The effects of silodosin therapy on the parameters and patterns of ureteric jets in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To our knowledge, there is no study in the literature so far to investigate the effect of silodosin therapy on the ureteric jet parameters. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of silodosin 8 mg/day for medical therapy of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on the color flow Doppler parameters and patterns of the ureteric jets. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 34 male patients who presented to our outpatient clinic with the complaint of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and received silodosin 8 mg once a day as medical therapy. In the color flow Doppler examinations, ureteric jets were observed and mean flow rate (JETave), maximum flow rate (JETmax), flow duration (JETdura), and flow frequency (JETfre) were examined. In addition, patterns of the ureteric jets (JETpat) were also evaluated. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in JETave; however, JETmax, JETdura and JETfre were significantly higher at post-silodosin treatment. The patterns of ureteric jet were significantly changed following a 6-week treatment with silodosin (p<0.001). One ureter in the monophasic pattern group (9.1%) and three in the biphasic group (13.6%) turned to polyphasic pattern after silodosin use. None of the patients developed side effects that would require discontinuation of the drug. CONCLUSIONS: Six-week silodosin 8 mg/day therapy for the treatment of LUTS in men changed the parameters and patterns of ureteric jets at follow-up examination. Furthermore, comprehensive studies are needed on this issue.

Evaluation of the frequency of left renal vein variations in computed tomography and its relationship with cancer development.

BACKGROUND: Left renal vein (LRV) variations occur in 0.8-10.2% of the population. The most common LRV variations are retroaortic left renal vein (RLRV) and circumaortic left renal vein (CLRV). The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of LRV variations in a large series on computed tomography (CT) and to investigate the association between LRV and malignancy development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2015 and January 2017, an abdominal CT examination of 12,341 (5505 female, 6836 male) patients was evaluated retrospectively in this study. Patients' clinical and demographic data were recorded using the Hospital Information System. RESULTS: Left renal vein variations were detected in 314 (2.54%) of the 12,341 patients within the study. Of the 314 cases found to have LRV variations, 227 (1.84%) had RLRV, and 87 (0.70%) had CLRV. There was no statistical difference in total LRV variations (p = 0.083) and CLRV variation (p = 0.96) groups in terms of gender. However, the RLRV variation was found to be 1.32 times higher in males than in females (p = 0.039). Of the 314 patients with LRV variations, 73 (23.2%) had any sort of concomitant malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: A high incidence of malignancy was detected in patients with LRV variations. Of the LRV variations, RLRV variation is more common than CLRV variation. The presence of total LRV variations and CLRV variations is not associated with gender; whereas the presence of RLRV variation is more common in males.

Breast cancer in octogenarian women: clinical characteristics and outcome.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer incidence increases in the elderly but data on treatment and outcomes of elderly patients is limited. We assessed the clinicopathological features and outcomes of our patients with breast cancer aged ≥80 years in comparison with their younger postmenopausal counterparts. METHODS: The records of 83 patients diagnosed with breast cancer after the age of 80 (group 1) between 2003 and 2011 in 4 different centers were retrospectively evaluated and the clinicopathological features and outcomes were assessed in comparison with a control group (group 2) of 249 patients aged between 60-70 years. RESULTS: Median ages at diagnosis were 82 years (range 80-95) and 64 years (range 60-70) for group 1 and group 2, respectively. The incidence of invasive cancers other than ductal or lobular type was higher in group 1 than in group 2 (20 vs 8%; p=0.0177rpar;. More patients in group 1 had Charlson Comorbidty scores ≥1 than those in group 2 (49 vs 36%; p=0.011). Patients in group 1 had more conservative operations and less axillary node dissections (ALND) and they received chemotherapy, trastuzumab or radiotherapy less frequently compared to their younger counterparts in group 2. Median follow up period was 36 months (range 1-178) in group 1 and 24 months (range 12-217) in group 2. Five-year disease free survival (DFS) was 53.7 and 75.9) (p=0.005), 5-year overall survival (OS) was 61.9% and 80.47percnt; in group 1 and group 2 (p=0.001), respectively. Advanced stage (stage IV vs stage I, II, III, p=0.051) and cerbB2 positivity (p<0.001) were found to be associated with shorter DFS in patients ≥80 years of age. CONCLUSION: Although the majority of patients were undertreated in our study according to the current guidelines, mortality rates were quite low. Different biology of the disease in the elderly might explain this difference.