Uroplakins (UPs), urothelium-specific transmembrane proteins, are present only in urothelial cells. We have determined the nucleotide sequences of human UP-Ib and UP-III and synthesized specific primer pairs. The two UP genes were expressed in both cancerous and noncancerous urothelia taken from all patients examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These genes were also detected in the peripheral blood of 3 patients with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), but not in that from 9 patients with non-metastatic TCC or 3 healthy volunteers. The sensitivity of our assay was sufficient to detect one cancer cell in 5 ml of peripheral blood. Detection of UP gene-expression in blood by RT-PCR may provide helpful information for the diagnosis and management of TCC.

Background. Malignant melanoma is one of the rarest tumors of the female urethra. The prognosis of urethral melanoma is poor. Methods. A 59‐year‐old woman underwent total urethrectomy, bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection, and vesicostomy for Stage A primary malignant melanoma of the urethra. She received adjuvant therapy consisting of dacarbazine, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and alpha‐interferon. Two years later, repair of the parastomal hernia and interposition of an isoperistaltically ileum intussusception between the bladder and the abdominal wall were done. Results. Complete continence was achieved, and the patient catheterizes herself every 3–5 hours during the day and once at night without difficulty. She has survived 5 years without any evidence of tumor recurrence. Conclusions. There have been only six case reports of women with primary malignant melanoma of the urethra surviving more than 5 years, including this case. Total urethrectomy with bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection should be done as the initial form of the treatment in patients with this disease who have no evidence of distant metastasis. The postoperative adjuvant therapy, consisting of alpha‐interferon and chemotherapy, should be administered immediately; therefore, vesicostomy was done because it is a simple procedure. However, this type of urinary diversion requires an external appliance. Clinicians should consider the patient's quality of life, prognosis, and general condition and attempt to solve the problems of patients 2–3 years after the operation.

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A rare case of bilateral synchronous multilocular epididymal cysts is reported. A fifty-six year old man visited to our hospital with a chief complaint of swelling of bilateral intrascrotal contents. Ultrasonographic findings demonstrated multilocular lesions of the bilateral intrascrotal contents. Preoperative diagnosis was bilateral multilocular hydrocele testes. Operative procedure revealed bilateral cysts originating from the head, body and tail of the epididymis without the cysts of the tunica vaginalis. Operative sight was bilateral synchronous multilocular epididymal cysts, and bilateral epididymal cystectomy were performed. The specimen size was right diameter 12 x 6 cm and left its 8 x 5.5 cm. The puncture of the cystic fluid revealed many spermatozoa in both sides. The acquired cysts of the epididymis generally are the result of tubular obstruction with dilation of tubules adjacent to the obstruction. The dilated tubules are filled variably with viable and degenerating spermatozoa. The cysts originate most commonly from the head of the epididymis, and are unilateral, unilocular or multilocular and are usually within 1 cm in diameter. In our case, bilateral synchronous epididymal cysts originating from not only the head, but also the body and the tail is a rare case.

The value of autotransfusion is widely recognized in the surgical community and may be of increasing importance in prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and hepatitis. The concern of possible contamination of the blood with urine, bacteria in urine or viable tumor cells has limited the wide use of intraoperative autotransfusion (IAT) in urological operation. There have been no experimental reports about protection of the blood from such contamination. To investigate separation of the blood from a contaminated mixture by using an autotransfusion machine, Haemonetic Cell Saver, a study composed of three experiments was performed. First, 200 ml of blood was mixed 200 ml of urine, and thereafter, the mixture was processed by the machine and the concentration erythrocytes were collected in a bag. Biochemical analysis of the collected erythrocyte solution (CES) was performed. Second, 200 ml of blood was mixed with 200 ml of urine that was adjusted to contain each 10(7)/ml of four bacterial strains. The bacteriological study of the CES was performed. Third, 200 ml of blood was mixed with 200 ml of urine that was adjusted to contain 10(7) cancer cells. Two cell lines, KK47 originated from human bladder cancer and ACHN originated from human renal cell carcinoma was used. The cytological study of the CES was performed. The results of these experiments were: Urine constituents were completely removed from the mixture. However, all strains of bacteria could not be separated, although the number of bacteria decreased. Cancer cells were found in the CES. In conclusion IAT should be done at urological operation in selected patients that have sterile urine and do not have tumor cells in the operation field.