Water in the terrestrial planet-forming zone of the PDS 70 disk.

Terrestrial and sub-Neptune planets are expected to form in the inner (less than 10 AU) regions of protoplanetary disks1. Water plays a key role in their formation2-4, although it is yet unclear whether water molecules are formed in situ or transported from the outer disk5,6. So far Spitzer Space Telescope observations have only provided water luminosity upper limits for dust-depleted inner disks7, similar to PDS 70, the first system with direct confirmation of protoplanet presence8,9. Here we report JWST observations of PDS 70, a benchmark target to search for water in a disk hosting a large (approximately 54 AU) planet-carved gap separating an inner and outer disk10,11. Our findings show water in the inner disk of PDS 70. This implies that potential terrestrial planets forming therein have access to a water reservoir. The column densities of water vapour suggest in-situ formation via a reaction sequence involving O, H2 and/or OH, and survival through water self-shielding5. This is also supported by the presence of CO2 emission, another molecule sensitive to ultraviolet photodissociation. Dust shielding, and replenishment of both gas and small dust from the outer disk, may also play a role in sustaining the water reservoir12. Our observations also reveal a strong variability of the mid-infrared spectral energy distribution, pointing to a change of inner disk geometry.

The diverse chemistry of protoplanetary disks as revealed by JWST.

Early results from the James Webb Space Telescope-Mid-InfraRed Instrument (JWST-MIRI) guaranteed time programs on protostars (JOYS) and disks (MINDS) are presented. Thanks to the increased sensitivity, spectral and spatial resolution of the MIRI spectrometer, the chemical inventory of the planet-forming zones in disks can be investigated with unprecedented detail across stellar mass range and age. Here, data are presented for five disks, four around low-mass stars and one around a very young high-mass star. The mid-infrared spectra show some similarities but also significant diversity: some sources are rich in CO2, others in H2O or C2H2. In one disk around a very low-mass star, booming C2H2 emission provides evidence for a "soot" line at which carbon grains are eroded and sublimated, leading to a rich hydrocarbon chemistry in which even di-acetylene (C4H2) and benzene (C6H6) are detected. Together the data point to an active inner disk gas-phase chemistry that is closely linked to the physical structure (temperature, snowlines, presence of cavities and dust traps) of the entire disk and which may result in varying CO2/H2O abundances and high C/O ratios >1 in some cases. Ultimately, this diversity in disk chemistry will also be reflected in the diversity of the chemical composition of exoplanets.

Abundant hydrocarbons in the disk around a very-low-mass star.

Very-low-mass stars (those less than 0.3 solar masses) host orbiting terrestrial planets more frequently than other types of stars. The compositions of those planets are largely unknown but are expected to relate to the protoplanetary disk in which they form. We used James Webb Space Telescope mid-infrared spectroscopy to investigate the chemical composition of the planet-forming disk around ISO-ChaI 147, a 0.11-solar-mass star. The inner disk has a carbon-rich chemistry; we identified emission from 13 carbon-bearing molecules, including ethane and benzene. The high column densities of hydrocarbons indicate that the observations probe deep into the disk. The high carbon-to-oxygen ratio indicates radial transport of material within the disk, which we predict would affect the bulk composition of any planets forming in the disk.

Retroperitoneoscopy: a laparoscopic approach for adrenal and renal surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Retroperitoneoscopy has gained acceptance for urologic surgery. We assessed the safety and efficacy of this procedure for renal and adrenal surgery. METHODS: Since December 1994, 20 patients (18 to 75 years old) have undergone laparoscopic adrenalectomy and nephrectomy, including simple nephrectomy in 8, partial nephrectomy in 1, radical nephrectomy in 2, tumorectomy with cyst excision in 1, and adrenalectomy in 8. The retroperitoneal space was created by blunt dissection with the index finger, completed by insufflation, without balloon dissection. RESULTS: Average kidney size was 65 m (range 50 to 108), and average adrenal tumor size was 31 mm (range 20 to 40). The average operating time was 127 minutes (range 60 to 180) for nephrectomy and 84 minutes (range 45 to 140) for adrenalectomy. The average hospital stay was 3 days (range 1 to 7) for nephrectomy and 2.4 days (range 1 to 4) for adrenalectomy. Average blood loss was 65 mL for both nephrectomy and adrenalectomy. Conversion from the laparoscopic procedure to open surgery was never required. Peritoneal effraction and ureteral injury occurred in only 4 patients and 1 patient, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach is safe and effective for simple renal nephrectomy and for excision of small adrenal tumors. Perioperative morbidity and hospital stay are reduced.

Results of retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To analyze the retroperitoneal approach to laparoscopic radical nephrectomy in terms of feasibility, safety, morbidity, and cancer control. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 50 consecutive patients with renal cancer underwent radical nephrectomy via the retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach from 1995 through 1999. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 139 minutes (range 60-330 minutes) with a mean of 149.78-mL operative blood loss (0-1500 mL). The mean renal size was 100 mm (70-150 mm) with a mean tumor size of 38.6 mm (20-90 mm). The postoperative hospital was 6 days (2-13 days). Three open conversions were necessary: one for laparoscopically uncontrolled bleeding and two because obesity interfered with surgery. We noted two major complication and two minor complications. Two disease progression have been noted to date. One patient with a pT3 grade 2 renal-cell carcinoma had a local recurrence with liver metastasis 9 months after the procedure and died 19.7 months after radical nephrectomy. Another patient with a pT3aN+M+ cancer died 23.1 months after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy for kidney cancer requires further assessment. It seems to have several advantages over open radical nephrectomy and to be effective and safe for small (<50-mm) renal tumors.

Double-exposure therapy: videotape homework as a psychotherapeutic adjunct.

Despite widespread popularity of videotapes, it is little used in psychiatric treatment. Video is frequently used in training and supervision and it is in this context that I began to suggest that patients watch the tapes at home. The response was enthusiastic, but I discovered that very few clinicians use this technique, therefore, I decided to do a pilot study and present it to the professional community. A nine-item questionnaire about success in treatment and response to the tapes was mailed to 88 outpatients who had watched their tapes. Patients with psychosis, or those in acute crisis, were excluded from the study. As a control, a modified questionnaire was sent to 49 outpatients seen previous to the use of videotape. Ninety-four percent of the study group and 60 percent of the control group responded. The tape group self-rated "success in treatment" was significantly greater; 6.8 (scale 1-10) compared to 5.04 for the control. The most striking findings were comments relating to the use of video homework. Eighty-three percent of the patients found the tapes helpful; one thought it harmful. Objectivity, insight, and memory aid were frequently cited as advantages. Further study is warranted.

[Renal colic]. / La colique néphrétique.

The pathophysiology of renal colic is related to tension exerted on the excretory cavities by an obstruction, generally a stone, causing secretion of prostaglandins which, in turn, increase the renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. This results in a vicious circle explaining the effect of fluid restriction and NSAIDs.

[Laparoscopically-controlled lymphadenectomy in localized cancer of the prostate]. / La lymphadénectomie sous contrôle coelioscopique dans le cancer localisé de prostate.

Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy was performed among 15 patients. The average age was 65.5 years. The group was made of 13 T2 and 2 T3. The average time of procedure was 175 min (90 à 240 min). The average number of lymph nodes removed laparoscopically from these patients was 5.3 on the left and 6.4 on the right. Metastatic nodes were found in 5 cases (33%) and among all these 5 patients the PSA level was above 30 and/or the Gleason score > 6. We noticed 3 major complications (2 bowel and 1 vascular injuries). Radical prostatectomy was made in 8 patients and nevertheless this intervention did not become more difficult. As a conclusion, this is a procedure which allows a good node staging but the complication rate is still high and will decrease with experience. The merits of such a method are still to be evaluated in localized prostatic cancer.

[Prognostic value of a positive single ultrasound-guided prostatic biopsy regarding tumor volume and intracapsular nature of prostatic adenocarcinoma]. / Valeur pronostique d'une unique biopsie prostatique échoguidée positive sur le volume tumoral et le caractère intracapsulaire de l'adénocarcinome prostatique.

OBJECTIVE: Study of the value of a single positive prostatic biopsy in the staging of prostatic carcinoma and the significance of the tumour volume. METHOD: The clinical, laboratory and pathological parameters were studied in 27 prostatectomized patients with a single positive prostatic biopsy. RESULTS: The length of tumour invasion on the biopsy was 2.6 mm (evaluation on 25 biopsies). Six patients (23%) had an extracapsular tumour and 21 (78%) had a significant tumour volume. Among the 16 patients with a length of tumour invasion < or = 3 mm, 13 (81%) had a significant tumour volume. 25% of patients with less than 3 mm of invasion on the biopsy and a Gleason score < or = 6 and 12% of patients with less than 3 mm of invasion and a PSA < or = 10 ng/ml had a non-significant tumour volume. CONCLUSION: The presence of a single positive prostatic biopsy is not sufficient to determine the pathological stage of a prostatic carcinoma. In this retrospective study, the majority of patients with a single positive biopsy had a significant tumour volume > 0.5 cc. No preoperative predictive factor of tumour volume was demonstrated.

[Comparative study of the treatment of prostatic adenoma: laser photocoagulation versus endoscopic resection]. / Etude comparative des traitements de l'adénome de prostate: photocoagulation laser versus résection endoscopique.

OBJECTIVE: Resection of the prostate using a Nd YAG laser is designed to destroy benign prostatic hyperplasia responsible for bladder neck obstruction. This technique is currently under investigation. PATIENTS AND TECHNIQUE: A total of 56 patients, with a minimal follow-up of 6 months and presenting indications for endoscopic resection of the prostate were treated by TULIP [22] or VLAP [34] laser coagulation. The objective and subjective results were compared to a group of patients [30] treated by endoscopic resection during the same period. Results are expressed as the percentage of patient responding to treatment in terms of objective (peak flow rate > 15 ml/s with improvement > 30% or between 12 and 15 ml, but improvement > 50%) and subjective parameters (IPSS < 7 and improvement > 30% or between 7 and 10, but improvement < 50%). RESULTS: With a minimal follow-up of 6 months, the objective response rates were 55.5% (TULIP), 84.6% (VLAP) and 83.2% (TURP), while the subjective response rates were 55.5% (TULIP), 92.3% (VLAP) and 83.3% (TURP). The hospital stay was significantly shorter in the laser group (2.1 VLAP and 3.3 TULIP; 4.93 TURP). In the TULIP group, 3 patients were incontinent and 4 developed chronic prostatitis. At 6 months, 4 patients in the VLAP group and 6 patients in the TULIP group had to undergo a complementary TURP. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that laser photocoagulation is effective in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The VLAP technique appears to be better adapted to this indication. The benefit of VLAP will be more clearly demonstrated by the randomized study currently underway, provided the length of hospital stay, postoperative complications and cost-effectiveness ratio are taken into account. In contrast, the TULIP system is associated with numerous complications which appear to be unacceptable.

[Antiandrogen withdrawal syndrome in the hormonal treatment of metastatic prostatic cancer in hormonal escape]. / Syndrome d'arrêt des antiandrogènes dans le traitement hormonal du cancer de la prostate métastatique en échappement hormonal.

A fall in the PSA level after stopping antiandrogens has been described at the stage of hormonal escape of prostatic cancer treated by complete androgen inhibition. The authors report a new case. The patient was offtially treated by pulpectomy and nitulamide for N+ prostatic carcinoma (PSA: 165 ng/ml). At the stage of hormonal escape, discontinuation of nitulamide induced a reduction of the PSA. Replacement of nitulamide by cytoproterone acetate was followed by a renewed increase of PSA, which again decreased after stomming cyproterone acetate. Three years later, the PSDA level was 3.5 ng/mg. This syndrome is probably due to mutation of the androgen receptor. In hormonal escape, suspension of all antiandrogens apart from LHRH analogues is recommended and can be followed by a temporary fall of PSA. No other antiandrogen must be administered in the place of the previous drug.

[Retrospective study of laparoscopic peritoneal radical nephrectomy]. / Etude rétrospective des néphrectomies élargies par voie laparoscopique rétropéritonéale.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the results of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy in terms of feasibility, safety, morbidity and tumour control. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between August 1993 and July 1998, 29 laparoscopic retroperitoneal radical nephrectomies were performed in 17 men and 12 women for renal tumours less than or equal to 90 mm in diameter. The working space was created by finger dissection without using a dilatation balloon. Four additional trocars were inserted under digital control. The renal pedicle was dissected first: the renal artery was clipped and the renal vein was sectioned by EndoGIA. After sectioning the ureter, the kidney was dissected with the perirenal fat and Gerota's fascia. The operative specimen was extracted in an impermeable endoscopy bag, without division, by enlarging the first trocar incision to 50 mm in order to avoid any parietal contact. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 61.3 years (range: 40 to 78 years). Radical nephrectomy was performed on 13 right kidneys and 16 left kidneys, with mean dimensions of 112.9 mm (range: 85 to 150 mm). The mean tumour diameter was 40.2 mm (range: 20 to 90 mm). The mean operating time was 145 min (range: 80 to 330 min) with a mean blood loss of 100 cc (range: 0 to 1000 cc). A mean daily dose of 2.8 g (range: 1 to 5 g) of parenteral paracetamol and a mean daily dose of 1.8 mg (range: 0 to 10 mg) of morphine hydrochloride were necessary postoperatively. The mean hospital stay was 4.8 days (range: 1 to 11 days). One intraoperative haemorrhage required open conversion and one colon injury was treated by temporary colostomy. One local recurrence with hepatic metastasis occurred 9 months after the operation in a patient operated for a Furhman grade II stage pT3 tumour with negative resection margins. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is currently under evaluation. This technique is feasible, and respects the principles of cancer surgery: primary control of renal vessels, en bloc extraction of the kidney with Gerota's fascia.

[Retropubic and perineal approach: plea for perineal radical prostatectomy]. / Voies rétropubienne et périnéale: plaidoyer pour la prostatectomie radicale par voie périnéale.

OBJECTIVES: Two surgical approaches are proposed for radical prostatectomy: the retropubic route and the perineal route. We compared the surgical, oncological and functional aspects of these two approaches and present arguments suggesting that the perineal approach is the preferred approach for radical prostatectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 55 retropubic radical prostatectomies were retrospectively compared to 55 perineal radical prostatectomies and performed between March 1992 to December 1995. The clinical TNM, preoperative PSA, results of 6 systematized intrarectal biopsies, operating time, intraoperative bleeding, number of patients transfused and number of packed cell units per patient transfused, medical and surgical complications, catheterization time and length of hospital stay, incidence of urethrovesical anastomosis leak and stenosis, analysis of the prostatectomy specimen, course of PSA, continence and erection were studied. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed for the retropubic and perineal approaches, respectively: preoperative PSA (24 vs 15 ng/mL), intraoperative bleeding (2664 vs 1071 mL), number of patients transfused (91% vs 28%), number of packed cell units per patient transfused (3.9 vs 2.7), medical and surgical complications (56.9 vs 29.1%), anastomotic leak (24.1 vs 7.2%), anastomotic stenosis (31.5 vs 1.8%), duration of catheterization (18 vs 13 days) and length of hospital stay (14 vs 8 days). At 2 years, PSA remained less than 0.5 ng/mL in both groups. CONCLUSION: Even taking the learning period into account, the perineal approach provides the same results as the retropubic approach in terms of functional and oncological parameters, with a simpler postoperative course for patient.

[The value of prostatic biopsy in tumor mapping]. / Valeur des biopsies prostatiques dans la cartographie tumorale.

OBJECTIVES: Prostatic biopsies, a diagnostic tool, are also used as prognostic elements before radical prostatectomy. Their sites within the prostatic gland constitute one of these prognostic criteria. The authors compared the site of positive prostatic biopsies with that of the tumour after radical prostatectomy in order to study the value of this prognostic factor and the way in which it can be improved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 1988 to 1996, 166 localized prostatic tumours treated by radical prostatectomy were diagnosed by 6 systematized ultrasound-guided transrectal biopsies and 3 supplementary median biopsies performed from the base to the prostatic apex. The site of positive biopsies was compared to that of the tumour within the prostatic gland. RESULTS: Of the 996 sextant biopsies performed, 331 (33%) were positive, i.e. 1.99 biopsies per prostate. 92 (19%) median biopsies were positive. 331 positive sextant biopsies corresponded to a tumour within the prostate with a specificity of 81.5%, a sensitivity of 39.4%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 83.3%, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 36.4% and an accuracy of 52%. For 3 median biopsies, the sensitivity was 70.3%, the specificity was 91.6%, the PPV was 61.9%, the NPV was 94%, and the accuracy was 82%. The weight of the prostate (prostates less than and greater than 45 g), influenced these results, as PPV decreased from 90.8% to 76.1% while NPV increased from 32.9% to 37.8%. CONCLUSION: Negative biopsies in a prostatic zone after 6 randomized biopsies do not exclude the presence of tumour in this zone and cannot be used as a prognostic element before radical prostatectomy for the therapeutic management. The presence of negative biopsies in a prostatic zone must be interpreted by taking the prostatic weight into account. 3 median biopsies are more accurate and less influenced by prostatic weight.

[Improvement over time of oncological results after radical prostatectomy: what are the responsible factors?]. / Amélioration au cours du temps des résultats carcinologiques après prostatectomie radicale: quels en sont les facteurs responsables?

OBJECTIVES: The histological results after radical prostatectomy constitute one of the main prognostic factors. We studied the course of these results over time in order to assess their improvement and to identify the factors responsible. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 175 radical prostatectomies were performed between 1989 and 1996. The preoperative assessment for each patient comprised clinical examination, PSA assay, and histological examination of 6 ultrasound-guided transrectal biopsies. All radical prostatectomy specimens were analysed according to the Stanford technique by the same pathologist: the weight of the prostatectomy specimen, the Gleason score, existence of capsular effraction, seminal vesicle invasion, positive lymph node dissection and the presence of positive surgical margins were studied. The results were studied and compared year by year using Student's test and the Chi-square test. RESULTS: From 1989 to 1996, stages pT1-pT2 increased from 40 to 81.8%, while the positive resection margin rate decreased from 80 to 18.1%. No difference was observed over time for weight and Gleason score. Among the preoperative factors, no difference was observed for age of the patients, number of positive biopsies and Gleason score of these biopsies. Only the mean preoperative PSA level decreased from 52.2 to 12.2 ng/ml (t = 0.0001) and the number of stage T1c tumours increased from 13.3 to 59%. CONCLUSION: The preoperative PSA level is the main factor explaining improvement of the oncological results, especially as the tumours operated between 1988 and 1996 were identical in terms of aggressiveness (Gleason score). This improvement of the results reflects better patient selection, although this selection is performed case by case without exclusive factors.

Genitourinary tuberculosis: rapid diagnosis using the polymerase chain reaction.

We present the case of a patient with suspected genitourinary tuberculosis in whom confirmation by direct smear examination was negative. Detection of mycobacterial DNA by use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) established the diagnosis, which was confirmed by culture 4 weeks later. Given its very high sensitivity and positivity, PCR may become the method of choice for rapid diagnosis of genitourinary tuberculosis and institution of therapy.