Studying the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on prostate-related parameters: A prospective single institutional study.

BACKGROUND: To examine the effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) on the variables associated with prostatic growth including serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), serum testosterone, and prostate volume, and to correlate these variables with the duration of diabetes treatment. METHODS: Our study was conducted over 3 months recruiting 501 men aged ≥ 55 years; of whom 207 had type 2 DM. Exclusion criteria were active urinary tract infection, suspicious rectal examination, urologic cancer, end-organ damage, and recent urological manipulations. Serum PSA and serum testosterone were measured. Prostate volume was determined by abdominal ultrasonography using an ellipsoid formula. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 60.21 ± 5.95 years. The mean PSA, testosterone, and prostate volume for diabetic men were 2.3 ng/mL, 3 ng/mL, and 56 g, respectively. The corresponding values for nondiabetic men were 3.5 ng/mL, 4 ng/mL, and 51 g, respectively (P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.03, respectively). The mean PSA density was 0.049 ± 0.043 ng/mL/cm3 in diabetics versus 0.080 ± 0.056 ng/mL/cm3 in non-diabetics (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Type 2 DM is significantly associated with lower serum PSA and testosterone, and larger prostate volume.

High Coexpression of Runt-related Transcription Factor 2 (RUNX2) and p53 Independently Predicts Early Tumor Recurrence in Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma Patients.

Conventional prognostic factors for bladder cancer are inadequate to predict tumor recurrence and/or progression successfully; thus, the identification of adjunctive novel prognostic biomarkers is of paramount importance. In this study, the immunohistochemical expression patterns and clinical significance of RUNX2, WWOX, and p53 were investigated in a tissue microarray of 87 primary urothelial carcinomas and 17 control cases. We found that RUNX2, WWOX, and p53 were significantly correlated and overexpressed in urothelial carcinoma cases compared with the control group. RUNX2 and p53 were significantly upregulated in association with high-grade, nonpapillary pattern, and bilharziasis. Muscle-invasive tumors significantly overexpressed RUNX2. WWOX overexpression was significantly associated with high-grade tumors and inversely correlated with age. In a bivariate analysis, the risk of early tumor recurrence and progression was significantly associated with RUNX2 and p53 overexpression and bilharziasis. A multivariate Cox regression analysis proved that RUNX2 and p53 were independent predictors of early tumor recurrence. The ROC curve analysis showed that combined RUNX2 and p53 high expression (scores >3 and >5, respectively) had the highest accuracy (73.6%) for the prediction of early tumor recurrence. We conclude that RUNX2 and p53 might be functionally related and are likely involved in bladder tumor carcinogenesis and aggressiveness, which provides a new perspective for targeted therapy. RUNX2 and p53 independently predict early tumor recurrence in bladder carcinoma patients, with the highest prediction accuracy being achieved on their combined high expression. The role of WWOX in bladder urothelial carcinoma and its relationship with RUNX2 and p53 remains unclear and warrants further investigation.

Corrigendum to "Detubularised isolated ureterosigmoidostomy (Atta pouch): Manometric and radiological studies in a sample of patients" [Arab J. Urol. 12 (2014) 197-203].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.aju.2014.02.003.].

Prospective randomized comparison between cold and warm ischemia in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing partial nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare between the effects of cold and warm ischemia on the risk of deterioration of renal insufficiency in patients with T1 renal tumor managed by partial nephrectomy. METHODS: This prospective randomized study was performed on 120 patients with chronic kidney disease, all having T1 renal tumors. Renal function was estimated by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: in group A, warm ischemia was used, and in group B, cold ischemia was used. All patients were treated by open partial nephrectomy. Patients were followed up for 2 years. The primary outcome of the study was eGFR at 2 years. Secondary outcomes were tumor recurrence, loss of follow-up, or patient death. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 60.7 ± 5.3 years. Associated chronic disease (diabetes and/or hypertension) was present in 93 patients. Worsening of renal insufficiency occurred within 1 month of surgery in 38 patients (27 in group A and 11 in group B). At 3 months follow-up, 21 of these 38 patients returned to their baseline eGFR. Warm ischemia rendered patients more prone to a decrease in eGFR after partial nephrectomy, with relative risk of 1.34 and 2 times at 3 months and 2 years of follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSION: Warm ischemia increases the risk of deterioration of renal functions in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing open partial nephrectomy for renal tumors.

Clinical evaluation of patients treated with a detubularised isolated ureterosigmoidostomy diversion after radical cystectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the emptying pattern and patient satisfaction after constructing a detubularised isolated ureterosigmoidostomy (DIUS) following a cystectomy, introduced to overcome the poor outcome of conventional ureterosigmoidostomy, to improve the emptying pattern and accordingly patients' quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 122 patients who were treated with a DIUS diversion after cystectomy. The minimum follow-up of the patients was 6 months. The frequency of emptying and continence during the day and night were recorded. The ability of the patients to discriminate between urine and stool was assessed. The patients' overall satisfaction with the outcome was categorised as fully satisfied, moderately satisfied or not satisfied. RESULTS: In all, 95 patients were available for this evaluation; all patients were completely continent during the day and night. The mean emptying frequency was 3.9 during the day and 1.7 during the night. All patients were able to feel the desire to empty and the mean holding time was 35 min. Fifty-two patients (55%) could pass solid stools once per day, with minimal urine at the end of voiding, and the remaining evacuations were of clear urine only. Thirty-two patients (34%) were able to differentiate between urine and stool sensation before emptying. For satisfaction, 82 patients reported full satisfaction, 13 were moderately satisfied, and none regretted the diversion. CONCLUSIONS: The DIUS diversion provides continence during the day and night, with a satisfactory emptying habit. Patients with a DIUS diversion can tolerate a full pouch comfortably, with no leakage, and they can discriminate between urine and stool evacuations.

Detubularised isolated ureterosigmoidostomy (Atta pouch): Manometric and radiological studies in a sample of patients.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether the detubularised isolated ureterosigmoidostomy (DIUS) technique is safe for urinary diversion after radical cystectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 10 patients (mean age 61.8 years) with invasive bladder tumour, operated at the Alexandria University, Egypt. The diversion in all patients was through a DIUS, with ureteric reimplantation by an antirefluxing procedure, using an embedded-nipple technique. The patients were evaluated before and after surgery using radiological and manometric studies, and the results analysed statistically using Student's t-test. RESULTS: Nine of the 10 patients could differentiate between urinary and stool sensation, and evacuate them separately. The mean (range) daytime frequency was 4.1 (3-5) and the mean night-time frequency was 0.5 (0-1). Before and after surgery, the respective mean resting anal pressure was 71 and 74 cm H2O (P = 0.004), the volume at first desire to defecate was 54 and 72 mL (P = 0.004) and the maximum tolerable volume was 140 and 160 mL (P < 0.001). The anorectal inhibitory reflex was lost in all patients after surgery. The mean (SD, range) basal pouch pressure was 5 (3.33, 0-10) cmH2O, and the end pressure was 13.2 (4.42, 9-20) cmH2O. CONCLUSION: Although the Mainz II pouch has a documented efficacy for urinary diversion after radical cystectomy, the modifications we applied to the DIUS improved that method of diversion, by separating urine and stool evacuation, maintaining continence, and with a low frequency and better protection of the upper urinary tracts, resulting in an improvement in the patients' quality of life.

Radical cystectomy for clinically muscle invasive bladder cancer: does prior non-invasive disease affect clinical outcomes?

PURPOSE: To compare clinical and pathologic outcomes of radical cystectomy for muscle invasive bladder cancer in relation to prior history of non-invasive urothelial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective data collected from 1,150 patients managed by radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder from the Canadian Bladder Cancer Network were analysed. Patients with clinical stage T2 or more were included and divided into two groups: (Group 1) patients with prior history of non-invasive urothelial carcinoma (N = 365) and (Group 2) patients with clinical muscle invasive cancer de novo (N = 785). Variables analysed included patient age, gender, pathologic stage, adjuvant chemotherapy, recurrence and mortality. RESULTS: Both groups were nearly equal in mean age and gender distribution, with mean ages of 67.2 and 66.7 years, and 79.7 and 79.5%, respectively (P = 0.4 and 0.9, respectively). The presence of preoperative hydronephrosis was 20.8 and 32.6% (P = 0.0007) for groups 1 and 2, respectively. The rate of higher pathological stage (T3 or T4) was 36.3 and 58% (P < 0.0001), positive lymph nodes were 20.1 and 28.8% (P = 0.002), and lymphovascular invasion was 31.7 and 46.2% (P = 0.0001) for groups 1 and 2, respectively. The rate of adjuvant chemotherapy was 15.5 and 23.3% (P = 0.002) for groups 1 and 2, respectively. None of the sampled patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates at 5 years were 62 and 70% for group 1 and 51 and 60% for group 2, respectively, while at 10 years, OS and DSS were 46 and 66% for group 1 and 35 and 49% for group 2, respectively (P = 0.0001 and 0.0002, respectively). Using multivariate analysis examining factors affecting recurrence and survival, we found that previous non-invasive bladder tumour history was associated with a significantly reduced risk of mortality and recurrence (Hazard ratio of 0.7 for all risks, P = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: Our retrospective study suggests that patients with non-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder that progress to muscle invasion and require radical cystectomy appear to have better pathologic and clinical outcome than patients presenting with clinical muscle invasive disease de novo.

Prognostic factors for the development of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in Western countries and is associated with a considerable risk of mortality. Biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy is a relatively common finding, affecting approximately 25% of cases. The aim of our paper was to identify factors that can predict the occurrence of biochemical recurrence, so the patient can be properly counselled pre- and postoperatively. Medline review of the literatures was done followed by a group discussion on the chosen publications and their valuable influence. Preoperative serum total PSA and clinical stage, together with prostatectomy Gleason grade, tumour volume, and perineural and vascular invasions, were the most important variables found to influence outcome.

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for residual masses after chemotherapy in nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumor.

BACKGROUND: Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection has been advocated for the management of post-chemotherapy (PC-RPLND) residual masses of non-seminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis (NSGCT). There remains some debate as to the clinical benefit and associated morbidity. Our objective was to report our experience with PC-RPLND in NSGCT. METHODS: We have reviewed the clinical, pathologic and surgical parameters associated with PC-RPLND in a single institution. Between 1994 and 2008, three surgeons operated 73 patients with residual masses after cisplatin-based chemotherapy for a metastatic testicular cancer. Patients needed to have normal postchemotherapy serum tumor markers, no prior surgical attempts to resect retroperitoneal masses and resectable retroperitoneal tumor mass at surgery to be included in this analysis RESULTS: Mean age was 30.4 years old. Fifty-three percent had mixed germ cell tumors. The mean size of retroperitoneal metastasis was 6.3 and 4.0 cm, before and post-chemotherapy, respectively. In 56% of patients, the surgeon was able to perform a nerve sparing procedure. The overall complication rate was 27.4% and no patient died due to surgical complications. The pathologic review showed presence of fibrosis/necrosis, teratoma and viable tumor (non-teratoma) in 27 (37.0%), 30 (41.1%) and 16 (21.9%) patients, respectively. The subgroups presenting fibrosis and large tumors were more likely to have a surgical complication and had less nerve sparing procedures. CONCLUSION: PC-RPLND is a relatively safe procedure. The presence of fibrosis and large residual masses are associated with surgical complications and non-nerve-sparing procedure.

Urethral bulking agents: techniques and outcomes.

Stress urinary incontinence is a common health problem affecting women and interfering with their quality of life. The use of bulking agents for urethral augmentation seems to be a beneficial way of restoring continence in these patients while avoiding the risk of surgical intervention. Many agents are available for injection, but the ideal choice should be durable, nonmigratory, and hypoallergenic, while evoking healing with minimal scarring. We reviewed the literature to provide an update on the best techniques of bulking agent injection, to describe the different available injectable agents, and to give their outcome and possible complications.