Sensing of Metal Ions by Hybrid Systems of a Chiral Schiff Base Zn(II) Complex and Spiropyran

We have constructed three (hybrid) systems for quantitative fluorescence sensing of metal ions by using chiral Schiff base Zn(II) complexes. System 1 is a hybrid system composed of a trans-type chiral Schiff base Zn(II) complex and merocyanine (Mc), which is open-form of spiropyran (Sp) after photoisomerization. Depending on intermolecular interactions and quenching, increase (Zn2+) or decrease (Cu2+ and Gd3+) of fluorescence intensity of Zn(II) complex could be observed as functions of concentration of metal ions. System 2 is a sole component of a salen-type chiral Schiff base Zn(II) complex which can coordinate metal ions. After coordination of Zn2+, Cu2+, and Gd3+ ions, decreasing of fluorescence intensity could be found for all the cases for system 2 under the same condition to system 1. System 3 is a hybrid system being consisted of a salen-type chiral Schiff base Zn(II) complex and Mc. Decrease or increase of fluorescence intensity is in agreement with intermolecular interactions, namely affinity for the Zn(II) complex is Zn2+ > Cu2+ > Gd3+, whereas it is reverse order for Mc. The quantitative spectroscopic nature (detected as absorption, CD, and fluorescence) of these systems is predominantly attributed to both organic ligands and Zn(II) center in a probe comple

Diagnostic Ureteroscopy for Cases Clinically Suspected of Carcinoma in Situ of the Upper Urinary Tract

　We elucidate the fate of cases clinically suspected of carcinoma in situ (Cis) of the upper tract with serial ureteroscopy. Of 143 patients who underwent ureteroscopy for suspected upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) between January 2008 and February 2016, 12 cases with consistently positive urine cytology and poorly detectable upper-tract malignancies by imaging were reviewed. In these 12 patients, 19 ureteroscopy procedures (25 renal units) were performed. Vesical random biopsy was performed before the 1st ureteroscopy to exclude malignancy of the bladder in all 12 cases. Median follow-up was 42 (13-67) months. Positive biopsy results at the 1st ureteroscopy were obtained in 3 (25%) patients and all were diagnosed wth Cis of the upper tract. Two (17%) of 9 patients who were negative or inconclusive at the 1st ureteroscopy were finally diagnosed as UTUC, but plural ureteroscopy procedures were needed for the diagnoses in both. Carcinoma of the bladder appeared in 5 (42%) patients during follow-up, despite the earlier ruling out of vesical malignancy. Four (33%) of those 5 patients never developed upper-tract urothelial carcinoma during follow-up. Caution is required before undertaking radical surgery for cases clinically suspected of Cis of the upper tract. In our experience, only 42% of such patients developed UTUC; another 33% eventually developed carcinoma of the bladder without UTUC

A Case of Metastatic Urachal Cancer Including a Neuroendocrine Component Treated with Gemcitabine, Cisplatin and Paclitaxel Combination Chemotherapy

The present case report describes a case of recurrent and advanced urachal carcinoma including neuroendocrine features with iliac bone metastasis after partial cystectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of irinotecan and cisplatin in a 32-year-old man. He received gemcitabine/cisplatin/ paclitaxel (GCP) combination chemotherapy, consisting of gemcitabin (1,000mg/m2) on day 1, 8, cisplatin (70mg/m2) on day 1, and paclitaxel (80mg/m2) on day 1 and 8. After three cycles of chemotherapy, PET-CT showed complete regression of the disease. So the patient underwent total cystourethrectomy, and histological examination showed an almost complete pathological response. External beam radiation therapy was also given to the ileac bone metastasis regions. However, PET-CT taken 17 months after the external beam radiation showed multiple lung metastases. He received GCP chemotherapy again, which resulted in a complete response again after three cycles of chemotherapy. This is the first report on GCP chemotherapy used not only as a salvage chemotherapy but also as a rechallenge regimen for metastatic urachal cancer including a neuroendocrine component

A Combination Therapy of Partial Nephrectomy and Cryoablation Achieved Good Cancer Control and Renal Function in Bilateral Synchronous Renal Cell Carcinoma

We report the case of a 58-year-old Japanese man with bilateral synchronous renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The diameters of the right and left tumors were 56 and 69 mm, respectively. Both tumors were endophytic. Cryoablation with prophylactic embolization was performed for the left tumor, and 1 month later, a right open partial nephrectomy was performed. No recurrence was observed during a 16-month follow-up, and the serum creatinine level has been stable. The prognosis of bilateral synchronous RCC is better than that of dialysis patients. The novel approach of combining cryoablation and partial nephrectomy can achieve good cancer control and renal function in bilateral RCC

Robotic Renal Autotransplantation: First Case Outside of North America

A 38-year-old woman with a 2.7-cm left ureteral stenosis requiring chronic ureteral stent exchange elected to undergo robotic renal autotransplantation. Left ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) was also suspected. Robotic donor nephrectomy contributed to the fine dissection for desmoplastic changes. The kidney was removed through a Gelport and examined on ice. UPJO was not seen. An end-to-side robotic anastomosis was created between the renal and external iliac vessels. The console time was 507 min, and the warm ischemia time was 4 min 5 sec. She became stent-free. Robotic renal autotransplantation is a new, minimally invasive approach to renal preservation

Burned-out Prostate Cancer ? Primary Metastatic Cancer Not Detected on Repeat Biopsy

Metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) cases that cannot be detected on repeat prostate biopsy are extremely rare. Our patient was a 51-year-old Japanese man diagnosed as metastatic PCa by histopathological examination of lesions obtained bone biopsy and lymph node dissection. The primary tumor was not detected after repeated prostate biopsy. Metastatic PCa was diagnosed based on immunohistochemical staining: PSA, AR, P504S, and NKX3.1 of bone and lymph node with metastasis. We speculate that the primary PCa was “burned-out,” demonstrating remote metastases with no apparent primary tumor in the prostate. Burned-out PCa may be difficult to diagnose and treat due to its rarity