Kuniyoshi Nozumi

Low dose tamsulosin for stone expulsion after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: Efficacy in Japanese male patients with ureteral stone

Objective:  We evaluated the efficacy of low dose tamsulosin after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in Japanese male patients with ureteral stone.

Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Dendritic cells potently stimulate antigen-specific immune responses and recent data indicate that they are also capable of eliciting antitumor immune responses. We are performing a pilot study which tests the safety and efficacy of antigen-loaded, cultured blood dendritic cells in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Dendritic cells are simultaneously pulsed with lysate from autologous tumor cells and with the immunogenic protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin. During the pulse, the cells are activated with a combination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and prostaglandin E2. Patients receive 5-10 X 10(6) dendritic cells per intravenous infusion and up to six infusions at monthly intervals. The first results demonstrate that this treatment modality is very well tolerated and can be associated with strong immunological and clinical responses. The present article discusses the importance of dendritic cell maturation and the role of helper antigens in dendritic cell-based immunotherapy.

Binding of Dihydrotestosterone, R 1881 and R 5020 in Cytosols from Normal, Benign Hypertrophic and Cancerous Human Prostates

The binding of dihydrotestosterone, R 1881 and R 5020 was examined in cytosols of normal, benign hypertrophic and cancerous tissues of the human prostates. Almost all samples obtained by open operation showed high affinity binding to these ligands. Dissociation constants of the binding to these ligands were approximately 10(-9) M irrespective of the pathological state of the prostates. Maximum binding sites for dihydrotestosterone seemed to be greater in normal tissues than in the pathological ones. However, maximum binding sites for R 1881 and R 5020 were not significantly different among the normal and pathological prostates examined in the present study. Moreover, some correlation was observed between the maximum binding sites for R 1881 and those for R 5020. The samples resected by TUR seemed to be inadequate for analyses of androgen binding.

The long-term outcome of cystinuria in Japan

Recurrence of growth of urinary stone is frequently observed during the clinical course of cystinuria patients. The aim of the present study is to examine the long-term outcome of cystinuria in Japan and clarify the effects of medical treatment on urinary stone. Thirty-one patients with cystinuria who had been followed up longer than 6 months were included. The follow-up period was 6–264 months with a mean of 89.5 months. Stone event was defined as appearance of new stone or radiological evidence of stone growth. All patients were managed with forced hydration and urine alkalization. Twenty-eight patients were treated with administration of thiol such as D-penicillamine or α-mercaptopropionylglycine. Stone events per year ranged from 0 to 1.09 with a median of 0.09. Stone events per patient-year was 0.19 for all patients. The average urinary cystine concentration during treatment in the favorable outcome group (stone events per year < 0.3) was lower that that in the unfavorable outcome group (stone events per year ≥0.3); 221.2 ± 75.2 vs. 303.3 ± 93.5 mg/l, although the difference was not statistically significant. Prognosis of urinary stone in Japanese patients with cystinuria was relatively good with large variation. The medical treatment to reduce urinary cystine concentration would be useful for the management of cystinuria.

Development of a nomogram for predicting the stone-free rate after transurethral ureterolithotripsy using semi-rigid ureteroscope.

To develop and to internally validate a novel nomogram for predicting the stone‐free rate after transurethral ureterolithotripsy.

Annual changes of the incidence and clinical characteristics of magnesium ammonium phosphate urinary stones

Background: Magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) urinary stones account for the majority of staghorn stones and frequently cause a non‐functioning kidney. In the present study, we examined the annual changes of the number and clinical characteristics of MAP stones.