No abstract available.
Transplants*

The use of autologous fat grafts for soft-tissue augmentation has an extensive history, but it's not popular because of the questionable clinical value due to unreliable grafts survival or infection. To compensate for the volume reduction, transplanted fat is placed intramuscularly and fat graft have been performed, considering basic fibroblast growth factor or endothelial cell growth factor. As is generally known, Watson(1959) stated that the dermal portion exerted a stronger vasoinductive effect than fat alone, thereby increasing the chance of fat survival. However, dermis-fat was harvested from concealed area, the procedure resulted in skin disfigurement. Our hypothesis is that the dermis or fascia, when included in a fat graft, not only makes technical handling and placement easier, but also presumably establishes an early vascular anastomosis with the recipient area, thereby decreases the total amount of resorption of the fat. This study is designed to assess the survival of dermis-fat graft and fascia-fat graft. Sixteen New Zealand White rabbits weighing about 2 kilograms and ranging from 5 to 7 months of age were used. Dermis-fat tissue was removed from the left groin fat pad and fascia-fat tissue from the right groin fat pad. Each graft volume was more than 1.5 cc. To create the ear pockets, a 1 x 1 cm piece of cartilage with its perichondrium was removed. Dermis-fat was implanted below the dermis of the left dorsal ear and fascia-fat below the dermis of the right dorsal ear. Biopsy specimens from each implanted area were taken after 1, 4, 12 and 24 weeks(4 animals at each period). The graft was measured by immersing them in a mass cylinder of normal saline and recording the fluid displaced. Soon after removal, their volume was measured as before. In the first week grafted tissue of dermis-fat and fascia-fat was surrounded by a collagen capsule. In time, specimens showed partial firmness to palpation vn both sides. No obvious gross distinction between the two groups was observed. In specimens taken 1 and 4 weeks after transplantation of dermis-fat and fascia-fat, adipocytes were visible between macrophages and inflammatory cells. At longer intervals, 12 to 24 weeks, the transplanted dermis-fat and fascia-fat were successively replaced by connective tissue; however, inflammatory cell and cystic cavity were still visible. Analysis of volume maintenance(74 versus 71 percent) revealed no significant difference(p<0.05, Wilcoxon signed ranks test) after comparing the volume of dermis-fat versus fascia-fat. Our experimental study proved that volume maintenance and histologic findings between dermis-fat grafts and fascia-fat grafts are similar. Therefore, fascia-fat grafts can be used and offers better aesthetic improvement than dermis-fat grafts without tension on primary closure and hyperpigmentation of donor site.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Biopsy ; Cartilage ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; Dermis ; Ear ; Endothelial Cells ; Fascia ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Graft Survival ; Groin ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Macrophages ; Palpation ; Rabbits ; Skin ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

PURPOSE: To predict the malignant potential of prostate cancer (PCa) according to prostate-specific antigen velocity (PSAV), PSA density (PSAD), free/total PSA ratio (%fPSA), and digital rectal examination (DRE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2012, 548 adult male patients were diagnosed with PCa by prostate biopsy at four hospitals in Korea. We retrospectively analyzed 155 adult male patients with an initial PSA level < or =10 ng/mL and whose PSA levels had been checked more than two times at least 6 months before they had been diagnosed with PCa, with test intervals of more than 3 months. Patients with a urinary tract infection, and patients who had previously undergone cystoscopy or surgery of the prostate were excluded. We separated patients into two groups according to Gleason sum [Gleason sum < or =7 (n=134) or Gleason sum > or =8 (n=21)] and the presence of extracapsular invasion [organ confined (n=129) or extracapsular invasion (n=26)]. Differences between the groups were compared. RESULTS: The group with a Gleason sum > or =8 or extracapsular invasion of PCa showed high PSAV and significantly lower %fPSA. There were no significant differences in PSAD and the presence of an abnormality on DRE between two groups. CONCLUSION: In PCa patients treated with other therapies besides prostatectomy, a high PSA velocity and a low %fPSA may predict high grade PCa with a Gleason sum > or =8 or the presence of extracapsular invasion.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Needle ; Digital Rectal Examination ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Prostate/*pathology ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/*blood ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Burden

PURPOSE: Up to 10% of recurrences develop beyond 5 years after curative treatment of localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Clinicopathologic features were evaluated to determine which factors are associated with late recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 753 patients were diagnosed with localized RCC from January 2000 to June 2008. We enrolled 225 patients who were treated surgically and had a minimal recurrence-free survival of 60 months. Patients who had recurrence beyond 5 years after nephrectomy were defined as the late recurrence group and the remaining patients as the recurrence-free group. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and the Cox proportional hazard model were used for determination of features associated with late recurrence. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses, age older than 60 (p=0.030), Fuhrman grade > or = 3 (p=0.042), and pT stage > or = pT2 (p=0.010) showed statistical association with late recurrence. The Cox proportional hazard model showed significant differences in recurrence-free survival when we classified the patients based on pT2 (p=0.007) and on patient age > or = 60 years (p=0.039). CONCLUSION: Patient age greater than 60 years, Fuhrman grade > or = 3, and tumor stage > or = pT2 are independent risk factors of recurrence more than 5 years after surgery in patients with RCC. Therefore, close lifelong follow-up is recommended for patients with these risk factors.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nephrectomy ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of disease-free prostate (PC), kidney (KC), and bladder cancer (BC) survivors with that of the general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included 331 urological cancer (UC) survivors (114 PC, 108 KC, and 109 BC) aged ≥ 50 years disease-free for at least 1 year after surgery. The control group included 1,177 subjects without a history of cancer. The HRQoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30, the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of any of the functioning sub-scales and symptoms, except significantly lower social functioning observed in BC survivors than that observed in KC survivors. Although the three groups of UC survivors showed essentially similar functioning sub-scales and symptoms when compared to the general population, PC and BC survivors showed significantly lower social functioning and a lower appetite than that observed in controls. KC survivors showed lower physical functioning, as well as higher pain and dyspnea. Although all three groups of UC survivors reported higher financial difficulties, they also reported higher perceived social support than that reported by the non-cancer control group. No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of depressive symptoms between each group of UC survivors and the general population. CONCLUSION: Disease-free survivors of the three major types of UCs showed generally similar HRQoL compared to the general population, as well as compared to each other.
Appetite ; Depression* ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Kidney* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Quality of Life* ; Survivors* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urologic Neoplasms

KCNQ family constitutes slowly-activating potassium channels among voltage-gated potassium channel superfamily. Recent studies suggested that KCNQ4 and 5 channels are abundantly expressed in smooth muscle cells, especially in lower urinary tract including corpus cavernosum and that both channels can exert membrane stabilizing effect in the tissues. In this article, we examined the electrophysiological characteristics of overexpressed KCNQ4, 5 channels in HEK293 cells with recently developed KCNQ-specific agonist. With submicromolar EC50 , the drug not only increased the open probability of KCNQ4 channel but also increased slope conductance of the channel. The overall effect of the drug in whole-cell configuration was to increase maximal whole-cell conductance, to prolongate the activation process, and left-shift of the activation curve. The agonistic action of the drug, however, was highly attenuated by the co-expression of one of the βancillary subunits of KCNQ family, KCNE4. Strong in vitro interactions between KCNQ4, 5 and KCNE4 were found through Foster Resonance Energy Transfer and co-immunoprecipitation. Although the expression levels of both KCNQ4 and KCNE4 are high in mesenteric arterial smooth muscle cells, we found that 1 μM of the agonist was sufficient to almost completely relax phenylephrine-induced contraction of the muscle strip. Significant expression of KCNQ4 and KCNE4 in corpus cavernosum together with high tonic contractility of the tissue grants highly promising relaxational effect of the KCNQspecific agonist in the tissue.

KCNQ family constitutes slowly-activating potassium channels among voltage-gated potassium channel superfamily. Recent studies suggested that KCNQ4 and 5 channels are abundantly expressed in smooth muscle cells, especially in lower urinary tract including corpus cavernosum and that both channels can exert membrane stabilizing effect in the tissues. In this article, we examined the electrophysiological characteristics of overexpressed KCNQ4, 5 channels in HEK293 cells with recently developed KCNQ-specific agonist. With submicromolar EC50 , the drug not only increased the open probability of KCNQ4 channel but also increased slope conductance of the channel. The overall effect of the drug in whole-cell configuration was to increase maximal whole-cell conductance, to prolongate the activation process, and left-shift of the activation curve. The agonistic action of the drug, however, was highly attenuated by the co-expression of one of the βancillary subunits of KCNQ family, KCNE4. Strong in vitro interactions between KCNQ4, 5 and KCNE4 were found through Foster Resonance Energy Transfer and co-immunoprecipitation. Although the expression levels of both KCNQ4 and KCNE4 are high in mesenteric arterial smooth muscle cells, we found that 1 μM of the agonist was sufficient to almost completely relax phenylephrine-induced contraction of the muscle strip. Significant expression of KCNQ4 and KCNE4 in corpus cavernosum together with high tonic contractility of the tissue grants highly promising relaxational effect of the KCNQspecific agonist in the tissue.

Purpose: Outcome analysis of urachal cancer (UraC) is limited due to the scarcity of cases and different staging methods compared to urothelial bladder cancer (UroBC). We attempted to assess survival outcomes of UraC and compare to UroBC after stage-matched analyses. Materials and Methods: Total 203 UraC patients from a multicenter database and 373 UroBC patients in single institution from 2000 to 2018 were enrolled (median follow-up, 32 months). Sheldon stage conversion to corresponding TNM staging for UraC was conducted for head-to-head comparison to UroBC. Perioperative clinical variables and pathological results were recorded. Stage-matched analyses for survival by stage were conducted. Results: UraC patients were younger (mean age, 54 vs. 67 years; p < 0.001), with 163 patients (80.3%) receiving partial cystectomy and 23 patients (11.3%) radical cystectomy. UraC was more likely to harbor ≥ pT3a tumors (78.8% vs. 41.8%). While 5-year recurrence-free survival, cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival were comparable between two groups (63.4%, 67%, and 62.1% in UraC and 61.5%, 75.9%, and 67.8% in UroBC, respectively), generally favorable prognosis for UraC in lower stages (pT1-2) but unfavorable outcomes in higher stages (pT4) compared to UroBC was observed, although only 5-year CSS in ≥ pT4 showed statistical significance (p=0.028). Body mass index (hazard ratio [HR], 0.929), diabetes mellitus (HR, 1.921), pathologic T category (HR, 3.846), and lymphovascular invasion (HR, 1.993) were predictors of CSS for all patients. Conclusion Despite differing histology, UraC has comparable prognosis to UroBC with relatively favorable outcome in low stages but worse prognosis in higher stages. The presented system may be useful for future grading and risk stratification of UraC.