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This study aimed to investigate the utility of uroflowmetry in predicting anatomical success following urethroplasty based on real-world clinical data.Data from 100 male patients who underwent urethroplasty for urethral strictures at our institute were analyzed. Postoperative anatomical success was determined as the passage of a 16.2 Fr flexible endoscope after approximately 4 months following the procedure. Sensitivity and specificity of the maximal flow rate (QAnatomical success was observed in 67%. Voided volumes in the success and failure groups were equivalent: 252 ± 121 versus 242 ± 91 ml, respectively. In 18 cases, voided volumes were150 ml. Parameters of uroflowmetry were all significantly higher in the anatomical success group when compared to those in the failure group: the mean value of QThis analysis presents statistically valid cutoffs by which uroflowmetry can be used as a viable surrogate of anatomical success following urethroplasty in clinical practice.

Few studies have examined the effects of body position on urination efficiency morphologically. We aimed to dissect out the anatomical changes of pelvic organs during urination in the upright and supine positions by a real-time magnetic resonance imaging (rtMRI) system.Thirteen healthy male volunteers aged 26-60 years were included in the study. The sagittal real-time two-dimensional images were taken to evaluate urinary efficiency, along with change in six morphological indices at the time of storage and the beginning of voiding, in both upright ant supine positions.Urination was more efficient in upright position than in supine position, as expressed by higher average rate of bladder emptying (9.9 ± 4.2 vs. 6.8 ± 2.9 ml/s, p 0.05) and also by fewer participants showing significant residual urine (1/13 vs. 7/13, p 0.05). At the onset of voiding in standing position, the levator ani (LA) muscle moves downward and backward followed by descent of the bladder neck and rotation of the prostate around the symphysis. Such changes were expressed by two morphological indices. One was posterior vesicourethral angle at the start of voiding, 152 ± 7 versus 140 ± 1 in upright and supine position (p 0.05). The other index was the change in angle between the LA line and pubo-coccygeal line in upright and supine position, 9.4 ± 9.9 versus 1.6 ± 7.9 before voiding (p 0.05) and 30.2 ± 14.0 versus 17.3 ± 12.9 after the start of voiding (p 0.05).The dynamic relaxation of LA seemed to be a key movement that enables more efficient urination in standing position than in supine position.

A 60-year-old man visited our hospital to treat a large cystic mass in the pelvis which had been found by abdominal ultrasonography in December 201X. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a multilocular cyst with a maximum diameter of about 10 cm. CT-guided drainage and sclerotherapy with minocycline reduced the size of tumor by 40%, but symptoms such as difficulty of defecation and urinary frequency appeared a year and a half later due to re-enlargement of the cysts. Laparoscopic resection of the multilocular cysts was performed, and all cysts were removed almost completely using transrectal ultrasonography. The multilocular cyst was positive for NKX3.1 by immunohistochemical staining, and was diagnosed as a giant multilocular prostatic cystadenoma. After surgery, the symptoms such as difficulty of defecation and urinary frequency were relieved promptly. One year after the surgery, the patient was free from recurrence of the disease.

We here report 2 cases of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) observed two times on 11C-choline positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT), which was useful to discriminate viable progressive osteoblastic bone metastasis from benign osteoblastic change induced by the treatment effect and to determine the viability of bone metastases, regardless of whether sclerosis was present or not. Because one case demonstrated disappearance of abnormal 11C-choline uptake of osteoblastic metastatic lesions after abiraterone therapy and no new lesions at other sites, suggesting nonviable bone metastases, we can assume a complete metabolic response. Because the other case demonstrated a decrease in the existing, abnormal 11C-choline uptake of osteoblastic metastatic lesions, but multiple new appearances of osteoblastic and nonosteoblastic lesions with abnormal 11C-choline uptake after radium-223 therapy suggesting multiple viable bone metastases, we can assume progressive metabolic disease. 11C-choline PET/CT could help in assessing the treatment response of bone metastases in patients with metastatic CRPC.

Background Multiple common variants and also rare variants in monogenic risk genes such as BRCA2 and HOXB13 have been reported to be associated with risk of prostate cancer (PCa); however, the clinical setting in which germline genetic testing could be used for PCa diagnosis remains obscure. Herein, we tested the clinical utility of a 16 common variant–based polygenic risk score (PRS) that has been developed previously for Japanese men and also evaluated the frequency of PCa-associated rare variants in a prospective cohort of Japanese men undergoing prostate biopsy. Methods A total of 1336 patients undergoing first prostate biopsy were included. PRS was calculated based on the genotype of 16 common variants, and sequencing of 8 prostate cancer–associated genes was performed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction based target sequencing. PRS was combined with clinical factors in logistic regression models to assess whether addition of PRS improves the prediction of biopsy positivity. Results The top PRS decile was associated with an odds ratio of 4.10 (95% confidence interval = 2.46 to 6.86) with reference to the patients at average risk, and the estimated lifetime absolute risk approached 20%. Among the patients with prostate specific antigen 2-10 ng/mL who had prebiopsy magnetic resonance imaging, high PRS had an equivalent impact on biopsy positivity as a positive magnetic resonance imaging finding. Rare variants were detected in 19 (2.37%) and 7 (1.31%) patients with positive and negative biopsies, respectively, with BRCA2 variants being the most prevalent. There was no association between PRS and high-risk rare variants. Conclusions Germline genetic testing could be clinically useful in both pre- and post-PSA screening settings.

A 66-year-old woman who had been receiving medication for hypertension and hyperlipidemia was referred to our hospital for evaluation of a left adrenal tumor (12×8 mm) that was incidentally detected on computed tomography. Her 24-hour urinary catecholamine level was elevated, and metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy revealed increased uptake in the area around the left adrenal gland, necessitating laparoscopic adrenalectomy for preoperative diagnosis of left adrenal pheochromocytoma. Intraoperatively, we detected a para-aortic tumor behind the adrenal gland, and this lesion was excised together with the adrenal gland. However, manipulation of the para-aortic tumor led to elevation in the blood pressure to 170 mmHg. Histopathological examination of the resected specimens revealed an adrenocortical adenoma and a para-aortic ganglioneuroma, consisting of ganglion cells, nerve fibers, and Schwann cells. The patient's blood pressure normalized immediately postoperatively, and MIBG scintigraphy revealed a negative result. Endocrine active ganglioneuromas are rare, and to our knowledge, currently only 8 cases (including ours) have been reported in the Japanese and English literature.

Between November 2011 and November 2014, we performed a tunica albuginea incision with tunica vaginalis flap coverage (TAI＋TVFC) on 5 out of 15 patients who underwent surgery for testicular torsion. Of those 15 patients, 7 underwent orchidopexy alone (Group A), 5 underwent TAI＋TVFC (Group B), and 3 underwent an orchidectomy procedure (Group C). All were followed for 1 year and preservation of testicular volume ＞50% on the contralateral side in ultrasound measurements was considered as salvaged. During the follow-up examinations, no testicular atrophy was noted in Group A. In Group B, tension and testis color were immediately improved in all 5 patients after TAI＋TVFC, while blood perfusion was also improved after the operation. Also 3 patients in Group B were considered to be salvaged, while testicular atrophy occurred in 2 after 8 or more hours from onset until surgery. Our results indicated that TAI＋ TVFC is useful for restoring blood flow after surgery for testicular torsion, although the so-called'Golden time'for torsion surgery has a significant impact in such cases.

A 47-year-old woman came to our hospital with left lower abdominal pain in April 2013. An abdominal computed tomographic (CT) examination revealed left hydronephrosis secondary to a 7 cm retroperitoneal cyst near the left common iliac artery and ureter. Serum tumor markers including CEA, CA19-9, and CA125 were negative. Although CT guided needle aspiration of the cyst successfully relieved severe left flank pain, the cyst again increased in size, causing left hydronephrosis, though examinations for fluid tumor markers and cytology were negative. Two months later, the patient underwent open fenestration. The final pathological results demonstrated a mesothelial cyst without malignant findings. Six months after the operation, the patient was doing well without recurrence of symptoms.

We prospectively investigated the safety and efficacy of sunitinib using a modified regimen (2 weeks on/1 week off) in 24 patients (22 males, 2 females ; age range 39-86 years, median 64 years) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). During the observation period (3-62 weeks, median 21 weeks), thrombocytopenia was seen in 13 (54.2%), leukopenia in 11 (45.8%), hand-foot syndrome in 5 (20.8%), hypertension in 4 (16.7%), and hypothyroidism in 3 (12.5%) patients, while grade 3 or higher adverse events were found in 4 (16.7%), 1 (4.2%), 1 (4.2%), 2 (8.3%), and 0 patients, respectively. Of the 21 patients evaluable for response, 5 (23. 8%) showed partial response, 8 (38.1%) stable disease, and 8 (38.1%) progressive disease. This new modified regimen may lead to a reduction in adverse events for treatment of patients with metastatic RCC as a substitute for the standard dosing regimen of sunitinib.