Postoperative treatment with phytotheraphy Graminex G63 (CERNILEN-Flogo®) after greenlight laser XPS (180W) photovaporization of the prostate (PVP), can affect patient's quality of life?

OBJECTIVE: Phytotherapic treatment as Cernilen-flogo® is commonly used to treat chronic pelvic pain, chronic prostatitis, and BPE (benign prostatic enlargement). In our study, for the first time, we aim to evaluate postoperatively Cernilen-flogo® therapy in patients with BPE/LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) previously treated with Greenlight laser XPS (180W) photovaporization of prostate (PVP) to improve surgical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data from patients treated with PVP for BPE/LUTS international prostate symptom score (IPSS) >20 unresponding to conventional treatment. Two groups of patients were analyzed: Group A including 15 patients (50%) treated postoperatively with Cernilen-flogo® vs. no treatment Group B. One expert surgeon performed all the procedures. RESULTS: 30 patients included with BPE/LUTs previously treated with PVP. There was no difference between patients' demographic, median age, prostate volume and PSA (prostate specific antigen) level. All patients had a postoperative evaluation after 30-45 days. Patients with postoperative complications (acute urinary retention, postoperative hematuria) were excluded from our study. All patients had a preoperative and postoperative evaluation of IPSS, bother score (BS) and pelvic discomfort (visual analogic scale VAS). Preoperatively there was no significative difference in IPSS, BS and VAS. IPSS Group A was postoperatively 7.13 (SD 1.64) and Group B was 7.33 (SD 1.58) (p=0.67); BS Group A was postoperatively 1.33 (SD 0.81), Group B was 1.73 (SD 1.09) (p=0.30), and VAS Group A was 2.73 (SD 1.9) and Group B was 4.33 (SD 1.58) (p=0.004) showing a statistically significative difference between the two groups in pelvic discomfort with a better outcome in patients treated with Cernilen-flogo®. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that Cernilen-flogo® treatment after PVP is effective and minimize patient's pelvic discomfort showed by lower VAS level resulting in better postoperatively patient's quality of life (QOL).

Role of silodosin in patients with LUTS/BPE non responding to medical treatment with tamsulosin: a prospective, open-label, pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are frequently experienced in association with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). Current guidelines state that alpha-blockers should be considered the first-line therapy of LUTS associated with BPE in most patients. However, in clinical practice treatment efficacy differs among individuals and, therefore, intra-class switch from one alpha-blocker to another, is frequently applied. In particular, switching to silodosin in clinical practice appears an intriguing therapeutic strategy due to the peculiar pharmacological properties of this molecule. This study evaluates the efficacy of silodosin in patients with LUTS associated with BPE who were not-responders to tamsulosin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, open-label, single-center study. Patients treated with tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily for BPE/LUTS for at least 12 months and not responding to therapy were switched to silodosin 8 mg once daily. The co-primary endpoints for evaluation of efficacy were the change in IPSS and quality of life (QoL) from the beginning of silodosin therapy to week 8. RESULTS: In total, 96 patients were enrolled. Mean International Prostatic Symptoms Score (IPSS) score at baseline was 20.0 ± 4.4, and it significantly decreased to 18.6 ± 4.5 at week 8 (mean change: -1.3 ± 1.4; 95% CI -1.6 - -1.0; p < 0.03). A decrease was also observed for the two IPSS subscores; in particular, the IPSS subscore for storage symptoms was significantly reduced at week 8, compared with baseline. A significant improvement in QoL was observed after switching to silodosin, as compared with baseline (-0.8 ± 1.0; 95% CI -1.0 - -0.6; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Silodosin improves IPSS symptoms score and QoL in patients with LUTS associated with BPE who were not-responders to tamsulosin therapy.

Transperineal versus transrectal prostate biopsy for predicting the final laterality of prostate cancer: are they reliable enough to select patients for focal therapy? Results from a multicenter international study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the concordance of prostate cancer (PCa) laterality between the extended transperineal (TP) or transrectal (TR) prostate biopsy (BP) and radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens. To identify predictors of laterality agreement between BP and RP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 533 consecutive patients with PCa (278 TP and 255 TR-diagnosed) treated with RP were analyzed. A 12-core technique was used for both TP and TR biopsies. Additional cores were obtained when necessary. RESULTS: Overall, the percentage of agreement of PCa laterality between BP and RP was 60% (K = 0.27, p < 0.001). However, the RP confirmation of unilaterality at BP was obtained in just 33% of the cases. Considering the concordance on bilaterality as the ″target″ of our analysis, the sensitivity and specificity were 54.3% and 98.2% , respectively, with TP and 47.5% and 92.5%, respectively with TR. Focusing on patients with unilaterality at biopsy, none of the evaluated preoperative variables (biopsy technique, age, total positive biopsy cores, PSA, prostate volume, Gleason score on biopsy) were able to predict RP bilaterality in the multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the patients with unilateral involvement at BP harbored bilateral PCa after RP. TR and TP biopsy showed no difference in their capacity to predict the concordance of tumor laterality at RP. None of the preoperative evaluated variables can predict the tumor laterality at RP. Using BP unilaterality to include patients in focal therapy (FT) protocols may hinder the oncologic efficacy of FT.

Transperineal versus transrectal prostate biopsy for predicting the final laterality of prostate cancer: are they reliable enough to select patients for focal therapy? Results from a multicenter international study

Objectives: To compare the concordance of prostate cancer (PCa) laterality between the extended transperineal (TP) or transrectal (TR) prostate biopsy (BP) and radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens. To identify predictors of laterality agreement between BP and RP. Materials and Methods: Data from 533 consecutive patients with PCa (278 TP and 255 TR-diagnosed) treated with RP were analyzed. A 12-core technique was used for both TP and TR biopsies. Additional cores were obtained when necessary. Results: Overall, the percentage of agreement of PCa laterality between BP and RP was 60% (K = 0.27, p < 0.001). However, the RP confirmation of unilaterality at BP was obtained in just 33% of the cases. Considering the concordance on bilaterality as the “target” of our analysis, the sensitivity and specificity were 54.3% and 98.2%, respectively, with TP and 47.5% and 92.5%, respectively with TR. Focusing on patients with unilaterality at biopsy, none of the evaluated preoperative variables (biopsy technique, age, total positive biopsy cores, PSA, prostate volume, Gleason score on biopsy) were able to predict RP bilaterality in the multivariate analyses. Conclusions: Most of the patients with unilateral involvement at BP harbored bilateral PCa after RP. TR and TP biopsy showed no difference in their capacity to predict the concordance of tumor laterality at RP. None of the preoperative evaluated variables can predict the tumor laterality at RP. Using BP unilaterality to include patients in focal therapy (FT) protocols may hinder the oncologic efficacy of FT. .

[Sildenafil assumption and acute effects on the uroflowmetric parameters]. / Assunzione di sildenafil e repida variazione dei parametri uroflussometrici.

AIM: In the recent literature, great attention has been given to the evaluation of the real effectiveness of the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE-5i), usually prescribed for the erectile dysfunction (ED), in the treatment of the lower urinary tracts symptoms (LUTS). The aim of this study was the evaluation of the acute effects of sildenafil on the uroflowmetric parameters. METHODS: Within September 2011 and February 2012, twenty-seven patients, affected by ED with a IIEF-5 score ≤21 and a contextual IPSS within 8 e 19, have been selected and enrolled in this study. Two uroflowmetric measurements with suprapubic ultrasound valuation of the post voiding residual (PVR) were performed on each patient, 2 hours before and after the administration of sildenafil (50 mg). RESULTS: The average age of the patients came out within di 47.3±9.4 years. On the baseline, the average of the Qmax registered has been 15.6±3.3 mL/s, the average Qave has been 8.2±3.2 mL/s and the average resulted 32.5±11.4 mL. After the mono-administration of sildenafil 50 mg, the average Qmax value, the Qave one and the RPM one turned out into 17.7±5.1 mL/s, 10.1±3.5 mL/s and 22.6±9.6 mL. The differences within the standard values, were considered statistically relevant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Actually, the study shows that, in the acute phase, the administration of sildenafil 50 mg leads to effects on the uroflowmetric standards on men affected by LUTS and DE.