[DOES CHOOSING BETWEEN DUSTING OR FRAGMENTATION DURING LASER LITHOTRIPSY OF URINARY STONES CHANGE THE LONG TERM RESULTS?]

INTRODUCTION: Variations in laser pulse energy and it's frequency during lithotripsy, affect the rate and the method of stone breaking. The main modes of lithotripsy are dusting and fragmentation. AIMS: Comparison between long term results of dusting versus fragmentation, by defining the stone free rate (SFR) for each method and the time period until re-treatment need. METHODS: Clinical and radiological follow-up of 43 patients who underwent laser intervention using dusting or fragmentation. Both groups shared similar demographic features, stone sizes and locations. For each group, the percentage of patients without stones requiring intervention during the follow-up period of 36 months was defined as a success parameter. The incidence of emergency department (ED) admissions and auxiliary interventions were assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were included in the study. No difference in the median period of time to clinically significant stone was seen (p=0.213). No difference was found in SFR between the dusting (83.3%) and the fragmentation (84.6%) groups respectively (p=1.000). No statistically significant difference was shown in ED admissions due to renal colic occurring in 31.6% and 10.5% within dusting and fragmentation groups respectively (p=0.116). CONCLUSIONS: No difference in time period until clinically significant stone appearance was seen. No significant difference in SFR was found between the groups at the long term follow-up. DISCUSSION: It seems that within the dusting group, the ED admission rate could be somewhat higher. However, this impression lacks statistical significance. A long term prospective study with a larger population is needed to confirm these results.

Retrospective Analysis of Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomies Using the Zero Ischemia Technique.

PURPOSE: To report a series of 89 off-clamp laparoscopic partial nephrectomies (LPN) performed without using any additional "nephron sparing" manipulations. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of surgical characteristics, complications, postoperative results, and renal function changes. RESULTS: Between March 2008 and May 2014, 89 LPN using zero ischemia technique were performed. Most of the patients (61.8%) were male. The median age was 62 years (23-88). The mean BMI was 27.5 kg/m2 (20.8-54.2). The median tumor size was 3.0 cm (1.0-8.0). Tumor location was upper, middle, and lower part of the kidney in 33 (37.0%), 42 (47.2%), and 14 (15.7%) of patients, respectively. The median operative time was 154 min (58-289). The median hemoglobin change was -1.6 g/dL (0.5-5.5). The transfusion rate was 7.9%. The mean preoperative glomerular filtration rate was 96.6 mL/min (21.5-180.0) with a mean postoperative decline of 6.52 mL/min. The mean creatinine elevation after LPN was 0.09 mg/dL. The median hospital stay was 6 days (2-24). The intraoperative complications rate was 2.3%. Early postoperative complication rate was 33.7%. Late complications occurred in 6.7%. In 7 cases (7.9%), the surgical margins were microscopically involved by tumor cells. Conversion rate was 3.4%. CONCLUSION: Data obtained in the current series show that laparoscopic partial nephrectomy can be successfully performed without hilar clamping. Our results are comparable with contemporary data. Larger prospective studies would be helpful in assessing the evidence-based advantages of the "zero ischemia" technique.

Limited field noncontrast computerized tomography for followup of ureteral stones: initial results.

PURPOSE: Due to high specificity and sensitivity noncontrast computerized tomography is increasingly used to diagnose and follow patients with ureteral stones. We evaluated the feasibility of limited field noncontrast computerized tomography to follow patients with ureteral stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Included in the study were 71 patients who underwent diagnostic and followup noncontrast computerized tomography due to ureteral stones. According to stone position on the first diagnostic scan a limited field batch from the followup scan was formed and examined by an independent radiologist. Radiation doses and rates of potentially missed findings in the batch were compared to those of the full followup noncontrast scan. RESULTS: Average full followup noncontrast computerized tomography length was 46.5 cm and average batch length was 20.7 and 13.8 cm for proximal and distal stones, respectively. The average full followup noncontrast scan radiation dose was 12.2 mSv. Average batch doses were 6.1 and 4.1 mSv for proximal and distal stones, respectively (p = 0.002), resulting in a radiation exposure reduction of 48.8% for proximal stones and 66% for distal stones. In 3 cases additional clinical information (not including hydronephrosis) was missed when relying only on batch images. This additional information did not impact further urological treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Limited field noncontrast computerized tomography is a feasible option for following patients diagnosed with ureteral stones. It may lead to significantly lower radiation exposure.

Adjuvant methods to improve results of local bladder irrigations by chemotherapy for NMIBC.

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is characterized by frequent recurrences requiring repeated transurethral resections and carries a risk of progression to muscle-invasive disease. The routinely used, passive diffusion irrigation of the bladder with mitomycin C has achieved limited success in avoiding these events. We review two methods that may improve penetration of mitomycin C into the bladder wall, thus leading to better results in terms of recurrence rate and bladder preservation.

Predominant expression of CCL2 at the tumor site of prostate cancer patients directs a selective loss of immunological tolerance to CCL2 that could be amplified in a beneficial manner.

We have previously shown that, during inflammatory autoimmune diseases in humans, the immune system develops a neutralizing auto-Ab-based response to a very limited number of inflammatory mediators, and that amplification of each response could be beneficial for the host. Our working hypothesis has been that this selective breakdown of immunological tolerance is due to a predominant expression of an inflammatory mediator at an immune-restricted site undergoing a destructive process. All three conditions also take place in cancer diseases. In this study, we delineate this hypothesis for the first time in a human cancer disease and then explore its clinical implications. We show that in primary tumor sections of prostate cancer subjects, CCL2 is predominantly expressed at the tumor site over other chemokines that have been associated with tumor development, including: CXCL12, CXCL10, CXCL8, CCL3, and CCL5. Subsequently, the immune response selectivity mounts an Ab-based response to CCL2. These Abs are neutralizing Abs. These findings hold diagnostic and therapeutic implications. The current diagnosis of prostate cancer is based on prostate-specific Ag measurements that do not distinguish benign hypertrophy from malignancy. We show in this study that development of anti-CCL2 Abs is selective to the malignant stage. From a clinically oriented perspective, we show, in an experimental model of the disease, that DNA-based amplification of this response suppresses disease, which has implications for a novel way of therapy in humans.

[Review of Peyronie's disease].

Peyronie's disease may be idiopatic or secondary to sexual intercourse. Medical treatment includes vitamin E, colchicine and tamoxifen, which provide a very limited solution. Lately, intralesional injection of verapamil and other substances have achieved a reasonable effect. The best cosmetic result is achieved by surgery which is recommended at least a year after onset of the problem. Surgery may result in penile shortening.

[Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome].

Acute prostatitis is infrequent and is manifested as a severe systemic infection requiring hospitalization. Some of these cases may result in a chronic infection requiring long-term antibiotic courses. However, chronic non-bacterial prostatitis is much more frequent, and as such, it it is frequently underdiagnosed and maltreated. The symptoms are variant and include pain and discomfort in the pelvic area, perineum, scrotum, penis and pelvis, and are named "Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS)". Antibiotics prescribed are of temporary relief in some of the cases as the disease does not really fit the criteria of an infectious disease. This review deals with these difficulties and describes new and other methods to fight this frustrating syndrome for both patients and urologists.

Collecting system involvement by renal tumor: are CT measurements reliable enough?

OBJECTIVES: Smaller kidney lesions which are more often detected recently by accidental imaging are amenable for nephron sparing approach whether at open surgery, laparoscopy or ablative techniques. The pretreatment planning is based on multiplanner CT expected to well define the relationship of the lesion to the major renal blood vessels and collecting system (CS). This study is aimed to compare the pre-surgical CT measurements of the distance from tumor to CS to the actual distances observed on radical nephrectomy specimens. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Contrast CT of 39 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) underwent measurements of the distance between CS and renal tumor. All measurements were confronted with the measurements performed on radical nephrectomy specimens of the same patients. RESULTS: Of all 39 patients in 34 (87%) CT showed a contact relation between the tumor and the CS. In fact, the CS involvement has been histologically proven only in three (7.6%) cases. Cutting off the measurements at thresholds of 2 and 5 mm also showed a significant discrepancy between CT and specimen measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The trend of NSS and ablative techniques stressed out the importance of pretreatment measurements of the distance between the tumor and the CS. This study as performed on radical nephrectomy specimens points out the overestimated proximity of the tumor to the CS. These data if confirmed by other studies, may play a role while planning the management of NS approaches.

Effects of implant design and surface roughness on crestal bone and soft tissue levels in the esthetic zone.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of implant geometry and collar macrostructure and microstructure on crestal bone height, mobility values, and attachment levels using two different types of radiographic analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects included in this study were those who had single-tooth implants restored in the maxillary esthetic zone. Bone levels were measured from the implant-abutment (IA) interface on standardized radiographs at baseline and after 5 years using digital and standard methods. The digital method converted the radiographs into three-dimensional models based on radiodensity so that bone levels could be measured. Clinical attachment levels and Periotest values were recorded and all data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The bone position from the IA interface for the rough-collar implant group was a mean of -0.61 +/- 0.08 mm and it was -1.55 +/- 0.10 mm for the smooth-collar implant group (-1.96 +/- 0.16 mm for implants with a stepped collar and -0.85 +/- 0.19 mm for implants with a straight collar). The mean bone level change over the 5-year period for the rough implants was -0.19 +/- 0.09 mm and it was -0.36 +/- 0.06 mm for the smooth implants. The crestal bone position relative to the implant at the time of surgery influenced mean bone level changes significantly. There were statistically significant differences in clinical attachment levels depending on implant location and on implant group and length. CONCLUSIONS: Implants with straight collars had less bone loss at the 5-year interval than implants with stepped collars. Bone level changes were greater when the implant was placed further subcrestal. The digitally converted radiographic method was significantly more precise for evaluating changes in bone levels. These findings suggest that implant geometry and implant surface roughness may play a significant role in bone level changes in the esthetic zone.

[Prostatic abscess--diagnosis and treatment].

Prostatic abscess is an uncommon condition, often difficult to discern clinically from acute prostatitis. It results from focal accumulation of pus within the prostate gland. Historically, the common infecting organisms were Neisseria gonorrheae, Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, more recently, gram negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, are causative species. Prostatic abscess mainly affects diabetic and immunosuppressed patients. In the past, transurethral drainage was the first choice for therapy. Today, percutaneous transperineal or transrectal drainage under transrectal sonography is the first choice for therapy because of the low risk of complication. This is a case history of 47-year old male patient who was admitted due to prostatic abscess. On admission he complained of severe dysuria and high fever lasting 10 days after antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infection. On rectal examination the prostate was enlarged and very tender. Both the CT-scan and transrectal ultrasound revealed well defined fluid collection areas compatible with an abscess in the right lobe of the prostate. Under general anesthesia and transrectal ultrasound guidance the abscess was aspirated transperineally. A 12-F drain was left for 6 days with complete remission in clinical and CT findings. Once an abscess of the prostate is diagnosed, anaerobic antimicrobial therapy should be added and transrectal or percutaneous transperineal aspiration and drainage is required. The authors consider the percutaneuos transperineal drainage to be the most effective and safest solution.

Correction: Dissecting the Autocrine and Paracrine Roles of the CCR2-CCL2 Axis in Tumor Survival and Angiogenesis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028305.].

Comparison of Partial and Radical Laparascopic Nephrectomy: Perioperative and Oncologic Outcomes for Clinical T2 Renal Cell Carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Nephron-sparing surgery has emerged as the treatment of choice for small renal masses. However, its role in larger tumors remains controversial. In this study, we compare the outcomes of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) vs those of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for T2 renal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients who had LPN and 16 patients who had LRN for T2 renal tumors were retrospectively analyzed for preoperative factors (age, gender, comorbidities, hemoglobin, and creatinine levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]), operative and perioperative characteristics (tumor characteristics, operative time [OT], warm ischemia time [WIT], estimated blood loss [EBL], length of stay [LOS], and postoperative complications), histopathologic results, and follow-up data (eGFR and recurrences). RESULTS: Tumor size was comparable between groups; however, tumors in the LRN group were more endophytic, central, and closer to the collecting system. There were no cases of positive surgical margins. Median OT was 160 minutes vs 230 minutes (p = 0.0029) and EBL was 25 mL vs 100 mL ([p = 0.0027], LRN vs LPN). Median WIT in the LPN group was 27 minutes, with three zero ischemias. Minor postoperative complications (≤Clavien-Dindo III) were noted in 6.25% and 23% (LRN vs LPN). Median LOS was 4.56 and 5.77 days (LRN vs LPN), respectively. Mean postsurgery eGFR was significantly lower for the LRN group (54.5 cc/[min ·1.73 m2] vs 76.3 cc/[min ·1.73 m2], p = 0.019). Within mean follow-up of 44.5 months, one tumor recurrence in the contra lateral kidney was observed in the LPN group and two cases of metastasis in the LRN group. CONCLUSIONS: We show that LPN is technically feasible for T2 tumors, with acceptable intra- and perioperative outcomes. Furthermore, our results show a significant advantage in preservation of renal function for LPN without compromising oncologic results. Taken together, we believe that LPN should be considered for larger tumors based on technical feasibility rather than only tumor size.

Does the use of ureteral stents with extraction strings increase urinary infection rates?

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of ureteral stents with extraction string on the rate of postoperative UTI after ureteroscopies. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patient records who underwent ureteroscopy from January 2011 to August 2014 was performed. Patients were grouped into three groups according to postoperative stent status: non-stented or ureteral catheter for up to 24 h (NS), ureteral stent without extraction string (US) and ureteral stent with an extraction string (US-E). RESULTS: There were 144, 133 and 282 cases in the NS, US and US-E groups, respectively. Overall infection rate was 4.7%; NS-2.1%, US-3.0% and US-E-6.7% (p = 0.057). Four percentage of men and 6.6% of women had postoperative UTI (p = 0.22). Within the group of men infection rates were 0, 2.4 and 6.4% for the NS, US and US-E groups, respectively (p = 0.01). For women, UTI rates were 7.5, 4.0 and 8.5% in the NS, US and US-E groups, respectively (p = 0.6). Infection rates were 20 and 3.9% (p = 0.001) for patients with extraction strings for >8 and <8 days. In multivariate analysis the presence of an extraction string was found to be a risk factor for infection OR 7.7 (1.01-58.9, 95% CI, p = 0.049) along with renal stone location OR 5.09 (2.1-12.05, 95% CI, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant difference was found between overall infections rates for patients with and without extraction strings, and such difference was found within the male group, suggesting extraction strings in men may increase the risk of infection.

Demonstrative Imaging of Emphysematous Cystitis.

This case report presents an incidental finding of emphysematous cystitis on computed tomography (CT) scan done as part of evaluating abdominal pain in a 78 years old man with a history of metastatic thymus carcinoma.

Molecular analysis of transitional cell carcinoma using cDNA microarray.

The incidence of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), the fourth most common neoplasm diagnosed in men, is rising. Despite the development of several noninvasive diagnostic tests, none have gained full recognition by the clinicians. Gene expression profiling of tumors can identify new molecular markers for early diagnosis and disease follow-up. It also allows the classification of tumors into subclasses assisting in disease diagnosis and prognosis, as well as in treatment selection. In this paper, we employed expression profiling for molecular analysis of TCC. A TCC-derived cDNA microarray was constructed and hybridized with 19 probes from normal urothelium and TCC tissues. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified all normal urothelium samples to be tightly clustered and separated from the TCC samples, with 29 of the genes significantly induced (t-test, P<10(-5)) in noninvasive TCC compared to normal urothelium. The identified genes are involved in epithelial cells' functions, tumorigenesis or apoptosis, and could become molecular tools for noninvasive TCC diagnosis. Principal components analysis of the noninvasive and invasive TCC expression profiles further revealed sets of genes that are specifically induced in different tumor subsets, thus providing molecular fingerprints that expand the information gained from classical staging and grading.

Growth hormone (GH) receptors in prostate cancer: gene expression in human tissues and cell lines and characterization, GH signaling and androgen receptor regulation in LNCaP cells.

Various hormones and growth factors have been implicated in progression of prostate cancer, but their role and the underlying molecular mechanism(s) involved remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of human growth hormone (GH) and its receptor (GHR) in human prostate cancer. We first demonstrated mRNA expression of GHR and of its exon 9-truncated isoform (GHR(tr)) in benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate adenocarcinoma patient tissues, as well as in LNCaP, PC3 and DU145 human prostate cancer cell lines. GHR mRNA levels were 80% higher and GHR(tr) only 25% higher, in the carcinoma tissues than in BPH. Both isoforms were also expressed in LNCaP and PC3 cell lines and somewhat less so in DU145 cells. The LNCaP cell GHR protein was further characterized, on the basis of its M(r) of 120kDa, its binding to two different GHR monoclonal antibodies, its high affinity and purely somatogenic binding to (125)I-hGH and its ability to secrete GH binding protein, all characteristic of a functional GHR. Furthermore, GH induced rapid, time- and dose-dependent signaling events in LNCaP cells, including phosphorylation of JAK2 tyrosine kinase, of GHR itself and of STAT5A (JAK2-STAT5A pathway), of p42/p44 MAPK and of Akt/PKB. No effect of GH (72h) could be shown on basal or androgen-induced LNCaP cell proliferation nor on PSA secretion. Interestingly, however, GH caused a rapid (2-12h) though transient striking increase in immunoreactive androgen receptor (AR) levels (< or =5-fold), followed by a slower (24-48h) reduction (< or = 80%), with only modest parallel changes in serine-phosphorylated AR. In conclusion, the GH-induced activation of signaling pathways, its effects on AR protein in LNCaP cells and the isoform-specific regulation of GHR in prostate cancer patient tissues, suggest that GH, most likely in concert with other hormones and growth factors, may play an important role in progression of human prostate cancer.

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a clinical enigma.

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis is an ill-defined, painful clinical condition that is characterized by various nonspecific symptoms, some of which are related to urination or the male reproductive organs. Urologists diagnose this particular condition when the symptoms are not associated with urinary bacterial growth before and after transrectal prostate massage. In this review, we describe the recommended and optional tests that can be performed in these cases. There is significant overlap between chronic nonbacterial prostatitis and other unexplained pain conditions, raising the question as to whether the prostate is the culprit. The sources and mediators of pain and the psychological aspects of this complex condition are discussed. Treatments consist of traditional antibiotics and α-blockers. Because the pain relief is often temporary, patients seek other solutions. Various therapeutics have been introduced to satisfy the expectations of patients and physicians. We discuss other pain medications, as well as intraprostatic drug injections and shockwave therapy. Importantly, however, not all of these suggestions have been widely accepted by urologists or pain clinics.

A simple method to inject dense plaques of Peyronie's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To present a novel method to increase injection force of medication into very fibrotic and sometimes calcified plaques in patients with Peyronie's disease and try to improve infiltration of the drug inside the plaque. METHODS: We adapted a simple commercial inflation device, commonly used in other surgical fields, to improve injection force. RESULTS: The device was easily used in 8 patients, enabling injections into hard, most resistant plaques, without local or systemic complications. CONCLUSION: A simple technical method to improve the force of an intralesional injection is introduced.