摘要:

In order to elucidate the mechanism of elevation of α-fetoprotein (AFP) which we often observed during VAB-6 chemotherapy, we analyzed sequential changes of AFP, liver enzymes and bilirubin in 10 patients with evaluable disseminated testicular cancer who were treated with VAB-6 chemotherapy. None of the patients had previous liver disease or hepatic involvement. During the early phase of each course of chemotherapy, AFP showed a temporary elevation associated with reversible increase in liver enzymes and bilirubin. These changes returned to normal before the next course of chemotherapy. In each patient, marked tumor regression occurred as a result of VAB-6 chemotherapy. Nine of the 10 patients remain free of disease after treatment. We conclude that during VAB-6 chemotherapy, a temporary elevation of AFP is common, associated with reversible liver dysfunctions, and that this spurious elevation of the tumor marker, most likely caused by a heavy dose of cisplatin, should not be interpreted as related treatment failure

ISSN:0042-1138    

DOI:10.1159/000281762

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been shown to be a more sensitive tumor marker than prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) in prostatic adenocarcinoma: PSA was positive in 54 of our 117 patients (46%) and PAP was positive in 24 (21%). In order to compare the usefulness of these markers during and after radiotherapy serum samples from 24 patients treated with external beam irradiation were analyzed. PAP was only slightly positive in 1 patient (4%) after radiotherapy. His PSA level was highly elevated and he died of progressive disease. In the other 23 patients the cancer was in local control. However, the serum PSA level remained positive in 5 of these patients indicating vital cancer cells may still have been present. An alternative possibility is that metaplastic prostatic cells which secrete PSA were left after radiotherapy, as has been shown to be the case in prostatic hyperplasia. Before radiotherapy increased PSA levels were measured in 3 patients. In 2 of them the level declined to normal within 6 months after radiotherapy. The PAP levels were normal. It is concluded that PSA (positive in 25% of patients after radiotherapy) might be more sensitive than PAP (positive in 4 %) in monitoring the effect of radiotherapy in prostatic cancer patients.

ISSN:0042-1138    

DOI:10.1159/000281763

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The comparison of the diagnostic and prognostic significance of histology, immunohistochemical parameters (PSA, PSP), and silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) was estimated in paraffin sections taken of 63 prostatic carcinomas prior to therapy. AgNORs were visualized with a one-step silver staining technique with the appropiate staining time determined by preliminary staining-time series. The mean AgNOR number per cell (n) and the mean AgNOR area per silver-stained dot (A) were determined by means of an automatic image analysis system. Thereby prostatic carcinomas exhibited multiple small AgNORs within their nuclei (n = 4.7, A = 0.09 µm2), whereas benign prostatic epithelium showed few but large silver-stained particles (n = 1.8, A = 0.27 µm2; p < 0.001). This relationship was then calculated as a quotient of AgNOR number and area (NQ = n/A) which provided additional information for the diagnosis of malignancy as well as survival. Univariate survival analysis disclosed a set of four variables predicting death from prostatic cancer: cribriform growth pattern, AgNOR quotient, histological grade, and PSA immunoreactivity. Of these parameters, immunoreactivity of PSA failed to prove its prognostic significance in multivariate survival analysis (Cox model). No relation to prognosis was found for the number as well as the area of AgNORs alone. Therefore, image analysis proved to be a prerequisit for the feasibility of this promising technique by providing objective and reproducible result

ISSN:0042-1138    

DOI:10.1159/000281764

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Relationship between activation of macrophages in prostatic fluid and stage of nonbacterial prostatitis was studied by observing the rate of adherence of leukocytes, percentage of macrophages among adherent leukocytes and presence of spreading of macrophages. As a result, it was found that macrophages in the early stage of NBP were more activated than macrophages in the chronic stage.

ISSN:0042-1138    

DOI:10.1159/000281765

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The aim of this study was to evaluate why high levels of antispermatozoa autoantibodies (SPZAA) in seminal fluid represent a particularly detrimental factor in male fertility. We studied a population of 219 patients consulting us on conjugal sterility associated with an initial asthenospermia. We looked in each case for the presence of SPZAA at the surface of spermatozoa in the seminal fluid and in the serum. We found 31 patients positive for surface SPZAA, 26 of whom had urogenital infections. We also demonstrated statistically significant correlations between high levels of SPZAA in seminal fluid and both a reduction in ejaculate volume and a tendency to oligo-spermia. A similar correlation was found between the reduction in ejaculate volume and oligospermia. These results suggest that urogenital infection is at present the main cause of SPZAA production, that testicular damage is frequently associated with apparently isolated glandular damage, and above all that a high level of SPZAA in seminal fluid has a more detrimental effect on male fertility due to more severe genital (glandular and testicular) damage.

ISSN:0042-1138    

DOI:10.1159/000281766

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The bacterially catalyzed formation of nitrosamines in the rectosigmoid is a favorite theory for the increased risk of colon carcinomas following ureterosigmoidostomy. The urine/feces mixtures of 20 ureterosigmoidostomy patients were analyzed for nitrate, nitrite, volatile and nonvolatile nitrosamines prior to, and after, oral administration of vitamin C, a known nitrosation inhibitor. Following a 4-week period of daily ingestion of 2 g vitamin C (1 g in children) there was a slight, but not significant, decrease of volatile and nonvolatile nitrosamines and nitrite, as well as a nonsignificant increase in nitrate in the urine/feces of these patients. No correlation between the vitamin C concentration in serum or urine/feces mixture and the nitrosamine excretion was observed. These results suggest that the administration of vitamin C is not a suitable method for prophylaxis of endogenous nitrosation in ureterosigmoidostomy patients. Clinical and experimental findings implicate that factors other than nitrosamines play an important role in colon carcinogenesis of patients with ureterosigmoidostomies or other forms of urinary diversions using the small or large bowel.

ISSN:0042-1138    

DOI:10.1159/000281767

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The combination of percutaneous alkaline irrigation and lithotripsy was performed in 5 cases of uric acid calculi obstructing the ureter. Shock wave lithotripsy accelerates the dissolution of uric acid stones.

ISSN:0042-1138    

DOI:10.1159/000281768

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Stones located in pelvic kidneys can be successfully treated by extracorporeal lithotripsy, either alone or in combination with endourology and open surgery. A multimodal approach was used in 16 patients with pelvic kidney stone disease and a 87.5% stone-free rate was achieved. The proper positioning of the patient on the lithotripter apparatus and the correct integration of the different therapeutic procedures were the real clues for obtaining a remarkable success rate with a minimally invasive approach.

ISSN:0042-1138    

DOI:10.1159/000281769

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

During intravenous urography, the changes in the gastrointestinal tract were assessed in a total of 101 patients within two subgroups: allergic and non-allergic, depending on the patient’s reaction or non-reaction to the intravenously injected Conrary 420. The gastrointestinal changes were either nil (that is normal) or abnormal with definite increase in the total volume of gas in the abdomen. Increased gas was commoner (66%) among the non-allergic group as compared with 34% of the allergic group. The aetiological basis being postulated for this observation includes biochemical and chemical changes as well as allergic response within the gu

ISSN:0042-1138    

DOI:10.1159/000281770

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Fifty patients who had undergone aorto-bifemoral bypass with a bifurcated Dacron graft for aortoiliac arteriosclerotic obliteration were examined with real-time sectorial ultrasound to screen for the presence of hydronephrosis. Hydronephrosis was detected in only 1 case. The low incidence of this complication in our cases may be due to the fact that all our patients were explored at least 1 year after surgery. Some may have developed hydronephrosis early, but this may have resolved spontaneously during the first year after the operation, thus remaining undiagnosed. Pathogenic mechanisms suggested for the development of hydronephrosis and therapeutic approaches are discussed. We conclude that pre- and postoperative ultrasound examination and follow-up beyond 1 year post-operatively seem to be fully justified in all patients who undergo aortoiliac or aortofemoral reconstructive surgery.

ISSN:0042-1138    

DOI:10.1159/000281771

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger