Quality of life in elderly men with aging symptoms and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Aims: The aims of this study were to investigate quality of life (QoL) due to physical and psychological changes occurring in elderly men and to identify associated factors between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and aging male symptoms (ADAM).

Materials And Methods: This was a case-control study whereby 200 elderly men were recruited from the community and the Urology and Geriatrics ambulatories. Subjects were asked to fill out the Aging Male Symptoms Scale (AMS), World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF and -OLD, and IPSS questionnaires.

[Translation into Portuguese, cross-national adaptation and validation of the Female Sexual Function Index].

Purpose: to translate from English into Portuguese, adapt culturally and validate the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

Methods: knowing the objectives of this research, two Brazilian translators have prepared a version each from the FSFI into Portuguese. Both versions have then been retro-translated into English by two English translators.

Experimental animal model for training transobturator and retropubic sling techniques.

Introduction: Suburethral slings have become the treatment of choice for stress urinary incontinence. However, the lack of experimental models for surgical training is a problem for beginners. We present a model for sling training and evaluate its acceptance by surgeons who have had prior experience.

New biocompatible highly purified collagen gel for therapeutic renal artery embolization.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a new purified collagen gel with specific properties for renal artery embolization in an experimental model in dogs.

Methods: The new gel was prepared from type I bovine tendon collagen, highly purified to eliminate immunogenicity, and reconstituted through extensive dialysis in distilled water without the addition of glutaraldehyde. The study was conducted on 16 mongrel dogs that underwent random embolization of the renal artery.

Videolaparoscopic orchiectomy and nephrectomy: training model in rats.

Objective: Videolaparoscopic surgery conducted on small animals has proved to be of great importance for the improvement of surgical skills. This is a report utilizing an experimental model for laparoscopic orchiectomy and nephrectomy in training courses for urologists.

Material And Methods: Of 350 American Wistar rats enrolled, 319 animals underwent laparoscopic orchiectomy and nephrectomy under intraperitoneal general anesthesia.

Transobturator SAFYRE sling is as effective as the transvaginal procedure.

Introduction: SAFYRE is a monofilament polypropylene mesh held between two self-anchoring silicone columns that associates universal approach with readjustability. This unique feature allows for comparing two different approaches, i.e.

A stereological analysis of fibrosis and inflammatory reaction induced by four different synthetic slings.

Objectives: To analyse quantitatively, using stereological methods, the density of the collagen fibres induced by four types of sling materials, and verify by a histopathological analysis the corresponding inflammatory reaction, as fibrosis secondary to sling implantation is considered responsible for restoring urethral support and re-establishing continence in women with stress urinary incontinence, and new synthetic materials that promote adequate fibrosis with the least intensity and duration have been proposed to substitute the aponeurotic sling.

Materials And Methods: The study comprised 70 isogenic white Wistar rats divided into three groups: group A (30 rats) had 8 x 4 mm strips of silicone and porcine small intestine submucosa (SIS) implanted in the abdominal subcutaneous tissues; group B (30 rats) had 8 x 4 mm strips of polycaprolactone and polylactic acid copolymers and monofilament polypropylene (PLP) implanted the abdominal subcutaneous layer; while a control group of 10 rats had dissection and suturing with 5/0 Nylon in the abdominal subcutaneous layer, as used to fix the strips in the other rats. Picro-Sirius staining was used to assess collagen fibres, and haematoxylin-eosin for the histopathological study.

Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT): minimally invasive technique for stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Objective: The procedure o tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) was recently introduced in the therapeutic armamentarium of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). It is a pubovaginal sling applied in mid-urethra. The authors describe their experience with this technique.

Is the anterior vaginal wall sling a good alternative for intrinsic sphincteric insufficiency?

Objectives: We present our experience with the anterior vaginal wall sling, in the treatment of patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) due to urethral intrinsic sphincteric deficiency.

Material And Methods: Forty-five women (mean age 53.4 years) with urodynamically proven intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (Valsalva Leak Point Pressure below 60cm H(2)O) were studied, prospectively.

Safyre: a readjustable minimally invasive sling for female urinary stress incontinence.

Introduction: SAFYRE is a readjustable and minimally invasive sling for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). It is as a pubovaginal sling placed in the medial third of the urethra. The initial experience is described.

Resiniferatoxin for detrusor instability refractory to anticholinergics.

Purpose: We have evaluated the clinical and urodynamic effects of intravesical instillation of resiniferatoxin in patients with idiopathic detrusor instability refractory to anticholinergics.

Materials And Methods: There were 30 women, median age 56 years old with detrusor instability for over 6 months and a history of anticholinergic use with no response or intolerable collateral effects. A 50 nM solution of resiniferatoxin was prepared for intravesical instillation.

The Ibero-American experience with a re-adjustable minimally invasive sling.

Objective: To report our experience with the Safyre (Promedon, Cordoba, Argentina), a new re-adjustable and minimally invasive sling for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI), which combines the efficacy of slings with re-adjustability.

Patients And Methods: In all, 126 consecutive patients with a clinical and urodynamic diagnosis of SUI had a Safyre sling procedure (mean age 63 years, range 40-71). Seventy-six patients (60%) presented after previous failed anti-incontinence procedures; all had a physical and clinical examination, a stress test, urodynamic study and assessment of pad use before the surgery.

Readjustable transobturator sling: a novel sling procedure for male urinary incontinence.

Post-prostatectomy incontinence remains a significant problem for both patients and urologists. We report a case and the surgical technique of successful sling in the treatment of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. Sling surgery was performed on a 69-year-old male patient with severe urinary incontinence (6 pads/day) following radical prostatectomy.

The impact of prostatectomy and brachytherapy in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Purpose: to compare urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction symptoms reflecting quality of life and the willingness to undergo treatment again in patients treated by radical retropubic prostatectomy and low dose radiation (LDR) brachytherapy.

Materials And Methods: from July 1992 to November 2001, 158 patients with clinical localized prostate cancer were treated by radical retropubic prostatectomy with or without nerve sparring or LDR brachytherapy. To all the 158 patients we mailed a self-reporting questionnaire with 5 questions to access sexual function, 4 questions for urinary continence, and 2 for the satisfaction with the treatment and willingness to undergo treatment again.

Effect of purified collagen on lipograft survival: experimental basis for periurethral lipoinjections.

Purpose: To assess whether the use of collagens with lipografts improves graft survival.

Materials And Methods: Thirty isogenic New Zealand rabbits were injected in the auricular area with either autologous fat alone or autologous fat associated with collagen. The animals were evaluated at 7, 30, and 90 days by histologic and morphometric methods together with measurements of the graft area and the number of adipocytes.