Background: We determined the tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) count to investigate its importance in predicting clinical outcome or prognosis in patients with bladder cancer. Methods:The TAM count and microvessel count (MVC) were determined immunohistochemically in 63 patients with bladder cancer, including 40 superficial bladder cancers and 23 invasive bladder cancers. To examine the relationship between TAM count and clinical outcome or prognosis in bladder cancer, cystectomy rates, distant metastasis rates, vascular invasion rates and 5 year survival rates were compared between patients with low (< 67) and high (≥ 67) TAM counts. Results:The TAM count in invasive bladder cancers (154.22 ± 11.98) was significantly higher than in superficial bladder cancers (49.05 ± 7.76; P < 0.0001). The MVC in invasive bladder cancers (71.55 ± 10.44) was also significantly higher than in superficial bladder cancers (47.02 ± 5.57; P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between TAM count and MVC (r = 0.30; P = 0.02).Immunohistochemical staining using CD68/horseradish peroxidase monoclonal antibody showed more infiltrating cells in invasive than superficial bladder cancers. Patients with a high TAM count (≥ 67) showed significantly higher rates of cystectomy, distant metastasis and vascular invasion than those with a lower TAM count (< 67). The 5 year survival rate estimated using the KaplanMeier method was significantly lower in patients with a high TAM count than in those with a low TAM count (P < 0.0001). Conclusions:Our results suggest that determination of TAM count in bladder cancer tissues is of value to predict the clinical outcome or prognosis and to select appropriate treatment strategies in patients with bladder cancer.

M2 and M3 receptors are expressed in rat urinary bladder. Only M3 receptor was involved in the production of IP3, which might induce the initial phase of contractile response in rat bladder smooth muscle after carbachol stimulation.

Multi-drug resistance associated protein as well as P-glycoprotein mediated multi-drug resistance may be induced after chemotherapy for bladder tumors. However, the presence of P-glycoprotein before chemotherapy does not predict clinical outcome in patients with bladder cancer.

Background: Prediction of the extent of calcium supplement will facilitate safe and efficient management of hypocalcemia in the early postoperative stage of total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation (PTXa) in patients with renal osteodystrophy. Methods:The correlation between the extent of calcium deficiency, estimated by the amount of calcium supplement over 48 h after PTXa and using various parameters such as carboxy terminal parathyroid hormone (c-PTH), intact PTH (i-PTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum calcium, serum phosphorus, duration of hemodialysis, total weight of resected parathyroid glands and degree of subperiosteal resorption of the middle phalanx was examined in 49 patients who underwent PTX with subcutaneous autotransplantation. Bone mineral density (BMD) was also determined before, 3 months and 1 year after PTXa with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in 13 patients.Results: There was a positive correlation between pre-operative i-PTH level (r = 0.56, P < 0.0005) or ALP level (r = 0.50, P < 0.0005) and the amount of calcium supplement over 48 h after PTXa in these patients. Furthermore, the degree of subperiosteal resorption, determined by Jensen's classification, was significantly correlated with the amount of calcium supplement after PTX (P < 0.05). Bone mineral density 3 months after (P < 0.0005) and 1 year after PTXa (P < 0.001) significantly increased compared with BMD before PTXa in all patients examined. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the pre-operative determination of i-PTH, ALP levels and degree of subperiosteal resorption allow the management of hypocalcemia safely and efficiently in renal osteodystrophy patients after PTXa.