Expression of Kisspeptin (KISS1) and its Receptor GPR54 (KISS1R) in Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. In contrast to localized disease, metastatic PCa leads to increased mortality. Kisspeptin (KISS1) functions as a metastasis suppressor in various cancers. The aim of this study was to detect the expression of KISS1 and its receptor GPR54 (KISS1R) in prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of KISS1 and KISS1R was examined in prostate cancer tissue specimens after radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: A higher expression of KISS1 and KISS1R was shown in patients with localized tumors (Stage ≤IIb) compared to patients with advanced (Stage ≥III) tumor. High Gleason score PCa and higher prognostic groups patients showed a lower expression rate of both KISS1 and KISS1R. CONCLUSION: A down-regulation of KISS1-KISS1R system was detected in advanced prostate cancer. KISS1as tumor suppressor might be useful in the future for the diagnosis, risk assessment of prostate cancer progression, as well as a therapeutic target for aggressive tumors.

Lymphoepithelioma-like bladder cancer: clinicopathologic study of six cases.

Herein, we report on our experience with six patients (0.3%) diagnosed with lymphoepithelioma-like bladder carcinoma (LELBC) over the past 15 years at our department. The mean age of the patients with LELBC was 73 years (range 69-80 years). All patients had at least pT2 disease. The primary treatment was transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, radical cystectomy (RC), and radiotherapy (RT) in one, two, and three patients, respectively. After a mean follow-up of 31 months (range 13-72 months), three patients are still alive. The predominant subtype was diagnosed in four patients, three of whom are alive at the time of writing, compared with the two patients in whom the focal subtype was diagnosed, both of whom are dead. Two of the living patients were treated with a bladder-preservation strategy. Our experiences suggest that RC may not be necessary in muscle invasive disease and that RT and chemotherapy may be reliable treatment options. The pathology report may be useful in selecting patients suitable for bladder-preservation treatment.

Small cell carcinoma of the urinary tract: a case report.

Neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the urinary tract is rarely encountered and very few cases have been reported in the literature. Herein we describe a case of small cell malignancy located contemporarily in the ureter and the bladder.

Beneficial effects of switching from beta-blockers to nebivolol on the erectile function of hypertensive patients.

AIM: To investigate the effect of substituting beta-blockers with nebivolol on the erectile function of patients suffering from essential hypertension. METHODS: Forty-four young and middle-aged men (31-65 years) with essential hypertension visited our outpatient clinic and took beta-blocker treatment (atenolol, metoprolol or bisoprolol) for more than 6 months. All the patients completed a questionnaire regarding erectile function (International Index for Erectile Function). Patients were then switched to an equipotent dose of nebivolol for 3 months and, at the end of this time period, filled out the same questionnaire. RESULTS: Twenty-nine out of the 44 (65.9%) patients who took beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol or bisoprolol) had exhibited erectile dysfunction (ED). Their systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not change significantly with the treatment switch. In 20 out of these 29 (69%) patients, a significant improvement in the erectile function score was exhibited after 3 months of nebivolol administration, and in 11 of these 20 patients, erectile function was normalized. CONCLUSION: Nebivolol seems to have a beneficial effect on ED (possibly due to increased nitric oxide availability); however, further prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm the beneficial effects of nebivolol.

Factors affecting the increased prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Greek hypertensive compared with normotensive subjects.

Arterial hypertension is considered a risk factor for erectile dysfunction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in hypertensive compared with normotensive individuals of similar demographic characteristics in Greece. Furthermore, the effect of age, hypertension severity, hypertension duration, and antihypertension medication on erectile function of these subjects was investigated. The study population consisted of 634 consecutive young and middle-aged men (31-65 years) that visited our outpatient clinic. From them, 358 patients had arterial hypertension and 276 were normotensive. Erectile dysfunction was evaluated with the International Index for Erectile Function questionnaire. Erectile dysfunction was found in 35.2% of patients with essential hypertension compared with 14.1% of normotensive subjects (chi(2) = 35.92, P < .001). Patients with essential hypertension had more severe erectile dysfunction than their normotensive counterparts (chi(2) = 17.1, P < .001). Hypertension duration, hypertension severity, antihypertension medication, and age were positively correlated with erectile dysfunction. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction is higher in patients with essential hypertension compared with normotensive subjects of similar demographic characteristics. Erectile dysfunction is related to age in both groups, whereas duration and severity of hypertension as well as antihypertension drugs affect erectile function of hypertensive patients. Erectile dysfunction affects patient quality of life, underlining the need for vigorous research of this condition and appropriate management.