The discovery of prostate-specific antigen.

The discovery of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was beset with controversy; as PSA is present in prostatic tissue and semen, it was independently discovered and given different names, thus adding to the controversy. In this review we document the early research in this field to describe the chronology of the discovery of PSA. Using a comprehensive Medline search of the historical aspects of PSA, all relevant papers were reviewed; communication with the scientists involved in the discovery of PSA was an invaluable contribution.

Does intraprostatic inflammation have a role in the pathogenesis and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia?

Objective: To compare the incidence of acute and/or chronic intraprostatic inflammation (ACI) in men undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for urinary retention and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), as recently a role was suggested for ACI in the pathogenesis and progression of BPH, and urinary retention is considered an endpoint in the natural history of this condition.

Patients And Methods: Details of TURPs done between January 2003 and December 2005 at one institution were obtained from the operating theatre database. Patients were divided by indication (retention/LUTS).

Publication rate of abstracts presented at the British Association of Urological Surgeons Annual Meeting.

Objective: To determine the number of peer-reviewed publications arising from the abstracts presented at the annual meetings of the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS), and to assess urological trainees' attitudes to research in relationship to the pursuit of Specialist Registrar (SpR) training numbers and their perception of academic urology in the UK.

Methods: Publications resulting from presentations at the annual meetings of the BAUS 2001 and 2002 were searched for using the PubMed database. Variables that might influence the subsequent publication of abstracts in peer-reviewed journals were analysed.

Voiding dysfunction after tension-free vaginal tape: a conservative approach is often successful.

The published literature has focused mainly on the efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) in correcting stress incontinence with few reports of complications. We report our experience with the first 52 cases of TVT, specifically assessing voiding dysfunction after the procedure. We carried out a retrospective study of patients undergoing TVT surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) between April 2001 and July 2003.

Role of i.v. urography in patients with haematuria.

Objective: Traditionally, patients presenting with haematuria undergo a series of investigations, including urine cytology, cystoscopy, i.v. urography (IVU) and renal tract ultrasound (US).

A unique extra-anatomic urinary diversion!

The ureter is often involved in pelvic malignancy, leading to obstruction, hydronephrosis, and deterioration of renal function. Decompression is provided either by retrograde stenting or by nephrostomy followed by antegrade stent insertion. We present an interesting case where an iatrogenic accident during antegrade stenting led to the placement of the lower end of the stent in the rectal stump.