The issue of prostate cancer evaluation in men with elevated prostate-specific antigen and chronic prostatitis.

Elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in men may result from a variety of causes, such as prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, acute urinary tract infection, and bacterial prostatitis. In recent years, several studies have also demonstrated a relationship between chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and increased PSA levels. However, asymptomatic patients are not routinely screened for this diagnosis before transrectal biopsy is performed to rule out prostate cancer. These asymptomatic men with elevated PSA levels frequently have evidence of inflammation when their expressed prostatic secretions are examined, or on their prostate biopsy specimens. This raises the problem of appropriate evaluation in the presence of chronic prostatitis and elevated PSA levels--not only in prostate cancer screening programmes, but also in cancer-negative biopsy findings. Evidence from the literature indicates that antimicrobial treatment may lower the PSA levels to what is considered the normal range. Despite that, general recommendations for the practical management are lacking and undetected prostate cancer in men with chronic prostatitis remains a difficult issue.

[Prostatitis--a frequently unrecognized disease]. / Die Prostatitis--eine häufig verkannte Männerkrankheit.

The term "prostatitis" includes several entities ranging from the acute bacterial inflammation of the prostate gland to the chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Since both acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis are clearly defined by the documented detection of microbial agents, a standardised antimicrobial treatment eventually leads to a predictable rate of cure. However, the most common type is the chronic abacterial prostatitis, called "chronic pelvic pain syndrome" (CPPS) which is subdivided into an inflammatory and a noninflammatory form. CPPS affects men of all ages and is the most common urological diagnosis in men younger than 50 years. Chronic prostatitis/CPPS shares features with other chronic pain syndromes, including a poorly understood etiology, low correspondance of symptoms and objective findings, application of various treatments and frequent failure to be alleviated by medical treatment. Due to the intricacy of the syndrome a thorough clinical evaluation is required to define the causes, consequences and optimal management of this important health problem.

[Andropause]. / Andropause.

The terms andropause, partial androgen deficiency of the aging male (PADAM) or late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) describe a clinical entity which has been defined as a syndrome associated with advanced age. This syndrome is characterised by a deficiency in serum testosterone levels that may result in significant alterations in the quality of life and adversely affect the function of multiple organ systems. Whereas in classic primary and secondary hypogonadism, the clinical picture of testosterone deficiency is clearly defined, the clinical diagnosis of PADAM might escape detection for various reasons: not all signs and symptoms necessarily present together; they often progress slowly and are subtle in nature; the non-specific signs and symptoms might not be discernible from the unavoidable process of aging itself. However, PADAM features many potentially serious consequences that can be avoided or treated, and is, therefore, clinically relevant. Testosterone substitution may be an effective way to manage this condition. Once patients begin treatment with testosterone substitution, follow-up and monitoring are essential.

[Tips and tricks for nerve-sparing cystectomy]. / Tipps und Tricks der nerverhaltenden Zystektomie.

The aim of radical cystectomy with subsequent urinary diversion is to combine a safe oncological outcome with a satisfactory lower urinary tract function. Recent findings on the anatomy, physiology and nerve supply of the pelvis have resulted in a modified nerve-sparing cystectomy technique. A number of studies have shown that the oncological outcome is not compromised by such a technique; in particular the rate of local recurrences is not enhanced. Nerve-sparing cystectomy is of importance for the lower urinary tract function, including continence status after orthotopic bladder substitution and erectile function. Prerequisites for a nerve-sparing technique are a profound knowledge on the nerve supply of the pelvic organs and a subtle surgical technique. Recent surgical developments, for example in prostate and seminal vesicle sparing cystectomy techniques, indicate that it will be feasible to restore lower urinary tract and also sexual function after radical cystectomy and orthotopic bladder substitution.

Male accessory gland infection: standardization of inflammatory parameters including cytokines.

Assessment of infection of the male accessory glands is usually based on the search for white blood cells in different specimens to document an inflammatory reaction. This widely used practice allows to establish the diagnosis of inflammation in many cases. However, clinical symptoms do not always correlate with the presence or absence of white blood cells. This is particularly true for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. In the last few years different research efforts have been made to look for markers of inflammation other than elements of the white blood cell line. Several studies suggest that humoral rather than cellular parameters are involved in male accessory gland infections. Substances such as reactive oxygen species, nerve growth factor and cytokines seem to be important not only in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory reaction but may also serve as diagnostic markers to indicate the presence of inflammation.

[Penile angiography and superselective embolization therapy in arterial priapism]. / Penisangiographie und superselektive Embolisationstherapie bei high-flow Priapismus.

PURPOSE: To report feasibility, benefit and complications of penile angiography and superselective penile embolization in arterial priapism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four consecutive patients (aged 28, 29, 40 and 49 years), who underwent penile angiography for arterial priapism (high-flow priapism) within a four-year period, were identified by a keyword search of our radiology information system. One patient had sustained a direct penile trauma (severe blow to the erected penis) and three patients suffered from recurrent spontaneous priapism. All patients had previously undergone corporeal aspiration and noradrenaline injection to achieve detumescence. Two patients had one or several unsuccessful spongiocavernous shunt procedures. RESULTS: In three of the four patients, superselective pudendal and penile angiography demonstrated pathologic arteriocavernous shunting. In two of the three patients, superselective embolization using a coaxial micro-catheter was attempted. In one of the two patients, the cavernous artery became spastic before embolization material was actually injected, inducing immediate and lasting detumescence. In the other patient, unilateral Gelfoam embolization led to immediate detumescence but the priapism recurred 12 hours after the procedure. A subsequent contralateral Gelfoam embolization was successful. Erectile function was preserved in all cases. No procedure-related complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Our experience supports the prevailing opinion found in the current literature that superselective coaxial embolization constitutes the treatment of choice in patients with high-flow priapism. Prognosis is good with high probability of preserving the erectile function.

[Pathophysiology, diagnosis and conservative therapy of non-calcium kidney calculi]. / Pathophysiologie, Diagnostik und konservative Therapie bei nicht-kalziumhaltigen Nierensteinen.

While calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate make up at least 80% of all kidney stones, infection-induced and uric acid stones occur in 10% and 8%, respectively. Although any type of stone may become infected, the term "infection stones" means that stone formation exclusively depends on urease-producing bacteria. The splitting of urea leads to a rise in urinary pH which may induce crystallization of struvite (magnesium-ammonium-phosphate), the major constituent of infection stones, or carbonate apatite. Struvite stones account for the majority of staghorn calculi. They can grow quite large and may fill the entire collecting system. Patients with struvite stones may present with acute flank pain or remain completely asymptomatic. The cure of infection stones requires complete removal of the stone material. For uric acid crystallization and stone formation, low urine pH (below 5.5) is a more important risk factor than increased urinary uric acid excretion. Main causes of low urine pH are tubular disorders (including gout), chronic diarrheal states or severe dehydration. Accordingly, the treatment of uric acid stones consists not only of hydration (urine volume above 2000 ml per day), but mainly of urine alkalinization to pH values between 6.2 and 6.8. Urinary uric acid excretion can be reduced by a low-purine diet as well as--in case of recurrent uric acid stones and/or gout--by allopurinol. Cystinuria is a rare hereditary gene disorders with impaired tubular reabsorption of cystine. Stone formation occurs as a consequence of cystine's relatively low solubility at urine pH levels below 8. Only symptomatic diet and drug treatments are currently available, with urine dilution and urine alkalinization being the most efficient ones. Cystine stones respond poorly to shockwave lithotripsy, so that invasive procedures may regularly be necessary. 2,8-dihydroxy-adenine stones occur as a consequence of an enzyme deficiency that involves purine metabolism. These resulting stones are not visible by fluoroscopy and are therefore often misinterpreted as uric acid stones. Low-purine diet and allopurinol reduce the frequency of stone formation.

[Evaluation of symptoms in men with chronic pelvic pain]. / Symptomevaluation beim chronischen Beckenschmerzsyndrom des Mannes.

According to the National Institutes of Health classification system, chronic non-bacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is subdivided into an inflammatory (category IIIa) and a non-inflammatory (category IIIb) form. The difference is based on the presence or absence of white blood cells in expressed prostatic secretions, urine after prostatic massage, or semen. This is the only criterion which allows a differentiation between the IIIa and IIIb forms. The symptoms, i.e. pain and urinary complaints of various degrees, are thought to be similar in both forms. These symptoms can be assessed with the Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI) and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), which are both available in a validated German translation. One hundred and six patients with CPPS were evaluated with CPSI and IPSS. Urinary symptoms troubled all patients. Men with category IIIa had significantly more urinary symptoms when compared to men with category IIIb. There was no difference between the two groups regarding pain and impact on the quality of life. Although pain is thought to be the hallmark of CPPS, the contribution of urinary troubles to the symptoms must not be underestimated.

[European Association of Urology guidelines on urinary and male genital tract infections]. / Synoptische Leitlinie der sexuell übertragbaren Erkrankungen (STD) mit Primärsymptomen im männlichen Genitale (S1). Leitinien der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Urologie.

Today, the classical bacteria that cause venereal diseases, e.g. gonorrhea, syphilis, chancroid and inguinal granuloma, only account for a small proportion of all known sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Other bacteria and viruses as well as yeasts, protozoa and epizoa must also be regarded as causative organisms of STD. Taken together, all sexually transmitted infections comprise more than 30 relevant STD pathogens. However, not all pathogens that can be sexually transmitted manifest diseases in the genitals and not all infections of the genitals are exclusively sexually transmitted. Concise information and tables summarising the diagnostic and therapeutic management of STDs in the field of urology allow a synoptic overview, and are in agreement with the recent international guidelines of other specialist areas. Special considerations (i.e. HIV infection, pregnancy, infants, allergy) and recommended regimens are presented.

[Urogenital infections in the elderly]. / Urogenitale Infektionen im Alter.

The increasing incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and symptomatic urinary tract infections in the elderly requires a detailed consideration of this problem including age-specific medical and social risk factors. The increasing need for care, age- and gender-related complicating factors such as subvesical obstruction, adnexal infections, and incontinence, and the need for catheterization are predominant. Specific age-related diseases such as diabetes mellitus, pharmacodynamic alterations of antimicrobial substances, and changes in the vaginal colonization make increased demands on therapeutic strategies. Urologic implications resulting from this set of difficulties have not yet been investigated sufficiently and need further evidence-based work-up.

Influence of stent size on the success of antegrade endopyelotomy for primary ureteropelvic junction obstruction: results of 2 consecutive series.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the influence of stent size in 2 consecutive series of unselected patients in whom primary ureteropelvic junction obstruction was managed by antegrade endopyelotomy and stenting with a 14 or 27Fr stent at the level of the incision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antegrade endopyelotomy was performed in 132 patients with primary ureteropelvic junction obstruction. The endopyelotomy was stented for 6 weeks. In 77 patients (group 1) a 14/8.2Fr percutaneous endopyelotomy (Smith) catheter was used. In 55 patients (group 2) a modified 14/8.2Fr Smith catheter was over pulled with a 27Fr wound drain. The wound drain was removed after 2 to 3 weeks and the standard 14/8.2Fr stent remained in place for another 3 to 4 weeks. Success at 6 to 8 weeks, and 6 and 24 months postoperatively was based on clinical evaluation, and excretory urography and/or diuretic renography. Thereafter clinical and ultrasound followup was performed every 2 to 3 years. RESULTS: Preoperatively data on the risk factors of large pyelocaliceal volume and impaired renal function were similar in the 2 groups. The overall success rate was 70% in group 1 at a median followup of 67 months (range 2 to 118) and 94% in group 2 at a median followup of 23 months (range 2 to 52). The early success rate after 6 to 8 weeks in groups 1 and 2 was 83% and 94%, respectively. The long-term success rate after 2 years was 71% and 93%, respectively. Perioperatively and postoperatively the incidence of complications was 16% in group 1 and 24% in group 2. When group 2 complications due to a lack of experience with the new stent were excluded from analysis, the remaining 15% complication rate was comparable to that in group 1. Mean pyelocaliceal volume decreased significantly in each group and remained stable. Split renal function did not change preoperatively to postoperatively with no significant difference in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Stenting an antegrade endopyelotomy with a modified 27Fr instead of a 14Fr catheter seems to increase the early and, even more impressively, the long-term success rate to a level similar to that of open pyeloplasty.

[Etiopathogenesis of prostatitis]]. / Atiopathogenese der Prostatitis.

The first step in adopting a practical approach to the management of patients with prostatitis lies in the realization that the etiology of the symptoms often remains unclear and the traditional etiologically based classification system is part of the problem and not the solution. This problem was recognized in 1995 by the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference on prostatitis. It was suggested that the classification of this disease be changed. The traditional categories "chronic nonbacterial prostatitis" and "prostatodynia" were replaced by the new category "chronic pelvic pain syndrome." The introduction of the term "syndrome" reflects two issues: despite lack of evidence for bacterial involvement based on conventional methods, nonbacterial prostatitis may indeed still be an infectious disease, and the etiology of the symptoms may be caused by a disorder not related to the prostate gland alone.

Determinants of urinary excretion of Tamm-Horsfall protein in non-selected kidney stone formers and healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to measure urinary excretion of Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP), an important inhibitor of crystallization, and to identify possible determinants of urinary THP excretion in non-selected kidney stone formers (SF) and healthy subjects (C). METHODS: By means of a commercially available ELISA (Pharmacia and Upjohn/Elias, Germany), we measured THP in 24-h urines of 104 SF (74 males/30 females, age 16-74 years) who had formed 8.7+/-2.4 stones (range 1-240), and of 71 C (41 males/30 females, age 22-62 years). Types of stones formed by SF were 88 calcium, eight uric acid, six infection, and two cystine. All values are means+/-SE. RESULTS: The normal range (5th to 95th percentile) of U(THP)xV was 9.3-35.0 mg/day in males and 9.0-36.3 mg/day in females respectively. Mean U(THP)xV was 21.3+/-1.2 mg/day (range 3. 4-51.6) in male and 15.2+/-1.6 mg/day (range 1.8-32.3) in female SF (P=0.008 vs male SF). Since U(THP)xV was positively correlated with C(Crea) (r=0.312, P=0.001) in SF as well as with U(Crea)xV (r=0.346, P=0.0001) and with body surface (r=0.271, P=0.0003) in all study subjects, mean THP/Crea (mg/mmol) was used for all further calculations. Overall, THP/Crea was lower in SF (1.42+/-0.07 vs 1. 68+/-0.08, P:=0.015), mainly due to increased THP/Crea in female C (2.08+/-0.11, P=0.0036 vs female SF, P=0.0001 vs male C and vs male calcium SF), which also explains decreased THP/Crea values in calcium SF (1.46+/-0.08, P=0.041 vs C). In addition, THP/Crea was reduced in uric acid SF (1.11+/-0.21, P=0.049 vs C). Whereas THP/Crea was not related to age, urine volume, intake of dairy calcium, or urinary markers of protein intake, either in C or in SF, it correlated significantly with urinary Citrate/Crea, both in C (r=0.523, P=0.0001) and in SF (r=0.221, P=0.025). In C only, but not in SF, THP/Crea was correlated with urinary Calcium/Crea (r=0. 572, P=0.0001) and with Oxalate/Crea (r=0.274, P=0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Both in C and SF, urinary THP excretion is related to body size, renal function and urinary citrate excretion, whereas dietary habits apparently do not affect THP excretion. Uric acid and calcium stone formation predict reduced THP excretion in comparison with C, whereas female gender goes along with increased urinary THP excretion in C. Possibly most relevant to kidney stone formation is the fact that THP excretion rises only in C in response to increasing urinary calcium and oxalate concentrations, whereas this self-protective mechanism appears to be missing in SF.

Evaluation of the cytokines interleukin 8 and epithelial neutrophil activating peptide 78 as indicators of inflammation in prostatic secretions.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is a disorder characterized by pelvic pain and varying degrees of inflammation exhibited in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS). To provide objective parameters of inflammation, we measured the cytokines interleukin 8 (IL-8) and epithelial neutrophil activating peptide 78 (ENA-78) in EPS of healthy men, men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), men with bacterial prostatitis (BP), and men with chronic prostatitis/CPPS. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of the EPS for IL-8 and ENA-78 were done in 63 men: control (n = 9), BPH (n = 6), BP (n = 3), inflammatory CPPS (National Institutes of Health [NIH] category IIIa) (n = 17), noninflammatory CPPS (NIH category IIIb) (n = 17), and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis (NIH category IV) (n = 11). RESULTS: IL-8 was detectable in all patients, and ENA-78 was detectable in all except 2 patients (threshold of detection 10 pg/mL for IL-8, 15 pg/mL for ENA-78). Mean levels of IL-8 [ENA-78] were similar in control (3010 pg/mL [423 pg/mL]), BPH (3341 pg/mL [98 pg/mL]), and IIIb (2751 pg/mL [335 pg/mL]) groups. Both cytokine levels were higher in BP (11,175 pg/mL [13,761 pg/mL]), IIIa (10,418 pg/mL [2240 pg/mL]), and IV (8571 pg/mL [1865 pg/mL]) groups. A statistically significant difference between the control group versus BP, IIIa, and IV (P <0.05) groups was found for IL-8 but not for ENA-78. CONCLUSIONS: IL-8 and ENA-78 are frequently elevated in the EPS of men with BP, CPPS IIIa, and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis category IV. These cytokines are direct mediators of leukocyte accumulation and activation at inflammatory sites and may be responsible, in part, for the presence of inflammatory reaction in the prostate.

Evaluation of the bacterial flora of the prostate using a 16S rRNA gene based polymerase chain reaction.

PURPOSE: The role of bacteria in the chronic pelvic pain syndrome (nonbacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia) is controversial and difficult to assess because the bacterial flora of the prostate is not well defined. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly sensitive molecular method of bacterial detection. It confirms the sterility of tissue with a high level of confidence and detects small numbers of microbial agents that may represent pathogens. We performed PCR to determine bacterial colonization of the prostate in presumably healthy men and in those undergoing simple or radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 28 prostate samples from 18 organ donors from whom prostate tissue was obtained under sterile surgical conditions at organ withdrawal, 14 sterile surgical prostate specimens from 7 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer who previously underwent transrectal biopsy and 6 sterile surgical specimens from 2 men who underwent simple prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), including 1 with an indwelling catheter for several weeks. For PCR we used 2 sets of primers to detect bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences. Normal prostate tissue seeded in vitro with known numbers of Escherichia coli was used to assess the sensitivity of PCR. RESULTS: Only 3 of the 28 organ donor samples had histological signs of minimal inflammation and all other samples appeared to be normal without evidence of inflammatory reaction. All of these samples were PCR negative. Of several PCR control reactions the mixture of prostate tissue seeded with known numbers of E. coli demonstrated the high sensitivity of the assay, allowing the detection of as few as 6 bacteria in the presence of 25 mg. of prostate tissue. A focal and heterogeneous distribution of inflammation and infection was noted in the 14 radical prostatectomy specimens. In the prostate cancer and BPH groups there was a strong association of inflammation with positive PCR findings. Of 11 samples 3 without but all 9 with inflammation were PCR positive. CONCLUSIONS: PCR is a highly sensitive method for detecting bacteria in the prostate. In our study negative PCR reactions in the prostate tissue of apparently healthy men made the presence of normal bacterial flora in the prostate extremely unlikely. The presence of bacteria and/or inflammation in radical prostatectomy specimens was found to be a localized process. Concordance between inflammation and positive PCR results in simple and radical prostatectomy specimens suggests that bacteria may frequently have a role in histologically inflammatory prostatitis.

[Transurethral resection of the prostate with the Holmium contact laser. Progress in treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy?]. / Transurethrale Resektion der Prostata mit dem Holmium-Kontaktlaser. Ein Fortschritt in der Behandlung der BPH?

After the initial enthusiasm subsided lasercoagulation of the prostate has been criticized because the extent of tissue destruction cannot be controlled and many patients may be expected to have significant postoperative obstructive as well as irritative voiding symptoms which may last for weeks. Thanks to new laservaporization techniques these disadvantages have been largely eliminated. With the Holmium laser a real resection of prostatic tissue is possible allowing the surgeon to see the prostatectomy defect immediately and to assess tissue destruction during the operation ("what you see is what you get"). The postoperative voiding disturbances are diminished and comparable to those after TUR-P. At the Department of Urology of the University of Berne 116 patients were treated with the Holmium laser for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). During the initial learning period 12 patients required a secondary TUR-P due to persistent obstruction and in 12 patients a combined laser/conventional resection was performed due to underestimated prostate size. 5 patients were lost to follow-up. In the remaining 87 patients the median duration of catheterization was 2 days. 10/87 patients required postoperative treatment for urinary tract infection. There were no significant perioperative decreases in hemoglobin and no cases of TUR syndrome. 66 patients have been followed for 6 months and 30 patients have been followed for 12 months. The maximum urinary flow improved from 7 ml/s preoperatively to 15 ml/s at 6 months and 14 ml/s at 12 months. The volume of residual urine decreased from a median of 120 ml preoperatively to 24 ml at 6 and 12 months. The IPSS decreased from a median of 20 preoperatively to 3 at 6 and 12 months. In 50 patients followed with pressure-flow study pre- and 6 months postoperatively detrusor pressure at maximum flow decreased from 90 cm H2O to 55 cm H2O and linear PURR sank from 2.06 to 0.6. Taking into account the initial learning curve, transurethral Holmium laser resection of the prostate is a promising method of treatment for BPH as shown by the increase in urinary flow and decrease in detrusor pressure. Although it does not yet rank equally with TUR-P, it is a less invasive alternative providing efficient, safe and almost bloodless' treatment of BPH.

Urinary tract infection: a moving target.

Urinary tract infection is an old problem that continues to present new challenges. The purpose of this special edition is to pull together new basic scientific information regarding the pathogenesis of infection and to review the state of the art in the evaluation and treatment of urinary tract infection in some of the more complex or challenging clinical settings. The goal has been more than a summarization of current knowledge; the intent has been to highlight areas of uncertainty, thereby emphasizing the need for further investigation. Herein we briefly mention four clinical settings for urinary tract infection that, in our opinion, present important new or evolving challenges and are particularly fertile areas for further work.