Following maximum androgen blockade with an alternative nonsteroidal antiandrogen is effective for advanced prostate cancer that has relapsed after initial maximum androgen blockade. Even a partial response to second line maximum androgen blockade was associated with improved survival. Our data support the notion that responders to second line regimens are androgen independent but still hormonally sensitive.

In this study, we evaluated the permeation of piperacillin (PIPC), imipenem (IPM), amikacin (AKM), gentamicin (GM), ofloxacin (OFLX), levofloxacin (LVFX), ciprofloxacin (CPFX) and sparfloxacin (SPFX) through Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm with a simple new method. Bacteria used were a leucine-requiring mucoid mutant. Bacteria were grown on the membrane of a cell culture insert in chemically defined medium and incubated at 37 °C for 5 days. At days 0, 1, 3 and 5, the penetration rates through the biofilms were measured. PIPC and IPM demonstrated relatively high permeation both with penetration rates at day 5 of 50%, whereas AMK and GM, which are aminoglycosides, showed low permeation both with penetration rates after day 1 of less than 25%. Among the 4 fluoroquinolones, LVFX and SPFX demonstrated excellent permeation with penetration rates that reached 100% from day 0 to 5, while OFLX and CPFX showed almost the same permeation as IPM. This method of measuring penetration rates of antimicrobial agents through biofilm is very simple and useful for the evaluation of antibiotics against biofilm-forming bacteria.

Aims : To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of nocturnal enuresis (NE) and to examine the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in primary schoolchildren. Methods : After conducting an anonymous questionnaire survey about voiding habits and bowel habits in primary schoolchildren, a total of 6917 schoolchildren belonging to 11 primary schools were randomly enrolled in the survey. According to the International Continence Society, we defined NE as any involuntary loss of urine during sleep, occurring more frequently than once per month. Children with NE were subdivided into two groups, monosymptomatic NE (MNE) and enuretic syndrome (ES). To evaluate the characteristic differences of MNE and ES, we assessed the relationships between NE and voiding habits, and episodes of cystitis and constipation. Overactive bladder was defined as increased daytime frequency and/or urge urinary incontinence, and its prevalence was investigated. Results : The response rate to the questionnaire was 76.4%. The prevalence of NE was 5.9% and was inversely related to increasing age. Monosymptomatic NE comprised 59.4% of NE cases. The annual spontaneous resolution rate of MNE was higher than that of ES. Increased daytime frequency, a history of cystitis and infrequent bowel habits were not related to MNE, but were significantly related to ES. The prevalence of OAB was 17.8%. Children with a history of cystitis had a significantly higher rate of OAB than children without it. Conclusions : Overall, NE and OAB were detected in 5.9% and 17.8% of primary schoolchildren, respectively. The link between NE and OAB symptoms, urinary tract infections and constipation deserves more attention.

We found that the overall prevalence of DUI in primary school children was 6.3%, gradually decreasing with age. Increased daytime frequency, history of cystitis and infrequent bowel habits were significantly related to DUI. The link between DUI and daytime frequency, urinary tract infections and constipation deserves more attention.