to the group without injury in lesser trochanter, the group with injury in lesser trochanter had a higher proportion of cases in which withdrawing urine was required (23% vs. 51%), in addition to the iliopsoas muscle thereof having been atrophied (−15.7% vs. −35.2%).

(Conclusion) As factors related to voiding dysfunction following surgery for proximal femoral fractures, the relation between fracture sites, the strength to bend the hip joints associated with maintaining posture, the presence of injuries in the lesser trochanter, and the volume of the iliopsoas muscle were suggested. Therefore, it is possible that the proportion of cases in which the withdrawal of urine was required increased with the increase in residual urine due to the decrease in the ability to maintain a urinating posture until the bladder is completely empty.

(Purpose) Ingestion of hydrogen is said to prevent oxidation in the body, but hydrogen is produced by intestinal bacterial flora and excreted in the exhaled breath. We investigated how breath hydrogen concentrations change with the diurnal cycle and under various conditions, including after consuming food or drink, and in people with urological disease.

(Subjects and methods) Participants were healthy volunteers (40 men, 45 women; 30-83 years old) and urological outpatients (40 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, 30 women with overactive bladder; 60 years or older). Breath hydrogen levels were measured before and after eating and drinking in three volunteers, and its diurnal variation was examined in one. The relationship between breath hydrogen and age or urological disease status was also analyzed by gender. Additional measurements were taken in the person with the highest breath hydrogen concentration and the person with the lowest; in these two people, breath hydrogen was measured at the same time for 10 or more days to determine the fluctuation range.

(Results) Breath hydrogen concentration increased temporarily after ingestion of tap water, hydrogen water or food. It also increased with food intake and in cases of flatulence with intestinal gas accumulation, but decreased after defecation. In the person with the highest breath hydrogen, concentrations were 11.2-188.6 ppm, whereas in the person with the lowest, they were 0.4-2.3 ppm. Breath hydrogen increased significantly with age in healthy female volunteers. There was no association between breath hydrogen and benign prostatic hyperplasia, overactive bladder or constipation.

(Conclusion) Breath hydrogen concentration increases with eating, drinking and aging, and is not associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, overactive bladder or constipation. Breath hydrogen concentration varies widely between individuals, which may be due to differences in intestinal flora.

(Objective) Nocturia, an important male lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS), is often difficult to treat. Herein, we report our experience of the initial treatment of nocturia with the novel drug desmopressin.

(Subjects and methods) Subjects included 25 patients with LUTS treated with desmopressin who had the chief complaint of nocturia. Before treatment, the frequency of nocturnal urination (≥2) and nocturnal polyuria index (≥0.33) were confirmed based on the urination diary for ≥ 72 h. Before sleep, 25 or 50 mg desmopressin (Minirin^® Melt OD tablets) was administered once daily. The frequency of nocturnal urination, volume of nocturnal urine, time from falling asleep to first urination, first urinary volume after falling asleep, nocturnal polyuria index, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life index, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, and residual urine volume were comparatively evaluated before and 4 weeks after treatment. Treatment effect was self-evaluated by patients 4 weeks after the treatment. Safety was evaluated by interview and blood testing 1 and 4 weeks after the treatment.

(Results) Decrease in the frequency of nocturnal urination and improvement in IPSS were observed. According to self-evaluation of the treatment, 72.6% of the patients considered the treatment efficacious. Regarding safety, adverse events were observed in 28% of the patients, particularly hyponatremia (12% of the patients).

(Conclusion) Desmopressin is a potential key drug for the treatment of nocturia caused by nocturnal polyuria.

A 61-years-old male with left renal cancer and ipsilateral adrenal tumor had carried out partial nephrectomy and adrenalectomy via open retroperitoneal approach. Fourteen days after surgery, febrile reaction occurred and CT revealed an abscess developed in the retroperitoneal space. Open drainage and lavage of retroperitoneal space had performed, and irrigation of drainage tract had been continued for persistent flow of purulent discharge from abscess touching upper pole of the kidney for about 4 months. After 127 days of second surgery, two clusters of silk suture were sucked out during irrigation. Soon after the episode, flood of purulent discharge from drainage tract was ceased and retroperitoneal abscess was diminished drastically. It should be in mind that the foreign boy like silk suture used during surgery would cause persistent retroperitoneal abscess.

We present a case of 75 year's old man for whom small bowel resection was performed for a small intestinal tumor diagnosed as a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) with KIT exon 11 mutation and intermediate Miettinen risk. Computed tomography (CT) 18 months after surgery showed a right adrenal mass measuring 20 mm in size. Imatinib therapy couldn't show the tumor shrinkage, and the adrenal mass increased up to 37 mm in size 3 months later. He was referred to our department for further examination and treatment. We diagnosed this adrenal tumor as imatinib resistant GIST or adrenal primary malignancy and performed retroperitoneal laparoscopic right adrenalectomy. The pathological diagnosis was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not GIST and PET-CT revealed systemic metastasis of DLBCL one month later after surgery. Six courses of R-CHOP therapy achieved a complete response.

A 62-year-old man was referred to our department for artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation as treatment for total incontinence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Preoperative cystoscopy revealed bladder tumor that was proven to be high-grade micropapillary urothelial carcinoma by transurethral resection. We performed radical cystectomy with ileal neobladder reconstruction, followed by AUS implantation to treat incontinence. The AUS implantation procedure was performed 5 months after total cystectomy and resulted in significant continence recovery. To date, AUS implantation after neobladder reconstruction has not been reported in Japan, although some case series have described this procedure overseas. In our view, AUS implantation is a useful therapeutic option for incontinence in patients undergoing neobladder reconstruction.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that systemically causes tissue fibrosis due to infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells. Here, we reported a rare case of ureteral IgG4-RD that formed a nodular lesion and diagnosed by trans-vaginal ultrasound-guided needle biopsy.

A 72-year-old woman presented with loss of appetite. The patient underwent Computed Tomography (CT), and she was pointed out the thickening of the left side bladder wall. So we performed a transurethral bladder biopsy under lumber anesthesia, but histopathological findings were almost normal. After that, she developed pyelonephritis repeatedly. We performed CT again. A CT revealed a nodular lesion at the end of her left ureter and hydronephrosis. The tumor was gradually getting larger. So we performed placement the ureteral stent for urinary tract obstruction. Left ureteral urine cytology was classIIIa. We performed transvaginal ultrasound needle biopsy for the nodular lesion of the left ureter. Histopathological findings showed infiltration of lymphocytes and fibrosis and infiltration of IgG4 positive plasma cells: the ratio of IgG4/IgG positive cells>0.6, 30>IgG4 positive plasma cells/high power field. The serum IgG and IgG4 levels were also elevated 1,943 and 210 mg/dl. We finally diagnosed IgG4-RD of the ureter and started using steroid for her treatment. One month later, the tumor had reduced after steroid treatment. The ureteral stent was removed. Since then, recurrent ureteral obstruction of the left ureter has not occurred.

IgG4-RD of the ureter with nodular type is rare, and the imaging findings are similar to malignant tumors. Accurate diagnosis is very important to rule out malignancy. In our case, transvaginal needle biopsy was helpful to reach final diagnosis.

A 32-year-old woman was admitted to our department for hematuria and dysuria.

Computed tomography (CT) and cystoscopy revealed a 2-cm pedunculated tumor with rich blood supply and a smooth surface in the bladder trigone. We performed a transurethral resection of bladder tumor. The pathologic diagnosis was alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS). CT, bone scintigraphy, positron emission tomography, and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging revealed no other lesions; thus, she was diagnosed as having a primary bladder ASPS. Postoperative follow-up with regular cystoscopies and CTs over 10 years have shown no local recurrence or metastasis.

Primary ASPS of the bladder is exceedingly rare, and this case is the 8th case (the 2nd case in Japan) reported in literature.

A 69-year-old man underwent renal transplantation due to chronic renal failure of unknown cause in 1991. Furthermore, in 2012 he again underwent renal transplantation due to renal graft dysfunction with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. After the second renal transplantation, his renal function has been stable. In 2019, he presented to the urology department with gross hematuria. Cystoscopy revealed a 2 cm vesical calculus at the dome of the bladder near the right lateral wall. Therefore, we performed transurethral lithotripsy using the holumium laser method. The vesical calculus was crushed, revealing a suture at the center, suggesting the suture as the cause. We tried to remove the suture during operation, however, it was impossible. Although the remaining suture posed a risk for calculus development, there has been no recurrence of a calculus for 6 months after the operation. This case reports a vesical calculus at the ureterovesical anastomotic site, wherein the core was an absorbable suture used during the initial renal transplantation. It should be taken into consideration that there is a possibility of anastomotic calculus occurrence with absorbable sutures, even long after renal transplantation.