[Ulcerative colitis complicated by multiple aseptic subcutaneous abscesses: a case report]

A woman in her 40s, previously diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), presented with anterior chest pain. A CT scan of her chest and skin examination showed no abnormal findings. She was initially managed with antibacterial agents, but her chest pain worsened, she developed a fever, and there was an overall deterioration of her general condition. A repeat CT scan found abscesses on the anterior surface of her sternum and gluteal region, and colonoscopy found worsening UC lesions. Her multiple subcutaneous abscesses were aseptic, and she was diagnosed with pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), an extraintestinal manifestation of UC. Steroid treatment was initiated and her overall condition as well as her subcutaneous abscesses improved rapidly. There are only a few case reports of PG without skin manifestation but only subcutaneous aseptic abscesses. However, subcutaneous abscesses may progress to PG with skin ulcers if initial treatment is delayed. Even with non-specific clinical features, prompt diagnosis of relapsed UC with potential extraintestinal manifestations must be considered. This is a rare case and aims to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of PG, which is an extraintestinal manifestation of relapsed UC.

Cancer-related FGFR2 overexpression and gene amplification in Japanese patients with gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) has been proposed as a novel druggable target in unresectable gastric cancer. FGFR2 alteration has been reported as associated with poor prognosis even in patients with gastric cancer who received systemic chemotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of FGFR2 overexpression and gene amplification in clinical specimens from Japanese patients with recurrent or unresectable gastric cancer.

METHODS

This observational study enrolled patients who were histologically or cytologically confirmed with unresectable HER2-negative or unknown gastric or gastroesophageal junctional adenocarcinoma treated with at least one previous chemotherapy. FGFR2 overexpression and gene amplification in the specimens were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization methods, respectively.

RESULTS

In a total of 173 eligible cases, FGFR2 immunohistochemistry score was evaluated as 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 for 20, 80, 35, 28 and 10 cases, respectively. In 151 evaluable cases with FGFR2 immunohistochemistry scores of 1-4, FGFR2 copy number expressed as fluorescence in situ hybridization signals were detected as <4, ≥4 < 10 and ≥10 copies for 123, 16 and 12 cases, respectively. FGFR2 copy number showed an increasing tendency along with higher FGFR2 immunohistochemistry scores in the corresponding specimen. The response rate and time to treatment failure for first line chemotherapy did not have any obvious relationship to FGFR2 immunohistochemistry score and FGFR2 copy number.

CONCLUSIONS

Although FGFR2 overexpression and gene amplification were shown in Japanese patients with unresectable gastric cancer, these alterations did not impact the effects of cytotoxic agents as first line chemotherapy.

Real-world efficacy and safety of 12-week sofosbuvir/velpatasvir treatment for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus infection

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of 12-week sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) treatment for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODS

A total 72 of patients with Child-Pugh (CP) class B or C were enrolled. We evaluated the sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12), adverse events (AEs), and changes in the liver function.

RESULTS

All participants had genotype 1 or 2 HCV infection. At baseline, the numbers of patients with CP class B and C were 59 and 13, respectively. The overall SVR12 rate was 95.8% (69/72); 94.9% (56/59) in CP class B and 100% (13/13) in CP class C. The serum albumin level, prothrombin time and ascites were significantly improved (P < 0.01); however, the serum bilirubin level and encephalopathy did not improve. Among patients who achieved SVR12, 75.0% showed an improvement in their CP score, while 5.9% showed a worsening. The presence of large portosystemic shunt (diameter ≥6 mm) and hyperbilirubinemia (≥2.0 mg/dL) were independent factors that interfered with the improvement in the CP score (P < 0.05). The most common AEs were encephalopathy (15.3%) and skin symptoms (7.9%). Two patients discontinued SOF/VEL due to AEs.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with SOF/VEL for 12 weeks was relatively safe and effective for patients with decompensated cirrhosis. An SVR provided an improvement of the liver function in the majority of patients. However, large portosystemic shunt and hyperbilirubinemia were independent factors that interfered with the improvement in the CP score.

Helicobacter pylori infection in rehabilitation staff younger than 35 years: Infection surveillance for three years

Background:

Screening for Helicobacter pylori infection is important because of the high risk of gastric cancer development. The H. pylori carrier rate among elderly Japanese patients is still high; therefore, rehabilitation (RH) workers who are in frequent contact with such individuals could be assumed to be at a higher risk of H. pylori infection.

Aim/Objective:

We surveyed RH workers to investigate the initial occurrence of H. pylori infections in adults.

Methods:

Urine samples of RH workers aged < 35 years were screened for H. pylori antibodies to confirm infection. H. pylori infection rates were stratified according to the type of RH work and duration of employment. Infection surveillance was performed at six-month intervals for H. pylori-negative individuals.

Findings/Results:

The H. pylori infection rate among 173 workers was 16.8%. Infection rates were 26.3%, 16.3% and 15.3% among speech, occupational and physiotherapists, respectively. The employment duration was divided into < 24, 24–47, 48–60 and ⩾ 61 months; the respective infection rates were 5.0%, 12.0%, 17.6% and 28.6%. However, no new H. pylori infection was detected in a total of seven surveillance studies of H. pylori-negative workers over a three-year period.

Discussion:

The results of the initial examination showed that the infection rate increased with the duration of employment. However, subsequent surveillance detected no new H. pylori infections.

[Inflammatory reactive polyposis caused by dasatinib:a case report]

A 51-year-old man with chronic myeloid leukemia undergoing treatment with dasatinib received colonoscopy for a positive fecal occult blood test. Colonoscopy revealed more than 100 erythematous, multilobulated polyps with mucoid discharge. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed for diagnosis, and the histological analysis of polyps showed hyperplastic glands and proliferative smooth muscle cells. Our findings suggested that the polyposis was caused by inflammation triggered due to the adverse effects associated with dasatinib. The patient discontinued dasatinib;the follow-up colonoscopy performed four months later revealed significantly improved polypoid lesions in the colon. The erythematous heads of the polyps and mucoid discharge disappeared. The cessation of dasatinib seemed to contribute to the improvement of inflammatory reactive polyposis;therefore, we inferred that the polyposis was caused by dasatinib in the present case.

Collagenous gastroduodenitis coexisting repeated Dieulafoy ulcer: A case report and review of collagenous gastritis and gastroduodenitis without colonic involvement

Collagenous gastritis (CG) is a rare disorder characterized by the thick collagenous subepithelial bands associated with mucosal inflammation. There have been approximately fifty reports in the literature since it was first described in 1989. According to previous reports, CG is heterogeneous and classified into two groups-(1) cases limited to the gastric mucosa in children or young adults, and (2) CG associated with collagenous colitis in elderly adults presenting with chronic watery diarrhea. In Japan, only nine previous cases were reported, and all of them were young adults. We report a case of CG with collagenous duodenitis in a 22-year-old female. She had repeated upper gastrointestinal bleeding from a Dieulafoy lesion of the fornix, but had no symptoms of malabsorption or diarrhea. Endoscopic findings revealed striking nodularity with a smooth islet-shaped normal area in the antrum and the body. The pathological findings of nodular mucosa showed the deposition of collagen bands just under the mucoepithelial lesion. In addition, she had collagenous duodenitis in part of the bulbs, and a colonoscopy showed no abnormalities. We provide a literature review of CG and collagenous gastroduodenitis without colonic involvement.

A randomized phase II study comparing S-1 plus weekly split-dose cisplatin with S-1 plus standard-dose cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

S-1 plus weekly split-dose cisplatin demonstrated promising results in previous phase I and II studies for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients.

METHODS

In this randomized phase II study, the efficacy and safety of S-1 plus weekly split-dose cisplatin (SWP, S-1 daily oral dose of 80-120 mg according to body surface area on days 1-14, and cisplatin 20 mg/m(2) i.v. on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks) were compared with those of S-1 plus standard-dose cisplatin (SP) as first-line chemotherapy for AGC patients. The primary endpoint was 1-year survival rate.

RESULTS

Patients were randomized into two groups: 18 in the SWP arm and 19 in the SP arm. This trial was terminated early because of low patient enrollment. The 1-year survival rate was 61 % [95 % confidence interval (CI), 36-86 %] and 53 % (95 % CI, 30-75 %) in the SWP and SP arms, respectively. However, the median survival time was 12.3 months (9.9-14.6 months) and 15.7 months (4.0-27.4 months), respectively (P = 0.064). Progression-free survival was significantly shorter in the SWP arm than in the SP arm (P = 0.047). Toxicity tended to be milder in the SWP arm than in the SP arm. For approximately 40 % of patients in the SWP arm, cisplatin was omitted on day 8 and treatment delayed because of prolonged myelosuppression.

CONCLUSIONS

No clear benefits of adding cisplatin to S-1 in the SWP arm were demonstrated in this study. At this point, split-dose cisplatin combined with S-1 cannot be recommended for use in clinical practice.

Long-term administration of Wilms tumor-1 peptide vaccine in combination with gemcitabine causes severe local skin inflammation at injection sites

The skin toxicity of vaccine therapy at injection sites is generally limited to Grades 1-2 due to the nature of their function. We experienced two cases of severe and prolonged local adverse effects in 25 patients following a Phase I study of gemcitabine and Wilms tumor-1 peptide vaccine mixed with incomplete Freund's adjuvant for inoperable pancreatic or biliary tract cancer. These patients requested to continue the treatment after the study period; however, in the course of compassionate use, they developed unacceptable local skin reactions and terminated their vaccine treatment. One patient (human leukocyte antigen, A0201, 3 mg) developed Grade 3 ulceration at the 10th vaccination and another (human leukocyte antigen, A2402, 1 mg) developed Grade 2 indulation and fibrosis at the 16th vaccination. Skin toxicity occurred at 6.4-8.4 months and continued for several months after the final vaccination during gemcitabine treatment. In these cases, activation or induction of Wilms tumor-1-specific T lymphocytes was not apparent in the peripheral blood despite their severe local reactions. Therefore, we need to monitor patients for late-onset, severe and long-lasting skin reactions at injection sites in Wilms tumor-1 cancer vaccine therapy, particularly for combination treatment with gemcitabine.

Regular dose of gemcitabine induces an increase in CD14+ monocytes and CD11c+ dendritic cells in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

OBJECTIVE

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy often seem to contradict each other. However, recent reports suggested that the anticancer effects in some chemotherapeutic agents were concerned with immune response. This study was designed to evaluate the immunological reaction by gemcitabine for future clinical trial of combination therapy with gemcitabine and cancer vaccines.

METHODS

We evaluated several immunological parameters in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who received a conventional dose of gemcitabine for 2 months. Twenty-eight patients with metastasis or locally advanced tumor, including 18 gemcitabine-naïve and 10 with a history of preceding gemcitabine treatment, were enrolled in this study. The patients received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) for 3 weeks, followed by 1 week of rest. We monitored the kinetics of lymphocytes, natural killer cells, monocytes, dendritic cells (DC), human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-multimer conjugated with CMV or WT1 peptide, and intracellular cytokine production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 by flow cytometry. The T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire was also analyzed.

RESULTS

The absolute number and percentage of CD14(+) monocytes and CD11c(+) (myeloid) DC increased with gemcitabine treatment (P = 0.033 and P = 0.021). The percentage of CD123(+) (plasmacytoid) DC also increased (P = 0.034), whereas no significant change was observed in other immune parameters, including multimer, intracellular cytokine production and TCR repertoire.

CONCLUSIONS

Our finding that gemcitabine treatment induced the proliferation of CD14(+) monocytes and CD11c(+) DC could support combination therapy with gemcitabine and specific immunotherapy such as peptide vaccination against pancreatic cancers.

Focal brain glucose hypometabolism in patients with neuropsychologic deficits after diffuse axonal injury

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Neuropsychologic deficits are well-known sequelae of traumatic brain injury. However, the cerebral correlates of these deficits are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the regions of cerebral dysfunction correlated with such neuropsychologic deficits after traumatic brain injury.

METHODS

Sets of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET) images in the resting state were obtained from 12 patients with neuropsychologic deficits after diffuse axonal injury and from 32 healthy volunteers. The cortical metabolic activity of each subject's PET image sets was extracted using 3D stereotactic surface projection (3D-SSP). A "normal" data base was created using the extracted datasets of the healthy subjects. The patients' datasets were compared with the normal data base by calculating a statistical Z-score on a pixel-by-pixel basis in searches for focal metabolic abnormalities.

RESULTS

Group comparisons revealed hypometabolism in the cingulate gyrus with additional involvement of the lingual gyrus and cuneus. Individual case-by-case analyses disclosed differences in the site and extent of the hypometabolism in the cingulate gyrus of each case. Predominant hypometabolism was found in the anterior cingulate gyrus of 6 patients, the middle cingulate gyrus of 2 patients, and the posterior cingulate gyrus of 4 patients.

CONCLUSION

Interpretation of FDG-PET using 3D-SSP facilitates the identification of regional hypometabolism in the cerebral cortex of patients after diffuse axonal injury. Dysfunction of the cingulate gyrus, lingual gyrus, and cuneus may play a crucial role in neuropsychologic deficits after traumatic brain injury.

Two cases of systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with colonic ulcers

We report two cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated with colonic ulcerations. One patient was successfully cured by steroid therapy, while the other did not respond to steroid but oral mesalazine was effective. Systemic lupus erythematosus is frequently accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms, but colonic lesions are quite rare, and the regular treatment is not fixed yet. The high-dose steroidal regimen may be effective for microvasculitis, although it may increase the risk of perforated ulcer of the intestinal tract, which is a life-threatening complication. Further analysis of its outcomes, and establishment of the regular guideline for its treatment are expected.

Restenosis after stent placement for ostial stenosis of vertebral artery

SUMMARY

The purpose of this study was to evaluate our initial procedural success rate and angiographical outcome of stent placement for vertebral artery (VA) stenosis at the intermediate followup period (11.3 +/- 7.3 months). Stent placement was successfully performed in 20 procedures (19 patients), resulting in a marked reduction of stenosis from 78.7 +/- 12.6 % before to 8.7% +/- 10.6 after stenting. Follow-up angiography, performed after an interval of 11.3 +/- 7.3 months, revealed restenosis greater than 50% in a total of 6 procedures (40%) out of 15. Although PTA with stent placement for stenosis affecting VA origin provided excellent initial success, restenosis occurred at a significant rate even during the intermediate follow-up period.

[Stenting for the occlusive carotid and subclavian arteries in Takayasu arteritis]

The authors report the initial results of stenting in four patients of Takayasu arteritis for 11 occlusive carotid and subclavian arteries between January 1999 and December 2000. The lesions included stenoses of two right subclavian, three right common carotid, two left common carotid, and two left subclavian arteries, and total occlusion of two subclavian arteries. A total of 14 stents were implanted in 10 arterial lesions, resulting in a 91% procedural success rate. One failure was due to inability to cross the total occlusion of the subclavian artery. Procedural complications and problems were pain during balloon angioplasty in three patients, vaso-vagal reflex in two, carotid artery perforation associated with transient horseness in one, and stent migration in one. There was no permanent morbidity. Follow-up over a mean duration of 12 months revealed one symptomatic recurrence of left subclavian stenosis, followed by a successful re-dilatation. The results of the current study indicated that primary stenting is an excellent therapeutic option for the occlusive carotid and subclavian arteries in Takayasu arteritis. A long-term follow-up is required to determine the response or behavior of stented segments of the affected arteries.

Magnetic resonance imaging in three children with kernicterus

The incidence of kernicterus has been greatly reduced by effective monitoring and treatment for hyperbilirubinemia. Findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with kernicterus are characteristic. This study presents three cases of possible kernicterus without typical symptoms but with MRI features consistent with kernicterus. These cases suggest that kernicterus can develop, especially in preterm infants, in the presence of relatively low levels of bilirubin and the absence of obvious acute symptoms. Therefore assessing the risk of kernicterus may be difficult in the neonatal period. In addition, MRI findings at the posteromedial border of the globus pallidus in patients with athetotic cerebral palsy are strong evidence of brain damage caused by kernicterus.

[Stenting for proximal subclavian and brachiocephalic artery occlusion--preliminary results]

The authors report the initial results, between January 1998 and February 2001, of stenting utilizing the brachial approach in seven patients for total occlusions at the following locations: two right subclavian, one brachiocephalic, and five left subclavian arteries. All lesions were associated with subclavian steal syndrome. Indications for the treatment included ischemic symptoms in the affected arm (seven patients), and vertebrobasilar insufficiency (five patients). A total of eight stents were implanted in six occluded arteries, resulting in a 75% procedural success rate. Procedural complications encountered were two subintimal dissections by a 0.035-inch guide wire during recanalization, and one stent dislodgement with migration. There was no stroke, presumably because of the previously reported preventive effect of delayed reversal of a stealing vertebral artery. Follow-up over a mean duration of 11 months revealed no sign or symptom of recurrence in cases with initial technical success. The results of the current study, with a literature survey, indicated that percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with primary stent deployment in an occluded prevertebral segment of the subclavian or the brachiocephalic artery should be considered as an available choice for treatment. Further points, such as some remaining technical and clinical problems, will require more experience and consideration.

[Multiple primary cancers limited to the urological field]

We analyzed the clinical features of multiple primary cancers arising from the urogenital organs. Between January 1980 and December 1999, 300 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 661 patients with urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer and renal pelvic-ureteral cancer) (TCC) and 391 patients with prostate cancer (PC) were treated at our hospital. Of these patients, 20 patients had double genitourinary cancers. The double cancers consisted of RCC and TCC in 1 case, RCC and PC in 6 cases, and TCC and PC in 13 cases. Seven cases had synchronous tumors. The average interval in the metachronous cases was 68 (range: 12-209) months. The age at diagnosis of the second cancer was 68-94 (mean: 77.6) years old. The follow-up period ranged from 4-168 (mean: 38) months; Six patients are alive with no evidence of disease and 6 patients died of cancer. Even when limited to the urological section, the frequency of multiple primary cancers is increasing.

[Extensive Fournier's gangrene: a case report]

We report a case of extensive Fournier's gangrene that could not be rescued despite emergent debridement. A 51-year-old man presented at another hospital with cough, diarrhea and abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with acute enteritis and hospitalized. The next morning, he became severely hypotensive and his scrotum was swollen and black. The perineal skin also was black. Septic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation were suspected. He was transferred to our emergency room, and was immediately diagnosed with Fournier's gangrene and acute peritonitis. Computed tomographic scan revealed soft-tissue gas in the scrotum, the retroperitoneal cavity and the abdominal wall. Emergent debridement and laparotomy was performed. Gangrene was also seen at the intestinal wall and the peritoneum, however, resection of intestine was not done because of his poor performance status. Although potent antibiotics and catecholamine were administered, he died of multiple organ failure 29 hours after the operation. This is the first case of Fournier's gangrene extending into the abdominal cavity reported in the Japanese literature.

[A case of unilateral and metachronous occurrence of renal tubulopapillary adenoma and renal cell carcinoma]

A 50-year-old male underwent a nephron-sparing surgery for a small renal incidentaloma, which was atypical for renal cell carcinoma in diagnostic images. The tumor was pathologically diagnosed as renal tubulopapillary adenoma. Three years later, another tumor was pointed out in the ipsilateral kidney, and he underwent a radical nephrectomy. The latter was diagnosed as clear cell carcinoma. We report this very rare case of unilateral and metachronous occurrence of renal tubulopapillary adenoma and renal cell carcinoma.

[Primary paraganglioma of the urinary bladder with high serum CA19-9 level: a case report]

A case of primary paraganglioma of the urinary bladder with a high serum CA19-9 level is reported. A 44-year-old woman visited our hospital with the chief complaint of lower abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination incidentally revealed a cystic bladder tumor. Cystoscopy disclosed a broad-based non-papillary tumor on the posterior wall of the urinary bladder. With the diagnosis of a bladder submucosal cystic tumor transurethral needle puncture and biopsy were performed. The solution sampled with puncture was bloody. The patient suddenly complained of headache and blood pressure was elevated to 215/120 mmHg when we held the tumor with a cold cup biopsy forceps. Catecholamine levels of the solution in the tumor were abnormally elevated. The serum CA19-9 level was also raised. Ten days later, she underwent partial cystectomy. Histological findings of the removed specimen showed primary paraganglioma of the urinary bladder. The serum CA19-9 level decreased to normal limits on the 28th postoperative day. Our experience suggests that the level of serum CA19-9 may serve as a useful index for observing the clinical course of a patient with this disease.

A case of female large urethral diverticulum treated by electrofulguration

Female urethral diverticulum is not an uncommon disease. We report a case of female urethral diverticulum which caused severe urethral pain, but for which the diagnosis had not been obtained at many hospitals for many years. Transurethral electrocauterization of the diverticulum was very effective in this case.

A case of tuberculosis of the prostate

Tuberculosis of the prostate is uncommon. However, the number of patients with tuberculosis has once again recently been gradually increasing in Japan. The number of immunocompromised hosts, such as those with AIDS, is also increasing, suggesting that this rare infectious disease may increase in frequency in the near future. We present a case of tuberculosis of the prostate.

Spontaneous rupture of the urinary bladder is not a rare complication of radiotherapy for cervical cancer: report of six cases

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous intraperitoneal rupture of the urinary bladder is an extremely rare event. It has been reported to be a rare complication of radiation therapy for cervical cancer, but no studies have ever reported the incidence of this life-threatening complication.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From August 1981 through December 1988, 143 patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated with high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy combined with external beam therapy at Kobe City General Hospital.

RESULTS

Of these patients, three (2.1%) suffered spontaneous intraperitoneal rupture of the urinary bladder as a late complication of radiation therapy between August 1995 and February 1998. Three other patients, treated with radiation therapy for cervical cancer at other hospitals, were also admitted to our hospital with this complication between August 1995 and February 1998. All six patients underwent laparotomy and repair of the perforation. However, rerupture of the bladder occurred in three of these patients.

CONCLUSION

Spontaneous intraperitoneal rupture of the urinary bladder after radiation therapy for cervical cancer is less rare than previously expected, and urologists must consider the possibility of occurrence of this life-threatening event following radiation therapy.

[Retroperitoneal schwannoma: a case report]

A 67-year-old man was admitted for a complaint of lumbago. The patient had had the three operations for the schwannoma in spinal cord at the Neurosurgical Department of our hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a right infrarenal tumor by chance. The tumor compressed the right kidney and measured 6 x 5 cm in size. On the tentative diagnosis of the retroperitoneal tumor, the patient was referred to the department of urology in our hospital and the tumor was excised. The histological diagnosis of the removed retroperitoneal tumor was schwannoma, and was thought to be heterotopic recurrent schwannoma.

A case of a methylmethacrylate foreign body in the bladder wall

The authors report a rare case of bone cement protruding into the bladder wall. The patients exhibited an abnormal mass in the bladder wall during ultrasonography and was admitted to our department 21 mo after right hip joint replacement. Partial resection of the urinary bladder including the bone cement was performed. The patient made an uneventful recovery postoperatively. This is the third case reported of a foreign body in the urinary bladder associated with bone cement.

[A case of infrarenal left inferior vena cava with macrohematuria after contusion in the lumber region]

A 33-year-old woman was admitted with macrohematuria after contusion in the left lumber region. The excretory urogram showed no abnormal findings, but color doppler and RI-angiography revealed infrarenal left-sided inferior vena cava (left IVC). The pressure in the dilated left renal vein was higher than that in the right one. Renal contusion in addition to the congestion of the left renal vein due to left IVC was thought to be the cause of hematuria in this case. Hematuria disappeared after retrograde instillation of 0.2% AgNO3 water solution into the left renal pelvis. Left IVC rarely presents clinical symptoms, and is usually found by chance on CT scan or ultrasonography during examinations for upper abdominal organs. Our case is the 69th one of left IVC in Japan, and belongs to Type 2' according to our classification of left IVC.

[Anterior urethral diverticular stones and retrocaval ureter in male: a case report and review of literature in Japan]

A case of diverticular stones in the male anterior urethra with retrocaval ureter is reported. A 26-year-old man visited our hospital for examination, who had experienced spontaneous stone discharge a few days earlier. Computed tomographic (CT) scan with ureteral catheterization and urethrography revealed a retrocaval ureter and urethral diverticular stones. Resection of urethral diverticulum with 7 stones and right ureteroplasty were performed. The urethrography and drip infusion pyelography (DIP) 9 months after operation showed no abnormal findings. The largest stone was 28 x 22 x 20 mm in size and 20 g in weight. The main components were ammonium dihydrogen-urate (70%), carbonate apatite and struvite. Histological feature of the epithelium of the urethral diverticulum indicated normal skin with hairs. Pathological diagnosis was para-urethral dermoid cyst. Our case is the 67th case of the male urethral diverticular stones and the first case of those with retrocaval ureter in Japan.

[Clinical statistics of the patients admitted to the Department of Urology, Kobe General Hospital, 1982-1986]

A statistic survey was made on the patients, diseases and operations experienced at the urological ward of Kobe General Hospital between 1982 and 1986.

Pedoscope studies on neonatal activity and center of gravity after delivery

Seventeen normal term infants delivered at the Jikei University School of Medicine were placed daily on a pedoscope in the supine and prone position after birth, and the movement of the gravity center and changes in the activities of the extremities were assessed. The results indicated that both the activity of the extremities and the movement of the gravity center were sluggish after birth, that both increased to reach peaks within 1 to 3 days, and that then temporary decreases occurred before they increased again. The probable reason for the temporary decrease in activity may be habituation or a decrement in the infant, and it is also presumed that the increase in activity after the transitory decrease reflects natural development.

[Effects of combination chemotherapy with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP) on renal function in patients with urogenital malignancies]

The renal function in 23 patients with advanced urogenital cancers (10 testicular, 8 uroepithelial, 3 prostatic cancers and 1 penile cancer) treated with a total of 3 or 4 cycles of combination chemotherapy including CDDP was examined prospectively, by measuring of creatinine clearance (Ccr), fractional excretion of beta 2 microglobulin (FE beta 2 MG) and urinary N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG). Patients with testicular cancers (group 1) who received the cumulative CDDP dose of 360-1966 mg (on average 868 mg), the decrease in Ccr and increase in FE beta 2 MG and NAG were temporary during each chemotherapy cycle. However, in the overall course, after the cumulative dose exceeded 600 mg, higher beta 2 MG excretion persisted and after the cumulative dose exceeded 800 mg, Ccr decreased to 30% of the pretreatment level. This suggests cumulative delayed, irreversible renal damage. The severity of decrease in Ccr paralleled the increase in cumulative CDDP dose. Patients with urogenital cancers other than testicular cancer (group 2) who received the cumulative CDDP dose of 80-480 mg (on average 217 mg), and who had decreased Ccr and tubular damage prior to treatment, even though the cumulative dose was lower than in group 1, changes in Ccr, FE beta 2 MG and NAG were almost in the same magnitude as in group 1. Determination of NAG is useful for detection of the early change in the tubules several days after CDDP administration, while that of beta 2 MG is useful for detection of the chronic damage of renal tubules after several cycles of CDDP chemotherapy. CDDP nephrotoxicity is characterized by dose-dependent tubular damage. Although renal injury may not be evident during the early course of treatment, repeated courses of CDDP may lead to clinically serious chronic renal failure.

Breast feeding and neonatal behavioral state

18 normal newborn infants were studied at the age of 5-6 days. Each infant was given breast or bottlefeeding in 2 different sessions on the same day. The newborn assessment was also done in these 2 3-hour sessions, in which sucking and behavioral state were determined. 10 of 18 infants were found to fall asleep soon after the breastfeeding, and to have more quiet sleep and less waking than after bottlefeeding. All of the mothers showed good breast-milk secretion when examined. The other 8 infants, who were not given enough milk, did not show the abovementioned tendency. These results suggest that breastfeeding exerts good influences on neonatal behavior.

[Chemotherapy of testicular cancer, with special reference to cisplatin therapy]

Our statistical study revealed that testicular neoplasms seemed to increase in incidence during a 28-year-period from 1950 to 1977 in Japan. Annual deaths from testicular neoplasm were approximately 50 in the first 4 years of the period and increased to approximately 200 in the last 3 years. Age-adjusted mortality rate increased from 1.2 per million to 3.3 per million during the period. Untoward effects of CDDP were surveyed among 47 patients with urogenital malignancy who received anticancerous chemotherapies of CDDP alone or in combination with other drugs at the Kyoto University Hospital or its affiliates in the recent 3 years. About 95% of the patients suffered from such gastro-intestinal ailments as loss of appetite and vomiting. Bone marrow suppression was confirmed by laboratory studies among a third of the patients. Nephrotoxicity indicated by 25 to 50% reduction in creatinine clearance was induced in 6 patients-transitory in 4 and permanent in the remaining. Fifty percent survival rate was 18 months and 5 survived more than 2 years with NED among 21 patients with stage II or stage III testicular cancer treated at the Hospital or its affiliates since 1975, while the rate was 6 months among 10 patients during the period from 1965 to 1974. These improvements was thought to be brought in by adopation of VAB or PVB chemotherapy.