Prostate cancer screening among elderly men in Brazil: should we diagnose or not?

Purpose: Prostate cancer screening in the elderly is controversial. The Brazilian government and the National Cancer Institute (INCA) do not recommend systematic screening. Our purpose was to assess prevalence and aggressiveness of prostate cancer in men aged 70 years and above, on the first Latin American database to date.

A novel measurement of pelvic floor cross-sectional area in older and younger women with and without prolapse.

Background: An increase in size of the aperture of the pelvis that must be spanned by pelvic floor support structures translates to an increase in the force on these structures. Prior studies have measured the bony dimensions of the pelvis, but the effect of changes in muscle bulk that may affect the size of this area are unknown.

Objectives: To develop a technique to evaluate the aperture size in the anterior pelvis at the level of the levator ani muscle attachments, and to identify age-related changes in women with and without prolapse.

Estimated levator ani subtended volume: a novel assay for predicting surgical failure after uterosacral ligament suspension.

Background: Levator ani muscle complex plays an important role in pelvic support and defects or laxity in this muscle complex contributes to pelvic organ prolapse and recurrence after surgical repair.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether estimated levator ani subtended volume can predict surgical outcomes for laparoscopic bilateral uterosacral ligament suspension.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was performed in patients who underwent laparoscopic uterosacral ligament suspension from 2010-2012.

Lack of association between the ICIQ-SF questionnaire and the urodynamic diagnosis in men with post radical prostatectomy incontinence.

Purpose: To analyze the correlation between the "International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form" (ICIQ-UISF) survey and the urodynamic findings in men with urinary incontinence (UI) following radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods: 88 men who presented post-RP UI for a minimum of 1 year were enrolled prospectively. All answered the ICIQ-UISF survey and underwent urodynamic testing.

Peripheral nerve repair with cultured schwann cells: getting closer to the clinics.

Peripheral nerve injuries are a frequent and disabling condition, which affects 13 to 23 per 100.000 persons each year. Severe cases, with structural disruption of the nerve, are associated with poor functional recovery.

Breaking the barrier in stroke: what should we know? A mini-review.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been considered as an important regulator of brain homeostasis, and its disturbance has been implicated in the onset and/or evolution of many pathological manifestations of neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases [1, 2]. In particular, BBB breakdown has been closely associated with the primary insult, as well as the secondary cell death of stroke. Here, we review the pioneering contributions of leading scientists who have vested interest in advancing our understanding of the pivotal role of BBB in stroke, but also exploiting this knowledge in developing novel BBB-based therapeutic regimens to abrogate stroke symptoms.

Levator ani subtended volume: a novel parameter to evaluate levator ani muscle laxity in pelvic organ prolapse.

Objective: We describe a new parameter based on magnetic resonance 3-dimensional (3D) reconstructions proposed to evaluate levator ani muscle (LAM) laxity in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Study Design: This is an institutional review board-approved, retrospective chart review of 35 women with POP, stages I-IV. The 3D Slicer software package was used to perform 2-dimensional and 3D measurements and the levator ani subtended volume (LASV) was described.

Using Mitrofanoff's principle and Monti's technique as a surgical option for bladder augmentation with a continent stoma: a case report.

Introduction: Hydronephrosis, reflux and renal failure are serious complications that occur in patients with neurogenic bladder associated with myelomeningocele. When the bladder compliance is lost, it is imperative to carry out surgery aimed at reducing bladder storage pressure. An ileocystoplasty, and for patients not suitable for intermittent catheterization, using the Mitrofanoff principle to form a continent stoma and the subsequent closure of the bladder neck, can be used.

Histologic study of urethral extracellular matrix and collagen from aging and long-term alloxan-induced diabetic male rats.

Objectives: To evaluate the histological alterations of extracellular matrix in long-term alloxan-induced diabetes and aging urethras of male rats with descriptions of total connective tissue, muscle layer and collagen types I and III relative amounts.

Methods: Histologic evaluations were performed in 3 animal groups: group 1, 8 weeks old; group 2, 44 weeks old; and group 3, 44 weeks old with alloxan-induced diabetes. The muscle layer thickness, extracellular matrix fibrosis, and collagen were quantified on digital images of the urethral samples.

Long term evaluation of functional and morphological bladder alterations on alloxan-induced diabetes and aging: experimental study in rats.

Purpose: to evaluate structural and functional effects of Alloxan- induced diabetes and aging on bladder of rats.

Methods: evaluations were performed in three groups: A--8 weeks of age, B--44 weeks of age, C--44 weeks of age with alloxan-induced diabetes. Muscle layer thickness, extracellular matrix fibrosis and collagen were quantified on digital images of bladder samples.

Cyclosporine action on kidneys of rats submitted to normothermic ischaemia and reperfusion.

Purpose: To verify if rat kidneys lesioned by ischaemia followed by reperfusion are affected by cyclosporine A (CsA).

Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, control (GS) and experimental (G1 and G2). G1 was subdivided in two: G1A composed of animals submitted to 60 minutes ischaemia and G1C with the same ischaemic procedure associated to 20 mg/kg/day CsA.

Genital lesions and distribution of amastigotes in bitches naturally infected with Leishmania chagasi.

Recent reports indicate that Leishmania chagasi has tropism to the male canine genital system, which is associated with shedding of the organism in the semen, supporting the hypothesis of venereal transmission. The aim of this study was to describe the lesions and assess parasite load in the genital system of bitches with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanL). Symptomatic (n=5) and asymptomatic (n=5) bitches seropositive for CanL were randomly selected at the Center for Zoonosis Control (Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil).

Estimated costs of treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia in Brazil.

Introduction: The treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) presents 2 options: medical or surgical, and there are doubts about what is the best treatment since 80% of patients who undergo surgery become asymptomatic and 10 to 40% of those under medical regimen undergo surgery within a 5 years period. It is difficult to assess the actual costs of treating BPH in Brazil due to several factors, among them regional particularities and the scarcity of current statistical data.

Patients And Methods: Recently, in the Ribeirao Preto area, Sao Paulo, Brazil, the IPSS (International Prostatic Symptoms Score) and quality of life were verified in 934 volunteers.