To decrease the toxicity of hepatic arterial fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR) administered through an Infusaid pump (Shiley Infusaid, Inc., Norwood, MA), 50 patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer were selected randomly to receive FUDR, 0.3 mg/kg/d, for 14 of 28 days, with or without a total dose of 20 mg of hepatic arterial dexamethasone for 14 of 28 days. Patients were stratified according to the percentage of liver involvement by tumor and the perfusion pattern on macroaggrated albumin perfusion scan (MAA) scan. There was a trend toward decreased frequency of bilirubin levels in the group receiving dexamethasone plus FUDR versus the group receiving FUDR alone (9% and 30%, respectively, had a 200% or greater increase from baseline; P = 0.07). Patients in the group treated with dexamethasone and FUDR received higher doses of FUDR in the second, third, fifth, and sixth months than those receiving FUDR alone; however, this was statistically significant only in the fifth month (percentages of planned dose received: 42% and 19%, respectively; P = 0.05), and there was no overall difference for the total 6‐month period. The complete and partial response rates were increased in patients receiving dexamethasone and FUDR versus FUDR alone (8% and 63% versus 4% and 36%, respectively; P = 0.03), and there was a trend toward increased survival with the addition of dexamethasone (median, 23 months and 15 months, respectively; P = 0.06). In conclusion, the use of hepatic arterial dexamethasone is associated with an increased response rate and a trend toward increased survival and decreased bilirubin levels. Therefore, the authors recommend additional investigation of the use of dexamethasone with chemotherapy to treat hepatic metastases.

Although bulbar urethroplasty has a good stricture-free rate, patients with increased stricture length, increased overall comorbidity, obesity and strictures of infectious etiology are at higher risk for failure. These patients at risk should be counseled accordingly and perhaps be followed more closely after urethroplasty.

Encapsulation of tissue has been an area of intense research with a myriad number of therapeutic applications as diverse as cancer, tissue regeneration, and diabetes. In the case of diabetes, transplantation of pancreatic islets of Langerhans containing insulin-producing beta cells has shown promise toward a cure. However, anti-rejection therapy that is needed to sustain the transplanted tissue has numerous adverse effects, and the islets might still be damaged by immune processes. Furthermore, the profound scarcity of healthy human donor organs restricts the availability of islets for transplant. Islet encapsulation allows the protection of this tissue without the use of toxic medications, while also expanding the donor pool to include animal sources. Before the widespread application of this therapy, there are still issues that need to be resolved. There are many materials that can be used, differing shapes and sizes of capsules, and varied sources of islets to name a few variables that need to be considered. In this review, the current options for capsule generation, past animal and human studies, and future directions in this area of research are discussed.

Background: There has been increasing interest in determining renal outcomes after nephrectomy for renal tumors. Previous studies have not assessed all relevant risk factors, including proteinuria. Objective: We sought to determine the risk and predictors for the development of adverse renal outcomes in a population-based cohort of subjects undergoing partial or complete nephrectomy. Design, Setting, and Participants: A large population-based data set was used to identify all subjects undergoing nephrectomy in Alberta, Canada, from 2002 to 2007 using administrative codes. Comorbid conditions were determined using validated algorithms, and baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria status were determined. Measurements: Postsurgical outcomes of end-stage renal disease, acute dialysis, chronic kidney disease (CKD) (eGFR < 30 mL/min per 1.73 m(2)), and rapidly progressive CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2) and eGFR loss ≥ 4 mL/min per 1.73 m(2) per year) were assessed. The risk and risk factors for developing the composite renal outcome were determined using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Results and Limitations: Of 1151 subjects, 10.5% developed an adverse renal outcome over a mean of 32 mo. Complete (vs. partial) nephrectomy was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.75 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-2.99) for the primary outcome, as was lower baseline eGFR. Subjects with proteinuria were more likely to experience the primary outcome (42% vs. 9%), conferring an adjusted HR of 2.40 (95% CI, 1.47-3.88). Conclusions: Clinically important adverse renal outcomes are common in patients undergoing nephrectomy for renal tumors. In addition to baseline eGFR and the extent of the renal mass removed, proteinuria is a strong independent risk factor. Assessment of proteinuria, in addition to other risk factors, should be performed to inform prognosis and the optimal treatment strategy.

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