Randomised double-blind phase 3 clinical study testing impact of atorvastatin on prostate cancer progression after initiation of androgen deprivation therapy: study protocol.

Introduction: Blood cholesterol is likely a risk factor for prostate cancer prognosis and use of statins is associated with lowered risk of prostate cancer recurrence and progression. Furthermore, use of statins has been associated with prolonged time before development of castration resistance (CR) during androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer. However, the efficacy of statins on delaying castration-resistance has not been tested in a randomised placebo-controlled setting.

Improved renal cancer prognosis among users of drugs targeting renin-angiotensin system.

Purpose: We explored renal cell cancer (RCC) survival among users of antihypertensive medication as hypertension is proposed to be a risk factor for RCC and ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have been associated with improved prognosis of RCC.

Methods: Finnish cohort of 13,873 participants with RCC diagnosed between 1995-2012 was formed from three national databases. RCC cases were identified from Finnish Cancer Registry, medication usage from national prescription database and co-morbidities from Care Registry of Healthcare.

Update of the position paper on arterial hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

: Sexual health is an integral part of overall health, and an active and healthy sexual life is an essential aspect of a good life quality. Cardiovascular disease and sexual health share common risk factors (arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, and smoking) and common mediating mechanisms (endothelial dysfunction, subclinical inflammation, and atherosclerosis). This generated a shift of thinking about the pathophysiology and subsequently the management of sexual dysfunction.

Risk of urothelial cancer death among people using antihypertensive drugs-a cohort study from Finland.

To analyse the association between antihypertensive (anti-HT) drug use and risk of urothelial cancer (UC) death. UC occurs as bladder cancer (BCa) and upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUCs). Hypertension is a suggested risk factor for BCa and may impair disease prognosis.

Expression of LHCG receptors in the human penis.

The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin (LHCG) receptor in the human penis to see, if the luteinizing hormone (LH) effects are possible in the spongious and cavernous tissue of the penis. The number of men with erection disturbances increases significantly simultaneously with the elevated LH concentrations between 40 and 70 years. It is possible that the elevated LH concentrations may influence locally the erectile mechanisms.

Increasing kidney cancer incidence and survival in Estonia: role of age and stage.

Background: Kidney cancer rates in Estonia are high. The study aimed to examine long-term trends in kidney cancer incidence, mortality and survival in Estonia, with special focus on age, birth cohorts, morphology and TNM stage.

Material And Methods: Estonian Cancer Registry provided data on all incident cases of kidney cancer (ICD-10 C64), diagnosed in adults (age ≥15 years) in Estonia during 1995 - 2014.

Bladder Cancer Survival of Men Receiving 5α-Reductase Inhibitors.

Purpose: Androgens may have a role in bladder carcinogenesis. We studied whether 5α-reductase inhibitors were associated with bladder cancer specific mortality in a population based cohort of men with bladder cancer.

Materials And Methods: The study cohort consisted of 10,720 Finnish men with bladder cancer newly diagnosed in 1997 to 2012 who were identified in a national cancer registry.

Prostate cancer incidence, mortality and survival trends in Estonia, 1995-2014.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze long-term trends in prostate cancer (PCa) incidence, mortality and survival in Estonia, with specific focus on age and stage.

Materials And Methods: Data on PCa incident cases and deaths in 1995-2014 were obtained from the Estonian Cancer Registry and the Causes of Death Registry, respectively. Joinpoint regression was used to estimate the annual percentage change for incidence and mortality trends.

Components of metabolic syndrome and prognosis of renal cell cancer.

Objective: This study analyzes risk associations between metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and the extent and prognosis of renal cell cancer (RCC). The independent effect of each MetS component is unclear, but they may affect RCC prognosis.

Materials And Methods: The study included 13,873 RCC patients (7720 men, 6153 women) diagnosed in Finland in 1995-2012.

Muraglitazar-eluting bioabsorbable vascular stent inhibits neointimal hyperplasia in porcine iliac arteries.

Purpose: To evaluate the biocompatibility of a new muraglitazar-eluting polylactide copolymer stent and investigate its ability to prevent the formation of intimal hyperplasia.

Materials And Methods: Ten self-expandable muraglitazar-eluting poly-96 L/4D-lactic acid (PLA96) stents and 10 self-expandable control PLA96 stents were implanted into porcine common iliac arteries. After 28 days follow-up, all stent-implanted iliac arteries were harvested and prepared for quantitative histomorphometric analysis.

Dexamethasone-eluting vascular stents.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with stenting is widely used in the treatment of vascular disorders, but restenosis remains a significant problem. Drug-eluting stents (DES) have been developed as an attempt to reduce the intimal response leading to restenosis. Drugs used in DES include mainly immunosuppressive and anti-proliferative compounds.

The effect of pH on the degradation of biodegradable poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) 80/20 urethral stent material in vitro.

Purpose: To investigate in vitro whether pH ranging between 6 and 9 has an effect on the degradation of stent fibers made of poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) 80/20.

Materials And Methods: The fibers were divided into three groups and immersed in sodium phosphate-buffered saline (Na-PBS) solution with three different pH values: 6, 7.4, and 9.

Preclinical evaluation of new indomethacin-eluting biodegradable urethral stent.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of an indomethacin-eluting biodegradable urethral stent on the production of inflammatory cytokines in vitro and the degradation and biocompatibility of the new stent in vivo.

Materials And Methods: The effects of an indomethacin and indomethacin-eluting biodegradable stent on monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), and transforming growth factor-ß were measured in THP-1 cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Stents (copolymer of L-lactide and glycolide acid) that were coated with 50L/50D polylactic acid and two different concentrations of indomethacin were inserted into the rabbit urethra.

Biocompatibility of new drug-eluting biodegradable urethral stent materials.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of biodegradable stent material (poly-96L/4D-lactic acid [PLA]) on the production of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators in vitro and the biocompatibility of new drug-eluting biodegradable urethral stent materials in vivo. Indomethacin, dexamethasone, and simvastatin were used in the materials.

Methods: The effects of the biodegradable stent material on cytokines and other inflammatory mediators were measured using the Human Cytokine Antibody Array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in THP-1 cells, with bacterial lipopolysaccharide as a positive control.

Urethral in situ biocompatibility of new drug-eluting biodegradable stents: an experimental study in the rabbit.

Objective: To assess the effect of drug-eluting properties on the degradation process and the biocompatibility of biodegradable drug-eluting urethral stents.

Materials And Methods: Braided biodegradable 80 L/20D-PLGA (copolymer of polylactide and polyglycolide) stents with drug-eluting properties were used as the test material. The drugs analysed were indomethacin, dexamethasone and ciprofloxacine.

Biodegradable braided poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) urethral stent combined with dutasteride in the treatment of acute urinary retention due to benign prostatic enlargement: a pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate, in a pilot study, the efficacy and safety of combining a braided poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA, a copolymer of l-lactide and glycolide) urethral stent and dutasteride in the treatment of acute urinary retention (AUR) due to benign prostatic enlargement (BPE).

Patients And Methods: Ten men with AUR due to BPE were treated as outpatients. A biodegradable braided PLGA urethral stent was inserted into the prostatic urethra, using a specially designed insertion device under visual control.

A new biodegradable braided self-expandable PLGA prostatic stent: an experimental study in the rabbit.

Purpose: The biodegradable PLGA (a copolymer of L-lactide and glycolide) urethral stent with a spiral configuration has been used clinically for the prevention of postoperative urinary retention after different types of thermal therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. A new braiding pattern for this stent has recently been developed by our group. The aim here was to investigate the in situ degradation and biocompatibility of the new braided stent in the rabbit urethra.

Tissue biocompatibility of new biodegradable drug-eluting stent materials.

Drug-eluting stents are a recent innovation for endovascular and endourethral purposes. The aim of this study was to assess the biocompatibility of new biodegradable drug-eluting stent materials in vivo. Rods made of SR-PLDLA (self-reinforced poly-96L,4D: -lactic acid) covered with P(50L/50D)LA and rods made of 96L/4D SR-PLA and covered with P(50L/50D)LA including indomethacin 3.