Reporting quality of abstracts presented at the European Association of Urology meeting: a critical assessment.

PURPOSE: We assessed the reporting quality of randomized and nonrandomized, controlled trials presented in abstract form at the European Association of Urology annual meeting in a 10-year period and determined the impact on subsequent publication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Abstracts presented at the European Association of Urology annual meetings in 1998, 1999, 2008 and 2009 were retrieved and included in analysis. Two 2-year meeting periods were considered, including 1) 1998 and 1999, and 2) 2008 and 2009. Two standardized forms were constructed based on the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) and STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology) guidelines, each including 15 and 16 items for randomized and nonrandomized, controlled trials, respectively. Reporting quality was assessed by measuring the proportion of items respected by authors when preparing the abstract, defined as the score ratio. Subsequent full-length publication within 2 years after the meeting was also determined by a PubMed® search. Differences between the 2 periods were analyzed by the chi-square and simple t tests. Predictors of subsequent full-length publication were evaluated by multiple logistic regression using meeting period, topic, country of origin, design, multi-institutional study and the proportion of reported items (score ratio). RESULTS: A total of 3,139 abstracts were included in analysis, of which 375 (11.9%) were randomized, controlled trials. Overall oncology represented the main topic (49.2% of all abstracts). The score ratio (proportion of adequately reported items in each abstract) was better for period 1 than 2 for randomized, controlled trials (63% vs 57%) but better for period 2 than 1 for nonrandomized, controlled trials (55.4% vs 53.2%, each p <0.001). Abstracts describing multi-institutional studies were more likely to be followed by full-length publication (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.44-2.30). Other features, including reporting quality (score ratio), did not predict subsequent publication. CONCLUSIONS: The reporting quality of European Association of Urology meeting abstracts did not improve in a decade. Nevertheless, this factor did not impact subsequent full-length publication. Ultimately, the reporting quality of abstracts remains to be improved by following currently available guidelines.

Prostate cancer detection in the "grey area" of prostate-specific antigen below 10 ng/ml: head-to-head comparison of the updated PCPT calculator and Chun's nomogram, two risk estimators incorporating prostate cancer antigen 3.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) holds promise in diagnosing prostate cancer (PCa), but no consensus has been reached on its clinical use. Multivariable predictive models have shown increased accuracy over individual risk factors. OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of the two available risk estimators incorporating PCA3 in the detection of PCa in the "grey area" of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) <10 ng/ml: the updated Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) calculator and Chun's nomogram. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred eighteen patients presenting with an abnormal PSA (excluding those with PSA >10 ng/ml) and/or abnormal digital rectal examination were prospectively enrolled in a multicentre Italian study between October 2008 and October 2009. All patients underwent ≥12-core prostate biopsy. MEASUREMENTS: PCA3 scores were assessed using the Progensa assay (Gen-Probe, San Diego, CA, USA). Comparisons between the two models were performed using tests of accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC-ROC]), calibration plots, and decision curve analysis. Biopsy predictors were identified by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. In addition, performance of PCA3 was analysed through AUC-ROC and predictive values. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: PCa was detected in 73 patients (33.5%). Among predictors included in the models, only PCA3, PSA, and prostate volume retained significant predictive value. AUC-ROC was higher for the updated PCPT calculator compared to Chun's nomogram (79.6% vs 71.5%; p=0.043); however, Chun's nomogram displayed better overall calibration and a higher net benefit on decision curve analysis. Using a probability threshold of 25%, no high-grade cancers would be missed; the PCPT calculator would save 11% of biopsies, missing no cancer, whereas Chun's nomogram would save 22% of avoidable biopsies, although missing 4.1% non-high-grade cancers. The small number of patients may account for the lack of statistical significance in the predictive value of individual variables or model comparison. CONCLUSIONS: Both Chun's nomogram and the PCPT calculator, by incorporating PCA3, can assist in the decision to biopsy by assignment of an individual risk of PCa, specifically in the PSA levels <10 ng/ml.

Short-term administration of prulifloxacin in patients with nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer: an effective option for the prevention of bacillus Calmette-Guérin-induced toxicity?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the new fluoroquinolone prulifloxacin might improve tolerance to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) intravesical therapy in patients with bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 72 patients with intermediate- or high-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, open-label, controlled clinical trial performed at a single tertiary care institution. After complete transurethral resection, patients were randomized to receive induction treatment with BCG and three capsules of prulifloxacin 600 mg or no prophylactic treatment (control group). Adverse events (AEs) were self-recorded by the patients after each instillation and classified by the investigator according to a classification grid considering account duration and intensity. Cystoscopy findings at 3 and 6 months were also recorded. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in baseline symptoms between the groups. Overall, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of patients with at least one AE between instillations in prulifloxacin-treated group. The proportion of patients with moderate to severe AEs after the fourth instillation was significantly less in the prulifloxacin-treated group. There was a significant effect of prulifloxacin on the need for anti-tuberculosis treatment. More patients in the control group stopped or delayed the full induction course of BCG instillations (34% vs 19%, P=0.04). Recurrence rates were not affected by prulifloxacin treatment. CONCLUSION: Prulifloxacin reduces the incidence of moderate to severe AEs from BCG intravesical therapy in patients with nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer, improving compliance to the induction BCG course. These preliminary findings warrant further clinical research.