There is evidence that estrogens can directly modulate human prostate cell activity. It has also been shown that cultured human prostate cancer LNCaP can synthesize the active estrogen estradiol (E2). To elucidate the metabolism of estrogens in the human prostate, we have studied the expression of enzymes involved in the formation and inactivation of estrogens at the cellular level. 17beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) types 1, 2, 4, 7, and 12, as well as aromatase mRNA and protein expressions, were studied in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) specimens using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. For 17beta-HSD type 4, only in situ hybridization studies were performed. Identical results were obtained with in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. All the enzymes studied were shown to be expressed in both epithelial and stromal cells, with the exception of 17beta-HSD types 4 and 7, which were detected only in the epithelial cells. On the basis of our previous results, showing that 3beta-HSD and 17beta-HSD type 5 are expressed in human prostate, and of the present data, it can be concluded that the human prostate expresses all the enzymes involved in the conversion of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to E2. The local biosynthesis of E2 might be involved in the development and/or progression of prostate pathology such as BPH and prostate cancer through modulation of estrogen receptors, which are also expressed in epithelial and stromal cells.

Our data support the idea that ARGs are essential for the normal development of the prostate and can also be responsible for the pathogenesis of the prostate cancer.

Nontraumatic rupture of the bladder is less widely recognized than traumatic rupture, with a challenging early diagnosis due to high variability in clinical presentations. We report a case of extraperitoneal rupture of a bladder diverticulum in a patient with diabetes mellitus who presented with paralytic ileus. Despite conservative management, the patient developed sepsis requiring surgical treatment. Urinary tract infection and bladder outlet obstruction were considered to be potential mechanisms of the rupture. Multidetector computed tomography cystography should be used as the first-line modality when evaluating for a suspected bladder rupture, even in patients with nontraumatic bladder rupture.

Despite improved diagnostic modalities for psoas abscesses, the optimum management strategy is not uniform. A 67-year-old man presented with bilateral psoas abscesses secondary to L1-L2 pyogenic discitis. On contrast-enhanced CT, the largest of these abscesses measured 13 × 14 × 33 mm on the right. The patient developed sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumonia. There were no signs of improvement after 3 weeks of systematic antibiotic administration. We performed surgical drainage of bilateral psoas abscesses by retroperitoneoscopy. Intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound was useful to determine abscess location in the muscles prior to drainage and confirm no residual abscesses after drainage. The patient was afebrile 3 days later, and his clinical symptoms resolved. Retroperitoneoscopic drainage may represent a feasible minimally invasive therapeutic option for psoas abscess, and intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound has the potential to increase the safety and efficacy of this surgical procedure.

The enzyme EST may play a physiological role in regulating local estrogen levels in human prostate.

Violent or sustained cough can be associated with serious musculoskeletal complications. We report a case of a cough-induced internal oblique hematoma in an obese 73-year-old woman who was not receiving antithrombotic therapy. She had no history of trauma and presented with acute worsening pain in the right flank. She had been coughing continuously for the past month and had severe cough 2 days before the onset of pain. Ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic mass in the right lateral abdominal wall. Unenhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed a 7 cm × 7 cm × 4 cm hematoma in the right internal oblique muscle. The patient was managed conservatively without blood transfusion. Acute abdominal pain together with an abdominal painful mass, particularly in patients with cough, should alert physicians to the possibility of an abdominal wall hematoma.

Renal calculi in patients with renal angiomyolipomas are difficult to treat because of the hemorrhagic potential of these tumors. We describe the case of a 65-year-old man having tuberous sclerosis complex-associated multifocal renal angiomyolipomas with a large renal calculus. The patient presented with left flank dullness and a previous history of spontaneous angiomyolipoma rupture. Intravenous pyelography revealed a 43 × 16 mm calculus in the pelvis and lower calyx of the left kidney. The calculus was successfully removed by retrograde flexible ureterorenoscopy and holmium-YAG lithotripsy. Flexible ureterorenoscopy is an effective, minimally invasive therapy for patients at high risk of renal hemorrhage.

The current study globally assessed the transcriptome of the prostate and revealed the most abundant and tissue-specific transcripts which are responsible for the unique functions of this organ. These prostate-specific ARGs might be used as targets to develop safe and effective gene-based therapy for the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.