Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy monotherapy for staghorn stones with the second generation lithotriptors

We reviewed 50 patients with staghorn stones to determine whether extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy monotherapy is a successful alternative to the classical approaches (open operation versus percutaneous lithotripsy alone or with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy). Results free of stones at long-term followup (greater than 3 months) were obtained in 28 of 50 patients (56%) and when we included residual fragments with a diameter of less than 4 mm. (9 patients, or 18%) an over-all success rate of 74% (37 patients) was achieved. Of the patients 41 had a Double-J stent to improve fragment evacuation (5 experienced obstructive elimination), while uncomplicated evacuation was noted in the remaining 9 without a stent. No case of septicemia after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was observed but all patients had received strict antimicrobial prophylaxis.     

The effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on the expression of cytokeratin mRNA in hamster cheek pouch epithelium

The effect of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) on cytokeratin (CK) gene expression in hamster cheek pouch epithelium was studied with a hybridohistochemical technique. Using specific human anti-sense RNA probes, the plausible hamster mRNA counterparts for these human CK mRNAs were localized by detection of heterologous hybrids. In comparison with normal epithelium, the expression and distribution pattern of CK mRNAs in the hamster cheek pouch were obviously changed after application of SLS. There was a decreased expression of CK mRNAs in the hyperplastic basal layer, and increased expression in the hypertrophic granular layer. Strikingly, hybridization with the human CK 18 cRNA probe revealed an additionally expressed CK mRNA in the SLS-treated epithelium that was not found in the untreated epithelium. The present study indicates that cRNA probes for human CK mRNAs can be used successfully, not only to distinguish between different hamster CK mRNAs but also to investigate changes in CK gene expression upon the induction of non-neoplastic and neoplastic alterations in the hamster cheek pouch model. This may help elucidate the molecular changes involved in epithelial pathologies.