Use of oral hydromorphone in a patient with stage D heart failure.

Patients with advanced heart failure often experience dyspnea, fatigue, edema, and appetite loss. If these symptoms are refractory to treatment, palliative care via a team approach is necessary. We describe a patient with stage D heart failure whose dyspnea and overall condition improved with comprehensive medical treatments including conventional medications for heart failure, continuous infusions of catecholamine and diuretic, and oral hydromorphone. A 67-year-old man with a 12-year history of dilated cardiomyopathy was admitted to our hospital due to exacerbation of heart failure. Despite continuous infusion of catecholamine and diuretic, his dyspnea and liver and renal function continued to worsen. Oral hydromorphone was administered to relieve his refractory dyspnea, which also improved his conditions, continuous infusion of the catecholamine and diuretic could withdraw. Oral low-dose hydromorphone used in the present case might be a helpful agent for treating dyspnea in stage D heart failure patients with renal dysfunction.

Impact of Androgen Deprivation Therapy on Volume Reduction and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Patients with Prostate Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on prostate volume, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and LUTS-related quality of life (QOL) in patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: Patients with prostate cancer (PCa) were treated with goserelin and bicalutamide for 24 weeks. Changes in the total prostate volume (TPV), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and QOL score for urinary symptoms were assessed every 12 weeks. Of the 42 patients enrolled, 8 patients withdrew and 2 were excluded, so 32 patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The median age, PSA levels, and TPV were 77.5 years, 22.0 ng/mL, and 29.5 cm3 , respectively. TPV showed a significant decrease from baseline in weeks 12 and 24, with the mean percent decreases being -37.5 ± 4.25 and -7.5 ± 3.84%, respectively. The IPSS decreased from baseline to weeks 12 and 24 (from 11.7 ± 1.6 to 9.3 ± 1.0 and 9.3 ± 1.0; P = 0.15 and 0.2, respectively). The IPSS voiding score showed a significant decrease from baseline to weeks 12 and 24 whereas the IPSS storage score did not. In patients with moderate to severe LUTS, the IPSS and the QOL score showed a significant decrease in weeks 12 and 24. In patients with mild LUTS, nocturia increased significantly from baseline and there was approximately one additional episode of nocturia at 24 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed that ADT significantly reduced TPV and improved LUTS in patients with PCa and moderate to severe LUTS, but increased nocturia in patients with mild LUTS.

Combination of prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) score and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density predicts biopsy outcome in prostate biopsy naïve patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) scoring system, for prostate multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) to detect prostate cancer, and classical parameters, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, prostate volume and PSA density, for predicting biopsy outcome in biopsy naïve patients who have suspected prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent mpMRI at our hospital, and who had their first prostate biopsy between July 2010 and April 2014, were analysed retrospectively. The prostate biopsies were taken transperineally under transrectal ultrasonography guidance. In all, 14 cores were biopsied as a systematic biopsy in all patients. Two cognitive fusion-targeted biopsy cores were added for each lesion in patients who had suspicious or equivocal lesions on mpMRI. The PI-RADS scoring system version 2.0 (PI-RADS v2) was used to describe the MRI findings. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine significant predictors of prostate cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer. RESULTS: In all, 288 patients were analysed. The median patient age, PSA level, prostate volume and PSA density were 69 years, 7.5 ng/mL, 28.7 mL, and 0.26 ng/mL/mL, respectively. The biopsy results were benign, clinically insignificant, and clinically significant prostate cancer in 129 (45%), 18 (6%) and 141 (49%) patients, respectively. The multivariate analysis revealed that PI-RADS v2 score and PSA density were independent predictors for prostate cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer. When PI-RADS v2 score and PSA density were combined, a PI-RADS v2 score of ≥4 and PSA density ≥0.15 ng/mL/mL, or PI-RADS v2 score of 3 and PSA density of ≥0.30 ng/mL/mL, was associated with the highest clinically significant prostate cancer detection rates (76-97%) on the first biopsy. Of the patients in this group with negative biopsy results, 22% were subsequently diagnosed as prostate cancer. In contrast, a PI-RADS v2 score of ≤3 and PSA density of <0.15 ng/mL/mL yielded no clinically significant prostate cancer and no additional detection of prostate cancer on further biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of PI-RADS v2 score and PSA density can help in the decision-making process before prostate biopsy and in the follow-up strategy in biopsy naïve patients. Patients with a PI-RADS v2 score of ≤3 and PSA density of <0.15 ng/mL/mL may avoid unnecessary biopsies.

Heavy hematuria requiring cystectomy in a patient with hemophilia A: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Hemophilia A is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by a deficiency in factor VIII. Hemophilia A affects 1 in 5,000-10,000 males. Hematuria is frequent in hemophilia. Hematuria in hemophilia is generally considered benign and manageable with conservative therapy; however, severe hematuria requiring surgical therapy has rarely been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old male with hemophilia A presented with persistent gross hematuria of unknown cause. He was treated with recombinant factor VIII products, followed by several conservative therapies as follows: clot evacuation by vesicoclysis, continuous bladder irrigation with normal saline, and intravesical instillation of aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (Maalox); however, these failed to resolve the hemorrhaging. The patient was offered and consented to cystectomy with an ileal conduit. Intraoperative clotting was normal with the infusion of adequate recombinant factor VIII products and transfusion of fresh-frozen plasma, and the procedure was performed safely. After surgery, the patient had blood in his stool several times. No bleeding site was demonstrated in the colon by colonoscopy and (99m)Technetium-human serum albumin-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid scintigraphy demonstrated that the extravasation of radioactive isotope was detected at the anal side of terminal ileum but not at the oral side. These findings were suspected to be bleeding from the ileoileal anastomosis. However, the bleeding was managed with recombinant factor VIII products. CONCLUSIONS: Cystectomy in hemophilia may be safe, if monitored appropriately. Urinary diversion using the intestine may be avoided because anastomotic hemorrhage may become a problem.

[SMALL CELL CARCINOMA OF THE PROSTATE: A CASE REPORT OF RELATIVE LONG-TERM SURVIVAL].

Small cell carcinoma of the prostate (SCCP) is rare, and no standard treatment regimen has yet been established. The overall prognosis remains poor. We experienced a case who obtained relative long-term survival with two types of chemotherapy treatments. A 69-year-old man underwent combined androgen blockade (CAB) with a diagnosis of prostate adenocarcinoma (Gleason score = 5 + 3) that was staged T3bN1M1b (initial PSA = 352 ng/ml). Twenty-five months after hormonal therapy, the level of serum PSA had elapsed remain low, however, FDG-PET/CT revealed high value at the lymph node of para-aortic and pelvic lesion. The levels of serum NSE and Pro-GRP elevated, and a prostate re-biopsy revealed a small cell carcinoma. Therefore, he was treated with 12-cycles of combination chemotherapy consisting of etoposide and carboplatin. Then, disease has progressed, so he was changed to second line chemotherapy with amrubicin. He underwent 12-cycles chemotherapy with amrubicin, but he died of cancer 39 months after the initial treatment of SCCP.

[A case of isolated polyarteritis nodosa appeared in bilateral epididymides with asynchronous onset].

A 78-year-old man visited a hospital with a complaint of painful and swelling scrotums for 7 months. Although left epididymitis was suspected, antibiotic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) had no effects. After visit to our department, we performed left orchiectomy for the diagnosis and pain control. Pathological examinations showed necrotizing vasculitis in the epididymis, so he was diagnosed as polyarteritis nodosa (PN) in the left epididymis. He had no systemic symptoms, which made the diagnosis of isolated PN. One and a half years after operation, he felt the same pain in the right scrotum. We performed right orchiectomy. Pathological findings showed necrotizing vasculitis in the epididymis. Blood examinations revealed negative for myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) and proteinase 3-ANCA, and computed tomography revealed that other organs were not involved. One year later, he had no recurrence.

Clinical usefulness of CEA, CA19-9, and CYFRA 21-1 as tumor markers for urothelial bladder carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of measuring serum CEA, CA19-9, and CYFRA 21-1 levels for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum levels of CEA, CA19-9, and CYFRA 21-1 were measured in 85 patients with bladder cancer. The absolute level of each marker and the positive rate were compared with the clinical stage and histological grade of the tumor. Changes of the markers were assessed in patients with or without disease progression, and the correlations between survival and positivity/negativity of these markers were also evaluated. RESULTS: A higher serum level of CYFRA 21-1 was significantly correlated with higher tumor stage (p < 0.01) and higher grade (p < 0.05). In contrast, serum CEA and CA19-9 levels did not differ significantly among each stage and grade. The CYFRA 21-1 level increased significantly along with disease progression (from 7.33 ± 13.3 to 55.9 ± 127 ng/ml, p < 0.01). Patients who were positive for CYFRA 21-1 had significantly worse disease-specific survival (p < 0.0001, log rank test). CONCLUSION: Serum CYFRA 21-1 seems to be a marker of advanced- and high-grade urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. It is useful for monitoring this disease and for predicting the prognosis. In contrast, the clinical usefulness of CEA and CA19-9 as tumor markers was not demonstrated.

(18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for diagnosis and monitoring of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with mediastinal fibrosis.

A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with left intermittent claudication. Computed tomography showed soft tissue masses surrounding the left iliac artery and in the bilateral pulmonary hilum, and the first FDG PET showed increased FDG uptake by the lesions. Retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with mediastinal fibrosis was most suspected. An open biopsy of the left peri-iliac masses revealed retroperitoneal fibrosis. Corticosteroid treatment was initiated. The second FDG PET under corticosteroid treatment showed no pathological FDG uptake. The third FDG PET after cessation of corticosteroid treatment showed increased FDG uptake in the mediastinum, and so Sairei-to treatment was initiated. The fourth FDG PET under Sairei-to treatment showed no improvement of the pathological FDG uptake, and so low-dose corticosteroid was re-started in combination with Sairei-to treatment. The fifth FDG PET under Sairei-to and corticosteroid treatment showed no pathological FDG uptake. These FDG PET findings suggest the usefulness of FDG PET for the diagnosis and monitoring of retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with mediastinal fibrosis.

[Intra-arterial chemotherapy for bladder preservation in patients with locally advanced bladder cancer].

PURPOSE: To evaluate intra-arterial chemotherapy for bladder preservation in patients with locally advanced bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 34 patients with locally advanced bladder cancer (T2, n=25; T3, n=9) were treated with intra-arterial chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was consisted of intraarterial administration of cisplatin (100 mg/body), and adriamycin or pirarubicin (50 mg/body) every 4 weeks for two cycles. The response was evaluated by TUR, urine cytology, CT and/or MRI 4 weeks after the treatment. In 4 patients, we combined this treatment with radiotherapy. RESULTS: Among all 34 patients, 12 (35%) patients presented complete response (CR) and 24 patients (70%) presented in objective response (OR). During mean follow up period of 28.7 months, five patients had locally advanced recurrence and one had distant metastasis. The 5-year survival rate was 69.3%. Bladder was conserved in 19 (56%) of all 34 patients. Hematological and gastrointestinal toxicity (more than grade 3) was occurred in 5 and 3 patients. Risk factors on the outcome of this therapy were tumor size >20 mm, multiple tumors and clinical stage > or = cT3. Patients with no or one risk factor had favorable outcomes; the OR rates of 75-100%, the bladder preservation rates of 71-75% and the 5-year cancer specific survival rates of 83%. Whereas patients with two or three risk factors had unfavorable outcomes; the OR rates of 50-58%, the bladder preservation rates of 25-42% and the 3-year cancer specific survival rates of 0-69%. CONCLUSION: The treatment of locally advanced bladder cancer with intra-arterial chemotherapy seems to be good for patients with less risk factor, but not so good for patients with more risk factors.