Notes: Background: We reviewed treatment results in patients with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis and examined the significance of the International Consensus Prognostic Classification to make appropriate risk-based decisions concerning induction chemotherapy. Methods: We divided 37 patients treated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy into good, intermediate, and poor prognostic groups utilizing the International Consensus Prognostic Classification. The data was analyzed for both overall survival and progression-free survival among the 3 prognostic groups. Results: Among the 37 patients, 10 died (8 of progressive disease, 1 of pneumonia during induction chemotherapy and 1 of cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cardiomyolitis during salvage chemotherapy). The survivors were followed for 6 to 1 84 months from the beginning of induction chemotherapy (median, 80 months). Five of the 37 patients (14%) were classified as having a good prognosis, 18 (48%) as intermediate, and 14 (38%) as having a poor prognosis. The patients in the poor prognostic group had a 5-year overall survival of only 40%, while those in the good and intermediate groups had 5-year overall survivals of 100% and 94%, respectively. When we applied the International Consensus Prognostic Classification to patients with advanced disease classified by the Indiana University Staging System, these patients could be clearly divided into good-risk and poor-risk groups. Conclusions: The International Consensus Prognostic Classification is easily applicable and accurate for risk assessment in patients with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis. This classification will now be widely used in general oncology practices and for clinical trials in these patients.

Notes: Objectives Urodynamic studies were performed to clarify vesicourethral dysfunction and recovery after rectal surgery for cancer. Materials and Methods At 1, and 6 to 12 months after rectal surgery interviews and urodynamic studies (UDS) were performed on 51 consecutive patients, all without a prior history of voiding disorder (40 males and 11 females; median age, 60 years). Patients were divided into 2 groups, either with (preserved group, n = 17) or without (nonpreserved group, n = 34) preservation of the bilateral pelvic plexus during surgery. Comparisons of voiding status and urodynamic parameters were made between the 2 groups. Results By 1 and 6 months after the operation normal voiding was achieved in 71 % (12/17) and 100% (13/13) of patients in the preserved group, and 6% (2/34) and 30% of patients (9/30) in the nonpreserved group, respectively (P〈 0.001). Attainment of normal voiding in the nonpreserved group was preceded by the recovery of bladder sensation, while UDS demonstrated increases in vesical compliance and the disappearance of vesical denervation supersensitivity. Conclusion A nerve-sparing procedure during radical surgery for rectal carcinoma preserved vesicourethral function. The urodynamic parameters relevant to postoperative recovery of voiding function were improved vesical compliance, disappearance of vesical denervation supersensitivity, and recovery of a bladder filling sensation.

Notes: Background Vesicourethral function returns after radical rectal surgery during the first year but rarely progresses after 1 year. We examined the urodynamics of patients whose voiding dysfunction remained after 1 year, and treated several with a modified sphincterotomy procedure similar to radical transurethral resection of the prostate. Methods We analyzed the urodynamic features of vesicourethral dysfunction in 16 male patients with persistent voiding dysfunction for more than 1 year following radical surgery for rectal carcinoma. Seven patients elected to undergo radical transurethral resection of prostate (radical TUR-P) for the relief of their persistent voiding dysfunction. Results The mean bladder volume at the first desire to void was 210 mL, the mean maximal bladder capacity was 343 mL, and the mean vesical compliance (Cves) was 27.1 mL/cm H2O. All patients demonstrated either vesical denervation supersensitivity (Vds) or uninhibited contraction. The mean maximal urethral closure pressure was 43.9 cm H2O, and urethral denervation supersensitivity was found in 77.8% (7/9), and sphincter dyssynergia in 66.7% (6/9) of patients. After radical TUR-P, 5 patients became free from the use of self-catheterization, 1 patient had a reduced residual urine rate, and 1 patient was unchanged, but no patient noted a change in urinary control. Conclusion Urethral dysfunction after radical rectal surgery was caused by failure of the bladder to empty along with an underactive detrusor. Radical TUR-P was effective in restoring voiding function in a selected group of these patients.

Notes: Background To assess the feasibility of urodynamic study under general anesthesia (GA) we performed electromyography of the external urethral sphincter (EUS-EMG) on 73 children and cystometry (CM) alone on 10 children. Methods Subjects were divided into 3 groups. Those in groups I and II were suspected of having voiding dysfunction with (group I) or without (group II) overt neurospinal defects, while those in group III were thought to be functionally normal. EUS-EMG was performed under light anesthesia following cystourethroscopy to examine structural abnormalities. Atropine sulfate premedication was not used for the anesthetic procedure; muscle relaxants were used only for tracheal intubation. Results Voiding was observed in 83% of the patients. Among patients who voided, detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) was noted in 7 (38%) group I patients and 6 (19%) group II patients; in group III, voiding was synergic in all patients. In 10 cases, CM alone was carried out both under anesthesia and in the waking state; anesthesia suppressed detrusor hyperreflexia (DH) in all 9 patients but produced no change in bladder compliance. Conclusions In children with urinary disorders, urodynamic study under GA following cystourethroscopy is a feasible method for assessing EUS function and documenting DSD; DH is not evaluable, however. Stratifying urinary management on the basis of these examinations resulted in satisfactory clinical outcomes.

Notes: Background: Five renal recipients with neurovesical dysfunction (NVD) were retrospectively reviewed focusing on anatomical and urodynamic abnormalities of the lower urinary tract and their management prior to kidney transplantation.Methods: The underlying anomalies in these 5 patients were a posterior urethral valve (1 with an imperforate anus; n = 2), meningomyelocele (n = 2) and a congenital short urethra with an imperforate anus (n = 1). Their urinary tracts were evaluated prior to transplantation with voiding cystourethrography, urethrocystoscopy, cystometrography and electromyography of the external urethral sphincter to identify a possible focus of urinary tract infection, urine storage and voiding function.Results: All 5 patients had NVD proven by urodynamic studies or by documentation of urinary retention in the absence of mechanical outlet obstruction. Bilateral high grade vesicoureteral reflux was noted in all patients, requiring ureteroneocystostomy. Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) was ultimately employed for bladder emptying in all patients. Two patients with poor bladder compliance underwent augmentation cystoplasty before transplantation. The Mitrofanoff procedure was used in 2 patients with structural urethral abnormalities to access the bladder for catheterization. After eradication of possible sources of infection and establishment of a low-pressure urine storage system with bladder emptying by CIC, kidney transplantation was performed. Following kidney transplantation, all of the recipients were asymptomatic for urinary tract infections using CIC. Although 1 patient lost his graft due to chronic rejection, the other 4 other patients have good renal function.Conclusion: Kidney transplantation in patients with NVD can be performed provided that their urinary tract problems are properly resolved.

Notes: From January 1989 to December 1995, 5 diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease (1 woman, 4 men) underwent kidney-alone transplantation. The mean age of the recipients at the time of transplantation was 37.4 years (range, 32 to 43). Graft function and glucose tolerance was evaluated for 5 to 72 months after surgery. Postoperative complications were seen in 2 patients; nonspecific subcutaneous infections and an asymptomatic partial allograft infarction. All renal allografts were functioning 1 year after transplantation, with a mean serum creatinine level of 1.10mg/dL (range, 0.8 to 1.8mg/dL), and a mean urinary protein level of 1 7.8mg/dL (range, 5 to 27mg/dL). The postoperative daily dose of insulin was higher than the preoperative dose, while the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) increased after surgery and peaked 6 months after transplantation; 1 year after transplantation it had reverted to the preoperative level. As long as the diabetic complications of the renal allograft recipients are not severe, the short-term survival and the renal function of diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease improves after kidney-alone transplantation, which is still the standard method of treatment in Japan.

Notes: Background: We previously reported that short-term administration of 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG), 5 mg/kg/day on postoperative days 4 through 7, prolonged survival of rat renal allografts indefinitely. We now report the immunologic environment of DSG-treated recipients in the early postoperative phase. Methods: TO (RT1u) rat kidneys were transplanted into WKAH (RT1k) rats. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), splenocytes (SPC) and graft infiltrating lymphocytes (GIL) were harvested from rejecting (untreated) recipients on day 7 (group AR) and from DSG-treated recipients on days 7 (Group DSG7) and 14 (group DSG14). Flow cytometric analysis was done to determine characteristics of these cells. Mixed lymphocyte culture reactions (MLRs) were also studied to examine suppressive activities of sera, SPC, and GIL of each group by adding them to TO/WKAH MLRs. Results: In all groups, the proportions of CD8-and interleukin2 receptor (IL-2R)-positive cells were higher for GIL than for either PBL or SPC. The CD4/CD8 ratio was lowest in GIL. Comparing groups DSG7 and DSG14, significant decreases in the proportion of CD8- and IL-2R-positive cells were found only in GIL. Sera of all groups nonspecifically suppressed MLRs, independent of DSG-administration. GIL of all groups also nonspecifically suppressed MLRs, while these suppressive activities were not observed with SPC. Suppressive activities of GIL remained unchanged in the first 2 postoperative weeks. Conclusions: Differences in the immunologic environment were reflected primarily in GIL. DSG seemed to decrease CD8- and IL-2R-positive cells in allografts. In the presence of DSG, this model may feature a predominance of nonspecific suppressor T cells over cytotoxic T cells during the first 2 postoperative weeks.

Notes: We present the case of a 57-year-old woman with a thrombus in the right renal vein and the inferior vena cava that disappeared spontaneously during 6 months of observation. She had no thrombus-related disease such as kidney cancer, dehydration, multiple myeloma, nephrotic syndrome, or abnormal coagulability. While various examinations were being performed over a 2 month period the thrombus regressed spontaneously. After 6 months of follow-up the thrombus could not be seen on abdominal computerized tomography scan. Twenty months after disappearance of the thrombus the patient is doing well and has no recurrence of thrombus.

Notes: Background:The main objectives of bladder substitution are the preservation of the upper urinary tract and maintenance of urinary continence. Orthotopic bladder substitution makes it possible to achieve urinary continence as well as normal passage of urine through the urethra. Creation of a low pressure reservoir and careful preservation of the distal sphincter mechanism are considered to be of utmost importance for the maintenance of urinary continence after orthotopic bladder Substitution. However, sphincter behavior after orthotopic bladder substitution has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the vesicourethral continence mechanism after orthotopic bladder substitution in male patients. Methods: Urodynamic evaluation was performed in 14 male patients after cystoprostatectomy for bladder cancer and an ileocolic neobladder using a cecourethral anastomosis.Results:Good continence was achieved in 86% (12/14) of the patients during the day and in 79% (11/14) at night. On cystometry, maximum capacity of the neobladders was 434 ± 21 ml (mean ± SEM), and basal pressure at maximum capacity was 15.6 ± 0.9 cm water. Phasic neobladder contraction with amplitudes ranging from 14 to 40 (26.6 ± 2.7) cm water were noted in 11 of 14 patients. Sphincter electromyography demonstrated an increase in the frequency of action potentials of the external urethral sphincter during neobladder filling from empty to 80% of capacity (from 8.9 ± 1.6 to 14.6 ± 2.1 spikes per second; mean percentage increase, 64%, in patients with daytime continence). Maximum urethral closure pressure on urethral pressure profile was 49.9 ± 3.5 (range, 30 to 64) cm water in patients with daytime continence, while in two patients who were incontinent during the day and at night maximum urethral closure pressure was lower (16 and 24 cm water) and the recruitment of action potentials of the external urethral sphincter during neobladder filling was impaired (percentage increase, 15% and 20%).Conclusions:An ileocolic neobladder has characteristics of a low pressure reservoir with a satisfactory continence rate. The vesicourethral continence reflex is well preserved in patients with continence after orthotopic bladder Substitution.