Increased systemic IL-6 levels point to inflammation as a determinant of renal cell carcinoma development

Introduction: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most prevalent kidney tumors. Inflammation is believed to be a key factor in its progression and spread since inflammatory markers are generally associated with poor prognosis in RCC patients. Cytokines are cell communication molecules involved in both healthy and pathological processes, including tumor growth and progression. Recent findings suggest that cytokine level measurements could be used for cancer monitoring and prognosis. Methods: This study characterized and compared the levels of different cytokines associated with the classical Th1, Th2, and Th17 immune responses in plasma samples from RCC patients (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 29). Cytokine levels (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-17A) were evaluated by flow cytometry using a BD Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) kit. Results: No statistical differences in systemic IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17A, TNF, and INF-γ levels were observed between RCC patients and controls (p > 0.05). However, higher systemic IL-6 levels were observed in RCC patients (p = 0.0034). Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of assessing the impact of IL-6 on RCC pathogenesis and its potential role as a biomarker of disease progression. (AU)

Prospective evaluation of vesicourethral anastomosis outcomes in robotic radical prostatectomy during early experience in a university hospital

ABSTRACT Purpose: Robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) presents challenges for the surgeon, especially during the initial learning curve. We aimed to evaluate early and mid-term functional outcomes and complications related to vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA), in patients who underwent RARP, during the initial experience in an academic hospital. We also assessed possible predictors of postoperative incontinence and compared these results with the literature. Materials and Methods: We prospectively collected data from consecutive patients that underwent RARP. Patients with at least 6 months of follow-up were included in the analysis for the following outcomes: time to complete VUA, continence and complications related to anastomosis. Nerve-sparing status, age, BMI, EBL, pathological tumor staging, and prostate size were evaluated as possible factors predicting early and midterm continence. Results were compared with current literature. Results: Data from 60 patients was assessed. Mean time to complete VUA was 34 minutes, and console time was 247 minutes. Continence in 6 months was 90%. Incidence of urinary leakage was 3.3%, no patients developed bladder neck contracture or postoperative urinary retention. On multivariate analysis, age and pathological staging was associated to 3-month continence status. Conclusion: Our data show that, during early experience with RARP in a public university hospital, it is possible to achieve good results regarding continence and other outcomes related to VUA. We also found that age and pathological staging was associated to early continence status.

Assessment of satisfaction and Quality of Life using self - reported questionnaires after urethroplasty: a prospective analysis

ABSTRACT Objectives To assess patient satisfaction and quality of life after urethroplasty using two different self-reported outcome measures and to compare it with objective clinical data. Materials and Methods We prospectively collected data from 35 consecutive patients who underwent urethroplasty from January 2013 to September 2014. Patient demographics, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life score, urethral stricture surgery patient-reported outcome measure (USS-PROM), maximum flow rate (Qmax) and post-void residual urine were collected before, two and eight months after surgery. Failure occurred when any postoperative instrumentation was performed. General estimation equation was used to compare the results and linear regression analysis to correlate both questionnaires with objective data. Results Mean age was 61 years. Urethroplasties were equally divided between anastomotic and buccal mucosa grafts and 19 patients (59.3%) had a previous urethral procedure. Overall success rate was 87.5%. IPSS improved from a mean 19 at baseline to 5.32 at 8 months (p <0.001). The mean USS-PROM score also improved from 13.21 preoperatively to 3.36 after surgery (p <0.001) and 84.3% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with surgical results. Mean Qmax increased from 4.64mL/s to 11mL/s (p <0.001). Strong negative correlation was found respectively between flow rate and USS-PROM (r=-0.531, p <0.001) and with IPSS (r=-0.512, p <0.001). Conclusions Significant improvements in urinary symptoms and in quality of life are expected after urethroplasty and they are correlated with objective measures.

Validaçäo estatística do escore internacional de sintomas prostáticos (I-PSS) na língua portuguesa / Statistical validation of the international prostatic symptom score (I-PSS) in portuguese

Objetivo: Validar o I-PSS (International Prostatic Symptom Score) na língua portuguesa. Material e método: Um grupo de 281 pacientes com hiperplasia prostática benigna (HPB) foi avaliado com uma traduçäo portuguesa dos escores -PSS, QL (Qualidade de Vida) e BII (índice de impacto da HPB). Avaliou-se a confiabilidade teste-reteste, comparando-se os escores obtidos em dois momentos por meio do coeficiente de correlaçäo de Pearson e do teste "t" de Student; a consistência interna foi determinada através da estatística de Chronbach; e verificou-se a validade de constructo pela correlaçäo do I-PSS com os escores QL e BII através do coeficiente de correlaçäo de Pearson e modelos de regressao linear. A responsividade do instrumento foi avaliada em outro grupo de 49 pacientes submetidos a incisäo transuretral de próstata, comparando-se os escores I-PSS e QL pré e pós-operatórios por meio do teste "t" de Student. Resultados: Os coeficientes de correlaçäo em dois momentos dos escores I-PSS, QL e BII foram 0,843, 0,782 e 0,791 (p<0,0001), respectivamente. O I-PSS se correlacionou com os escores QL (r=0,687 p<0,0001) e BII (r=0,727 p<0,0001). O de Chronbach foi calculado em 0,816. As médias dos scores I-PSS e QL diminuíram de 22,71 e 4,04, antes da cirurgia, para 6,42 e 1,66, respectivamente, após a cirurgia (p<0,0001). Conclusäo: O I-PSS traduzido apresentou excelente desempenho psicométrico e pode ser utilizado como instrumento de mensuraçäo de sintomas de HPB no Brasil