[Castleman's disease in the rheumatological practice]. / Morbus Castleman in der rheumatologischen Praxis.

The term Castleman's disease encompasses a group of rare lymphoproliferative diseases that show histopathological similarities in lymph node biopsy. Diagnostic criteria and a specific ICD-10 code have been available for a few years. Case studies listed at the beginning illustrate that close cooperation between clinicians and pathologists is required to enable a reliable diagnosis. For an optimal histopathological assessment, the pathologist is also dependent on the removal of a complete lymph node. Before distinguishing a potentially fatal multicentric idiopathic Castleman's disease from the resectable unicentric form, which is important in terms of prognosis and treatment, early diagnosis presupposes that Castleman's disease is considered in the differential diagnosis. Various immune phenomena and overlaps with autoimmune diseases can increase the probability of misdiagnosis or undetected cases in the clinical routine of rheumatologists. The intention of the present overview is therefore to point out the similarities with autoimmune diseases that are relevant for differential diagnoses and to point out situations that justify a review of the previous diagnosis.

European Association of Urology biochemical recurrence risk groups after radical prostatectomy: External validation and identification of independent risk factors for progression and death.

BACKGROUND: The EAU proposed a progression and death risk classification in patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (PR). OBJECTIVE: To validate the EAU BCR-risk classification in our setting and to find factors related to progression and death. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective, observational study including 2140 patients underwent RP between 2011 and 2015. Patients with BCR were identified and stratified in low risk (PSA-DT >1yr and pGS <8) or high-risk (PSA-DT ≤1yr or pGS ≥8) grouping. PSA and metastatic free survival (PSA-PFS, MFS), cancer specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated (Kaplan Meier curves and log-rank test). Independent risk factors were identified (Cox regression). RESULTS: 427 patients experienced BCR (32.3% low-risk and 67.7% high-risk). Median PSA-PFS was 135,0 mo (95% CI 129,63-140,94) and 115,0 mo (95% CI 104,02-125,98) (p<0,001), for low and high-risk groups, respectively. There were also significant differences in MFS and OS. The EAU BCR risk grouping was independent factor for PSA-progression (HR 2.55, p 0.009). Time from PR to BCR, was an independent factor for metastasis onset (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.18-0.99; p 0.044) and death (HR 0.17, 95% CI 0.26.0.96; 23 p 0.048). Differences in MFS (p 0.001) and CSS (p 0.004) were found for <12, ≥12-<36 and ≥36 months from PR to BCR. Others independent factors were early salvage radiotherapy and PSA at BCR. CONCLUSIONS: High-risk group is a prognostic factor for biochemical progression, but it has a limited accuracy on MP and death in our setting. The inclusion of other factors could increase its predictive power.

The MCP2 and the wrist plus two extensor compartments are the most affected and responsive joints/tendons out of the US7 score in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-an observational study.

BACKGROUND: There is no international consensus on an optimal ultrasound score for monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on patient-level yet. Our aim was to reassess the US7 score for the identification of the most frequently pathologic and responsive joint/tendon regions, to optimize it and contribute to an international consensus. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate the impact of disease duration on the performance of the score. METHODS: RA patients were assessed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of starting/changing DMARD therapy by the US7 score in greyscale (GS) and power Doppler (PD). The frequency of pathologic joint/tendon regions and their responsiveness to therapy were analyzed by Friedman test and Cochrane-Q test respectively, including the comparison of palmar vs. dorsal regions (chi-square test). The responsiveness of different reduced scores and the amount of information retained from the original US7 score were assessed by standardized response means (SRM)/linear regression. Analyses were also performed separately for early and established RA. RESULTS: A total of 435 patients (N = 138 early RA) were included (56.5 (SD 13.1) years old, 8.2 (9.1) years disease duration, 80% female). The dorsal wrist, palmar MCP2, extensor digitorum communis (EDC) and carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendons were most frequently affected by GS/PD synovitis/tenosynovitis (wrist: 45%/43%; MCP2: 35%/28%; EDC: 30%/11% and ECU: 25%/11%) and significantly changed within 6 months of therapy (all p ≤0.003 by GS/PD). The dorsal vs. palmar side of the wrist by GS/PD (p < 0.001) and the palmar side of the finger joints by PD (p < 0.001) were more frequently pathologic. The reduced US7 score (GS/PD: palmar MCP2, dorsal wrist, EDC and ECU, only PD: dorsal MCP2) showed therapy response (SRM 0.433) after 6 months and retained 76% of the full US7 score's information. No major differences between the groups of early and established RA could be detected. CONCLUSIONS: The wrist, MCP2, EDC, and ECU tendons were most frequently pathologic and responsive to therapy in both early and established RA and should therefore be included in a comprehensive score for monitoring RA patients on patient-level.

Monitoring of patients with rheumatoid arthritis by indocyanine green (ICG)-enhanced fluorescence optical imaging treated with anti-TNFα therapy.

BACKGROUND: Fluorescence optical imaging (FOI) enables visualisation of inflammation in both hands in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of FOI in treatment monitoring under anti-TNFα therapy with certolizumab pegol (CZP) in patients with RA in comparison to clinical and laboratory outcome parameters. METHODS: CZP-naïve patients with RA were eligible for this open-label study with an observational period of 52 weeks. Disease activity was monitored by the clinical score DAS28, tender/swollen joint count (TJC-28/SJC-28) and laboratory outcomes for systemic inflammation (CRP and ESR). FOI results were analysed in three different phases (P1-3) and PrimaVistaMode (PVM) by the FOI activity score (FOIAS). RESULTS: Twenty-eight RA patients (median age 52.5 years, 26 females, thirteen with a history of other biologic therapy) were included. DAS28 (CRP) decreased from moderate disease activity at baseline (median 4.6, IQR 1.8) to low disease activity at week (w)52 (median 2.7, IQR 2.1; p < 0.001). Statistically significant decreases could also be demonstrated for SJC-28 and TJC-28. CRP/ESR were reduced numerically from baseline to w52. FOIAS in P1 (early phase) showed a continuous decrease of enhancement during the course of treatment period: from baseline (median 1.5, IQR 9.3) over w6 (median 1.0, IQR 3.0; p = 0.069), w12 (median 0.5, IQR 3.0; p = 0.171), w24 (n = 27, median 0.0, IQR 3.0; p = 0.004), until w52 (n = 18, median 0.0, IQR 2.8; p = 0.091), which could not be presented for FOIAS in P2, P3 and PVM. CONCLUSION: FOI in P1 appears to be a valuable tool for fast and easy monitoring of treatment response to certolizumab in a clinical setting.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with metachronous oligorecurrent prostate cancer: A single-center experience.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Metachronous oligorecurrence in prostate cancer (PCa) occurs in patients with localized disease who, after failed radical treatment, develop oligometastases. Metastasis-directed stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) aims to delay androgen deprivation therapy. In this study, we report our experience to elucidate the role of SBRT in a selected population of patients with metachronous oligorecurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients treated with SBRT for oligorecurrent PCa between November 2015 and December 2020. We detailed clinicopathological characteristics at disease onset (age, PSA, stage, primary treatment), clinical scenario at diagnosis of oligorecurrence (PSA, PSA velocity, metastases characteristics), progression-free survival, castration resistance-free survival, dose, and toxicity of SBRT. RESULTS: Thirty-eight SBRT treatments were applied to 13 lymph node and 25 bone metastases in a total of 28 patients. After a follow-up of 34.57 months (21.17-57.59), 17 patients had radiological progression of the disease and 11 presented castration resistant PCa. PFS and CRFS were 21.93 and 44.13 months, respectively. Only 2 patients presented grade 1 toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with metachronous oligorecurrent PCa, SBRT constitutes a safe and effective treatment that allows delaying the onset of androgen deprivation therapy and the time to castration resistance, assuming low levels of toxicity.

Does active surveillance avoid overtreatment in prostate cancer? Lessons learned from salvage radical prostatectomies.

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether our institution´s active surveillance (AS) protocol is a suitable strategy to minimise prostate cancer overtreatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 516 patients on AS after prostate cancer diagnosis. Population divided into "per-protocol" vs "induced" AS depending on fulfilment of protocol´s inclusion criteria. Radical prostatectomies after AS were selected and stratified based on: reclassification, progression or patient anxiety. Clinicopathological features and biochemical relapse-free survival were studied. Primary endpoint was overtreatment ratio based on the presence of insignificant prostate cancer and adverse pathological features in the surgical specimen. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate the biochemical relapse-free survival and compared with log-rank test. RESULTS: 304 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria; 100 proceeded to radical prostatectomy (31% "induced", 69% "per-protocol" AS). Surgery indications were reclassification, progression and anxiety in 66%, 18% and 16% of patients respectively. Rate of positive lymph nodes was higher in the progression group (11%) compared to reclassification and anxiety (5% and 0% respectively, P = .002). Positive surgical margins were more frequently reported in the progression cohort compared to reclassification (28% vs 20%). Median follow-up from diagnosis until last radical prostatectomy was 48.3 months (32.4-70). 3 year biochemical relapse-free survival in the salvage radical prostatectomy was 85.4% (95 CI 78.3-93.2). Insignificant cancer was noticed in 7% of patients (Epstein´s vs 24% Wolters´ criteria). Rate of patients with adverse pathological features was 36%. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients who underwent salvage surgery after AS were not overtreated. Radical prostatectomy should be considered a safe rescue treatment.

Pregnancy outcome in women with different rheumatic diseases: a retrospective analysis.

Objective: Pregnancy may influence the course of inflammatory rheumatic diseases and, conversely, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) can affect the outcome of pregnancy. This study aimed to retrospectively analyse the outcome of pregnancy and disease in women with RMDs.Method: Subjects were patients with high-risk pregnancy and connective tissue diseases (CTDs) or inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) managed at a specialized rheumatology outpatient clinic from 2007 to 2014. Data from conception to 6 months postpartum were collected from medical records and a questionnaire, and analysed regarding clinical symptoms, medications, pregnancy complications, birth outcomes, and infant development. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare the groups (CTD vs IJD).Results: The eligible 66 pregnancies in 57 RMD patients were divided into two groups by RMD type: CTD (n = 48) or IJD (n = 18). The live birth rate was 97% overall. Pregnancy complications (excluding two twin pregnancies) were incurred in 39.1%: miscarriage (n = 2), premature delivery (n = 12), small-for-gestational-age infants (n = 5), and/or pregnancy-related diseases (n = 14). Three children born to women with CTDs had affected development (autism spectrum disorder, congenital heart disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia). CTD infants had a significantly lower mean gestational age (in weeks) (p = 0.042), weight (p = 0.009), and length (p = 0.016) at birth than IJD infants.Conclusion: Although the live birth rate was high, complications occurred in 39.1% of pregnancies in this cohort. Therefore, interdisciplinary management of pregnant women with RMDs at specialized clinics is strongly recommended.

The relationship between inguinal hernia and minimally-invasive surgery for prostate cancer: A systematic review of the literature. / La relación entre hernia inguinal y cirugía mínimamente invasiva para el cáncer de próstata: revisión sistemática de la literatura.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to perform a systematic review about the relationship between inguinal hernia and surgery for prostate cancer. BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of abdominal wall defects and prostate cancer may be either synchronous or metachronous. The convenience and safety of combined prostatectomy and hernioplasty, the incidence of hernias after prostatectomy and the feasibility of prostatectomy in patients with previous laparoscopic hernioplasty are still debated. METHODS: PubMed and Embase were queried by dedicated search strings. Two researchers independently reviewed the pooled references and selected the articles of interest, including reviews. RESULTS: Sixty-five studies were evaluated, 22 of them analysed the feasibility and the outcomes of a combined surgery, namely one-stage radical prostatectomy and herniorrhaphy or hernioplasty. Literature evidences support the combined intervention to patients suffering from an inguinal hernia and a prostate cancer amenable of radical prostatectomy. Sixteen studies addressing the potential increase in the occurrence of inguinal hernia after radical prostatectomy were evaluated. Approximately 15% of patients who undergo retro-pubic radical prostatectomy will develop inguinal hernia. It is suggested that the incidence might be lower in laparoscopic prostatectomy series, particularly in case of transperitoneal approach. The median time to the appearance of the hernia is around 6 months. After evaluation of 14 studies, it is concluded that laparoscopic hernioplasty does not preclude prostatectomy but hinders further pelvic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: One-stage combined hernioplasty and radical prostatectomy may be accepted except in cases of lymph-nodes dissection and/or positive hydro-distress test of the urethro-vesical anastomosis. Accurate patient's counselling and dedicated consent form are mandatory, in the setting of an experienced multidisciplinary team.

Undetectable PSA after radical prostatectomy is more likely in low burden N+ prostate cancer patients when an extended lymph node dissection is performed. / Frecuencia de PSA indetectable en pacientes con cáncer de próstata N+ baja carga tras prostatectomía radical y linfadenectomía ampliada.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the likelihood of undetectable PSA (< 0.01 ng/mL) after extended (ePLND) versus standard pelvic lymph-nodes dissection (sPLND) in pN+ patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional prospectively maintained Prostate Cancer Database was queried for patients who underwent radical prostatectomy with PLND and were found with 3or less lymph-nodal metastases between 2007 and 2017. The extension of the PLND was defined according to the number of lymph-nodes (LN) removed. Patients in the 75th or higher percentile of lymph-nodes removed were considered as the ePLND group; patients in the 25th or lower percentile in the sPLND group. Groups were compared in clinical and pathological variables. Student T-test was used for comparing continuous variables; chi-square test was used for categorical variables. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the probability of undetectable PSA at 3rd month postoperatively. Kaplan-Meier method estimated the probability of biochemical recurrence. Differences between the groups were compared by Log-rank test. RESULTS: 1478 patients were treated within the time span considered. 95 with 1 to 3 lymph-nodal metastases were extracted. After accounting for inclusion criteria, 23 patients with a median of 11 LN removed were included in the sPLND group (25th percentile); 23 patients with > 27 LN were included in ePLND group (75th percentile). Surgical time was longer for ePLND. Sixteen patients (69.6%) who underwent ePLND had undetectable PSA postoperatively. At multivariable analysis, the probability of undetectable PSA at 3rd month was higher in patients who received an ePLND (HR=5.18; IC 95%=1.16-23.11; P=.03). CONCLUSIONS: ePLND is more likely to predict undetectable PSA at third month after radical prostatectomy, irrespective of disease characteristics.

Association between baseline clinical and imaging findings and the development of digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) can lead to ischemic complications such as digital ulcers (DUs). The aim of the study was to find predictors of DUs by clinical and new imaging methods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All 79 SSc patients included in the study received a clinical, colour Doppler ultrasound (CDUS), fluorescence optical imaging (FOI) and capillaroscopy examination at baseline, and their capacity to predict new DU development was analysed in 76 patients at 12 months follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 76 patients (28.9%) developed new ulcers during follow-up (diffuse SSc 48.1%; limited SSc 18.4%). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.7576 for DU development, with a specificity of 87% and a sensitivity of 54.6% (p = 0.0003, OR = 8.1 [95%CI 2.5-25.6]) at a cut-off of ≥ 21 points (ACR/EULAR classification criteria for SSc). Capillaroscopy and CDUS had high sensitivity (100% and 95.5%) but low specificity (28.9% and 22.2%) for ulcer occurrence when used alone, but better specificity (46.3%) when combined (OR = 18.1 [95%CI 2.3-144.4]; p = 0.0004). Using FOI, fingers with pathologic staining had a higher risk for new ulcer development in the same finger (p = 0.0153). General future DU (i.e. DU also in other fingers) was associated with a missing FOI signal in the right digit III at baseline (p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: New imaging modalities can predict digital ulcer development in SSc patients with high sensitivity for capillaroscopy and CDUS and enhanced specificity when combined. A missing signal of FOI in the right digit III at baseline was associated with general future DU.

Long-term oncological results of treatment for high-risk prostate cancer using radical prostatectomy in a cancer hospital. / Resultados oncológicos a largo plazo del tratamiento cáncer de próstata de alto riesgo mediante prostatectomía radical en un hospital oncológico.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the most relevant oncologic results of treatment using radical prostatectomy (RP) for high-risk prostate cancer (HRPC) in a specialist cancer hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive retrospective study of RP was conducted at our centre from 1986 to 2017 on HRPC whose primary objective was to determine overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The study's secondary objectives were to determine biochemical progression-free survival (BPFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), rescue therapy-free survival (RTFS), hormone therapy-free survival (HTFS) and the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer. We performed a Cox regression analysis to establish predictive models and to better understand the weight of each variable that defines high risk. RESULTS: A total of 2093 RPs were performed, 480 (22.9%) of which were for HRPC. The median follow-up for the overall series was 79.57 months (P25-75 37.92-135.16). Lymphadenectomy was not performed in 6.5% of the cases. The lymphadenectomy was of the obturator type in 51.2% of the cases and extended in 42.3%. Overall survival at 5, 10 and 15 years was 89.8% (95% CI 86.7-92.9%), 73.3% (95% CI 68-78.6%) and 51.4% (95% CI 43.8-59%), respectively. CSS at 5, 10 and 15 years was 94.8% (95% CI 92.4-97.2%), 84.0% (95% CI 79.3-88.7%) and 75.5% (95% CI 68.8-82.2%), respectively. MFS at 5, 10 and 15 years was 87.4% (95% CI 84.1-90.7%), 72.2% (95% CI 66.7-77.7%) and 61.7% (95% CI 54.3-69.1%), respectively. A total of 120 patients of 477 analysed (25.1%) required rescue radiation therapy, and 293/477 never required hormone therapy (61.4%). Of the 93 pN1 patients, 33 (35.5%) did not require hormone therapy. The time from RP to biochemical progression was the variable with the greatest prognostic weight for MFS, CSS and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: RP plus extended lymphadenectomy should be the first therapeutic manoeuvre when feasible within a multimodal strategy. A longer follow-up of the series is needed to validate the hypothesis of better oncologic results based on the earlier implementation of rescue radiation therapy, extended lymphadenectomy and drugs that prolong survival in the CRPC phase.

Radiation therapy for oligorecurrence in prostate cancer. Preliminary results of our centre. / Radioterapia para la oligorrecurrencia en cáncer de próstata. Resultados preliminares en nuestro centro.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: There is growing interest in the use of more aggressive therapeutic modalities for treating metastatic prostate cancer. In this study, we examine the use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for patients with oligorecurrent prostate cancer. We analysed the biochemical response and toxicity of patients who underwent this therapy at our centre. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We selected patients who experienced oligorecurrence between January 2015 to December 2016 and were administered SBRT. The association of androgen deprivation (AD) was left in each case to the decision of the tumour committee. We describe the clinical situation at diagnosis of oligorecurrence, the treatment administered and the biochemical response. We considered a biochemical response to be a 50% reduction in the absolute prostate-specific antigen (PSA) readings. RESULTS: SBRT was administered to 11 patients with bone (82%) and/or lymph node oligometastasis (18%). The treatment regimen for bone oligometastasis was 27Gy divided into 3 sessions, while the treatment for lymph node oligometastasis reached 70Gy. Seven patients had no treatment at the time of diagnosis, 2 were in the castration-resistant phase, 1 patient was in the off phase of intermittent AD, and 1 patient had adjuvant AD for pN1. Seven patients presented a biochemical response with a PSA reduction of 75-100%. The response was not assessable in 4 patients due to the continuing adjuvant AD. With a mean follow-up of 10.5 months, only 2 patients had progressed. Grade 1 gastrointestinal toxicity was detected in only 1 patient. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the use of SBRT in carefully selected patients with metastatic oligorecurrence of prostate cancer can achieve biochemical response and potentially delay progression and the use of systemic treatments.

PCA3 as a second-line biomarker in a prospective controlled randomized opportunistic prostate cancer screening programme. / PCA3 como biomarcador de segunda línea en un programa de screening oportunista prospectivo, aleatorizado y controlado.

OBJECTIVES: PCA3 performance as a single second line biomarker is compared to the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer risk calculator model 3 (ERSPC RC-3) in an opportunistic screening in prostate cancer (PCa). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 5,199 men, aged 40-75y, underwent prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and digital rectal examination (DRE). Men with a normal DRE and PSA ≥3ng/ml had a PCA3 test done. All men with PCA3 ≥35 underwent an initial biopsy (IBx) -12 cores-. Men with PCA3 <35 were randomized 1:1 to either IBx or observation. We compared them to those obtained with ERSPC RC-3. RESULTS: PCA3 test was performed on 838 men (16.1%). In PCA3(+) and PCA3(-) groups, global PCa detection rates were 40.9% and 14.7% with a median follow-up (FU) of 21.7 months (P<.001). In the PCA3(+) arm (n=301, 35.9%), PCa was identified in 115 men at IBx (38.2%). In the randomized arm, 256 underwent IBx and PCa was found in 46 (18.0%) (P<.001). The biopsy-sparing potential would have been 64.1% as opposed to 76.6% if we had used ERSPC RC-3. However, the estimated false negative cases for HGPCa would have been reduced by 37.1% (89 to 56 patients). Moreover, if we had applied PCA3-35 to avoid IBx, 14.7% PCa and 9.1% of clinical significant PCa patients would not have been diagnosed during this FU. CONCLUSIONS: When PCA3-35 is used as a second-line biomarker when PSA ≥3ng/ml and DRE is normal, IBx could be avoided in 12.5% less than if ERSPC RC-3 is used and would reduce the false negative cases by 36.2%. At a FU of 21.7 months, this dual protocol would miss 9.1% of clinically significant PCa, so strict FU is mandatory with established biopsy criteria based on PSA and DRE in cases with PCA3 <35.

Arthritis of the Knee Joint in Rheumatoid Arthritis - Evaluation of Treatment Response by Ultrasound in Daily Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) commonly involves the knee joint in up to 30% of patients. Musculoskeletal ultrasound enables the skilled clinician to easily assess disease activity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity to change of the sonography score of large joints in Rheumatology (SOLAR) for different treatments of knee arthritis in RA. METHOD: Joints were assessed by ultrasound at 4 visits. Laboratory, immunological and clinical parameters were recorded. RESULTS: 225 RA patients were analyzed. The DAS 28 in the subgroup receiving systemic steroids was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in patients treated with intraarticular glucocorticosteroids (GCs) at T0, comparing the values from T0 to T3 the same appeared (p=0.003). Concerning the acute GC treatment regimens, the gray scale ultrasound (GSUS) sum score was found to be significantly higher in patients receiving intraarticular GCs versus no GCs (p=0,035), as well as in patients receiving systemic versus intraarticular GCs (p=0.001). Regarding the differences from T0 and T3, similar to the baseline analysis, a high GSUS sum score was significantly associated with intraarticular GCs, a low to no GC administration (p=0.035), while a high GSUS sum score was significantly linked to intraarticular GCs, rather than systemic GCs (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: SOLAR score is sensitive to change in knee arthritis. Intraarticular GC administration is performed in patients with high GSUS scores. Systemic administration of GC is linked to high disease activity (DAS28) rather than GSUS or power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) results.

[Treat-to-target (T2T) recommendation for patients with spondyloarthritis - translation into German]. / "Treat-to-target (T2T)" Empfehlungen für die Behandlung von Patienten mit Spondyloarthritis ­ Übersetzung ins Deutsche.

The management of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) has experienced a paradigm shift in recent years. This is true for the treatment of axial as well as peripheral manifestations. International treat to target (T2T) recommendations for SpA based on the T2T strategy have now also been published, which contain 5 higher level principles (A-E) in addition to the 15 recommendations. In order to make the recommendations known and to promote national distribution, German experts have now issued a translation of the T2T recommendations for SpA into German.

Association between late-onset hypogonadism syndrome plus metabolic syndrome and prostate cancer and its aggressiveness. / Asociación del síndrome de hipogonadismo tardío y síndrome metabólico con el cáncer de próstata y su agresividad.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between prostate cancer (PC) and the presence of metabolic syndrome and late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted on 686 patients who underwent prostate biopsy. We analysed the demographic variables, clinical data and biopsy results. To diagnose metabolic syndrome, we employed the criteria of the American Heart Association. For the diagnosis of LOH syndrome, we employed the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male questionnaire and testosterone levels (TT). We evaluated the relationship between free testosterone (FT) and bioavailable testosterone (BT) on one hand and PC and its aggressiveness on the other, as well as the usefulness of the TT to prostate specific antigen (TT/PSA) ratio in the PC diagnosis. RESULTS: The patient's median age was 65 years. Metabolic syndrome is not associated with PC (39.4% vs. 35%; P=.1) but is associated with a PC Gleason score >7 (50.4% vs. 29.44%; P=.002). LOH, low FT and low BT are associated with an increased presence of PC (51% vs. 35%, P=.02; 44.86% vs. 33.33%, P=.03; and 46.46% vs. 33.08%, P=.01, respectively) and with an increased probability of a PC Gleason score >7 (61.54% vs. 37.5%, P=.02; 54.17% vs. 34.12%, P=.02; 54.35% vs. 34.48%, P=.02, respectively). Additionally, the median TT/PSA ratio was significantly lower in patients with positive biopsies (P=.022). CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic syndrome was not associated with the probability of having PC but was associated with a PC Gleason score >7. Moreover, LOH syndrome had a higher percentage of PC and a greater presence of PC Gleason scores >7, as did low levels of FT and low levels of BT.

Analysis of distribution and severity of inflammation in patients with osteoarthitis compared to rheumatoid arthritis by ICG-enhanced fluorescence optical imaging and musculoskeletal ultrasound: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hand synovitis appears especially in wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. In hand osteoarthritis (OA), potential inflammatory changes are mainly present in PIP and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. Joint inflammation can be visualised by fluorescence optical imaging (FOI) and musculoskeletal ultrasound (US). OBJECTIVE: Comparison of the amount and distribution of inflammatory signs in wrist and finger joints of the clinically dominant hand in patients with OA and RA by FOI and gray-scale (GSUS) and power Doppler US (PDUS). METHODS: FOI and GSUS/PDUS were performed in 1.170 joints (wrists, MCP, PIP, DIP) in 90 patients (67 RA, 23 OA). Joint inflammation was graded by a semiquantitative score (0-3) for each imaging method. RESULTS: GSUS/PDUS showed wrist and MCP joints mostly affected in RA. DIP joints were graded higher in OA. In FOI, RA and OA featured inflammatory changes in the respective joint groups depending on the phase of fluorescence dye flooding. CONCLUSIONS: US and FOI detected inflammation in both RA and OA highlighting the inflammatory component in the course of OA. The different inflammatory patterns and various shapes of fluorescence enhancement in FOI may offer opportunities to distinguish and determine the inflammatory status in both diseases.

Educational recommendations for the conduct, content and format of EULAR musculoskeletal ultrasound Teaching the Teachers Courses.

OBJECTIVE: To produce educational guidelines for the conduct, content and format of theoretical and practical teaching at EULAR musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) Teaching the Teachers (TTT) Courses. METHODS: A Delphi-based procedure with 24 recommendations covering five main areas (Duration and place of the course; Faculty members; Content of the course; Evaluation of the teaching skills; TTT competency assessment) was distributed among a group of experts involved in MSUS teaching, in addition to an advisory educational expert being present. Consensus for each recommendation was considered achieved when the percentage of agreement was >75%. RESULTS: 21 of 24 invited participants responded to the first Delphi questionnaire (88% response rate). All 21 participants also responded to the second round. Agreement on 19 statements was obtained after two rounds. CONCLUSIONS: This project has led to the development of guidelines for the conduct, content and format of teaching at the EULAR MSUS TTT Courses that are organised annually, with the aim of training future teachers of EULAR MSUS Courses, EULAR Endorsed MSUS Courses, as well as national and local MSUS Courses. The presented work gives indications on how to homogenise the teaching at the MSUS TTT Courses, thus resolving current discrepancies in the field.

External validation of FXYD3 and KRT20 as predictive biomarkers for the presence of micrometastasis in muscle invasive bladder cancer lymph nodes.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have proposed that FXYD3 and KRT20 mRNA quantified by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in paraffin could be biomarkers to detect lymph nodes with micrometastases that avoid detection by conventional analysis with hematoxylin-eosin (HE). A validation study was conducted on the lymph nodes of patients who underwent radical cystectomy. OBJECTIVE: To classify the adenopathic state of a sample of patients who underwent cystectomy, based on the lymph node expression of FXYD3 and KRT20. The secondary objective was to assess whether there is a differential oncologic evolution for the patients, depending on the lymph node expression of these proteins. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study included lymph nodes from 64 patients who underwent cystectomy for infiltrating bladder tumor: The model was developed using metastatic lymph nodes from 15 patients and lymph nodes from 4 patients with no known tumor. Genetic expression was measured using real-time qRT-PCR. We calculated (using qRT-PCR) the median expression of FXYD3 and KRT20 mRNA in the lymph node tissue. We then analyzed the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, according to the function y=0.1400+0.250FXYD3-2.532. The cutoff was established using an ROC curve. The formula was applied to the remaining lymph node tissue, based on the previously established cutoff. The sample was classified into 4 subgroups: HE- qRT-PCR-, HE- qRT-PCR+, HE+ qRT-PCR+ y HE+, qRT-PCR-. A descriptive, comparative analysis was performed, as well as a metastatic progression-free survival analysis, calculating the Kaplan and Meyer curves for the 3 established subgroups. The test results were considered statistically significant at P<.05. RESULTS: Using qRT-PCR, we verified that there were differences in the median expression of FXYD3 (P=.05) and KRT20 (P=.009) between the lymph node tissues of patients with benign prostate hyperplasia and those of patients with lymph node metastasis. A cutoff was assigned to 0.377. The sample was classified as follows: 37.5% of the patients were pN0 by HE and pN0 by qRT-PCR (-HE -qRT-PCR), 39.1% were pN0 by HE but metastatic by qRT-PCR (-HE +qRT-PCR), and 15 patients (23.4%) were metastatic by both techniques (+HE +qRT-PCR). The Kaplan and Meyer curves showed poorer metastatic progression-free survival for the patients who were +HE and +qRT-PCR than for the other subgroups, with no significant differences between -HE +qRT-PCR and -HE -qRT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, 39.1% of the patients with infiltrating vesical tumors overexpressed the FXYD3 and KRT20 biomarkers and were N0 by HE. We observed no differential clinical behavior among the patients who underwent cystectomy according to their expression of FXYD3 and KRT20 when they were N0 by HE.

Urinary tract symptoms and erectile function in patients at risk of prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: We estimate that more tan 63000 prostate biopsies are performed in our country each year. There are no functional status data of those patients and if there is a relationship between biopsy result and functional status. In order to solve that question we have performed this study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 1,128 prostate biopsies were included. Patients fill in the IPSS, IIEF-5 and ICIQ-SF questionnaires before the prostate biopsy was performed. A prospective data collection of clinical, pathological and questionnaires results was done. A descriptive analysis was carried out. IPSS and IIEF-5 results were categorized. Results were compared depending on the biopsy result. In the subgroup of patients with prostate cancer, questionnaires results were stratify according to the clinical risk group. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 65. Prostate cancer detection rate was 32,71%, 52,2% of the sample had mild lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and 13,4% had severe LUTS at the time of the biopsy. Regarding the impact of LUTS on quality of life (QOL), only 12,6% showed a perfect QOL. More than 50 percent of patients suffered from some degree of erectile dysfunction at the time of the biopsy. According to ICIQ-SF, 24% of the sample experienced some kind of urinary incontinence, although it is true that most of them classified it as small amount. Patients with a positive biopsy had a lower IPSS and IIEF-5 average score. There were no differences in the prostate cancer detection rate stratified by the severity of LUTS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing prostate biopsy have, with a high probability, LUTS. Approximately 50% suffer from some degree of erectile dysfunction and 24% had some kind of urinary leakage.