Inflammatory Markers and Thromboembolic Risk in Patients with Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with bladder cancer have a high risk of venous thrombosis that represents a key challenge for physicians in the decision-making for initiating anticoagulation therapy. Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) represents more than 70% of all diagnosed bladder malignancies; therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), and risk of thrombosis by using the International Medical Prevention Registry on Venous Thromboembolism (IMPROVE) score as well as the risk of bleeding by using the IMPROVE Bleeding Risk Assessment Score in a study cohort. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study involving 130 patients who met the inclusion criteria: age > 18 years, stage pTa-pT1 NMIBC. The exclusion criteria were age < 18 years; stage pT2 or higher; or a presentation of metastasis, inflammatory, liver or autoimmune diseases, or other systemic neoplasms. In order to evaluate the risk of thromboembolic events as well as those of bleeding, the IMPROVE scores were calculated for each patient. Subjects were categorized in a Low IMPROVE group (< 4 points) or a High IMPROVE group. By using uni- and multivariate regression models, we analyzed CBC-derived parameters which could be associated with a higher risk of venous thrombosis in subjects with low or high IMPROVE scores. RESULTS: Patients with IMPROVE score greater than 4 were associated with higher NLR, LMR and lymphocyte values (p < 0.05). In a multivariate regression model, the IMPROVE score was significantly influenced by lymphocyte count (p = 0.007) as well as the NLR value (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In our study population, subjects with NMIBC with low lymphocytes and NLR > 3 were at a higher risk of developing venous thromboembolic events, reflected by an IMPROVE score of greater than 4. The IMPROVE and IMPROVE Bleeding Risk Assessment Scores are easy to use, and, complemented with the CBC-derived lymphocyte to monocyte ratio as a prothrombotic marker, could aid in the decision of prophylactic anticoagulation therapy during admission.

Fascin-1 and its role as a serological marker in prostate cancer: a prospective case-control study.

AIM: This study aims to investigate any modification of serological FSCN1 in prostate cancer patients compared with patients without neoplasia. MATERIAL & METHODS: Clinical data and blood specimens from patients with and without prostate cancer were obtained. A quantitative sandwich ELISA method was used to determine serological values of FSCN1. RESULTS: Although serum values of FSCN1 were dissimilar in the two cohorts of patients (6.90 vs 7.33 ng/ml), the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.20). Serum values of FSCN1 stratified for Gleason score groups were not significantly distinguishable (p = 0.65). A negative correlation (rho = -0.331; p = 0.009) was reported between FSCN1 and age. CONCLUSION: Further studies are required to evaluate a possible diagnostic role of FSCN1 in prostate cancer.

PD-L1 Expression in Muscle Invasive Urothelial Carcinomas as Assessed via Immunohistochemistry: Correlations with Specific Clinical and Pathological Features, with Emphasis on Prognosis after Radical Cystectomy.

In the present study, we analyzed Programmed Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in radical cystectomy (RC) specimens from patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma (UC), in order to assess any correlations with specific clinicopathological features and its potential prognostic value. A multi-institutional study was performed within the departments of urology and pathology at the Mureș County Hospital, Romania, and Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, France. Sixty-nine patients with MIBC were included, for whom tumor histology (conventional versus histological variant/differentiation), tumor extension (T), lymph node involvement (N), and distant metastases (M) were recorded. PD-L1 immunostaining was performed using the 22C3 clone and was interpreted using the combined positive score (CPS) as recommended (Dako Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Positive PD-L1 immunostaining was more prevalent among UCs with squamous differentiation compared to conventional UCs and trended towards an improved OS (p = 0.366). We found the T stage to be a risk factor for poor survival in PD-L1-positive patients (HR 2.9, p = 0.021), along with the N stage in PD-L1-negative patients (HR 1.98, p = 0.007). No other clinicopathological factor was found to be significantly associated with PD-L1 positivity. Thus, we confirm the need for PD-L1 immunostaining prior to initiating immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for a more accurate assessment of the patients' chances of responding to treatment.

Parietex ProGrip™ Self-Fixating Mesh in Surgical Treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Introduction: Advanced pelvic organ prolapse is a public health problem, and its treatment can be difficult, requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Aim: The main objective of this article is to describe particular aspects of the use of Parietex ProGrip trade; Self-Fixating Mesh for abdominal sacrocolpopexy or sacrocervicopexy. The secondary objective is to present the initial results of the use of these self-fixating meshes. Results: Ten successive patients with a POP of grade 2 or higher have benefited from this procedure. No complications or recurrences of prolapse were detected at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The mean operative time was 102Â+-25.84 minutes. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.7Â+-0.67 days. Conclusions: The results of this surgical procedure demonstrate that Parietex ProGrip trade; Self- Fixating Mesh can be used without complications and with good postoperative results. The main advantage of using this mesh is that it does not require other fastening means. The lack of rejection reaction or foreign body pathology encourages the implementation of this surgical procedure. Further study is needed to consolidate these results.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus predicts worse outcomes in patients with high-grade T1 bladder cancer receiving bacillus Calmette-Guérin after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this multicenter study was to investigate the prognostic role of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) comorbidity in a large multi-institutional cohort of patients with primary T1HG/G3 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) treated with transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,172 patients with primary T1 HG/G3 who had NMIBC on re-TURB and who received adjuvant intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy with maintenance were included. Endpoints were recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival. RESULTS: A total of 231 (19.7%) of patients had T2DM prior to TURB. Five-year recurrence-free survival estimates were 12.5% in patients with T2DM compared to 36% in patients without T2DM, P < 0.0001. Five-year PFS estimates were 60.5% in patients with T2DM compared to 70.2% in patients without T2DM, P = 0.003. T2DM was independently associated with disease recurrence (hazard ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval = 1.20-1.66, P < 0.001) and progression (hazard ratio = 1.27; 95% confidence interval = 0.99-1.63, P < 0.001), after adjusting for other known predictive factors such as tumor size, multifocality, T1G3 on re-TURB, body mass index, lymphovascular invasion, and neutrophil-to-lymphocytes ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Given the potential implications for management, prospective validation of this finding along with translational studies designed to investigate the underlying biology of such an association are warranted.

Efficacy of instillation treatment with hyaluronic acid in relieving symptoms in patients with BPS/IC and uncomplicated recurrent urinary tract infections - Long-term results of a multicenter study.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of intra-vesical instillations with hyaluronic acid (HA) in relieving lower urinary tract irritation symptoms in patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). This research, conducted in Romania, includes 30 patients with UTIs (Group I) and 24 with BPS/IC (Group II) as defined by European Association of Urology (EAU) Diagnostic Criteria. Data were collected prospectively, using pre- and post-treatment questionnaires for pelvic pain with a symptom scale for urination and frequency as well as visual analog scale (VAS) pain quizzes. At follow-up visits, at an average of 20 months, a significant improvement in urinary bladder pain, day-time urinary frequency and quality of life was observed in Group I patients. Group II patients experienced significant improvement in urinary bladder pain, urgency, nocturia and quality of life at the 15-month follow-up visit. Eighteen patients (75%) showed a complete response to intravesical HA instillations and required no further treatment. Our study demonstrates that intravesical HA instillations may be considered as an important treatment component, with long term positive effects in therapeutic strategy for optimal results in uncomplicated recurrent UTIs and BPS/IC, with good compliance and minimal side effects.

Particularities and Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy in Children.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was first introduced in paediatric population in 1986. Given the more frequent recurrence in children, compared to adults, urinary stones treatments should require minimal invasive treatment methods. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the profile of the young patient with lithiasis who can benefit from ESWL, analysing the experience of 2 clinical departments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 54 children who underwent ESWL for urolithiasis. ESWL success rate was defined as stone-free status or the presence of clinically insignificant residual fragments. Data were analysed using the STATA 14.2. RESULTS: In our study, the incidence of renal-ureteral calculi is significantly higher in girls (68.5%), compared to boys (31.5%). In total, 83.3% of patients showed a favourable outcome after treatment and the remaining 16.7% showed minimal complications. The presence of complications and remaining calculi was correlated to children age. The overall stone free rate was 88.9%. For calculus of 8.5 mm, only one ESWL session is recommended. CONCLUSIONS: The high percentage of cases with favourable outcome indicate that ESWL treatment is effective, considering the minimal cost, minimal invasiveness, repeatability and no need for general anaesthesia.

Comparison of 10-year overall survival between patients with G1 and G2 grade Ta bladder tumors.

To compare long-term overall survival (OS) in patients with G1 and G2 grade Ta bladder cancer after transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBTs). Secondary aim was to investigate clinical and pathologic prognostic factors for OS of Ta patients, except G3/high grade (HG).A total of 243 patients, retrospectively selected, with Ta nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) underwent TURBT between January 2006 and December 2008 (median follow-up 109 months). Inclusion criteria were: Ta at first manifestation, G1 or G2 grade with no associated carcinoma in situ (CIS). Seventy-nine patients were excluded due to concomitant CIS (1), G3/HG tumors (47), and lost to follow-up (31). Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Committee of the Mures County Hospital. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 11.0.Following inclusion criteria, 164 patients with primary G1 or G2 Ta tumors, were enrolled. Recurrence was observed in 26 (15.8%) and progression in 5 (3%) patients. Ten-year survival in G1 patients was 67.8% (CI 54.3-78.1) and in G2 patients 59% (CI 49-67.3) (P = .31). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis underlined that advanced age at diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] 1.10) and no Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) treatment (HR 0.24 and 0.29) were independent predictors for death at 10 years after diagnosis.Long-term analysis confirms that patients with well differentiated (G1) and moderately well differentiated (G2) Ta tumors have similar OS. A longer OS was even reported in those who underwent BCG adjuvant therapy.

Fascin is secreted in male's serum: results of a pilot study.

AIM: Fascin is a 55 kDa globular protein with an important role in cell migration. Aim of study was to investigate serum fascin in healthy males. MATERIALS & METHODS: From 1 July 2016 to 31 December 2016, we collected serum from 46 males. Serum fascin level was performed using ELISA kit from USBiological (Salem, MA, USA). RESULTS: Median age was 64 years. Mean fascin serum level was 9.84 ng/ml, mean prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 2.74 ng/ml and mean prostate volume was 37.64 cc. The 51-60 years group had a mean of 10.53 ng/ml, the 61-70 group a mean of 9.7 ng/ml and the 71-80 group had a mean of 9.41 ng/ml fascin serum level. CONCLUSION: Fascin serum level did not differ according to age in males.

[The importance of Bladder Contractility Index in the management of underactive bladder]. / A hólyagkontraktilitási index meghatározásának fontossága a csökkent hólyagmuködés kezelésében.

AIM: To evaluate the importance of BCI in the management of underactive bladder (UB). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study over a period of 3 years and 9 months (January 2013-September 2016) in Mures County Hospital, Clinic of Urology, including 91 patients. Detrusor underactivity was defined by BCI less than 100 using the formula: PdetQmax+5Qmax. RESULTS: The median of Qmax value was 7 ml/s and the median value of Pdet was 14 cm H2O. The median value of BCI was 55 with extremities between 17 and 110. BCI tends to decrease with age and there is a relation between value of BCI and diabetes (p = 0,003) and neurological diseases (p = 0,015). CONCLUSIONS: The UB diagnosis represents a real challenge for the urologist, so that, urodynamical findings such as absence of bladder obstruction, post-void residual urine, Qmax, together with BCI value, helps in setting the proper management. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(31): 1222-1227.

Retrovesical hydatidosis associated with urinary tract pathology - case report.

Cystic hydatidosis (CH) is a worldwide distributed parasitic zoonosis. It is considered one of the 17 neglected parasitic tropical diseases, among cysticercosis and soil transmitted helminthiases. CH is caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, a tapeworm that usually infects dogs and other carnivorous animals as definitive hosts and herbivorous animals and rarely humans as intermediate hosts. Main primary localizations are the liver and the lung. In less than 3% they can primarily be present in the spleen. Treatment is mainly surgical, in some cases resulting in reoccurrence. In this paper we present the case of a male 55 years old patient who underwent a surgical intervention on his spleen for a solitary hydatid cyst as primary localization. Fifteen years after the operation the patient presented macroscopic haematuria; routine laboratory findings presented soft eosinophilia, 5%, without any other modification. There was found no palpable tumour in the pelvis by rectal examination. Abdominal ultrasound investigation revealed a 2×1 cm formation in the urinary bladder at the base of the left bladder-wall and a retrovesical, inhomogeneous 10×10 cm tumour with multiple septa and transonic zones. Computed tomography (CT) scan strongly suggested the presence of a bladder tumour and a hydatid cyst. The symptoms caused by the bladder tumour revealed the co-existing non-symptomatic retrovesical secondary CH, which is a rare complication of splenic Echinococcus granulosus infection. Close follow-up and a proper pre- and postoperative anti-parasitic medication of the patient could have prevented reoccurrence of CH.

The place of prostate rebiopsy in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

AIM: To highlight the role of prostate rebiopsy in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) in cases with an atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP) diagnosis on the initial biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study on 1525 patients who underwent prostate needle biopsy (PB) over a period of four years (2009-2012) was performed. For each patient the following were analyzed: age, prostate volume, digital rectal examination (DRE), serum total prostate specific antigen (tPSA), number of the cores taken. All PB were examined in HE staining and in difficult cases, immunohistochemistry (IHC) for basal cell markers was performed in order to establish a correct diagnosis. According to morphological criteria and IHC results, all PB were classified into four category of diagnosis: PCa, ASAP, high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and benign (including normal tissue, inflammatory lesions, and prostatic atrophy). In ASAP cases, a rebiopsy was performed. RESULTS: PCa detection on the first biopsy was 69.77%, with a 3% incidence of ASAP and 1% of HGPIN, values similar with those in the literature. After rebiopsy the overall detection rate of PCa was improved to 71.01%, with a detection rate of 41.17% on the second biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: PCa diagnosis is the result of a complex algorithm including DRE, tPSA, transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) examination and TRUS-guided prostate biopsy. TRUS-guided prostate biopsy is the key step of this algorithm; it confirms the diagnosis of PCa and must be repeated in cases with a solid clinical suspicion of PCa, whenever histopathological features are inconclusive even after IHC staining.