Extracellular nucleotides and interleukin-8 production by ARPE cells: potential role of danger signals in blood-retinal barrier activation.

Purpose: RPE cell activation is an important feature of autoimmune uveitis. This investigation focused on whether extracellular nucleotides could contribute to this activation, and the effects of ATPgammaS, UTP, and UDP on the production of IL-8 by RPE cells was studied in relation to their expression of functional P2Y receptors.

Methods: ARPE-19 cells were cultured with ATPgammaS, UTP, UDP, and TNF.

[Hand hygiene: first measure to control nosocomial infection].

Hand hygiene prevents cross infection in hospi tals, however adherence to guidelines is commonly poor. The hand-hygiene promotion programme started on May 2004 at the University Hospital of Liège after a baseline survey of compliance. We attempted to promote hand hygiene and most par ticularly alcohol-based hand disinfection.

Predicting recurrence and progression in individual patients with stage Ta T1 bladder cancer using EORTC risk tables: a combined analysis of 2596 patients from seven EORTC trials.

Objectives: To provide tables that allow urologists to easily calculate a superficial bladder cancer patient's short- and long-term risks of recurrence and progression after transurethral resection.

Methods: A combined analysis was carried out of individual patient data from 2596 superficial bladder cancer patients included in seven European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer trials.

Results: A simple scoring system was derived based on six clinical and pathological factors: number of tumors, tumor size, prior recurrence rate, T category, carcinoma in situ, and grade.

Intermittent versus continuous total androgen blockade in the treatment of patients with advanced hormone-naive prostate cancer: results of a prospective randomized multicenter trial.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of total intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) versus total continuous androgen deprivation (CAD) for treating patients with advanced prostate cancer in a phase III randomized trial. A total of 68 evaluable patients with hormone-naive advanced or relapsing prostate cancer were randomized to receive combined androgen blockade according to a continuous (n = 33) or intermittent (n = 35) regimen. Therapeutic monitoring was assessed by use of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements.

Variability in the recurrence rate at first follow-up cystoscopy after TUR in stage Ta T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: a combined analysis of seven EORTC studies.

Objectives: To assess the variability between institutions in the recurrence rate at the first follow-up cystoscopy (RR-FFC) after transurethral resection (TUR) in patients with stage Ta T1 bladder cancer.

Methods: A total of 2410 patients from seven EORTC phase III trials conducted between 1979 and 1989 were included. Patients with single and with multiple tumors were analyzed separately according to whether or not they received adjuvant intravesical treatment.

[The Hemovigilance Commission of the University Hospital Center].

As suggested by the National Blood Council, a Hemovigilance Committee was set up in the University Hospital of Liège in 1995. A multidisciplinary discussion takes place on any action aiming at the improvement of transfusion safety, and the follow-up of its implementation. The first issue to be discussed was the set up of a detailed documentation of all blood transfusions.

Treatment of superficial bladder tumors: achievements and needs. The EORTC Genitourinary Group.

Objective: The therapeutic objectives in the initial treatment of superficial tumors are to remove completely the tumor, to assess the need for further therapy and to plan the follow-up.

Methods/results: The EORTC Genitourinary Group assessed the percentage of patients with recurrence at 3 months (3RR) after complete resection of all visible lesions taking into account the institution, the number of tumors at presentation and the year of treatment. The 3RR was considered for 18 institutions.

Prostate cancer: to screen or not to screen?

Screening of prostate cancer in asymptomatic men over 50 years is subject to discussion. A review of the medical and economical arguments in favor and against screening is given. It is concluded that widespread screening should not be undertaken but that correct information of the population is necessary with an adapted response to individual demands.

A combined analysis of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, and Medical Research Council randomized clinical trials for the prophylactic treatment of stage TaT1 bladder cancer. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Genitourinary Tract Cancer Cooperative Group and the Medical Research Council Working Party on Superficial Bladder Cancer.

Purpose: The use of prophylactic agents after primary resection can decrease the incidence of tumor recurrence in patients with stage TaT1 bladder cancer. However, the long-term impact on progression to muscle invasive disease as well as on duration of survival is unknown. A combined analysis of individual patient data from previously performed European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and Medical Research Council (MRC) randomized clinical trials was done in an attempt to answer these crucial questions.

Factors affecting recurrence and progression in superficial bladder tumours.

Prognostic factors in superficial bladder tumours are highly correlated with each other. In this study, their relative importance is examined and grouping of patients in three different prognostic groups suggested. 576 patients (from EORTC protocols 30790 and 30782) were analysed.

Intravesical adjuvant chemotherapy for superficial transitional cell bladder carcinoma: results of 2 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer randomized trials with mitomycin C and doxorubicin comparing early versus delayed instillations and short-term versus long-term treatment. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Genitourinary Group.

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer genitourinary group has completed 2 parallel prospective randomized studies, one with 30 mg. mitomycin C and the other with 50 mg. doxorubicin as adjuvant intravesical treatment after transurethral resection of superficial transitional cell bladder carcinoma.

EORTC (30885) randomised phase III study with recombinant interferon alpha and recombinant interferon alpha and gamma in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. The EORTC Genitourinary Group.

In the treatment of renal cell carcinoma both complete (CRs) and partial remissions (PRs) have been obtained using recombinant (r) interferon alpha (IFN-alpha), with response rates ranging from 0 to 31% (mean 16%). rIFN-gamma is a potent immunostimulating agent, but the clinical experience of its use is limited and results are conflicting. In a phase II study with the combination of rIFN-alpha 2c (Boehringer Ingelheim) and rIFN-gamma (Genentech, supplied by Boehringer Ingelheim) in 31 eligible patients, a response rate of 25% was recorded.

The experience of the CHU Liège with conservative surgery in the management of upper urinary tract tumors.

A review of 20 cases of conservative surgery for urothelial tumors of the upper tract is presented. The morbidity is limited; the recurrence rate is around 15% in the ipsilateral urinary tract with a mean follow up of 41 months. Conservative surgery does not seem to carry a higher fatal risk as compared to more radical surgery.

The experience of radical prostatectomy for locally confined prostate cancer in Liège.

The authors report their experience of 148 radical prostatectomies performed for adeno-carcinoma. They expose the reasons which have led them to adopt this kind of treatment and the reasons explaining a nearly exponential increase of the frequency of the operation during the last 5 years. They underline the importance of lymphadenectomy and the safety of frozen sections of the nodes.

Adjuvant chemotherapy of recurrent superficial transitional cell carcinoma: results of a European organization for research on treatment of cancer randomized trial comparing intravesical instillation of thiotepa, doxorubicin and cisplatin. The European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer Genitourinary Group.

A total of 356 patients with recurrent superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder was entered in a randomized clinical trial to compare intravesical thiotepa, doxorubicin and cisplatin with respect to the recurrence rate and disease-free interval. After complete transurethral resection of all visible lesions, the drugs were administered weekly for 4 weeks and monthly for 11 months. The recurrence rates per year were 0.

Original lithotomy positioning for transperineal extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for distal ureteric calculi with Tripter X1.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) has been initially designed for stones located in the kidney and the upper ureter. Our lithotripter is no exception. Its components (the table and the orientation of the semi-ellipsoid reflector) are adapted for the treatment of kidney or lumbar ureter stones.