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Objective: To investigate the role of fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2) splice variant FGFR2IIIc in the regulation of mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) in doxorubicin-resistant bladder cancer cells., Methods: A doxorubicin-resistant human bladder cell line (253J/DOX) was generated from the bladder cancer cell line 253J by being continuously exposed to gradually increasing doses of doxorubicin. Chemosensitivity to doxorubicin was determined by MTT assay. The expressions of P-glycoprotein and FGFR2IIIc were evaluated by Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. Changes in E-cadherin and vimentin were detected by Western blot analysis. Migration ability of 253J and 253J/DOX cells was analyzed by in vitro wound healing assay., Results: The resistant cells, 253J/DOX, were more resistant to doxorubicin than the parent cells. Western blotting and RT-PCR analysis indicated the higher levels of P-glycoprotein and FGFR2IIIc in 253J/DOX cells (P<0.05). Additionally, compared with the 253J cells, 253J/DOX cells presented the upregulation of E-cadherin, the downregulation of vimentin and the inhibition of migration ability., Conclusion: FGFR2IIIc-induced MET in chemoresistant bladder cancer cells may play an important role in the formation of metastatic lesions.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors and establish the Cox's regression model on the recurrence of ischemic stroke., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with ischemic stroke admitted to the Neurology Department of the Hebei United University Affiliated Hospital between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. Cases had been followed since the onset of ischemic stroke. The follow-up program was finished in June 30, 2010. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to describe the recurrence rate. Monovariant and multivariate Cox's proportional hazard regression model were used to analyze the risk factors associated to the episodes of recurrence. And then, a recurrence model was set up., Results: During the period of follow-up program, 79 cases were relapsed, with the recurrence rates as 12.75% in one year and 18.87% in two years. Monovariant and multivariate Cox's proportional hazard regression model showed that the independent risk factors that were associated with the recurrence appeared to be age (X₁) (RR = 1.025, 95%CI: 1.003 - 1.048), history of hypertension (X₂) (RR = 1.976, 95%CI: 1.014 - 3.851), history of family strokes (X₃) (RR = 2.647, 95%CI: 1.175 - 5.961), total cholesterol amount (X₄) (RR = 1.485, 95%CI: 1.214 - 1.817), ESRS total scores (X₅) (RR = 1.327, 95%CI: 1.057 - 1.666) and progression of the disease (X₆) (RR = 1.889, 95%CI: 1.123 - 3.178). Personal prognosis index (PI) of the recurrence model was as follows: PI = 0.025X₁ + 0.681X₂ + 0.973X₃ + 0.395X₄ + 0.283X₅ + 0.636X₆. The smaller the personal prognosis index was, the lower the recurrence risk appeared, while the bigger the personal prognosis index was, the higher the recurrence risk appeared., Conclusion: Age, history of hypertension, total cholesterol amount, total scores of ESRS, together with the disease progression were the independent risk factors associated with the recurrence episodes of ischemic stroke. Both recurrence model and the personal prognosis index equation were successful constructed.

Objective: To investigate the association between genetic polymorphism of UGT1A7 and susceptibility of bladder cancer., Methods: Based upon a case-control study, UGT1A7 polymorphisms were determined by the semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (SN-PCR) and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) in 208 cases with bladder cancer and 205 non-tumor controls. Risks were evaluated by unconditional logistic regression analysis., Results: The frequency of variant homozygous genotype in cases (20.7%) was higher than that in controls (12.2%) and the difference was statistically significant [P < 0.05, OR = 2.16 (1.18 - 3.96)]. The frequency of variant allele (*)3 in cases was higher than that in controls (27.9%, 20.5% respectively) and the difference was statistically significant [P = 0.009, OR = 1.56 (95%CI: 1.12 - 2.18)]. The smokers with variant homozygous and heterozygous genotypes showed an increased risk of bladder cancer compared with those with wild genotype [2.16 (95%CI: 1.07 - 4.36), 2.64 (95%CI: 1.02 - 6.80) respectively]. There was no association between the UGT1A7 polymorphisms and the pathological grade and clinical stage of bladder cancer (both P > 0.05)., Conclusion: The genetic polymorphisms of UGT1A7 are associated with the susceptibility of bladder cancer and have interactions with smoking in bladder carcinogenesis.

Objective: To compare the actions of local thermotherapy with rabdosia liquid and repeated perfusion of mitomycin C for the postoperative prophylaxis of superficial urinary bladder carcinoma., Methods: In the prospective non-randomized contemporary controlled study, 123 patients were divided into 2 groups. The patients in group A received local thermotherapy with rabdosia liquid starting from 1-2 months after operation, once tri-monthly for one year. Those in group B received intravesical perfusion of mitomycin C, starting from 2 weeks after operation, once weekly, six times in total, thereafter once monthly for one year. The recurrence rate, disease free interval, and adverse reaction after operation were observed., Results: The follow-up lasted for 10-45 months with the average of 28.6 +/- 5.8 months. The recurrence rates in group A and B were 5.0% and 14.3%, respectively. Significant difference was shown when compared by Kaplan-Meier analysis of disease free interval and the recurrence rate between the two groups (P < 0.05). The occurrence rates of cystitis, hematuria, vesical contracture, urethral stricture were 28.3%, 5.0%, 1.7%, 1.7%, respectively in group A, 25.4%, 4.8%, 0%, 0%, respectively in group B, showing no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: The effect of local thermotherapy with rabdosia liquid is reliable in preventing the recurrence of superficial urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma.

Laparoscopic procedures have recently been used in the evaluation and treatment of some urogenital diseases. A case of right intraabdominal cryptorchism associated with left varicocele was successfully treated by laparoscopic orchiectomy and ligation of the contralateral internal spermatic vein concomitantly. This new technology can be easily performed and has the advantages of less tissue trauma, easy application for bilateral lesions, and less patient morbidity. We consider laparoscopy is a promising method for the diagnosis and treatment of intraabdominal testis.

Concentration of androgens, binding-sites of androgen-receptors as well as the activity of 5 alpha-reductase of the ventral prostates have been studied in the zinc-deficient rats. Eight-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were housed individually in cages and divided into two groups, I. Experimental group, redivided into 2 sub-groups: (a) maintained on a zinc-deficient diet for 3 and 6 weeks, (b) zinc-deficient diet for 3 weeks then re-fed normal diet, II. Control group fed with normal diet. The ventral prostates were dissected free and homogenized after the rats sacrificed. Androgens and androgen-receptor were quantified by RIA and "exchange assay" respectively. The result obtained from the zinc-deficient rats were significantly different (P less than 0.05) from those of the control group 1. The zinc-deficient 3 and 6 weeks rats showed the plasma testosterone concentration decreased by 18% and 15%. 2. The cytosolic (fmo1/mg protein) dihydrotestosterone and its binding receptor were decreased by 10-15% and 28-30%, respectively. 3. The nuclear (fmo1/mg DNA) dihydrotestosterone and its receptor protein were ony 2-3% and 3-3.6% of the control group respectively. 4. Studies on the androgen metabolism showed that the metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (fmo1/mg protein) of rats with zinc-deficient 6 weeks was only 48% of the control group. 5. The prostate weight (mg) of zinc-deficient rats was 45-50% of the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis leading to obstructive uropathy is a rare disease in our country, so a typical case deserves presentation. The patient is a 56-year-old female to have a clinical manifestation of obstructive uropathy. Retrograde pyelogram permitted 5 Fr. ureteral catheter to pass the stenotic segment. At the mean-time, there was hydronephrosis, medial deviation and gradual thinning and pointing of the middle segment of the ureter (classic triad). Computed tomography revealed that retroperitoneal soft tissue plaque enveloped aorta, inferior vena cava, and bilateral ureters. The patient received ureterolysis with ureter intraperitonealization and lateralization. The plaque was pathologically proved fibrosis. Renal function became normal postoperatively.

Low pressure generator has been developed mainly to reduce pain and kidney injury while at the same time maintain an equally effective stone-free rate. Our experience in using Modified HM-3 Dornier lithotripter to treat urinary tract stones has given an average of stone-free rate (58.88%) quite similar to what the conventional one can give. Compared with the conventional intervention, the modified one might increase by 52.07% (2281 vs 1500 pulses) in the average frequency of shock wave and by 26.52% (38.40 vs 30.35 minutes) in average operation time. However, low pressure may contribute to less complications and overall smoother procedure under oral analgesic use.

Treatment of large renal calculi by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy alone has not been accepted yet as the treatment of choice because of the high incidence of complications such as stone street inducing obstructive uropathy. From Sep. 1987 to Nov. 1987, Thirty four patients had received double-J catheter in ureter before E.S.W.L. to prevent ureteral obstruction. The age distribution was from 29 to 66 years old (mean = 49.1 Y/O) and male to female ratio was 3:1. All the stone size was larger than 20mm in its longest axial length. Each patient was followed at least 3 months, and the results indicated that 8 patients (23.53%) had stone free, 11 patients (32.35%) had sandy stone in kidney, and 15 patients (44.12%) had stone street in ureter. The additional treatments for significant residual stone included 3 patients needing ureteroscopy, 8 patients needing more than one session of E.S.W.L. and 4 patients having spontaneous stone passage after removal of double-J. Although the necessity of external diversion and the incidence of colic pain after E.S.W.L. would reduce so as to improve patients' quality of life, double-J does not increase the stone free rate, and ureteral obstruction was still possible to induce the renal function impairment. We suggest that double-J be removed as soon as possible if the stone fragments have no change in position after 2-4 weeks of followup and adjuvant treatment be necessary.