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In experienced hands, laparoscopic pyeloplasty is an effective alternative treatment for symptomatic ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). Although laparoscopic surgery can clearly benefit patients, laparoscopic pyeloplasty using conventional instrumentation is complex. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the feasibility of robot assisted laparoscopic surgery. Eleven pyeloplasties for UPJO were performed via a laparoscopic transperitoneal approach exclusively with the da Vinci Surgical System. The mean procedure time was 197 min (range 110-310 min). All operations were completed laparoscopically with no intraoperative complications and negligible blood loss. All patients recovered rapidly after surgery with excellent functional results at the 1 year follow-up. Our initial experience suggests that robot assisted Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty is a safe and effective alternative to conventional laparoscopic surgery. In our opinion, robot assisted surgery will allow urologists to perform complex procedures with greater precision, confidence, and better results, as well as enable them to adapt the whole spectrum of laparoscopic procedures to their field.

The potential role of angiogenesis stimulators in the pathogenesis of different tumor entities has been confirmed in several studies. We measured the serum levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) in 51 patients with testicular germ cell tumors and in 39 healthy volunteers. Serum concentrations of bFGF, VEGF and PDGF-AB were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The median serum bFGF level for tumor patients was 3.46 pg/ml (range 0-61.6) compared to 0.7 pg/ml (0-11) in the control group (P<0.01). In patients with metastatic disease, the median serum bFGF level was 10.3 pg/ml (0-61.6) in contrast to 2.8 pg/ml (0-50) in patients with localized disease (P<0.01). The median serum VEGF and PDGF levels were 270 pg/ml (0-1,903) and 37,837 pg/ml (9,075-108,800), respectively, for tumor patients and 200 pg/ml (44-585) and 23,000 pg/ml (4,250-70,650) in the control group ( P<0.05). Our data suggest that angiogenesis, as reflected by serum concentrations of bFGF, VEGF and PDGF, plays a functional role in the growth and progression of testicular germ cell tumors.

Angiogenesis, the induction of vessel growth is involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes. While the anti-tumor effect of angiogenesis inhibitors has been extensively investigated in malignant tumors, there is very little information on the effect of angiogenesis inhibitors on inflammation induced angiogenesis. In this report, we utilized a murine model of acute chemically induced cystitis to investigate the ability of three different angiogenesis inhibitors, angiostatin, endostatin and TNP-470, to inhibit the angiogenesis stimulated by this injury. We demonstrate herein, that prophylactic application of the angiogenesis inhibitors led to a significant reduction of each of the inflammatory parameters that were measured. We conclude that anti-angiogenic therapy with angiostatin, endostatin and TNP-470 inhibits inflammation associated angiogenesis induced in this model. We also propose that anti-angiogenic agents may serve as a valuable addition to a standard cyclophosphamid chemotherapy regimen to help reduce the chemotherapy-related side effects while potentially adding an anti-tumor effect.

Organ damage during organ procurement is believed to be an increasing problem among transplant centres. However, only very few published data are available. The purpose of our study was to examine the quality of kidney procurement in Germany. We retrospectively analyzed all allograft renal transplants performed at our centre from 1996 to 2005. All kidneys were retrieved in Germany and allocated by Eurotransplant. From a total of 486 cadaveric kidneys, 103 (21.2%) were not correctly retrieved. Nevertheless, none of the organs had to be rejected. In 18 (3.7%), a technically insufficient organ retrieval was associated with a considerable extension of the surgical procedure or complications. Technically insufficient kidney procurement rarely results in clinical consequences. However, surgeons performing organ retrieval should be better trained. Whether adequate technical proficiency is achieved with ten supervised cases, as requested by the German Medical Association, remains to be determined. In our opinion, a further interdisciplinary course that trains surgeons in more refined techniques of organ procurement is desirable.

Organverletzungen im Rahmen der Organentnahme werden von vielen Transplantationszentren zunehmend als Problem empfunden, wobei publizierte Daten kaum vorliegen. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, die Qualität der Leichennierenentnahme in Deutschland zu untersuchen. Alle an unserer Klinik zwischen 1996 und 2005 durchgeführten allogenen Leichennierentransplantationen mit einem innerhalb Deutschlands entnommenen und von Eurotransplant vermittelten Organ wurden retrospektiv aufgearbeitet. Von insgesamt 486 entnommenen Leichennieren wurden 103 (21,2%) von den Transplanteuren beanstandet. Keines der Organe musste abgelehnt werden. Bei 18 (3,7%) Transplantationen war die mangelhafte Entnahme mit einer erheblichen Ausweitung des Eingriffs bzw. Komplikationen verbunden. Eine mangelhafte Organentnahme geht selten mit klinischen Konsequenzen einher. Trotzdem ist eine intensivere Schulung der entnehmenden Operateure unerlässlich. Ob die von der Bundesärztekammer seit dem 01.01.2006 geforderten 10 Nierenentnahmen unter Anleitung vor selbständiger Entnahme ausreichen, bleibt abzuwarten. Eine zusätzliche klinikübergreifende Fortbildung wäre wünschenswert. Organ damage during organ procurement is believed to be an increasing problem among transplant centres. However, only very few published data are available. The purpose of our study was to examine the quality of kidney procurement in Germany. We retrospectively analyzed all allograft renal transplants performed at our centre from 1996 to 2005. All kidneys were retrieved in Germany and allocated by Eurotransplant. From a total of 486 cadaveric kidneys, 103 (21.2%) were not correctly retrieved. Nevertheless, none of the organs had to be rejected. In 18 (3.7%), a technically insufficient organ retrieval was associated with a considerable extension of the surgical procedure or complications. Technically insufficient kidney procurement rarely results in clinical consequences. However, surgeons performing organ retrieval should be better trained. Whether adequate technical proficiency is achieved with ten supervised cases, as requested by the German Medical Association, remains to be determined. In our opinion, a further interdisciplinary course that trains surgeons in more refined techniques of organ procurement is desirable.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

A case of partial priapism is reported diagnosed by contrast-enhanced MR imaging and color-coded duplex sonography. Follow-up examinations after 4 weeks and 3 months were performed. According to the results of color-coded duplex sonography and MRI, a partial priapism with development from the subacute stage to a fibrous residuum after spontaneous lysis was diagnosed. There are only very few cases of partial priapism reported in the literature and this is the first case report that demonstrates diagnosis and follow-up both by color-coded duplex sonography and contrast-enhanced MR imaging.