RANKL, but Not R-Spondins, Is Involved in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Calcification through LGR4 Interaction.

Vascular calcification has a global health impact that is closely linked to bone loss. The Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa B (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) system, fundamental for bone metabolism, also plays an important role in vascular calcification. The Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4), a novel receptor for RANKL, regulates bone remodeling, and it appears to be involved in vascular calcification.

Redox Metabolism and Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Vascular calcification (VC) is a common complication in patients with chronic kidney disease which increases their mortality. Although oxidative stress is involved in the onset and progression of this disorder, the specific role of some of the main redox regulators, such as catalase, the main scavenger of HO, remains unclear. In the present study, epigastric arteries of kidney transplant recipients, a rat model of VC, and an in vitro model of VC exhibiting catalase (Cts) overexpression were analysed.

Serum phosphate is associated with increased risk of bone fragility fractures in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Bone fragility fractures are associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study analysed the association between the current biochemical parameters of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD) and bone fragility fractures in the COSMOS (Current management Of Secondary hyperparathyroidism: a Multicentre Observational Study) project.

Methods: COSMOS is a 3-year, multicentre, open cohort, prospective, observational study carried out in 6797 haemodialysis patients (227 centres from 20 European countries).

Evaluation of Matrix Metalloproteases by Artificial Intelligence Techniques in Negative Biopsies as New Diagnostic Strategy in Prostate Cancer.

Usually, after an abnormal level of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or digital rectal exam, men undergo a prostate needle biopsy. However, the traditional sextant technique misses 15-46% of cancers. At present, there are problems regarding disease diagnosis/prognosis, especially in patients' classification, because the information to be handled is complex and challenging to process.

Prostate Cancer Tumor Stroma: Responsibility in Tumor Biology, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common cancer among males globally, and its occurrence is growing worldwide. Clinical decisions about the combination of therapies are becoming highly relevant. However, this is a heterogeneous disease, ranging widely in prognosis.

Gene Expression Profile of Stromal Factors in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from Prostate Cancer.

Recent investigations point at the stromal microenvironment to assess additional diagnostic information and provide new therapeutic targets in cancer. The aim of the study was to contribute to the characterization of the phenotype of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in prostate cancer (PCa) compared with normal prostate-associated fibroblasts (NAFs) and fibroblasts from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Three patient populations were prospectively recruited: 23 patients with new localized PCa, 14 patients with advanced PCa treated with androgenic deprivation therapy (ADT), and 7 patients with BPH.

Efficacy and Tolerability of 6-Month Treatment with Tamsulosin Plus the Hexanic Extract of versus Tamsulosin Plus 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors for Moderate-to-Severe LUTS-BPH Patients: Results of a Paired Matched Clinical Study.

The objective of this subset analysis was to evaluate and compare the efficacy and tolerability of two combination treatments for men with moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). Data were from a real-world, open-label, prospective, and multicenter study performed in outpatient urology clinics. Men with moderate-to-severe LUTS/BPH received 6-month treatment with tamsulosin (TAM) in combination with either the hexanic extract of S.

Efficacy and Safety of the Hexanic Extract of vs. Watchful Waiting in Men with Moderate to Severe LUTS-BPH: Results of a Paired Matched Clinical Study.

We investigated changes in symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in men with moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) receiving the hexanic extract of   (HESr) and compared results with a matched group on watchful waiting (WW). Data was from a real-world, open-label, prospective, multicenter study. This sub-group analysis included patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms receiving either the HESr 320 mg/daily for six months (HESr) or who remained untreated for LUTS/BPH (WW).

Efficacy and tolerability of the hexanic extract of Serenoa repens compared to tamsulosin in moderate-severe LUTS-BPH patients.

In a subset analysis of data from a 6-month, multicenter, non-interventional study, we compared change in symptoms and quality of life (QoL), and treatment tolerability, in men with moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) receiving tamsulosin (TAM, 0.4 mg/day) or the hexanic extract of Serenoa repens (HESr, 320 mg/day) as monotherapy. Symptoms and QoL were assessed using the IPSS and BII questionnaires, respectively.

Clinical Benefit of Tamsulosin and the Hexanic Extract of Serenoa Repens, in Combination or as Monotherapy, in Patients with Moderate/Severe LUTS-BPH: A Subset Analysis of the QUALIPROST Study.

To investigate whether tamsulosin (TAM) and the hexanic extract of (HESr) are more effective in combination than as monotherapy in men with moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). Subset analysis of data from a 6-month, multicenter observational study. Patients received either tamsulosin (0.

[Incidence of genitourinary pathology in the emergency department.].

Objective: The increase of healthcare pressure in Emergency Departments compels us to have a better understanding of patients' characteristics and the pathology they consult for. This is the first study that estimates the waiting time in the emergency room and the factors that are independently related with hospital admission.

Methods: Descriptive and retrospective study of 2.

Review of evidence on handling hazardous drugs and Products in Urology Services; consensus document between the Spanish Urology Association and the Spanish Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Objective: The intravesical administration of hazardous drug products is a  standard practice in the urology setting, which potentially exposing medical  personnel to these drug products. It was deemed necessary to have a consensus document among the scientific societies involved (the Spanish Urological  Association and the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy) that collects the best  available evidence on the safest handling possible of dangerous drug products in the setting of urology departments.

Method: We reviewed the legislation and recommendations on the handling of  dangerous drug products, both at the national and international level.

Efficacy and safety of a hexanic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon ) for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH): systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies.

Objectives: To comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and safety of the hexanic extract of Serenoa repens (HESr, Permixon ; Pierre Fabre Médicament, Castres, France), at a dose of 320 mg daily, as monotherapy for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH).

Materials And Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective observational studies in patients with LUTS/BPH identified through searches in Medline, Web of Knowledge (Institute for Scientific Information), Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and bibliographic references up to March 2017. Articles studying S.

Molecular classification of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (pTa low-grade, pT1 low-grade, and pT1 high-grade subgroups) using methylation of tumor-suppressor genes.

The role of epigenetics in distinguishing pathological and clinical subgroups in bladder cancer is not fully characterized. We evaluated whether methylation of tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs) would classify non-muscle-invasive (NMI) bladder cancer subgroups and predict outcome. A retrospective design included the following paraffin-embedded primary NMI tumor types (n = 251): pTa low grade (LG) (n = 79), pT1LG (n = 81), and pT1 high grade (HG) (n = 91).

Optimization of prostate biopsy in patients considered for active surveillance. The role of the confirmatory biopsy and transperineal techniques.

Objectives: To review the pathological criteria used to select patients for active surveillance, the optimization of biopsies and the role of confirmatory biopsy and of the transperineal approach.

Methods: A bibliographic revision of the last years about active surveillance in prostate cancer as well as prostate biopsy, optimal rebiopsy protocols and transperineal approach has been carried out.

Results: Misclassification of insignificant disease based on pathological criteria of the first standard biopsy range from 20% to 30% of men.

A quantitative proteomic analysis uncovers the relevance of CUL3 in bladder cancer aggressiveness.

To identify aggressiveness-associated molecular mechanisms and biomarker candidates in bladder cancer, we performed a SILAC (Stable Isotope Labelling by Amino acids in Cell culture) proteomic analysis comparing an invasive T24 and an aggressive metastatic derived T24T bladder cancer cell line. A total of 289 proteins were identified differentially expressed between these cells with high confidence. Complementary and validation analyses included comparison of protein SILAC data with mRNA expression ratios obtained from oligonucleotide microarrays, and immunoblotting.

Polyamine-modulated factor-1 methylation predicts Bacillus Calmette-Guérin response in patients with high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma.

Background: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a standard treatment to reduce tumor recurrence and delay progression of high-risk non-muscle-invasive (NMI) bladder tumors. However, it is not clear yet which patients are more likely to respond to BCG.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the role of polyamine-modulated factor-1 (PMF-1) methylation in predicting clinical outcome of T1 high-grade (T1HG) bladder tumors treated with BCG.

Myopodin methylation is associated with clinical outcome in patients with T1G3 bladder cancer.

Purpose: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin is standard treatment to decrease tumor recurrence and delay progression of high risk, nonmuscle invasive bladder tumors. However, it is not yet clear which T1G3 cases are more prone to more aggressive clinical behavior or susceptible to respond to bacillus Calmette-Guerin. We evaluated the role of myopodin methylation as a clinical outcome prognosticator and predictive biomarker for the bacillus Calmette-Guerin response in patients with T1G3 bladder tumors.

Pancreatic and psoas abscesses as a late complication of intravesical administration of bacillus Calmette-Guerin for bladder cancer: a case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that has been used to treat urothelial carcinoma since 1976, and has been reported to eradicate disease in more than 70% of patients with in situ and stage I disease. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of disseminated bacillus Calmette-Guerin infection causing multiple abscesses affecting the pancreatic head and right psoas muscle, diagnosed 5 years after intravesical treatment with bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy for bladder cancer.

Case Presentation: An 83-year-old Caucasian man was hospitalized with a 2-month history of back pain, anorexia, generalized weakness and a 47-pound weight loss.

[Significance of anemia as an independent prognostic factor in patients with renal cell carcinoma].

Background And Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the significance of anemia as well as other prognostic factors influencing survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of data of 316 patients who underwent surgery between 1970 and 2003 was performed. Most important known prognostic factors of RCC were investigated.

[Nonspecific sexual cord testicular tumor. Case report].

Objective: We report one case of gonadal stromal testicular tumor and perform a bibliographic review.

Methods/results: We present the case of a 42 year-old male patient consulting for a painless right testicular mass. Orchiectomy was performed and the patient underwent follow-up.