Endoscopic sinus surgery for the odontogenic maxillary cysts.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and usefulness of transnasal endoscopic surgery for the treatment of odontogenic maxillary cysts. METHODS: Between February 2003 and February 2008, transnasal endoscopic surgery was performed under general anesthesia in 13 patients (male 6 and female 7, 19 to 75 years old) with odontogenic maxillary cysts that extended to the maxillary sinus. Ten patients had a radicular cyst and three patients had a dentigerous cyst. After the resection of anterior edge of the inferior turbinate, the lateral wall of the inferior nasal meatus was opened. Then, the cyst wall of the maxillary sinus was partially or completely removed under the endoscope. RESULTS: The cyst walls were completely removed in five often patients with a radicular cyst and in all three patients with a dentigerous cyst. Five patients with a radicular cyst received partial resection of the cyst wall. The affected teeth could be preserved in seven of ten patients with a radicular cyst and in one of three patients with a dentigerous cyst. There were no complications, and postoperative courses were uneventful. Follow-up period ranged from 11 to 72 months (mean 42 months), and no recurrence has been noted in any of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic transnasal surgery for the odontogenic maxillary cyst is less invasive than conventional dental approach, and most of the affected teeth can be preserved. This technique appears to be a simple and highly effective surgical treatment for the treatment of patients with odontogenic cysts that extend to the maxillary sinus.

Prevention of graft-versus-host disease by intrabone marrow injection of donor T cells: involvement of bone marrow stromal cells.

We have developed a new and effective method for bone marrow transplantation (BMT): bone marrow cells (BMCs) are injected directly into the bone marrow (BM) cavity of recipient mice. The intrabone marrow injection of BMCs (IBM-BMT) greatly facilitates the engraftment of donor-derived cells, and IBM-BMT can attenuate graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR), in contrast to conventional intravenous BMT (i.v.-BMT). Here, we examine the mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of IBM-BMT on GVHR using animal models where GVHR is elicited. Recipient mice (C57BL/6) were irradiated and splenic T cells (as donor lymphocyte infusion: DLI) from major histocompatibility complex-disparate donors (BALB/c) were injected directly into the BM cavity (IBM-DLI) or injected intravenously (i.v.-DLI) along with IBM-BMT. The BM stromal cells (BMSCs) from these recipients were collected and related cytokines were examined. The recipient mice that had been treated with IBM-BMT + i.v.-DLI showed severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in contrast to those treated with IBM-BMT + IBM-DLI. The suppressive activity of BMSCs in this GVHD model was determined. The cultured BMSCs from the recipients treated with IBM-BMT + IBM-DLI suppressed the proliferation of responder T cells remarkably when compared with those from the recipients of IBM-BMT + i.v.-DLI in mixed leucocyte reaction. Furthermore, the level of transforming growth factor-beta and hepatocyte growth factor in cultured BMSCs from IBM-BMT + IBM-DLI increased significantly when compared with those from the recipients of IBM-BMT + i.v.-DLI. Thus, the prevention of GVHD observed in the recipients of IBM-BMT + IBM-DLI was attributable to the increased production of immunosuppressive cytokines from BMSCs after interaction with host reactive T cells (in DLI).

Management of a catecholamine-secreting tympanicum glomus tumour: case report.

OBJECTIVE: To report the safe management and treatment of a catecholamine-secreting tympanicum glomus tumour. CASE REPORT: A 73-year-old women presented with a catecholamine-producing glomus tympanicum tumour, complaining of hearing impairment and left ear pain. Physical examination revealed a red, pulsating swelling in the left tympanic membrane. Computed tomography demonstrated a soft tissue mass filling the entire middle-ear cavity and a partial osteolytic lesion in the internal carotid artery. Angiographic examination revealed a densely contrasting tumour with feeding vessels from the ascending pharyngeal artery. Concentrations of serum noradrenalin and urine vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) were high. The tumour was completely resected using a potassium titanyl phosphate laser, the feeding vessels having been embolised the previous day. Concentrations of serum noradrenalin and urine VMA normalised following the operation. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative embolisation is useful in the treatment of catecholamine-secreting tympanicum glomus tumours, not only for preventing a hypertensive crisis but also for reducing bleeding. The potassium titanyl phosphate laser is useful for complete resection of the tumour.

Activation of granulocytes by direct interaction with dendritic cells.

Granulocytes from human peripheral blood were co-cultured with conventional dendritic cells (cDC) or plasmacytoid DCs (pDC) to examine the effects of DCs on the activation or function of granulocytes. After co-culture of granulocytes with DCs, expression of the activation markers of granulocytes (CD63 and CD64) was up-regulated, and increased expression of CD50, the activation marker and ligand for CD209 (DC-SIGN) was also observed. The interaction of granulocytes with DCs was visualized as the cluster where DCs, especially cDCs, were surrounded by granulocytes to form a 'rosette'. After co-culture of granulocytes with cDCs, the secretion of elastase from granulocytes was enhanced significantly when examined cytohistochemically and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An increase in myeloperoxidase (another activation index of granulocytes) was also observed after co-culture with DCs. These findings suggest the functional and phenotypical activation of granulocytes by interaction with DCs. Furthermore, we examined the involvement of adhesion molecules in the granulocyte-DC interaction, and found that CD209 participates to some extent in this interaction.

Use of [123I]-BMIPP myocardial scintigraphy for the clinical evaluation of a fatty-acid metabolism disorder of the right ventricle in chronic respiratory and pulmonary vascular disease.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether or not right ventricle (RV) uptake of iodine-123-labelled-beta-methyliodophenylpentadecanoic acid ([123I]-BMIPP) correlated with the degree of right ventricular pressure overload (RVPO). Myocardial scintigraphy of [123I]-BMIPP and thallium-201 (201Tl) was performed on 46 patients with RVPO. We determined the right ventricle (RV)/left ventricle (LV) ratio = (radioactivities of RV)/(radioactivities of LV), and the RV metabolic index (RVMI) = (RV/LV ratio of [123I]-BMIPP)/(RV/LV ratio of 201Tl). We also evaluated the correlation between RVMI and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), and between RVMI and total pulmonary resistance (TPR). Significant correlations were found between the RV/LV ratio of [123I]-BMIPP and mPAP and between the RV/LV ratio of [123I]-BMIPP and TPR. In addition, a significant negative correlation was observed between RVMI and mPAP and between RVMI and TPR. RVMI declined as RVPO increased, suggesting the presence of a fatty-acid metabolism disorder of the RV. Moreover, [123I]-BMIPP myocardial scintigraphy could be useful for evaluating a disorder of the fatty-acid metabolism of the RV with RVPO.

[A case of left renal cell carcinoma in a young male adult with left varicocele].

A 25-year-old man presented to our hospital with the chief complaint of left-sided painless scrotal swelling. Varicocele was diagnosed and high ligation was performed. Two months later, he noticed asymptomatic gross hematuria. Transabdominal ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomographic scanning showed a left renal tumor measuring more than 10 cm in diameter. Radical nephrectomy (thoraco-abdominal approach) was performed and pathological diagnosis was granular cell carcinoma (G2, pT2, INF alpha, pNX, pMX). He then received intramuscular injections of interferon-alpha 3 million units on three days per week. The frequency of renal cell carcinoma was reported to be about 1-3% for individuals in the 20s in the recent Japanese literature, and renal cell carcinoma in a young man with left varicocele is very rare.

[Psychogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in women: patho-physiological investigation for psychogenic frequency-urgency syndrome and psychogenic urinary retention].

PURPOSE: Psychogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (PLUTD) is composed of two syndromes; psychogenic frequency-urgency syndrome (PFUS) and psychogenic urinary retention (PUR). We evaluated the patho-physiology of PFUS and PUR, and explored the different pathogenesis in these syndromes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty five patients with PLUTD, consisting of 23 patients with PFUS and 22 patients with PUR were investigated by using the psychological tests: CMI (Cornell Medical Index) and TEG (Todai's Egogram), a quantitative perspiration test in 45 females (23 patients with PFUS and 22 patients with PUR), and simultaneous measurements of voiding cysto-urethrography and urodynamic studies using the Life-Tech 6 channel polygraph in 35 patients (17 patients with PFUS and 18 patients with PUR). RESULTS: The prevalence in ages revealed two peaks, 20 years and 50 to 60 years. Over 25% of them had pyuria more than 10/hpf of WBC. Peak flow rate measured by uroflowmetry showed normal range in PFUS group and decreased in PUR group. The functional vesical volume was less than 100 ml in most patients with PFUS. Residual urine in PUR group was significantly greater. Capacity of the PFUS group were able to hold over 400 ml of contrast instilled through the urethral catheter, despite increased desire to void. Over 15% of the study group with PFUS showed uninhibited systolic contraction of detrusor (> 15 cm H2O) during filling phase. The measurement value of urodynamic parameters demonstrated that a periodic follow-up survey of the upper urinary tract should be performed because of the low compliance bladder in the patients with PLUTD. During voiding phase, the women with PFUS had a tendency to be divided into two groups, hypercontractile or acontractile detrusor. The voiding cysto-urethrography (VCUG) showed a tendency of bladder neck opening on patients with PFUS during filling phase. Most of PLUTD cases demonstrated a round to triangle shape on vesical configuration, which led to a spastic condition of detrusor muscle. We attempted to measure the quantitative perspiration using 3 kinds of loading tests; respiratory, arithmetic and psychological load. In the psychological loading test, we asked 98 questions about their daily lives including occupation, living condition, family relationship and sexual activities. Arithmetic loading test consisted of counting in reverse, subtraction and multiplication. The quantitative perspiration rate resulted in a "positive" in many patients with PFUS. Respiration loading test was performed to measure the respiration volume during 3 large inhales. Most patients with PUR tested within the normal range for respiration except for those patients with decreased or no perspiration during the psychiatric loading test. These results may reflect the psychological elements including suppression and subconscious defense mechanism. Neurosis which was diagnosed as having type III to type IV of the Cornell Medical Index was demonstrated in less than under 40% of patients with PFUS and more than 55% patients with PUR. There was no significant trend or difference between PFUS and PUR detected from Todai's Egogram. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the reflection of many psychological responses, it is necessary to investigate from various examinations including psychological, autonomical and classical urological studies for accurate diagnosis of PLUTD.

[A case of renal oncocytoma associated with acquired cystic disease of the kidney].

We report a case of renal oncocytoma associated with acquired cystic disease of kidney (ACDK). A right renal mass was incidentally found on an annual ultrasonography of the kidneys in a 56-year-old female patient who had been on maintenance hemodialysis for 6 years. Computerized tomography (CT) showed a right hypervascular renal mass, suggesting a renal cell carcinoma associated with ACDK. Right radical nephrectomy was performed. The post-operative pathological diagnosis was renal oncocytoma. Renal oncocytoma in ACDK is very rare, and the pathological characteristics of oncocytoma are discussed.

[A case of endometrioid carcinoma of the prostate].

A case of endometrioid carcinoma of the prostate is reported. A 64-year-old man was admitted to our department with initial macrohematuria and dysuria. The transrectal ultrasonogram showed remarkable prostatic hypertrophy and the serum level of both prostatic specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) ranged within normal limits. Urethrocystographical and cystoscopical findings indicated prostatic hypertrophy with elongation of prostatic urethra and mild trabeculation of bladder wall. During transurethral resection of the prostate, papillary tumor was accidentally found in the left lobe near the vermontanum. Histopathological examination revealed adenocarcinoma of the prostatic urethra and the tumor displayed no immunoreactivity for PSA or PAP. Under diagnosis of prostatic urethral cancer total cystoprostatectomy and urethrectomy were performed and ileal conduit was constructed for urinary diversion. As intraductal papillae and complex ramifying glands were histopathologically confirmed in the specimen and the immunohistochemical staining showed positivity of PSA and PAP, the tumor was diagnosed as endometrioid carcinoma of the prostate.

[Suppressive effect of glycopeptidolipid from Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex serovar 4 and 16 on blastogenesis of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells].

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) consists of 28 serotypes. Co-infection of several specific serotype strains with the advent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been dramatically increasing in the past fifteen years, although the reason for this fact is not clearly understood. Since the cell surface lipid components of MAC impaired the capacity of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to proliferate, some particular glycopeptidolipid (GPL) with serologically specific carbohydrate chains are supposed to inhibit blastogenesis and to affect the immune response in MAC infection. In this study, we have investigated the effect of serovar 4 and 16 GPLs on the human PBMC function and cell mediated immunity. As the result, it was demonstrated that the percentage of viable cells was decreased prominently after the incubation of PBMC with the serovar 4 GPL. Blastogenic responses of PBMC to stimulation with the purified protein derivatives (PPD) were inhibited by the presence of GPL dose-dependently. In the case of stimulation with anti-CD3 antibody (a-CD3 Ab), blastogenic response of PBMC was suppressed markedly by GPL at the concentration of 175 micrograms/ml. Flow-cytometric analysis demonstrated that the expression of interleukin-2 receptor alpha on a-CD3 Ab-stimulated T lymphocyte was markedly inhibited in the presence of GPL. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the production of interleukin-2 by a-CD3 Ab-stimulated PBMC was reduced dose-dependently after the incubation of PBMC with GPL. In these results, there was no remarkable difference between serovar 4 and serovar 16 GPLs. These results indicate that serovar 4 and 16 GPLs inhibit the cell mediated immunity and serovar 4 GPL can affect the viability of PBMC.

[A case of retroperitoneal fibrosarcoma: usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging].

A 62-year-old man with dyspnea was admitted to our hospital. Computed tomography showed a large right renal mass. Results of T1- and T2- weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed a very low-intensity region suggestive of retroperitoneal fibrosarcoma. On March 13, 1996, complete tumor resection and lymphadenectomy were done. The histopathological diagnosis was of fibrosarcoma. After the operation, the patient was treated twice with a combination chemotherapy regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin and dacarbazine. At the most recent follow-up, 1-year postoperatively, the patient was well with no local recurrence or distant metastases.

[Clinical features of Sjögren syndrome].

Between 1985 and 1995, 134 patients presented to our clinic with complaints of either dry mouth, decreased salivary flow or salivary gland swelling of unknown origin. These patients were diagnosed retrospectively based on the criteria established by the Sjögren's disease research committee (1977), and 30 patients were definitively diagnosed with Sjögren's disease while 23 were considered suspect. The gender distribution of these 30 patients was 25 female (83%) and 5 male (17%). The average patient age was 55.8 years for females and 42.6 years for males. Of 30 patients, 10 (33.3%) had only sicca syndrome and the other 20 (66.7%) had various complications such as collagen diseases, autoimmune diseases, and malignant lymphoid infiltration. Subjects included 14 cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 1 case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 1 case of RA with periarteritis nodosa (PN), 1 case of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) with SLE, 1 case of PSS with Hashimoto disease, 1 case of malignant lymphoma and 1 case of RA with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Positive blood tests showed a relatively high incidence of elevated erythrocyte sedimentation ratios (ESR) (75%), elevated IgG levels (69.2%), positive anti-nuclear antibody (52.3%), positive anti SS A antibody (75%) and positive anti-SS B antibody (50%).

Bladder neck support prosthesis: a nonoperative treatment for stress or mixed urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness and safety of a bladder neck support prosthesis in patients with stress or mixed incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 57 women with stress and 20 with mixed incontinence completed a 12-week prospective clinical trial of a bladder neck support prosthesis. While indexes of incontinence episodes, leakage amounts and urgency along with a bothersome index were subjectively evaluated, a 60-minute pad test and urinary flow parameters were objectively evaluated. Three patients scheduled to undergo surgery for stress incontinence voluntarily used the device, and provided urodynamic data and cystourethrograms. Two prongs at 1 end of the ring, a type of elastic vaginal pessary, elevate the bladder neck against the pubic bone and facilitate pressure transmission around the bladder neck, resulting in urinary continence. RESULTS: Four subjective indexes significantly improved. There was no urinary flow obstruction. Urine loss decreased from 20.6 to 4.8 gm. per hour (p < 0.001) on the 60-minute pad test. Of the patients 22 (29%) reported complete continence and 39 (51%) had decreased severity of incontinence by more than 50%. Minor adverse effects occurred in 26% of the patients. Taking subjective evaluation, changes in objective parameters and adverse effects into consideration, 62 patients (81%) had some or maximum benefit according to the global usefulness rating. CONCLUSIONS: The bladder neck support prosthesis is safe, well tolerated and clinically effective for the treatment of stress or mixed incontinence.

Complications and reimplantation of penile implants.

BACKGROUND: Complications of penile prosthesis implants can be divided into surgical and mechanical failure. We investigated penile prosthesis implants to clarify the surgical and mechanical complications that have arisen in our clinical experience. METHODS: In the 11 years between 1984 and 1995, 83 penile prostheses were implanted in 74 patients ranging from 37 to 82 years of age. RESULTS: Of the 64 malleable and mechanical prostheses, 11 were extracted, including 4 removed because of surgical complications and 2 due to mechanical failure. Of the 19 inflatable prostheses, 6 were removed, including 1 extracted due to surgical complication and 5 extracted due to mechanical failure. Nine reimplantations for 8 patients were performed and all these cases had good results. As a result, 66 out of 74 patients could have coitus after prosthetic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Penile prosthetic surgery is an established method of treating organic impotence, however, it should only be considered for selected and well-informed patients to avoid complications and revision surgery.

A cysteine-containing truncated apo A-I variant associated with HDL deficiency.

We identified a 50-year-old Japanese woman with a novel mutation in the apolipoprotein (apo) A-I gene causing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) deficiency. The patient had extremely low HDL cholesterol and apo A-I levels (0.14 mmol/L and 0.8 mg/dL, respectively) but no evidence of coronary heart disease. However, she had bilateral xanthomas of the Achilles tendon, elbow, and knee joint as well as corneal opacities. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of serum followed by immunoblotting revealed that the patient's apo A-I had a lower molecular weight (24,000) than normal apo A-I. A partial gene duplication encompassing 23 nucleotides was found by DNA sequence analysis, resulting in a tandem repeat of bases 333 to 355 from the 5' end of exon 4. This tandem repeat caused a frameshift mutation with premature termination after amino acid 207. The frameshift gives rise to a predicted protein sequence that contains two cysteines. We designated this mutant as apo A-ISasebo. Apo A-ISasebo formed heterodimers with apo A-II and apo E in the patient's plasma and was associated with both the low-density lipoprotein and HDL fractions. The patient's cholesterol esterification rate and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity were reduced to about 30% of normal, although specific enzyme activity was unaffected, suggesting that it remained functionally normal. In addition, cholesteryl ester transfer activity was reduced to about half of normal. Thus, apo A-ISasebo was associated with complex derangements of lipoprotein metabolism.

Spontaneous rupture of non-aneurysmal ascending aorta.

Two autopsy cases with pericardial tamponade and spontaneous rupture of non-aneurysmal ascending aorta are described. In case 1, no apparent predisposing factor was clinically noticed in a 74 year old male patient, but postmortem examination revealed laceration of the ascending aorta associated with aortic valvular deformity and slight dilatation of the ascending aorta. In case 2, a 61 year old man, a mild to moderate grade of aortic regurgitation was noticed clinically 5 months before death. Postmortem examination revealed a slight dilatation of the aortic annulus and post-valvular portion of the ascending aorta. These two cases emphasize the clinical significance of aortic valvular disease with subsequent disordered blood flow, even when asymptomatic, as a potential causative factor for spontaneous rupture of the ascending aorta.

[Classification of patterns of nocturnal penile tumescence with continuous monitoring of penile rigidity: analysis of various factors affecting erection].

In 43 men who required further examination of erectile function, we analyzed the relationship between the various factors including hormone levels, penile blood pressure index (PBPI), shape of the arterial wave, erection period after prostaglandin E1 injection and dynamic cavernosography/metry, as well as the patterns of nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) with rigidity. Normal, dissociation, short episode, low amplitude and flat trace patterns, which were classified by Kaneko, were observed in 11, 8, 11, 2 and 11 men, respectively. Uncoupling was not observed in any men. There were no differences in the levels of prolactin and LH among the 6 patterns. A high FSH level was seen in men with a flat trace pattern; a low level of free testosterone ( < 12.2 pg/ml) was seen in men with dissociation, low amplitude and flat trace patterns, and low PBPI ( < 0.75) in men with flat trace pattern; and an arteriosclerotic shape of the arterial wave was seen in men with short episode and flat trace patterns. Each erection period immediately after prostaglandin E1 injection in men with dissociation, short episode, low amplitude and flat trace was shorter compared with cases with a normal pattern. Venoocclusive dysfunction was observed in 5 men with a dissociation pattern and 6 men with a flat trace pattern. In conclusion, an integral analysis of pattern of NPT with rigidity and other examinations are useful for differentiating organic impotence from psychogenic impotence and for accurately diagnosing pathophysiological disorders of organic impotence and underlying diseases.

[Immunohistochemical study of fibrosis and S-100 protein-positive cells in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and in interstitial pneumonia associated with rheumatoid arthritis].

Immunohistochemical methods were used to distinguish idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) from interstitial pneumonia associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA lung). The subjects were six patients with IPF and seven with RA lung, in whom the pathological findings were consistent with usual interstitial pneumonia. Antibodies to vimentin (Vim), alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and S-100 protein were used for immunohistochemical studies done by the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. In fibrosis associated with RA lung, proliferation of both Vim and alpha-SMA-positive myofibroblasts was widely observed, despite pathological findings of honeycombing, usual interstitial pneumonia, and BOOP. Fibrosis in cases of IPF was found to be characterized mainly by Vim-positive fibroblasts, and on occasion was associated with hyperplasia of smooth muscle. Lung tissues from patients with acute exacerbations of RA lung, especially when associated with a BOOP pattern, had many cells positive for S-100 protein. However, such cells were generally hard to find in cases of IPE. Similar results were obtained with regard to the honeycomb pattern in both IPF and RA lung. These findings suggest that IPF and RA lung can be fairly clearly differentiated based on the proliferation of myofibroblasts and on the presence or absence of cells positive for S-100 protein.

[Clinical experience with the artificial urinary sphincter AMS 800 for male incontinence].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of artificial urinary sphincter AMS 800 implants for male patients with urinary incontinence. METHODS: Eleven male patients with urinary incontinence were treated by implantation of the artificial urinary sphincter AMS 800 between 1988 and 1992. Patient age at the surgery ranged from 14 to 79 years, with a mean age of 58 years. At presentation, 9 patients (82%) had true incontinence and 2 had overflow incontinence, and medical treatments and/or surgical procedures (Teflon injections in 2 and Sling procedure in 1) had been attempted previously elsewhere in all patients. The etiologies of incontinence were post-prostatectomy (transurethral resection in 4 and radical retropubic prostatectomy in 4) in 8 patients (73%) and myelomeningocele, spinal cord injury, pelvic trauma in one each. There were 5 patients with abnormal cystometrogram, and 2 of them were performing intermittent self catheterization. Vesicoureteral reflux was determined in 2 patients preoperatively, which were surgically corrected one year before AMS800 implant in a patient and simultaneously in another patient. The cuff was placed around the bulbous urethra (9), pendulous urethra (1) or bladder neck (1). The device was activated 6 weeks post implantation, and the assessment of therapeutic effects was started 2 weeks after activation. RESULTS: Follow up ranged from 3 weeks to 75 months, with a mean of 56 months, if 3 cases done explantation due to periprosthetic infections were excluded. After AMS 800 implantation 5 patients (45%) were completely continent, 4(36%) required the use of not more than 1 pad per day, while a patient was not satisfied with the results and another patient was not definitive because of early explantation before device activation. Hence complete or near complete continence was achieved in 9 patients (81%). A patient is performing intermittent self catheterization in conjunction with the AMS 800 without any complications up until now. There were 3 periprosthetic infections (27%) associated with 2 cuff erosions, that consequently required explantation. Besides periprosthetic infection, neither complications nor mechanical device failures was experienced. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter was safe with reasonable mechanical reliability and offered acceptable and satisfactory urinary control to the selected patients with incontinence.