Alessandro Prudente

A comparative study of pelvic floor muscle training in women with multiple sclerosis: its impact on lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life

OBJECTIVE: To compare pelvic floor muscle training and a sham procedure for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life in women with multiple sclerosis. METHODS: Thirty-five female patients with multiple sclerosis were randomized into two groups: a treatment group (n = 18) and a sham group (n = 17). The evaluation included use of the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form, and Qualiveen questionnaire. The intervention was performed twice per week for 12 weeks in both groups. The treatment group underwent pelvic floor muscle training with assistance from a vaginal perineometer and instructions to practice the exercises daily at home. The sham group received a treatment consisting of introducing a perineometer inside the vagina with no exercises required. Pre- and post-intervention data were recorded. RESULTS: The evaluation results of the two groups were similar at baseline. At the end of the treatment, the treatment group reported fewer storage and voiding symptoms than the sham group. Furthermore, the differences found between the groups were significant improvements in the following scores in the treatment group: Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form, and the General Quality of Life, and Specific Impact of Urinary Problems domains of the Qualiveen questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms had a positive effect on the quality of life of women with multiple sclerosis who underwent pelvic floor muscle training, as the disease-specific of quality of life questionnaires demonstrated. This study reinforces the importance of assessing quality of life to judge the effectiveness of a treatment intervention.

Intravesical protrusion of the prostate as a predictive method of bladder outlet obstruction

OBJECTIVE Pressure-flow study is the gold standard for diagnosis of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). A prospective study was carried out to compare urodynamic evaluation and measurement of intravesical protrusion of the prostate for diagnosing BOO. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia and suspected BOO were prospectively evaluated through conventional urodynamics and classified according to the bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI). They also underwent abdominal ultrasound measurement of the intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) and prostatic volume. The IPP was classified into three stages: grade I under 5 mm; grade II, between 5 and 10 mm; and grade III over 10 mm. RESULTS Forty-two patients, mean age 64.8 +/- 8.5 years were enrolled. Transabdominal ultrasound determined a mean prostatic volume of 45 +/- 3.2 mL. Achieved IPPs values were the following: grade I - 12 (28.5%), grade II - 5 - (12%) and grade III - 25 (59.5%). The results of prostate volume differed significantly between obstructed and non-obstructed men (p = 0.033) and for IPP among obstructed, inconclusive and non-obstructed men (p = 0.016). For IPP, the area under ROC curve was 0.758 (95% confidence interval - 0.601 to 0.876), and the cutoff point to indicate BOO was 5 mm with 95 % sensitivity (75.1 - 99.2) and 50 % specificity (28.2 - 71.8). CONCLUSION IPP and prostatic volume measured through abdominal ultrasound are noninvasive and accessible methods that significantly correlate to urinary BOO, and are useful in the diagnosis of male urinary obstructive problems.

Impregnation of implantable polypropylene mesh with S-nitrosoglutathione-loaded poly(vinyl alcohol)

Clinical complications of implantable polypropylene (PP) meshes used to repair urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse may be associated with their low surface energy and consequent poor tissue integration. For improving tissue integration, we impregnated monofilament PP meshes with physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), resulting in PVA deposits tightly attached inside the knot spaces of the PP knit. While preserving the mesh porosity, the PVA deposits acted as an array of hydrophilic regions leading to a great increase in the overall mesh wettability, reflected by a contact angle decrease from 111 to ca. 66°. The PVA deposits were also used as reservoirs for the local release of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), a nitric oxide (NO) donor. Plain and impregnated PP meshes (1.0cm×1.0cm) were implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of 21 adult female Wistar rats. Histological analysis of the abdominal wall 21 days after the surgeries revealed lower edema and greater angiogenesis while a marked decrement of NOx concentration in the tissue surrounding the impregnated meshes was observed after 2 days. These results indicate that PVA and PVA/GSNO impregnation might be a new strategy for decreasing the frequency of mesh extrusion after PP mesh implants.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in penile cancer: a comparative study using modified inguinal dissection.

INTRODUCTION In the case of clinically negative inguinal regions in penile cancer, the treatments proposed might vary from careful observation to radical dissection for all patients. We evaluated the effectiveness of the sentinel lymph node biopsy using lymphoscintigraphy in patients with penile cancer and at least one negative inguinal region. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 18 patients, biopsy of the sentinel lymph node from the 32 negative inguinal regions and modified radical lymphadenectomy in these regions regardless of the biopsy results was performed. Clinical staging, pathological results of the sentinel and the other lymph nodes removed during lymphadenectomy, tumor behavior, local and inguinal recurrence and specific disease mortality were accessed. RESULTS The mean age of the study sample was 57.7 years (44 - 81 years) and the sentinel lymph node presented 0% false negative 66% sensitivity, and 79.3% specificity when compared with the modified inguinal lymphadenectomy as the gold standard treatment. CONCLUSION Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a feasible method of assessing the presence of regional metastasis in patients with penile cancer and clinically negative inguinal regions. However, the optimal lymphoscintigraphy technique is still in evolution and requires further optimization at high volume centers.

Bladder Function Evaluation Before Renal Transplantation in Nonurologic Disease: Is It Necessary?

OBJECTIVE To determine whether preoperative cystometry and a pressure flow study (PFS) are necessary in patients with end-stage renal disease from nonurologic causes who will undergo renal transplantation. METHODS From April 2009 to June 2010, 30 patients scheduled to undergo renal transplantation were prospectively evaluated with cystometry and PFS. The evaluation was performed immediately before and 6 months after renal transplantation. The inclusion criteria were age >18 years and end-stage renal disease secondary to nonurologic disease. RESULTS Improvement in the cystometry and PFS parameters was observed after the return of diuresis at 6 months after transplantation. The parameter changes from baseline to the 6-month evaluation were as follows: first sensation of bladder filling, 88.8-168.7 mL (P = .0005); first desire to void, 137.2-251.1 mL (P <.0001); maximal cystometric capacity, 221.2-428.7 mL (P <.0001); bladder compliance, 73.9-138.6 mL/cm H2O (P = .03); and maximal flow rate, 8.1-15.8 mL/s (P <.0001). The Abrams-Griffiths number in the men decreased from 31.8 to 15.2 (P = .002). No significant changes were observed in the detrusor pressure at the maximal flow rate or the postvoid residual urine volume. Patients with a 24-hour urine output <200 mL tended to have had significantly worse parameters before transplantation. CONCLUSION Significant improvement in the cystometry and PFS parameters was observed in patients with end-stage renal disease, without urologic disease, 6 months after transplantation, and was associated with recovery of the glomerular filtration rate and urine output by the renal graft.

The Triple Clinicopathologic Features to Seminal Vesicle-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE With the widespread early detection programs for prostate cancer, there has been a downward stage migration and a marked decrease in the percentage of men with seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) compared with previous data. We evaluated clinicopathologic findings that are associated with SVI to select patients for potential seminal vesicle-sparing surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed our radical prostatectomy database from 1997 to 2006 to evaluate the incidence and clinical correlates of SVI. Variables analyzed included serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, clinical stage, percentage of positive cores with cancer, Gleason score on biopsy, age, prostate weight, and urethral and vesical surgical margins. Statistical analysis included univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS Of 267 patients, 32 (12%) had SVI. Preoperative PSA level, biopsy Gleason score, and percentage of positive cores were highly predictive of SVI on multivariate analysis. SVI was present in only 1/98 patients (1.02 %) with biopsy Gleason score ≤6, 0/23 patients (0%) with serum PSA level <4 ng/mL, and only 1 patient with ≤12.8% of positive cores on biopsy. In all cases of distal SVI, there was proximal involvement. CONCLUSION Serum PSA level, Gleason score, and percentage of positive cores on biopsy are statistically significant predictors of SVI on multivariate analysis. Seminal vesiculectomy does not benefit almost 99% of patients with biopsy Gleason score ≤6, PSA level <4 ng/mL, and with <12% cores with cancer. In cases of seminal vesicle-sparing surgery, frozen section of the proximal portion may be of adjunct usefulness for the triple.

A Novel Intraurethral Device Diagnostic Index to Classify Bladder Outlet Obstruction in Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Objectives. Using a urethral device at the fossa navicularis, bladder pressure during voiding can be estimated by a minimal invasive technique. This study purposes a new diagnostic index for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs). Methods. Fifty one patients presenting with LUTSs were submitted to a conventional urodynamic and a minimal invasive study. The results obtained through the urethral device and invasive classic urodynamics were compared. The existing bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) equation that classifies men with LUTSs was modified to allow minimal invasive measurement of isovolumetric bladder pressure in place of detrusor pressure at maximum urine flow. Accuracy of the new equation for classifying obstruction was then tested in this group of men. Results. The modified equation identified men with obstruction with a positive predictive value of 68% and a negative predictive value of 70%, with an overall accuracy of 70%. Conclusions. The proposed equation can accurately classify over 70% of men without resorting to invasive pressure flow studies. We must now evaluate the usefulness of this classification for the surgical treatment of men with LUTSs.

Procedimiento Cabestrillo Autólogo versus Sintético: Tasa de éxito y frecuencia de obstrucción del tracto urinario inferior

Resumen Introduccion Disfuncion en el vaciamiento y retencion urinaria son complicaciones frecuentes del cabestrillo. Recientemente se han incluido en el arsenal para el soporte sub-uretral, suministros sinteticos tales como la malla de polipropilenol. Metodos Se llevo a cabo un Estudio prospectivo no aleatorizado. El procedimiento cabestrillo se realizo en 436 pacientes consecutivos con IUE (Incontinencia Urinaria de Esfuerzo). Las pacientes fueron divididas en grupos segun el tipo de malla, en autologos 210 y 226 sinteticos. Las pacientes fueron evaluadas en cuanto a condicion de vaciamiento, continencia y satisfaccion. Los resultados quirurgicos fueron evaluados en funcion de la clasificacion de Blaivas. Se considero significativo p Resultados La media de edad fue 48,4 anos. El tiempo medio operatorio para los Cabestrillo autologos fue de 107,6 minutos frente a 20,6 min para el sintetico. El promedio de hospitalizacion fue de 36 horas para autologos frente a 24 horas para los sinteticos y la media de seguimiento fue de 25 meses. Se encontro 87,1% y 92,9% de las pacientes continentes en los grupos autologos y sinteticos, respectivamente. Fallo en el procedimiento se presento en un 7% en el grupo autologo y 4,8% en el sintetico (p=0,1961). La tasa global de obstruccion del tracto urinario inferior fue de 4,5% (20/436), cuando se analizo por grupos, encontramos en el grupo autologo una tasa de 8,5% (18/210), en comparacion con el 0,9% en el grupo sintetico (2/226) (p=0,000126). Conclusiones Cabestrillos autologos y sinteticos presentan las tasas de exito comparables, sin embargo la obstruccion del tracto urinario inferior fue mas comun entre las pacientes tratadas con fascias autologas.

Open surgical treatment of right-sided adrenal carcinomas >15 cm.

Introduction: Adrenal carcinomas are rare and are associated with a very poor prognosis. The incidence is estimated to be 1 in 1.7 million which represents 0.02% of all cancers and 0.2% of all cancer mortality. The 5-year survival rate is 38%. The purpose of this paper is to present a single-institution experience in excising right-sided giant adrenal carcinomas, discussing the difficulties and the usage of special surgical devices to facilitate the procedure. Patients and Methods: During June 2001 to June 2003, 18 patients with right-sided adrenal tumors were treated at the State University of Campinas Hospital – UNICAMP. 4 out of the 18 patients presented lesions >15 cm, representing the study group. The mean age was 37 (range 26–65) years, 3 patients were younger than 35 years, and 2 patients were men. A right-sided extended subcostal incision was the surgical access in 1 patient (case 1) and a right-sided thoracoabdominal incision in the other 3 patients. Results: Adrenal cortical carcinoma was the histological diagnosis according to the Weiss criteria; no positive surgical margin was detected, even in those patients with invasion of the hepatic capsule. The median follow-up period was 15 (range 6–30) months. Conclusions: A subcostal extended incision can accomplish broad exposure, if articulated costal retractors are available (used in liver transplantation), otherwise a thoracoabdominal incision is the best option. The most important feature of surgery is to accomplish an efficient hemostasis of the liver parenchyma. Suture and stitches are not suitable for minor vascular structures, and electrocauterization sometimes promotes hepatic lesions and does not provide bleeding control. Thus, the need for special hemostatic means is real, and they should be avaiable in these situations.

Host inflammatory response to polypropylene implants: insights from a quantitative immunohistochemical and birefringence analysis in a rat subcutaneous model

ABSTRACT Objectives To describe acute and sub acute aspects of histological and immunohistochemical response to PP implant in a rat subcutaneous model based on objective methods. Materials and Methods Thirty rats had a PP mesh subcutaneously implanted and the same dissection on the other side of abdomen but without mesh (sham). The animals were euthanized after 4 and 30 days. Six slides were prepared using the tissue removed: one stained with hematoxylin-eosin (inflammation assessment); one unstained (birefringence evaluation) and four slides for immunohistochemical processing: IL-1 and TNF-α (pro-inflammatory cytokines), MMP-2 (collagen metabolism) and CD-31 (angiogenesis). The area of inflammation, the birefringence index, the area of immunoreactivity and the number of vessels were objectively measured. Results A larger area of inflammatory reaction was observed in PP compared to sham on the 4th and on the 30th day (p=0.0002). After 4 days, PP presented higher TNF (p=0.0001) immunoreactivity than sham and no differences were observed in MMP-2 (p=0.06) and IL-1 (p=0.08). After 30 days, a reduction of IL-1 (p=0.010) and TNF (p=0.016) for PP and of IL-1 (p=0.010) for sham were observed. Moreover, area of MMP-2 immunoreactivity decreased over time for PP group (p=0.018). Birefringence index and vessel counting showed no differences between PP and sham (p=0.27 and p=0.58, respectively). Conclusions The implantation of monofilament and macroporous polypropylene in the subcutaneous of rats resulted in increased inflammatory activity and higher TNF production in the early post implant phase. After 30 days, PP has similar cytokines immunoreactivity, vessel density and extracellular matrix organization.