Japan''s share of research output in urology and nephrology

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have documented Japan's share of articles in different biomedical fields. However, Japan's contribution to urology and nephrology is not known. METHODS: Seven journals in this field with the highest impact factors were selected to obtain relevant data. In June 2002, we searched the Medline database to obtain country affiliation details of articles published in the selected journals during 1991-2000. The proportion of articles with a higher grade of evidence (randomized controlled trials or clinical trials, cohort studies and case-control studies) were also generated and compared to the average values for all articles published in these journals. RESULTS: Of the total number of articles (22 232), Japan's share of research output for the selected journals in urology and nephrology was 6% (1335 articles) and it ranked second in the world following the USA (56.5%). The recent increase in the share was statistically significant for Japan, Austria, France, Germany, Spain and Turkey. The proportion of articles with a high grade of evidence was lower for articles originated in Japan than for the total number of articles. CONCLUSION: Japan's contribution to urology and nephrology research is within the range of its contribution to other biomedical fields. However, the number of high quality clinical research conducted in Japan in this field was small.     

A Case of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei with Bilateral Pleural Metastases

A case of pseudomyxoma peritonei that was first recognized bydyspnea and abnormal shadows on chest X-ray film is reported.The patient is a 67-yr-old woman who was found to have an abnormalshadow on chest X-ray filni on routine physical examinationwhen she was 47 yr old (1960). She had been asymptoniatic untilabout 2 yr before admission when she began to experience dyspneawith increased severity. On admission, the chest X-ray filmand com puted tomography showed bilateral pleural thickening.Drainage and decortica tion was carried out, and multiple cystsfilled with a gelatinous substance were found bilaterally inthe thoracic cavity. On the 66th hospital day, pan- peritonitisfollowing perforation of the appendix occurred and an emergencyoperation was performed. The patient died of acute renal failureon the 13th postoperative day. Pseudomyxoma peritonei originatingfrom pseudomucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix was diagnosedon the basis of the findings of the histopathological examination.At autopsy, the gelatinous substance was found in both pleuralcavities, the right subphrenic area, and part of the large omentum.The case presented here is a very rare case of pseudomyxoniaperitonei, because dyspnea was the main feature and abdominalsymptoms such as abdominal distension and pain were lacking.Then high level of serum carcinoenibryonic antigen seen in thiscase is also pointed out.     

Electrocoagulation Biopsy of Aberrant Pancreas of the Stomach A Case of Aberrant Gasthic Pancreas

Histopathological diagnosis of submucosal tumors of the stomach has been difficult by conventional examination, e.g. roentgenography, gastroscopy and/or routine biopsy procedure. When endoscopic diagnosis of submucosal tumor is made, surgery is generally performed for tissue biopsy. We have been attempting to avoid such exploratory laparotomy to determine the histologic nature of small asymptomatic submucosal tumors of the stomach by a technic of endoscopic biopsy followed by electrocoagulation. With such a procedure, we have been able to diagnose a case of aberrant pancreas of the stomach. Our experience suggests that this technic is a safe and useful diagnostic tool.