Anogenital Distance, a Biomarker of Prenatal Androgen Exposure Is Associated With Prostate Cancer Severity.

BACKGROUND: Anogenital distance (AGD), the distance from the centre of the anus to the genitals, is a sexually dimorphic phenotype in mammals. Experimental studies have shown that AGD is a biomarker of prenatal androgen exposure during the masculinisation period of development. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between anogenital distance (AGD), as an indirect marker of prenatal hormonal environment, and prostate cancer (PCa) severity. MATERIALS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a total of 120 PCa patients with confirmed biopsy of the tumour from April 2007 to July 2015. Two variants of the anogenital distance were assessed, from the anus to the posterior base of the scrotum (AGDAS ) and to the cephalad insertion of the penis (AGDAP ). We compared differences in groups to evaluate the association between AGD measurements and severity of the preoperative biopsy and clinical scores. RESULTS: Longer AGDAS was significantly associated with the highest Gleason score (P = 0.015) and D'Amico nomogram (P = 0.048). In contrast, no statistical differences were found in the AGDAP and severity of the preoperative biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a higher prenatal androgen exposure is associated with higher severity of PCa. Prostate 77: 406-411, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Penile paraffinoma after subcutaneous injection of paraffin. Treatment with a two step cutaneous plasty of the penile shaft with scrotal skin.

OBJECTIVE: To report a rare case of penile paraffinoma caused by the subcutaneous or intra-urethral injection of foreign substances containing long-chain saturated hydrocarbons. These were injected in order to increase the penis size which generated a chronic granulomatous inflammatory reaction. This is a rare practice in the western world. METHODS: We present the case of a 32-year-old Bulgarian male who presented with a two-year history of elastic, slightly painful penis swelling after subcutaneous liquid paraffin injection. The proposed treatment was excision of the affected tissue and penile reconstruction in a two-stage procedure. RESULTS: The operative procedure was successful and the patient had good aesthetic and functional results. Paraffin and other materials injected into the penis can produce many complications. Foreign body granuloma, skin necrosis, penile deformity, chronic and unhealed ulcer, painful erection, and the inability to achieve a satisfactory sexual relationship are some of the resulting complications. Intralesional or systemic steroids have been used in primary sclerosing lipogranuloma resulting in the disappearance of the granuloma, but in our opinion the treatment of choice should be radical excision, and, if necessary, secondary reconstruction of the penis. CONCLUSION: The injection of foreign substances to enhance penis size is currently an unjustifiable practice. However, it is still carried out, especially in Eastern Europe and Asia. In most cases surgical treatment is needed to treat the complications and the best modality seems to be radical excision together with follow-up.

Medium-term safety outcomes in patients undergoing tension free vaginal tape obturator for stress urinary incontinence in Murcia, Spain. Historical cohort / Resultados de seguridad a mediano plazo en pacientes intervenidas con el cabestrillo suburetral transobturador dentro-fuera para incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo en Murcia, España. Cohorte histórica

OBJECTIVE: Describe the medium-term safety of the tension free vaginal tape obturator (TVT-O) procedure in terms of complications, cure and changes in quality of life (QoL) after the surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive historical cohort that included women over 18 years of age who underwent TVT-O due to objectively proven stress urinary incontinence, urethral hypermobility or mixed urinary incontinence in which the stress component predominated, confirmed on urodynamic testing between July 2013-April 2017, in a reference hospital located in the city of Murcia Spain. Women with previous anti-incontinence surgery, concomitant vaginal surgery and planning pregnancy were excluded. Follow-up was determined for each patient based on the time elapsed between surgery and the time when the research protocol was applied. Complications were stratified according to the modified Clavien-Dindo classification; also we evaluated subjective cure rate, quality of life using the ICIQ-SF score, before and after surgery. RESULTS: The mean age was 52.6 (SD± 10.5) years and 80.1% of patients were at least overweight. The incidence of complications at 12 months was: 8.3% (12/144). We did not detect complications after this period in the followed patients at 24, 36 and 48 months. The subjective cure determined at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months was 62.5% (90/144), 59.09% (55/88), 50.81% (31/61) and 50% (7/14), respectively. There was a significant improvement in quality of life, as determined by the ICQ-SF mean score before and after surgery (13.76[6,34] vs 3.84[5.76]; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The TVT-O surgery is a safe therapy associated with a low complication incidence at 12 months, an acceptable subjective cure rate in stress urinary incontinence, and quality-of-life improvement. Classifications of complications related to the insertion of the prosthesis and of those inherent to surgery, such as urinary tract infection, are required.

Objetivo: describir la seguridad a mediano plazo del procedimiento con el cabestrillo suburetral transobturador dentro-fuera (en inglés: tension free vaginal tape obturator TVT-O) en términos de: complicaciones, cura y cambios en la calidad de vida después de la cirugía. Materiales y métodos: cohorte histórica descriptiva que incluye mujeres mayores de 18 años intervenidas de TVT-O por incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo (IUE) objetivamente comprobada, hipermovilidad uretral o incontinencia urinaria mixta en la que predominó el componente de esfuerzo, confirmada en prueba urodinámica entre julio del 2013 y abril del 2017 en un hospital de referencia ubicado en la ciudad de Murcia, España. Se excluyeron mujeres con cirugía previa de incontinencia, cirugía vaginal concomitante y planificación del embarazo. El seguimiento se determinó para cada paciente por el tiempo transcurrido desde la cirugía hasta el momento en que se aplicó el protocolo de investigación. Las complicaciones se estratificaron según la clasificación de Dindo-Clavien modificada, además, se evaluaron la tasa de curación subjetiva y la calidad de vida mediante el International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) antes y después de la cirugía. Resultados: la edad media de las pacientes fue de 52,59 (DE±10,46) años, el 80,1 % tenía al menos sobrepeso. La incidencia de complicaciones en los primeros 12 meses fue del 8,3%. No detectamos complicaciones después de este periodo en las pacientes seguidas a 24, 36 y 48 meses. La curación subjetiva determinada a los 12, 24, 36 y 48 meses fue del 62,5% (90/144), 59,09% (55/88), 50,81% (31/61) y 50% (7/14), respectivamente. Hubo una mejoría significativa en la calidad de vida, en términos de puntuación media ICQ-SF antes y después de la cirugía (13,76 [6,34] vs 3,84 [5,76]; p < 0,05). Conclusiones: el TVT-O es una terapia segura, con baja tasa de complicaciones a los 12 meses, aceptable tasa de curación subjetiva de la IUE y una mejora en la calidad de vida. Se necesitan clasificaciones de complicaciones relacionadas con la inserción de la prótesis y que incluyan complicaciones inherentes a la cirugía, como la infección del tracto urinario.

[Study of anogenital distance as a diagnostic tool for prostate cancer]. / Análisis de la distancia anogenital como herramienta diagnóstica del cáncer de próstata.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The distance from the genitals to the anus (anogenital distance [AGD]) reflects androgen concentration during prenatal development in mammals. At the present time, there is only one study suggesting the relationship between AGD and risk of prostate cancer (CaP). The goal of this study was to assess the performance and clinical utility of AGD, as a biomarker of prenatal androgenic milieu, and risk of CaP in a larger population, in CaP diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on 260 men seen in a hospital outpatient clinic where underwent a physical and andrological examination and completed a brief questionnaire. CaP patients were confirmed by biopsy of the tumor. Controls were men without CaP seen in the urology outpatient clinic for routine examinations. Two variants of AGD (from the anus to the posterior base of the scrotum [AGDAS] and to the cephalad insertion of the penis [AGDAP]) were measured. Parametric and non-parametric tests and receiver operating characteristic (COR) analyses were used to determine relationships between AGD and presence of CaP. RESULTS: The highest area under the curve (0.69; 95% CI 0.60 to 0.78 and 0.69; 95% CI 0.61 to 0.77) was obtained for the Gleason=7 subgroup with the AGDAS and AGDAP measurement, with a sensitivity and specificity of 83% and 55%, and 91% and 41%, the predictive positive value of 39% and 35% and negative value of 90% and 93% respectively. CONCLUSION: AGD may be a useful clinical tool for the CaP diagnosis.

[Prostate cancer is associated with the anogenital distance, a biomarker of prenatal androgen milieu.] / El cáncer de próstata está asociado con la distancia anogenital, un biomarcador del ambiente androgénico prenatal.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associationbetween anogenital distance (AGD), as a biomarker ofprenatal androgen milieu, and risk of prostate cancer(PCa). METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on260 men attending a university hospital where theyunderwent physical and andrological examination andcompleted a brief questionnaire. PCa patients were confirmedby biopsy of the tumor. Controls were men withoutPCa attending the urology outpatient clinic for routineexaminations. Two variants of AGD [from the anus to theposterior base of the scrotum (AGDAS) and to the cephaladinsertion of the penis (AGDAP)] were measured.Unconditional multiple logistic regression was used toestimate the association between AGD measurementsand presence of PCa, and Odds Ratios and 95% confidenceintervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Cases showed significantly shorter AGDAPand AGDAS than controls. Subjects with AGDAP andAGDAS in the lowest compared to the upper tertile were2.6 times (95% CI 1.2-5.6) and 3.2 times (95% CI 1.5-6.9) more likely to have PCa, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We found that shorter measurementsof both distances (AGDAS and AGDAP) were associatedwith higher risk of PCa. A previous study reportedsimilar results, showing that longer AGDAP was associatedwith lower risk of PCa, but this relationship was notfound for AGDAS, as it was in our study with a largersample size.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la asociación entre la distancia anogenital (AGD) como biomarcador de la ventana androgénica prenatal y el riesgo de padecer cáncer de próstata (PCa).MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Estudio de casos y controles realizado en 260 pacientes. Todos los pacientes fueron sometidos a examen físico y andrológico y completaron un breve cuestionario. Los pacientes con PCa tenían diagnóstico histológico por biopsia prostática. Los controles fueron varones sin sospecha de PCa que acudieron a la consulta externa de Urología para exámenes rutinarios. Se midieron dos variantes de AGD [del ano a la base posterior del escroto (AGDAS) y del ano a la inserción dorsal del pene (AGDAP)]. Se utilizóanálisis de regresión logística múltiple para estimar la asociación entre las medidas de AGD y la presencia de PCa. Se calcularon Odds Ratios (ORs) e intervalos de confianza (IC) 95%. RESULTADOS: Los casos mostraron unas AGDAP y AGDAS  significativamente más cortas que los controles.Los pacientes con AGDAP y AGDAS en el tercil inferior comparado con los pacientes del tercil superior mostraron 2,6 (IC 95% 1,2-5,6) y 3,2 veces (IC 95% 1,5-6,9) más riesgo, respectivamente, de padecer PCa. CONCLUSIONES: Encontramos que las medidas acortadas de ambas AGDs se asociaron con un mayor riesgo de padecer PCa. Un estudio previo obtuvo resultados similares, mostrando que una AGDAP alargada se asoció con un menor riesgo de padecer PCa, pero noobservó ninguna relación con respecto a la AGDAS, como sí objetivamos en este estudio con un mayor tamaño muestral.

[Relationship between anogenital distance and prognosis of prostate cancer.] / Relación entre distancia anogenital y pronóstico del cáncer de próstata.

OBJECTIVE: Anogenital distance (AGD), the distance from the centre of the anus to the genitals, is a sexually dimorphic phenotype in mammals. Several experimental studies have demonstrated that AGD is a biomarker of prenatal androgen exposure during the masculinisation period of development. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between AGD (as an indirect marker of prenatal hormonal environment) and severity of the surgical specimen and prostate cancer (PCa) prognosis. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a total of 119 PCa patients with confirmed biopsy of the tumour. Every participant underwent a physical examination where two variants of the AGD were assessed, a) from the anus to the cephalad insertion of the penis (AGDAP) and b) to the posterior base of the scrotum (AGDAS). To assess the association between both AGD and severity and PCa prognosis multiple logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: Longer AGDAS was significantly associated with biochemical recurrence and affected margins of the surgical specimen (OR: 2.5; IC 95%:1.2-5.5, and 2.8; IC 95%: 1.1-7.5, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a higher prenatal androgen exposure, resulting in a longer AGD, is associated with worse prognosis of PCa.

Medium-term safety outcomes in patients undergoing tension free vaginal tape obturator for stress urinary incontinence in Murcia, Spain. Historical cohort / Resultados de seguridad a mediano plazo en pacientes intervenidas con el cabestrillo suburetral transobturador dentro-fuera para incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo en Murcia, España. Cohorte histórica

ABSTRACT Objective: Describe the medium-term safety of the tension free vaginal tape obturator (TVT-O) procedure in terms of complications, cure and changes in quality of life (QoL) after the surgery. Materials and methods: Descriptive historical cohort that included women over 18 years of age who underwent TVT-O due to objectively proven stress urinary incontinence, urethral hypermobility or mixed urinary incontinence in which the stress component predominated, confirmed on urodynamic testing between July 2013-April 2017, in a reference hospital located in the city of Murcia Spain. Women with previous anti-incontinence surgery, concomitant vaginal surgery and planning pregnancy were excluded. Follow-up was determined for each patient based on the time elapsed between surgery and the time when the research protocol was applied. Complications were stratified according to the modified Clavien-Dindo classification; also we evaluated subjective cure rate, quality of life using the ICIQ-SF score, before and after surgery. Results: The mean age was 52.6 (SD± 10.5) years and 80.1% of patients were at least overweight. The incidence of complications at 12 months was: 8.3% (12/144). We did not detect complications after this period in the followed patients at 24, 36 and 48 months. The subjective cure determined at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months was 62.5% (90/144), 59.09% (55/88), 50.81% (31/61) and 50% (7/14), respectively. There was a significant improvement in quality of life, as determined by the ICQ-SF mean score before and after surgery (13.76[6,34] vs 3.84[5.76]; p<0.05). Conclusions: The TVT-O surgery is a safe therapy associated with a low complication incidence at 12 months, an acceptable subjective cure rate in stress urinary incontinence, and quality-of-life improvement. Classifications of complications related to the insertion of the prosthesis and of those inherent to surgery, such as urinary tract infection, are required.

RESUMEN Objetivo: describir la seguridad a mediano plazo del procedimiento con el cabestrillo suburetral transobturador dentro-fuera (en inglés: tension free vaginal tape obturator TVT-O) en términos de: complicaciones, cura y cambios en la calidad de vida después de la cirugía. Materiales y métodos: cohorte histórica descriptiva que incluye mujeres mayores de 18 años intervenidas de TVT-O por incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo (IUE) objetivamente comprobada, hipermovilidad uretral o incontinencia urinaria mixta en la que predominó el componente de esfuerzo, confirmada en prueba urodinámica entre julio del 2013 y abril del 2017 en un hospital de referencia ubicado en la ciudad de Murcia, España. Se excluyeron mujeres con cirugía previa de incontinencia, cirugía vaginal concomitante y planificación del embarazo. El seguimiento se determinó para cada paciente por el tiempo transcurrido desde la cirugía hasta el momento en que se aplicó el protocolo de investigación. Las complicaciones se estratificaron según la clasificación de Dindo-Clavien modificada, además, se evaluaron la tasa de curación subjetiva y la calidad de vida mediante el International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) antes y después de la cirugía. Resultados: la edad media de las pacientes fue de 52,59 (DE±10,46) años, el 80,1 % tenía al menos sobrepeso. La incidencia de complicaciones en los primeros 12 meses fue del 8,3%. No detectamos complicaciones después de este periodo en las pacientes seguidas a 24, 36 y 48 meses. La curación subjetiva determinada a los 12, 24, 36 y 48 meses fue del 62,5% (90/144), 59,09% (55/88), 50,81% (31/61) y 50% (7/14), respectivamente. Hubo una mejoría significativa en la calidad de vida, en términos de puntuación media ICQ-SF antes y después de la cirugía (13,76 [6,34] vs 3,84 [5,76]; p < 0,05). Conclusiones: el TVT-O es una terapia segura, con baja tasa de complicaciones a los 12 meses, aceptable tasa de curación subjetiva de la IUE y una mejora en la calidad de vida. Se necesitan clasificaciones de complicaciones relacionadas con la inserción de la prótesis y que incluyan complicaciones inherentes a la cirugía, como la infección del tracto urinario.

Relación entre ratio digital 2D: 4D y severidad preoperatoria del cáncer de próstata / Relationship between Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Preoperative Severity of Prostate Cancer

El cociente entre la longitud del segundo y cuarto dedo (2D:4D) de la mano es un rasgo de dimorfismo sexual, presentando los hombres una ratio menor que las mujeres.1 Varios estudios de cohortes2,3 y un metaanálisis,4 han mostrado que la diferencia de género en la ratio de los dedos se asocia con la exposición de andrógenos prenatales. El cociente 2D:4D está inversamente relacionado a la exposición intrauterina de testosterona (T) y directamente relacionado a la de estradiol.2 Existe evidencia que afirma que la ratio 2D:4D podría ser un marcador válido para los niveles hormonales del adulto (T y estrógeno),3 aunque ese dato es controvertido.4Por esa razón, el cociente 2D:4D seha utilizado como un biomarcador no invasivo y retrospectivo para la exposición prenatal de andrógenos, y se ha correlacionado con una amplia gama de enfermedades como el autismo,5 así como la cognición visoespacial y la orientación sexual.6

The quotient between the length of the second and fourth finger (2D:4D) hand is a trait of sexual dimorphism, featuring the men a lower ratio than women.1 Several studies of the cohorts2,3 and a meta-analysis,4 have shown that the difference between The gender ratio of the fingers is associated with the exposure of prenatal androgens. The quotient 2D:4D is inversely related to intrauterine testosterone (T) exposure and directly related to that of estradiol.2 There is evidence which states that the 2D:4D ratio could be a valid marker for adult hormone levels (T and estrogen),3 although that data is controversial.4 For that reason, the 2D:4D quotient has been used as a noninvasive and retrospective biomarker for prenatal exposure to androgens, and it has been correlated with a wide range of diseases such as autism,5 as well as such as visuospatial cognition and sexual orientation.6