Lesions produced by the extravasation of urine from the upper urinary tract

We present six cases which illustrate the spectrum of clinical features, macroscopic findings and light microscopic findings of urine extravasation from the upper urinary tract. The early lesions are characterized macroscopically by an oedematous, glistening or gelatinous appearance to the renal perihilar and peripelvic fat. Light microscopically there is lipolysis with associated foamy macrophages, multinucleate giant cells and lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical staining for Tamm–Horsfall protein is strongly positive in the extracellular space and in the foamy macrophages confirming urine extravazation. Later lesions are characterized by cicatrization of fibrous tissue around the renal pelvis and hydronephrosis. Microscopically there is relatively bland fibrosis with occasional lymphocytes and histiocytic cells. The late lesions are also characterized by extracellular deposits of weakly eosinophilic, granular or hyaline material, the so called 'urinary precipitates'. These deposits stain strongly with diastase PAS and weakly positive for Tamm–Horsfall protein. The staining of these urinary precipitates is analogous to renal tubular hyaline casts, thus supporting the theory that they are derived from uroproteins. We consider that these deposits are pathognomic of past urine extravasation.     

Incontinent Ileal Tube Repaired by Infolding with the Ileal Pouch Wall

In a patient who had undergone construction of a continent ileal pouch we successfully repaired an incontinent ileal tube by infolding it in an imbricated portion of the ileal pouch wall. For 2 years postoperatively the patient has been urine continent and has catheterized the pouch easily. We believe this infolding technique is useful for reconstructing the continent mechanism in patients with incompetent ileal valves.     

损毁双侧蓝斑区引起血尿的实验研究

用电解损毁方法损毁Ｗｉｓｔａｒ成年雄性大鼠的双侧蓝斑区。结果出现膀胱扩张、尿液潴留和血尿等，膀胱和输尿管尿液有大量红细胞和血红蛋白，膀胱粘膜和肾脏充血．结果表明：损毁双侧蓝斑区后不仅有膀胱出血，还有肾脏出血。这个实验可用作研究“特发性”血尿的动物模型。     

泌尿系感染患者血浆肿瘤坏死因子活性观察

为探讨肿瘤坏死因子与泌尿系感染的关系，我们应用双抗体夹心ELISA法检测了24例泌尿系感染患者血浆肿瘤坏死因子，并与30例健康人对照。结果发现：1、泌尿系感染患者血浆肿瘤坏死因子明显高于健康对照组（P＜0．05）；2、感染患者经治疗后，血浆肿瘤坏死因子恢复至正常水平；3、泌尿系统感染患者血浆肿瘤坏死因子活性变化与其它临床症状及尿液检查相一致。结果提示：肿瘤坏死因子参与炎症的病理过程。急性炎症时，应考虑细胞因子所起的作用。     

Protein-loading test, urinary albumin excretion and renal morphology in diagnosis of subclinical diabetic nephropathy.

The acute effects of protein loading (1.5 g kg-1) on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were investigated in 23 type-I diabetic patients with no clinical nephropathy, and in 7 healthy subjects (controls). The results were compared with renal morphology data. In controls and in 14 diabetic patients (group 1) GFR increased by 27 and 37%, respectively, corresponding to normal renal reserve, but in 9 patients (group 2) GFR decreased by 20%, indicating the absence of a renal reserve. Microalbuminuria was found in none of the patients in group 1 and in 50% of patients in group 2. Two hours after the load UAE increased in all groups, but the increase was most marked in group 2, despite the fall in GFR. The two groups of patients did not differ with regard to the duration and control of diabetes, but differed markedly in terms of baseline GFR (131 vs. 195 ml min-1, P less than 0.01, in groups 1 and 2, respectively). Renal morphology showed minimal non-specific glomerular injury in group 1, and signs of glomerulosclerosis in group 2. We conclude that the impaired renal response to protein load precedes other subclinical manifestations of diabetic renal injury, and may be useful in the diagnosis of latent diabetic nephropathy.     

Prostate Development in Prune Belly Syndrome (PBS) and Posterior Urethral Valves (PUV): Etiology of PBS-Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction or Primary Mesenchymal Defect?

Prune belly syndrome (PBS) has been recognized since 1950 as the triad of absent abdominal wall musculature, undescended testes, and urinary tract anomalies. The etiology, however, remains uncertain. Theories of mesenchymal maldevelopment, obstruction, and genetic origin have been proposed. To evaluate the role of lower urinary tract obstruction as it relates to prostatic development and PBS, we studied the lower urinary tract of 15 cases of PBS, 8 cases of posterior urethral values (PUV), and 34 age-matched controls. It is generally accepted that prostatic growth and development are dependent on mesenchymal-epithelial interactions. We evaluated the mesenchymal and epithelial differentiation and relationships, and found distinctly different and consistent abnormalities between PBS and PUV as compared with one another and controls. The findings suggest that in PBS, prostatic growth and development are hindered because of destruction or absence of the appropriate primitive mesenchyme. Our studies could not definitely exclude very early obstruction as a cause of the findings because of lack of appropriate fetal material.     

Pelvic floor neuropathy in relation to the outcome of burch colposuspension

The aim of the study was to determine the role of neurogenic damage to pelvic floor muscles on the outcome of Burch colposuspension. Thirty women objectively continent after Burch colposuspension and 18 women with recurrent stress urinary incontinence (RSUI) were investigated with concentric needle electrode electromyography (EMG) in both pubococcygeus muscles and the external anal sphincter muscle. Neurogenic EMG patterns were significantly more often seen in the pubococcygeus muscles in women with RSUI than in women continent after the colposuspension (P<0.05). The distribution of neurogenic EMG patterns in the investigated muscles was significantly more pronounced in women with RSUI than in continent women: at least one pubococcygeus muscle with neurogenic EMG pattern, 72% vs. 34% (P<0.05); both pubococcygeus muscles, 50% vs. 13% (P<0.05); and all three investigated muscles 41% vs. 10% (P<0.05). In conclusion, the results imply an association between the outcome of the Burch colposuspension and the occurrence of neuropathy in the pelvic floor muscles. Occurrence of neurogenic damage in the pubococcygeus muscles seems to impair the outcome of Burch colposuspension.     

The impact of lower urinary tract symptoms on general health status and on the use of prostatectomy

Our objective was to determine the extent to which lower urinary tract symptoms affect the general health status of men and contribute to the decision to undergo surgery. A cross-sectional population survey using postal questionnaires was conducted in the North West Thames health region, followed by a prospective cohort study of men undergoing prostatectomy (North West Thames and Oxford regions). The subjects in the first survey were 221 men aged 55 and over with previously reported mild, moderate or severe urinary symptoms; subjects in the second study were 388 men undergoing prostatectomy. Main outcome measures were selfreported symptom severity, bothersomeness and general health status (Nottingham Health Profilie, Part 1). The response rate among eligible responders in the population survey was 85.7%. Increasing symptom severity was associated with worsening NHP scores for energy, emotional reactions, sleep and physical mobility (p<0.01). Increasing bother-someness of symptoms was associated with emotional reactions, sleep and pain (p<0.05). Men undergoing surgery reported worse health status than men in the population with the same severity of symptoms as regards emotional reactions, energy and pain. For a given level of symptom severity, the impact of those symptoms on aspects of a man's general health status may be the determinant of seeking and undergoing surgery. Greater understanding of the factors that affect a man's response to his symptoms is needed in interpreting the decision to seek and accept treatment.