Emphysematous cystitis: radiological diagnosis of complicated urinary tract infection.

Emphysematous cystitis is an uncommon condition characterised by the presence of gas in the bladder. It is an infection caused by gas forming organisms, usually in elderly women with a background of diabetes mellitus. The presentation is variable, however with increasing use of imaging more cases are being diagnosed in asymptomatic patients. Routine cross-sectional imaging is not advocated for specific diagnosis but its role in accurate assessment of the severity of the condition cannot be overlooked. As the mode and duration of follow-up in incidentally detected cases has not been addressed in the literature, follow-up should be tailored individually depending upon the severity and response to treatment. We describe two such incidentally detected cases of emphysematous cystitis in elderly diabetic patients and present a review of the literature. The triad of treatment is adequate control of diabetes, antibiotics and bladder drainage. One patient died in the hospital, while the other underwent a flexible cystoscopy 6 weeks later which was normal.

The natural history of postoperative renal function in patients undergoing ileal conduit diversion for cancer measured using serial isotopic glomerular filtration rate and 99m technetium-mercaptoacetyltriglycine renography.

PURPOSE: There is little consensus regarding long-term followup of renal function in patients who undergo urinary diversion. We established the usefulness of combined serial isotopic glomerular filtration rate measurement and diuresis renography in the early identification of patients at risk for deterioration of renal function following ileal conduit diversion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 340 patients with ileal conduit diversion who were followed between 1990 and 2000 were identified. We analyzed data on 178 patients who had more than 4 years of followup. Renal function was assessed by serial estimation of serum creatinine, isotopic glomerular filtration rate and diuresis renographic measurements. RESULTS: Of the patients 52 (29%) demonstrated a worsening glomerular filtration rate. Mean followup +/- SEM was 8.2 +/- 0.4 years (range 4 to 30) and 67% of patients had more than 6 years of followup. In this group we found that hypertension, recurrent urinary sepsis and an initial post-diversion glomerular filtration rate of less than 50 ml per minute per 1.73 m were prevalent risk factors. Hypertension was an independent predictor of a decreased glomerular filtration rate in this group. Of 52 patients with a deteriorating glomerular filtration rate 19 had type II or IIIb curves on followup renography, of whom 13 underwent revision surgery. Renal function subsequently stabilized or improved in this group. CONCLUSIONS: Of patients with an ileal conduit 29% have renal function deterioration in the long term. No surgical cause for glomerular filtration rate deterioration was found in 18%. Important predisposing factors in nonobstructed cases were hypertension, recurrent urinary sepsis and a glomerular filtration rate of less than 50 ml per minute per 1.73 m. Hypertension was an independent predictor of a decreased glomerular filtration rate in the group with worsening glomerular filtration rates. In 11% of patients deterioration was due to upper tract obstruction. This was identifiable using renography and the glomerular filtration rate. A type IIIb curve was an early indicator of obstruction.

Differential inhibition of invasion and proliferation by bisphosphonates: anti-metastatic potential of Zoledronic acid in prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the mode of action of Zoledronic acid in the inhibition of metastasis in prostate cancer and the reduction of prostate cancer bone metastases. METHODS: Benign and malignant primary prostatic epithelial cells (PEC) and the PC-3 prostate cancer cell line were studied in co-culture using human bone marrow stroma in the presence of escalating doses of EDTA, Clodronate, Pamidronate and Zoledronic acid. PEC binding and colony growth in bone marrow stroma was measured using standardised quantitative techniques. PEC cellular invasion through Matrigel and an endothelial monolayer was measured either in invasion chambers or by the measurement of endothelial monolayer permeability to fluorescent dextran. Co-culture supernatants were assayed for specific cytokine levels. Bone marrow cellular toxicity was assessed using a standard Mix assay. RESULTS: Treatment of PEC with up to 100 microM bisphosphonate did not affect their ability to bind to bone marrow endothelium or stroma. Bone marrow endothelial permeability was reduced by 100 microM Zoledronic acid by 3.8% (p = 0.03856). Both Pamidronate (40% at 100 microM, p < or = 0.05) and Zoledronic acid inhibited PEC invasion, with Zoledronic acid being the most potent (40% at 10 microM, p < or = 0.05 rising to 91% at 100 microM, p < or = 0.001). Zoledronic acid inhibits malignant PEC proliferation in bone marrow stroma co-culture (26.5% at 10 microM rising to 66.5% at 40 microM). This was accompanied by changes within the cytokine milieu with a >800% rise in TIMP-2. CONCLUSION: Zoledronic acid is a potent inhibitor of PEC invasion across bone marrow endothelium and colony formation with the bone marrow stroma, affecting the MMP: TIMP-2 balance to favour MMP inhibition.