Quality of life after extended pelvic exenterations.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to compare health-related quality of life (QoL) and oncological outcome between gynaecological cancer patients undergoing pelvic exenteration (PE) and extended pelvic exenteration (EPE). EPEs were defined as extensive procedures including, in addition to standard PE extent, the resection of internal, external, or common iliac vessels; pelvic side-wall muscles; large pelvic nerves (sciatic or femoral); and/or pelvic bones. METHODS: Data from 74 patients who underwent PE (42) or EPE (32) between 2004 and 2019 at a single tertiary gynae-oncology centre in Prague were analysed. QoL assessment was performed using EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC CX-24, and QOLPEX questionnaires specifically developed for patients after (E)PE. RESULTS: No significant differences in survival were observed between the groups (P > 0.999), with median overall and disease-specific survival in the whole cohort of 45 and 49 months, respectively. Thirty-one survivors participated in the QoL surveys (20 PE, 11 EPE). No significant differences were observed in global health status (P = 0.951) or in any of the functional scales. The groups were not differing in therapy satisfaction (P = 0.502), and both expressed similar, high willingness to undergo treatment again if they were to decide again (P = 0.317). CONCLUSIONS: EPEs had post-treatment QoL and oncological outcome comparable to traditional PE. These procedures offer a potentially curative treatment option for patients with persistent or recurrent pelvic tumour invading into pelvic wall structures without further compromise of patients´ QoL.

The prognostic value of T1 bladder cancer substaging: a single institution retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of the depth of lamina propria invasion in patients with T1 bladder cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 200 patients were treated between the years 2002 and 2009. Tumours with depth of invasion above the muscularis mucosae level were categorised as pT1a and those with depth of invasion up to or beyond the muscularis mucosae as pT1b. RESULTS: Categorisation for pT1a and pT1b was performed in 176 of 200 patients (88%). In 10 patients a muscle-invasive tumour was found in re-transurethral resection samples. 131 (79%) of 166 analysed patients had pT1a tumour and 35 (21%) had pT1b tumour. During the follow-up, in 101 (61%) patients the tumour had recurred and in 27 (16.3%) the tumour had progressed. Of all the investigated parameters, T1 substaging (p < 0.0001), grade (p = 0.0003) and the number of bacillus Calmette-Guérin instillations (p = 0.0490) were significant in predicting progression. The only significant factor for disease-specific survival was T1 substaging in univariable (p = 0.0008) and multivariable (hazard ratio 4.407) analysis. T1 substaging (p = 0.0149) and tumour multiplicity (p = 0.0448) have a statistically significant prognostic value with respect to overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Deep invasion of the lamina propria is a significant adverse prognostic factor for tumour progression, disease-specific survival and overall survival.

Podoplanin (D2-40) is a reliable marker of urinary bladder myofibroblasts (telocytes).

Podoplanin, D2-40, has been described in a variety of normal and neoplastic tissues. It is often used for highlighting lymphatics. We evaluated the expression of podoplanin in α-smooth muscle actinpositive myofibroblasts producing the suburothelial layer in tunica propria of the urinary bladder that have some similar features with telocytes. Our results showed that these cells demonstrate distinct D2-40 immunoreactivity from telocytes occurring in the renal pelvis and ureter. We observed positive reaction not only in bioptic specimens from women with interstitial cystitis, but also in a control group of women and men treated for pathological bladder lesion different from interstitial cystitis. It is interesting that identical staining reaction was observed in the ureters only exceptionally. In addition, we examined samples from myofibroblastic tumoriform lesions of soft tissue such as nodular fascitis and fibromatosis (desmoid) and we obtained negative results. It means that the so-called myofibroblasts of urinary bladder tunica propria have a unique immunophenotype that has probably not been described until now. Our findings suggest that D2-40 can be used as a complementary immunostainer to α-smooth muscle actin on urinary bladder biopsies from patients with interstitial cystitis. The role of D2-40 as an immunohistochemical marker is still being investigated.

Occurrence of overactive bladder in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia in the Czech Republic.

INTRODUCTION: Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) due to prostatic hyperplasia is often accompanied by overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, which often disappear after specific BOO pharmacotherapy. The aim of this study was to map out the spectrum in BOO pharmacotherapy to find out the occurrence of OAB in this population and to find its treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Follow-up consists of a retrospective and a prospective part, which includes all the patient's data related to the lower urinary tract symptoms in BOO and OAB. In all, 654 data record forms were distributed during the study and 98% of those were validated. RESULTS: According to our observations, alpha-blockers were used most frequently at the beginning of BOO treatment (73%), followed by phytopharmaca (19.9%) and finally finasteride (5.5%). If the treatment is changed, the proportion of finasteride increases. Only a small number of patients with BOO and OAB are treated in combination with antimuscarinics. CONCLUSIONS: A combined therapy (alpha-blocker + antimuscarinics) is effective in a majority of men with infravesical obstruction and symptoms of OAB. However, OAB in our study was primarily underdiagnosed in almost 50% of all patients treated for LUTS.

Statistical analysis of symptoms, endoscopy and urothelial morphology in 58 female bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis patients.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of the study was to assess the course of painful syndrome in patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis and to assess the changes in endoscopic and histopathological findings in relation to the type of treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included a total of 58 patients with histologically diagnosed interstitial cystitis. Out of these, 31 patients were treated with oral pharmacotherapy and 27 patients were treated by intravesical application of heparin. The patients were followed from time of diagnosis for 6.9 +/- 2.5 and 6.6 +/- 2.7 years, respectively. RESULTS: Treatment - irrespective of its type - had a clear demonstrable effect on the monitored parameters; intravesical treatment was more effective than oral. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) changes could be observed in both groups (with two exceptions). When evaluating the relationship between subjective symptoms and objective criteria, and patients' age and time to diagnosis, it is clear that the higher the age and the longer the time from symptoms to diagnosis, the more severe the symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: When evaluating the monitored parameters, we found significant correlations (both positive and negative). However, these relationships cannot be used to simplify the evaluation algorithm (according to ESSIC) and the initial criteria cannot predict the course of the disease.

In vivo differentiation of human umbilical cord blood-derived cells into insulin-producing beta cells.

In our study we confirmed the potential of human umbilical cord blood cells to differentiate into insulin-producing cells following transplantation into immunocompromised mice. The average number of C-peptide-positive human cells per animal was 18 +/- 13 as assessed by immunofluorescence staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization specific for human ALU sequence. Differentiation into insulin-producing cells was further confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction specific for human insulin mRNA. Successful differentiation required sublethal irradiation of xenogeneic recipient at least at a dose of 3 Gy. However, transplantation of human umbilical cord blood cells did not improve hyperglycaemia in diabetic animals. The results of our study show that human umbilical cord blood may be considered as a potential source of stem cells for treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Does the expression of fascin-1 and tumor subclassification help to assess the risk of recurrence and progression in t1 urothelial urinary bladder carcinoma?

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the prognostic value of T1 subclassification and fascin-1 expression in T1 human urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study with 105 consecutive patients, T1 tumors were subclassified into 2 groups according to the depth of tumor invasion. The tunica muscularis mucosae was used as a landmark. The expression of fascin-1 was examined by using an anti-fascin-1 mouse monoclonal antibody and was evaluated semiquantitatively for both intensity and distribution. The patients were followed up for 27.3 +/- 13.7 months. RESULTS: The T1 tumor subclassification was feasible in 99 patients (94%). T1a tumor was detected in 77 patients (73%), T1b tumor in 22 patients (21%). An invasive tumor was found in 5 patients (4.8%) during the restaging transurethral resection of the bladder. The risk of understaging in patients with T1b tumor was 18%. There was not a significant difference in time to the recurrence in the T1a and the T1b group. The progression-free survival rates were significantly different between both groups (p = 0.0034). No correlation was found between fascin-1 positivity and the depth of tumor invasion. Fascin-1 positivity did not correlate with recurrence or the progression-free intervals. In the multivariate analysis, only the extent of lamina propria invasion was an independent predictor of the tumor progression. The fascin positivity was not an independent prognostic factor relating to the risk of recurrence or progression. CONCLUSION: The finding of T1b tumor was connected with a significantly higher risk of progression and understaging. The fascin-1 expression did not correlate with the depth of tumor invasion or with the tumor recurrence or progression.

[Painful bladder syndrome in interstitial cystitis: relation between symptoms, endoscopy and biopsia results and the treatment effects]. / Syndrom bolestivého mechýre u intersticiální cystitidy: závislost mezi príznaky, endoskopickým nálezem, biopsií a lécbou.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome (IC) is a chronic abacterial inflammatory disease of the bladder wall. It is accompanied by predominant neuropathic pain. Typical symptoms of IC include: suprapubic pain, bladder pain even between voiding, urgency, short intervals between micturition with frequency and nocturia. The objective of the study was to find a correlation between a symptom score and endoscopy together with histopathologic findings from the detrusor biopsy and a correlation between symptoms before and after the intravesical treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: We have evaluated a group of 30 patients with newly diagnosed IC prospectively. These patients were in the group 1. Control group 2 consisted of 10 patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria. Group 3 consisted of 15 patients with no voiding symptoms. Validated questionnaire (O'Leary-Sant Symptom (ICSI) and Problem Index (ICPI) was used to objectify subjective symptoms. The diagnosis of IC was based on the clinical assessment of subjective symptoms, urodynamic results, endoscopy and histology. The efficacy of therapy was found statistically significant only in the intravesical therapy. In the patients with immunohistochemically identified increased numbers of mast cells per one microscopic field, the correlation with ICSI and ICPI score was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in symptom score in the patients before and after the treatment were found significantly higher after the intravesical (with heparin) treatment then after peroral therapy. Significant differences in the correlations of ICSI and ICPI score values with the histopathologic finding (i.e. number of mast cells) were found.

Influence of chest gamma-irradiation on cough response in awake guinea pigs.

Radiotherapy of tumors in the chest and neck regions may have serious pulmonary side effects. It is well known that inflammation is an essential manifestation of radiation-induced injury. This can heal spontaneously, by specific treatment, or it may progress to more intensive inflammation up to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis. To prevent such complications, it would be useful to have a simple non-invasive and sensitive method for monitoring the course of airway and lung post-irradiation inflammation. This study is devoted to search for such a method. We supposed that cough response intensity (CRI) could be one of the methods, which we are looking for. Guinea pigs (Trik strain, n=32) were used in the study. Animals were divided into two subgroups. Animals of a non-untreated (NT) group (n=14; M=7, F=7) were submitted to sham chest irradiation. The animals of a treated (XRT) group (n=18; M=9, F=9) were exposed to a single dose of gamma rays. Cough was provoked by exposure of animals to citric acid aerosol (CA) in gradually increasing concentrations (0.05-1.6M). CRI testing was performed two days before sham/real chest irradiation, than on 1st, 3rd, 10th, 15th, 21st, and 28th days following the day of irradiation. CRI was quantified in each animal by counting the number of coughs induced by all used concentration of CA. We found a significant increase of CRI in the animals of XRT group on 10th and 21st day compared with the NT animals. An increase of CRI also was found inside the XRT group on the 10th day after irradiation compared with the pre-irradiation value of CRI.

Effects of thorax irradiation on citric acid-induced cough in guinea pigs.

Thoracic irradiation may cause an acute lymphocytic alveolitis or hypersensitivity pneumonitis. It is well known that cough reflex is sensitized by a number of inflammatory mediators. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of the thoracic irradiation on the cough response in awake guinea pigs. Guinea pigs (Trik strain) were exposed to sham irradiation (n=16), a single irradiation dose of 10 Gy (n=12), and a fractionated irradiation dose (in five fractions) of 15 Gy (n=12) delivered to the thorax. Cough was induced by citric acid aerosol inhalation in gradually increasing concentrations (0.05-1.6 M) during the first week after thoracic irradiation. The cough response was expressed as a total number of coughs induced during all citric acid challenges. Irradiated animals with single dose of 10 Gy exhibited a time- dependent significant increase of citric acid-induced cough in the 6th day after irradiation compared with control animals (P=0.005), whereas cough was not altered significantly in irradiated animals with fractionated dose of 15 Gy. This study demonstrates that the increased cough response may be a determinant of the functional changes of airway nerve-endings mediating cough in the early phase after thoracic irradiation.

Changes of cough reflex sensitivity induced by cancer radiotherapy of chest and neck regions.

It is reasonable to suppose that airway mucosa can be damaged by irradiation applied to chest and neck regions. The inflammatory process is a consequence of an injury. Airway inflammation is one mechanism responsible for cough induction. So, one can suppose that radiotherapy (RT) focused on the patients' chest or neck may injure airway mucosa, which might change sensitivity of the nerve-endings mediating the cough reflex. The purpose of this study was to examine cough reflex sensitivity (CRS) in patients who underwent RT in the chest and neck regions. CRS test using capsaicin was performed in patients with breast cancer (Group A, n=19), and with lung or neck cancer in (Group B, n=14) who underwent RT. Capsaicin aerosol in doubled concentrations (0.49-1000 microM) was inhaled by a single breath. CRS was defined as the lowest capsaicin concentration that evoked 2 or more coughs (C2). Radiation doses ranged from 40 to 70 Gy. Capsaicin cough challenge was performed before and then in the 2(nd) and 5(th) week of RT. We observed a significantly reduced value of C2, i.e., increased cough reflex sensitivity, in Group B in the 2(nd) week of RT (P= 0.04). We conclude that CRS in the lung or neck cancer patients undergoing RT is significantly enhanced, which could result from injury to the nerve endings in airway mucosa.

[Female sexual dysfunction]. / Zenská sexuální dysfunkce.

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a disorder with relatively high incidence in the community. Its incidence in age-dependent and it can significantly limit the quality of life of women concerned. Dysfunction, as a multicausal and multidimensional problem, it comprises biological, psychological and interpersonal factors. Disorders are listed according to a sexual desire, arousal, experiencing an orgasm and pain incidence. Authors summarized data on incidence, diagnosis and therapy of this disorder.

[Interstitial cystitis--its diagnostics and treatment]. / Intersticiální cystitida--diagnostika a lécba.

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic, non-bacterial inflammatory disorder of the wall of the urinary bladder and it manifests with very painful symptoms. Initially it can resemble a bacterial inflammation of the urinary bladder. This syndrome is characterised with motor and sensory dysfunction of the urinary bladder. The difficulties can be classified into so-called syndrome of the chronic pelvic pain. Increasing incidence, chronicity of this disorder and specific treatment leads to the reinterpretation of the chronic inflammation of the urinary tract diagnosed in the past and to the modification of the treatment of these patients. Because of the polymorphic difficulties and the psychosomatic manifestations, IC can lead to invalidity of the patient.

[Intermittent catheterization of urinary bladder--indications, technique, complications]. / Intermitentní katetrizace mocového mechýre--indikace, technika, komplikace.

The intermittent catheterization technique is considered at present to be one of pillars of the therapy of lower urinary tract dysfunction. The technique gradually became used also in the treatment of some non-neurogenic voiding dysfunctions. There are many ways, how the intermittent catheterization could be performed (methodology, catheter material and type, lubrication type and method, catheterization frequency). Authors provide an overview of present indications to use the treatment; they describe individual techniques and draw attention to the possible complications and their solution. Next they emphasize the necessity of individual approach to intermittent catheterization technique in individual patients in the broader context of general concept of treatment.

[Treatment strategy for renal abscesses]. / Strategie lécby renálních abscesu.

AIM: A retrospective assessment of treatment results in a group of patients treated for renal abscesses by our work team during the last five years. The aim is to determine the most suitable therapeutical approach for each abscess group, depending on their size. PATIENTS AND METHODOLOGY: There were 13 patients in the group (10 of them were women and 3 of them were men, aged 36, on average). The ultrasound examination of the kidneys was conducted using the 5 MHz appliance. In cases when antibiotics were prescribed, they were prescribed in combination, most often ampicillin and gentamicin. The evacuation percutaneous punction of the abscess cavity was carried out using a standard technique under the sonographic control. The kidney was approached via lumbotomy during the nephrectomy procedure. RESULTS: The hospitalization lasted for 19 days on average (5-72 days). The right and left kidney involvement ratio was 5:8. In four cases we chose a conservative approach, in all cases, the patients concerned were treated during the previous three years. The abscess cavity measured 2.75 cm on average, in the above patients cases. Eight patients underwent a percutaneous punction of the abscess cavity. The average size of the renal abscess was 5.5 cm in this patient group. One patient underwent nephrectomy. The patient concerned was immunosuppressed. Three- to four months after the treatment commenced, the control CT scan revealed no residual abscess foci. CONCLUSION: The medium-sized renal abscesses may be solved using a percutaneous abscess punction. The small-sized abscesses may be successfully solved using antibiotics, introduced parenterally. The conservative treatment is considered inappropriate in cases of immunocompromized patients and for abscesses larger than 5 cm.

[Vesico-colonic fistulae in patients with chronic urinary tract infections]. / Kolovezikální pístel u nemocných s chronickou infekcí mocových cest.

The authors present their experience with diagnosis and treatment of colovesical fistula, which had been diagnosed due to chronic recurrent urinary tract infection. The underlying cause of the fistula was previously unrecognized diverticulosis with diverticulitis (3 out of 4 cases). The fistula was diagnosed primarily by a urologist, who performed cystoscopy, which proved to be the most contributing useful examination of all. On the other hand, coloscopy did not reveal the true diagnosis any time and its value is doubtful since insufflation of the inflamed bowel may be followed by intestinal rupture into the peritoneal cavity. Treatment of the fistulae was always surgical, during resection of the involved bowel and resection of the neighboring bladder was accomplished. In all cases one-staged procedure was done with restoration of bowel continuity and suturing of the bladder. Three patients were cured, one died on the 5th day due to complicated ischaemic heart disease.

[Interstitial cystitis]. / Intersticiální cystitida.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a complex of painful mictional symptomatology of unknown etiology. Is occurs more frequently in women. By cystoscopy the ulcerative and non-ulcerative form is differentiated. A typical diagnosis symptom are glomerulations during cystoscopy under general anaesthesia. There are diagnostic criteria which rule out IC. Histopathologically the following are differentiated: classical IC with proliferation of mastocytes in the detrusor, detrusor myopathy and eosinophil cystitis. Treatment includes intervesical instillation of various substances, transurethral procedures or supratrifonal cystectomy, incl. enterocystoplasty.

Czech medical faculties and smoking.

At the 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University in Prague the prevalence of smoking was investigated among the faculty, staff, students and among health professionals in the country. We found 38.1% smokers (current and occasional) among malephysicians (N = 625), 25.6% smokers among women physicians (N = 394), 48.7% smoking nurses (N = 729) and 42.3% smokers among paramedical staff (N = 298). We have also followed up smoking habits among our students since 1989 (N = 1235). The number of smokers among them rose from 7% in 1989 to 18% in 1994. Students were also asked about their opinion on smoking as a risk factor for coronary heart disease which has a rising trend. Trying to coordinate the anti-smoking activity at all seven medical faculties in the Czech Republic, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University in Brno, the National Centre for Health Promotion and the Czech Commission of EMASH, present the main points of the anti-smoking strategy at Czech medical faculties.