(Background) We transformed primary cultured epithelial cells of the rat dorsolateral prostate by Simian Virus 40 (SV 40) and established a stable epithelial cell line (PESVH). To examine whether this cell line is available for the fundamental research of prostatic diseases, investigation on the growth factors and their receptors of this cell line was made.
(Method) The [³H]-thymidine uptake method was used to examine the influence for cell proliferation of epidermal growth factor (EGF), acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, TGF-β1 and androgens. The expression of mRNA for growth factors and their receptors was determined with Northern blot analysis.
(Result) DNA synthesis was increased to 2.1-fold of control by the addition of 100ng/ml EFG. The addition of aFGF (100ng/ml), bFGF (100ng/ml) and TGF-α (100ng/ml) tended to stimulate the DNA synthesis, but not significantly. The addition of KGF (0.1-100ng/ml) did not influence on the DNA synthesis of PESVH. The addition of testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (10^-10-10^-6M) did not influence on the DNA synthesis. Northern blot analysis showed expression of mRNA for TGF-α, TGF-β1, EGF receptor and TGF-β receptor (type II) in PESVH cell. These expressions were not influenced by the addition of androgens.
(Conclusion) These findings suggested that PESVH cell could be used for one model of the androgen-independent prostatic cell.

View full abstract

(Background) Results with respect of the state of the infused agent and the cause of unsuccessful outcome were examined in patients who were followed for more than 5 years after endoscopic surgery for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).
(Methods) Of 259 ureters treated by TUI (Transurethral injection) after 1988, 41 ureters (29 patients) that were followed for more than 5 years postoperatively were investigated. In all patients, teflon paste had been infused. The intervals between surgery and study enrollment ranged from 5 to 10 years, with a mean of 5.1 years.
(Results) After TUI was performed once, reflux disappeared in 30 (73%) of 41 ureters. The intervals between the detection of relapse and additional surgery ranged from 1 to 18 months, with a mean of 6.5 months. In 10 of 11 ureters with relapse, relapse was detected within one year after the initial surgery. When the presence or absence of reflux was examined at the final evaluation, there was no relapse in 34 of 39 ureters, with a mean postoperative follow-up of 5.9 years. Teflon paste could be sufficiently confirmed in 34 of 39 ureters excluding patients in whom TUI was changed to invasive surgery. However, this agent could not be confirmed in 5 ureters during follow-up.
(Conclusion) Teflon paste was not confirmed by bladder echo in any patient showing an unsuccessful outcome, suggesting that success or failure in this procedure depends on the persistence of paste.

View full abstract

(Background) Clinical significance of polymorphism of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) genes encoded on the short arm of the 6th chromosome in the patietns with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been evaluated well so far. We studied on the TNF genes polymorphism of RCC focusing on the relationship between the genetic polymorphism and the prognosis.
(Methods) The subjects were seventy-three patients with RCC treated at our hospitals during the past 20 years. The genomic DNA was examined by the methods of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) from frozen peripheral blood of these patients. The items examined were the genetic polymorphisms of TNF-α (α1, α2) and TNF-β (β1, β2), and we tried to study on the prognostic outcome of RCC based upon each zygote of TNF.
(Results) 1) The proportion of TNF-α and TNF-β polymorphisms: We observed TNF-α 1/1 homozygote in 71 patients (97.3%). As to TNF-β polymorphism, we observed TNF-β 2/2 homozygote in 33 patients (45.2%), TNF-β 1/2 heterozygote in 31 (42.5%) and TNF-β1/1 homozygote in 9 (12.3%). The proportion of TNF-β polymorphism was almost the same as that of healthy Japanese. 2) Prognosis: Regarding the 17-year survival, all patients with TNF-β 1/1 homozygote were alive, and we observed a significantly favourable prognosis in the patients with TNF-β 1/1 homozygote compared with other zygotes of TNF-β polymorphism. The reasons for these favourable prognosis were thought that the patients with TNF-β 1/1 homozygoe showed much lower stage and/or grade than those of other zygotes.
(Conclusion) We conclude that the TNF-β gene polymorphism is a useful marker for understanding the prognosis of RCC and a part of cellular immunity related to the tumour and its host.

View full abstract

(Background) To acheive optimum drug derivery of Interferon-alpha in treatment of renal cell carcinoma, a reigimen consisting of its daily intramuscular administration, in combination with oral fluorouracil, was designed and carried out. Its efficacy is examined retrospectively.
(Methods) In our department 7 patients with disseminated renal cell carcinoma were treated with daily intramuscular injection of interferon-alpha (3×10⁶ IU) and daily oral administration of fluorouracil. All patient was nehprectomized before initiation of the regimen.
(Results) Two patients achieved complete, and three patients achieved partial response radiographically (Overall response rate 71%). Metastatic sites of responders were lung (4) and pleura (2). The time required until response was 3-9 (median 5.4) months. In two responders, new lesions appeared in other organs despite durable response in initial pulmonary metastatic sites.
There were two no-responders, one patient is alive with stable disease and the other patient died for progression of the disease. In all, two patients died of disease, one died for other cause, one surviving without evidence of disease, and three are surviving with disease. No significant side effect was noted in these seven patients.
(Conclusions) This regimen can be carried out on outpatient basis and considerable response can be expected for pulmonary and pleural lesions.

View full abstract

(Purpose) We conducted this study to examine differences in characteristics of Immunoreactivity for free PSA and α₁-antichymotrypsin complex PSA (ACT-PSA) as well as in compositions and concentrations of PSA reference materials among commercialy available PSA kits.
(Methods) Fractionated serum samples using a Sephacryl S-200 column were measured by Tandem-R, Delfia-PSA, Ab bead PSA, ACS-PSA, Markit-M and γ-seminoprotein (γ-Sm) kits. The calibrators of Tandem-R, Delfia-PSA, Ab bead PSA and Markit-M were fractionated by the same method and measured by Tandem-R. The calibrators of Delfia-PSA, Ab bead PSA and Markit-M and control serums of ACS-PSA were measured by Tandem-R.
(Results) Although the characteristic of Immunoreactivity of Tandem-R, Delfia-PSA, and Ab bead PSA were found to be similar, they were not shown identical. ACS-PSA was proved to recognize free PSA greater than above three PSA kits, while Markit-M could scarcely detect free PSA. γ-Sm recognized only free PSA. The calibrators of Tandem-R, Delfia-PSA, Ab bead PSA and Markit-M were proved to be only free PSA. The linear correlation was obtained between Tandem-R and Delfia-PSA or Ab bead PSA or Markit-M. The ratio of Delfia-PSA to Tandem-R, Ab bead PSA to Tandem-R and Markit-M to Tandem-R was 0.66, 0.93 and 2.2, respectively. With regard to relation of ACS-PSA and Tandem-R, two ratios of 0.22 and 0.25 were obtained between the two kits according to the different concentrations of control sera.
(Conclusion) The present studies suggest that the difference in PSA values among the commercial PSA kits results from (1) different characteristics of Immunoreactivity for ACT-PSA and free PSA among PSA kits, (2) compositions of PSA calibrators among the kits, and (3) different concentrations of PSA calibrators among the kits.

View full abstract

(Background) Polyamines are recognized as cell growth factors. We attempted to determine whether blood polyamines are useful biochemical makers for monitoring the efficacy of the chemotherapy on bladder tumors.
(Methods) The blood concentrations of three polyamines, diamine, spermidine and spermine, were determined in 31 patients with invasive urinary bladder carcinoma, following chemotherapy with cisplatin, methotrexate and pirarubicin. Clinical response was evaluated by CT after 3 weeks. In 26 patiens who underwent subsequent surgical therapy, the effectiveness of the chemotherapy were histopathologically evaluated by a pathologist according to the response criteria for bladder cancer treatment.
(Results) Mean regression rate in the size of the tumor after the chemotherapy was 40.8%. Of 31 patients, clinical CR was observed in 2, PR in 11, and NC in 18. Of 26 patients who were histopathologically evaluated, grade 3 was observed in 5, grade 2 in 4, grade 1b in 4, grade 1a in 12, and grade 0 in 1. One week after chemotherapy, the levels of spermine and total polyamine in the patients with CR and PR were significantly lower than those in the patients with NC. Similarly one week after chemotherapy, the levels of spermine and total polyamine in the patients with grade 3 and grade 2 were significantly lower than those in the patients with grade 1b, grade 1a and grade 0.
(Conclusion) The study suggested that the levels of blood polyamines could be used as biochemical markers for monitoring the efficacy of the chemotherapy on bladder tumors.

View full abstract

Polyorchidism is a rare anomaly with approximately 70 cases reported in the literature. We reported a case of polyorchidism with embryonal carcinoma, the first case, in one of 4 testes. Polyorchidism with malignancy had been reported in 5 cases and bilateral polyorchidism in 3 cases. Authors have not been clarified whether the incidence of malignancy in polyorchidism is high or low. But we have to treat the patients with polyorchidism carefully, because polyorchidism is highly associated with cryptorchidism.

View full abstract

We experienced a case of a hepatic subcapsular hematoma after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for a right renal stone. To our knowledge this presentation is the second case in the Japanse literature.
A 63-year-old female with a right renal stone received 2, 800 shots of 14.0 kilo-volts shock-wave with Sonolith 3, 000. Preoperative examination of the blood disclosed no abnormalities in the coagulating system except slight reduction of platelet count and slight impairment of liver function.
Postoperative routine ultrasound echograms revealed a hepatic subcapsular hematoma although she had no symptom. The size of the hematoma measured 11.0×5.0cm in computed tomograms (CT). She was carefully observed without any treatments because the hematoma did not increase in size.
CT scans 6 months after the ESWL treatment demonstrated neither hematoma nor massess in the liver.
As a complication of ESWL for urolithiasis a hepatic subcapsular hematoma is very rare. We herein presented the case and discussed the complications of ESWL briefly in the literature.

View full abstract