Ubirajara Ferreira

The impact of the 2005 international society of urological pathology consensus conference on standard Gleason grading of prostatic carcinoma in needle biopsies.

PURPOSE At an International Society of Urological Pathology consensus conference in 2005 the Gleason grading system for prostatic carcinoma underwent its first major revision. We compared the concordance of pattern and change of prognostic groups for the conventional and the modified Gleason grading, and checked the discriminative power of the modified Gleason grading. MATERIALS AND METHODS The grading was based on 172 prostatic needle biopsies of patients subsequently undergoing radical prostatectomy. Four prognostic Gleason grading groups were considered, divided into scores of 2-4, 5-6, 7 and 8-10. To check the discriminative power of the modified Gleason grading we compared the time of biochemical (prostate specific antigen) progression-free outcome according to prognostic groups between standard and revised grading. RESULTS The greatest impact of the International Society of Urological Pathology consensus recommendations for Gleason grading was seen on the secondary pattern which had the lowest percentage of concordance and was reflected in a change toward higher Gleason prognostic groups. Of 172 patients in whom the Gleason prognostic group was changed (to higher grades) based solely on the consensus criteria, 46 (26.7%) had higher preoperative prostate specific antigen, more extensive tumors and positive surgical margins, and higher pathological stage. The revised Gleason grading identified in this series a higher number of patients in the aggressive prognostic group Gleason score 8-10 who had a significantly shorter time to biochemical progression-free outcome after radical prostatectomy (log rank p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study indicate that the recommendations of the International Society of Urological Pathology are a valuable refinement of the standard Gleason grading system.

Epidemiology and Natural History of Penile Cancer

An extensive literature search was performed using the key words squamous cell carcinoma of the penis, phimosis, circumcision, chronic balanitis, cigarette smoking, genital warts and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. All selected studies were classified according to the level of evidence (LE). The final grades of recommendation were assigned after discussion by the full panel of the International Consultation on Penile Cancer in November 2008. The factors positively associated with invasive penile cancers include the presence of phimosis (LE 3a), tobacco smoking (LE 3a-4), chewing tobacco (LE 3a), injury to the penis (LE 3a), balanitis (LE 3a), genital warts (LE 3a), and high-risk HPV infection (LE 3a-4).

Erectile dysfunction and hormonal imbalance in morbidly obese male is reversed after gastric bypass surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial

The effects of weight loss on erectile function and hormones have not been well studied. The aim of this study was to measure the degree to which sexual function and in particular erectile function and hormonal environment change after substantial weight loss, surgically and non-surgically induced in the morbidly obese male in a prospective randomized long-term controlled trial. Furthermore, how surgery makes a difference when treating morbidly obese men was envisaged in this context. We prospectively studied 20 morbidly obese men for 24 months, divided into two groups: group A included 10 patients who underwent life style modifications (exercise and diet) for 4 months and subsequently gastric bypass, and another 10 patients in group B were kept on weekly follow-up. None of the men were taking phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors. All patients underwent International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 questionnaire, serum oestradiol, prolactin (PRL), luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH) hormones, free and total testosterone (FT and TT) at baseline (time 0), surgery - 4 months latter baseline (time 1) and final evaluation - 24 months (time 2). From times 0 to 1, group A presented a mean body mass index (BMI) reduction of 12.6 (p < 0.0001), whereas group B, 2.1 (p > 0.05). The BMI reductions between times 0 and 2 were 24.7 (p < 0.0001) and 0.7 (p > 0.05) for groups A and B respectively. BMI average between the two groups was similar at time 0 (p = 0.2142), and different at times 1 (p = 0.0033) and 2 (p < 0.0006). Increase in IIEF-5 score (p = 0.0469), TT (p = 0.0349) and FSH levels (p = 0.0025), and reduction in PRL level (p < 0.0001) were observed in group A from times 0 to 2 and 1 to 2. There were no changes from times 0 to 1. Comparing groups A and B at time 2, IIEF-5, TT and FT increased significantly in group A (p = 0.0224, 0.0043 and 0.0149 respectively). Surgery-induced weight loss increased erectile function quality measured by IIEF-5 questionnaire, increased TT, FT and FSH and reduced PRL levels. The hormonal impact verified could justify the improvement in erectile function. Lifestyle modifications impacted BMI without hormonal or sexual impact in morbidly obese. New studies are warranted in the field to support our data.

Comparative Study of the Fertility Potential of Men with only one Testis

The fertility potential of 54 men aged between 19 and 42 years, who had undergone unilateral orchidectomy was evaluated. In all cases the remaining testis was of normal volume and consistency. The patients were divided into four groups according to the cause of the orchidectomy: group I--cryptorchism (n = 19), group II--testicular torsion (n = 14), group III--testicular cancer (n = 12) and group IV--accidental (n = 9). The time between orchidectomy and seminal analysis varied from 6 months to 30 years (median 5 years). All semen samples were examined at the same laboratory, and no differences in sperm concentration were found among the groups. 53% in group I, 57% in group II, 50% in group III, and 56% in group IV had sperm counts of less than 20 million/ml. Our results suggest that unilateral orchidectomy leads to a considerable decrease in fertility potential, whatever the reason for it.

Endourological Management of Ureteral Strictures

We reviewed the records of 20 patients (21 ureters) treated during the last 5 years for ureteral stricture disease. The causes of stricture formation included ureterolithotripsy in 47.7% of the patients, open ureterolithotomy in 9.5%, other urological procedures in 23.8%, general surgical and gynecological procedures in 9.5% and miscellaneous factors in 9.5%. A total of 20 patients (21 ureters) underwent endourological treatment with balloon dilation (19) or balloon dilation and internal ureterotomy (2), with good results in 57.1% and a mean followup of 24 months. Of the 9 patients who failed endourological management 3 underwent successful open repair, 3 underwent nephrectomy, and 3 had a relatively large ureteral lumen and became asymptomatic, receiving no further treatment. The interval between injury and treatment was not a decisive factor. The length of ureteral stricture assumes the most significant parameter to predict success in the treatment of ureteral stricture. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The association of balloon dilation and incision by special endoureterotomy scissors is a potentially useful technique.

Intermittent versus continuous androgen deprivation for locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundProstate cancer is the most common cancer in older men in the United States (USA) and Western Europe. Androgen deprivation (AD) constitutes, in most cases, the first-line of treatment for these cases. The negative impact of CAD in quality of life, secondary to the adverse events of sustained hormone deprivation, plus the costs of this therapy, motivated the intermittent treatment approach. The objective of this study is to to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy and adverse events profile of intermittent versus continuous androgen deprivation for locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.MethodsSeveral databases were searched, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and CENTRAL. The endpoints were overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), time to progression (TTP) and adverse events. We performed a meta-analysis (MA) of the published data. The results were expressed as Hazard Ratio (HR) or Risk Ratio (RR), with their corresponding 95% Confidence Intervals (CI 95%).ResultsThe final analysis included 13 trials comprising 6,419 patients with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. TTP was similar in patients who received intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) or continuous androgen deprivation (CAD) (fixed effect: HR = 1.04; CI 95% = 0.96 to 1.14; p = 0.3). OS and CSS were also similar in patients treated with IAD or CAD (OS: fixed effect: HR = 1.02; CI 95% = 0.95 to 1.09; p = 0.56 and CSS: fixed effect: HR = 1.06; CI 95% = 0.96 to 1.18; p = 0.26).ConclusionOverall survival was similar between IAD and CAD in patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Data on CSS are weak and the benefits of IAD on this outcome remain uncertain. Impact in QoL was similar for both groups, however, sexual activity scores were higher and the incidence of hot flushes was lower in patients treated with IAD.

Prostate Specific Antigen Decrease and Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Antibiotic Versus Placebo Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

PURPOSE Prostate inflammation can lead to an increase in serum prostate specific antigen concentration and confound the use of prostate specific antigen kinetics. Repeat prostate specific antigen measurements after a period of observation or a course of empirical antibiotics are controversial in terms of the optimal approach to reduce the confounding impact on prostate cancer screening. This issue was analyzed in patients with a diagnosis of type IV or asymptomatic prostatitis (National Institutes of Health classification) and high prostate specific antigen. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied 200 men between 50 and 75 years old with a high prostate specific antigen (between 2.5 and 10 ng/dl). Of these patients 98 (49%) had a diagnosis of type IV prostatitis. In a prospective, double-blind trial they were randomized to receive placebo (49 patients, group 1) or 500 mg ciprofloxacin (49 patients, group 2) twice a day for 4 weeks. Prostate specific antigen was determined after treatment and all patients underwent transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate. RESULTS In group 1, 29 (59.18%) patients presented with a decrease in prostate specific antigen and 9 (31%) had cancer on biopsy, while in group 2 there were 26 (53.06%) patients with a decrease in prostate specific antigen and 7 (26.9%) with prostate cancer. There was no statistical difference in either group in relation to prostate specific antigen decrease after treatment or the presence of tumor. CONCLUSIONS A considerable number of patients (49%) were diagnosed with type IV prostatitis and high prostate specific antigen in agreement with the current literature. Of the patients 26.9% to 31% presented with a decrease in prostate specific antigen after the use of antibiotic or placebo and harbor cancer as demonstrated on prostate biopsy. Prostate specific antigen decreases do not indicate the absence of prostate cancer.

Correlation between tumor extent in radical prostatectomies and preoperative PSA, histological grade, surgical margins, and extraprostatic extension: application of a new practical method for tumor extent evaluation

PURPOSE To evaluate a new method designed for estimating the tumor extent in radical prostatectomy specimens. The tumor extent was correlated to preoperative PSA and to several pathologic findings in the surgical specimens as well. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tumor extent was estimated in 118 consecutive radical prostatectomies through a simple point-count method. Drawn on a sheet of paper, each quadrant of the whole mount sections contained 8 equidistant points. During the microscopic slides examination, the tumor area was drawn over the correspondent quadrant of the paper sheet. According to the extent, tumors were classified in 5 groups: 1) very limited: </= 10 positive points; 2) limited: 11-19 positive points; 3) moderately extensive: 20-35 positive points; 4) extensive: 36-39 positive points; 5) very extensive: 70 positive points. This classification was based on a previous analysis of tumor extent in 109 radical prostatectomies. The distribution was quite normal up to 69 positive points, but asymmetric above that number, including cases exceeding far above that value. We considered the quartiles of the normal distribution up to 69 positive points (groups 1 to 4), and above that value a fifth group was considered. RESULTS There was a statistically significant and direct correlation between the tumor extent and all variables studied: preoperative PSA (p = 0.03), Gleason score (p < 0.0001), primary grade in high-grade tumors (p < 0.01), surgical margins (p < 0.0001), extraprostatic extension (pT3a) (p < 0.0001), and seminal vesicle invasion (pT3b) (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The method, which is simple and well correlated to other prognostic factors, is accessible to those pathologists working in routine pathology laboratories. Whether this method will be used by other urology centers is yet to be seen.

Experimental animal model and RNA interference: a promising association for bladder cancer research

Animal models are at the centre of laboratory bladder cancer (BC) research and at the same time, the bridge to the clinic. A new and very promising therapeutical approach is to silence abnormally up-regulated genes in cancer, through small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules. Therapeutic use and success of siRNAs will largely depend on their efficient and safe in vivo delivery and on avoiding accidental off-target effects. Intravesical siRNA is a strategy which may be the best deliver option to surperficial BC like intravesical immunotherapy. Its direct action might allow a continuous intracellular exposure to effective siRNA concentrations. While the procedure of transurethral siRNA administration is promising for BC research allowing detection of new targets in BC therapy, the optimal intravesical carrier and the best target(s) to siRNA are to be determined.

Sex with animals (SWA): behavioral characteristics and possible association with penile cancer. A multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION Zoophilia has been known for a long time but, underreported in the medical literature, is likely a risk factor for human urological diseases. AIM To investigate the behavioral characteristics of sex with animals (SWA) and its associations with penile cancer (PC) in a case-control study. METHODS A questionnaire about personal and sexual habits was completed in interviews of 118 PC patients and 374 controls (healthy men) recruited between 2009 and 2010 from 16 urology and oncology centers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES SWA rates, geographic distribution, duration, frequency, animals involved, and behavioral habits were investigated and used to estimate the odds of SWA as a PC risk factor. RESULTS SWA was reported by 171 (34.8%) subjects, 44.9% of PC patients and 31.6% of controls (P < 0.008). The mean ages at first and last SWA episode were 13.5 years (standard deviation [SD] 4.4 years) and 17.1 years (SD 5.3 years), respectively. Subjects who reported SWA also reported more venereal diseases (P < 0.001) and sex with prostitutes (P < 0.001), and were more likely to have had more than 10 lifetime sexual partners (P < 0.001) than those who did not report SWA. SWA with a group of men was reported by 29.8% of subjects and SWA alone was reported by 70.2%. Several animals were used by 62% of subjects, and 38% always used the same animal. The frequency of SWA included single (14%), weekly or more (39.5%), and monthly episodes (15%). Univariate analysis identified phimosis, penile premalignancies, smoking, nonwhite race, sex with prostitutes, and SWA as PC risk factors. Phimosis, premalignant lesions, smoking, and SWA remained as risk factors in multivariate analysis. However, SWA did not impact the clinicopathological outcomes of PC. CONCLUSION SWA is a risk factor for PC and may be associated with venereal diseases. New studies are required in other populations to test other possible nosological links with SWA.