Proteomic Analysis of Prostate Cancer FFPE Samples Reveals Markers of Disease Progression and Aggressiveness.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in men. Diagnosis and risk assessment are widely based on serum Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and biopsy, which might not represent the exact degree of PCa risk. Towards the discovery of biomarkers for better patient stratification, we performed proteomic analysis of Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) prostate tissue specimens using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Polycystin-1 induces activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and promotes angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma.

In the present study we investigated the expression and the functional role of mechanosensitive polycystins in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In 115 RCC patients we evaluated the protein expression of polycystin-1 (PC1), polycystin-2 (PC2), VEGF and protein components of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, which have been implicated both in RCC and polycystic kidney disease. PC1 and PC2 demonstrated reduced expression throughout the RCC tissue compared to the adjacent normal tissue.

Downregulated KLK13 expression in bladder cancer highlights tumor aggressiveness and unfavorable patients' prognosis.

Purpose: Despite recent research advantages on the molecular and subcellular background, bladder cancer (BlCa) remains a clinically neglected malignancy. This is strongly reflected by the generic approach of disease diagnosis and management. Additionally, patients' prognosis became a rather demanding task due to the great disease heterogeneity.

Distal ureterectomy techniques in laparoscopic and robot-assisted nephroureterectomy: Updated review.

Controversies exist about the best method for managing the distal ureter during the laparoscopic (LNU) and robot-assisted nephroureterectomy (RANU). Therefore, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched in order to identify articles describing the management of distal ureter during LNU or RANU in patients suffering from upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinoma. Forty seven articles were selected for their relevance to the subject of this review.

Detection of circulating tumor cells in bladder cancer using multiplex PCR assays.

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop multiplex-PCR assays for the detection of circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood and urine samples of patients with bladder cancer.

Materials And Methods: Peripheral blood and urine samples were collected from 208 patients (169 patients and 39 healthy volunteers). After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the samples were analyzed for the expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19), CK20 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA in blood and for SURVIVIN, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), cytokeratin 20 (CK20) mRNA in urine, using multiplex-PCR assays.

Simultaneous laparoscopic management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction and renal lithiasis: the combined experience of two academic centers and review of the literature.

Introduction: Approximately one out of five patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) present lithiasis in the same setting. We present our outcomes of simultaneous laparoscopic management of UPJO and pelvic or calyceal lithiasis and review the current literature.

Methods: Thirteen patients, with a mean age of 42.

Differences in ureteroscopic stone treatment and outcomes for distal, mid-, proximal, or multiple ureteral locations: the Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society ureteroscopy global study.

Background: Ureteroscopy has traditionally been the preferred approach for treatment of distal and midureteral stones, with shock wave lithotripsy used for proximal ureteral stones.

Objective: To describe the differences in the treatment and outcomes of ureteroscopic stones in different locations.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Prospective data were collected by the Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society on consecutive patients treated with ureteroscopy at centres around the world over a 1-yr period.

A rare case of a 39 year old male with a parasite called Dioctophyma renale mimicking renal cancer at the computed tomography of the right kidney. A case report.

We present a very rare case of a 39 year old patient with Dioctophyma renale depicted as a Bosniak cyst IV of the right kidney who was finally subjected to a robotic assisted radical nephrectomy.

Zinc α2-glycoprotein as a potential novel urine biomarker for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Unlabelled: What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The use of biomarkers to detect a cancer early, especially prostate cancer, is not a new idea and PSA has been proved to be the best biomarker for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. Since the introduction and wide use of PSA various efforts have been made to find novel biomarkers in both serum and urine of individuals at high risk for prostate cancer. The best example of a biomarker detected in the urine after a vigorous digital rectal examination is PCA3, which is used mainly in the subgroup of patients with PSA 4-10 ng/mL whose prostate biopsy was repeatedly negative for prostate cancer in order to decide the performance or not of a new biopsy.

Radical cystectomy over the age of 75 is safe and increases survival.

Background: Radical cystectomy (RC) is probably underused in elderly patients due to a potential increased postoperative complication risk, as reflected by their considerable comorbidities. Our objective was to estimate the overall complication rate and investigate a potential benefit to patients over the age of 75 subjected to RC in terms of disease-free survival.

Methods: A total of 81 patients, 61 men and 20 women, from two urological departments, with a mean age of 79.

Recurrent urethrovesical anastomotic strictures following artificial urinary sphincter implantation: a case report.

Introduction: The management of an anastomotic stricture after a radical prostatectomy can become a complex and difficult situation when an artificial urinary sphincter precedes the formation of the stricture. The urethral narrowing does not allow the passage of the routinely used urological instruments and no previous reports have suggested alternate approaches.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 68-year-old Greek man diagnosed as having a recurrent anastomotic stricture approximately two years after a radical prostatectomy and three years after the implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter, and propose novel alternate methods of treatment.

Spinal versus General Anaesthesia in Postoperative Pain Management during Transurethral Procedures.

We compared the analgesic efficacy of spinal and general anaesthesia following transurethral procedures. 97 and 47 patients underwent transurethral bladder tumour resection (TUR-B) and transurethral prostatectomy (TUR-P), respectively. Postoperative pain was recorded using an 11-point visual analogue scale (VAS).

Renal transplant lithiasis: analysis of our series and review of the literature.

Background And Purpose: Renal transplant lithiasis represents a rather uncommon complication. Even rare, it can result in significant morbidity and a devastating loss of renal function if obstruction occurs. We present our experience with graft lithiasis in our series of renal transplantations and review the literature regarding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and current therapeutic strategies in the management of renal transplant lithiasis.

Implementation and external validation of Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical (PADUA) score for predicting complications in 74 consecutive partial nephrectomies.

Unlabelled: Study Type - Prognosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Partial nephrectomy (PN) is the gold standard operation for small renal tumours. The decision for or against a PN has been based mostly on preoperative radiological evaluation of the tumour. Three nephrometry scoring systems have been recently proposed for prediction of postoperative complications of PN (RENAL, C-index and PADUA).

Metabolic acidosis may be as protective as hypercapnic acidosis in an ex-vivo model of severe ventilator-induced lung injury: a pilot study.

Background: There is mounting experimental evidence that hypercapnic acidosis protects against lung injury. However, it is unclear if acidosis per se rather than hypercapnia is responsible for this beneficial effect. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the effects of hypercapnic (respiratory) versus normocapnic (metabolic) acidosis in an ex vivo model of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).

Early removal of nasogastric tube is beneficial for patients undergoing radical cystectomy with urinary diversion.

Purpose: Examine the beneficial effect of early nasogastric tube (NGT) removal in patients undergoing radical cystectomy with urinary diversion.

Patients And Methods: 43 consecutive patients underwent radical cystectomy with urinary diversion and were randomized into 2 groups. In the intervention group (n = 22), the NGT was removed 12 hours after the operation.

Prognostic factors identifying biochemical recurrence in patients with positive margins after radical prostatectomy.

Background: There is a discrepancy in reporting biochemical recurrence (BCR) rates in patients with positive surgical margins (PSM) after a radical prostatectomy (RP), ranging between 19 and 61%. Our aim was to identify the parameters that contribute to the absence of BCR in patients with PSM by performing a multivariate analysis.

Methods: From a cohort of 1163 patients who underwent open RP over a 6-year period, 69 exhibited PSM.

A novel approach for the surgical management of Peyronie's disease using an acellular, human dermis tissue graft: preliminary results.

Purpose: To present for the first time, the use of an acellular, dermis tissue graft from serologically screened human donors (Εpiflex(®), Deutshes Institut für Zell- und Gewebeersatz) for covering cavernosal defects after plaque incision.

Methods: Five patients with a mean age of 57.4 ± 2.

A male presenting with a primary mucinous bladder carcinoma: a case report.

Background: The primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the bladder is an extremely rare urologic entity, which is found in less than 2% of all urinary bladder tumours and is often presented as metastatic.

Case Presentation: A 69-year old male patient was diagnosed with a primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the bladder after undergoing a transurethral resection of a bladder tumour and complete examination of the entire gastrointestinal tract to rule out other primary cites. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the nature of the tumour.

TRUS versus transabdominal ultrasound as a predictor of enucleated adenoma weight in patients with BPH: a tool for standard preoperative work-up?

Background: Despite being formally included in the assessment of patients presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) is not routinely offered to these patients. This tactic however might not be optimum since data exist on the superiority of TRUS over transabdominal ultrasound in accurately predicting prostate volumes. We aimed to evaluate TRUS as a standard tool in the evaluation of patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) with a special focus on the potential impact it might have on the decision of open versus transurethral surgery.

Complications associated with primary and secondary perforation of the bladder following immediate instillations of epirubicin after transurethral resection of superficial urothelial tumours.

Introduction: Significant decreases in tumour recurrence rates of up to 50% are reported after one immediate postoperative instillation of chemotherapeutic drugs, such as epirubicin or mitomycin C. However, the extremely rare occurrence of complications related to perforation of the bladder can be detrimental. Perforation of the bladder seems to be iatrogenic (primary) or drug-induced (secondary).

Hydronephrosis promotes expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha.

Background: Obstructive uropathy is argued to involve an ischemia-type tissue injury. Further, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) constitutes a nuclear transcription factor normally upregulated under hypoxic conditions. We hypothesized that HIF-1 alpha is expressed in the hydronephrotic renal pelvis, as a result of tissue hypoxia.

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction of the lower moiety in a completely duplicated collecting system: a case report.

Introduction: There are only a few reports on laparoscopic pyeloplasty in kidney abnormalities and only one case for laparoscopic pyeloplasty in a duplicated system. Increasing experience in laparoscopic techniques allows proper treatment of such anomalies. However, its feasibility in difficult cases with altered kidney anatomy such as that of duplicated renal pelvis still needs to be addressed.

Ureterointestinal strictures following Bricker ileal conduit: management via a percutaneous approach.

Objective: Urinary diversion after radical cystectomy is commonly performed via an ileal conduit using the Bricker method. However, 4-8% of these cases are complicated with stricture formation at the ureterointestinal junction. Thus, this could eventually lead to hydronephrosis and kidney loss in neglected patients.