Objective To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous pneumatic nephrolithotripsy combined with ultrasonic lithotripsy for the treatment of renal calculi. Methods From January 2005 to December 2006, 132 cases of renal calculi were treated by percutaneous pneumatic nephrolithotripsy and ultrasonic lithotripsy. Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy was performed under the guidance of B-ultrasonography, and then the calculi were removed by pneumatic nephrolithotripsy combined with ultrasonic lithotripsy.Results Single-tract procedure was performed on 122 cases, while two-tract in the other 10. One-stage lithotripsy was performed on 127 cases, and two-stage operation was carried out in 5. The operation time ranged from 30 to 150 minutes with a mean of (60?12) minutes. The stone clearance rate was 90.2% (119/132) one week after the operation. Five patients had 200-to 500-ml hemorrhage 1 to 4 days after the operation, and were cured by blood transfusion and anti-infection treatments. No serious complications were found in the other patients. The nephrostomy tube was withdrawn 4 to 7 days (mean 6 days) after the operation. The hospital stay was 6 to 22 days with a mean of 15 days. Among the patients, 98 were followed up for 3 to 20 months (mean 13 months). No hemorrhage, infection, or recurrence of renal calculi was found during this period. Conclusion Percutaneous pneumatic nephrolithotripsy combined with ultrasonic lithotripsy is safe, effective, with mild surgical trauma and a few complications for patients with renal calculi.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanisms for urinary system disorders before and after ketamine withdrawal in rats and to evaluate the recovery degree of the urinary system damage after ketamine withdrawal. METHODS: Fifteen male healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: A control group, an experimental group, and a withdrawal group. The rats in the control group were given normal saline. The rats in the experimental group were given ketamine 30 mg/(kg.day) for 30 days. The rats in the withdrawal group were treated as the experimental group except for drug withdrawal for 2 weeks. In the experimental period, we randomly selected 1 rat of kidney, ureter, and bladder from each group to perform HE staining. The bladder tissues in each group were used to detect mRNA expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: 1) The behavior of ketamine-injected rats was obviously changed, but the weight of ketamine-induced rats was not changed. 2) As compared with the control group, the experimental and withdrawal groups showed infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells in the kidney tissues, the thinner epithelium of bladder and infiltration of submucosal mononuclear inflammatory cells under the optical microscope. 3) As compared with the control group, the expression of H1R mRNA was increased in the experimental group (P<0.05). As compared with the experimental group, H1R mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the withdrawal group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Ketamine abuse could induce behavior changes in rats. The infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells in kidney and bladder, the thinner bladder epithelial layer, and the increased H1R gene mRNA expression in bladder might be an important pathogenesis of KAUD. Ketamine withdrawal may effectively reverse the pathogenic process of KAUD.
Animals ; Epithelium ; physiopathology ; Ketamine ; administration & dosage ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder ; physiopathology ; Urologic Diseases ; physiopathology

To investigate effects of verapamil on primary cultured human urethral scar fibroblasts (USFs) and to provide basis for protecting the formation of urethra scar.
 Methods: The cell proliferation was evaluated with the cell counting kit (CCK)-8 method after USFs were incubated various verapamil concentrations (50, 100, 150, 200, or 250 μmol/L) or solvent for 12, 24, or 48 h. The protein level of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) was evaluated with ELISA after cells were incubated with verapamil (100 μmol/L) or solvent (control cells) for 24 h.
 Results: The proliferation of USFs was obviously suppressed after verapamil treatment, which was in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, the protein levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the verapamil treatment group increased obviously compared with those of the control groups (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: Calcium channel blockers may prevent the excessive formation of urethra scar by inhibiting the proliferation of urethral scar fibroblasts and enhancing the activity of MMP.
Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix ; prevention & control ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; drug effects ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; drug effects ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects ; Urethra ; cytology ; pathology ; Verapamil ; pharmacology