The AVP-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity is impaired in ARF, secondary to a defect at the level of the G protein. The expression of AQP2 was reduced as a consequence, which may in part account for urinary concentration defect in ARF.

Objective  To evaluate the effect of interferon‐α2B on mumps orchitis, often caused by postpubertal mumps and which can result in permanent testicular atrophy. Patients and methods  The study included 21 patients with mumps orchitis, treated between May 1990 and June 1997. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups: in group 1, 13 patients received therapy with interferon‐α2B (3×106 IU per day) and group 2 did not, acting as controls. All were evaluated by measurements of testis size, mumps virus titre, hormone level and semen analysis. Results  In group 1, the patients’ symptoms resolved within 2–3 days and the volume of the testes returned to normal within 11 days; there was no testicular atrophy in any patient during the follow‐up. However, asthenospermia continued to be detected in four patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in two). In group 2, the patients’ symptoms resolved within 5–6 days and the volume of the testes returned to normal within 10 days; testes atrophied in three patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in one) during the follow‐up. Asthenospermia continued in four patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in two). Conclusion  These results suggest that treatment with systemic interferon‐α2B is effective in preventing testicular atrophy when combined with standard symptomatic treatment.

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Objectives: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels are affected by many factors. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a common metabolic disorder related to the increasing prevalence of obesity. The relationship between MS and PSA is currently unknown, however. The aim of this study was to examine whether PSA levels were affected by MS. Methods: We evaluated the association between MS and PSA in a group of 2007 men (aged 30 to 79 years) without prostate cancer who received a general health checkup. Men with abnormal digital rectal examination findings or PSA values higher than 3.0 ng/mL were considered abnormal and excluded from the study. MS was defined according to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel guidelines. Eligible men were classified according to the number of each component and the presence or absence of MS. Results: PSA levels, as a whole, were inversely correlated with MS (P = 0.043). An increased number of MS components was significantly associated with linear decreasing trends of PSA levels (P-trend < 0.001). When a multivariate analysis was performed with age and each MS, age (P < 0.001), abdominal obesity (P = 0.001), and an impaired fasting glucose level (P = 0.047) were strongly associated with PSA levels. Conclusions: MS is associated with decreased PSA levels. When determining whether to perform prostate biopsy as part of early prostate cancer detection, MS should be considered as a factor associated with reduced PSA in men presenting with marginal PSA levels.

PurposeAlthough transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is considered the standard surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is replacing TURP. We compared TURP with HoLEP with matching for prostate size.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of patients who underwent TURP and HoLEP performed by one surgeon at our institute. All patients were categorized into 3 groups on the basis of prostate size (group 1, <40 g; group 2, 40-79 g; and group 3, >80 g), and 45 patients were selected for each method.ResultsNo major intraoperative complications were encountered. The mean resected tissue weight was 6.3, 18.3, and 28.0 g for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, for TURP and 8.7, 25.0, and 39.8 g, respectively, for HoLEP. The mean operation time was 51.8, 89.3, and 101.9 minutes for TURP and 83.6, 122.8, and 131.2 minutes for HoLEP in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. HoLEP had better resection efficacy than TURP for any size prostate, but there was no statistical difference between the methods. Both methods resulted in an immediate and significant improvement of International Prostate Symptom Score, peak urinary flow rates, and postvoid residual urine volume.ConclusionsHoLEP is effective for BPH treatment, regardless of prostate size, even in a small prostate. The perioperative morbidity of HoLEP is also comparable to that of TURP.

PurposeWe analyzed a series of patients who had undergone laparoscopic partial nephrectomies (LPNs) and open partial nephrectomies (OPNs) to compare outcomes of the two procedures in patients with pathologic T1a renal cell carcinomas (RCCs).Materials and MethodsFrom January 1998 to May 2009, 417 LPNs and 345 OPNs were performed on patients with small renal tumors in 15 institutions in Korea. Of the patients, 273 and 279 patients, respectively, were confirmed to have pT1a RCC. The cohorts were compared with respect to demographics, peri-operative data, and oncologic and functional outcomes.ResultsThe demographic data were similar between the groups. Although the tumor location was more exophytic (51% vs. 44%, p=0.047) and smaller (2.1 cm vs. 2.3 cm, p=0.026) in the LPN cohort, the OPN cohort demonstrated shorter ischemia times (23.4 min vs. 33.3 min, p<0.001). The LPN cohort was associated with less blood loss than the OPN cohort (293 ml vs. 418 ml, p<0.001). Of note, two patients who underwent LPNs had open conversions and nephrectomies were performed because of intra-operative hemorrhage. The decline in the glomerular filtration rate at the last available follow-up (LPN, 10.9%; and OPN, 10.6%) was similar in both groups (p=0.8). Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year local recurrence-free survival (RFS) were 96% after LPN and 94% after OPN (p=0.8).ConclusionsThe LPN group demonstrated similar rates of recurrence-free survival, complications, and postoperative GFR change compared with OPN group. The LPN may be an acceptable surgical option in patients with small RCC in Korea.

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RESULTS• The median follow-up was 30 months in the TLRN group and 35.6 months in the RLRN group. Both groups were comparable regarding age, gender, body mass index (BMI), Fuhrman's grade, size of tumours and stage.• Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test showed no significant difference between the TLRN and RLRN groups in 5-year overall (92.6% vs 94.5%; P = 0.669) and recurrence-free survival (92.0% vs 96.2%; P = 0.244).• In a Cox regression model with age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, BMI, nuclear grade and T-stage adjusted variables, no significant difference was found between the two surgical approaches. CONCLUSION• The present study is the largest oncological analysis for laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) comparing transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches. The data from it provide the objective evidence to suggest similar oncological outcomes for both approaches to LRN. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) can be performed by a retroperitoneal approach with similar efficacy compared to the transperitoneal approach. However, the oncological acceptance of LRN has been based on studies which have been carried out primarily by transperitoneal approach, and oncological results of the retroperitoneal approach alone are lacking.Our study confirmed that retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is oncologically-equivalent to transperitoneal approach in homogeneous group with the final pathological diagnosis of clear cell RCC. OBJECTIVE• To investigate the oncological efficacy of retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (RLRN) compared with transperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (TLRN) for the management of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS• With emphasis on survival and disease recurrence, a retrospective analysis was made of 580 patients who underwent TLRN (472 patients) or RLRN (108 patients) at 23 institutions between January 1997 and December 2007.• Inclusion criteria were clear-cell RCC, stage pT1 to pT2 without any nodal involvement, and metastasis.• Overall survival and recurrence-free survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.• To assess the association between the surgical approach and survival outcomes, Cox proportional hazard models were constructed.