The Incidence of Extreme Serum Prostate Specific Antigen Levels During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in decreased prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer screening and its impact remains uncharacterized. Our objective was to compare incident PSA testing rates, PSA levels, and prostate cancer treatment rates before and during the pandemic after the state of emergency (SoE) was declared.

Materials And Methods: This was a population-based, retrospective cohort study among men 50-80 years of age in Ontario, Canada undergoing incident PSA testing from November 23, 2018 to July 9, 2021.

Cost of Bladder Cancer Care: A Single-center Comparison of Radical Cystectomy and Trimodal Therapy.

Introduction: Radical cystectomy and trimodal therapy are both accepted options in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. As such, we sought to evaluate the micro-level costs associated with both modalities.

Methods: All patients undergoing trimodal therapy or radical cystectomy for primary treatment of urothelial muscle-invasive bladder cancer at a single academic center between 2008 and 2012 were included.

Robotic Versus Open Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer: Synthesizing the Data from Current Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

This is a summary of existing systematic reviews comparing robotic assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with open radical cystectomy (ORC). Our aim was to compare operative approaches with respect to perioperative, postoperative, oncologic, and health-related quality of life (QOL) outcomes. We performed a systematic review of MEDLINE, Medline-in-Process and Medline Epubs Ahead of Print, and the Cochrane Library on 22 February 2022.

Prevalence and Natural History of Non-metastatic Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Analysis.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and natural history of nmCRPC prior to the adoption of novel androgen receptor axis-targeting therapies(ARAT).

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective population-based cohort study of men with nmCRPC in Ontario, Canada between January 2007-March 2018. Patients with prostate cancer, castrate level of testosterone(<1.

Association of Surgeon-Patient Sex Concordance With Postoperative Outcomes.

Importance: Surgeon sex is associated with differential postoperative outcomes, though the mechanism remains unclear. Sex concordance of surgeons and patients may represent a potential mechanism, given prior associations with physician-patient relationships.

Objective: To examine the association between surgeon-patient sex discordance and postoperative outcomes.

Assessment of gender representation in clinical trials leading to FDA approval for oncology therapeutics between 2014 and 2019: A systematic review-based cohort study.

Background: Ensuring representative data accrual in clinical trials is important to safeguard the generalizability of results and to minimize disparities in care. This study's goal was to evaluate differences in gender representation in trials leading to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cancer drug approvals.

Methods: An observational study was conducted from January 2014 to April 2019 using PubMed and the National Institutes of Health trials registry for primary trial reports.

Women as Authors of Randomized Controlled Trials of Minimally Invasive Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 3 Decades of Trials.

Background: Female authorship opportunities have lagged behind those of their male counterparts, with gender disparities most prominent in surgical specialties. Our objective was to determine trends of female first, last, and first or last authorships across time and surgical specialties and whether female first or last authorship was associated with journal impact factor.

Study Design: A systematic review of EMBASE (OvidSP), MEDLINE (OvidSP), and Cochrane (Wiley) databases from inception to December 22, 2017 was performed to identify all randomized controlled trials evaluating minimally invasive surgery vs classical surgical techniques.

Does prophylactic ureteric stenting at the time of colorectal surgery reduce the risk of ureteric injury? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: Cystoscopic placement of ureteric stents during colorectal surgery (CRS) may aid in the intraoperative identification of the ureters and thus prevent ureteric injury, but may also be associated with prolonged operating time, increased cost and adverse events. No formal recommendations exist regarding the use of ureteric stents prior to CRS. Our aim was to determine the effect of prophylactic ureteric stent insertion on the risk of ureteric injury among adult patients undergoing CRS.

Neoadjuvant Versus Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: A Microsimulation Model.

Background: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is clinically understudied, and there are no definitive recommendations regarding timing of perioperative chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to compare 3 treatment pathways in UTUC: nephroureterectomy (NU) alone, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) using a microsimulation model.

Patients And Methods: An individual-level state transition model was constructed using TreeAgePro software to compare treatment strategies for patients with newly diagnosed UTUC.

Assessment of Secondary Sarcomas Among Patients With Cancer of the Abdomen or Pelvis Who Received Combinations of Surgery, Radiation, and Chemotherapy vs Surgery Alone.

Importance: The association of radiation and chemotherapy with the development of secondary sarcoma is known, but the contemporary risk has not been well characterized for patients with cancers of the abdomen and pelvis.

Objective: To compare the risk of secondary sarcoma among patients treated with combinations of surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy with patients treated with surgery alone and the general population.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based cohort study included 173 580 patients in Ontario, Canada, with nonmetastatic cancer of the prostate, bladder, colon, rectum or anus, cervix, uterus, or testis.

Rates of primary and secondary treatments for patients on active surveillance for localized prostate cancer-A population-based cohort study.

Background: The rate of primary and secondary treatment while on active surveillance (AS) for localized prostate cancer at the general population level is unknown. Our objective was to determine the patterns of secondary treatments after primary surgery or radiation for patients who undergo AS.

Methods: This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of men aged 50-80 years old in Ontario, Canada, between 2008 and 2016.

Re-operation within 30 days of radical cystectomy: Identifying high-risk patients and complications using American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

Introduction: Radical cystectomy (RC) is a highly morbid procedure, with 30-day complication rates approaching 31%. Our objective was to determine risk factors for re-operation within 30 days following a RC for non-metastatic bladder cancer.

Methods: We included all patients who underwent a RC for non-metastatic bladder cancer using The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2014.

A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Novel Androgen Receptor Inhibitors in Non-metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer.

Background: Among men with high-risk non-metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC), we used network meta-analysis to compare non-steroidal anti-androgens (NSAAs) and stratified class-level meta-analysis to identify subgroups with particular benefit from NSAAs with androgen deprivation therapy versus androgen deprivation therapy alone.

Materials And Methods: We performed a systematic review of phase III parallel-group randomized controlled trials in adult men with nmCRPC. Primary outcome was metastasis-free survival (MFS).

Abiraterone vs. docetaxel for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: A microsimulation model.

Introduction: Our aim was to determine whether androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with abiraterone acetate (AA) or ADT with docetaxel chemotherapy (DC) resulted in improved quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) among men with de novo metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) and the cost effectiveness of the preferred strategy using decision analytic techniques.

Methods: A microsimulation model with a lifetime time horizon was constructed. Our primary outcome was QALYs.

Exploring the patterns of practice and satisfaction among female urologists in Canada.

Introduction: Our aim was to explore the satisfaction, personal and professional challenges, and practice barriers among female urologists in Canada.

Methods: A literature review was completed to design our survey. Trends with respect to career and personal satisfaction were identified, including academic advancement, mentorship, professional challenges, workplace discrimination, family satisfaction, and remuneration, among others.

Is There an Association between Urinary Incontinence and Mortality? A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Previous studies have shown an association between urinary incontinence and increased mortality independently of demographics and health status. However, they do not account for the effect of frailty as a state of vulnerability. We evaluated whether there is an association between urinary incontinence and mortality and, if so, whether adjustment for a frailty index would affect the association.

Variation and Trends in Antidepressant Prescribing for Men Undergoing Treatment for Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Psychological distress is prevalent among men with prostate cancer (PCa). However, the variation in antidepressant use among individuals throughout the survivorship period is unknown. We sought to examine the variation and trends in receipt of antidepressants after PCa treatment, among patients with nonmetastatic PCa.

Artificial urinary sphincter erosion after radical prostatectomy in patients treated with and without radiation.

Introduction: There has been increasing evidence supporting the use of adjuvant radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer. Significant stress incontinence after RP is not uncommon and the artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is the gold standard of treatment. Our objective was to assess if increased use of radiotherapy after RP has changed the rate of erosion and infection in the face of improvement in radiation technique and equipment in men who had an AUS implanted in the last 10 years.

Baseline blood work before initiation of chemotherapy: what is safe in the real world?

Introduction: This is an observational study of patterns of practice of the timing of baseline blood work (BBW) before chemotherapy initiation. The primary objective was to evaluate the incidence of significant changes in laboratory values within 6 weeks before therapy.

Methods: All consecutive patients receiving chemotherapy within a 6-month period were analyzed retrospectively.

Rapid improvement in pain and functional level in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents approximately 3% of all adult cancers and is more common in males. Systemic treatment for RCC has improved following the introduction of sunitinib. Bone metastases are present in up to 50% of RCC patients.