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.

Expression of neutral endopeptidase, endothelin-1, and nuclear factor kappa B in prostate cancer: interrelations and associations with prostate-specific antigen recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

Objective. To study the impact of the neutral endopeptidase (NEP)/neuropeptides (NPs) axis and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) as predictors of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP). Patients and Methods.

Bortezomib reverses the proliferative and antiapoptotic effect of neuropeptides on prostate cancer cells.

Objectives: Neuropeptides are important signal initiators in advanced prostate cancer, partially acting through activation of nuclear factor kappa B. Central to nuclear factor kappa B regulation is the ubiquitin-proteasome system, pharmacological inhibition of which has been proposed as an anticancer strategy. We investigated the putative role of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib in neuropeptides signaling effects on prostate cancer cells.

CD10 is inversely associated with nuclear factor-kappa B and predicts biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

Introduction: The cell surface endopeptidase CD10 (neutral endopeptidase) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) have been independently associated with prostate cancer (PC) progression. We investigated the correlations between these two factors and their prognostic relevance in terms of biochemical (prostate-specific antigen, PSA) relapse after radical prostatectomy (RP) for localized PC.

Patients And Methods: The immunohistochemical expression of CD10 and NF-κB in samples from 70 patients who underwent RP for localized PC was correlated with the preoperative PSA level, Gleason score, pathological stage and time to PSA failure.

Lack of prognostic significance of p16 and p27 after radical prostatectomy in hormone-naïve prostate cancer.

Background: Loss of normal cell cycle control is an early event in the evolution of cancer. The expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors p16 and p27 has been previously associated with progression of prostate cancer (PC). 70 patients diagnosed with early stage PCwere treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) at our institution and their tumor specimens were immunohistochemically evaluated for expression of p16 and p27.

p53 and cyclooxygenase-2 expression are directly associated with cyclin D1 expression in radical prostatectomy specimens of patients with hormone-naïve prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a potentially curable disease when diagnosed in early stages and subsequently treated with radical prostatectomy (RP). However, a significant proportion of patients tend to relapse early, with the emergence of biochemical failure (BF) as an established precursor of progression to metastatic disease. Several candidate molecular markers have been studied in an effort to enhance the accuracy of existing predictive tools regarding the risk of BF after RP.

Genetic polymorphisms in the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene and prostate cancer risk in Caucasian men.

Background: Catechol-estrogen metabolites can induce carcinogenesis by acting as endogenous tumor initiators. Glucuronidation, mediated by the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) enzyme, is a main metabolic pathway of estrogen detoxification in steroid target tissues, such as the prostate. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible correlation between UGT1A1 promoter gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk.

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.

Fascin determination in urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder: a marker of invasiveness.

Context: Invasion and the depth of invasion affect significantly the prognosis in urothelial carcinomas. The histopathologic evaluation of invasion may be problematic in some cases. Application of new immunohistochemical markers may facilitate the assessment of invasion.

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.

[Extensive stone formation in the prostatic bed following enucleation of an adenoma. Combined endourological treatment of an interesting case].

We report on a patient with extensive stone formation in the prostatic bed 4 years after open suprapubic prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of transurethral and percutaneous suprapubic lithotripsy in the same session.

Bladder stone formation after a tension-free vaginal tape procedure: report on two cases.

We present 2 cases of large bladder stones formed on a tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) which was inadvertently passed through the bladder during the continence procedure. The stones together with the intravesical portion of the slings were removed using a suprapubic approach. High clinical suspicion of bladder complications is necessary when evaluating patients with urinary symptoms after a TVT operation.

The effectiveness of a scientific symposium to change urologists' attitude towards treatment of LUTS/BPH.

Purpose: The use of interactive voting systems in continuing education helps to evaluate the alteration in the audience's views after a presentation. This study was designed to evaluate whether urologists' attitude towards management of benign prostate hyperplasia can be changed, and to estimate objectively the achievement of educational goals by using an interactive voting system.

Methods: The audience attitude was repetitively estimated by responding to questions using wireless keypads.

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.

Urodynamics prior to renal transplantation--its impact on treatment decision and final results.

Objective: To evaluate the role of urodynamics prior to renal transplantation in a selected group of patients.

Material And Methods: This retrospective study included 44 consecutive patients (20 males, 24 females; age range 7-57 years; mean age 27.14 +/- 15.

Abdomino-perineal repair of recurrent and complex bladder neck-prostatic urethra contractures.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of abdomino-perineal repair in treating complex and recurrent bladder neck-prostatic urethra contractures.

Methods: The study included 6 patients retrospectively. Their ages ranged from 66 to 75 years (67.

Intravesical therapy of superficial bladder cancer.

Transurethral resection (TUR) of the superficial transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder is known to be insufficient in controlling the disease because of the unacceptable rates of recurrence, progression and ultimate cystectomy. Adjuvant intravesical chemo-and/or immunotherapy is administered in an effort to enhance the efficacy of surgery alone. The initial tumor stage and grade, the multifocality of this cancer and the history of previous recurrences remain the determinant factors in survival.

The urodynamic profile of prostatodynia.

Objective: To evaluate urodynamically patients with prostatodynia, and thus define a specific urodynamic pattern that might add to the pathophysiology of the syndrome and possibly aid definitive treatment.

Patients And Methods: Forty-three patients (mean age 38.1 years, sd 9.

Can p53 nuclear over-expression, Bcl-2 accumulation and PCNA status be of prognostic significance in high-risk superficial and invasive bladder tumours?

Aims: To evaluate p53 and Bcl-2 expression and proliferating status (PCNA) in subgroups of patients with high-risk superficial and invasive bladder cancer, with relation to cancer progression and death, and to correlate the results with established clinical prognostic factors.

Methods: Paraffin-embedded sections from 42 high-risk superficial (T1G2,T1G3) and 33 invasive (T2-T4aG3 N0M0) tumours were investigated immunohistochemically for p53, Bcl-2 and PCNA. The median follow-up was 52 months.

Incidence and histological findings of unsuspected prostatic adenocarcinoma in radical cystoprostatectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Objective: The present study is designed to evaluate the incidence, histological features and significance of prostatic adenocarcinoma in patients undergoing cystoprostatectomy for Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder.

Patients, Material And Methods: From January 1990 to December 1996, 59 male patients (mean age 66.5 years), with no evidence of prostatic malignancy on preoperative clinical and biochemical assessment, underwent cystoprostatectomy for TCC of the bladder.

Transvaginal incisionless bladder neck suspension. A simplified technique for female genuine stress incontinence.

Objectives: Purpose of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of a modified Gittes procedure in the management of Type I and Type II stress urinary incontinence of the female.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-two female patients with urodynamically proven Type I and Type II stress urinary incontinence had been subjected to transvaginal incisionless bladder neck suspension (modified Gittes procedure) from September 1991 to June 1996. Their mean age was 55.

Incontinence after surgery for benign prostatic hypertrophy: the case for complex approach and treatment.

Objective: Whether incontinence after surgery for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) requires simple workup and treatment or being a more complex condition and multifactorial in etiology requiring combined surgical techniques should be investigated in more detail.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 56 patients referred to us for post-prostatectomy incontinence after surgery for BPH. All patients were subjected to urodynamics.

Combined reconstructive and prosthetic surgery in complicated lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Purpose: The combined use of the appropriate reconstructive technique and available prosthetic material was evaluated to achieve an optimal functional result in complicated lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: The study included 16 male and 8 female patients. Urinary dysfunction was classified into 2 main categories: 1) neuropathic and 2) nonneuropathic.