Nucleobindin 2 expression is an independent prognostic factor for bladder cancer.

Nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2) has been reported to play an important role in both tumorigenesis and cancer progression. This study aimed to examine the clinical significance of NUCB2 expression urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB).The expression level of NUCB2 and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters was analyzed in 225 UCB tissues by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to investigate the correlation between NUCB2 expression and the prognosis of UCB patients. High NUCB2 expression of UCB patients significantly correlated with aggressive clinicopathological features. Patients with high NUCB2 had shorter overall survival and recurrence-free survival in Kaplan-Meier survival curve (P = .018 and P = .001, respectively).Our results show that high expression of NUCB2 associated with aggressive clinicopathological feature and predicted unfavorable prognosis in patients with UCB might serve as feasible biomarker for clinical outcome of UCB patients after surgery and potential therapeutic target in the future.

The role of transurethral resection of the prostate for patients with an elevated prostate-specific antigen.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to define the clinical significance of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated patients with BPH, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS; International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS]≥8), an elevated serum PSA level (≥4 ng/mL), and previous negative transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy. The PSA level after TURP was monitored by long-term follow-up. The tumor detection rate on resected prostate tissue, IPSS, maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual urine (PVR) were analyzed. RESULTS: One-hundred and eighty-six patients were enrolled. Histological examination of resected tissue by TURP revealed prostate cancer in 12 of these patients (6.5%). Among 174 patients without prostate cancer, the mean PSA level and the PSA normalization rate in 112 patients followed up at postoperative day (POD) 3 months were 1.26±0.13 ng/mL and 94.6%, respectively. The mean PSA level and the PSA normalization rate were 1.28±1.01 ng/mL and 95.7% in 47 patients at 1st year, 1.17±0.82 ng/mL and 97.1% in 34 patients at second years, and 1.34±1.44 ng/mL and 97.2% in 36 patients at third years of TURP. One patient showed a dramatic increase in the PSA level was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 7 years after TURP. IPSS, quality of life, Qmax, and PVR were improved significantly at POD 3 months compared to baseline (P<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TURP significantly reduced the serum PSA level, which was maintained for at least 3 years. This could be helpful to screen the prostate cancer using PSA value in the patient with previous negative biopsy and elevated PSA. In addition, TURP improves IPSS, Qmax, and PVR in patients with BPH, moderate LUTS, and an elevated PSA level.

Efficacy of alfuzosin after shock wave lithotripsy for the treatment of ureteral calculi.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy of alfuzosin for the treatment of ureteral calculi less than 10 mm in diameter after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, single-blind clinical trial was performed prospectively by one physician between June 2010 and August 2011. A total of 84 patients with ureteral calculi 5 to 10 mm in diameter were divided into two groups. Alfuzosin 10 mg (once daily) and loxoprofen sodium 68.1 mg (as needed) were prescribed to group 1 (n=41), and loxoprofen sodium 68.1 mg (as needed) only was prescribed to group 2 (n=44). The drug administration began immediately after ESWL and continued until stone expulsion was confirmed up to a maximum of 42 days after the procedure. RESULTS: Thirty-nine of 41 (95.1%) patients in group 1 and 40 of 43 (93.0%) patients in group 2 ultimately passed stones (p=0.96). The number of ESWL sessions was 1.34±0.65 and 1.41±0.85 in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.33). The patients who required analgesics after ESWL were 8 (19.5%) in group 1 and 13 (30.2%) in group 2 (p=0.31). Visual analogue scale pain severity scores were 5.33±1.22 and 6.43±1.36 in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.056). The time to stone expulsion in groups 1 and 2 was 9.5±4.8 days and 14.7±9.8 days, respectively (p=0.005). No significant adverse effects occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The use of alfuzosin in combination with ESWL seems to facilitate stone passage and to reduce the time of stone expulsion but does not affect the stone-free rate.