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Employing the exogenous scenario of the “New Rules on Asset Management” in April 2018, this paper tries to explore the impact of the contraction of Chinese shadow banking on corporate investment behavior. This paper finds that the regulation leads to a 18.3% decrease in capital expenditure for firms relying on shadow banking system prior to the shock. Then, this paper tests three underlying mechanisms, which include the decrease of corporate borrowing, the increase of corporate financing constraints and the reduction of debt maturity. This paper also provides the empirical evidence that the implementation of the “New Rules on Asset Management” optimizes the allocation of capital across firms.

Aim: We propose preliminarily that acute (category I of the NIH consensus definition) and chronic prostatitis (category II) can be subcategorized into primary and recurrent diseases based on the precise analysis of the clinical course and the immunological parameters in prostatic secretions of our cases., Methods: Five patients with stone-free, acute febrile prostatitis and nine patients with acute episodes of afebrile urinary infection were included. The expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) were collected soon after the acute illnesses subsided after medication administration and they were examined microscopically, bacteriologically, and serologically. First-line medications were cefem antibiotics with conventional doses for febrile cases and low doses for afebrile cases. They were administered for at least 2 weeks. Second-line conventional medication with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim or levofloxacin was given only to the patients in whom remaining prostatic infections were revealed., Results: The first-line medications were successful in all patients and they promptly became asymptomatic in 1 week. All the EPS were infected except for two afebrile cases. Prostatic infections were eradicated by second-line conventional medications. In a patient with afebrile prostatitis whose EPS were free of macrophages and immunoglobulin (Ig)M, the eradication of prostatic pathogens was achieved without second-line antibacterial medication., Conclusions: Bacterial prostatitis could be classified into primary and recurrent chronic infections in each of the febrile (category I) and afebrile (category II) illnesses. A cefem regimen in varying doses was a clue for differential diagnosis as it did not affect the pathogens in the prostatic ducts or acini unless heavy urine reflux occurred in the ductal draining systems. Macrophages and immunoglobulins, especially IgM, in the EPS were useful immunological parameters to differentiate primary and recurrent infections of the prostate. Fluoroquinolones or sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim should not be employed in acute urinary infections in male patients until the confirmation of prostatic infection to avoid injudicious use of them, which might cause an increasing prevalence of resistant uropathogens in the community. The evacuation of the prostate by repetitive massage seemed to be effective to enhance the prompt eradication of pathogens from the prostatic tissue and to keep patients asymptomatic throughout the course of the disease by preventing tissue pressure elevation.

Objective: To determine the extent of drug-resistance among Enterococcus species we investigated in vitro experiments., Methods: Studies were carried out on pure cultured of enterococci isolated from 8,575 urine specimens between 1990 and 2002. We had determined test strains to three kinds of species, which posses the urinary pathogenesis. Both an EF-agars and an ADH decarboxylase test performed the identification and speciation of the strains of enterococci. In vitro drug-susceptibility tests of enterococci were performed against the following antibiotics: ampicillin (ABPC), cefpirome (CPR), cefozopran (CZOP), imipenem/cilastatin (IPM/CS), minocycline (MINO), levofloxacin (LVFX), vancomycin (VCM), sulfamethoxazone/trimethoprim (ST), by employing the method for dilution antimicrobial susceptibility tests for bacteria that grow aerobically recommended by Japan Society of Chemotherapy. These drug-susceptibilities were shown susceptible, intermittent and resistant in according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (M100-S12)., Results: The most common species isolated was E. faecalis (84.4%), followed by E. faecium (9.9%) and E. avium (5.6%). In E. faecium and E. avium, the sensitivity to ABPC has tended to improve from 1999. This tendency inverse correlated to decreasing dosage of PCs. There was much difference of resistant rate to IPM/CS between each species, and no correlation to used dosage of CBPs. The rate of resistance to MINO did not change during this period. 60% of E. faecalis had sensitivity to LVFX and the rate did not change during this period. In E. faecium, whose resistant rate to LVFX was 90%, the sensitivity has been improved to over 25% from 2001. The improved tendency of E. faecium to LVFX has inverse proportion to decreasing dosage of NQs. With the exception of a little bit VRE (VCM resistant Enterococci), almost of them had sensitivity to VCM., Conclusion: The emergence of enterococci with alarming rates of resistance concomitantly to multi-drugs highlights the need for a more rational and restricted use of antimicrobials, in order to minimize the selection and spread of such strains. An early detection of these problem pathogens is also important for preventing any treatment failures.

Background/purpose: Twenty-two institutes have organized Keio University Prostate Cancer Study Group to study clinical efficacy and safety of Leuprolide acetate (Leuplin) for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (clinical stage D1 and D2). Cotreatment of Leuplin and Estramustine phosphate disodium (Estracyt) has been performed to investigate its clinical efficacy., Materials and Methods: One hundred and two cases of advanced prostate cancer were treated either with Leuplin alone (group I), Leuplin and Estracyt (group II) or Estracyt alone (group III). After 12 weeks treatment, clinical effects against subjective symptoms (pain, voiding difficulty, performance status and body weight), serum testosterone level, tumor size and serum PSA level were examined to investigate short-term effect of each treatment. The treatment had been continued for 24 months and the treatment effects including progression free survival and overall survival were analyzed., Results: Clinical efficacy after 12 weeks treatment were examined among 97 cases (group I; 35 cases, group II; 36 cases, group III; 26 cases). The background of those patients in each group was statistically equal. Treatment effects against subjective symptoms and serum testosterone level statistically revealed no significant difference among 3 groups. Treatment effects against primary tumor, bone metastatic lesion, lymphnode metastatic lesion and serum PSA level were investigated and anti-tumor effect was characterized by total efficacy rate (complete remission rate plus partial remission rate) of each treatment group. Treatment efficacy rates for each lesion and PSA demonstrated no statistical difference among 3 treatment groups. Total efficacy rate of group I, II and III were 88.2%, 84.0% and 78.3%, respectively, which statistically revealed no significant difference. Total efficacy rate of each group after completing 24 months treatment was; group I 80.0%, group II 55.6% and group III 83.3%, which statistically showed no significant difference among 3 treatment groups. The median day for progression free survival of group I, II and III were 661, 731 and 517, respectively. The overall survival rate of group I, II and III after completing 24 months treatment were 77.5%, 83.0% and 72.4%, respectively. Both progression free survival rates and overall survival rates revealed no significant difference among 3 groups. Side effects during 24 months treatment were seen in 8.6% of group I, 47.2% of group II and 26.9% of group III, and these occurrence rates were significantly different among the groups (p = 0.0013)., Conclusion: Although number of the cases had not been able to continue the treatment for their side effects, the statistical characterization demonstrated that cotreatment of Leuplin and Estracyt had no greater treatment effect than monotreatment of each drug.

Diagnosis of acute rejection (AR) is difficult during acute tubular necrosis (ATN), and a delay of rejection treatment could result in negative impacts on the renal transplant outcome. At our center, 68 cadaveric kidneys were transplanted during the past 7 years. The 1-, 3- and 5-year graft survival rates were 95.4%, 93.8% and 81.4%, respectively. After the transplants, 16 patients had immediate graft function (G-I), 51 patients experienced ATN for 12.0 +/- 9.3 days, and one patient had a non-functioning graft due to diffuse arteriolar thrombosis caused by DIC in the donor. During ATN, 41 patients had no rejection episodes (G-II) and 10 patients had ARs (G-III). Nine patients were treated with bolus steroid and one with steroid and OKT-3. Although scintigraphic and sonographic examinations were routinely employed, only the histopathological findings of needle biopsies were helpful for the diagnosis of AR during ATN. When the transplant outcome was compared, the serum creatinene level was highest in G-III and lowest in G-I (1.48 vs 1.06 mg/dl, p < 0.05). The posttransplant ATN period was also longer in G-III compared to G-II (23.9 vs 9.1 days, p < 0.005). The 5-year graft survival rate was 85.2% in G-I, 88.0% in G-II and 59.3% in G-III. We conclude that routine serial renal biopsies should be scheduled when ATN develops after the cadaveric renal transplant, since only the histopathological diagnosis is reliable during ATN.

The fates of 359 kidneys harvested from 181 non-heart beating donors (NHBD) at a single center, using a regional in situ cooling technique were retrospectively investigated. 1. Thirty-five kidneys (9.7%) were discarded mainly due to poor arterial perfusion and bacterial contamination. 2. The incidence of primary nonfunction in patients treated with Aza was significantly higher than that in patients receiving CsA or FK (20.5% [8 grafts] vs 6.0% [17 grafts], respectively, p < 0.01). 3. The incidences of immediate and delayed graft function were 16.1% and 77.9%, respectively, among 285 recipients treated with CsA/FK. The average of duration of posttransplant dialysis required in recipients with DGF was 13.7 days and the average lowest serum creatinine level in patients who recovered graft function was 1.58 mg/dl. 4. Patient survival rates in the CsA/FK group were 97.2%, 95.0%, 93.2% and 89.3% at one, 3, 5 and 10 years, respectively, and the graft survival rates at one, 3, 5 and 10 years were 83.3%, 72.0%, 64.7% and 48.6%, respectively. 5. Increasing donor age showed a significant correlation with increased serum creatinine levels as well as with prolonged posttransplant dialysis (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). 6. Renal grafts from donors with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) had significantly higher lowest serum creatine levels than grafts from non-CVD donors (p < 0.0001). 7. Renal grafts harvested from NHBD using our in situ cooling technique had excellent renal function when the donor was young or the cause of death was non-CVD. However, when the donor was older (> or = 56 years) and the cause of death was CVD, the grafts were acceptable but the early posttransplant function was often impaired. 8. The current NHBD graft survival rate, the UNOS cadaveric renal graft survival rate and the Japanese living-related donor renal graft survival rate were almost identical at 10 years posttransplant. 9. NHBDs should provide an excellent opportunity to increase organ availability.

Between 1989 and 1991, 815 cases of prostatic carcinoma were registered in the Tokai Urological Cancer Registry. We investigated the clinical features and prognosis of 69 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. The median age and clinical stage, were 65.9 +/- 4.7 years and A in 7 patients, 66.3 +/- 5.8 years and B in 31, 68.2 +/- 2.7 years and C in 26, 63.4 +/- 13.5 years and N(+) in 5. Neoadjuvant therapy consisting of endocrine therapy and chemoendocrine therapy was administered to 28 and 14 patients, respectively. In comparison to the clinical stage, pathologically, 4 cases (9.5%) showed downstaging or overstaging, 15 (35.7%) understaging and 23 (54.8%) accurate staging in the neoadjuvant therapy group, and, respectively, 2 (7.4%), 12 (44.4%) and 13 (48.2%) in the non-neoadjuvant therapy group. There was a significant difference in the pretreatment prostatic antigen (PA) value between pT0 and pT3 (p < 0.05), between pT0 and pN(+) (p < 0.01) and between pT2 and pN(+) (p < 0.05). In addition, the pretreatment PA value in the recurrence group was higher than that in the non-recurrence group in both neoadjuvant and non-neoadjuvant groups, with a significant difference (p < 0.01) in the neoadjuvant group. Cancer recurrence was noticed in 2 patients given non-neoadjuvant therapy and 3 given neoadjuvant therapy. There was no significant difference in the non-recurrence rate with the pathological stage either with or without neoadjuvant therapy. However, the non-recurrence rate in the neoadjuvant therapy group was higher than that in the non-neoadjuvant therapy group.

We report two cases of malignant lymphoma of the penis. A 64-year-old man presented with painful indurations of the penis. A computerized tomography (CT) scan showed a swollen retroperitoneal lymph node 5 cm in diameter. Penectomy confirmed the diagnosis of B cell malignant lymphoma, diffuse large type. Despite systemic chemotherapy with a CHOP regimen, he died of disease 7 months postoperatively. The second case was in a 63-year-old man presenting with multiple nodules in the penis and scrotum. Biopsy of a scrotal nodule revealed B cell malignant lymphoma, diffuse medium size type. A CT scan demonstrated widespread lesions (stage III E). He has been in complete remission for 10 months following, multidisciplinary treatments. We reviewed 21 cases of malignant lymphoma of the penis which have been reported in the literature.

A 54-year-old woman was referred to our institute because of abdominal pain and constipation. The computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a 3 x 3 cm of low density tumor at the upper pole of the left kidney and para-aortic lymphadenopathy. Gastrointestinal investigation revealed no particular findings suggesting a carcinoid syndrome associated with the left kidney tumor. The specimen of the resected tumor showed staining pattern specific to carcinoid tumor; positive staining for chromogranin A and neuron-specific-enolase. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of dense-core granules in the tumor cells. No evidence of metastasis or recurrence was noted for 13 months after the operation. This was a very rare case of primary renal carcinoid, representing the 26th case in the literature.

Previously we established human peripheral blood lymphocyte-reconstituted severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) (hu-PBL-SCID) mice as a model for human islet allograft rejection. The function of xenografted hu-PBL was confirmed to reject human alloislets in hu-PBL-SCID mice. In this study, we modified this model as a porcine islet xenograft to study porcine islet rejection in humans. Chimeric mice were used as the recipients of porcine islets to reveal the mechanisms of xenograft rejection in humans. SCID mice were reconstituted with 30 x 10(6) of hu-PBL initially, and 10 x 10(6) of antihuman CD3-primed PBL was injected intraperitoneally 2 days later as a booster. An additional booster injection provided greater possibility (86.7%, n = 15) of chimera establishment as well as a higher human immunoglobulin concentration in SCID mice than the single injection group. In an in vitro assay, sera from hu-PBL-SCID mice were found to recognize porcine islets by FACS staining. In an in vivo study, immunofluorescent analysis of a frozen section showed that human immunoglobulins adhered to the xenografted porcine islet under the kidney capsule of hu-PBL-SCID mice. Although no mouse immunoglobulins were detected on sections, mouse complement (C3) was shown to adhere to the xenografted porcine islet. Thus, hu-PBL-SCID mice provide a useful model for investigating the real-life situation of porcine islet xenograft rejection in humans.

The susceptibility of 10 antimicrobials against P. aeruginosa isolated from complicated UTI during 1992-1995 was determined, and the yearly trend was examined. The drug tested included 3 cephems (ceftazidime [CAZ], cefpirome [CPR], cefclidin [CFCL]), 1 monobactam (aztreonam [AZT]), 2 carbapenem (imipenem/cilastatin [IPM/CS], biapenem [BIPM]), 2 aminoglycosides (netilmicin [NTL], gentamicin [GM]) and 2 new quinolones (ofloxacin [OFLX], ciprofloxacin [CPFX]). A total number of isolates of which MIC were determined was 77 in 1992/1993 and 70 in 1994/1995. MIC50/MIC90(micrograms/ml) on the isolates were as follows (1992/1993 1994/1995); 3.13/ 100 12.5/50 in CAZ, 12.5/100 12.5/100 in CPR, 3.13/25 1.56/25 in CFCL, 6.25/50 12.5/100 in AZT, 6.25/25 3.13/25 in IPM/CS, 1.56/6.25 0.78/50 in BIPM, 12.5/100 6.25/100 in NTL, 6.25/ 50 6.25/100 < in GM, 25.100 < 25/100 < in OFLX, 6.25/100 6.25/100 < in CPFX. When the susceptibility of the yearly trend is compared, no significant changes were detected among the drugs tested expect the decrease of susceptibility on CAZ, AZT and increase of it on IPM/CS. From the data obtained, against complicated UTI infected by P. aerugunosa, CFCL, IPM/CS and BIPM are considered to drugs of first choice in the treatment.

When the concept of brain death is not widely accepted, the viability of renal allografts of non-heart-beating cadaveric donors is one of the serious concerns for transplant surgeons. At our center, 200 kidneys were harvested from cardiac arrest donors using the regional in situ cooling technique, and they were transplanted into recipients treated with cyclosporine (CS). The ages of donors ranged from 7 months to 67 years. At the bedside a specially designed double balloon catheter, 14F, was inserted into the aorta through the femoral artery just before or immediately after the cardiac arrest. A venous drainage tube was also placed in the vena cava. Following the cardiac arrest, both balloons of the aortic catheter were inflated, and regional in situ cooling with cold Lactate Ringer's solution started using the infusion pump at 20 mL/kg/min. In the OR, both kidneys were removed en bloc and preserved in Collins'type solution. They were then transplanted into 200 patients treated with CS and steroid. After the transplant operations, 33 patients (16.5%) had immediate renal function, but 14 grafts (7.0%) were not successful and the patients have never had renal function. When several factors such as donor age, warm ischemic time (WIT; 12.3 ± 14.1 minutes), in situ cooling time (IST; 78.1 ± 18.0 minutes) and total ischemic time (TIT; 619 ± 340 minutes) were associated with the post-transplant renal function, only the donor age had significant correlation both with the posttransplant dialysis period and lowest serum creatine level, as follows: 10.5 days ( ≤ 40 years) vs. 14.6 days ( > 40 years); P < 0.05, and 1.16 mg/dL ( ≤ 30 years) vs. 1.83 mg/dL ( > 50 years) P < 0.001, respectively. Our findings indicate; 1) Due to the in situ cooling technique, the renal grafts of non-heart-beating cadavers can be expected to have relatively good function in the CS-treated recipients; 2) donor age is instrumental in predicting post-transplant renal function as well as the duration of ATN; 3) WIT, 1ST and TIT have no association with the post-transplant renal function if the duration of renal ischemia is within the acceptable range.

During the past 20 years, 31 ureterocutaneostomies (UC), 101 ileal conduits (IC) and 107 colonic conduits (CC) were performed. In the UC group, most of the patients were aged or had unresectable invasive pelvic malignancies. The operative mortality was 6.5% and acute pyelonephritis was noted frequently (48.3%). Stomal stenosis also developed significantly (63.5%). The operative mortalities in the IC group and CC group were 6.9% and 9.3%, respectively. Although the incidences of bowel obstruction, bowel fistula and renal calculi were higher in the IC group (18.8% vs 7.5% and 6.9% vs 0%, respectively). The serum creatinine level was lowest in the CC group (0.90 +/- 0.46 mg/dl) and highest in the UC group (1.36 +/- 0.75 mg/dl). Conduit ureteral reflux was frequent in the UC group (66.7%) but rare in the CC group (1.3%). We conclude that UC should be indicated in the selected patients with high risk, and IC and CC are indicated in patients who may have good prognosis but not indicated for continent reservoir or neobladder. We prefer CC in the younger group.

The trend of epidemiological study against MRSA strains which were isolated in 1992 and in 1993 was investigated. Number of stains tested yearly consisted of 30 isolates that were considered to play pathogenic roles for inpatients in clinical departments at our institute. In comparing with biological studies on MRSA strains and the epidemiological surveillance of the background of the isolation, the data summarizes as followings; 1) No. of MRSA strains which were producible for TSST increased from 24/30, 80% up to 30/30, 100%. 2) No. of enterotoxin type harbouring biotype of B/C increased 0/30, 0% up to 12/30, 40%. 3) No. of type of plasmid DNA profile increased in varying from 3 types (A, B, C) to 8 types (A-H). 4) The in vitro activity of antimicrobials, as such MINO, GM, IPM, CMZ was less potent than that of the prior year, and even for VCM, ABK, the activity proved less potent in 1-2 tubes in MIC90. 5) No. significant hospital acquired infection was detected between the inpatients, with MRSA infection and isolates from plasmid DNA profiles. 6) Since the ratio of the coincidence of plasmid DNA profiles of MRSA was only in 4 patients out of 27, 14.9 &, nosocomial infections with MRSA brought to patients have not only been considered by medical, paramedical staff, but that the infection may be caused by broad contamination at the institute.

A total of 12 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma received interferon alpha (3 million units intramuscularly 6 times weekly) and OK-432 (5 KE (Klinische Einheit) intramuscularly twice weekly). Metastatic lesions appeared before operation in six patients and after operation in six patients. Among them 5 patients had received interferon therapy and this combination therapy was started after the judgment of progressive disease for interferon therapy. Eleven pulmonary and 5 bone metastases were evaluable. The median duration of the combination therapy was 89.3 weeks. There were 4 partial responses and no complete responses among the 12 patients, giving a response rate of 33.3%. The median duration of response was 25 months, with a range of 6 to 54 months. Responses were seen predominantly in patients in whom metastases appeared after operation (3 of 4 responders). However, regarding the individual organs, two complete and 2 partial responses were observed among 11 pulmonary metastases and 2 partial responses among 5 bone metastases. The survival period after discovery of the metastasis was 10 to 67 months and the 5-year survival rate was 70.5%. Almost all patients had fever and induration at the injection site. Other side effects included leukopenia, anorexia, and depression. This combination therapy is thought to be effective against bone or other organs metastasis resistant to interferon alone.

Cefclidin (CFCL), a new injectable cephem antibiotic, was used in the treatment of bacterial prostatitis. Concentration in prostatic fluid (PF): One hour after the i.v. administration of 1 g of CFCL the concentration of PF was 0.84 +/- 0.72 micrograms/ml (n = 4), the ratio of PF/serum being 2.24%. CFCL was administered at a dose of 1-2 g a day for 6.5 days on average. In acute bacterial prostatitis, the efficacy was evaluated as excellent or moderate in all 7 cases (100%), but in chronic cases, the effectiveness rate was as low as one out of 4 cases (25%). In safety profile, transient skin eruption was seen in one patient, but did not require further treatment. Besides this case, no side reactions or abnormal clinical values were encountered. In conclusion, CFCL was evaluated to be very useful in the treatment of acute bacterial prostatitis, caused by gram negative rods.

A statistic survey was made on the patients, diseases and operations experienced at the Urological ward of Shizuoka Red Cross Hospital between 1981 and 1991. The total number of inpatients was 2,830 and the male to female ratio was 3.5 to 1. The most frequent diseases among the inpatients were obstructive uropathy (25.5%), malignant neoplasia (23.7%), non-specific infection (16.4%) urolithiasis (16.1%). The number of operations was 1922. Endoscopic surgery was the most frequent form of operation (55.2%).

Sparfloxacin (SPFX), a new oral quinolone antimicrobial, was studied for the bacterial response, pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy in the treatment of bacterial prostatitis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for 48 strains isolated from expressed prostatic secretion were measured. The values for 8 out of 12 strains of S. epidermidis were below 0.05 microgram/ml and those for all 6 strains of E. coli were below 0.025 microgram/ml. The SPFX concentrations in prostatic fluid (PF) were 0.33 to 0.49 microgram/ml at 1 to 3 hours after oral administration of 200 mg, the PF/serum ratio being 1.15 to 1.47. SPFX was administered at a dose of 200 to 400 mg daily for an average of 14.1 days to 14 patients with prostatitis (5, acute: 9, chronic). The clinical efficacy judged by physician in charge was effective in 12 cases with an efficacy rate of 85.7%. The bacterial eradication rate was 93.3% (14/15 strains), and eradication was complete in all 7 cases infected with gram-negative rods. SPFX-related abnormal laboratory values were observed in one case with transient increase of glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and alkaliphosphatase activities, and decrease of platelet. As side effects, one case with gastrointestinal symptoms and the other case with photosensitivity skin rash accompanied by sensory abnormality of palms were observed. The abnormal values or side effects in these patients recovered to normal or disappeared after completion of the treatment without any treatments. In view of the higher concentrations in PF than the MIC values with long remaining in the tissues, SPFX is considered to be effective in the treatment of bacterial prostatitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)