(Purpose) The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a normal physiological event in various organs including the testis. Overproduction of ROS, however, can be detrimental to sperm, being associated with male infertility. In vivo experiments using vitamin E (Vit. E), one of the major membrane protectants against ROS and lipid peroxidation, have shown its significant potential in treating ROS-associated male infertility. There has been no study that the scavenging drugs reduce the level of ROS in human semen. Previously we reported the in vitro scavenging effectiveness of ethylcysteine (EC) against ROS in human semen. The present study was performed in order to determine the effectiveness of the in vivo administration of EC as treatment for ROS-associated male infertility.
(Patients and Methods) Ten cases of male infertility, with the exceptions of azoospermia and pyospermia, were chosen. Patients were divided randomly into two groups. Each group received either 600mg/day of EC (Group A) or Vit. E 600mg/day (Group B) for 3 months. Then, after a 1-month wash-out period, the patients were switched to another treatment. Conventional semen analysis, computerized motility assessment, measurement of ROS generation and sperm function assessment by triple stain were performed before and after administration of EC and Vit. E. The levels of EC and Vit. E were also assessed in patients' blood serum and seminal plasma before and after administration of EC and Vit. E.
(Results) Sperm density and sperm motility did not improve but sperm function had a significant tendency toward improvement after administration of EC and Vit. E. ROS levels significantly decreased only after administration of EC. After administration of EC and Vit. E, their levels significantly increased in patients' blood serum but were unchanged in patients' seminal plasma.
(Conclusion) Since our study showed that oral administration of EC produced results similar to those of Vit. E, we conclude that EC is an effective treatment agent for ROS-associated male infertility.

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(Purpose) They set a normal limit of prostate specific antigen (PSA) to 4.0ng/ml in Tandem R assay at most institutions. We investigated clinical and histological characteristics of prostate cancer based on whole mount step-sectionhistology of radical prostatectomy specimens, and taking notice of Japanese prostate cancer whose levels of PSA are less than 4.0ng/ml in normal levels.
(Materials and Methods) One hundred and twenty-twopatients underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically resectable prostate cancer at University Hospital from February 1992 to April 1997. Clinicopathological findings were stratified according to the preoperative PSA levels in 111 patients without preoperative endocrine therapy. Immunohistochemical study for PSA was conducted in 7 randomly selected patients.
(Results) Of the patients 22 (19.8%) had normal (4.0ng/ml or lower) preoperative serum PSA. Mean tumor volume in this PSA range was 1.5cm³ with one pT 0 case included. Pathologically organ confined, potentially curable disease (<pT 3) was found in 17 (77.3%) patients and extracapsular extension and seminalvesicle invasion in 5 (23.8%), respectively. No patients had positive pelvic lymph nodes. Well differentiated tumors of Gleason scores 2-4 were found in 9 (40.9%) of the patients, moderately differentiated tumors (Gleason scores 5, 6) in 5 (22.7%) and poorly differentiated histology (Gleason scores 7-10) in 7 (31.8%). Sixteen (72.7%) patients had clinically significant tumors (>0.5cm³, Gleason score≥7).
All 7 patients had positive staining for PSA, but its intensity did not correlate with serum PSA levels.
(Conclusions) Many prostate cancers found in surgical specimens were clinically significant despite the low levels of PSA and potentially curable by definitive treatment. Age, co-morbidity and other clinicopathological variables as well as PSA levels should all be taken into account when treatment options are discussed.

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(Background) I investigated which structural segment of osteopontin (OPN), a matrix component of urinary stones, is significantly related to the formation of urinary stones.
(Methods) I prepared several kinds of OPNs under various conditions and compared the effects of these OPNs on calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal using RI counts obtained by the seed crystal method and diluted urine method. Furthermore, I performed scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observation of CaOx crystals used in these experiments and evaluated the effects of OPN based on morphological changes in CaOx crystals. The following OPNs were used in this study: human recombinant OPN (rOPN), human native OPN (nOPN) purified from human milk, denatured OPN (dOPN) obtained by adding organic solvent during the course of nOPN purification, and asiaro OPN (aOPN) obtained by removing sialic acid after enzymatic digestion of nOPN.
(Results) When the effects of OPNs (15μg/ml) were evaluated by the seed crystal method, the following inhibitory activities were observed: nOPN (82%), aOPN (56%), dOPN (49%) and rOPN (15%). When the effects of OPNs (150μg/ml) were evaluated by the undiluted urine method, the following inhibitory activities were observed: nOPN (38%), aOPN (27%), dOPN (21%) and rOPN (0%). Furthermore, using nOPN, I performed SEM observation of CaOx crystals and found that nOPN mainly inhibited CaOx crystal aggregation.
(Conclusion) Since the inhibitory activity of nOPN was observed not only in the seed crystal method, but also in the undiluted urine method, it was suggested that nOPN may play an important role in the living body during the course of urinary stone formation. Moreover, the inhibitory activity of OPN was not due to its primary structure, but it was closely related to its higher-order structure and side chains including sialic acid. Furthermore, it was clarified that the inhibitory activity of OPN mainly resulted from inhibition of CaOx crystal aggregation rather than growth inhibition in these crystals.

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(Purpose) In this study, we have retrospectively compared patient backgrounds, prognosis and QOL (quality of life) in patients with invasive bladder cancer treated by radical cystectomy or by bladder preservation
(Patients and Methods) This study enrolled recent 30 cases from each institutions, totally 120 cases from four institutions. All patients were diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer in stage T2 or T3, N0, M0. The patients planned for preserving the bladder were treated with a combination of intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiation as an induction therapy. The questionnaire used to assess QOL was the EORTC QLQ-C 30 (Japanese-language edition).
(Results) Radical cystectomy was selected as the initial treatment in 60 cases (the planned radical cystectomy group). Bladder preservation was planned but the presence of residual tumors after induction therapy underwent radical cystectomy in 18 cases (the preservation-radical cystectomy group). Bladder preservation was achieved in 42 cases (the preservation group). In a comparison of background factors, histologically grade 3 tumor and cases with histology other than transitional cell carcinoma, were significantly common in the planned radical cystectomy group.
Because this study is not an randomized test, it is difficult to compare the outcomes between the patients treated by radical cystectomy or by bladder preservation. However, it is indicated that the candidates for bladder preservation therapy exist among the patients with T2 or T3, N0, M0 bladder cancer.
Quality of life, as evaluated from global QL and from physical, cognitive, and emotional function, tended to be better in the patients with their bladder, although no difference was noted among the groups with regard to life role or social function. Symptoms such as sleep disturbance and diarrhea were common in the radical cystectomy groups, and financial impact, constipation, appetite loss, and dyspnea also tended to more frequently affect patients in these groups.
(Conclusion) Our results indicate that bladder preservation treatment using an induction therapy is one of option of the treatment for clinically T2 or T3, N0, M0 bladder cancer. We need a prospective randomized study with a long-term follow-up to elucidate true candidates for this treatment.

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(Purpose) Among spinocerebellar degeneration, syndromes categorized as multiple system atrophy (MSA) are commonly associated with neurogenic bladder, and urinary disturbances change with the disease progression. Accordingly, the changes in the urodynamic findings during the progression of the disease have been studied in the case of Olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) and OPCA type of MSA.
(Methods) Urodynamic study (UDS) was performed more than twice in eight patients (5 males, 3 females, age 48-76, mean 55.0). The interval range between the first examination and follow up examination was 9-93 months (mean 42.4). UDS included cystogram, intravenous pyelography, residual urine volume, cystometry, urethral pressure profilometry, and external sphincter electromyography.
(Results) The bladder was deformed in almost all patients with the progression of the disease, but the upper urinary tract was properly preserved. Residual urine volume tended to increase, and residual urine rate worsened significantly. The stable detrusor activity seemed to become overactive accompanied by detorusor hyperreflexia, and finally seemed to be acontractile. The normal sphincter activity seemed to become overactive accompanied by detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia, and finally complete relaxation could't be observed.
(Conclusion) These results suggest that urinary disturbance deteriorates togather with other neuropathies as the disease progressess in OPCA. These patients should be continuously observed along with proper urinary management depending on the disease progression.

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A 26-year-old female visited our hospital complaining left flank pain and macroscopic hematuria. She had been suffering ulcerative colitis and administered salazosulphapyridine and predonisolone from 17-year-old. Intravenous urography showed radiolucent multiple stones in the left renal pelvis. Three sessions of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy were performed after ureteral stenting. Although disintegration and discharge of the stones were satisfactory, bladder stone induced by ureteral stent was complicated. The extracted bladder stone showed a yellowish brown color and the surface was granular shape. Composition of the stone was acetyl sulphapyridine which was a metabolite of salazosulphapyridine. After maintenance of the urinary pH ranges between 6.5 and 7.5 by medication of sodium bicarbonate, the patient remains free of stone for 3 years.
Drug induced urolithiasis originated from salazosulphapyridine is extremely rare. Satisfactory oral fluid intake and urinary alkalization are important for prevention of sulpha drugs calculi of urinary tract.

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We present a case of meningitis that developed following a urinary tract infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) after transurethral resection of the prostate. The patient, a 69-year-old man with diabetes mellitis, underwent transurethral resection of the prostate following a diagnosis of benign prostatic hypertrophy. On the 4 th day after surgery, high fever occurred immediately after the removal of the indwelling urethral catheter. Cultures of urine and blood revealed MRSA. On the 6 th day after surgery, severe lumbago was evident and MRSA was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid. Separate administration of arbekacin or vancomycin, to which the isolated MRSA was sensitive, was not effective. Combined therapy with fosfomycin, vancomycin and human immunoglobulin effectively relieved the inflammation. Although it is generally reported that the pathogenicity of MRSA is low in the urinary tract, this case suggests that a urinary tract infection caused by MRSA can advance to sepsis and meningitis.

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(Background) The clinical usefulness of color Doppler method with flow profile for examination of blood flow in the transplanted kidney was evaluated.
(Procedure) We measured blood flow in the transplanted kidney by flow profile in 14 renal recipients.
(Results) Blood flow in the renal arteries in recipients with graft dysfunction was significantly lower than those in recipients with good graft function. There was significant correlation between blood flow in the renal arteries and graft function. In addition, in the segmental arteries, there was significant correlation between peak flow velocity and blood flow. But there was no significant correlation between index of resistance and blood flow in the transplanted kidney.
(Conclusions) Measurement of blood flow by flow profile may improve the examination capability of color Doppler ultrasonography of the transplanted kidney.

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