No abstract available.
Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Animals ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Rats* ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Obstruction*

PURPOSE: Serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) have assumed a prominent clinical role in the management of prostate cancer. The aim of this study was first to determine the serum levels of total PSA, free PSA and free-to-total PSA ratio in patients with chronic renal failure, and second to investigate whether a significant difference between serum PSA levels before and after hemodialysis exists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum concentrations of total PSA and free PSA were measured in 37 men with renal failure before and after hemodialysis and in 17 men with renal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). A Immuno radiometric assay was used to determine the PSA levels. RESULTS: The concentrations of total PSA were 0.83 +/- 0.54ng/ml on predialysis, 0.86 +/- 0.60ng/ml on postdialysis in hemodialysis patients and 0.71 +/- 0.29ng/ml in CAPD patients. The concentrations of free PSA were 0.35 +/- 0.21ng/ml on predialysis, 0.34 +/- 0.22ng/ml on postdialysis in hemodialysis patients and 0.37 +/- 0.11ng/ml in CAPD patients. There was no statistical differences in serum PSA between before and after hemodialysis. Free-to-total PSA ratio also showed no statistical difference. CONCLUSIONS: The limited kidney reserve in patients with chronic renal failure is sufficient to maintain the levels of total and free PSA within normal range and hemodialysis does not alter the serum level of different PSA forms. PSA measurements in patients with chronic renal failure treated by dialysis remain a useful marker of prostatic disease.
Dialysis* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Male ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Diseases ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Reference Values ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency

No abstract available.
Cryptorchidism* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Male

PURPOSE: The association of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction has not been investigated comprehensively concerning which LUTS are associated with sexual function. Therefore, we investigated the association of each domain of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), nocturia, prostate volume, and uroflowmetry with each domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The correlation of sexual function and LUTS was investigated in 365 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. To measure the level of LUTS, the IPSS was calculated; uroflowmetry, residual urine measurement, and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) were performed; and the level of erectile dysfunction was assessed by the IIEF-5. Three months after treatment with alpha-blocker (tamsulosin 0.2 mg/day), IPSS, uroflowmetry, residual urine, nocturia, and IIEF-5 were assessed again to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. RESULTS: Erectile function deteriorated more in individuals with severe LUTS (IPSS>20) than in those with mild LUTS (IPSS<8), and IPSS, age, and nocturia correlated significantly with all IIEF-5 domains. The maximal urine velocity and the average urine velocity on uroflowmetry correlated significantly with all IIEF domains. After the administration of alpha-blocker for 3 months, the changed rates of the IPSS-obst domain, average uroflow, and quality of life (QoL) correlated significantly with the improvement in the total IIEF-5. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the IPSS-obst domain, QoL, and average uroflow rate correlated significantly with changes in the total IIEF-5. Thus, it is expected that the improvement of obstructive symptoms could effectively improve erectile function.
Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Nocturia ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Urinary Tract

PURPOSE: The diagnosis and treatment of prenatally-diagnosed hydronephrosis remain controversial. We have conducted a retrospective study to examine the clinical characteristics and course of prenatally-diagnosed hydronephrosis, especially when in the presence of ureteropelvic junction obstruction(UPJO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among all pediatric patients diagnosed with hydronephrosis by prenatal ultrasonography between September 2002 and June 2008, the study was performed on 103 patients(126 renal units), and the mean follow-up period was 19.2 months(range, 6-24 months). Ultrasonography was performed 2-3 days after birth, and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and annually thereafter. Hydronephrosis was graded according to the Society for Fetal Urology(SFU) classification guidelines. RESULTS: On ultrasonography performed 2-3 days after birth hydronephrosis was graded as follows: grade 1, 45(35.7%); grade 2, 49(38.9%); grade 3, 23(18.3%); and grade 4, 9(7.1%) renal units. In cases with UPJO complete improvement of hydronephrosis was detected in 16 renal units(40%); the renal units and rate of complete improvement in grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 12(75%), 3(17.6%), 1(16.7%), and 0(0%), respectively. The anticipated times of complete improvement of hydronephrosis in UPJO grades 1, 2, and 3 were 22.0, 31.3, and 50.4 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In UPJO, the possibility of improvement of hydronephrosis lower than grade 2 was high, and thus follow-up for approximately 30 months may be needed. In patients with hydronephrosis >grade 3, the rate of improvement was low, thus compulsive follow-up is required.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is known to regulate both cancer cell survival and death signaling, depending on the cellular circumstances, in various cell types. In this study, we showed that NGF strongly upregulated the protein level of tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) in TrkA-inducible SK-N-MC cancer cells, resulting in increases in various TrkA-dependent cellular processes, including the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and caspase-8 cleavage. In addition, NGF enhanced TrkA-induced morphological changes and cell death, and this effect was significantly suppressed by the JNK inhibitor SP600125, but not by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor wortmannin. To investigate novel targets associated with the enhancement of TrkA-induced SK-N-MC cell death caused by NGF, we performed Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining and two-dimensional (2D) proteomic analysis in TrkA-inducible SK-N-MC cells. We identified 31 protein spots that were either greatly upregulated or downregulated by TrkA during NGF treatment using matrix-associated laser desorption/ionization time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry, and we analyzed the effects of SP600125 and wortmannin on the spots. Interestingly, 11 protein spots, including heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K), lamin B1 and TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP43), were significantly influenced by SP600125, but not by wortmannin. Moreover, the NGF/TrkA-dependent inhibition of cell viability was significantly enhanced by knockdown of hnRNP K using small interfering RNA, demonstrating that hnRNP K is a novel target associated with the regulation of TrkA-dependent SK-N-MC cancer cell death enhanced by NGF.
Caspase 8 ; Cell Death* ; Cell Survival ; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Mass Spectrometry ; Nerve Growth Factor* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; RNA, Small Interfering

A case of congenital periureteral bladder diverticulum is described. Bladder outflow obstruction and urinary tract infection were the presenting symptoms of a 2 year old boy. There were two diverticula in the bladder. The one was small (1 x 2cm) and located just above the right ureteral orifice and the other was large (8 x 10cm) and located at the left trigone. There was no hydronephrosis, and vesicoureteral reflux, neither. A simple diverticulectomy was performed. The left ureteral orifice was found at the medial side of the diverticulum's neck during operation. During follow up, bilateral high grade vesicoureteral reflux were discovered and urinary tract infections developed frequently. Eventually, ureteral reimplantation was done one year after the diverticulectomy.
Child, Preschool ; Diverticulum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Male ; Neck ; Replantation ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

Wilms' tumor is the most common renal malignancy in childhood. However Wilms' tumor originating in horseshoe kidney is rare. We present a case of Wilms' tumor arising from the isthmus of horseshoe kidney, and aim to highlight the problems faced in the diagnosis and management.
Diagnosis ; Kidney* ; Wilms Tumor*

The MBT-2 mice bladder cancer tissues and the human bladder cancer tissues were implanted on the chorioallantoic membrance(CAM) of the immune deficient fertilized chicken eggs and the histopathologic changes of the CAM and gross morphologic changes of the implanted cancer tissues on CAM ere studied. The chemosensitivity tests using chicken CAM were performed for the 4 human bladder cancer tissues to mitomycin C, thiotepa and adriamycin. With this study, the following results were obtained: 1. The observation of the blood vessel on the chorioallantoic membrane was possible from the post-incubation 6th day group, but for the implantation of the cancer tissues, the blood vessels from the post-incubation 8th day group was appropriate. 2. The budding oif the host capillary vessel to the implanted cancer tissue were observed from the post-implantation second day. 3. The size of the post-implantation 7th day cancer tissues were varied from 2.3 to 9.2 folds to the size of the implantation day. 4. The total failure rate in experiment within post-operative 3rd day were 71.3 percent and the total failure rates in group who had the damage on the chorioallantoic membrance during operation was 82.5 percent. The failure rate of the experiment was declined acutely after post-operative 4th day. 5. The salvage of the eggs could be maintained until post-operative 7th day in 28.1 percent among chemosensitivity test group. 6. The 4 bladder cencer tissues which had the chemosensitivity test showed 1.6 to 7.1 fold growth to the inital implanted size and this meant resistance to the test drugs and these results were corresponded with clinical course.
Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Capillaries ; Chickens* ; Chorioallantoic Membrane* ; Doxorubicin ; Eggs* ; Humans* ; Mice* ; Mitomycin ; Ovum* ; Thiotepa ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

Various tumors can occur in the scrotum. Of them, angiomyofibroblastoma-like tumors are very rare mesenchymal tumors. Angiomyofibroblastoma-like tumors cannot be easily differentially diagnosed from other malignant tumors invading the male genital tract on the basis of clinical characteristics and imaging study. Therefore, surgical removal and a histopathologic diagnosis must also be performed.
Humans ; Male ; Mixed Tumor, Mesodermal ; Scrotum