Urinary fibronectin in bladder cancer: is it a reliable tumor marker?

Twenty eight patients with bladder cancer and 21 with different benign urological diseases were included. Healthy persons [15] were tested as a control group. A complete history, general and local examinations, routine investigations as well as urinary fibronectin assay were done using an ELISA technique. Radiodiagnostic studies and cystoscopic examination; and biopsy taking; were then performed. The marker showed a mean value of 260 microgm/L in cases of bladder cancer 96.19 microgm/L in benign urological diseases, and 88.5 microgm/L in control group. It had a 75% sensitivity, 58.8% specificity, and 86.4% overall accuracy.The marker has good diagnostic and fair prognostic abilities

Percutaneous nephrostomy versus retrograde ureteric stenting in decompression of acutely obstructed and infected system

To compare the efficacy of percutaneous nephrostomy [PCN] with uretcral catheterizatin for renal drainage in cases of obstruction and infection. 42 patients were randomized between the two methods. The results of both groups were compared [procedural parameters, patient outcome, failure rate. etc]. Both methods effectively relieved obstruction and infection. The decision of which mode of drainage to be used may be based on surgeon preference

Rationale of percutaneous nephrostomy in malignant obstructive uropathy

Percutaneous nephrostomy [PN] was done for 28 patients presenting with malignant obstructive uropathy and impaired renal function. The mean serum creatinine was 15.3 mg% +/- 4.9 mg%. The procedure was performed under local anaesthesia with ultrasound guidance. The renal function improved in 23 patients [82%] with significant decrease in serum creatinine to 3.5 mg% +/- 1.3 mg% [P < 0.001]. There were no serious complications related to PN in any of the patients. Minor complications occured in 8 patients [28.6%] and managed successfully. After improvement in renal function 11 patients underwent radiotherapy and 8 patients underwent chemotherapy for the primary malignancy. 19 patients out of 24 patients [79%] followed up survived more than 2 months. In conclusion, percutaneous nephrostomy in patients with malignant obstructive renal failure is a minimal invasive procedure that improves the renal function and if further treatment is available, the survival may be improved

Treatment of male subfertility with FSH in intrauterine insimination: a randomized study

A prospective randomized study was performed in 148 couples undergoing IUI because of male Subfertility. In the treatment group, 150 IU FSH were administered IM to the husbands, three times a week, starting 3 months before the beginning of IUI cycles and maintained until the fifth IUI cycle. In the control group no treatment was given. The pregnancy rate per cycle was 13.5% in the FSH group versus 10% in the non-FSH group. The pregnancy rate per woman was 44.4% in the FSH group versus 37% in the non-FSH group. This means that the pregnancy rate increase was > 30% per cycle and >20per woman in the FSH group. The cumulative pregnancy rate was 59.2% in the FSH group versus 42.9% in the non-FSH group. The pregnancy rate outside the IUI cycles was 14.7% in the FSH group versus 2.5% in the non-FSH group|