CD169+ macrophages are suggested to play a pivotal role in establishing anti‐tumor immunity. They capture dead tumor cell‐associated antigens and transfer their information to lymphocsytes, including CD8+ T cells, which is important for successful tumor suppression. This study aimed to determine the prognostic significance of CD169+ macrophages residing in the tumor‐draining lymph nodes from cases of bladder cancer. In this retrospective study, 44 bladder cancer patients who received radical cystectomy were examined. The abundance of CD169+ macrophages in the regional lymph nodes and the number of CD8+ T cells in the primary tumor were investigated by immunohistochemistry. A CD169 score was calculated based on the intensity of CD169 staining and the proportion of CD169+ macrophages, and the scores were compared to the patients’ clinicopathological parameters. A high CD169 score was significantly associated with low T stage and with a high number of CD8+ T cells infiltrating into the tumor. The group with high CD169 expression had significantly longer cancer‐specific survival than the group with low CD169 expression (5‐year cancer‐specific survival rate: 83.3% vs 31.3%). In a multivariate analysis, the CD169 score was identified as a strong and independent favorable prognostic factor for cancer‐specific survival. Our findings suggest that CD169+ macrophages in the lymph nodes enhance anti‐tumor immunity by expanding CD8+ T cells in bladder cancer. The CD169 score may serve as a novel marker for the evaluation of bladder cancer prognosis.

collected by enzymatic disaggregation. To investigate the efficacy of mesothelial cells in preventing adhesion, harvested cells were transplanted into a rat intestinal hernia adhesion model. RESULTSCells isolated from the tunica vaginalis were homogenous, polygonal when confluent, expressed cytokeratin and vimentin, and the cell surface was covered with microvilli, which is the characteristic appearance of endogenous mesothelial cells. The transplantation of autologous mesothelial cell sheets reduced peritoneal adhesion. CONCLUSIONWe developed a new method of obtaining autologous mesothelial cells from the tunica vaginalis. These cells may provide a valuable option for treating patients at risk of postoperative adhesions.

Post-operative adhesions often cause severe complications such as bowel obstruction and abdominopelvic pain. Previously, we reported that transplantation of a mesothelial cell sheet is effective for preventing adhesion in rat model. We also proposed a new technique for harvesting autologous mesothelial cells from tunica vaginalis without intra-abdominal maneuvers. In this study, we examined whether an autologous mesothelial cell sheet can prevent post-operative peritoneal adhesions in a canine adhesion model. Mesothelial cells were isolated from the tunica vaginalis of male beagles. Isolated cells were cultured on fibrin gel. We named this construct the "mesothelial cell sheet." Animals underwent surgery to induce peritoneal adhesion formation and were then transplanted with the mesothelial cell sheets (sheet group, n = 4), fibrin gel (fibrin group, n = 4), or no materials (sham group, n = 4). Four weeks after the transplantation, we evaluated adhesion formation and scored adhesion levels. The abdominal wall transplanted with the mesothelial cell sheet was covered with mesothelium. The total adhesion score of the sheet group was significantly lower than that of the fibrin group and the sham group. These results indicated that transplantation of an autologous mesothelial cell sheet is effective for preventing post-operative adhesion formation in the canine adhesion model. Our mesothelial cell sheet has the potential to be a powerful adhesion prophylactic material in surgery.

Objectives: To examine whether the transrectal ultrasound-guided transperineal 14-core prostate biopsy can be carried out safely in diabetic men and to determine adequate antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol in this setting. Methods: The present study included 539 men, 135 with concurrent diabetes mellitus (DM) and 404 without DM, who underwent transperineal extended 14-core biopsy due to elevated prostate-specific antigen Ն2.5 ng/mL and/or abnormal digital rectal examination. Any complication requiring prolonged hospitalization or rehospitalization during the 4-week post-biopsy period was considered major. All other complications were considered minor. Intensity of antimicrobial prophylaxis was prospectively reduced in a stepwise manner down to single dose of oral levofloxacin. Results: Except for DM, there was no significant difference in clinical background between the diabetic and non-diabetic men. The procedure was completed in all revealing prostate cancer in 42% of the diabetic men and 36% of the non-diabetic men (P = 0.23). Incidence of minor or major complications was not significantly different between the two groups. Minor complications were observed in 15.6% and 16.6% of each group, respectively, with voiding disturbance being the most common. No infectious major complication was observed regardless of the presence of DM. In the diabetic men, there was no statistical difference in incidence of biopsy-related complications according to modality of DM treatment, HbA1c level or antimicrobial prophylaxis protocol. Conclusions: Transperineal 14-core biopsy can be carried out without major infectious complications in diabetic men. Oral levofloxacin 300 mg once before the procedure seems to represent an effective antimicrobial prophylaxis in diabetic men without other risk of infection.

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Although testicular teratoma in childhood is regarded as a benign tumor, little is known about the consequences of pediatric teratoma being left untreated. We report herein a case of malignant transformation observed in a mature testicular teratoma that was presumed to have remained benign for >50 years.

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Transplantation of mesothelial cells is used to repair peritoneum that is damaged by surgery, peritonitis, and peritoneal dialysis. The largest obstacle for clinical application of mesothelial cell transplantation is the lack of a reliable source of mesothelial cells. So far, they are isolated from omentum, mesentery, parietal wall and ascites. Procedures used to obtain mesothelial cells from the omentum or mesentery are invasive, however, especially in pre-operative situations. Sufficient amounts of ascites for aspiration can not be obtained under physiological conditions. We have developed a novel method of isolating mesothelial cells from the tunica vaginalis. The tunica vaginalis originates from the peritoneum and descends into the scrotum along with the testis during fetal development. This region provides a source of mesothelial cells that is convenient to approach and free from abdominal complications. Transplantation of autologous mesothelial cells that were isolated from tunica vaginalis was effective in preventing post-operative adhesions. In this review, we summarize mesothelial cell transplantation trials and describe the method of isolating mesothelial cells form the tunica vaginalis. Mesothelial cell transplantation might be widely accepted for clinical use in the near future.