Prognostic significance of Fuhrman grade and age for cancer-specific and overall survival in patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma: results of an international multi-institutional study on 2189 patients.

PURPOSE: Because the prognostic impact of the clinical and pathological features on cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma (papRCC) is still controversial, we want to assess the impact of clinicopathological features, including Fuhrman grade and age, on survival in surgically treated papRCC patients in a large multi-institutional series. METHODS: We established a comprehensive multi-institutional database of surgically treated papRCC patients. Histopathological data collected from 2189 patients with papRCC after radical nephrectomy or nephron-sparing surgery were pooled from 18 centres in Europe and North America. OS and CSS probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable competing risks analyses were used to assess the impact of Fuhrman grade (FG1-FG4) and age groups (<50 years, 50-75 years, >75 years) on cancer-specific mortality (CSM). RESULTS: CSS and OS rates for patients were 89 and 81% at 3 years, 86 and 75% at 5 years and 78 and 41% at 10 years after surgery, respectively. CSM differed significantly between FG 3 (hazard ratio [HR] 4.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.17-8.22; p < 0.001) and FG 4 (HR 8.93, 95% CI 4.25-18.79; p < 0.001) in comparison to FG 1. CSM was significantly worse in patients aged >75 (HR 2.85, 95% CI 2.06-3.95; p < 0.001) compared to <50 years. CONCLUSIONS: FG is a strong prognostic factor for CSS in papRCC patients. In addition, patients older than 75 have worse CSM than patients younger than 50 years. These findings should be considered for clinical decision making.

Transurethral resection of prostate: technical progress by bipolar Gyrus plasma-kinetic tissue management system.

AIM: We report our experience about bipolar plasma-kinetic resection of the prostate for the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), considering intraoperative variables and short-term METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-nine patients affected by symptomatic BPH, underwent transurethral resection of prostate using the bipolar plasma-kinetic technique from Decem-ber 2001 to July 2004 in a prospective fashion. Bipolar resections of the prostate were performed using Plasma-Kinetic Tissue Management System (Gyrus Medical Ltd., UK). Preoperative, digital rectal examination, haemoglobin level, total PSA, transrectal ultrasound, International-Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) and uroflowmetry parameters were recorded. Patients were assessed for safety and efficacy, evaluating intraoperative and postoperative complications and measuring both the IPSS and the maximum flow rates (Qmax) after 12 months. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 89 min (range 48-121 min); the mean prostatic resected weight (measured by an electronic scales) was 49.6 g (3267 g). The mean decrease of haemoglobin level was 1.1 g/dL (range 0.5-1.9), with a mean catheterization time of 1.3 days (range 1-5). Qmax increase ranged from 120 to 230% (mean 190%) 12 months after surgery. Correspondingly, IPSS decrease ranged from 48% to 86% (mean 79%). Postoperative acute urinary retention, urethral strictures, bladder neck sclerosis and urinary incontinence were recorded in 1.57%, 2.57%, 1.28% and 0.77%, respective. CONCLUSION: The transurethral resection of prostate using a bipolar plasma-kinetic device represent a safe and effective option for the treatment of symptomatic BPH.

Children with language disorders: natural history and academic success.

Children with developmental language disorders pose specific and unique problems for educators. This article addresses the continuing academic vulnerability of these children during the school years. We advance the position that their academic vulnerability results from the lifelong need to acquire language, to learn with language, and to apply language knowledge for academic learning and social development. Issues are addressed that relate to persistence of language deficits and learning in school.

[Prevalence of monoclonal gammopathies: an experience in Western Sicily]. / Prevalenza delle gammopatie monoclonali: un'esperienza nella Sicilia Occidentale.

Monoclonal gammopathies (GM) are divided into clinically manifest and asymptomatic syndromes. In the last 20 years, the prevalence of GM in industrialized Countries is more than doubled. In order to verify the prevalence of these forms in Western Sicily, at University General Hospital of Palermo an epidemiologic inquiry was made to check the presence of GM as fortuitous event during routine analyses; from March 2000 to March 2001 it was found a prevalence of 0.89% (196 cases on 22100 analysed). Average age was 67.5, with 58.2% men and 41.8% women from different Departments of University General Hospital. The finding of a monoclonal component must be considered an important laboratory datum to observe with time by not invasive laboratory examinations (high-resolution serum-protein electrophoresis and immunofixation).