Serum total testosterone is a significant preoperative variable independently contributing to separating the prostate cancer population into prostatectomy Gleason score groups.

Aim: To investigate the potential of preoperative serum total testosterone (TT) in contributing to the definition of separate prostatectomy Gleason score (pGS) groups of the prostate cancer (PCa) population.

Materials And Methods: The data of 220 patients operated on for PCa were retrospectively reviewed. No patient had previously received 5α-reductase inhibitor, luteinizing hormone-releasing analogs or testosterone replacement treatment.

Along the pituitary-testis-prostate axis, serum total testosterone is a significant preoperative variable independently contributing to separating the prostate cancer population into prostatectomy Gleason score groups.

Aim: To investigate, along the pituitary- testis- prostate axis, the potential of preoperative serum TT in contributing to defining separate prostatectomy Gleason score (pGS) groups of the prostate cancer (PC) population.

Materials And Methods: The data of 126 patients operated on for PC were retrospectively reviewed. No patient had previously received 5α-reductase inhibitor, luteinizing hormone (LH)-releasing hormone analogs or testosterone replacement treatment.

Follicle-stimulating hormone and the pituitary-testicular-prostate axis at the time of initial diagnosis of prostate cancer and subsequent cluster selection of the patient population undergoing standard radical prostatectomy.

Aim: A preceding exploratory analysis has shown that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was significantly correlated to and predicted by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a prostate cancer population. The aim of the study was to evaluate FSH physiopathology along the pituitary-testicular-prostate (PTP) axis at the time of initial diagnosis of prostate cancer in an operated population clustered according to the FSH/PSA ratio.

Patients And Methods: The study included 93 patients who underwent standard radical prostatectomy.

Investigative clinical study on prostate cancer part IX and X: estradiol and the pituitary-testicular-prostate axis at the time of initial diagnosis and subsequent cluster selection of the patient population after radical prostatectomy.

Aim: To evaluate estradiol (E(2)) physiopathology along the pituitary-testicular-prostate axis at the time of initial diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC) and subsequent cluster selection of the patient population.

Patients And Methods: Records of the diagnosed (n=105) and operated (n=91) patients were retrospectively reviewed. Age, percentage of positive cores at-biopsy (P+), biopsy Gleason score (bGS), E(2), prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (TT), free-testosterone (FT), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), pathology Gleason score (pGS), estimated tumor volume in relation to percentage of prostate volume (V+), overall prostate weight (Wi), clinical stage (cT), biopsy Gleason pattern (bGP) and pathology stage (pT), were the investigated variables.

Investigative clinical study on prostate cancer part VIII: prolactin hormone and the pituitary-testicular-prostate axis at the time of initial diagnosis and subsequent cluster selection of the patient population after radical prostatectomy.

Aim: To evaluate the prolactin hormone (PRL) physiopathology along the pituitary testicular prostate axis at the time of initial diagnosis of prostate cancer and the subsequent cluster selection of the patient population after radical prostatectomy in relation to clinical and pathological variables.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-two operated prostate cancer patients were retrospectively reviewed. No patient had previously received hormonal treatment.

Investigative clinical study on prostate cancer part VI: Follicle-stimulating hormone and the pituitary-testicular-prostate axis at the time of initial diagnosis and subsequent cluster selection of the patient population.

Aim: To evaluate the physiopathology of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) along the pituitary-testicular-prostate axis at the time of initial diagnosis of prostate cancer in relation to the available clinical variables and to the subsequent cluster selection of the patient population.

Patients And Methods: The study included 98 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Age, percentages of positive cores (P+) at transrectal ultrasound scan biopsy, biopsy Gleason score (bGS), luteinizing hormone (LH), FSH, total testosterone, free testosterone (FT) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were the continuous clinical variables.

Investigative clinical study on prostate cancer part VII: prolactin and the pituitary-testis-prostate axis at the time of initial diagnosis and subsequent cluster selection of the patient population.

Aim: To evaluate prolactin (PRL) physiopathology along the pituitary-testis-prostate axis at the time of initial diagnosis of prostate cancer in relation to the available clinical variables and to the subsequent cluster selection of the patient population.

Patients And Methods: The study involved 100 individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer. Age, percentage of positive cores at transrectal ultrasound scan biopsy (P+), biopsy Gleason score (BGS), PRL, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were the continuous clinical variables.

Investigative clinical study on prostate cancer Part V: Luteinizing hormone and the pituitary-testicular-prostate axis at the time of initial diagnosis and subsequent cluster selection of the patient population.

Aim: To evaluate Luteinizing hormone (LH) physiopathology along the pituitary testicular prostate axis at the time of initial diagnosis of prostate cancer in relation to the available clinical variables and to the subsequent cluster selection of the patient population.

Patients And Methods: Age, percentages of positive cores at Trans Rectal Ultrasound Scan Biopsy (TRUSB) (P+), biopsy Gleason score (bGS), LH, Total Testosterone (TT), Free Testosterone (FT) and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) were the continuous clinical variables. All patients had histologically proven carcinoma of the prostate and had not previously received 5α-reductase inhibitors, LH-releasing hormone analogues or testosterone replacement treatment.

Evaluation of Cobas Integra 800 under simulated routine conditions in six laboratories.

The new selective access analyser Cobas Integra 800 from Roche Diagnostics was evaluated in an international multicentre study at six sites. Routine simulation experiments showed good performance and full functionality of the instrument and provocation of anomalous situations generated no problems. The new features on Cobas Integra 800, namely clot detection and dispensing control, worked according to specifications.