[Three cases of proliferative cystitis causing hydronephrosis].

We report three cases of proliferative cystitis causing hydronephrosis. Three patients presented with a complaint of miction pain, gross hematuria or pollikisuria. Cystoscopic findings revealed papillary sessile tumor from neck to orifice. Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) was performed because the tumor was not responsive to medical treatment. The pathological diagnosis was intestinal type or typical type of cystitis glandularis and no malignant cells were observed. After the operation, although hydronephrosis improved in two cases, the left hydronephrosis did not improve in one case and ureteralileostomy was performed. Five year after the last operation, there is no evidence of recurrence of the tumor. Tumor formation arising from proliferative cystitis is relatively rare. Pathogenesis and management of this rare condition are discussed.

Association of metabolic syndrome traits and severity of kidney stones: results from a nationwide survey on urolithiasis in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Although metabolic syndrome and its individual components have been associated with kidney stone disease, whether the clustering of metabolic syndrome traits increases the severity of kidney stone disease has not been examined in a large-scale study. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Data were obtained from 30,448 patients enrolled in the 6th Nationwide Survey on Urolithiasis in Japan conducted in 2005. Patients with lower urinary tract stones, struvite stones, cystine stones, or hyperparathyroidism and those younger than 15 years were excluded. PREDICTOR: Number of metabolic syndrome traits (obesity [body mass index ≥25 kg/m(2)], diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia). OUTCOMES: Severe form of kidney stone disease, defined as recurrent and/or multiple stones, and abnormalities in urine constituents (hypercalciuria, hyperuricosuria, hyperoxaluria, and hypocitraturia). RESULTS: 11,555 patients were included in the final analyses. Proportions of patients with recurrent and/or multiple stones were 57.7%, 61.7%, 65.2%, 69.3%, and 73.3% with 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 metabolic syndrome traits, respectively (P < 0.001). There was a significant and stepwise increase in the odds of recurrent and/or multiple stones after adjustment for age and sex. In patients with 4 metabolic syndrome traits, the odds was 1.8-fold greater compared with patients with 0 traits (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.22-2.66). In addition, the presence of metabolic syndrome traits was associated with significantly increased odds of having hypercalciuria, hyperuricosuria, hyperoxaluria, and hypocitraturia after adjustment for age and sex. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional design, absence of dietary data, ill-defined diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome traits, and missing data for the majority of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic syndrome trait clustering is associated with greater severity of kidney stone disease; increased urinary calcium, uric acid, and oxalate excretion; and decreased urinary citrate excretion. These results suggest that kidney stone disease should be regarded as a systemic disorder linked to metabolic syndrome.

[Epidemiology of urolithiasis for improving clinical practice].

Urolithiasis is a common nephrologic disorder with an increasing prevalence, probably attributable to lifestyle factors such as diet and obesity. A nationwide survey of urolithiasis in Japan conducted in 2005 showed a steady increase in the number of urolithiasis cases, and the associated life-long risk was estimated to be 15.1% in men and 6.8% in women. Because urolithiasis is a complex disease, an understanding of the epidemiology, particularly of the interactions among different factors, may facilitate the development of measures to reduce the risk of stone formation. In this article, we describe the epidemiologic data and related topics from a nationwide survey in Japan and other studies.

[Invasive bladder cancer with concomitant carcinoma in situ treated with chemoradiotherapy followed by BCG intravesical infusion therapy to preserve the bladder : report of three cases].

Three patients with invasive bladder cancer and concomitant carcinoma in situ were treated sequentially with chemoradiotherapy followed by BCG intravesical infusion therapy to preserve the bladder. Local complete response was achieved in all patients, although lymph node metastasis was noted in one patient. The multimodality therapy could be safely administered without acute or late complications, including decreased bladder capacity.

[A case of urinary incontinence due to hypoplastic kidney with an ectopic ureteral opening: successful treatment with transcatheter arterial embolization].

We report a 21-year-old woman,who presented with a major complaint of urinary incontinence without dry time. On the basis of computed tomographic examination and vaginography,she was diagnosed as having a hypoplastic left kidney with a solitary ectopic ureteral opening on the left. Transcatheter arterial embolization of the renal artery using anhydrous ethanol was conducted for renal ablation. No postoperative complications were noted,and the symptoms of urinary incontinence were eliminated. Embolization of the renal artery for ablation of a hypoplastic kidney with symptoms can be achieved without laparotomy while causing little stress and few complications,with an outcome comparable to surgical nephrectomy. This procedure is expected to be adopted as a standard therapeutic modality in the future.

[A case of infiltrating transitional cell carcinoma of kidney difficult to distinguish from xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis].

The patient, a 67-year-old man, initially visited another institution with asymptomatic macroscopic hematuria as the major complaint. Since imaging revealed a tumor occupying the left kidney, he was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) was suggestive of a tumor involving the renal pelvis that had infiltrated the renal parenchyma. The patient was scheduled for surgery, which was postponed when pre-operative CT indicated a reduction in the tumor size, leading to a subsequent diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. Surgery was eventually conducted to address complaints such as persistent hematuria. The pathological diagnosis was infiltrating transitional cell carcinoma of the kidney. Urinary cytodiagnoses were class II-III throughout the observation period.

[A case of prostate cancer that developed following transurethral resection of the prostate: diagnostic efficiency of diffusion-weighted images on magnetic resonance imaging].

An 84-year-old man underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) with a diagnosis of prostatic hypertrophy at the age of 78. He had a moderately high prostate specific antigen (PSA) level of 4.5 ng/ml before TURP, but without pathological malignancy. Following surgery, his PSA level dropped to 1.7 ng/ml and the patient recovered almost completely. Four years later, however, he underwent a reexamination due to diminished urinary flow. His PSA at that time was 5.2 ng/ml, continuing to rise slowly thereafter. Six years following surgery, his PSA reached 13.7 ng/ml, and the diffusion-weighted image on magnetic resonance imaging showed a high intensity area in the prostatic portion of the urethra. A poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was detected in TUR-derived tissue fragments of the tumor protruding from the prostate. Tissue obtained via a systematic needle biopsy showed no signs of malignancy. Hormonal therapy was introduced. Five months later, the PSA level fell to 0.130 ng/ml ; the patient is now in clinical follow-up.

[Case of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder effectively treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy following TUR].

A 82-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a chief complaint of macrohematuria and pollakisuria. Cystoscopy showed an abnormal mucosa on the right wall. We suspected carcinoma in situ but two months after cystoscopy showed a non-papillary and sessile tumor with calcification. We performed transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, muscle layer and adipose tissue. Histopathological findings revealed small cell carcinoma of the bladder infiltrating the externaladipose tissue. As postoperative adjuvant therapy, chemotherapy (cisplatin total 150 mg) was performed with 40 Gy of extra beam radiotherapy to the bladder. After chemotherapy and radiotherapy,urinary cytology was negative and cystoscopy showed the scar. Follow up magnetic resonance imaging revealed disappearance of the bladder tumor.

[The changes of prostate specific antigen (PSA) after treatment with alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonists in men with 4.0-9.9 ng/ml PSA level--a study for comparison of benign prostatic hyperplasia/lower urinary tract symptom (BPH/LUTS) and prostate cancer].

The aims of this study were to define the relationships between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist (alpha 1 blocker). A prospective clinical study of 48 male patients examined between May 2004 and December 2007 was performed. 4.0-9.9 ng/ml PSA level who had no notable clinical findings of urinary retention, urinary tract infections and prostate cancer (PC) received tamusulosin 0.2 mg once daily for 3 months, and then received prostate biopsy. We divided the patients into two groups: PC and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)/lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) group. In total, the PSA level showed no significant change after treatment. In the PC group, PSA significantly increased after treatment. However, PSA decreased in the BPH/LUTS group. The alpha 1 blocker significantly improved urination status (the subjective symptoms and urodynamics parameters) in the BPH/LUTS group. In two groups, prostate volume showed no significant difference. Among those patients in the BPH/LUTS group, their urination status was significantly improved with alpha 1 blocker and their PSA level dropped slightly. On the other hand, the PSA level was significantly increased in the PC group. This study shows that by using an alpha 1 blocker, it may be possible to avoid conducting the prostate biopsy at an early stage or indeed one may not be needed at all for patients with only slight increases in PSA.

Prevalence and epidemiologic characteristics of lower urinary tract stones in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the changes in the annual incidence and epidemiologic details of lower urinary tract stones in Japan, a nationwide survey of urolithiasis was performed. METHODS: Data were obtained from all patients who had been diagnosed by urologists in 2005 as having lower urinary tract stones, including both first and recurrent stones. The data were separately enumerated according to hospital size, irrespective of admission and treatment. The study included all hospitals approved by the Japanese Board of Urology and thus covered nearly all urologists practicing in Japan. The estimated annual incidence according to sex, age, and stone composition was compared with other nationwide surveys taken from 1965 to 1995. RESULTS: The incidence of lower urinary tract stones in Japan has steadily increased from 4.7/100,000 in 1965 to 9.1/100,000 in 2005. However, the age-standardized annual incidence of lower urinary tract stones in Japan decreased slightly from 5.5/100,000 in 1965 to 5.4/100,000 in 2005. The incidence of stones containing calcium has significantly increased from 50.7% to 72.0% among men and the incidence of infection-related stones has decreased significantly from 26.2% to 10.1%. The ratios of uric acid calculi in men and of infection-related stones in women increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: The increased incidence of lower urinary tract stones is in slight contrast to the sudden increase in the incidence of upper urinary tract stones, which might be associated with the aging of the Japanese population.

Prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of urolithiasis in Japan: national trends between 1965 and 2005.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the epidemiological details and chronological trends of upper urinary tract stones in Japan using a nationwide survey of urolithiasis. METHODS: All patient visits to urologists that resulted in a diagnosis of first-episode upper urinary tract stones in 2005 were enumerated irrespective of admission and treatment. The study included all hospitals approved by the Japanese Board of Urology, thus covering nearly all urologists practicing in Japan. We compared the estimated annual incidence according to gender and age with the incidence determined from nationwide surveys between 1965 and 1995. RESULTS: The estimated annual incidence of first-episode upper urinary tract stones in 2005 was 134.0 per 100,000 (192.0 in men and 79.3 in women). The estimated age-standardized annual incidence of first-episode upper urinary tract stones in 2005 was 114.3 per 100,000 (165.1 for men and 65.1 for women), which represents a steady increase from 54.2 in 1965. The annual incidence has increased in all age groups except during the first 3 decades of life and the peak age for both men and women has also increased. CONCLUSIONS: The annual incidence of upper urinary tract stones has steadily increased in Japan and this trend will continue in the near future. This probably results from improvements in clinical-diagnostic procedures, changes in nutritional and environmental factors, and general apathy toward metabolic clarification and metaphylaxis.

Oxalate ions and calcium oxalate crystal-induced up-regulation of osteopontin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in renal fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the responses of renal fibroblasts to high oxalate (Ox) and calcium Ox (CaOx) crystals, as the latter are found in the renal interstitium of patients with primary or enteric hyperoxaluria, and in animals with experimental CaOx nephrolithiasis, and are associated with tubulointerstitial inflammation (TI). TI might begin with the production of chemoattractants by the renal epithelial cells exposed to high Ox and/or CaOx crystals; as Ox levels are also high in the renal interstitium and crystal deposition in nephrolithiasis might start in the interstitium, we hypothesized that renal fibroblasts might also be involved in the development of TI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We exposed renal fibroblast cells of line NRK 49F in vitro to Ox ions (500 micromol/L) or CaOx monohydrate crystals (67 microg/cm(2)). We assessed the production of osteopontin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and expression of their mRNA, in the cells. We also determined the cellular malondialdehyde content as a marker of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced lipid peroxidation, and Trypan blue staining and the release of lactate dehydrogenase as markers of injury. RESULTS: Similar to renal epithelial cells, renal fibroblasts were stimulated by exposure to Ox and CaOx crystals. They showed signs of injury and ROS-induced lipid peroxidation. The mRNA expression and production of osteopontin and MCP-1 increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that fibroblasts respond to high Ox and CaOx crystals by up-regulating specific pathways producing pro-inflammatory conditions. Migration of monocytes/macrophages to sites of interstitial crystal deposits can lead to localized interstitial inflammation and fibrosis.

[A case of sigmoid colon cancer that spread to the urinary bladder via the ureter].

A 69-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with the chief complaint of left hydronephrosis and diagnosed. A year ago, he underwent sidmoidectomy to cure sigmoid colon cancer diagnosed as stage IV. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) detected the compression of the ureter at its middle left due to the enlargement of the left iliac lymph node and hydronephrosis and hydroureter at the proximal to the compressed part. Then, a ureteral tumor was suspected and urinary cytology was class V. Cystoscopy detected a papillary tumor projecting from the left ureteral orifice. Because the histopathological manifestation by transurethral resection of bladder tumor and that by the sidmoidectomy were consistent, it was considered that sigmoid colon cancer spread to the urinary bladder via the left ureter. There have been only 4 reported cases of adenocarcinoma that multiplied in the ureter, and this is the fifth case report.

[Evaluation of the crystal inhibitory effect of angiotensin II type I receptor blocker in etylene glycol treated rat kidney].

PURPOSE: We examined whether there would be any inhibitive effect to the crystal formation in ethylene glycol treated rat kidney by angiotensin II type I receptor blocker (candesartan). METHODS: We divided 10-weeks-old male Sprague-Dawley rats into 4 groups. In these groups, rats were given tap water (group A), 1.0% ethylene glycol (group B), 1.0% ethylene glycol and 20 microg/ml candesartan (group C), 20 microg/ml candesartan (group D) for 4 weeks. Immunohistochemical studies of a renal tissue was performed by ED1 antibody and the osteopontin antibody, the transcription of renin, angiotensin converting enzyme, angiotensin II and osteopontin mRNA in whole kidney was determined using real time PCR and malondialdehyde level was measured. Renal tissue was evaluated using H.E. stain for counting the calcium deposit in the renal tubules. Calcium concentrations in whole kidney were measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Although there is no significant difference urinary oxalate and calcium levels compared with group B and C, group C showed fewer the numbers of calcium deposit in the tubules and decreased the amount of calcium contained in the whole kidney, ED1 positive cells, osteopontine mRNA expression and malondialdehyde level. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that candesartan inhibited superfluously induced osteopontin in the whole kidney by ethylene glycol and crystal formation was also related decreased.

Analysis of bone mineral density in urolithiasis patients.

BACKGROUND: The association between hypercalciuria and bone mineral density (BMD) has been already recognized. The aim of the present study is to relate BMD to age and sex and to evaluate the calcium metabolism and hypercalciuria-defined dietary or non-dietary category in patients with urolithiasis. METHODS: The BMI of the L2-L4 lumbar vertebrae was measured in 310 renal stone patients (191 men and 119 women). Percent age matched score (%AMS), which is the percent ratio of measured BMD to the mean BMD of age-matched control subjects, was utilized for the appraisal of BMD. Low BMD groups were defined by lower than 90% of %AMS. RESULTS: Low BMD was observed in 27.7% of urinary stone patients, which was not a significant difference to that of control subjects (23.5%) who were measured in the health examination. In male patients with urolithiasis, the frequency of patients in whom BMD had been apt to decrease since youth was high, but there was not a proven significant difference among the three age groups (20-39 years old, 40-59 years old and 60 years old or older). In contrast, for female stone patients, the frequency of low BMD markedly increased in patients aged 40 years or older, when menopause occurs. Furthermore, in female stone patients with hypercalciuria, the frequency of reduced BMD reached more than 40%. When the cause was non-dietary hypercalciuria (classified mainly on the daily amount of urinary calcium excretion after ingestion of calculus test diet), the frequency of reduced BMD reached 65% (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In case female stone patients with non-dietary hypercalciuria become menopausal, not only the risk of recurrent lithiasis increases, but the possibility of developing osteopenia in the future also increases. Appropriate treatments for prophylactic effects on urolithiasis or osteopenia should be considered, as judged from BMD, diet, sex, urinary calcium excretion and other factors synthetically.

[A case of urachal xanthogranuloma suspected to be a urachal tumor].

A 47-year-old female consulted our hospital with the chief complaints of lower abdominal pain and fever. There was a palpable mass in the lower abdomen. The patient had undergone oophorectomy by lower abdominal median incision. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a cystic mass above the bladder dome extending to the umbilicus, which was strongly suspected to be a urachal tumor. Enhanced T1 weighted MRI showed a mass enhanced by contrast media. Partial cystectomy with urachal resection was performed by lower abdominal median incision. The histological diagnosis was xanthogranuloma. This is the thirteenth case report of xanthogranuloma of the urachus in the Japanese literature.

The role of osteopontin on calcium oxalate crystal formation.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether osteopontin (OPN) and other proteins with the RGD sequence as in OPN (RGD family proteins) that are present in renal tubular cells (fibronectin [FN], Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein [THP], vitronectin [VN], and laminin [LN]) inhibit the aggregation and growth of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals by a novel seed crystal method using collagen granules (CG) with and without OPN adhered on the surface. We also evaluated the effect of solid phase OPN, FN and THP in which the relationship between their proteins and CaOx crystallization was reported. Moreover, the state and time-course changes in CaOx crystals adhered to CG were observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). METHODS: The inhibitory activity (IA) on the aggregation and growth of CaOx crystals was measured in vitro by the conventional seed crystal method using isotopes. In this study, the following nine samples were used: OPN alone; FN alone; THP alone; VN alone; LN alone; CG alone; and CG with OPN, FN, or THP adhered on the surface (OPN/FN/THP-immobilized CG). In addition, the state and time-course changes in CaOx crystals adhered to CG were evaluated by SEM. RESULTS: Using the conventional seed crystal method, the following values of IA were obtained: 91.7% (37.5 micro g/ml) for OPN, 5.0% (100 micro g/ml) for FN, 2.0% (100 micro g/ml) for THP, 3.0% (100 micro g/ml) for VN, and 1.0% (100 micro g/ml) for LN. However, the value of IA obtained by our seed crystal method using CG was 92.1% (180cm(2)/5ml PBS) when CG alone was used. Although the value of IA was decreased by 33.6% when OPN-immobilized CG was used, it did not significantly change when FN/THP-immobilized CG was used. When CG alone was used, the evaluation of CaOx crystallization by SEM demonstrated mild adherence and aggregation of CaOx crystal suspension (seed crystals) on the CG surface, although newly formed crystals only slightly adhered to the CG surface. When OPN-immobilized CG was used, marked adherence and aggregation of seed crystals were observed, in addition to the relatively increased adherence of newly formed crystals. When FN/THP-immobilized CG was used, newly formed crystals only slightly adhered to the CG surface, although the degree of seed crystal adherence and aggregation did not significantly change. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the immobilization of OPN to the CG surface enhances the adherence and aggregation of seed crystals, as well as enhancing the adherence of newly formed crystals, resulting in decreased IA of CG (overall promotion of crystal deposition). Therefore, the results of this study clarified that OPN enhances the formation and aggregation of CaOx crystals in this experimental system.

[A case of suspected tuberculous retroperitoneal abscess effectively cured using sclerotherapy with minocycline].

A twenty-five-year-old female was admitted with lower right abdominal pain, right coxalgia and an inability to extend her right inferior limb. She had a history of tuberculosis pleurisy two years before. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a right retroperitoneal mass which was suspected to be an abscess or tumor. Percutaneous aspiration of the mass was followed by the administration (p.o.) of antituberculosis drugs (pyrazinamide, ethanbutol, isoniazide, refampicin). One month after initial drainage, the tube was removed but intra-cystic fluid collection was still visible a month later using CT and MRI. Therefore, a second percutaneous aspiration was followed by the instillation of streptomycin and minocycline hydrochloride. Six months after employing this therapy, no fluid collection was found.

Randomized trial of trigger point injection for renal colic.

BACKGROUND: Many drugs have been utilized for the treatment of renal colic, but to date no drugs that relieve pain quickly and completely have been developed. Thus, we conducted a prospective trial to evaluate the effects of trigger point injection on renal colic. In this study, we used a local injection of lidocaine to the trigger point of patients experiencing renal colic, and evaluated the efficacy in patients using the visual analog scale. METHODS: Sixty patients with renal colic were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups by a simple randomization: (i) the butylscopolamine group (n = 30, intravenous injection of butylscopolamine bromide and sulpyrine); and (ii) the lidocaine group (n = 30, local anesthesia to the trigger point with lidocaine). RESULTS: Renal colic had disappeared completely at the end of the trigger point injection in 15/30 patients and the average time required to produce a 50% improvement in symptoms was 9 min in all patients in the group. In the lidocaine group, only one patient needed an additional anodyne treatment after 60 min and none of the 29 patients whose pain disappeared within 60 min needed further anodyne treatment within 24 h. These results were all significantly superior to those of the conventional treatment. No side-effects and complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Trigger point injection, in our experience, is an easy, safe and effective method for the amelioration of renal colic. It was significantly superior to the combination of intravenous butylscopolamine and sulpyrine.