Use of neuroendocrine serum markers in the follow-up of patients with cancer of the prostate.

Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation of prostatic adenocarcinomas has received increasing attention in recent years as a result of possible implications on prognosis and therapy. The incidence of NE cells in tumors has been reported from 10% up to 100%. Several studies have shown chromogranin A (CgA) to be the most reliable serum marker of NE differentiation. We have followed 22 patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma over a 2-year period. The patients underwent a palliative transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) because of urinary outflow obstruction. The prostatic tissue specimens were stained immunohistochemically using antibodies against CgA, chromogranin B (CgB), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), serotonin, and somatostatin. In addition, each specimen was stained with hematoxylin & eosin (H & E), and saffran for tumor grading. Blood samples were taken preoperatively and after 1, 3, 6, and 24 months. The serum values of CgA, CgB, pancreastatin (Pst), NSE, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were determined from each sample. Carcinomas with groups of CgA-positive cells had higher serum levels of CgA compared to carcinomas with no or only scattered CgA-positive NE cells. During the 2-year period, there were no statistical significant variations in serum levels of CgA, NSE, Pst, and PSA. However, there was a significant increase in serum levels of CgB during the same period, P = 0.002, possibly due to an increase in number of NE cells in tumor or to a relative increase in production of CgB in the NE cells.

Neuroendocrine differentiation in carcinomas of the prostate: do neuroendocrine serum markers reflect immunohistochemical findings?

The aim of the present study was to examine the correlation between the immunohistochemical findings and the serum markers for neuroendocrine (NE) cells in patients with carcinoma of the prostate. Preoperative serum values of chromogranin A (CgA), chromogranin B (CgB), pancreastatin (Pst), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) were determined in 22 patients. The tissue specimens were obtained by a palliative transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) because of urinary outflow obstruction. Immunohistochemistry was performed by using antibodies against CgA, CgB, NSE,.serotonin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and somatostatin. Tumor cells with NE differentiation were found in 91% of the cases. No patient had elevated serum values of NSE, despite the presence of NSE-positive tumor cells in 77% of the tumors. Neither did CgB in serum correlate with the immunohistochemical findings. Elevated serum values of CgA were found in 59% of patients. A positive correlation between the number of CgA-staining cells and the serum values of CgA was found, as seven out of eight patients with groups of CgA-positive tumor cells had elevated serum values of CgA. We conclude that CgA, in contrast to NSE, CgB, and Pst, seems to be a useful serum marker in predicting the extent of NE differentiation in prostatic tumors.

European collaborative study of antibiotic prophylaxis for transurethral resection of the prostate.

A prospective randomised trial was undertaken in nine European Hospitals to test antibiotic prophylaxis for men undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate. Of the men with no significant growth (< 10(4) cfu ml-1) in their preoperative urine, 247 received a single 1 gram dose of ceftazidime with the induction of anaesthesia, 256 received 1 g daily from the time of induction of anaesthesia until removal of the urethral catheter (but < or = 5 days) and 261 received no prophylaxis. Of evaluable patients 83 (33.9%), 45 (18.7%) and 29 (11.6%) of the no-prophylaxis, single-dose and multidose groups, respectively, developed urinary tract infection in the immediate post-operative period. There were significantly fewer febrile episodes and fewer prescriptions for alternative antibiotics in teh ceftazidime-treated groups. For men developed peri-operative septicaemia and all were in the no-prophylaxis group. We conclude that patients, even those with culture-negative urine pre-operatively, benefit from antibiotic prophylaxis and that antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered for all men undergoing prostatic surgery as a routine procedure.

Blood transfusion and survival following surgery for renal carcinoma.

The effect of peri-operative blood transfusion on survival after surgery for renal carcinoma was studied in 201 patients. In addition to blood transfusion, several other factors were included in a multivariate analysis. Using Cox's proportional hazards model, transfusion of more than 4 units of blood was found to be an independent prognostic factor in addition to tumour stage, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and macrohaematuria.

Orchidectomy or LHRH-analogue? Which do the patients prefer and what treatment would Norwegian urologists prefer if they had advanced cancer of the prostate?

Since January 1989, we have carried out a prospective study about whether patients prefer orchidectomy or medical castration with luteinising hormone releasing hormone analogues for the treatment of prostatic cancer. When the preliminary results were presented, 40 Norwegian urologists were asked which treatment they would prefer if they had advanced cancer of the prostatic gland. Most patients and urologists (65-70%) favoured medical castration.

[Perinephritic abscess]. / Perinefrittisk abscess.

In spite of technical advances in diagnostic radiology the recognition of a perinephric abscess is still a challenge to even the most experienced urologist. Untreated perinephric abscesses result in considerable mortality. We present ten years experience from 17 patients. All underwent open drainage procedures. In our case this still seems to be the treatment of choice for the majority of these patients. Percutaneous drainage is an alternative to surgery, and is particularly suitable for the high risk patient.

Long-term effectiveness of the Burch colposuspension in female urinary stress incontinence.

Of 91 women who underwent Burch colposuspension, 86 were available for clinical, urodynamic and isotope renographic follow-up examinations 5 years after surgery for evaluation of late complications and long-term effectiveness in urinary stress incontinence. A repeat urodynamic examination was accepted by 76 patients. Stress incontinence was cured in 71% of the patients with a stable bladder preoperatively, and in 57% with stress incontinence and detrusor instability (non-significant difference). Cure rate was not significantly related to age, hormonal status or previous anterior vaginal repair. The urodynamic measurements at follow-up showed a significant increase in the functional urethral length in the cured group, as compared with the improved group. The mean maximum urethral closure pressure was reduced in both groups. Symptomatic detrusor instability was found in 18% of the preoperative stable bladders, while 67% of the unstable bladders had become stable. Only 29% of the patients with a preoperative unstable bladder had a normal lower urinary tract function at follow-up. Late voiding difficulties were observed in 3% of the study group; enterocele, requiring surgical repair, developed in 7%. One patient suffered a damaged kidney due to undetected ureteral obstruction after surgery. Irritative bladder symptoms such as urgency, frequency, stranguria and nocturia represent a long-term problem after colposuspension. At the 5-year follow-up, only 52% of the study group were completely dry and free of complications, and about 30% needed further incontinence therapy. This may be due to some neurogenic factor which is not corrected by surgery.

[Gynecomastia. Investigation and surgical treatment]. / Gynekomasti. Utredning og kirurgisk behandling.

Enlargement of the male breast, gynecomastia, commonly occurs in otherwise healthy men. If the gynecomastia is marked, surgical treatment may be necessary. Underlying disease must be considered. History, physical examination, laboratory tests and in some patients ultrasonography of the testes should be conducted prior to surgery. If the gynecomastia is due mainly due to fat, suction lipectomy alone is sufficient treatment. However, liposuction will not remove breast parenchyma, and some patients also require local excision of the parenchyma. In our experience, suction lipectomy provides a new means of acquiring better contour, with reduced morbidity and complications.

Effect of anal electrostimulation with the 'Incontan' device in women with urinary incontinence.

An integrated, automatic electrical stimulator has been developed to treat urinary incontinence. A group of 121 women with either stress-, motor urge- or mixed incontinence was selected for treatment, but 23 discontinued the treatment within 3 months and were excluded from the study. In the study group of 98 women, anal stimulation was applied for an average of 9 months (range 3-36 months). Between 9 and 36 months after the treatment was completed, 91% were either continent or had improved significantly, but in 9% the stimulation had no effect. Significant improvement occurred on clinical and urodynamic testing. There were no serious side-effects. Intra-anal electrostimulation therapy provides an alternative to surgery in patients with stress incontinence, and could be the first choice of treatment in women with combined stress and motor urge incontinence.

Changes in urodynamic measurements after successful anal electrostimulation in female urinary incontinence.

Fifty-five of 71 women with stress, motor urge and mixed stress and motor urge urinary incontinence were treated successfully with a new integrated electrostimulation device (Incontan) used anally. Changes in urodynamic measurements were evaluated when the patients themselves reported cure or significant improvement. The duration of the treatment was 9 to 20 h/day for at least 2 months (mean 9 months). According to the patients' subjective evaluation, 71% were cured of their incontinence and 29% were markedly improved. In motor urge and mixed incontinence a significant increase in bladder volume at first sensation and at maximum cystometric capacity was found, and 45% of these patients had a normal, stable bladder after treatment. A significant increase in functional urethral length was observed in patients who had had stress incontinence, but the measured increase in maximum urethral pressure was not significant. Of the 16 patients with stress and mixed incontinence who reported cure, 15 had a positive urethral closure pressure during coughing after treatment. Urodynamic analysis confirmed the positive clinical effect observed after electrostimulation therapy. It is recommended as primary therapy in stress, motor urge and mixed stress and motor urge incontinence in women.

The value of radioisotope renography in the followup of patients operated upon for hydronephrosis.

Isotope renography and excretory urography were perfored routinely before and 3 months after an operation on 21 patients with hydronephrosis. A year postoperatively all patients again underwent renography. Renography is a valuable and reliable method to estimate the results of an operation. By 3 months postoperatively the renograms revealed improved renal function and drainage in 75 per cent of the cases.