Rami Nasr

Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Expression in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Cystectomy Specimens and Lymph Node Metastasis: A Reliable Treatment Selection Biomarker?

BACKGROUND The programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway negatively regulates T-cell activation and has an important role in regulating antitumor host immunity. Monoclonal antibodies directed against PD-1 or the PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) have shown activity in several tumor types with preliminary data suggesting a relationship between PD-L1 expression and response. The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of PD-L1 expression in muscle-invasive bladder cancer and associated lymph node metastasis using immunohistochemistry and to investigate the feasibility of using PD-L1 expression as a biomarker to select patients for PD-1-directed therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Cases of radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer with no exposure to previous chemotherapy were identified and representative slides from archived paraffin-embedded blocks stained with anti-PD-L1 antibody (5H1 clone) were identified. PD-L1 positivity was defined by a 5% expression threshold. RESULTS Fifty-two radical cystectomy specimens were reviewed. PD-L1 was overexpressed in the tumor cells of 5/52 (9.6%) of cystectomy specimens in this cohort with 17/52 (32.7%) of cases showing PD-L1 overexpression in tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Discordance was observed between PD-L1 expression in lymph node metastasis and the primary tumor. CONCLUSION Standard assays for PD-L1 expression have yet to be established. The observation of discordance between PD-L1 expression in metastatic sites and primary tumors suggests that prospective biomarker studies should aim to acquire material immediately before treatment initiation rather than archived tissue from resected specimens that might not reflect the current immune-active microenvironment.

Bladder perivascular epithelioid cell tumours.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumours, better known as PECOMAs, are a very uncommon pathological finding. In English medical literature it has rarely been reported. In the genitourinary system, mostly urinary bladder, the incidence is as low as 10 cases described since 2003 until now. In this case report, we present a urinary bladder PECOMA with a detailed pathological description and a review of literature.

Incidence of sepsis following transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy at a tertiary-care medical center in Lebanon

ABSTRACT Background Urosepsis is a rare but life-threatening complication following transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided needle prostate biopsy. Despite the technological and pharmacological improvements, the problem of bacterial urosepsis after prostate biopsy remains. A strategy for preventing urosepsis following TRUS prostate biopsy in areas with high prevalence of resistant strains or patients presenting risk factors is lacking. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of urosepsis, as well its predictors, following TRUS guided needle biopsy of the prostate in a tertiary care medical center in Lebanon. Materials and Methods We carried out a retrospective study on all patients who underwent TRUS prostate biopsy at the American University of Beirut Medical Center between January 1, 2011 and June 31, 2013. Patients’ hospital charts were reviewed. Data collected included demographic information, pre-procedure disease specific information, as well as post-procedure information. Predictors of urosepsis following TRUS were assessed. Results In total, 265 patients were included in this study, where the prevalence of urosepsis following TRUS prostate biopsy was found to be 9.4%. The significant independent predictors of urosepsis were found to be: age with an OR=0.93 (95% CI: 0.88–1.00, p-value=0.03), and hypertension comorbidity with an OR=3.25 (95% CI: 1.19–8.85, p-value=0.02). Conclusion We found a high prevalence of urosepsis among patients who have undergone TRUS prostate biopsy, and identified two significant risk factors. The results of this study highlight the importance of implementing strategies for prevention of urosepsis following TRUS prostate biopsy.

Retrovesical hydatid cyst presenting with urinary retention and left kidney atrophy.

Hydatid disease of the urinary tract is uncommon, accounting for only 2-3% of cases. There are very few reported cases in the literature of pelvic hydatid cysts causing obstructive uropathy and renal failure. We report a case of pelvic hydatid cyst in a patient presenting with urinary retention and secondary complete atrophy of one kidney. The patient was treated with surgical excision of this large retrovesical cyst, along with a simple left nephroureterectomy, with rapid improvement of symptoms. Hydatid disease should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of a cystic mass in any anatomic localization, especially in patients from endemic areas.

Bladder metastasis from primary breast cancer: a case report and literature review.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in woman. The urinary bladder is an unusual site for metastasis from primary tumors of the breast, especially when it is the only organ involved. We present the case of a female patient with known breast cancer stage T2N3M0 who developed isolated bladder metastasis five years after the primary diagnosis. We reviewed the literature for similar cases and discussed the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and prognosis of this entity.

Distribution and Role of N-acetyltransferase 2 Genetic Polymorphisms in Bladder Cancer Risk in a Lebanese Population

Background: In Lebanon, bladder cancer (BC) has an unusually high prevalence. Individuals who are exposed to aromatic amines from smoking or certain occupations and carrying the slow N-acetyl transferase 2 (NAT2) acetylator’ phenotype may be at a higher risk. Methods: Data and DNA from 115 Lebanese BC cases and 306 controls were examined. Ten NAT2 single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped, seven of which were then included in haplotype and phenotype analysis. Results: BC patients were more likely to be males (87.8% vs. 54.9%) and current smokers (60.9% vs. 26.5%) when compared to controls. In both groups, most participants had the slow NAT2 acetylator phenotype (66.1% of BC cases vs 62.7% of controls; P=0.302) with the NAT2*5B and *6A haplotypes being the most common. The odds ratio (95%CI) of having BC among slow NAT2 acetylators was 1.157 (0.738-1.815) and remained non-significant after adjustment [1.097 (0.666-1.806)]. Sensitivity analysis with a subgroup of 113 cases and 84 controls for which occupational history was available revealed a statistically significant association between slow NAT2 acetylators and BC in females only. The sample size was however very small and the CI quite wide. Conclusions: This is the first study to evaluate the distribution of NAT2 haplotypes and their potential role in BC in a Lebanese population. The absence of any significant association may be due to the relatively small sample size, the unavailability of matching by gender, and the lack of evaluation of genetic interactions with extent of active and passive smoking, exposure to environmental pollutants, diet, and other genes. The potential association limited to females needs further evaluation.

Iatrogenic penile glans amputation: major novel reconstructive procedure.

Circumcision is a very common urological practice. Even though it is relatively safe, it is not a complication-free procedure. We describe a patient that underwent a neonatal circumcision complicated by iatrogenic complete glans amputation. Reconstructive repair of a neoglans using a modified traditional method was used. Postoperative followup to 90 days is illustrated. Despite being a simple procedure, circumcision in unprofessional hands can have major complication impacting the emotional and sexual life of patients. Surgical reconstruction is possible with varying satisfactory results.

Symphysis Pubis Osteomyelitis: An Uncommon Complication after Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy—Case Description with Literature Review

Prostate cancer is the most common solid cancer among American men. Although there are various modalities for treatment, including radical prostatectomy among many others, the former is, nevertheless, not without any accompanied complications. Other than the well-known surgical complications such as erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and voiding dysfunction, osteomyelitis of the symphysis pubis is not a well-understood complication, with various hypotheses explaining its pathogenesis. Although osteomyelitis of the pubis symphysis has been reported after endoscopic urological procedures such as transurethral resection of the prostate, it has rarely been reported after robotic surgeries. We hereby report, to the best of our knowledge, the first osteomyelitis of the pubis symphysis, after robotic prostatectomy, in a patient with prostate cancer and no previous radiation therapy.

Tips for Open Surgical Approach to Pelvis for Urologic Surgery

In this chapter we review the standard and most commonly performed surgical incisions and highlight some tips while performing these open surgical approaches to the pelvis in urological surgery.

Contemporary Management of Urogenital Injuries

During the last decade, the conflicts in the Middle East have changed the face of the traditional war. This is evident from the following observations: the adoption of the whole enemy’s society as a battlefield, the indiscernibility between war and peace, the indistinction between military and civilian, and blitzing of the civilian facilities [53].