Tomomi Kuramoto

Insulin resistance increases the risk of urinary stone formation in a rat model of metabolic syndrome

To investigate the association between metabolic syndrome and urinary stone disease, and whether insulin resistance associated with adiposity affects the risk of urinary stone formation, using a rat model of metabolic syndrome.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Urachus Producing Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor

Urachal carcinoma is a rare cancer. This is the first report of a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the urachus producing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The patient underwent partial cystectomy with urachal remnant resection and pelvic lymphadenectomy. No evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis was found at 17 months after surgery.

Dendritic cells with transduced survivin gene induce specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in human urologic cancer cell lines.

OBJECTIVES To investigate whether survivin-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) could be induced by dendritic cells (DCs) transduced with survivin gene by adenoviral vector, and whether these CTLs would display cytotoxic activities against human urologic cancer cell lines. Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, is expressed in most malignancies, but not in normal tissue. METHODS Adenoviral vector encoding the human survivin gene was generated. Human DCs from healthy donors were transduced with human survivin gene by infection with adenoviral vector encoding the human survivin gene using the centrifugal method. Survivin-specific CTLs were induced from autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells by DCs transduced with the survivin gene. The ability of CTLs to lyse cancer cell lines was assessed using the (51)Cr-release assay. RESULTS DCs transduced with survivin gene could induce survivin-specific CTLs against various urologic malignancies such as bladder, kidney, and prostate cancer cells. This cytotoxic activity could be blocked by anti-CD8 and anti-major histocompatibility complex class I antibodies. We also found that this cytotoxic activity was specific for the survivin protein and human leukocyte antigen haplotype. CONCLUSIONS DCs transduced with the survivin gene induced potent survivin-specific CTL responses in vitro. This suggests that cancer immunotherapy targets for survivin might offer a novel approach to treating various urologic cancers.

Cholestatic Jaundice as a Paraneoplastic Manifestation of Prostate Cancer

Paraneoplastic syndrome associated with prostate cancer is extremely rare. We report a patient who presented with cholestatic jaundice without biliary duct obstruction, hepatic involvement, or infection. After a few detailed examinations, prostate cancer was diagnosed. After treatment with bicalutamide and leuprolide, the patients symptoms and laboratory abnormalities were reversed. Cholestatic jaundice was regarded as a paraneoplastic manifestation in this patient. The patient remains symptom-free after 14-month followup. Paraneoplastic syndrome should be considered in case of cholestatic jaundice without biliary duct obstruction, hepatic involvement, or infection.

PSA at postoperative three months can predict biochemical recurrence in patients with pathological T3 prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy

Objectives:  To identify the prognostic factors and determine which pT3 prostate cancer patients can be safely followed up after surgery without any adjuvant treatment.

Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin cell‐wall skeleton enhances the killing activity of cytotoxic lymphocyte‐activated human dendritic cells transduced with the prostate‐specific antigen gene

To determine whether dendritic cells (DC) transduced with the prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) gene can induce PSA‐specific cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) against prostate cancer cells, and whether bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) cell‐wall skeleton (CWS) can enhance the maturation of DC‐PSA and the killing activity of subsequently induced PSA‐specific CTL.

IL‐23 gene therapy for mouse bladder tumour cell lines

•  To evaluate the antitumour effects of IL‐23 gene transfer into mouse bladder carcinoma (MBT2) cells. •  To investigate the mechanisms underlying the subsequent constitutive secrection of IL‐23 by the MBT2 cells

THE FEASIBILITY AND USEFULNESS OF JAPAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE SURGERY OF TRAUMA (JAST) CLASSIFICATION FOR BLUNT RENAL TRAUMA

RESULTS: The average follow-up was 50 months (range 12 to 132 months). The stricture etiology was catheter in 20 (32.3%) cases, unknown in 19 (32.3%), instrumentation in 17 (27.4%), trauma in 4 (6.5%), radiotherapy in 1 (1.6%) and infection in 1 (1.6%). Stricture length was: 4- 6 cm in 13 (21%), 3-<4 cm in 10 (16.1%), 2-<3 cm in 8 (12.9%), 1<2cm in 2 (3.2%). Fifty-one patients (82.2%) underwent dilation (12.9%), internal urethrotomy (17.7%), urethroplasty (4.8%) or multiple treatments (46.9%) before referral to our center. Out of 62 cases, 47 (75.8%) were successful and 15 (24.2%) failures. Out of 18 cases that underwent one-stage dartos

QUALITY OF LIFE ANALYSIS OF PATIENTS WHO UNDERWENT HIGH DOSE RATE BRACHYTHERAPY WITH EXTERNAL BEAM RADIOTHERAPY (HDR+EBRT) COMPARING WITH THOSE WHO HAD RETROPUBIC RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY (RRP)

The mean age of BT and RP treated patients was 68 and 64 years. 71,7% (n=620) of RP treated patients had non-nerve-sparing surgery. 89,3% (n=303) and 90,6% (n=770) of the BT and RP treated patients had clinical tumor stage of cT1a-2b. Significant better results in concern of increased voiding frequency (BT 67,8% vs. RP 60,4%), nocturia (BT 43,7% vs. RP 28,9%) and urge symptoms (BT 47,4% vs. RP 36,4%) were recognized at the RP treated group. Significant better results in term of incontinence was achieved in the BT group (BT 11,6% vs. RP 15,6%), but interestingly the group with nerve sparing RP showed almost similar results to BT (BT 11,6% and nerve-sparing RP 11,2%). Absence of erections was reported by 43% of the BT, 85% of RP without nerve sparing, 45% of RP with unilateral nerve sparing and 38% of the RP with bilateral nerve sparing. CONCLUSIONS: In regards to functional outcome BT causes significant higher rates of irritative voiding symptoms. However continence and Preservation of erectile function seems superior in BT compared to RP patients without nerve sparing. Nevertheless differences became minor or insignificant in RP with bilateral nerve sparing.