Endothelin-1 overexpression: a potential biomarker of unfavorable prognosis in non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a multifunctional peptide exerting its effects via receptors A and B. ET-1 and its receptors, endothelin axis (ET axis), play a promoting role in cancer biology. Alterations of proteins of ET axis have been detected in non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMMIBC).

Prostate-specific antigen screening, why have the guidelines changed?

Prostate cancer (PCa) constitutes a major health issue of the western world given its increasing rate of diagnosis and the fact that it is the second cause of cancer-related death among men. Although the incidence of PCa is rising, deaths from PCa are at the same time declining. This phenomenon has been largely attributed to the implementation of PCa screening.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy under a multimodal analgesia regime.

Objectives: To evaluate the possibility of performing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) under a multimodal analgesia regime.

Patients And Methods: During a period of 3 years, 51 patients requiring PCNL were enrolled in the study. All patients received a multimodal analgesic regime that included paracetamol, a COX(2) inhibitor, epidural morphine, and infiltration of the surgical field with local anesthetics.

Impact of stapling devices on radical cystectomy: comparative study between low- and high-volume surgeons.

Objectives: To compare effectiveness in terms of blood loss and operative time of stapling devices among surgeons with different levels of surgical volume.

Methods: We evaluated a group of 29 male patients with invasive bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy by two groups of surgeons. The first group included two high-volume surgeons, and the second group two low-volume surgeons.

Percutaneous suprapubic cystolithotripsy under local anesthesia.

Objectives: To assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of percutaneous cystolithotripsy under local anesthesia in selected patients.

Methods: Thirty-one patients with bladder stones of different etiologies underwent percutaneous cystolithotripsy under local anesthesia. Suprapubic access was obtained with ultrasound guidance, and fragmentation of the stone was performed using the Swiss lithoclast.