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D Engelstein

Publications and source records attributed to D Engelstein.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The effect of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy on the upper urinary tract.

A total of 66 patients with low grade, low stage transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder who were treated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) underwent cystourethrography to detect vesicoureteral reflux. BCG was instilled weekly for 6 weeks and monthly thereafter for up to 24 months. Whenever vesicoureteral reflux was found or morphological abnormalities were detected on excretory urography (IVP) an isotope renal scan was performed to evaluate the relative renal function. Vesicoureteral reflux was found in 13 patients (19.7%): 10 had grades 1 and 2A, and 3 had grade 2B reflux. The number of BCG instillations ranged from 8 to 22. IVPs were normal in 11 patients. In 2 patients mild unilateral dilatation was present before BCG instillations, and this remained unchanged during and after therapy. None of the 13 patients with vesicoureteral reflux had IVP features suggestive of urinary tuberculosis. In 11 patients the refluxing renal systems had normal relative renal function (50 to 55%). Two patients had a decrease to 40% of the relative renal function with normal IVPs, suggesting a nonBCG related cause. We conclude that BCG therapy is safe in patients with minimal reflux.

Aged↗

Clinical and pathological findings in prostates following intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin instillations.

The prostates of 36 patients who were treated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin were evaluated by digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography. When abnormal palpatory and/or ultrasonographic findings were detected, core needle biopsies from the suspicious areas were performed. Of the 36 patients 20 underwent biopsies of the prostate. Pathological findings revealed typical granulomas in 8 patients (3 caseating and 5 noncaseating multifocal granulomas). Nonspecific chronic prostatitis was noted in 4 patients and benign prostatic hyperplasia was noted in 8. The number of bacillus Calmette-Guerin instillations ranged from 6 to 19. The interval from initiation of therapy to biopsy ranged from 1.5 to 14.5 months. Caseating granulomas were found during the early course of bacillus Calmette-Guerin instillations (1.5 to 3.0 months), whereas noncaseating granulomas were detected at later stages (4 to 14.5 months). These findings present a high incidence of granuloma formation in patients treated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin. The duration of therapy is a determinant factor in the induction of granuloma type.

Administration, Intravesical↗

Incidental small renal tumors accompanying clinically overt renal cell carcinoma.

We searched 66 kidneys with renal cell carcinoma for subcapsular or intraparenchymal small nodules in the apparently normal-appearing portion of the kidney. Differentiation between adenoma and carcinoma was done according to histological characteristics. Of the 66 kidneys 20 (30 per cent) contained a total of 58 small nodules ranging from 1 to 15 mm. in diameter. In 9 kidneys the lesions were consistent histologically with carcinoma, in 7 with adenoma and in 4 with carcinoma plus adenoma. Thus, 13 of the 66 kidneys (19.7 per cent) contained small carcinoma. In view of the high incidence of small carcinoma accompanying clinically overt renal cell carcinoma, we suggest that the indications for partial nephrectomy in the management of renal cell carcinoma should be reevaluated.

Adenoma↗

The value of Rowatinex in the treatment of ureterolithiasis.

A randomized, double-blind study was carried out on forty patients with acute renal colic in order to evaluate the efficacy of Rowatinex in the treatment of patients with ureteric stones. Patients were randomized to Rowatinex and placebo tablets. In the Rowatinex-treated patients there was a significantly higher rate of expulsion of stones which were greater than or equal to 3 mm in diameter when compared with the placebo group (61% vs. 28%, respectively). A higher success rate (spontaneous stone expulsion and/or disappearance of dilatation of the collecting system on IVU) was noted in the Rowatinex group when compared to the placebo group (78% vs. 52%, respectively), although this was not statistically significant. No significant side effects were noted during the treatment with Rowatinex.

Cholagogues and Choleretics↗

Recurrent urinary tract infections in premenopausal women: prophylaxis based on an understanding of the pathogenesis.

We studied 56 sexually active premenopausal women with a normal genitourinary tract but with persistent introital colonization by enteric gram-negative bacteria who were prone to suffer recurrent urinary tract infections. Sexual intercourse was revealed as a major factor in inducing recurrent urinary tract infections, usually within 24 hours, by transferring the pre-existing introital bacteria into the bladder. Abstention from sexual activity without any additional treatment prevented the development of new urinary tract infections in these women despite persistent introital enteric bacterial flora. Urinary tract infections occurred after onset of sexual activity in all but 2 of the premenopausal women in this study. The 25 premenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections were subjected to early postcoital prophylaxis consisting of bladder voiding and the administration of a single tablet of either cotrimoxazole (80 mg. trimethoprim plus 400 mg. sulfamethoxazole), nalidixic acid (500 mg.), nitrofurantoin (50 or 100 mg.) or sulfonamides (500 mg. sulfisoxazole or 250 mg. sulfamethizole). Whereas 70 urinary tract infections occurred during a mean 8-month followup before treatment only 4 occurred during the mean 12.5-month followup after introduction of post-coital prophylaxis (none occurred on co-trimoxazole or nalidixic acid therapy and only 1 infection occurred on nitrofurantoin therapy). Sulfonamides are not recommended as post-coital prophylaxis because of the higher incidence of breakthrough infections. Post-coital prophylaxis with co-trimoxazole, nalidixic acid or nitrofurantoin proved to be simple, economical and efficient, and is recommended in the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in otherwise normal premenopausal women.

Adult↗

Expression of the kidney-associated differentiation glycoprotein gp160 and resistance to the antitumor effects of interferon alpha in renal cell carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: Alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) is commonly used to treat patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We previously reported that resistance of RCCs to IFN-alpha in vitro correlated with the expression of a cell-surface glycoprotein of 160,00 kD molecular weight (gp160) which we subsequently identified as aminopeptidase A. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To directly test the role of gp160/APA in IFN-resistance, we stably introduced the gp160/APA cDNA into IFN-sensitive SK-RC-49 cells resulting in the expression of an enzymatically active gp160/APA protein. In addition, to determine if gp160/APA expression could function as a marker of IFN-resistance in vivo, we assessed gp160/APA protein levels in autologous normal kidney and primary renal cancer specimens from 29 patients half of which were randomized to receive adjuvant IFN-alpha therapy following nephrectomy. RESULTS: Four clones which possessed varying amounts of gp160/APA specific enzyme activity were assayed for sensitivity to the antiproliferative effects of IFN-alpha. All four clones exhibited sensitivity to IFN-alpha similar to that observed with parental SK-RC-49 cells. The analysis of tumor tissue detected no significant difference between the mean level of gp160/APA in tissue from control and IFN-alpha treated patients (1.33 A.U. versus 0.9981 A.U., p = 0.23); however, the mean gp160/APA level was significantly less in tumor tissue (mean = 1.15 A.U.) compared to normal tissue (mean = 2.15 A.U.; p < 0.00001). Within the IFN-alpha treated group, tumor gp160/APA levels did not correlate with the development of metastases or survival (p = 0.469). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that gp160/APA does not directly convey IFN-resistance to RCC cells and suggest that expression of gp160/APA in primary RCCs does not predict the benefit of IFN-alpha therapy.

Aged↗