PSA density as a parameter in prostate biopsy decision of patients with prostate sized 80 mL or larger

Background: Patients with high prostate volume (>80 ml) and high PSA levels make it difficult to decide on prostate biopsy. In this study, author aimed to detect of predictive factors to distinguish malignant or benign prostatic lesions in patients with prostate size over 80 ml.Methods: A total of 299 patients underwent TRUSBP at the clinics between 2012-2017. Cases with prostate volume over 80 ml were divided into groups according to the pathology by benign (group 1) or malign (group 2). Author evaluated the predictive factors in two groups. Patient’s age, grading and findings of digital rectal examination, prostate volume, number of received cores, total (tPSA) and free PSA (fPSA) before biopsy, rate of percentage of free to total prostate specific antigen (f/tPSA) and PSA density was compared in both groups.Results: Benign prostate hyperplasia was detected in 217 patients (72.58%) and prostate adenocarcinoma was detected in 82 patients (27.42%). The patient’s age, tPSA, fPSA and PSA density were 63.81 years, 9.71 ng/ml, 1.78 ng/ml and 0.10 g/ml2 in group 1 and 69.10 years, 38.32 ng/ml, 5.86 ng/ml and 0.42 ng/ml2 respectively. Patient’s age, tPSA, fPSA and PSA density was statistically significant between in two groups (p<0,05). Number of received cores and rate of f/tPSA were 14.02-13.84% and 19.06-17.62% in group 1 and 2, respectively and was not statistically significant. In group 2, prostate adenocarcinoma was most common detected with Gleason score 4+3 in 21 of 82 patients (25.6%).Conclusions: High prostate volume (>80 ml) has a significant influence in PSA values and results of the biopsy, PSA density is extremely important in performing prostate biopsy decisions.

What should be the PSA threshold value? 2.5 or 4 ng/mL?

Background: In this study, author aimed to detect of threshold value of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to distinguish malignant or benign prostatic lesions in PSA evaluation.Methods: A total of 61 patients underwent TRUSBP due to high PSA values (2.5-4 ng/mL) at the clinic between 2012-2017. Digital rectal examinations of all patients were normal. Cases with PSA elevation were divided into groups according to the pathology by benign (group 1) or malign (group 2). Author evaluated the predictive factors with the exception of digital rectal examination findings in two groups.Results: Benign prostate hyperplasia was detected in 35 patients (57.4%) and prostate adenocarcinoma was detected in 26 patients (42.6%). The patient’s age, tPSA, fPSA and PSA density were 62.07 years, 3.55 ng/mL, 0.65 ng/mL and 0.09 ng/ml2 in group 1 and 58.54 years, 3.55 ng/mL, 0.74 ng/mL and 0.10 ng/ml2 in group 2, respectively. Patient’s age was statistically significant between in two groups (p<0.05). Number of received cores and rate of f/tPSA were 12.24-12 and 20.51-18.45% in group 1 and 2, respectively. tPSA, fPSA and PSA density, number of received cores and rate of f/tPSA were similar in both groups. In group 2, prostate adenocarcinoma was most common detected with Gleason score 3+3 in 19 of 26 patients (73.1%).Conclusions: There is a need different assessment to distinguish of malignant lesions from benign lesions. Nowadays, it was impossible to make this difference in patients without digital rectal examination findings, so accepted threshold of PSA should be 2.5 ng/mL.

Clinical probability and risk analysis of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the most frequent diseases that could be missed in overcrowded emergency departments as in Turkey. Early and accurate diagnosis could decrease the mortality rate and this standard algorithm should be defined. This study is to find the accurate, fast, non-invasive, cost-effective, easy-to-access diagnostic tests, clinical scoring systems and the patients who should be tested for clinical diagnosis of PE in emergency department. METHODS: One hundred and forty patients admitted to the emergency department with the final diagnosis of PE regarding to anamnesis, physical examination and risk factors, were included in this prospective, cross-sectional study. The patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, acute coronary syndrome or infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were excluded from the study. The demographics, risk factors, radiological findings, vital signs, symptoms, physical-laboratory findings, diagnostic tests and clinical scoring systems of patients (Wells and Geneva) were noted. The diagnostic criteria for pulmonary emboli were: filling defect in the pulmonary artery lumen on spiral computed tomographic angiography and perfusion defect on perfusion scintigraphy. RESULTS: Totally, 90 (64%) of the patients had PE. Age, hypotension, having deep vein thrombosis were the risk factors, and oxygen saturation, shock index, BNP, troponin and fibrinogen levels as for the biochemical parameters were significantly different between the PE (+) and PE (–) groups (P<0.05).The Wells scoring system was more successful than the other scoring systems. CONCLUSION: Biochemical parameters, clinical findings, and scoring systems, when used altogether, can contribute to the diagnosis of PE.

General characteristics of patients with electrolyte imbalance admitted to emergency department / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: Fluid and electrolyte balance is a key concept to understand for maintaining homeostasis, and for a successful treatment of many metabolic disorders. There are various regulating mechanisms for the equilibrium of electrolytes in organisms. Disorders of these mechanisms result in electrolyte imbalances that may be life-threatening clinical conditions. In this study we defined the electrolyte imbalance characteristics of patients admitted to our emergency department. METHODS: This study was conducted in the Emergency Department (ED) of Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, and included 996 patients over 18 years of age. All patients had electrolyte imbalance, with various etiologies other than traumatic origin. Demographic and clinical parameters were collected after obtaining informed consent from the patients. The ethical committee of the university approved this study. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 59.28±16.79, and 55% of the patients were male. The common symptoms of the patients were dyspnea (14.7%), fever (13.7%), and systemic deterioration (11.9%); but the most and least frequent electrolyte imbalances were hyponatremia and hypermagnesemia, respectively. Most frequent findings in physical examination were confusion (14%), edema (10%) and rales (9%); and most frequent pathological findings in ECG were tachycardia in 24%, and atrial fibrillation in 7% of the patients. Most frequent comorbidity was malignancy (39%). Most frequent diagnoses in the patients were sepsis (11%), pneumonia (9%), and acute renal failure (7%). CONCLUSIONS: Electrolyte imbalances are of particular importance in the treatment of ED patients. Therefore, ED physicians must be acknowledged of their fluid-electrolyte balance dynamics and general characteristics.