Safety profile of trastuzumab originator vs biosimilars: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Purpose: In the last decade trastuzumab biosimilars became more and more frequent. Among their uses, from several years, they have been available in Europe for the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, as an alternative to Herceptin®.

Methods/patients: This meta-analysis aimed to analyze the available literature with particular focus on phase 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing adverse events between trastuzumab biosimilar and originator.

Prostate health index (phi) and prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) significantly improve diagnostic accuracy in patients undergoing prostate biopsy.

Background: Prostate health index (phi) and prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) have been recently proposed as novel biomarkers for prostate cancer (PCa). We assessed the diagnostic performance of these biomarkers, alone or in combination, in men undergoing first prostate biopsy for suspicion of PCa.

Methods: One hundred sixty male subjects were enrolled in this prospective observational study.

The pattern of p53 mutations caused by PAH o-quinones is driven by 8-oxo-dGuo formation while the spectrum of mutations is determined by biological selection for dominance.

PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are suspect lung cancer carcinogens that must be metabolically converted into DNA-reactive metabolites. P4501A1/P4501B1 plus epoxide hydrolase activate PAH to (+/-)- anti-benzo[ a]pyrene diol epoxide ((+/-)- anti-BPDE), which causes bulky DNA adducts. Alternatively, aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) convert intermediate PAH trans-dihydrodiols to o-quinones, which cause DNA damage by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Expanding applications of the access sheath to ureterolithotripsy of distal ureteral stones. A frustrating experience.

Objective: Distal ureteral stones are routinely managed with semirigid ureteroscopy without the need for ureteral dilatation, but some conditions, e.g. large stone burden or difficult catheterization of the ureteral meatus, are time-consuming and would require a tool to facilitate multiple insertions of the ureteroscope and to avoid ureteral injury.

Comparing two different ballistic intracorporeal lithotripters in the management of ureteral stones.

Introduction: During the 1990s, two different in situ 'ballistic' lithotripters were introduced into clinical practice. The Swiss Lithoclast (SLC) was the first to be clinically tested. After a few years, a very similar device, the electrokinetic lithotripter (EKL), was described and has recently become available to us.

Role of cytokeratins, nuclear matrix proteins, Lewis antigen and epidermal growth factor receptor in human bladder tumors.

The content of urinary bladder cancer antigen (UBC), tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS), nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22), and the expression of LewisY carbohydrate antigens and of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in bladder tumor tissues were determined. These included 14 well, 6 moderately and 11 poorly differentiated bladder cancers. Cytosol UBC and TPS were higher in the well and in the moderately differentiated bladder tumors than in the poorly differentiated bladder cancers; whereas cytosol NMP22 was higher in the poorly differentiated bladder cancers than in the well and in the moderately differentiated bladder tumors.

[Questionnaire based evaluation of prostate biopsy complication comparing different bioptic schemes].

Objectives: The systematic parasagittal sextant biopsy technique under transrectal ultrasound guidance, routinely performed to diagnose and stage prostate cancer, has been shown to outperform directed or random biopsies, revolutioning our ability to detect carcinoma of the prostate. Different biopsy schemes have been proposed with similar positive percentage of cancer detection. The present study evaluate from the patient's perspective the complications with the use of two different systematic biopsy protocols with 14 and 8 cores.

Early and late complications of double pigtail ureteral stent.

Objectives: To analyze the early and late complications of indwelling ureteral stents in a series of 146 patients with nephroureteral lithiasis.

Materials And Methods: 146 patients with obstructing nephrolitiasis were treated for urinary diversion with double pigtail ureteral stent before extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and following ureterorenoscopic treatment of lithiasis. All patients were scheduled for stent removal or replacement at specific 3-month intervals until stone-free status was achieved.