Effects of androgen deprivation therapy on elderly men with high-risk prostate cancer: PROSARC observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Prostatic carcinoma (PC) is a frequent neoplasm in elderly patients. Although androgen deprivation is associated with survival benefits, it is also related to adverse effects such as osteoporosis, frailty, or sarcopenia, which can negatively affect the patient's quality of life. This study aims to quantify and evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis, frailty, or sarcopenia in elderly PC patients before and after androgen deprivation. We present data from an interim analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PROSARC is a national (Spain) prospective observational study (May-2022-May-2025) still in progress in 2 hospitals. It includes patients with high-risk PC, aged ≥70 years, non-candidates for local treatment and scheduled to start androgen deprivation therapy. The following variables are analyzed: comorbidity, frailty (Fried frailty phenotype criteria), osteoporosis, sarcopenia (EWGSOP2), fat mass and muscle mass, before treatment and after 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: A 6-month follow-up was completed by 12/25 included patients (mean age, 84 years), with a high baseline prevalence of pre-frailty/frailty (67.7%), sarcopenia (66.7%) and osteoporosis (25%). Treatment did not significantly alter these variables or comorbidity. We observed changes in body mass index (p=0.666), decreased mean value of appendicular muscle mass (p=0.01) and increased percentage of fat mass (p=0.012). CONCLUSION: In patients with high-risk PC, advanced age and a considerable prevalence of osteoporosis, frailty and sarcopenia, androgen deprivation (ADT; 6 months) produces decreased muscle mass without impact on the incidence of the known adverse effects of androgen deprivation.

Utilidad de la quimioterapia neoadyuvante en el carcinoma vesical músculo invasivo no metastásico / Usefulness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Objetivo: Analizamos el perfil de pacientes candidatos a quimioterapia neoadyuvante (QTn) en estadio pT2-4aN0M0, la tolerabilidad y adherencia de nuestro protocolo basado en cisplatino y los resultados oncológicos.Material y métodosEstudio observacional de cohortes retrospectivo que incluye a pacientes con diagnóstico de carcinoma vesical músculo infiltrante tratados con QTn. Se analizaron las características clínicas, histopatológicas, terapéuticas y evolutivas de los pacientes. El uso de la QTn se evaluó mediante la respuesta completa en la pieza quirúrgica (pT0). Este y otros factores anatomopatológicos se relacionaron con la supervivencia global y el tiempo libre de progresión.ResultadosIncluimos a 90 pacientes con carcinoma vesical músculo invasivo (estadio clínico T2a-T4aN0M0) que recibieron algún esquema de QTn basado en cisplatino, entre enero de 2011 y diciembre de 2018, antes del tratamiento quirúrgico radical. El 40% de los pacientes presentaron alguna reacción adversa al tratamiento, con un cumplimiento del protocolo de QTn del 92,2%. No se presentaron muertes relacionadas con el tratamiento sistémico y ninguna reacción adversa al tratamiento imposibilitó la realización de la cistectomía radical. Tras la cistectomía radical, se objetivó la presencia de respuesta completa (pT0) en 20 pacientes (21%), un estadio inferior en pieza quirúrgica ( p = 0,012), en enfermos con afectación ganglionar respecto a pN0 (65,4 vs. 28,2 meses; p=0,014) y en aquellos con bordes quirúrgicos afectos respecto a los que presentaban márgenes libres de tumor (63,5 vs. 8,5 meses; p=0,021).ConclusiónLa selección adecuada de los pacientes con carcinoma vesical músculo infiltrante ha mostrado una buena tolerancia a la QTn, con una alta tasa de cumplimiento previo a la CR. La mejoría en la tasa de respuesta completa implica una mayor supervivencia en este grupo de pacientes. La afectación ganglionar y los bordes quirúrgicos positivos son factores pronósticos importantes. (AU)

Objective: We analyzed the profile of patients who were candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in stage pT2-4aN0M0, the tolerability and adherence of our cisplatin-based protocol and oncological outcomes.Material and methodsRetrospective observational cohort study including patients diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma treated with NACT. Clinical, histopathological, therapeutic and evolutionary characteristics of the patients were analyzed. The use of NACT was evaluated by the complete response in the surgical specimen (pT0). This and other pathological factors were related to overall survival and progression-free survival.ResultsWe included 90 patients with muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (clinical stage T2a-T4aN0M0) who received a cisplatin-based NACT regimen between January 2011 and December 2018, prior to radical surgery. Forty percent of patients presented an adverse reaction, with a compliance with the NACT regimen of 92.2%. There were no deaths related to systemic treatment and no adverse reaction to treatment made radical cystectomy impracticable. After performing radical cystectomy, the presence of complete response (pT0) was observed in 20 patients (21%), lower stage in the surgical specimen ( P=0.012), in patients with lymph node involvement compared to pN0 (65.4 vs. 28, 2 months, P=0.014) and in those with positive surgical margins compared to those with tumor-free margins (63.5 vs. 8.5 months, P=0.021).ConclusionThe adequate selection of patients with muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma has shown a good tolerance to NACT, with a high compliance rate prior to RC. The improvement in the complete response rate implies a greater survival in this group of patients, with lymph node involvement and positive surgical margins being important prognostic factors. (AU)

Usefulness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer. / Utilidad de la quimioterapia neoadyuvante en el carcinoma vesical músculo invasivo no metastásico.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the profile of patients who were candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in stage pT2-4aN0M0, the tolerability and adherence of our cisplatin-based protocol and oncological outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study including patients diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma treated with NACT. Clinical, histopathological, therapeutic and evolutionary characteristics of the patients were analyzed. The use of NACT was evaluated by the complete response in the surgical specimen (pT0). This and other pathological factors were related to overall survival and progression-free survival. RESULTS: We included 90 patients with muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (clinical stage T2a-T4aN0M0) who received a cisplatin-based NACT regimen between January 2011 and December 2018, prior to radical surgery. Forty percent of patients presented an adverse reaction, with a compliance with the NACT regimen of 92.2%. There were no deaths related to systemic treatment and no adverse reaction to treatment made radical cystectomy impracticable. After performing radical cystectomy, the presence of complete response (pT0) was observed in 20 patients (21%), lower stage in the surgical specimen (

Inflammatory markers as prognostic factors in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. / Marcadores inflamatorios como factor pronóstico en el cáncer de próstata resistente a la castración metastásico.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory markers have prognostic value in various tumors due to the role of inflammatory phenomena at different stages of tumor development. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the prognostic value of these markers, as well as other clinical and analytical variables in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study carried out on 80 patients diagnosed with mCRPC. Clinical and analytical data were collected, and the following inflammatory markers were estimated: Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC), Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Total Platelet Count (TPC), Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Lymphocyte-Monocyte Ratio (LMR) and Systemic Inflammation Index (SII). The values of albumin, hemoglobin (Hb), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also determined. RESULTS: Patients with ANC>7500, NLR>3, PLR>150, LMR>3 and/or SII>535,000, presented significantly lower median survival time than the remaining patients, and TPC was the only marker which did not show a significant association. Moreover, NLR, PLR and SII were inversely correlated with survival time. Patients with hypoalbuminemia, anemia, and elevated LDH values had significantly lower median survival time. Albumin and hemoglobin were directly correlated to overall survival time. The need for analgesia was also associated with shorter survival. CONCLUSION: The values of certain inflammatory markers are associated with shorter survival time in patients with mCRPC, and their use in clinical practice can be considered to evaluate the prognosis and estimate survival.

Leukocyte and platelet counts as prognostic values of testicular germ cell tumours. / Valor pronóstico del recuento de leucocitos y plaquetas, en tumores testiculares de células germinales.

INTRODUCTION: The immune system plays an essential role in the organism's response to cancer. Several haematological markers can influence prognosis and survival of patients. The objective of this study is to determine their prognostic value in testicular germ cell tumours. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study on 164 patients with germ cell tumours. Clinical, analytical, histological and evolutionary data were collected. The absolute neutrophil and absolute platelet counts, neutrophil-lymphocyte (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte and lymphocyte-monocyte ratios were estimated at diagnosis. The association that these markers can have with the classic prognostic factors, as well as their effect on prognosis and survival, have been analysed. RESULTS: 17.7% had NLR>4 and 14.6% ANC>8000/µL. These patients presented higher percentages of residual disease and stage II-III tumours. Patients with elevated absolute neutrophil showed also higher percentages of progression and exitus. 7.3% presented absolute platelet >400000/µL. These patients obtained higher rates of residual disease, nonseminomatous and stage III tumours. 28.4% showed platelet-lymphocyte values>150. This data was associated to higher percentages of residual disease, progression, stage II and III tumours and seminomatous tumours. 83.3% had an lymphocyte-monocyte >3. These patients presented: higher tumour markers in normal range, decreased residual disease rates and higher percentages of stage I and II tumours. The mean survival time was shorter in patients with NLR>4 and absolute neutrophil >8,000/µL. The ROC curves showed significance in the prediction of progression and values of lymphocyte-monocyte >3, and prediction of survival and values NLR>4. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the analysed haematological markers are associated with poor prognoses at diagnosis. Therefore, their use in daily clinical practice can be a valuable tool in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with testicular germ cell tumours.

[Pheochromocytoma: more than a decade of experience. Review of the literature]. / Feocromocitoma: más de una década de experiencia. Revisión de la literatura.

OBJECTIVES: We present 18 patients with pheochromocytoma in the past 12 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It is a retrospective observational study evaluating the clinical, biochemical and pathological most important. RESULTS: The mean age was 53.5 years with male predominance and monitoring of five years, being the most frequent incidental findings (29%). Four patients had a familial syndrome hereditary. The tumors were equally distributed with a bilateral case. For the clinical study was made and plasma catecholamines and metanephrines in urine for 24h and subjected to control blood pressure before surgery and beta blockers. Until the introduction of laparoscopic surgery in our department in 2003, the treatment of choice was open surgery. Transabdominal subcostal access was more frequent (47%) and average duration of 207 min. No patients showed metachronous tumors and two patients developed distant metastases to death in short time. CONCLUSIONS: Pheochromocytoma in a threatening disease by cardiovascular disease, which needs to perform an analytical and functional. Surgical treatment, by open or laparoscopic surgery, depending on the characteristics of the tumor and the patient, is satisfactory and comparable results.

Penile foreign bodies.

OBJECTIVE: To describe 8 cases of penile foreign bodies. METHODS/RESULTS: We provide an essentially visual overview of various objects or foreign bodies affecting the penis. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of penile foreign bodies is rarely due to an accident. These objects are placed for a wide variety of reasons, but primarily for erotic or self-arousal purposes. The consequences of penile foreign bodies can be mild or very severe, resulting in penile amputation.

[Fracture of the penis: a case series]. / Fractura de cuerpos cavernosos. Serie de casos.

Penile fracture is an uncommon urological emergency with a typical presentation, which needs early surgery to avoid aesthetic and functional sequelaes. We have analyzed all the patients with a discharge diagnosis of fractures penis among 1997 to 2007, attended in the emergency service of Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, showing its clinical features, attributed mechanism of injury, treatment and main complications.

[Femoral neuropathy in urological surgery]. / Neuropatía femoral en cirugía urológica.

We present four cases of femoral neuropathy due to urological surgery, first case happened after right lumbotomy twenty years ago and the other three cases in the last four years after iliac incision. We review lesion production mecanism, evolution, treatment and prevention of this rare neurological complication. We do a literature review about this pathology related with urological activity.

VHL protein alterations in sporadic renal cell carcinoma.

AIMS: The vhl gene is a tumour suppressor gene implicated in renal tumorigenesis in both familial and sporadic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Alterations in the gene may modify its suppressor function and allow the formation of renal tumours. The purpose of this study was to determine the existence of vhl gene mutations in renal tumour tissue among patients with sporadic RCC and to assess the effects on the structure of the VHL protein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational, analytical and descriptive study of 96 patients who had undergone surgery for sporadic RCC. In surgical specimens of tumour tissue, the three exons of the vhl gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and subjected to automatic sequencing. The consequences of the mutations detected on the VHL protein were analysed, taking into account the physical and chemical properties of the amino acids changed by the mutations, the location of the alterations in the protein sequence, the degree of conservation throughout evolution, and prediction of the secondary structure of the protein. RESULTS: In total, 22 vhl gene mutations were detected in 21 (21.9%) patients; in particular, 13 exonic point mutations consisting of 11 sense mutations, one silent mutation and one missense mutation, plus five exon deletions and one insertion. The remaining three were intronic mutations. All changes occurred in protein functional domains and in regions that have been well conserved throughout evolution. Two-thirds of the intronic mutations were considered relevant for protein function. Among the mutations detected, 72.7% were considered capable of compromising the VHL protein suppressor function. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in the vhl gene result in amino acid changes in the protein that usually occur at important functional sites that have been conserved throughout evolution and where the binding domains for other proteins are located and exert their suppressor function.

Late recurrence of ovarian granulosa cell tumor at the retroperitoneal and renal hilum level in a single-kidney patient--case report.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian granulosa cell tumors are rare tumors characterized by a long natural history and a tendency to late recurrence. Surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy are possible options to treat recurrent disease. The choice will depend on the patient's condition and the site of recurrence. CASE: We describe the case of a 72-year-old patient with a single left kidney who presented retroperitoneal recurrence of ovarian granulosa cell tumor at the left renal hilum ten years after primary treatment. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates an example of very late recurrence and emphasizes the importance of extended follow-up for these patients.

[Hemoperitoneum and death due to hepatoesplenic metastasis rupture in a testicular tumor]. / Hemoperitoneo y muerte por rotura de metástasis hepatoesplénicas de tumor testicular.

We present a case of a mix germinal testicular tumor, in III-C (AJCC-UICC) stage, at a terminal phase due to massive methastasis rupture at hepatic and splenic methastasis locations.

[Vesical schistosomiasis, case report and Spanish literature review]. / Esquistosomiasis vesical, aportación de un caso y revisión de la literatura española.

Urinary schistosomiasis is an infection caused by parasite, Schistosoma haematobium. Squistosomiasis is an endemic disease in Africa and Middle East. We are presenting a case of a young immigrant male from Mali that came to our clinic with hematuria and miccional irritative syndrome during a year. Parasitological study reported Schimosoma's eggs and ecography showed a possible vesical newformation. After RTU, anatomopatological study confirms the presence of a vesical esquistosomiasis. Now pacient is asyntomatic after he was treated with Praziquantel.

[Entero-neobladder ileal fistula: two cases report]. / Fístula entero-neovejiga ileal: a propósito de dos casos.

Fistulas between the orthotopic reservoir and the gastrointestinal tract have low incidence (1.5-2%). Simptomatology is variable, but it's frecuent to find fecaluria. Among 90 new intestinal bladders we show two fistule of new bladder to ileo, with nest postoperatory diagnosis, using retrograde cystografy; one was resolved with next postoperative treatment and the other with open surgery.