Anti-Müllerian hormone: a novel biomarker for aggressive prostate cancer? Emerging evidence from a prospective study of radical prostatectomies.

Purpose: Prostate cancer patients are a heterogeneous group as regards the aggressiveness of the disease. The relationship of steroid hormones with the aggressiveness of prostate cancer is unclear. It is known that the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) inhibits prostate cancer cell lines in vitro.

Epigenetics and prostate cancer: defining the timing of DNA methyltransferase deregulation during prostate cancer progression.

DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) regulate gene expression by methylating cytosine residues within CpG dinucleotides. Aberrant methylation patterns have been shown in a variety of human tumours including prostate cancer. However, the expression of DNMTs in clinical samples across the spectrum of prostate cancer progression has not been studied before.

Deep sedation in GreenLight laser prostatectomy.

Introduction: Evaluation of ketamine and propofol combination for the performance of photoselective vaporization of prostate (PVP).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-six patients undergoing PVP for benign prostatic hyperplasia were included in the study. Co-morbidities were present in 24 patients.

Computed tomography cephalometric and upper airway measurements in patients with OSA and erectile dysfunction.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study used computed tomography (CT) to identify cephalometric and upper airway anatomic features in patients with OSA that correlate with the presence of ED.

Methods: In this prospective study, 20 CT cephalometric and upper airway measurements, most commonly associated with OSA, were analyzed in 53 age- and BMI-matched consecutive eligible subjects.

Contemporary pharmacotherapy for the prevention of skeletal complications in patients with prostate cancer.

Introduction: Bones represent the most common metastatic sites in prostate cancer (PCa) patients, and in addition with androgen deprivation therapy, they represent the causative reasons of bone mineral density loss and the onset of skeletal-related events.

Areas Covered: An extensive search of PubMed/Medline was performed to identify randomized, Phase II/III controlled trials reporting results regarding the prevention of skeletal morbidity in patients with PCa.

Expert Opinion: Preventing bone health is an imperative issue for preserving quality of life and elongate survival and, thus, a concerted effort should be made to monitor skeletal changes and to apply treatment for preventing bone loss.

Early hospital admission and treatment onset may positively affect spontaneous passage of ureteral stones in patients with renal colic.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of early hospital admission and onset of medical expulsive therapy (MET) in spontaneous passage of ureteral stones causing renal colic.

Methods: We recruited 392 patients referred to the emergency room with symptoms of renal colic. All patients received standard MET of oral tamsulosin 0.

The role of PSA density to predict a pathological tumour upgrade between needle biopsy and radical prostatectomy for low risk clinical prostate cancer in the modified Gleason system era.

Objectives: We evaluate the role of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density to predict Gleason score upgrade between prostate biopsy material and radical prostatectomy specimen examination in patients with low-risk prostate cancer.

Methods: Between January 2007 and November 2011, 133 low-risk patients underwent a radical prostatectomy. Using the modified Gleason criteria, tumour grade of the surgical specimens was examined and compared to the biopsy results.

Early continence recovery after preservation of maximal urethral length until the level of verumontanum during radical prostatectomy: primary oncological and functional outcomes after 1 year of follow-up.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of preventing maximal urethral length until the level of verumontanum during radical prostatectomy on both oncologic and functional outcomes.

Patients And Methods: We recruited 329 patients, and they underwent an open radical prostatectomy by a single surgeon. The study cohort was randomized in 2 groups.

Bilateral cancer in prostate biopsy associates with the presence of extracapsular disease and positive surgical margins in low risk patients: a consideration for bilateral nerve sparing radical prostatectomy decision.

Purpose: To evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and pathological parameters that may predict the presence of positive surgical margins and extraprostatic disease in patients with low risk [prostate specific antigen (PSA) < 10, and Gleason score ≤ 6, stage T1c)] prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy from January 2005 until January 2011. The analysis comprised patients age, preoperative serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, prostate volume, PSA density, biopsy Gleason score, the presence of bilateral disease according to the results of biopsy cores analysis, the percentage of cancer in biopsy material and the presence of high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.

Expression of syndecan-4 and correlation with metastatic potential in testicular germ cell tumours.

Although syndecan-4 is implicated in cancer progression, there is no information for its role in testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs). Thus, we examined the expression of syndecan-4 in patients with TGCTs and its correlation with the clinicopathological findings. Immunohistochemical staining in 71 tissue specimens and mRNA analysis revealed significant overexpression of syndecan-4 in TGCTs.

Evaluating PSA Density as a Predictor of Biochemical Failure after Radical Prostatectomy: Results of a Prospective Study after a Median Follow-Up of 36 Months.

Purpose. To evaluate the predictive ability of PSA density for biochemical relapse after radical prostatectomy in patients operated for clinically localized disease and to compare its predictive strength with preoperative PSA and Gleason score. Patients and Methods.

Clinical and pathological variables that predict changes in tumour grade after radical prostatectomy in patients with prostate cancer.

Introduction: Preoperative Gleason score is crucial, in combination with other preoperative parameters, in selecting the appropriate treatment for patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. The aim of the present study is to determine the clinical and pathological variables that can predict differences in Gleason score between biopsy and radical prostatectomy.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 302 patients who had a radical prostatectomy between January 2005 and September 2010.

Parameters predicting postoperative unilateral disease in patients with unilateral prostate cancer in diagnostic biopsy: a rationale for selecting hemiablative focal therapy candidates.

Background: Focal hemiablative therapy for prostate cancer is a new treatment alternative. Unilateral and unifocal disease are its main limitations. The aim of this study was to identify the epidemiological, clinical and pathological parameters that may predict unilateral disease in patients diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy prior to Radical Prostatectomy for Patients with High-Risk Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review.

High-risk prostate cancer represents a pretentious clinical problem since a significant number of its patients will relapse and progress after radical prostatectomy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be valuable since its efficacy in hormone-resistant prostate cancer has been established. In this paper, we report studies of neoadjuvant chemotherapies that have been used in high-risk patients prior to radical prostatectomy.

Correlation of ultrasound-estimated bladder weight to urodynamic diagnoses in women with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the ultrasound-estimated bladder weight (UEBW) will correlate with the urodynamic diagnoses in women with lower urinary tract symptoms, in particular, detrusor underactivity and bladder outflow obstruction. Ultrasonography has been increasingly used in the assessment of lower urinary tract conditions.

Methods: Adult women referred to the urodynamics suite for investigation of lower urinary tract symptoms were enrolled.

A systematic review of the role of adjuvant and neoadjuvant pharmacotherapy in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Introduction: Between 25 and 30% of patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer are classified as high risk for an adverse prognosis. A significant number of these will progress to biochemical or clinical relapse. As there is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment of these cases, a multimodal therapeutic approach, including radical prostatectomy, remains an option.

PSA density is superior than PSA and Gleason score for adverse pathologic features prediction in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.

Introduction: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and its kinetics have changed prostate cancer screening and diagnosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate their value in prostate cancer prognosis by determining the predictive potential of PSA density for adverse pathologic features after radical prostatectomy, in terms of positive surgical margins (PSM), extracapsular disease (ECD), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) and/or lymph node invasion (LNI), and to compare their predictive ability with preoperative PSA and biopsy Gleason score.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 285 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent a retropubic radical prostatectomy for clinically localized disease.

Role of white blood cell and neutrophil counts in predicting spontaneous stone passage in patients with renal colic.

Objective: To determine the clinical, imaging and laboratory variables that can predict spontaneous passage of ureteral stones causing renal colic and the role of white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts for the prediction of spontaneous calculi passage.

Patients And Methods: A total of 156 patients who were referred to the emergency department complaining of renal colic due to a ureteral stone entered the analysis. Several clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters were evaluated for their potential ability to predict stone passage in a time interval of 1 month.

Implications of PSA kinetics for an adverse pathology after radical prostatectomy.

Objective: To determine and compare the prognostic value of PSA density, PSA velocity and free/total PSA ratio in predicting adverse pathological findings after radical prostatectomy.

Materials: We analyzed the medical records of 142 patients who underwent a radical prostatectomy from May 2009 until February of 2011. After exclusion of of them for defined criteria, preoperative PSA and its derivatives were analysed for their ability to predict unfavorable pathology after radical prostatectomy.

Stenting or not prior to extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for ureteral stones? Results of a prospective randomized study.

Purpose: To determine the need for pre-treatment stenting in patients undergoing extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) for ureteral stones sized 4-10 mm.

Methods: A prospective randomized study was conducted between September 2009 and March 2011. Included 156 patients randomized in stented and non-stented groups and underwent a maximum of 3 ESWL sessions.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study to assess the efficacy and safety of once-a-day tadalafil in men with erectile dysfunction who are naïve to PDE5 inhibitors.

Introduction: The majority of subjects included in previous tadalafil once-a-day clinical trials were non-naïve to previous phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors on demand. A study on PDE5 inhibitor naïve subjects was therefore warranted.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of once-a-day tadalafil in PDE5 inhibitor-naïve men with erectile dysfunction (ED).

Predictors for spontaneous stone passage in patients with renal colic secondary to ureteral calculi.

Objectives: To determine the clinical, laboratory, and imaging variables that can predict spontaneous stone passage in patients with renal colic secondary to ureteral calculi.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed the medical records of 114 patients who admitted to the emergency department for renal colic from June until November of 2010. Forty-six of them were excluded.

PSA density versus risk stratification for lymphadenectomy-making decision in patients with prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Objectives: To determine the value of PSA density as independent predictor for lymph node invasion in order to decide lymphadenectomy in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 179 patients who undergone radical prostatectomy from January 2001 until September 2010. Studied patients divided in groups regarding the preoperative risk for lymph node metastasis (low risk or not) and PSA density (≤.

Vardenafil effect on ureteric smooth muscle: in vitro study in porcine model.

Introduction: Phosphodiesrase type 5 inhibitors have been recently reported to induce a relaxing effect on ureteral smooth muscle. We conducted an in vitro study to elucidate the relaxing effect of various doses of vardenafil on the porcine ureter. Moreover, we propose a porcine ureter model for the evaluation of the effect of different substances on the ureter.

Present and future therapeutic options for locally advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Introduction: Locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is notoriously chemo- and radioresistant, leaving immunotherapy as the only treatment option. In recent years, targeted therapies have offered significant increases in progression-free survival (PFS). Despite this, the majority of patients soon develops resistant disease and finally succumbs.