Prevalence and risk factors for scrotal lesions/anomalies in a cohort of Brazilian men ? 40 years of age / Prevalência e fatores de risco de lesões escrotais em uma população de brasileiros com idade ? 40 anos

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of and risk factors for cutaneous lesions of the scrotum and intrascrotal lesions/anomalies among men included in a prostatic cancer screening program in a Brazilian metropolitan city. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study, private outpatient healthcare service. METHODS: 1731 men aged 40 years or over, participating in a prostate cancer screening program conducted by the municipal public employees' healthcare system, underwent systematic urological assessment by a single examiner. RESULTS: The prevalence of scrotal diseases in our sample was 44.7% (773/1731). Tinea cruris occurred in 203 (11.7%) of the participants, with higher risk among diabetics and lower prevalence among nonwhite individuals; scrotal tinea in eight (0.5%), with higher risk among hypertensive men; subcutaneous nodules in 12 (0.7%), especially in individuals with low schooling level; hydrocele in 283 (16.4%), with higher frequency among participants over the age of 60 years, diabetics or individuals with previous histories of nonspecific urethritis; spermatoceles in 174 (10.1%), with greater prevalence among individuals over the age of 60 years or diabetics, and lower frequency among individuals who underwent vasectomy; unilateral testicular hypotrophy/atrophy in 167 (9.7%) and bilateral hypotrophy/atrophy in 93 (5.4%), both occurring more frequently in individuals over the age of 60 years; absence of palpable testicles due to cryptorchidism in 7 (0.4%); and epididymitis/orchitis in 5 (0.3%), with higher prevalence among diabetics. No cases of cancer were identified in this sample. CONCLUSIONS: Scrotal diseases were highly prevalent in this population of Brazilian men. .

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência e fatores de risco de lesões cutâneas do escroto e de lesões/anomalias intraescrotais entre participantes de programa de rastreamento para câncer de próstata em uma cidade metropolitana brasileira. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal, serviço privado de atendimento ambulatorial à saúde. MÉTODOS: 1.731 homens com idade igual ou superior a 40 anos, participantes do programa de rastreamento de câncer de próstata conduzido pelo sistema de saúde dos funcionários públicos municipais, foram submetidos à avaliação urológica sistemática por um único examinador. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de doenças escrotais nossa amostra foi de 44.7% (773/1731). Tinea cruris ocorreu em 203 (11,7%) dos participantes, com maior risco em diabéticos e menor prevalência em indivíduos não brancos; tinea escrotal em oito (0,5%), com maior risco em homens hipertensos; nódulos subcutâneos em 12 (0,7%), especialmente em indivíduos com baixa escolaridade; hidrocele em 283 (16,4%), com maior frequência nos participantes com mais de 60 anos, diabetes ou história prévia de uretrite inespecífica; espermatoceles em 174 (10,1%), com maior prevalência acima dos 60 anos de idade ou com diabetes, e menor frequência naqueles submetidos a vasectomia; hipotrofia/atrofia testicular unilateral em 167 (9,7%) e hipotrofia/atrofia bilateral em 93 (5,4%), ambas ocorrendo mais frequentemente nos indivíduos com mais de 60 anos; ausência de testículos palpáveis devido à criptorquidia em 7 (0,4%); e epididimite/orquite em 5 (0,3%), com prevalência aumentada em diabéticos. Não foram identificados casos de câncer nesta amostra. CONCLUSÕES: As doenças escrotais foram altamente prevalentes nesta população ...

Patient positioning during digital rectal examination of the prostate: preferences, tolerability, and results

PURPOSE: To evaluate the preferred position used by Brazilian Urologists to perform DRE, the position that Brazilian patients prefer or think it is less embarrassing to have a DRE, and to evaluate the results of DRE with patients in left lateral decubitus, modified lithotomy, standing-up, or the physician will have them place their elbows on the table and squat down slightly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brazilian Urologists were contacted by e-mail, and 200 patients answered a questionnaire while undergoing prostate cancer screening. RESULTS: The preferred position was modified lithotomy position reported by 63.4 percent of Urologists, and left lateral position reported by 42.7 percent of the patients. Total DRE time was lower in the standing-up position. Pain and urinary urgency scores were similar regardless of the position used, and bowel urgency score was higher in patients squatting down. Patients were similar in terms of age and PSA level, but there was a significant difference between the standard deviations of estimated prostate weight in left lateral position. There were no differences in prostate asymmetry, positive DRE, or incomplete palpation of the prostate rates among different examination positions. CONCLUSIONS: Despite individual subjective preferences, a faster examination time in the standing-up position, and higher bowel urgency scores in patients with their elbows placed on the table and squatting down slightly, there were similar rates of prostate asymmetry, positive DRE, and incomplete palpation of the prostate, and comparable patient tolerability among different examination techniques.

Patient's perceptions of pain and discomfort during digital rectal exam for prostate cancer screening / Percepción de dolor y molestias por el paciente durante el tacto rectal en el cribaje de cáncer de próstata

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patients' perception of pain and discomfort during DRE, the impact of discomfort on potential future screening compliance, and if emptying the bladder immediately before DRE reduces patient discomfort. METHODS: One-hundred patients undergoing DRE for prostate cancer screening answered an anonymous questionnaire regarding pain, urinary urgency and bowel urgency during DRE and its potential impact on future examination. Another group with 100 patients was randomized in two subgroups to analyze if urinating immediately before DRE reduces patient discomfort. RESULTS: Seventy-three (73%) patients reported moderate or higher discomfort for at least one of the domains evaluated: 61% complained of pain; 22% of urinary urgency; and 22% of bowel urgency. Emptying the bladder immediately before examination did not reduce pain (58% vs. 50%, p = 0.115), urinary urgency (22% vs. 16%, p = 0.151), or bowel urgency intensity (16% vs. 14%, p = 0.264). There was no difference in the number of patients that answered they will repeat the prostate exam next year (96% vs. 90%, p = 0.211) or in those that would encourage a friend that needs the prostate exam to do it (96% vs. 98%, p = 0.378). CONCLUSIONS: Pain and discomfort during DRE are not negligible but they do not affect intention to have a prostate exam in the future. Urinating immediately before examination does not significantly reduce the incidence of pain, urinary urgency, or bowel urgency during DRE (AU)

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la percepción por los pacientes de dolor y molestia durante el tacto rectal, el impacto de la molestias sobre el potencial futuro cumplimiento con el «screening», y si el vaciado vesical inmediatamente anterior al tacto rectal disminuye la molestias. MÉTODOS: 101 pacientes sometidos a tacto rectal por detección precoz de cáncer de próstata contestaron un cuestionario anónimo sobre dolor, urgencia urinaria y urgencia fecal durante el tacto rectal y su potencial impacto sobre futuros exámenes. Otro grupo de 100 pacientes fue asignado aleatoriamente a dos subgrupos para analizar si la micción inmediatamente anterior al tacto rectal reduce la molestia. RESULTADOS: Setenta y tres (73%) de los pacientes comunicaron una molestia moderada o superior en al menos uno de los dominios evaluados: el 61% se quejaron de dolor; el 22% de urgencia miccional; y el 22% de urgencia fecal. El vaciado de la vejiga inmediatamente antes del examen no redujo el dolor (58% vs. 50%, p = 0,115), ni la urgencia urinaria (22% vs. 16%, p = 0,151) ni la intensidad de la urgencia fecal (16% vs. 14%, p = 0,264). No hubo diferencias en el número de pacientes que contestaron que repetirían el examen al siguiente año (96% vs. 90%, p = 0,211) o en el de aquellos que animarían a hacérselo a un amigo que necesitara una evaluación prostática (96% vs. 98%, p = 0,378). CONCLUSIONES: El dolor y la molestia durante el tacto rectal no son despreciables aunque no afectan a la intención de repetir el examen en el futuro. Orinar inmediatamente antes de la exploración no reduce significativamente la incidencia de dolor, urgencia urinaria o urgencia fecal durante el tacto rectal (AU)

Reasons why patients reject digital rectal examination when screening for prostate cancer / Razones por las que los pacientes rechazan el tacto rectal cuando se someten a cribaje de cáncer de próstata

Objective: To evaluate the reasons why patients reject digital rectal examination (DRE) when screening for prostate cancer. Methods: Four hundred and fifty men were prospectively evaluated in a prostate cancer educational program consisting of lectures, PSA testing, and DRE. Patients rejecting DRE were compared with those accepting DRE in regard to epidemic, social and cultural variables. Results: DRE was rejected by 8.2% of patients. Refusal rate was not different when patients were stratified by age, prostate cancer family history, school level, family income, and PSA level. Patients with a prior history of DRE had a lower rejection rate than those undergoing DRE for the first time (4.4% vs. 10.4%, p = 0.038). Patients with mild or no lower urinary tract symptoms rejected DRE more frequently than those with moderate or severe symptoms (9.6% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.018). Misconceptions about prostate cancer screening were present in 84.4% of those rejecting DRE vs. 46.9% of controls (p = 0.002); 43.7% expected severe discomfort in the group that rejected DRE vs. 28.1% in the control group (p = 0.090); fear of finding a cancer during DRE was present in 34.4% of patients that refused DRE vs. 46.9% of controls (p = 0.121); and 53.1% of patients rejecting DRE responded it was a source of shame vs. 15.6% of patients in the control group (p = 0.019). Conclusions: The main reasons patients reject DRE when attending prostate cancer screening are the lack of lower urinary tract symptoms, misconceptions about prostate cancer screening and shame, especially when undergoing screening for the first time (AU)

Objetivo: Evaluar las razones por las que los pacientes rechazan el tacto rectal cuando se someten a cribaje de cáncer de próstata. Métodos: 450 hombres fueron evaluados respectivamente en un programa de educación sobre cáncer de próstata consistente en conferencias, evaluación del PSA y tacto rectal. Se compararon los pacientes que rechazaron el tacto rectal con los que aceptaron hacérselo considerando las variables epidemiológicas, sociales y culturales. Resultados: El 8,2% de los pacientes rechazaron el tacto rectal. La tasa de rechazos no mostró diferencias cuando se estratifica los pacientes por edad, historia familiar de cáncer de próstata, nivel de escolarización, ingresos familiares y nivel del PSA. Los pacientes con historia previa de tacto rectal presentaron una tasa de rechazo menor que aquellos sometidos a tacto rectal por primera vez (4,4% vs. I0,4%,p = 0,038). Los pacientes asintomáticos o con síntomas del tracto urinario inferior leves rechazaron el tacto rectal con mayor frecuencia que los que tenían síntomas moderados o severos (9,6% vs. 1,4%, p = 0,018). El 84% de los que rechazaron el tacto rectal tenían un concepto erróneo sobre el cribaje cáncer de próstata frente al 46,9% de los controles (p = 0,002); en 43,7% del grupo que rechazaron el tacto rectal esperaban una molestia severa frente al 28,1% del grupo control (p = 0,090); el miedo a que le fuera detectado cáncer durante el tacto rectal está presente del 34,4% de los pacientes que rechazaron el tacto rectal frente al 46,9% de los controles (p = 0,121); y el 53,1% de los pacientes que rechazaron el tacto rectal respondieron que este era una motivo de vergüenza, frente al 15,6% de los pacientes del grupo control (p = 0,019). Conclusiones: Las principales razones por las que los pacientes rechazan el tacto rectal cuando se someten a cribaje de cáncer de próstata son la falta de síntomas del tracto urinario inferior, conceptos erróneos sobre el cribaje de cáncer de próstata y la vergüenza, especialmente cuando se someten a cribaje por primera vez (AU)

Morbidade e mortalidade neonatais relacionadas à idade materna igual ou superior a 35 anos, segundo a paridade / Neonatal morbity and mortality related to pregnant women at the age of 35 and older, according to parity

OBJETIVO: avaliar a morbidade e a mortalidade neonatais relacionadas à idade materna igual ou superior a 35 anos. MÉTODOS: de 2.377 nascimentos em um ano, 316 (13,6 por cento) eram de gestantes com idade igual ou superior a 35 anos. As gestantes selecionadas foram comparadas com mulheres entre 20 a 29 anos, randomicamente selecionadas entre 1170 delas (49,2 por cento). Foram incluídas gestantes com idade gestacional acima de 22 semanas e recém nascido (RN) acima de 500 g. Foram excluídos 14 gemelares. Para avaliar a morbidade e a mortalidade foram consideradas as seguintes variáveis: índice de Apgar, peso ao nascer, malformações congênitas, adequação do peso ao nascer e a mortalidade neonatal até a alta hospitalar. RESULTADOS: quando avaliadas em conjunto nuliparas e multíparas, as gestantes com idade igual ou superior a 35 anos apresentaram uma proporção significativamente maior de resultados perinatais desfavoráveis, o que não se manteve quando foram excluídas as nulíparas. Multíparas com idade igual ou superior a 35 anos apresentaram maior proporção de índice de Apgar baixo no 1º minuto: 21,3 e 13,1 por cento (p = 0,015); RN pequeno para a idade gestacional: 15,2 e 6,7 por cento (p < 0,02); RN grande para a idade gestacional: 5,7 e 0,0 por cento (p < 0,02); baixo peso ao nascer: 23,8 e 14,5 por cento (p < 0,01) e prematuridade: 16,7 e 6,7 por cento (p < 0,005), respectivamente. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas para o índice Apgar baixo no 5º minuto, malformações congênitas, condições do recém-nascido no momento da alta hospitalar e mortalidade neonatal. CONCLUSÕES: ocorreu um aumento da morbidade neonatal nas gestantes com idade igual ou superior a 35 anos, porém sem aumento da mortalidade neonatal.