Emphysematous cystitis-gas in bladder: a rare urological emergency.

Emphysematous cystitis is an unusual inflammatory condition characterised by the presence of air within the bladder wall and lumen. It is usually seen in patients with diabetes, and in those with long-term catheterisation or of immunocompromised status. Its presentation varies from asymptomatic to frank urosepsis. It is diagnosed after radiological studies. Treatment requires establishment of prompt urinary drainage, antibiotic coverage and correction of offending factors, if any. We report a case of 41-year-old, non-diabetic, otherwise healthy woman presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms with pneumaturia, which was managed conservatively. A review of the recent literature is also presented.

Properties of the Energy Bands, Judd-Ofelt Parameters and the Fluorescence of Neodymium Chloride (NdCl3) in Methanol, Iso-propanol and Butanol Solvents.

Absorption bands of neodymium chloride (NdCl3) dissolved in methanol, iso-propanol and butanol organic solvents at room temperature have been recorded in the ultraviolet-visible and near infrared regions between 190 and 1100 nm. Adopting a free-ion Hamiltonian we have calculated and assigned the energy multiplets of the 4f (3) electronic configuration of the Nd(3+) ion, and thereby the best-fit parameters are estimated. We have measured the oscillator strengths of the observed absorptions and using the experimentally measured oscillator strengths the three Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Ω2, Ω4 and Ω6 have been derived. Hence we have calculated the line strengths and the oscillator strengths for electric-dipole transitions. An intense fluorescence emission is found for (4)F3/2 → (4)I9/2 transition at 873 nm, upon excitation with 581 nm. The fluorescence characteristics are also investigated by evaluating the spontaneous transition probability (A), luminescence branching ratio (ß), radiative lifetime (τ) and the stimulated emission cross section (σ).

Predictive factors for residual tumor and tumor upstaging on relook transurethral resection of bladder tumor in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

CONTEXT: Relook transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) improves the diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of primary TURBT. However, it is still not established as to which category of patients would benefit most from this repeat invasive procedure. AIMS: This prospective interventional study was designed to identify the category of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer who may benefit from a routine relook procedure. SETTING AND DESIGN: A total of 52 consecutive patients with biopsy proven non muscle invasive bladder cancer on primary TURBT underwent a relook TURBT between March 2011 and September 2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The incidence of residual tumor and tumor upstaging on relook procedure was correlated with various histopathological (stage, grade, CIS, presence of muscle) and cystoscopic (type and focality of tumor, any apparent field change) parameters on primary TURBT. RESULTS: Out of the total 52 patients, 23 (44.2%) had a residual tumor on relook TURBT. 12 (23.1%) were upstaged (of these 9 i.e. 17.3% to muscle invasion). While most of the parameters studied showed a positive correlation with incidence of residual tumor and upstaging to muscle invasion, statistical significance (for both) was reached only for tumor stage (P = 0.028 and 0.010), tumor grade (P = 0.010 and 0.002) and tumor type (solid vs. papillary; P = 0.007 and 0.001). Carcinoma in situ showed a significant correlation with incidence of residual tumor (P = 0.016) while the absence of muscle in the primary TURBT specimen was significantly associated with upstaging to muscle invasive disease (P = 0.018). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data was analyzed using SPSS software v. 16.0. CONCLUSIONS: Relook TURBT may be especially recommended for high grade and T1 tumors and tumors with a solid/sessile appearance on primary TURBT especially when deep muscle was absent in the primary TURBT specimen.

Pure primary small cell carcinoma of urinary bladder: A rare diagnostic entity.

Small cell carcinoma of the bladder is a rare, aggressive, poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasm accounting for only 0.3-0.7% of all bladder tumors. Since the tumor is very rare, pathogenesis is uncertain. Small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder are mixed with classic urothelial carcinomas or adenocarcinomas of the bladder in 68% cases, making pure primary small cell carcinoma even a rarer entity. The unknown etiology and natural history of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder represent a challenge both to the pathologist and urologists for its diagnosis and treatment, respectively.

Characteristics of the energy bands and the spectroscopic parameters of Pr3+ ions in PrCl3 mixed methanol, iso-propanol and butanol solutions.

An investigation on the absorption spectra of the praseodymium chloride (PrCl(3)) in methanol, iso-propanol and butanol is carried out between 190 nm and 1100 nm. We have observed and assigned six energy bands of the 4f(2) electronic configuration of the Pr(3+) ion in the visible to near-infra-red and one due to 4f5d configuration in the ultraviolet region. The 4f5d band has been detected properly for low concentration of PrCl(3). We have also constructed a free-ion Hamiltonian and calculated the energy levels of the 4f(2) configuration theoretically. Hence, the best fit free-ion parameters are deduced.