Efficacy of conduction hyperthermia in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Intravesical treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) aims to reduce recurrences and stop progression. Hyperthermia-enhanced chemotherapy with devices like COMBAT BRS, Unithermia, and BR-TRG-I is a promising alternative to conventional Bacillus de Calmette Guerin (BCG) therapy. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the efficacy of hyperthermia generated by conduction devices in the treatment of NMIBC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The review followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. A search was performed in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of candidate studies and abstracted data from studies that met the inclusion criteria. The primary endpoint was assessment of recurrence. Secondary objectives included evaluation of treatment progression and safety. RESULTS: Thirty studies meeting inclusion criteria underwent data extraction. In intermediate-risk NMIBC patients, COMBAT versus mitomycin C (MMC) in normothermia revealed no superiority in reducing recurrence or progression. High-risk NMIBC patients using COMBAT achieved similar or superior outcomes to BCG. BR-TRG-I demonstrated superior results over normothermia in intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC patients. Unithermia proved less effective than BCG in high-risk NMIBC. Progression outcomes were promising with COMBAT and BR-TRG-I, but comprehensive analysis was limited due to inconsistent assessment across studies. Adverse events were primarily mild-moderate, with some device-specific differences. CONCLUSIONS: Studies on conduction hyperthermia present great variability, which do not allow us to determine the superiority of 1 device over another in terms of recurrence, progression, and/or adverse effects. Further research with consistent administration protocols is crucial for definitive conclusions.

Preliminary results of the external urinary sphincter Uroflex® on the quality of life of patients with male urinary incontinence after prostate surgery: tolerance, severity of incontinence, and quality of life.

PURPOSE: This study aims to establish the ability of the Uroflex® external artificial sphincter to reduce the severity of male urinary incontinence and improve the quality of life of patients with male urinary incontinence. METHODS: A pre-post pilot study was carried out on a sample of 30 patients with male urinary incontinence. Tolerability and satisfaction were assessed by comparing the results of the Pad test, and EQ-5D and KHQ questionnaires before and after 3 months of using Uroflex®. RESULTS: At 3 months, 76.6% of patients continued using Uroflex®. The median score for overall satisfaction with the device was 8 out of 10. Pad test showed a significant reduction in the severity of male urinary incontinence at 3 months (p < 0.001), with resolution of all symptoms in 31% of patients. The KHQ showed a significant improvement in global quality of life (p = 0.003). This was also significant for five of the nine specific dimensions assessed. There was also an improvement in self-rated health using the EQ-5D questionnaire, although not significant (p = 0.075). CONCLUSION: The Uroflex® external urinary sphincter seems to improve the severity of urinary incontinence and quality of life of patients with male urinary incontinence after prostate surgery. These encouraging results will need to be confirmed in larger controlled studies.

Results of fusion prostate biopsy comparing with cognitive and systematic biopsy.

PURPOSE: Our study aims to determine whether there are differences in the degree of detection of prostate cancer (PCa) and CsPCa between fusion prostate biopsy (FPB), cognitive biopsy (PCB), and randomized, systematic biopsy (SB). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out of 195 patients with suspected PCa at the San Cecilio University Clinical Hospital in Granada who underwent a prostate biopsy between January and December 2021. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1, patients undergoing FPB transperineally with ultrasound BK 3000 (N = 87); group 2, PCB (N = 59) transperineally; and group 3, transrectal SB (N = 49), the latter two, with an ultrasound BK Specto. RESULTS: We found differences in favor of image-directed biopsies (FPB and PCB) with a percentage of positive biopsies of 52.8% and 50%, respectively, compared to 41.4% with SB, but without these differences being significant. Given the controversy in performing prostate biopsies in PI-RADS 3 lesions reported in the literature, a subanalysis was performed excluding the FPB performed for PI-RADS 3 lesions (PI-RADS 4 and 5 are included), finding significant differences when comparing FPB with PCB and SB (group 1, 64% vs group 2, 45.8%; p = 0.05) (group 1, 64% vs group 3, 42.9%; p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: With the results obtained in our series, we conclude that the finding of a PI-RADS 3 lesion in mpMRI should not be an absolute criterion to indicate prostate biopsy. On the other hand, for PI-RADS 4 and 5 lesions, FPB is recommended, which in this case turns out to be superior to PCB and SB.

Adjuvant intravesical treatment in patients with intermediate and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer with BCG versus MMC applied with COMBAT or EMDA. Results of a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) maintenance therapy is the standard adjuvant treatment of high- and intermediate-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, the problems of shortages and the adverse effects, both local and systemic, that it causes lead to the search for alternatives with devices that improve the penetration of intravesical chemotherapeutics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study was conducted from August 2018 to August 2022. Patients diagnosed with intermediate and high-risk NMIBC without CIS who received one of the following three treatments were included: BCG in induction protocol with six weekly instillations and maintenance with three weekly instillations at months 3, 6, and 12. MMC was applied by Physionizer® 30 device with a current of 20 mA for 30 min was used in an induction protocol of 6 weekly instillations followed by 6 monthly instillations as maintenance (EMDA group). MMC was applied by COMBAT BRS System V2.0 device at 43 ± 0.5 â„ƒ for 60 min was used in an induction protocol of 6 weekly instillations followed by 6 monthly instillations as maintenance (HIVEC group). The primary objective was to compare the 24-month recurrence-free rate between the three groups. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the rate free of progression at 24 months and the degree of toxicity of the treatments. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-three patients divided into a HIVEC group with sixty-one patients, EMDA group with fifty-nine patients, and BCG group with sixty-three patients. After a mean follow-up of 25 months (IQR 13-36), the 24-month recurrence-free rate was 82.1% for HIVEC, 80% for EMDA, and 84.6% for BCG (p > 0.05), and a progression-free rate at 24 months of 95.6% for HIVEC, 98.3% for EMDA, and 92.9% for BCG (p > 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found between the three groups with respect to the degree of reported adverse events. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant treatment with BCG or MMC applied with COMBAT or EMDA does not present differences in the recurrence-free rate and progression at 24 months in our population of patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMBC without CIS.

Conductive hyperthermic chemotherapy versus electromotive drug administration of mitomycin C as intravesical adjuvant treatment of patients with intermediate or high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Devices that increase the penetration of intravesical chemotherapeutic agents have been developed as alternatives to the use of bacillus Calmette-Guérin, in short supply at a time of increasing global incidence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We performed a prospective observational study to compare 2 of these devices in the treatment of patients with high- and intermediate-risk NMIBC. The primary endpoint was the recurrence-free rate. Secondary endpoints were the rate of progression and adverse events. METHODS: After undergoing transurethral bladder resection, 98 patients were selected to receive 1 of 2 treatments: hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy (HIVEC) treatment with 40 mg of mitomycin C (MMC) using Combat BRS System V2.0 at 43 ± 0.5°C and 200 ml/min for 60 minutes (56 patients) or electromotive drug administration (EMDA) with 40 mg of MMC at 20 mA for 30 minutes (42 patients). The treatment schemes were similar: 6 weekly instillations as induction and 6-monthly instillations as maintenance. The recurrence rates were evaluated at 6 and 12 months and the progression rates at 12 months. RESULTS: The recurrence-free rate at 12 months was 91,1% in the HIVEC group and 88.1% in the EMDA group (P ≥ 0.05). After the 12-month follow-up, only 1 progression occurred in each treatment group. In terms of adverse events, no significant differences were found between the treatments. CONCLUSIONS: HIVEC and EMDA techniques are comparable in terms of recurrence, progression and adverse events at 12 months in the treatment of patients with high- and intermediate-risk NMIBC.

A systematic review of the efficacy of intravesical electromotive drug administration therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is characterized by a high rate of recurrence and progression, despite surgery and adjuvant therapies. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the published results on the effectiveness of mitomycin C (MMC) applied with an electromotive drug administration device (EMDA) in the treatment of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder tumors. METHOD: A systematic review was conducted using the PubMed and Google Scholar search platforms. We selected the studies that included the recurrence and/or progression rates or complete response rate in patients diagnosed with NMIBC according to their treatment and included MMC applied with EMDA. The last search was performed in November 2021. RESULTS: The search yielded 64 articles; 11 articles met the selection criteria. In two of the 11 selected articles, mitomycin C was applied with an EMDA device (MMC-EMDA) as an ablative treatment, avoiding surgery in 50% of the patients. In 1 of the 11 studies, the application of MMC-EMDA was used as an induction treatment using a single preoperative instillation with promising results. In the remaining 8 studies, adjuvant MMC was applied with the EMDA device; in 3 of these 8 cases, treatment with MMC-EMDA alone was applied initially. In another3 cases the same treatment was applied after nonresponse to bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), and in the last 2 studies, MMC-EMDA was applied in combination with the classic therapy (BCG). All the studies selected supported the efficacy and safety of MMC-EMDA in patients with intermediate and high- risk bladder cancer. In 3 studies, adjuvant therapy with MMC-EMDA was performed in nonresponders to BCG, finding that adjuvant therapy with MMC-EMDA applied to BCG nonresponders without CIS avoided or delayed surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The application of EMDA-enhanced MMC has been studied at different times of disease and with different administration protocols. It appears to delay bladder tumor recurrence and progression in certain populations. However, the methodological limitations of the published studies prevent definitive conclusions about its efficacy.

Electromotive Drug Administration Chemotherapy with Mitomycin C Versus Bacillus Calmette-Guerin for the Treatment of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Devices that increase the penetrance of intravesical chemotherapeutics are emerging as alternatives to classical Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) treatment. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of mitomycin C applied with the electromotive drug delivery device (MMC-EMDA) versus BCG in patients with intermediate and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) without carcinoma in situ (CIS). METHODS: Prospective non-randomized study in which 47 patients received MMC-EMDA (40 mg of MMC diluted in 50 mg of distilled water at 20 mA for 30 min. Regimen of 6 weekly and then 6 monthly instillations) and 48 patients received BCG (50 mg of OncoCITE® diluted in 50 ml of normal saline for 60 min. Regimen of 6 weekly instillations and then 3 weekly instillations at months 3, 6 and 12). The primary endpoint was the recurrence-free rate (RFR) at 24 months. Secondary endpoints were time to recurrence and progression-free rate (PFR) at 24 months follow-up. RESULTS: Baseline patient assessment and mean follow-up time were similar in both groups (MMC-EMDA group: 26.4 months; BCG group: 28.4 months (p = 0.44)). The RFR at 24 months was 80.9% for the MMC-EMDA group and 77.1% for the BCG group (p = 0.969). The mean time to recurrence was 12.5 months in the MMC-EMDA group and 14 months in the BCG group (p = 0.681). At 24 months, PFR was 97.9% in the MMC-EMDA group and 93.8% in the BCG group (p = 0.419). CONCLUSIONS: No differences were found between MMC-EMDA and BCG treatments in patients with high-risk and intermediate-risk NMIBC without CIS.

Applications of Platelet Rich Plasma in Urology.

INTRODUCTION: Platelet rich plasma is a product obtained from vein whole blood sample, with a high concentration of growth factors, which have been reported to be beneficial for tissue regeneration. In the last few years, several assays that pretend to demonstrate the efficacy of platelet rich plasma in many disciplines, including urology, have been published. AIM AND METHODS: The aim of this assay is to develop a bibliographic review of the publications available about platelet rich plasma and urology. The search was based on PubMed database. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet rich plasma has demonstrated to be a safe and easy to obtain product, and it has also shown promising results in terms of efficacy in urology. However, it is necessary to conduct large, placebo-controlled, studies that can confirm or deny the effectiveness of platelet rich plasma before it can be used on urological conditions.

Applications of Platelet Rich Plasma in Urology

Introduction: Platelet rich plasma is a product obtained from vein whole blood sample, with a high concentration of growth factors, which have been reported to be beneficial for tissue regeneration. In the last few years, several assays that pretend to demonstrate the efficacy of platelet rich plasma in many disciplines, including urology, have been published. Aim and Methods: The aim of this assay is to develop a bibliographic review of the publications available about platelet rich plasma and urology. The search was based on PubMed database. Conclusions: Platelet rich plasma has demonstrated to be a safe and easy to obtain product, and it has also shown promising results in terms of efficacy in urology. However, it is necessary to conduct large, placebo-controlled, studies that can confirm or deny the effectiveness of platelet rich plasma before it can be used on urological conditions (AU)

[Adaptation of surgery practice during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ureteroscopy in outpatient surgery.] / Ureterorrenoscopias en régimen ambulatorio. Adaptación del protocolo por la pandemia Covid-19.

OBJECTIVE: The World Health Organizationdeclared a pandemic status due to the COVID-19 disease caused by the new coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 in March 2020. This caused high health pressure that hashad an impact on the Spanish National Health System and Granada has been one of the most affected provincesnationwide. The high healthcare pressure derived from it has had an impact on the National Health System throughout the Spanish territory, with Granada beingone of the most affected provinces nation wide. The increase in the admissions of patients with COVID-19 in such a short time has forced us to optimize hospital resources, prioritizing them in patients with COVID-19 and oncological or urgent pathology. In this context, the increasingly frequent and recurrent lithiasis is treated conservatively. However, the prolongation of the pandemic situation poses the challenge of offering definitive treatment to these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present the rearrangement performed in our Lithotripsy Unit with the aim of developing a comprehensive and alternative protocol for performing ureteroscopies on an outpatient basis, assuming the patient from admission to hospital discharge, with the collaboration of the Anesthesiology service. RESULTS: In this new protocol, 35 ureteroscopies were performed without noticing intraoperative complications or during the recovery period developed in the Day Hospital integrated within the Lithotripsy Unit. CONCLUSIONS: The redistribution of our resources has allowed us to continue performing ureterorenoscopies on an outpatient basis without the need to use hospital beds and reducing the traffic of patients within the hospital itself with an adequate safety profile.

OBJETIVO: En marzo de 2020, la organización mundial de la salud declaró el estado de pandemia por la enfermedad COVID-19 ocasionada por el nuevo coronavirus SARS-Cov-2. La alta presión asistencial derivada de la misma, ha repercutido en el Sistema Nacional de Salud en todo el territorio español, siendo Granada una de las provincias más afectadas a nivel nacional. El aumento de ingresos de pacientes con esta enfermedad en tan corto periodo de tiempo, nos ha obligado a optimizar los recursos hospitalarios priorizándolos en los pacientes afectos de COVID-19 y patología oncológica o urgente. En este contexto, la enfermedad litiásica, cada vez más frecuente y recurrente es manejada de forma conservadora. Sin embargo, la prolongación en el tiempo de la situación de pandemianos plantea el reto de ofrecer un tratamiento definitivoa estos pacientes. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Exponemos la reordenaciónrealizada en nuestra Unidad de Litotricia con el objetivode desarrollar un protocolo integral y alternativo derealización de ureteroscopias en régimen ambulatorioasumiendo el paciente desde su ingreso hasta su altahospitalaria, con la colaboración del servicio de Anestesiologíay Reanimación. RESULTADOS: Se realizan 35 ureteroscopias en estenuevo protocolo sin advertir complicaciones intraoperatoriasni durante el periodo de recuperación desarrolladoen el Hospital de Día integrado dentro de la Unidadde Litotricia. CONCLUSIONES: La redistribución de nuestros recursosnos ha permitido continuar realizando de maneraordinaria ureterorrenoscopias en régimen ambulatoriosin necesidad de usar camas de hospitalización y disminuyendoel tránsito de pacientes dentro del propiohospital con un adecuado perfil de seguridad.