Does Mild Hydronephrosis Induced by Full-Bladder Improve Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Shock Wave Lithotripsy for Lower Calyceal Stones?: A Prospective Randomized Study.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes, sessions and shock wave numbers in patients undergoing standard procedure shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) and patients undergoing SWL with mild hydronephrosis induced by full-bladderfollowing oral hydration before SWL procedure for lower calyceal stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2014- January 2016 a total of 371 patients who underwent SWL, for lower pole calyceal stones ? 2 cm, were included into the study. 127 patients were treated in the supine position (Group A), 123 in the prone position (Group B) and 121 in the prone position with full bladder and mild hydronephrosis checked by ultrasound before procedure (Group C). There were 286 men and 85 women with a mean ± SD age of 36 ± 11 yearsResults: The mean (SD) stone sizes within the group A, group B and group C were 11 mm (±3 mm), 12 mm (±4.1 mm) and 11 mm (± 3.8 mm) respectively. No significant difference was found in age (P = .18) and stone size between 3 groups (P = .07). The median interquartile range (IQR) number of shocks within the group A, group B and group C were 7600 (3855), 6500 (4300) and 6700 (4915) respectively. Significant difference was found in number of shock waves among 3 groups (P < .01). The difference between groups according to stone expulsion rate wasfound significant in all sessions (P = .01). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that mild hydronephrotic status induced by full-bladder before SWL can lower cost and patient discomfort by decrease in number of sessions and increase in stone clearance.

Prognostic value of endocan in prostate cancer: clinicopathologic association between serum endocan levels and biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic capability of serum endocan level in association with clinicopathologic features and its impact on biochemical progression-free survival in patients with prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: A total of 86 patients with localized prostate cancer were treated with open radical prostatectomy (RP). The control group included 80 patients who were referred to the urology outpatient clinic with normal rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The patients' characteristics, baseline PSA value, and serum endocan levels were recorded. The patients were followed up with the measurement of PSA concentration every 3 months during the first year, thereafter every 6 months until 5 years, then yearly after surgery. The primary endpoint of follow-up was the time of biochemical recurrence. RESULTS: The median serum endocan levels were 3.14 ng/mL in the RP group and 2.98 ng/mL in the control group (p = 0.122). A total of 86 patients who underwent RP for PCa were divided into 2 groups based on a cutoff serum endocan level of 1.8 ng/mL. The distribution of Gleason score and biochemical failure rate were significantly higher in patients with serum endocan ≥1.8 ng/mL (p = 0.031 and p = 0.047). The biochemical recurrence-free time for endocan ≥1.8 ng/mL and <1.8 ng/mL were 38 and 56 months, respectively (p = 0.041). Spearman correlation analysis showed a linear relationship between endocan expression and Gleason score (p = 0.025, p = 0.511). Multivariate analysis revealed that elevated serum endocan level (≥1.8 ng/mL) was a significant predictor of biochemical progression-free survival (hazard ratio 2.44; 95% confidence interval 1.78-3.23; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The current study indicates that endocan has a close relationship with tumor recurrence in PCa.

The effect of inclined position on stone free rates in patients with lower caliceal stones during SWL session.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) combined with inclined position and SWL alone in patients with lower pole calyx stones. METHODS: Seven hundred forty patients who underwent SWL treatment for lower pole renal stones with a total diameter of 2 cm or less were prospectively randomized into two groups. They were comparable in terms of age, sex, and stone diameters. Patients with lower calyceal stones (4-20 mm) were randomized to SWL (368 patients) or SWL with simultaneous inclination (372 patients) with 30o head down Trendelenburg position). Shock wave and session numbers were standardized according to stone size. Additional standardized shock waves were given to patients with stone fragments determined by kidney urinary bladder film and ultrasound at weeks 1, 4, 10. RESULTS: The overall stone free rate (SFR) was 73% (268/368) in patients with SWL alone and 81% (300/372) in SWL with inclination at the end of 12th week (p = 0.015). No significant adverse events were noted in both treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous inclination of patients during SWL session increase SFR in lower caliceal stones significantly compared to SWL treatment alone.

Are Hounsfield densities of ureteral stones a predictive factor for effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy?

UNLABELLED: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) has long been used successfully to dissolve ureteral stones. We researched whether Hounsfield values of ureteral stones is a factor that affects the success of SWL. METHODS: Data from 144 patients who had diagnoses of ureteral stones and underwent SWL, were retrospectively reviewed between January 2011 and December 2012. Urinary tomography of patients was processed and classified into 3 groups by Hounsfield units (Group 1, < 500 HU; Group 2, 500-1000 HU; and Group 3, > 1000 HU) and 2 groups by stone size (Group A; < 1 cm, Group B; > 1 cm). SWL success was analyzed for both of these group types. Failure was defined as any fragments of the stone that remained within the ureter. Results were analyzed by evaluating the predictive factors in both groups. RESULTS: The study included 144 patients (100 men, 44 women) who fit the inclusion criteria. In Hounsfield unit Group 1 (12 women and 44 men), the mean age was 37.2 ± 13.2, stone size was 8.5 ± 2.5 mm, number of shocks was 3240 ± 1414 (1200-7500) and number of treatments was 1.4 ± 0.6. In Group 2 (26 women and 32 men), the mean age was 33.6 ± 7.6, stone size was 9.6 ± 3.1 mm, process number was 3375 ± 2103 (1200-8750) and shock amount was 1.6 ± 0.8. In Group 3 (6 women and 24 men), the mean age was 42.2 ± 13.6, stone size was 11.7 ± 3.0 mm, number of shocks was 4513 ± 2458 (1300-8700) and number of treatments was 2.1 ± 1.2. In size Group 1 (28 women and 74 men), the mean age was 35.8 ± 10.6, stone size was 8.1 ± 1.4 mm, process number was 3105 ± 1604, shock amount was 1.4 ± 0.5 and HU value was 580 ± 297. In Group 2 (16 women and 26 men), the mean age was 39.9 ± 14.2, stone size was 13.9 ± 2.4 mm, number of shocks was 4722 ± 2467, number of treatments was 2.3 ± 1.1 and HU value was 912 ± 270. CONCLUSION: Although stone density predicted the failure of SWL, size of the stone is more important criterion for successful lithotripsy of ureteral stones.

The role of bipolar transurethral vaporization in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: A prospective randomized study was conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of bipolar plasma vaporization with a novel electrode that produces vaporization of the tissue (transurethral vaporization of the prostate, TUVP) immersed in isotonic saline compared to the standard transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From February 2009 to February 2010, 90 patients with BPH were randomized into two groups, and underwent conventional TURP (group 1) or TUVP (group 2) utilizing bipolar plasma vaporization with an innovative electrode (Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH, Hamburg, Germany). International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), transrectal ultrasonographic findings, maximal urine flow rates (Qmax), and postvoiding residual urine (PVRU) volumes of all cases were evaluated preoperatively and 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Preoperative and postoperative serum hemoglobin, hematocrit and sodium concentrations of all patients were measured. All patients included in the study were monitored for 1 year. RESULTS: In patients in group 1 (n = 47; mean age: 64.7 ± 7.3 years) TURP was performed. The patients in group 2 (n = 43; mean age: 65.4 ± 8.9 years) underwent bipolar TUVP. Cases in the two study groups matched for demographic characteristics and clinical parameters were assessed. The evaluation of IPSS scores, PVRU, Qmax, and prostatic volumes of the patients 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year postoperatively did not reveal any significant differences between the two groups. In group 2 (TUVP), postoperative catheter indwelling times were significantly shorter, and Na serum concentrations were also markedly lower (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: We detected similar effectiveness and morbidity rates in both groups. Bipolar TUVP has advantages such as shorter catheter indwelling times and hospital stays, and fewer bleeding episodes without any risk of transurethral resection syndrome. We believe that TUVP might be an alternative to TURP which is currently the 'gold standard' treatment in BPH.