MRI/ultrasound fusion biopsy of the prostate compared to systematic prostate biopsy - Effectiveness and accuracy of a combined approach in daily clinical practice.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare cancer detection by targeted fusion-guided biopsy with systematic biopsy, and to evaluate the value of combined biopsy, in a daily clinical practice scenario. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the influence of previous biopsies on cancer detection. METHODS: In this retrospective single-centre study, we evaluated 524 cases of combined biopsy of the prostate from October 2015 to December 2018. All men had a clinical suspicion for prostate cancer due to an elevated PSA and/or a suspicious digital rectal examination and underwent a multiparametric MRI of the prostate read by one out of 6 experienced radiologists. In all cases, fusion-guided biopsy of the prostate was consecutively followed by systematic 12-core biopsy in the same session at the same urological department performed by one out of 5 experienced urologists. RESULTS: In 270/524 (51.5%) cases, cancer was found using combined biopsy. Systematic biopsy alone detected cancer in 205/524 (39.1%) and clinically significant cancer in 137/524 (26.1%) cases. Fusion-guided biopsy alone detected 227/524 (43.3%) and clinically significant cancer in 150/524 (28.6%) cases. A histological upgrade of the Gleason score by fusion-guided biopsy was noted in 20/270 (7.4%) of all cancers found and by systematic biopsy in 31/270 (11.5%). Of all positive cases (clinically insignificant and significant cancer), 65/270 (24.1%) were detected only by fusion-guided biopsy, whereas 43/270 (15.9%) were detected only by systematic biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Fusion-guided biopsy can detect more cases of prostate cancers than systematic biopsy alone, especially clinically significant cancer. However, the combination of both biopsy methods improves the detection rate and can help to identify clinically significant cancer.

Peritoneal Flap in Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Lymphocele is the most common complication arising after pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in the setting of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). The only data available until now on the utility of a peritoneal flap to prevent lymphocele were retrospectively acquired. METHODS: A randomized, controlled, multi-center trial with blinded assessment of endpoints was carried out on 232 patients with prostate cancer who underwent RARP with PLND. The patients in the intervention group were given a peritoneal flap; in the control group, surgery was performed without this modification. The two joint primary endpoints were the rates of symptomatic lymphocele during the same hospitalization as the operative procedure (iT1) and within 90 days of surgery (iT2). The secondary endpoints were lymphocele volume, the need for treatment of lymphocele, complications requiring an intervention, and the degree of postoperative stress incontinence. German Clinical Trials Register number: DRKS00011115. RESULTS: The data were evaluated in an intention-to-treat analysis, which, in this trial, was identical to an as-treated analysis. 108 patients (46.6%) were allotted to the intervention group. There were no statistically significant intergroup differences with respect to any clinical or histopathological criteria. A median of 16 lymph nodes were removed (interquartile range, 11-21). A symptomatic lymphocele arose in 1.3% (iT1) and 9.1% (iT2) of the patients, without any statistically significant difference between the two trial groups (p = 0.599 and p = 0.820, respectively). Nor did the groups differ significantly with respect to lymphocele volume (p = 0.670 on hospital discharge [T1], p = 0.650 90 days after surgery [T2]) or the type and frequency of need for subsequent surgical intervention (p = 0.535; iT2). 81.5% of all patients (n = 189) had no complications at all in the first three months after surgery. Nor were there any intergroup differences at 90 days with respect to the degree of stress urinary incontinence (p = 0.306) or complications (p = 0.486). CONCLUSION: A peritoneal flap after RARP was not found to influence the rate of postoperative lymphocele, whether asymptomatic or requiring treatment.

Ideal timing of indwelling catheter removal after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with a running barbed suture technique: a prospective analysis of 425 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare prospectively early outcome and complications of catheter removal after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) on the 4th or 7th day with a standardized running barbed suture technique. INTRODUCTION: The time point of removing the indwelling catheter after RARP mainly depends on institute's/surgeon's preferences. Removal should be late enough to avoid urinary leakage and complications such as acute urinary retention (AUR) but early enough to avoid unnecessary catheter indwelling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consecutive single-institutional series of patients underwent RARP between July 2015 and August 2017 and were entered in a prospectively maintained data base. Between July 2015 and December 2016 a cystogram was performed on 7th postoperative day (group A), thereafter the cystogram was performed on 4th postoperative day (group B). Incidence of acute urinary retention (AUR), urinary tract infections (UTI) and adverse events between the two cohorts was compared. RESULTS: 425 patients were analyzed (group A: n = 231; group B: n = 194). Both cohorts were comparable regarding demographic and oncological parameters. Watertight anastomosis was present in 84.8% in group A and in 82.5% in group B, respectively. AUR within 4 weeks after RARP occurred in 2.2% (n = 3) in A and 9.4% (n = 15) in B (p = 0.001). AUR within 72 h after catheter removal occurred in group A: 1% (n = 2) and in group B: 6.3% (n = 10) (p = 0.005). Symptomatic urinary tract infections occurred in 8.2% (n = 16) in group A and in 6.9% (n = 11) in group B. There were no differences in the rate of secondary anastomosis dehiscence. Age, BMI, prostate size, surgeon, or intraoperative bladder neck reconstruction were not correlated to the occurrence of AUR or UTI. CONCLUSIONS: The removal of indwelling catheter on day 4 after a RARP with a running barbed suture shows similar anastomosis leakage rates as on the 7th postoperative day. However, AUR rates are higher for early removal. Patients scheduled for early removal should be carefully informed about the increased risk for AUR. Catheter indwelling time does not represent a risk factor for UTI.

An abundant, truncated human sulfonylurea receptor 1 splice variant has prodiabetic properties and impairs sulfonylurea action.

An alternatively spliced form of human sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) 1 mRNA lacking exon 2 (SUR1Δ2) has been identified. The omission of exon 2 caused a frame shift and an immediate stop codon in exon 3 leading to translation of a 5.6-kDa peptide that comprises the N-terminal extracellular domain and the first transmembrane helix of SUR1. Based on a weak first splice acceptor site in the human SUR1 gene (ABCC8), RT-PCR revealed a concurrent expression of SUR1Δ2 and SUR1. The SUR1Δ2/(SUR1 + SUR1Δ2) mRNA ratio differed between tissues, and was lowest in pancreas (46%), highest in heart (88%) and negatively correlated with alternative splice factor/splicing factor 2 (ASF/SF2) expression. In COS-7 cells triple transfected with SUR1Δ2/SUR1/Kir6.2, the SUR1Δ2 peptide co-immunoprecipitated with Kir6.2, thereby displacing two of four SUR1 subunits on the cell surface. The ATP sensitivity of these hybrid ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) channels was reduced by about sixfold, as shown with single-channel recordings. RINm5f rat insulinoma cells, which genuinely express SUR1 but not SUR1Δ2, exhibited a strongly increased K(ATP) channel current upon transfection with SUR1Δ2. This led to inhibition of glucose-induced depolarization, calcium flux, insulin release and glibenclamide action. A non-mutagenic SNP on nucleotide position 333 (Pro69Pro) added another exonic splicing enhancer sequence detected by ASF/SF2, reduced relative abundance of SUR1Δ2 and slightly protected from non-insulin dependent diabetes in homozygotic individuals. Thus, SUR1Δ2 represents an endogenous K(ATP)-channel modulator with prodiabetic properties in islet cells. Its predominance in heart may explain why high-affinity sulfonylurea receptors are not found in human cardiac tissue.