Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons influenced neither the frequency nor the spectrum of FGFR3 mutations in bladder urothelial carcinoma.

Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is associated with an increased risk of urothelial carcinoma (UC). FGFR3 is found mutated in about 70% of Ta tumors, which represent the major group at diagnosis. The influence of PAH on FGFR3 mutations and whether it is related to the emergence or shaping of these mutations is not yet known. We investigated the influence of occupational PAH on the frequency and spectrum of FGFR3 mutations. We included on 170 primary urothelial tumors from five hospitals from France. Patients (median age, 64 yr) were interviewed to gather data on occupational exposure to PAH, revealing 104 non- and possibly PAH exposed patients, 66 probably and definitely exposed patients. Tumors were classified as follows: 75 pTa, 52 pT1, and 43 > or =pT2. Tumor grades were as follows: 6 low malignant potential neoplasms (LMPN) and 41 low-grade and 123 high-grade carcinomas. The SnaPshot method was used to screen for the following FGFR3 mutations: R248C, S249C, G372C, Y375C, A393E, K652E, K652Q, K652M, and K652T. Occupational PAH exposure was not associated with a particular stage or grade of tumors. Thirty-nine percent of the tumors harbored FGFR3 mutations. After adjustment for smoking, occupational exposure to PAH did not influence the frequency [OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.78-1.52], or spectrum of FGFR3 mutations. Occupational exposure to PAH influenced neither the frequency nor the spectrum of FGFR3 mutations and there was no direct relationship between these mutations and this occupational hazard.

A comparison of the performance of microsatellite and methylation urine analysis for predicting the recurrence of urothelial cell carcinoma, and definition of a set of markers by Bayesian network analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the potential of two diagnostic methods for detecting recurrence of urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) of the bladder, by (i) detecting alterations in microsatellite DNA markers and loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and (ii) detecting aberrant gene hypermethylation, as UCC has a high recurrence rate in the urinary tract and the disease can invade muscle if new tumours are overlooked. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over 1 year, urine samples were retrieved from 40 patients already diagnosed with bladder UCC (30 pTa, two pTis, eight pT1). Samples were collected 6 months after bladder tumour resection, during the follow-up schedule. We used samples to analyse nine microsatellite markers and the methylation status of 11 gene promoters. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated and Bayesian statistics used to create an interaction network between recurrence and the biomarkers. RESULTS: During the study, 15 of the 40 patients (38%) had a tumour recurrence and 14 were identified by cystoscopy (reference method). Overall, microsatellite markers (area under curve, AUC 0.819, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.677-0.961) had better performance characteristics than promoter hypermethylation (AUC 0.448, 0.259-0.637) for detecting recurrence. A marker panel of IFNA, MBP, ACTBP2, D9S162 and of RASSF1A, and WIF1 generated a higher diagnostic accuracy of 86% (AUC 0.92, 0.772-0.981). CONCLUSION: Microsatellite markers have better performance characteristics than promoter hypermethylation for detecting UCC recurrence. These data support the further development of a combination of only six markers from both methods in urinary DNA. Once validated, it could be used routinely during the follow-up for the early detection and surveillance of UCC from the lower and upper urinary tract.

[Infertility and testicular seminoma]. / Infertilité et séminome testiculaire.

INTRODUCTION: Infertility in men may be associated with an elevated risk of testicular cancer. The authors report a case of testicular seminoma discovered fortuitously during a workup for infertility. CASE: A 30 year-old male was seen for infertility. Physical examination and testicular ultrasonography were normal. The sperm count found oligoasthenospermia related to the excretory ducts. The patient underwent testicular biopsies for infertility, which showed an intratubular germ cell tumor. Tumor markers (beta HCG, alpha FP, LDH) were normal. Computed tomography was normal for the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis. We performed an inguinal orchiectomy. The pathology examination found seminoma, at a pT1 stage. One course of chemotherapy followed. DISCUSSION: The incidence of testicular cancer is increasing throughout the world. Recent studies show a strong relation between infertility and an increased risk of testicular cancer, and some authors even suggest a causal relation.

[Clinical usefulness of positron emission tomography in prostate cancer]. / Utilité clinique de la tomographie par émission de positons dans le cancer de la prostate.

In prostate cancer, use of FDG, the radiopharmaceutical currently most widely used in oncology, is limited to the most aggressive cancers and, in the absence of another tracer, to attempting to localise occult recurrences detected biochemically (elevated PSA serum levels). Four other PET tracers are currently suggested in various situations of prostate cancer development: for guiding biopsies, for diagnosis and staging of the primary cancer and of local or metastatic recurrences, especially in bone, and for localizing occult biochemical recurrence. This article is illustrated by cases summarising our experience with fluoromethylcholine-(18F) and PET/CT. They cover a wide spectrum of clinical settings: localisation of intraprostatic neoplastic lesions, initial staging, monitoring treatment by ultrasound, detection of occult recurrences and characterisation of images on conventional imaging modalities, which are questionable or difficult to interpret.

[Bladder perforation during transurethral resection of bladder tumour: a review]. / Perforations vésicales au cours d'une résection trans-uréthrale de tumeur de vessie.

Transurethral resection of bladder tumour is a common procedure (10,711 new cases of bladder tumour diagnosed in France in 2000), associated with a certain morbidity. Intra- or extraperitoneal perforation of the bladder wall is a possible complication. The diagnosis is generally established intraoperatively and cystography can be performed in the operating room to demonstrate the diameter of the perforation. Most cases of extraperitoneal perforation can be treated conservatively by simple bladder drainage. Intraperitoneal perforations may require surgical repair Laparoscopy is currently tending to replace open surgery for this repair. One of the risks of perforation is also tumour seeding outside of the bladder However metastases related to perforation appear to be rare and occur rapidly requiring close surveillance.

[Evaluation of visual stimulation combined with intracavernous injections for the treatment of severe erectile dysfunction]. / Evaluation de la stimulation visuelle combinée aux injections intra-caverneuses pour le traitement de la dysfonction érectile sévère.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of visual sexual stimulation combined with intracavernous injections (ICI) in patients treated for severe erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients with severe erectile dysfunction were prospectively included in this study between 2005 and 2006. The outpatient protocol consisted of comparing the efficacy of alprostadil ICI alone on D0 and ICI combined with erotic stimulation on D8. End-points were: time to onset and rigidity of erection. A subjective score (1 to 5) was used to quantify erection. RESULTS: Forty patients with a mean age of 64.5 years (range: 52-70 years) were included in the study. All patients had an IIEF5 score less than 15. Erectile dysfunction was secondary to urological surgery in 35% of cases. The mean time to onset of erection was 10 min 18 s (range: 2-20 min) on D0 and 10 min 50 s (range: 2-20 min) on D8. No significant difference for rigidity and quality of erection was observed between D0 and D8 and erections were scored as 5 in 30 cases (75%), 4 in 8 cases (20%) and 3 in 2 cases (5%) at each visit. CONCLUSION: Visual sexual stimulation has not been demonstrated to be truly effective in the hospital setting in combination with intracavernous injections. In order to increase the patient satisfaction rate, the urologist must above all educate the patient in the intracavernous injection technique in an appropriate environment.

Endoscopic lithotripsy and the FREDDY laser: initial experience.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The frequency-doubled double-pulse neodymium:YAG (FREDDY) laser has been developed for endoscopic lithotripsy and combines the characteristics of solid and dye lasers with a thin flexible optical fiber enabling it to be used with flexible ureterorenoscopy. Furthermore, it is less expensive and easier to maintain than other lasers. Our goal was to evaluate its efficacy and role in the ureteroscopic treatment of urinary stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used a FREDDY laser in 26 patients (29 stones). For 4 stone cases, this was the first line of treatment; for the remaining cases, this was the second line of treatment, following SWL in 23 cases and nephrolithotomy in 2 cases. The mean stone size was 9 mm, with a range of 6 to 15 mm. There were 13 renal and 16 ureteral stones. The absence of residual fragments at 3-month postoperative radiography was considered to reflect successful treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-six stones were treated with satisfactory results. Within 3 months, 18 patients were stone free (69%), and 72.4% of the stones (21/29) had been treated completely. Fragments of 8 stones still remained in 8 patients. Of these stones, 5 were >10 mm and persisted at 3 months. Fragmentation was ineffective for 2 cystine stones and poor for 1 calcium oxalate monohydrate stone. Hospitalization, on average, was 1.5 days with a range of 1 to 3 days. A ureteral perforation was observed in the case of an impacted ureteral stone. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the wavelengths used, endoscopic FREDDY laser lithotripsy is an effective and harmless method. This laser can be used as a therapeutic tool because of its moderate cost and ability to be used with flexible ureterorenoscopy. However, it is important to be aware of the FREDDY laser's limited fragmentation capabilities for cystine stones and its inability to treat tissue lesions such as urinary-tract stenosis and tumors.

[Study of the safety of double J ureteric stents]. / Etude de tolérance des endoprothèses urétérales de type double J.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic placement of ureteric stents was first described in 1967 by Zimskind. Few studies have evaluated the impact of double J ureteric stents on the patient's quality of life. This prospective study was designed to evaluate the safety and morbidity associated with ureteric stents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From February 2001 to June 2003, 115 patients (64 men and 51 women; mean age: 49.5 years [range: 19-90]) were included in this study. Ureteric stents were placed under general anaesthesia for urolithiasis (80 cases), ureteroplasty (25 cases) and extrinsic ureteric compression (10 cases). 28 cm 7F polyurethane stents were used in every case. Patients with double J stent for renal transplantation or pregnancy were excluded. The safety of stents was evaluated on the day of removal by a questionnaire based on a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: The mean duration of stenting was 91.8 days (range: 10-287). Macroscopic haematuria was reported in 56% of cases, dysuria was reported in 36% of cases and urgency was reported in 78% of cases. The mean score on the VAS was 44 (0-100) for global impression, 41 (0-100) for bladder pain, 41 (0100) for low back pain, 62 (2-100) for low back pain during micturition and 32 (0-100) for straining on the stent. CONCLUSIONS: Double J stents are associated with high morbidity, which is sometimes underestimated by operators. Our study confirms that the duration of stenting must be as short as possible in order to improve patient comfort, which implies rapid organization of the aetiological management of these patients.

[Anterograde flexible ureteroscopy for stones of the uretero-sigmoid junction of a Mainz II pouch]. / Urétéroscopie souple antégrade pour calcul de la jonction urétéro-sigmoïdienne sur dérivation de type Mayence II.

The incidence of stones after urinary diversion is variable but considerable. The authors report the case of a patient with a stone of the uretero-sigmoid junction of a Mainz II pouch occurring three years after radical cystectomy for recurrent carcinoma in situ refractory to conservative treatment. The patient was treated by anterograde Holmium:YAG laser flexible ureteroscopy. This clinical case illustrates the role of anterograde flexible ureteroscopy combined with Holmium:YAG laser as a minimally invasive, sale and effective technique for the management of stones in a urinary diversion.

[Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: a possible cause of severe and recurrent urolithiasis]. / Néoplasie endocrinienne multiple de type 1: une cause possible de maladie lithiasique rénale sévère et récidivante.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) is defined by the presence of at least two functionally unrelated endocrine gland tumours in the same subject. There are three types of MEN. MEN type 1 (or Wermer syndrome) is an autosomal dominant cancer syndrome. In the light of a case report, the authors recall the characteristics of MEN type 1 responsible for severe and recurrent urolithiasis and emphasize the need for systematic aetiological work-up for all patients presenting a first episode of urolithiasis according to the guidelines of the Association Française d'Urologie Stone Committee (CLAFU).

[Inferior calyx stone and flexible ureterorenoscopy to mobilize the stone before fragmentation]. / Calcul caliciel inférieur et urétérorénoscopie souple: mobiliser le calcul avant de le fragmenter.

Flexible ureterorenoscopy is recommended for the treatment of inferior calyx stones, 10 to 15 mm in diameter, particularly after failure of extracorporeal lithotripsy. It is recommended to mobilize an inferior calyx stone towards the renal pelvis or superior calyx before starting fragmentation. This manoeuvre is essential to preserve the ureterorenoscope. The objective of this technical note is to explain the stone "relocalization" manoeuvre and describe how in situ treatment of an inferior calyx stone can be dangerous for the flexible ureterorenoscope.

Nephron-sparing surgery for de novo renal cell carcinoma in allograft kidneys.

Renal cell carcinomas account for 4.6% of post-transplant cancers, 10% of which occur in allograft kidneys. We report three such cases among kidney grafts that were performed or followed from 1970 to 2004. In all patients, we performed a partial allograft nephrectomy after consideration of the tumor size, location, and absence of metastases and local extension. Renal function has remained stable, and there has been no sign of graft rejection, tumor recurrence or metastases. The surgery was technically feasible without exposing the patients to increased postoperative risks. The lateral, peripherally located tumor allowed excision without renal hilar dissection or entry into the collecting system. In agreement with data emerging from the literature, the present cases confirm that even in the setting of long-standing immunosuppression, de novo RCC of the kidney graft warrants a minimally invasive approach to spare patients graft loss and return to hemodialysis.

[How to identify the neck of a caliceal diverticulum in flexible ureterorenoscopy]. / Comment repérer le collet d'un diverticule caliciel en urétérorénoscopie souple.

A caliceal diverticulum corresponds to a cavity communicating with the renal excretory tract via a neck. Surgical treatment is required when the caliceal diverticulum is symptomatic with repercussions on the patient's quality of life. A retrograde approach via holmium:YAG laser ureterorenoscopy has been recently used to treat the stone and externalize the caliceal diverticulum into the pyelocaliceal cavities. The problem raised by this approach is identification of the diverticular neck. The objective of this technical note is to describe a technique to facilitate identification of the diverticular neck.

[Value of infrared spectrophotometry morpho-constitutional analysis of double J stent encrustations for indirect determination of urinary stone composition]. / Intérêt de l'analyse morpho-constitutionnelle par spectrophotométrie infra-rouge des incrustations des sondes double J pour la détermination indirecte de la composition des calculs urinaires.

INTRODUCTION: A single stone analysis is necessary during the patient's clinical history in order to institute specific drug treatment and health and dietary measures to prevent stone recurrence. In practice, only one in every two stones is recovered for morpho-constitutional analysis. The objective of this study was to determine the place of double J stent encrustation analysis for indirect determination of stone composition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Double J stents and stones from all patients treated in the same centre over 24 months were consecutively analysed by infrared spectrophotometry. The correlation coefficient 1, evaluating the concordance between the composition of stones and double J stent encrustation was estimated statistically by SPSS 12.0 software (0<1<1; 1=0: no concordance; 1=1: perfect concordance). RESULTS: 45 males and 27 females with a mean age of 45.3 years (range: 29-70) were included Double J stents were placed for: febrile obstruction (N=52; 72%), acute renal colic (N=15; 21%) and impaired renal function (N=5; 7%). Calculated values for 1 were: 0.78 for the concordance between the predominant constituent of the stone and the encrustation (N=72; p < 0.0005); 0.91 for the concordance between the nature of the encrustation of the upper loop and that of the lower loop of the stent (N=30, p < 0.0005). CONCLUSION: The composition of mineral encrustation of double J stents is a good marker of stone formation. This constitutes an alternative method that can be used by urologists when no stone is available for spectrophotometric analysis.

[How to avoid accumulation of stone fragments in the lower calix during flexible ureterorenoscopy]. / Comment éviter l'accumulation de fragments lithiasiques dans le calice inférieur au cours de l'urétérorénoscopie.

Flexible ureterorenoscopy combined with Holmium:YAG laser is an emerging technology that already has its place among the urologist's treatment options for the management of urinary stones. The main indication for the technique is renal stones, particularly lower caliceal stones. After mobilization of the stone in the renal pelvis or upper caliceal group, fragmentation is achieved by Holmium:YAG laser and the largest fragments are removed. When small fragments persist that are difficult to extract, the patient's blood is injected into the lower caliceal group to obtain a blood clot This clot then fills the lower caliceal group and prevents secondary accumulation of residual stone fragments, facilitating elimination of fragments towards the ureter. This article describes this technique.

[Comparative study of two latest generation flexible ureterorenoscopes]. / Etude comparative de deux urétérorénoscopes souples de dernière génération.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Miniaturization and development of flexible instruments have led to the development of flexible ureterorenoscopy. The objective of this study was to compare the capacities of active deflection of two latest generation flexible ureterorenoscopes and to evaluate alteration of deflection and flow of irrigating fluid in the presence of instruments in the operating channel. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two ureterorenoscopes were evaluated in this study. The Karl STORZ Flex-X and the ACMI DUR-8 Elite. Comparison of deflection movements was performed ex situ by super-imposing all active movements of the two ureterorenoscopes. Alteration of deflection was performed by alternately placing an extraction or fragmentation instrument of variable dimensions in the operating channel. Alteration of flow was also assessed in the presence of the same instruments. RESULTS: The ex situ deflection capacities of the DUR-8 Elite flexible ureterorenoscope were more extensive than those of the Flex-X, but it was more complicated to manipulate. Alterations of deflection and flow of irrigation fluid were comparable for the two ureterorenoscopes. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these data, we can confirm that the two latest generation ureterorenoscopes present comparable capacities, but different functioning modalities. We therefore recommend that each operator test the two ureterorenoscopes to become familiar with their manipulation. Other studies are necessary to evaluate the optical properties, ease of use in clinical practice and fragility of these new ureterorenoscopes.

[Endoscopic lithotripsy and FREDDY laser technology. Initial experience]. / Intérêt et place de la lithotritie endocorporelle Nd:YAG en urétéroscopie souple et semi-rigide: une alternative au laser Holmium:YAG?

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: FREDDY laser technology was developed for endocorporeal lithotripsy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, based on our initial experience, the efficacy and place of this technology in the treatment of urinary calculi by ureterorenoscopy. (World of Medicine) to treat 26 patients (29 stones) by ureterorenoscopy. This was the second procedure for 25 stones: after ESWL (23 cases) or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (2 cases) and the first procedure for 4 stones. The mean stone diameter was 9 mm (range: 6-15 mm). Thirteen stones were situated in the kidney and 16 were in the ureter. Success of treatment was defined by the absence of residual fragments immediately after the operation or at one month on plain abdominal x-ray. RESULTS: Twenty-six stones were satisfactorily fragmented. At three months, 21 out of 26 (80.7%) patients were stone-free corresponding to 21 out of 29 (72.4%) stones). Failures concerned 8 stones (5 patients). For five stones, measuring more than 10 mm, residual fragments persisted at three months. For three other stones, two cystine stones and one calcium oxalate monohydrate stone, fragmentation was insufficient or even nonexistent for the cystine stones. The mean length of hospital stay was 1.5 days (range: 1-3 days). A ureteric perforation due to a stone impacted in the ureteric wall was observed. CONCLUSIONS: FREDDY laser endoscopic lithotripsy is a safe and effective method due to the wavelength used. This laser could constitute an alternative treatment option in view of its moderate cost and the fact that it is adapted to flexible ureterorenoscopy. However, it presents certain limitations in terms of fragmentation, particularly in the case of cystine stones, and cannot be used to treat solid lesions (urinary tract strictures and tumours).

Risk factors for nephrolithiasis in patients with familial idiopathic hypercalciuria.

PURPOSE: About 40% of patients with nephrolithiasis have idiopathic hypercalciuria, sometimes associated with a family history of kidney stones. In these families, little is known about the frequency of, and risk factors for, stone formation among hypercalciuric patients. We therefore conducted a prospective study of 216 subjects from 33 families with idiopathic hypercalciuria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recorded the age, weight, and history of calcium stones in all subjects, and measured 24-hour urine volume and excretion of calcium, uric acid, sodium, magnesium, urea, citrate, phosphate, and sulfate on a nonrestricted diet. We performed a more complete metabolic evaluation in many of the hypercalciuric subjects (calciuria/weight >0.1 mmol/kg/d). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for stone formation. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported nephrolithiasis was 46% (61/132) in hypercalciuric subjects and 11% (7/63) in normocalciuric subjects (P <0.0001). In multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] per 10 years of age = 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1 to 1.6), urine calcium excretion (OR = 1.3 per mmol/d increase; 95% CI: 1.2 to 1.5), and uric acid excretion (OR = 3.3 per mmol/d increase; 95% CI: 1.4 to 7.5) were independent risk factors for nephrolithiasis. The risk of nephrolithiasis increased progressively with greater levels of hypercalciuria. CONCLUSION: We found a significant dose-effect association between calciuria and stone disease in patients with familial hypercalciuria. Other factors associated with stone formation included higher uric acid excretion, probably reflecting higher food intake, and age, probably reflecting the length of exposure to hypercalciuria and hyperuricosuria.

[Early postoperative mitomycin C instillation: when and how?]. / L'IPOP: instillation post-opératoire précoce de mitomycine C. Quand et comment?

The rationale for intravesical chemotherapy in the treatment of superficial bladder tumours is based on the knowledge of their natural history, particularly the propensity of a majority of tumours to relapses, while only a small proportion of these tumours present a risk of progression. The objective of intravesical chemotherapy is to prevent tumour implantation on the site of resection and to eliminate any residual disease responsible for recurrences; this treatment therefore constitutes "chemoprophylaxis". The objective of this technical note is to recall the practical modalities of early postoperative mitomycin C instillation with particular emphasis on two technical points.

[Vitamin C and stone risk. Review of the literature]. / Vitamine C et risque lithiasique.

The popularity of vitamin C can be attributed to Linus Pauling who, in the 1970s, recommended the use of vitamin C for the prevention of influenza. Vitamin C has subsequently been used extensively in a wide range of diseases. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has been incriminated as a possible risk factor for calcium oxalate stones due to its enzymatic conversion into oxalate. However, this lithogenic role has never been clearly established. Studies evaluating the effect of ascorbic acid on lithogenesis have reported contradictory results. Ascorbic acid has also been extensively used as an urine acidifier for the treatment of chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection. Once again, the data of the literature are contradictory. The purpose of this article was to review the effects of ascorbic acid on lithogenesis and urinary pH based on a review of the literature.