The Effect of Androgen Deprivation Therapy on the Cardiovascular System in Advanced Prostate Cancer.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a mainstay treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, improving progression-free survival. ADT suppresses the production of testosterone and reduces circulating levels of the hormone. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonists are the most commonly used ADT modality.

Surveillance after Focal Therapy - a Comprehensive Review.

Background: to date, no standardized, evidence-based follow-up schemes exist for the monitoring of patients who underwent focal therapy (FT) and expert centers rely mainly on their own experience and/or institutional protocols. We aimed to perform a comprehensive review of the most advantageous follow-up strategies and their rationale after FT for prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: a narrative review of the literature was conducted to investigate different follow-up protocols of FT for PCa.

Why is a small sample size not enough?

Background: Clinical studies are often limited by resources available, which results in constraints on sample size. We use simulated data to illustrate study implications when the sample size is too small.

Methods And Results: Using 2 theoretical populations each with N = 1000, we randomly sample 10 from each population and conduct a statistical comparison, to help make a conclusion about whether the 2 populations are different.

A targeted fluorescent nanosensor for ratiometric pH sensing at the cell surface.

The correlation between altered extracellular pH and various pathological conditions, including cancer, inflammation and metabolic disorders, is well known. Bulk pH measurements cannot report the extracellular pH value at the cell surface. However, there is a limited number of suitable tools for measuring the extracellular pH of cells with high spatial resolution, and none of them are commonly used in laboratories around the world.

Differences in Rural Versus Urban Patients With Prostate Cancer in Diagnosis and Treatment: An Analysis of a Population-Based Cohort.

Purpose: Patients living in rural communities have greater barriers to cancer care and poorer outcomes. We hypothesized that rural patients with prostate cancer have less access and receive different treatments compared with urban patients.

Methods: We used a population-based prospective cohort, the North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness and Survivorship Study, to compare differences in prostate cancer diagnosis, access to care, and treatment in patients by geographic residence.

High-volume prostate biopsy core involvement is not associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence following 5-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy monotherapy.

Purpose: Percentage of positive cores involved on a systemic prostate biopsy has been established as a risk factor for adverse oncologic outcomes and is a National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) independent parameter for unfavorable intermediate-risk disease. Most data from a radiation standpoint was published in an era of conventional fractionation. We explore whether the higher biological dose delivered with SBRT can mitigate this risk factor.

High-risk prostate cancer treated with a stereotactic body radiation therapy boost following pelvic nodal irradiation.

Purpose: Modern literature has demonstrated improvements in long-term biochemical outcomes with the use of prophylactic pelvic nodal irradiation followed by a brachytherapy boost in the management of high-risk prostate cancer. However, this comes at the cost of increased treatment-related toxicity. In this study, we explore the outcomes of the largest cohort to date, which uses a stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) boost following pelvic nodal radiation for exclusively high-risk prostate cancer.

Evaluation of a New Cystoscopic Cryocatheter and Method for the Destruction of Bladder Cancer: Preliminary Study.

To assess the ability to deliver full-thickness bladder wall cryoablation through a cystoscopic approach using a new closed-loop 6F cryocatheter and thermal dose-controlled protocol. Evaluations were conducted using a chronic porcine model wherein 10 lesions/animal were created throughout the bladder (bladder wall, trigone region, ureteral orifice, and distal ureter). A 6F cryocatheter was passed through the working channel of a flexible cystoscope.

Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Focus on Cognitive Function and Mood.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is currently the primary treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, and some studies have shown that the use of anti-androgen drugs is related to a reduction in cognitive function, mood changes, diminished quality of life, dementia, and possibly Alzheimer's disease. ADT has potential physiological effects such as a reduction in white matter integrity and a negative impact on hypothalamic functions due to the lowering of testosterone levels or the blockade of downstream androgen receptor signaling by first- and second-generation anti-androgen drugs.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for the Curative Treatment of Prostate Cancer in Ultralarge (≥100 cc) Glands.

Purpose: Historically, toxicity concerns have existed in patients with large prostate glands treated with radiation therapy, particularly brachytherapy. There are questions whether this risk extends to stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). In this retrospective review, we examine clinical outcomes of patients with prostate glands ≥100 cc treated curatively with SBRT.

Ticagrelor vs Clopidogrel in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients With a History of Ischemic Stroke.

Objective: To investigate whether use of ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel is associated with different risks for thrombotic events or major bleeding among acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with a prior history of acute ischemic stroke.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the Health and Welfare Database in Taiwan. Stroke patients prescribed ticagrelor plus aspirin or clopidogrel plus aspirin after a primary hospitalization for AMI between July 1, 2013, and December 31, 2018, were included.

Telehealth use and perceptions among prostate cancer survivors.

Background: Reasons underlying disparities in telehealth use among cancer survivors are unknown.

Methods: We surveyed a sociodemographically diverse population-based cohort of 487 prostate cancer survivors regarding their use and perceptions of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: Overall, only 28.

Primary Whole-gland Ablation for the Treatment of Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: A Focal Therapy Society Best Practice Statement.

Context: Whole-gland ablation is a feasible and effective minimally invasive treatment for localized prostate cancer (PCa). Previous systematic reviews supported evidence for favorable functional outcomes, but oncological outcomes were inconclusive owing to limited follow-up.

Objective: To evaluate the real-world data on the mid- to long-term oncological and functional outcomes of whole-gland cryoablation and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in patients with clinically localized PCa, and to provide expert recommendations and commentary on these findings.

Income level and treatment selection in prostate cancer: analysis of a North Carolina population-based cohort.

Background: Disparities in treatment selection based on socioeconomic status for prostate cancer exist. However, the association between patient-level income with treatment selection priorities and treatment received has not been studied.

Methods: A population-based cohort of 1382 individuals with newly diagnosed prostate cancer was enrolled throughout North Carolina prior to treatment.

Coronavirus-mimicking nanoparticles (CorNPs) in artificial saliva droplets and nanoaerosols: Influence of shape and environmental factors on particokinetics/particle aerodynamics.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, abbreviated as SARS-CoV-2, has been associated with the transmission of infectious COVID-19 disease through breathing and speech droplets emitted by infected carriers including asymptomatic cases. As part of SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic preparedness, we studied the transmission of aerosolized air mimicking the infected person releasing speech aerosol with droplets containing CorNPs using a vibrating mesh nebulizer as human patient simulator. Generally speech produces nanoaerosols with droplets of <5 μm in diameter that can travel distances longer than 1 m after release.

Antipsychotic Use in Early Pregnancy and the Risk of Maternal and Neonatal Complications.

Objective: To assess the association between antipsychotic use in early pregnancy and the risk of maternal and neonatal metabolic complications.

Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study (January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2016) using the Health and Welfare Database in Taiwan. Pregnant women (18 to 49 years of age) were grouped as antipsychotic users (ie, received oral antipsychotic monotherapy during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy) and nonusers.

Effect of Prostate Volume and Minimum Tumor Temperature on 4-Year Quality-of-Life After Focal Cryoablation Compared with Active Surveillance in Men with Prostate Cancer.

The purpose of this study is to analyze quality-of-life (QoL) metrics in men treated with focal cryoablation (FC) compared with active surveillance (AS) for localized prostate cancer over a 4-year follow-up period. We further investigated the effect of prostate size and minimum tumor temperature on QoL outcomes. An Institutional Review Board-approved database was reviewed for patients who underwent FC or AS.

An Evaluation of Sexual Function in the Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Secondary to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Men Treated with the Temporarily Implanted Nitinol Device.

To document the effect of the temporarily implanted nitinol device (iTind; Medi-Tate Ltd, Israel) on sexual function from a multicenter, randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled trial. Men were randomized 2:1 between iTind and sham procedure arms. The iTind was placed for 5-7 days and an 18F Foley catheter was inserted and removed for the iTind and sham group, respectively.

The Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering COVID-19 Dashboard: data collection process, challenges faced, and lessons learned.

On Jan 22, 2020, a day after the USA reported its first COVID-19 case, the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering (JHU CSSE) launched the first global real-time coronavirus surveillance system: the JHU CSSE COVID-19 Dashboard. As of June 1, 2022, the dashboard has served the global audience for more than 30 consecutive months, totalling over 226 billion feature layer requests and 3·6 billion page views. The highest daily record was set on March 29, 2020, with more than 4·6 billion requests and over 69 million views.

Effectiveness and Safety of Clopidogrel vs Aspirin in Elderly Patients With Ischemic Stroke.

Objective: To evaluate the risks of recurrent stroke and major bleeding events with clopidogrel and aspirin use among patients aged 80 years or older.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Full Population Data of the Health and Welfare Database in Taiwan. Patients aged 80 years or older who received monotherapy with clopidogrel or aspirin following hospitalization for primary acute ischemic stroke between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2018, were included.

Comparative results of focal-cryoablation and stereotactic body radiotherapy in the treatment of unilateral, low-to-intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare oncologic and functional outcomes of men with unilateral, localized PCa treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) versus focal cryoablation (FC).

Methods: Patients from our IRB-approved PCa database who underwent FC or SBRT and were eligible for both treatments were included. Patients with less than 1 year of follow-up or prior PCa treatment were excluded.

Four-year quality-of-life outcomes in low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients following definitive stereotactic body radiotherapy versus management with active surveillance.

Objective: To review quality-of-life (QoL) metrics between patients who underwent definitive stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) versus active surveillance (AS) for management of low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: A prospectively maintained PCa database was reviewed containing results of patient-reported QoL surveys. Patients with localized disease who chose AS or SBRT and completed at least one survey within four years of treatment were included.

Cardiovascular disease prevention and management of pre-existent cardiovascular disease in a cohort of prostate cancer survivors.

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common cause of mortality among men with prostate cancer. However, receipt of preventive care and management of pre-existent CVD has not been well studied in prostate cancer survivors.

Methods: This study examined a prospective cohort of men newly diagnosed with localized prostate cancer between 2011 and 2013 throughout North Carolina linked to Medicare and private insurance claims and clinical data from the Veterans Affairs (VA).