OBJECTIVETo determine the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and 4 (BMP-2 and BMP-4) in prostatic carcinoma (PCa) and investigate their relationship with clinical stage and Gleason score of tumor.

METHODSForty-eight PCa cases and 5 normal prostatic tissue were analysed for the expressions of BMP-2 and BMP-4 by Western bolt assay.

RESULTSThe optical densities of BMP-2 expressions in the tumor with Gleason score < or =5, 6-8, and > or = 9 were 7547.1 +/- 1964.12, 9657.4 +/- 2010.54, 12467.7 +/- 2496.75 and of BMP-4 expressions were 5174.4 +/- 1400.54, 5940.3 +/- 1587.42, 6332.1 +/- 1647.83, respectively. The optical densities of BMP-2 expressions in the tumor in T1 - T2 and T3 - T4 stages were 8003.37 +/- 1889.23, 12385.55 +/- 2506.72 and of BMP4 expressions were 5267.41 +/- 1 464.19, 6543.75 +/- 1668.46, respectively. There were significant differences between tissues with Gleason score < or =5 and > or =9 (P <0.01), and tissues in T1 - T2 and T3 - T4 stages, in expressions of BMP-2 protein. The expression of BMP-2 protein was significantly high in the PCa with bone metastasis compared with that without bone metastasis.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of BMP-2 and BMP-4 increase with the progression of clinical stage and Gleason score compared with normal prostatic tissue. The expression of BMP-2 protein is significantly upregulated in bone metastasis of PCa, which indicates a poor prognosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA in prostate carcinoma tissues and its significance.

METHODSRT-PCR method was used to examine the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA in normal and carcinomatous prostate tissues.

RESULTSThe relative content of TGF-beta1 mRNA of normal prostate tissues was (0.74 +/- 0.11), while those of carcinomatous prostate tissues at T1-T2 and T3-T4 stages were (0.69 +/- 0.10) and (0.44 +/- 0.08) respectively, with significant difference between T1-T2 and T3-T4 (P < 0.05). And the relative contents of TGF-beta1 mRNA of carcinomatous prostate tissues with Gleason score < or = 5, 6-8 and > or = 9 were (0.70 +/- 0.12), (0.54 +/- 0.11) and (0.42 +/- 0.09) respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA was negatively correlated with the clinical stage and Gleason score of prostate carcinoma.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study and summarize the diagnosis and treatment for the corticomedullary mixed tumor of adrenal gland.

METHODSThe clinical data of 25 cases of adrenal corticomedullary mixed tumor from January 2000 to April 2008 were analyzed retrospectively, which including 9 males and 16 females. The ages were from 25 to 60 years old, and the average age was 39 years old. Thirteen cases had paroxysmal hypertension and 11 cases had central obesity, as well as 8 cases with hypokalemia. There were different degree abnormalities in plasma endocrine hormones in laboratory examination. Every case underwent b-ultrasound and CT normal plus extensive scan to make the diagnosis.

RESULTSAdrenalectomy was performed in the 25 cases, which contain 9 cases of open operations and 16 cases of endoscopic adrenalectomies. All of the cases had blood pressure fluctuation during dissection of the adrenal tumors, with the highest blood pressure reached to 230/140 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa). Postoperative histopathological study revealed that the pathological changes was corticomedullary mixed tumor of adrenal gland, which was supported by immunohistochemical study.

CONCLUSIONSIn cases with complex phenomenon that can't explain with single cortical or medullary changes, it must beware of the mixed pathological changes in adrenal gland.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical features, treatment and diagnosis of parapelvic cyst.

METHODSTwenty-three patients of parapelvic cyst of the kidney were reviewed retrospectively. Fourteen cases (61%) complained of lumbar pain or discomfort, and 4 patients (17%) accompany hematuria and hypertension.

RESULTSIn 15 patients receiving surgery, 2 were treated by nephrectomy, one by radical nephrectomy for misdiagnosis. Postoperative diagnosis confirmed a cyst. Eight patients were treated conservatively for cyst being small and without clinical symptoms. Nineteen cases were followed up for 0.5 - 12.0 years.

CONCLUSIONSUltrasonography and CT scan are the main diagnostic methods. Enhanced CT is extremely helpful in differential diagnosis of hydronephrosis. Surgical management is suitable for big cysts, lumbar pain, hematuria, hypertension and other complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Kidney Pelvis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To evaluate the clinical features and the strategy for the diagnosis and treat- ment of bilateral testicular tumor.Methods The clinical data (including the signs and symptoms,imaging studies,tumor markers,treatment modalities and histopatbologic diagnoses) of 10 cases of bilateral testicular tumor from January 1980 to December 2004 were reviewed.Their age ranged from 19 to 58 years(mean,34 years).Of the 10 cases,8 with metachronous and 2 with synchronous testicular tumors were identified.The clinical stages at the primary and secondary tumor diagnosis were:5 cases of stageⅠ,3 of stageⅡ;and 6 cases of stageⅠ,1 of stageⅡ,and 1 of stageⅢ,respectively,in 8 metachronous tumor patients.Two syn- chronous tumor patients were both identified as stageⅠdisease.Histological examination showed the primary tumor (seminoma) in 4 cases and the secondary contralateral tumor (seminoma) in 3.Results Two syn- chronous tumor patients underwent bilateral radical orchiectomy simultaneously,and 8 underwent orchiectomy successively.Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed in 3 cases.Postoperatively,hypogonadism occurred in 10 patients,and 7 of them received androgen replacement therapy.Follow-up ranged from 9 month to 23 years with a mean of 10.5 years.Two patients died of the disease;2 had metastasis (1 of them was alive with metastasis);2 had recurrences and underwent local resection.Conclusions Metachronous bilateral testicular cancers are more common than synchronous bilateral testicular cancers.Seminoma was the most common histopathologic type.Testis-sparing surgery can be performed in selected cases.

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic methods of adrenal incidentalomas.

METHODSThe data of 156 cases were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe operation were performed in 151 cases, radiotherapy and chemotherapy in 1 case and follow up in 4 cases. The diameter of the tumors were 1.3-15.0 cm. Pathological results indicated that 34 cases were pheochromocytoma, 83 adrenal cortical adenoma, 5 adrenal cortical carcinoma, 3 metastases carcinoma, and 26 other benign tumors. One hundred and thirty-six cases were followed-up for 1-7 years. 3 cases of metastases carcinoma died in 1.5 years, 2 cases of cortical carcinoma died in 2.0 and 2.5 years for recurrence and metastases. One hundred and thirty-one cases survived healthy, 3 cases of them take orally dexamethasone for 1 year after post-operation.

CONCLUSIONSSurgical operations should be performed in malignant tumors, hypersecretion tumors, deuto-clinical adrenal cortical tumors, pheochromocytoma and those whose diameters of tumors are over 3 cm. But those whose tumors had non-hypersecretion and diameters are less than 3 cm should be followed up closely.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of reversal of multidrug resistance in renal carcinoma cells by protein kinase C inhibitor.

METHODSRT-PCR, Western blot and inverted fluorescent microscopy were used to determine the expression of PKCalpha and MDR related gene MDR1, MRP1, LRP in RCC cells transferred by PKCalpha cDNA. Also effects of activator and inhibitor of PKC in combination with adriamycin on multidrug resistance in RCC cells were evaluated by MTT.

RESULTSThe results of semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression level of MDR1 was higher in RCC cells transferred by PKCalpha cDNA than in RCC cells, the reversal effectiveness of PKC inhibitors in combination with adriamycin (ADM) was apparently favorable. IC(50) of ADM in 786 - 0 cells was 7.8015e(-7) (5.7046e(-7) to 1.0669e(-6)); IC(50) of ADM in PKCalpha/786 - 0 cells was 1.6588e(-6) (1.1621e(-6) to 2.3677e(-6)); IC(50) of ADM in combination with PMA in PKCalpha/786 - 0 cells was 2.6794e(-6) (2.0521e(-6) to 3.4983e(-6)); IC(50) of ADM in combination with calphostin C in PKCalpha/786 - 0 cells was 9.2506e(-8) (5.9337e(-8) to 1.4422e(-7)).

CONCLUSIONPKC inhibitors can reverse multidrug resistance in renal carcinoma cells in vitro via changes of expression of MDR1.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Naphthalenes ; pharmacology ; Protein Kinase C ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical methods for reducing bladder cancer recurrence after surgical treatment for renal pelvic carcinoma.

METHODSFrom October 1997 to December 2007, the data of 227 patients undergoing total nephroureterectomy for clinically localized transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis with follow-up results were analyzed retrospectively, including 126 cases of male and 101 cases of female, and the age was 34 to 78 years old. There were 2 kinds of technique used in the dissection of bladder wall circumferentially around the ureteral orifice. Technique A was dissection along the ipsilateral ureter to the bladder wall. Technique B was dissection along the vas deferens to the bladder wall circumferentially around the ipsilateral ureteral orifice and division of the lateral vesical ligament to reach the seminal vesicle. Prophylactic intravesical chemotherapy included 3 method. Method 1 was intraoperative intravesical chemotherapy and then administrated once a week, 10 times in total. Method 2 was intraoperative intravesical chemotherapy and then administrated once a week from the 4(th) week after operation, 10 times in total. Method 3 was intravesical chemotherapy was given once a week from the 4(th) week after operation, 10 times in total. The time of follow-up was 1 to 10 years with regular cystoscopy. Chi-square test and Logistic regression were used to analyzed the recurrence rate of bladder cancer.

RESULTSRecurrence rate of bladder cancer was 27.8% (63/227). The recurrence rates of bladder cancer in patients using technique A and B were 18.0% (7/39) and 12.5% (3/24), respectively (P < 0.05). The postoperative recurrence rates of bladder cancer in patients using 3 kinds of intravesical chemotherapy regimen were 17.9% (11/67), 20.8% (10/48) and 33.3% (17/51), respectively. There was significant difference between the recurrence rates of patients using method 1 and method 3 intravesical chemotherapy (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONComplete removal of the bladder mucosa circumferentially around the ureteral orifice, administration of the intraoperative intravesical chemotherapy instillation and instillation once a week may be a useful approach to reduce the recurrence of bladder cancer after operation for renal pelvic carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; surgery ; Kidney Pelvis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Postoperative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; prevention & control ; secondary

OBJECTIVEErectile dysfunction-no sexual life (ED-NS) is defined as the inability to have enough penile erection hardness and duration so as to have enough confidence in attempting sexual intercourse for more than six months. This study was to investigate the effect of daily low-dose tadalafil on ED-NS.

METHODSWe treated 35 ED-NS patients aged 17-35 (25.9 +/- 3.9) years with oral tadalafil at 5 mg qd for 3 months and followed them up for another 3 months after drug withdrawal. We obtained the scores of the patients on Self-estimation Index of Erectile Function-No Sexual Life (SIEF-NS) and compared them before and after medication and at 3 months after drug withdrawal.

RESULTSThe patients' SIEF-NS scores were 43.2 +/- 7.1 after medication and 42.1 +/- 7.4 at 3 months after drug withdrawal, both significantly higher than 21.2 +/- 5.9 before treatment (P < 0.05), though there was no significant difference between the former two scores (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDaily medication of low-dose tadalafil can significantly improve the erectile function of the patients with ED-NS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carbolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Sexual Behavior ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the roles of cell adhesion, multidrug resistance and cell proliferation in short-term recurrent cases with superficial bladder cancer, and the prognostic value of the three indexes.

METHODSImmunohistochemical staining for E-cad, P-gp and Ki-67 was performed on the tumors of 100 patients with stage T0-T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder who had been included in a retrospective research by follow-up.

RESULTSE-cad and P-gp expression was positive in 51 (43.2%)and 17 (14.4%) of the tumors, respectively and mean proliferation index (PI) was 22.1%. The decrease in E-cad expression was accompanied with the increasing recurrent episodes (P < 0.05), while increase of P-gp expression and PI were accompanied with the increasing recurrence episodes (P < 0.05). There was significant difference according to E-cad, P-gp positivity and between T(1)G(3) patients and no-T(1)G(3) patients (P < 0.05). There was negative correlation of E-cad expression with P-gp expression and PI.

CONCLUSIONSMinimum adhesion, strong drug resistance and maximum proliferation are the main factors that promote short-term recurrence of superficial bladder cancer and also the inherent reasons for easy recurrence and high malignancy of T(1)G(3) tumors. During this course, the three aspects may interact.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; analysis ; Adult ; Cadherins ; analysis ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Division ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; analysis ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; etiology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology