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We retrospectively reviewed the discrepancy in Gleason score between needle biopsy and radical prostatectomy specimens. Specimens from 153 patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy at Gifu University Hospital and 9 community-based institutions between January 2001 and December 2005, were studied. Gleason score was determined by the general pathologist at each institution. The coincidence rate of Gleason score between biopsy and prostatectomy specimens was 49.7%. In contrast, 37.4% of biopsy specimens were undergraded. In biopsy specimens given a Gleason score of 5 or less, the Gleason score was coincident or undergraded compared with prostatectomy specimens. In biopsy specimens given a Gleason score of 6, the coincidence rate was 39.6%. In 56% in biopsy specimens of cancers with a Gleason score of 6 the Gleason score was undergraded compared with the prostatectomy specimen. In this group, extra-prostatic extention was found significantly more often than in other groups (p = 0.04). In patients, who underwent extended biopsy, or had a more positive biopsy core (> or = 25%), the coincidence rate was significantly greater (p = 0.03). We should be aware of the limitations of Gleason scores based on biopsy specimens, and give treatment opinions careful consideration.

A 45-year-old woman underwent left radical nephrectomy in April 2002. Pathological diagnosis was a renal cell carcinoma, clear cell subtype, pT3a, v(-), NO. One year later, abdominal ultrasound revealed a left ovarian tumor which had an enlargement tendency. A laparoscopic bilateral salpingooophorectomy was performed. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic ovarian renal cell carcinoma. This is the 20th case in the literature.

Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) is currently the best blood marker for prostate cancer. However, low specificity for detection of prostate cancer, especially in the gray zone of PSA, is a problem. We evaluated the clinical significance of PSA density (PSAD) in gray zone PSA cases with conversion of serum PSA to a Stanford reference value. In a series of histologically confirmed 63 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients and 234 prostate cancer patients, 36 BPH patients and 25 prostate cancer patients had gray zone PSA levels. Serum PSA was measured with the Markit-F or Markit-M PA assay. All data were converted to Stanford reference values. We used transabdominal ultrasound to determine prostate volume. PSAD was determined as the serum PSA/prostate volume ratio. The mean PSA values for BPH and prostate cancer were 6.42 +/- 1.80 and 7.80 +/- 2.15 ng/ml (p = 0.0116), respectively, and prostate volume was 33.4 +/- 14.1 ml and 17.1 +/- 8.2 ml, respectively (p < 0.0001). The mean PSAD for prostate cancer was 0.572 +/- 0.363 while that for BPH was 0.218 +/- 0.085 (p = 0.0001). Cut-off values with sensitivity > 90% were 0.218 for PSAD and 30 ml for prostate volume. At these cut-off values, specificity reached 56% for each marker. In discriminating prostate cancer from BPH in the gray zone of PSA, PSAD demonstrated better performance than PSA.

The clinical efficacy of fleroxacin (FLRX), a new fluoroquinolone, for acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) in women was assessed. Two regimens, 3-day and 7-day courses of FLRX, 200 mg once a day, were compared. Clinical and bacteriological efficacy were evaluated after the therapy, and recurrence rate was evaluated 1 week and 4 weeks after termination of the therapy. Of 136 registered subjects, 35 in the 3-day group and 47 in the 7-day group were evaluated. According to the criteria of Japanese UTI Committee (3rd edition), the rate of excellent results was significantly higher in the 7-day group (78.9%) than in the 3-day group (48.6%), but the overall clinical efficacy rate was similar being 100% and 97.9%, respectively. Although no recurrence was seen 1 week after the therapy in either group, recurrence was seen in 14.3% and 7.4% of the cases in the 3-day and 7-day groups, respectively, 4 weeks after the therapy. Adverse reactions were observed in 2 and 3 cases in the 3-day and 7-day groups, respectively. Both 3-day and 7-day regimens of FLRX treatment showed good efficacy. Although the 7-day treatment was superior to the 3-day treatment as to high rate of excellent results and low rate of recurrence, the 3-day treatment was concluded to be sufficient for AUC.

An international standard of prostate specific antigen (PSA) assays was constructed and prognosis of the patients with prostate cancers showing gray zone PSA was studied. For lower levels of serum PSA (< 50 ng/ml), the conversion formula to that of Tandem-R PSA from other assays was presented. Furthermore, based on the standards of Stanford Reference and Markit-MPA, conversion rates to this international standard from the conventional PSA assays were also obtained. Patients' cancer-specific survival was found to be significantly better in the gray zone group. Further studies to obtain higher specificity such as using free or complex rate in total PSA is necessary.

Clinical significance of urinary tract infections (UTI) after kidney transplantation was studied in 57 cases. Of these patients, the UTI occurred in 63% of cases during follow-up after transplantation. Although the bacteriuria were observed more frequently in living-related donor (LD) group at pre-operation, cadaveric donor (CD) group showed significantly higher frequency in bacteriuria and UTI after transplantation. The initial UTI occurred within 4 weeks after transplantation in 86% of cases. The significant risk factors in the occurrence of UTI were presence of bacteriuria in post-operation, CD group, mismatch numbers in HLA, amount of steroid, and ages of donor and recipient. Of the bacteria isolated, about half were pathogens in UTI, which was a 2 times higher risk compared with the time of chronic hemodialysis. Gram negative rods were found to be major pathogen in UTI cases. The effect of UTI on graft survival was not obvious. However, of the patients who have bacteriuria at operation, 52% were found to have bacteriuria due to the same strain during follow-up. Therefore, bacteriological examination of urine at transplantation must be done carefully.

Spontaneous peripelvic extravasation must be distinguished from spontaneous rupture of the renal pelvis in urological emergency. The literatures revealed 42 cases of peripelvic extravasation and 35 cases of rupture of the renal pelvis in Japan. Most of them were caused by urolithiasis and malignant tumors. We report 2 cases of spontaneous peripelvic extravasation caused by urolithiasis, which were successfully treated conservatively.

A 45-year-old female visited our Department on February 7, 1986, with the principal complaint of swelling in the right upper abdomen. She was hospitalized on February 20. Ultrasonography, DIP, CT and right renal arteriography were performed. On March 10, the right kidney was extirpated transabdominally. The extirpated kidney weighed 1.2 kg and tightly adhered to the renal capsule. The kidney included a solid, yellowish white, homogeneous tumor. There was also a cyst outside of the tumor. The tumor was limited within, and easily separated from, Gerota's fascia. Pathological diagnosis revealed that the tumor was a leiomyoblastoma originated from the blood vessel. On March 26, postoperative VAC therapy (1 mg vincristine; 300 mg cyclophosphamide; 2 mg actinomycin D) was performed, and the patient was released from the hospital on April 8. As of August of 1987, no relapse of the disease has been detected. There have been very few reports of leiomyoblastoma in Japan. Whether leiomyoblastoma might take a malignant course was investigated to some extent on the basis of the reported literature.