Evaluation of Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organizer Regions in Renal Cell Carcinoma / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Nucleolar organizer regions(NORs) are intranucleolar segments of DNA coding for ribosomal RNA and contribute to the regulation of cellular protein synthesis. Since NOR-associated proteins are argyrophilic, silver staining method has been used for demonstration of NORs. The numbers of argyrophilic NORs(AgNORs) have been shown to be correlated with DNA ploidy and have prognostic value in diverse human neoplasms. However, the prognostic value of AgNORs in renal cell carcinoma(RCC) remain ill defined. We herein investigated the prognostic value of AgNORs in 39 patients with RCC. There was no significant relationship between mean number of AgNORs (m AgNORs) per nucleus and Robson stage and Fuhrman nunlear grade. However, there was significant relationship between the percentage of tumor cells with more than five AgNORs per nucleus (p AgNORs) and Robson stage and nuclear grade (p<0.05). There was significant difference in survival rate between patients with RCC in whom AgNORs were two or less and in whom AgNORs were greater than two(p<0.05). The patients with a low p AgNORs(less than 8%) have a better prognosis than those with a high p AgNORs. These results suggest that number of AgNORs may be a clinically useful prognostic marker for patients with RCC.

Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Renal Cell Carcinoma / 대한비뇨기과학회지

The clinical course of individual patient with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is variable and difficult to predict accurately. The values of various classical prognostic factors in RCC remain ill-defined. Data on molecular analysis of oncogene and tumor suppressor genes including p53 may provide useful prognostic information for RCC. We herein investigated the prognostic value of multiple clinical and pathological parameters as well as p53 mutation in 40 patients with pathologically confirmed RCC. Mutations of p53 gene were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibody for p53 protein( M1801). On univariate analysis using log-rank test multiple parameters showed prognostic value, including clinical stage ( Robson), nuclear grade, mutation of p53, cell type, body weight loss, anemia, and increased serum level of calcium and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. However, on multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model only three parameters including stage(p <0.001 ), nuclear grade(p < 0.05), and mutation of p53(p<0.05) were found to have significant independent prognostic value. These results suggest that in RCC clinical stage and nuclear grade are two most important prognostic factors and analysis of p53 mutation may provide additional important prognostic information.

Bilateral fractures of Hydroflex penile prostheses: an unusual complication

We report bilaterally fractured Hydroflex implants in 2 patients. One fracture was complete and three were incomplete. All the fractures occurred at the junction of the rear reservoir and the inflation chamber.

A comparative study on various methods of cavernosometry as predictors of corporal-venous leakage demonstrated by cavernosography / 대한비뇨기과학회지

A variety of technique of dynamic pharmacocavernosometry have been described to evaluate cavernous veno-occlusive function: however, there is no uniquely reliable and standard method so far After intracavernous (IC) injection of 45 mg papaverine and 2.5 mg phenblamine, we performed gravity cavernosometry(GC) and pump cavernosometry(PC), ie, measurement of saline infusion rate needed to obtain and to maintain an erection and measurement of pressure decay for 30 seconds and pressure drop time to 75 mmHg when pump was turned off at 150 mmHg IC pressure. Final diagnosis of venous leakage was made by cavernosoeraphy done at 90 mmHg IC pressure. The parametric values measured by each method to diagnose venous leakage and correlation among these methods were analyzed. The etiology of impotence in 45 patients studied was psychogenic in 8, venogenic in 21, combined arteriogenic and venogenic in 16. The measurement of induction flow rate was less reliable(p<0.05) for the diagnosis of venous leak than the other methods of PC and GC (p<0.01). The standard deviations of the induction and maintenance flow rate and pressure drop time were similar to or even higher than mean values. There was correlation among all these methods. Therefore, GC and PC, particularly measurement of the intracorporeal pressure decay are believed to be valuable methods for diagnosis of the corporal-venous leakage.