No abstract

In nonobstructive cases, especially those of the Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, microdissection TESE can effectively retrieve spermatozoa and minimize the risk of complications.

For urologists, it is very important to master surgical indications and surgical techniques. On the other hand , the knowledge of the prevention of perioperative infections and the improvement of surgical techniques should always be considered. Although the prevention of perioperative infections in each surgical field is a very important issue, the evidence and the number of guidelines are limited. Among them, the preparation of guidelines has progressed , especially in gastrointestinal surgery. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) proposed guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infections, which have been used worldwide. In urology, the original guidelines were different from those of general surgery, due to many endourological procedures and urine exposure in the surgical field. The Japanese Society of UTI Cooperative Study Group has thus framed these guidelines supported by The Japanese Urological Association. The guidelines consist of the following nine techniques: open surgeries, laparoscopic surgeries, transurethral resection of bladder tumor, ureterorenoscope and transurethral lithotripsy, transurethral resection of the prostate, prostate biopsy, cystourethroscope, pediatric surgeries in the urological field , and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and febrile neutropenia. These are the first guidelines for the prevention of perioperative infections in the urological field in Japan. Although most of these guidelines were made using reliable evidence, there are parts without enough evidence. Therefore, if new reliable data is reported , it will be necessary for these guidelines to be revised in the future. Key words:Open surgery, Laparoscopic surgery, TUR, Prostate biopsy, Cystourethroscope, ESWL. I. General remarksUrological practice mainly consists of surgical procedures, since the field of urology is a division of surgery. Therefore, it is very important to master surgical indications and surgical techniques. On the other hand , the knowledge of the prevention of perioperative infections and the improvement of surgical techniques should always be considered. Although the prevention of perioperative infections in each surgical field is a very important issue, these evidences are limited and the number of guidelines is limited. Among them, the preparation of guidelines has progressed , especially in gastrointestinal surgery. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) proposed guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infections), 1 which have been used worldwide. In urology, the original guidelines were different from those of general surgery, due to many endourological procedures and urine exposure in the surgical field. We have thus framed these guidelines supported by The Japanese Urological Association. I-I Definition and classification of perioperative infectionsA perioperative infection is defined as an infection that occurs within one month after an operation. These infections are divided into two groups: surgical site infections (SSIs) and remote i...

BACKGROUND Several investigators have revealed that urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) are overexpressed in serum as well as in tumor tissues in patients with various types of cancer. In this study, we examined whether the serum levels of uPA and uPAR could be used as predictors of the progression and prognosis of prostate cancer. METHODS Serum levels of uPA and uPAR in 54 healthy controls, 62 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), and 72 patients with prostate cancer were measured by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS The mean serum levels of uPA and uPAR in patients with prostate cancer were significantly higher than those in healthy controls and patients with BPH. Furthermore, the serum uPA and uPAR levels in prostate cancer patients with metastasis were significantly elevated compared with those in patients without metastasis. Among patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, the serum levels of uPA and uPAR in patients with pathologically organ‐confined disease were significantly lower than in those with advanced disease. The overall survival rate of prostate cancer patients with elevated serum levels of either uPA or uPAR, or of both, was significantly lower than that of patients with normal serum levels of uPA and uPAR. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that the elevation of serum levels of either uPA or uPAR, or of both, could be used as new predictors of progression and prognosis in patients with prostate cancer. Prostate 39:123–129, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

In nonobstructive cases, especially those of the Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, microdissection TESE can effectively retrieve spermatozoa and minimize the risk of complications.