A validation study of an esophageal probe-based polygraph against polysomnography in obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the automatically scored results of an esophageal probe-based polygraph system (ApneaGraph® Spiro) against manually scored polysomnography (Nox A1, PSG) results. We compared the apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen saturation index, and respiratory disturbance index of the devices.

Methods: Consenting patients, referred for obstructive sleep apnea workup, were tested simultaneously with the ApneaGraph® Spiro and Nox A1® polysomnograph.

Psychometric testing of the Norwegian version of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite 26-item version (EPIC-26).

Objectives: In patients with prostate cancer, evaluation of quality of care requires the inclusion of patient-reported outcomes measures assessed by validated and reliable instruments. Basic psychometric tests of the Norwegian version of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite with 26 items (EPIC-26) were performed in this study.

Material And Methods: Translation of the original questionnaire (University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index Composite), field testing and retranslation were done according to published guidelines.

Localized prostate cancer in Norway, the United States, and Spain: between-country differences of variables before treatment among patients eligible for curative treatment.

Background: In men with PCa, large variations of PROs after RP or high-dose RAD might be related to between-country differences of medical and sociodemographic variables, and differences in PROs before treatment in the sexual and urinary domains.

Patients And Methods: In 1908 patients with localized PCa from Norway, the United States, or Spain, the relation between medical (prostate-specific antigen, Gleason score, cT-category) and sociodemographic variables (age, education, marital status) before treatment was investigated. Using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite questionnaire, PROs before treatment within the sexual and urinary domains were also considered.

Return to work and sick leave after radical prostatectomy: a prospective clinical study.

Background: To evaluate work status at three months after radical prostatectomy (RP) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) in relation to socio-demographics, urinary incontinence and bother, medical complications health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and surgical methods. To identify pre-RP available factors that can predict the duration of immediate post-RP sick leave.

Material And Methods: This prospective questionnaire-based study included 264 men with PCa<65 years, who were active in the work force before RP.

Does a surgeon's annual radical prostatectomy volume predict the risk of positive surgical margins and urinary incontinence at one-year follow-up? Findings from a prospective national study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of positive surgical margins (PSM) and urinary incontinence (UI) in relation to surgeons' annual radical prostatectomy (RP) volume.

Material And Methods: This national study prospectively assessed 521 preoperatively continent patients with prostate cancer (PCa), scheduled for RP by surgeons with high (>50), medium (20-50) or low annual volume (<20) at 14 urological departments in Norway. Patients responded to UI questions from the Expanded Composite prostate cancer index (EPIC-50) before and 1 year after RP.

Can sexual bother after radical prostatectomy be predicted preoperatively? Findings from a prospective national study of the relation between sexual function, activity and bother.

Unlabelled: What's known on the subject? And what does the study add? Sexual function is often impaired after radical prostatectomy resulting in reduced sexual activity and sexual bother. The main focus in the literature concerning sexual adverse effects has been on erectile dysfunction and impairment of sexual function rather than the actual sexual bother it causes, although the sexual bother is most important to the individual patient's quality of life. The relation between these measures, and in particular preoperative prediction of postoperative sexual bother, has only been studied in a limited way and with varying results.

Fertility issues in patients with prostate cancer.

Objective: To describe fertility issues, only rarely discussed with patients with prostate cancer, although paternity after treatment might be an important component of quality of life for some, as exemplified by two of our patients.

Patients: During pretreatment counselling two patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer initiated the discussion of paternity after treatment. Patient 1 then opted for radiotherapy as the treatment least likely to damage fertility, whereas patient 2 had semen cryopreservation before external beam radiotherapy combined with 6 months adjuvant hormone treatment.