Ex vivo construction of a novel model of bioengineered bladder mucosa: A preliminary study.

Objective: To generate and to evaluate ex vivo a novel model of bioengineered human bladder mucosa based on fibrin-agarose biomaterials.

Methods: We first established primary cultures of stromal and epithelial cells from small biopsies of the human bladder using enzymatic digestion and selective cell culture media. Then, a bioengineered substitute of the bladder lamina propria was generated using cultured stromal cells and fibrin-agarose scaffolds, and the epithelial cells were then subcultured on top to generate a complete bladder mucosa substitute.

Relationship between biopsy Gleason score and radical prostatectomy specimen Gleason score in patients undergoing sextant vs 12 core biopsies.

Objectives: Our goal is to analyze the degree of concordance between the Gleason score (GS) obtained in prostate biopsies and the one after radical prostatectomy. The intention is to know whether 12-core biopsy, instead of 6 (sextant biopsy), improves, or not, this correlation.

Methods: A Cohort/prevalence study was conducted on 128 patients who underwent prostate biopsy and subsequent radical prostatectomy.

Spontaneous retroperitoneal abscess as the first clinical manifestation of a non-functioning retroperitoneal paraganglioma.

We demonstrate a novel clinical presentation of paraganglioma not described in the literature. The paraganglioma is a catecholamine secretory, or non-secretory, neuroendocrine tumour that derives from chromaffin cells. Its frequency, with regard to pheochromocytoma, is low, and the abdominal region is the most frequent localisation site, followed in importance by the cervical region.

Treatment of ureteral lithiasis with tamsulosin: literature review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Ninety percent of ureteral calculi <4 mm are expelled over a period of 3 months; if they are >6 mm the elimination possibilities are reduced to 30%. Presently, investigations in the treatment of ureteral lithiasis have the objective of modifying ureter contractibility with the aid of calcium antagonist and alpha-blocking drugs. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of tamsulosin in the treatment of the distal ureter lithiasis and to make a systematic analysis of the literature.

[Secondary hyperparathyroidism in advanced prostate cancer].

Background And Objective: High parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations are associated with increased bone resorption and bone matrix degradation. Some studies show elevated PTH concentrations and hypocalcemia in patients with advanced prostate carcinoma, although the pathophysiological significance of these findings is not well defined.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 60 patients diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer (44 nonmetastatic and 16 metastatic) treated with androgen deprivation.

Renal lithiasis in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Evolution and treatment.

Objectives: The relationship between hyperparathyroidism and lithiasis is quite known, so the study of parathyroid glands is especially mandatory in the face of relapses. Our objective is to analyze both primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) associated with renal lithiasis and the evolution of this condition after parathyroidectomy, as well as to study factors associated with the presence of lithiasis or bone pathology, and carry out a review on bibliography.

Methods: We describe a retrospective study of a series comprising 287 cases of hyperparathyroidism: 237 of them were primary and the remaining 50, secondary.

[Imaging characterization of renal masses. Image atlas].

The diagnostic study, analysis and characterization of renal masses and their behavior is one of the key elements for elaborating a surgical or therapeutic strategy, determining the prognosis, and for the follow-up of treatment efficacy in patients with benign or malignant disease. At present, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the two most reliable, effective and efficient instruments in this context--offering sensitivity and specificity values in excess of 87%, with a diagnostic relaibility of over 90% in application to renal masses of a cystic or complex nature, with nonspecific or specific inflammatory characteristics, or of a primary or secondary neoplastic nature. The aim of this study is to present the principal CT and MRI parameters in relation to renal pathology of this kind, correlating them to the clinical, physiopathological and histopathological data with a view to affording architectural, density, signal intensity and biological behavior parametric information of help in understanding the changes occurring in the renal and retroperitoneal regions secondary to such pathologies.

[Current indications of open surgery for the treatment of renal lithiasis. Ureterocalycostomy as definitive treatment for lithiasis in a female with recurrent disease].

Objective: We describe one case of recurrent lithiasis associated with anatomical alteration of the renal pelvis related to previous surgery.

Methods/results: The patient presented a urinary tract infection episode, complicated with pyonephrosis and septicemia. In the intravenous urography, infectious radiopaque pyelocaliceal multiple and complex lithiasis can be seen, as well as kidney hydronephrosis grade III-IV.

Cold cutting of ureteral stenosis with endoscopic scissors.

Objectives: To study the procedure and results of cold cutting of ureteral stenosis with endoscopic scissors. Intrinsic or extrinsic ureteral stenosis can be congenital or acquired. Endoscopic dilation and incision is 1 potential option for ureteral intrinsic stenosis.

[The treatment of bladder lithiasis with laser].

Objectives: The use of laser for endoscopic lithotripsy started in 1968 when Mulvaney tried a ruby laser without success; Later on, the CO2 laser and the Nd:YAG were tried. With the pulsed dye and alexandrite lasers energetic performances between 30 and 200 mJ are obtained, their capacity of fragmentation is not universal and is limited to small stones, generally ureteral stones, so that it has not been a therapeutic alternative for bladder lithiasis. The holmium laser generates energy pulses of 400-2500 mJ, it is able to fragment every type of stone.

[Clinical and radiological criteria for the therapeutic decision for vesicoureteral refux. Retrospective analysis of our experience].

Objectives: According to our experience, we present a proposal for the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux, based on both clinical and radiological evidences. We also describe how the introduction of endoscopic procedures has influenced the evolution of treatment indications as well as the time intervals for treatment.

Methods: We have analysed all cases of vesicoureteral reflux treated in our Department in two periods of similar length: The first one (106 patients) comprised from 1995 to March 2001 (when endoscopic procedures were introduced).

[The treatment of renal lithiasis with biphosphonates].

Objectives: Current treatment of hypercalciuria is still controversial, not being recommended calcium restriction since it may cause a negative balance with important consequences to bone metabolism. In adults, the use of biphosphonates (sodium alendronate) has shown a good response. Biphosphonates are synthetic analogs of the endogenous pirophosphate.