Analgesic Effects and Safety of Desmopressin, Tramadol and Indomethacin in Patients with Acute Renal Colic; A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of desmopressin (DDAVP), tramadol and indomethacin on pain intensity of patients with acute renal colic caused by urolithiasis. METHODS: This prospective, randomized clinical trial was conducted between July 2005 and July 2006 including 120 patients (70 men and 50 women, mean age 38.2±5.8 years) referring to emergency room of Shahid Faghihi hospital with renal colic caused by urolithiasis without any previous treatment. The patients were randomly assigned to three groups: group A received tramadol 50mg intramuscularly (n=40), group B received desmopressin 40 µg intranasally (n=40) and group C received indomethacin 100mg rectally (n=40). The pain was assessed both on admission and 30 minutes after the intervention. The pain intensity and the side effects were compared between two study groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between two study groups regarding the baseline characteristics. The intensity of pain of presentation was almost similar in all groups. In group A, 30 patients (75%), in group B, 15 patients (37.5%) and in group C, 19 patients (47.5%) had complete pain relief. The pain intensity decreased significantly after the intervention within all three groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: According to the results of the current study, rectal indomethacin, intramuscular tramadol and intranasal desmopressin are effective and safe routs of controlling pain in acute renal colic secondary to urolithiasis. Tramadol was the most effective agent in controlling the pain.

Role of viruses in renal cell carcinoma.

To determine whether viral infections are related to renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we studied 49 patients with RCC (29 patients were males with age ranging from 30 to 81 years and a mean of 57.5 years; 20 patients were females with age ranging from 36 to 70 years with a mean of 58.4 years) and 16 non-neoplastic kidney patients as controls. Tissues specimens from study patients and controls were examined by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the presence of DNA of several viruses including human papilloma virus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and polyoma viruses (BKV and JCV). Our results revealed that 7 of 49 (14.29%) RCC tissue specimens had HPV DNA compared with none of 16 non-cancer control subjects. Regarding the HPV types, all the positive results were high-risk HPV types (type 16 in three and 18 in four patients). The present study suggests that HPV infection, especially high-risk types, is associated with RCC. However, more studies are necessary to demonstrate the molecular oncogenic processes involved in this association.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy for nonfunctioning kidneys is feasible after previous ipsilateral renal surgery: a prospective cohort trial.

PURPOSE: Previous renal surgery is a relative contraindication to laparoscopic nephrectomy because adhesion formation makes surgical dissection difficult. We determined whether previous surgery at the same anatomical site would affected the surgical outcome in patients who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the study period 79 consecutive patients who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy were evaluated prospectively. All patients had symptomatic nonfunctioning small or hydronephrotic kidneys. Patients were divided into 29 with and 50 without prior surgery at the same anatomical site. Previous surgery included open nephrolithotomy in 16 patients, percutaneous nephrolithotomy in 8, open and percutaneous nephrolithotomy in 3, pyelolithotomy in 1 and pyeloplasty in 1. RESULTS: Patients who underwent prior surgery were older than patients who did not (average age 46.6 vs 34.9 years, p=0.008). Other patient characteristics, including gender ratio, body mass index and side of surgery, did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Mean operative time was longer in patients with previous surgery than in the other group (98.6 vs 62.3 minutes, p=0.03). Other operative data, including blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative complications, open conversion and hospital stay, were similar in the groups. One case per group was converted to open surgery due to difficult pedicle dissection. CONCLUSIONS: Transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy in patients with a history of ipsilateral renal surgery can be done safely in timely fashion. Although mean operative time was longer, there was no significant increase in the operative complication rate in patients with prior surgery.

Comparison of the protective effects of papaverine, lidocaine and verapamil on the sperm quality of the testis after induced torsion-detorsion in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Spermatic cord torsion is a true urological emergency. Significant subfertility exists in patients following unilateral testicular torsion. Several studies have tested several agents such as vasodilators and antioxidants to inhibit or temper testicular damage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups; in group 1 (control) no operation or drug injection was done. In groups 2-5 the left testis was subjected to 270 torsions. Two hours after induced torsion, drugs were injected intraperitoneally. Rats in group 2 received no drug, whereas those in groups 3, 4 and 5 were administered a single dose of papaverine (35 mg/kg), lidocaine (4 mg/kg) and verapamil (0.1 mg/kg), respectively. Thirty minutes after drug injection (2.5 h after torsion), testis detorsion was performed in all groups. The drug injections continued for 1 week. After 20 days, bilateral orchiectomy was carried out and semen from both testes was evaluated. RESULTS: In animals treated with verapamil, left testis sperm count and the percentage of motile sperm were increased significantly in comparison with the sham-operated animals. Sperm morphology in all groups was in the normal range. Mean sperm count and motility in the right testes were not significantly different in different groups. CONCLUSIONS: Verapamil can induce beneficial effects on semen analysis parameters after testicular torsion in rats.

Is early reimaging CT scan necessary in patients with grades III and IV renal trauma under conservative treatment?

BACKGROUND: To clarify the role of reimaging computer tomography (CT) scan in the management of patients with grades III and IV renal trauma under conservative treatment. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 94 patients with grades III and IV renal trauma from 405 patients with renal injury were selected for nonoperative management. On arrival according to related indications, CT scan of the kidney was performed for all patients and repeated CT scans were done 36 hours and 5 days later. RESULTS: Repeated CT scans, 36 hours and 5 days after the injury, revealed evidence of change in hematoma size or increase in urinary leakage only in nine patients. Interestingly, all of them had other clinical findings including fever, hematoma, and flank pain. Conservative therapy was failed in 41 patients. Nephrectomy was performed in 10 patients (24.39%) and repair of the kidney in 31 subjects (75.61%). The causes of failure in conservative treatment were high-grade unremitting fever (>39 degrees C) in 24 patients (58.54%), fever and hematocrit drop in 9 (21.95%), and severe flank pain in 8 (19.51%). CONCLUSION: In patients with high-grade renal trauma under conservative treatment, notification of hemodynamic and vital signs instability and laboratory data are more important than the results of reimaging CT scan. Reimaging CT is not accurately able to predict the failure of conservative treatment.

Urethral catheter traction reduces bleeding compared with suturing of prostatic vesical junction during suprapubic prostatectomy: a randomized clinical trial study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether catheter traction during suprapubic prostatectomy can be beneficial in reducing intraoperative and postoperative bleeding. METHODS: A total of 156 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms who had indications for open prostatectomy were enrolled in the study from September 2004 to January 2006. Of the patients, 78 underwent open prostatectomy with suturing at the prostatic vesical junction (group 1) and 78 were treated with urethral catheter traction to control bleeding (group 2). The duration of operation, duration of hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, hemoglobin decrease, and weight of resected prostate were recorded in both groups. Three months later, we followed up patients with the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire, maximal flow rate measurement, and cystoscopic examination. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 59 +/- 7 minutes and 40 +/- 9 minutes (P = .015) and the mean hospital stay was 3.7 +/- 0.24 days and 4.4 +/- 0.46 days (P = .09) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean blood loss during surgery was 279 +/- 155 mL and 219 +/- 139 mL (P = .04) and the mean hemoglobin decrease was 2.3 +/- 1.4 g/dL and 1.6 +/- 1.5g/dL (P = .04) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean weight of the prostate was not significantly different statistically between the 2 groups at 63 +/- 23 g and 64 +/- 19 g in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = .8). The urethrocystoscopy examination at 3 months postoperatively revealed bladder neck contractures in 6.41% of the patients in group 1 and 3.85% in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study have shown that urethral catheter traction diminishes bleeding compared with suturing at the prostatic vesical junction during suprapubic prostatectomy.

Ultrasonography-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between August 2003 and December 2007, 47 patients were treated, 29 men and 18 women, with a mean age of 33.4 years (range 21-67 yrs) and a mean stone size of 31.5 mm (range 24-46 mm). All stones were located in the renal pelvis with mild to moderate hydronephrosis seen on intravenous urography. A ureteral stent was inserted cystoscopically, and saline was injected for more localization of the pelvicaliceal system (PCS), if needed. Puncture of the PCS was performed with an 18-gauge nephrostomy needle through the lower pole calyx, and all the stages, including dilatation, were performed under ultrasonography guidance. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were stone free in the kidneys, ureters, and bladder the day after the operation. Five patients had multiple fragments that measured about 4 to 5 mm, which passed in 4 weeks (total stone-free rate: 93.61%); failure occurred in two patients, and fluoroscopy was needed; two patients who had residual fragments that measured 10 and 12 mm underwent shockwave lithotripsy; and in one patient, a fragment that measured 7 to 8 mm migrated into the ureter--it fragmented and was removed with a ureteroscope 2 days after the operation. CONCLUSION: PCNL using sonography is a good alternative to the fluoroscopic method. It is performed without radiation exposure to the surgeon and patient; however, more experience is needed.

Age specific reference levels of serum prostate-specific antigen, prostate volume and prostate specific antigen density in healthy Iranian men.

BACKGROUND: It is relevant to highlight that there is not a precise and perfect report on either 95 percentile value (upper limit of normal range) or on appropriate reference intervals for serum PSA in Iranian population. OBJECTIVE: To determine age-specific reference ranges for serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration and PSA density (PSAD) and prostate volumes in a population of healthy Iranian men. METHODS: Nine-hundred and thirteen healthy Iranian men, aged 50-79 years, underwent a detailed clinical evaluation including a digital rectal examination, a serum PSA determination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). PSA test was performed on 666 of the subjects and TRUS was done on 633 of them. None of the subjects had any evidence of prostate cancer by any one of the three diagnostic tests and had no history of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). Age specific ranges for PSA levels, PSA density and prostate volume were determined. RESULTS: The serum PSA concentration correlated directly with the subjects' age (r=0.280; p<0.001) and prostatic volume (r=0.327; p<0.001). Also prostatic volume was directly proportional to age (r=0.197; p<0.001).The serum PSA ranges (95th percentile) for each age range in Iranian men were: 0.00-2.61 ng/ml for 50-59 years; 0.00-3.59 ng/ml for 60-69 years; and 0.00-4.83 ng/ml for 70-79 years. The respective prostate volumes were: 14-59, 16-66 and 18-73ml. Also respective PSA densities were: 0.00-0.076, 0.00-0.10 and 0.00-0.14 ng/ml/ml. CONCLUSION: The present study confirms earlier reports that serum PSA levels and prostate volume and PSAD are age- and race- dependent, so it is appropriate to have age- specific reference ranges for these variables in various communities around the world. This will increase the positive predictive value of PSA estimation in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in different communities.