11C-Acetate PET imaging for renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of positron emission tomography (PET) with (11)C-acetate (AC) for evaluation of renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: Enrolled in the study were 20 patients with suspected renal tumour, one of whom had three renal lesions. In all, 22 renal lesions were evaluated. Following administration of 350 MBq (10 mCi) of AC, whole-body PET images were obtained. Based on these PET findings, kidney lesions were scored as positive or negative. The PET results were correlated with the CT findings and histological diagnosis after surgery. RESULTS: In 18 patients, 20 tumours were diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma. Lesions in the remaining two patients were diagnosed as complicated cyst without malignant tissue. Of the 20 renal cell carcinomas. 14 (70%) showed positive AC PET findings; 6 were negative. The two patients with complicated cyst had negative AC PET findings. Of the 20 renal cell carcinomas, 19 were clear-cell carcinoma and 1 was a papillary cell carcinoma. This papillary cell carcinoma showed high AC uptake. CONCLUSION: AC demonstrates marked uptake in renal cell carcinoma. These preliminary data show that AC is a possible PET tracer for detection of renal cancer.

Association between lower urinary tract symptoms and serum levels of sex hormones in men.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the well-known association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and male sexual dysfunction, few data are available that describe the relationship between LUTS and sex hormones. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between the severity of LUTS and the serum levels of sex hormones in men. METHODS: A total of 182 randomly selected men attending our general urology clinic were recruited. All participants completed the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and their sera were evaluated for serum levels of prostate-specific antigen, total and free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and estradiol. Storage symptoms were evaluated by the sum of IPSS questions 2, 4, and 7. Voiding symptoms were evaluated by the sum of IPSS questions 3, 5, and 6. The relationship between the IPSSs and serum hormone levels was determined. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, the total IPSS was significantly associated with age, DHEA-S, and free testosterone. Storage symptoms were significantly associated with age, DHEA-S, free testosterone, and prostate-specific antigen. Voiding symptoms were significantly associated with age and DHEA-S. On multivariate linear regression analysis, only age was significantly associated with LUTS. However, within the subgroup of men 65-82 years old, DHEA-S was significantly associated with the total IPSS and storage symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the severity of LUTS was not associated with serum levels of sex hormones in men. However, in older men, storage symptoms could be affected by the serum DHEA-S level.

Correlation between the Aging Males' Symptoms Scale and sex steroids, gonadotropins, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and growth hormone levels in ambulatory men.

INTRODUCTION: Partial androgen deficiency of the aging male (PADAM) is defined as a biochemical syndrome associated with advancing age that is characterized by a deficiency in serum androgen levels. The Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) Scale was developed to evaluate PADAM-related symptoms and is currently used worldwide; however, it has been reported that PADAM-related symptoms evaluated by this scale are not related to serum testosterone levels. In addition to testosterone, the levels of other hormones also decrease with age; therefore, multihormone alterations may influence PADAM-related symptoms. AIM: To investigate the relationship between PADAM-related symptoms evaluated by the AMS Scale and serum levels of testosterone, estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and growth hormone (GH) in men. METHODS: A total of 141 ambulatory men were recruited after excluding men with endocrine and other related diseases. All participants completed the AMS questionnaire and an analysis of serum levels of total and free testosterone (TT and FT), E2, LH, FSH, DHEA-S, and GH. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The relationship between AMS scores (total and subscores) and serum hormone levels was determined. RESULTS: There were significant negative correlations between age and serum FT and DHEA-S levels, as well as positive correlations between age and serum LH and FSH levels, but no correlation between age and AMS scores. None of the three AMS domain scale scores and total scores significantly correlated with serum levels of TT, FT, E2, LH, FSH, DHEA-S, or GH. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that PADAM-related symptoms as evaluated by the AMS Scale are not significantly related to serum levels of TT, FT, E2, LH, FSH, DHEA-S, or GH. Because many factors related to aging are thought to contribute to the occurrence of PADAM-related symptoms, the AMS Scale may not be able to predict serum hormone levels.