Soichiro Hasegawa

Increased Levels of Calbindin-D in Serum and Urine from Patients Treated by Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Calbindin-D 28 kDa. is a vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein that is found mainly in the distal renal tubules and central nervous tissue in humans. Calbindin-D was measured in the serum and urine before, and immediately, 2 hours or 24 hours after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL*) in 83 consecutive patients. ESWL was performed with the Siemens Lithostar device in 61 patients and with the Dornier MPL9000 lithotriptor in 22. The serum 28 kDa. calbindin-D level was undetectable (less than 20 pg./ml.) in many samples, whereas urinary 28 kDa. calbindin-D could be detected in every sample. The serum 28 kDa. calbindin-D level was usually elevated after ESWL and the concentration in patients treated with the MPL9000 device was greater than in those treated with the Lithostar instrument. Urinary 28 kDa. calbindin-D levels were elevated significantly immediately and at 2 hours after ESWL, and they decreased to the baseline level within 24 hours after ESWL in the Lithostar group but remained consistently significantly elevated after ESWL in the MPL9000 group. This fact may be because the MPL9000 lithotriptor produces a stronger shock wave than does the Lithostar device during ESWL. These results suggest that 28 kDa. calbindin-D is released from damaged distal renal tubule cells into the serum and urine during ESWL and that 28 kDa. calbindin-D is a specific marker for renal damage by ESWL. To our knowledge this is the first clinical study using a sensitive enzyme immunoassay for human 28 kDa. calbindin-D to estimate renal damage during ESWL.

Significant elevation of urinary 28-kD calbindin-D and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase levels in patients undergoing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Calbindin-D, a vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein with a molecular mass of 28 kD, is found predominantly in distal renal tubules and central nervous system tissues in man. We have developed a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay for human 28-kD calbindin-D and demonstrated its advantages as a new marker for damage to distal renal tubules. Urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), a lysosomal enzyme of the proximal renal tubules, is another segment-specific indicator of renal damage. To clarify whether both proximal and distal renal tubules are similarly affected by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) treatment, urinary 28-kD calbindin-D and NAG were measured before, then immediately, 2 and 24 hours after SWL in 17 renal lithiasis patients. Levels of urinary calbindin-D were markedly elevated immediately and 2 hours after SWL and then decreased. In sera, levels of calbindin-D also increased, closely correlated with the changes in urinary values. Levels of urinary NAG were also significantly elevated immediately after SWL and then decreased. The results indicate that damage to both proximal and distal renal tubules occurs simultaneously with SWL and that the two markers can be applied as sensitive indicators of such side effects and their alleviation with protective agents.

Serum creatine kinase B subunit in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

We determined the serum levels of the creatine kinase B subunit (CK-B) by an enzyme immunoassay method in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and benign renal diseases. Eighteen of 76 patients with RCC (24%) had elevated serum CK-B levels. The positive rates were 29% in stage I, 13% in stage II, 15% in stage III, and 27% in stage IV. In all 9 patients whose serum CK-B levels were serially measured and had been elevated before operation, the CK-B levels were reduced to the normal range after nephrectomy. These findings indicate that serum CK-B is a useful biomarker for monitoring the clinical course for a limited number of RCC patients, but is not a marker for diagnosis and staging. Concentrations of CK-B in RCC tissues were significantly lower than those of normal kidney. A high rate of cell turnover in tumor tissues might entail the higher level of serum CK-B in patients with RCC.

Stress urinary incontinence following radical hysterectomy with and without radiation therapy: Surgical results in 13 patients

Only a few articles have reported clinical experience of treating patients with stress urinary incontinence following radical hysterectomy and postoperative irradiation. These cases are generally characterized by detrusor areflexia, small bladder capacity, and low bladder compliance. During the past 5 years, 13 such patients were operated upon, including 6 patients without irradiation. Of these 8 had the Stamey procedure, 3 had a vaginal wall sling, and 2 had a pubovaginal sling. The success rate was 71% for the group with irradiation and 100% for the group without irradiation, while the overall success rate was 85%. Surgery significantly improved two anatomic parameters in a chain cystourethrogram: the posterior urethrovesical angle and the conjugata incontinentia. Surgical indications relevant to successful outcome are discussed.

Effect of Magnesium on the Contraction of Whole Rabbit Bladder in vitro

Smooth muscle function, including that of the bladder, is mediated by changes in the intracellular concentration of calcium. Magnesium modulates the transport of calcium and may modify bladder function. This study was designed to investigate the effect of magnesium on the response of rabbit whole bladder to field stimulation in vitro. The response to field stimulation was decreased by magnesium in a concentration-dependent manner. Verapamil significantly enhanced the suppressive effect of magnesium, whereas BAY-K8644 decreased the effect of magnesium. The detrusor response to field stimulation was not changed by increased osmolarity. Results suggest that magnesium reduced the intramural nerve-stimulated contraction of rabbit whole bladder by a mechanism involving L-type calcium channels.

Small Hyperechoic Renal Tumors Displaying No Fat Content on CT

We report two cases of small renal adenocarcinoma and one case of small angiomyolipoma, which were identified as hyperechoic tumors by ultrasonography. None of the three tumors displayed fat content on plain CT. Since CT cannot reliably identify the intratumoral structure of small hyperechoic renal tumors, we recommend intraoperative pathological examination when CT findings do not correspond with the results of ultrasonography.

An Outlet Obstruction Caused by V-Shaped Bar at the Bladder Neck in a Woman

A case of outlet obstruction caused by a V-shaped bar at the bladder neck in a woman was treated successfully by transurethral resection of the bar. The poor urinary flow in our patient was believed to be due to impedance during voiding caused by retraction of the bladder neck in the anteroposterior direction by the bar. Our case is different from previously reported cases.