Prospective Evaluation of Chondroitin Sulfate, Heparan Sulfate and Hyaluronic Acid in Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: The present study evaluates chondroitin sulfate (CS) and heparan sulfate (HS) in the urine and hyaluronic acid (HA) in the plasma of patients with prostate cancer before and after treatment compared to a control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasma samples were used for HA dosage and urine for quantification of CS and HS from forty-four cancer patients and fourteen controls. Clinical, laboratory and radiological information were correlated with glycosaminoglycan quantification by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Serum HA was significantly increased in cancer patients (39.68 ± 30.00 ng/ mL) compared to control group (15.04 ± 7.11 ng/mL; p=0.004) and was further increased in high-risk prostate cancer patients when compared to lower risk patients (p = 0.0214). Also, surgically treated individuals had a significant decrease in seric levels of heparan sulfate after surgical treatment, 31.05 ± 21.01 µg/mL (before surgery) and 23.14 ± 11.1 µg/mL (after surgery; p=0.029). There was no difference in the urinary CS and HS between prostate cancer patients and control group. Urinary CS in cancer patients was 27.32 ± 25.99 µg/mg creatinine while in the men unaffected by cancer it was 31.37 ± 28.37 µg/mg creatinine (p=0.4768). Urinary HS was 39.58 ± 32.81 µg/ mg creatinine and 35.29 ± 28.11 µg/mg creatinine, respectively, in cancer patients and control group (p=0.6252). CONCLUSIONS: Serum HA may be a useful biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer. However, urinary CS and HS did not altered in the present evaluation. Further studies are necessary to confirm these preliminary findings.

Video-assisted colonic conduit: a new minimally invasive urinary diversion to patients after pelvic radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To report preliminary results of the first case of video-assisted colonic conduit. A 42-year-old woman had undergone external beam radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and developed a vesicovaginal fistula with small capacity bladder. Intraoperative option for urinary diversion was colonic conduit. METHODS: A 4 trocar transperitoneal approach was chosen and isolation of both ureters was performed. A 5 cm incision between xiphoid and umbilicus was carried out. A 15 cm colonic segment was isolated with linear stapler maintaining blood supply. Intestinal transit was then reconstructed. Leadbetter ureterointestinal anastomoses were performed with ureteral splints. Drainage, colostomy maturation, and closure of incisions were carried out conventionally. RESULTS: Operative time was 195 minutes; blood loss was 90 mL; no intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. Length of hospital stay was 7 days and time to full recovery 3 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Video-assisted colonic conduit is feasible and have promising results concerning reduction of surgical morbidity.

Extensive ureteral stricture after percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To present a previously unreported long term complication of percutaneous nephrolithotomy for exclusive renal stone. METHODS/RESULTS: A 30-years-old woman underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy for a obstructive pelvic stone, through inferior calix access achieving a stone free status. During the procedure occurred an inadvertent pelvis perforation, but the early evolution was otherwise uneventful. Patient was asymptomatic during the follow-up. However, a urinary ultrasound disclosed important pielocalyceal dilation, and further investigation demonstrated extensive proximal ureteral stricture. CONCLUSION: Ureteral stricture may rarely occur as a late complication of percutaneous nephrolithotomy. A review of the literature of this quite uncommon complication was performed and the authors discuss the possible etiology and preventive measures.