Seminal citrate is superior to PSA for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To establish whether the citrate concentration in the seminal fluid ([CITRATE]) measured by means of high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HNMRS) is superior to the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration in detecting of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in men with persistently elevated PSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The group of patients consisted of 31 consecutively seen men with histological diagnosis of clinically localized csPCa. The control group consisted of 28 men under long-term follow-up (mean of 8.7 ± 3.0 years) for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), with persistently elevated PSA (above 4 ng/mL) and several prostate biopsies negative for cancer (mean of 2.7 ± 1.3 biopsies per control). Samples of blood and seminal fluid (by masturbation) for measurement of PSA and citrate concentration, respectively, were collected from patients and controls. Citrate concentration in the seminal fluid ([CITRATE]) was determined by means of 1HNMRS. The capacities of PSA and [CITRATE] to predict csPCa were compared by means of univariate analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Median [CITRATE] was significantly lower among patients with csPCa compared to controls (3.93 mM/l vs. 15.53 mM/l). There was no significant difference in mean PSA between patients and controls (9.42 ng/mL vs. 8.57 ng/mL). The accuracy of [CITRATE] for detecting csPCa was significantly superior compared to PSA (74.8% vs. 54.8%). CONCLUSION: Measurement of [CITRATE] by means of 1HNMRS is superior to PSA for early detection of csPCa in men with elevated PSA.

Seminal citrate is superior to PSA for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer

ABSTRACT Purpose: To establish whether the citrate concentration in the seminal fluid ([CITRATE]) measured by means of high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HNMRS) is superior to the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration in detecting of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in men with persistently elevated PSA. Materials and Methods: The group of patients consisted of 31 consecutively seen men with histological diagnosis of clinically localized csPCa. The control group consisted of 28 men under long-term follow-up (mean of 8.7 ± 3.0 years) for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), with persistently elevated PSA (above 4 ng/mL) and several prostate biopsies negative for cancer (mean of 2.7 ± 1.3 biopsies per control). Samples of blood and seminal fluid (by masturbation) for measurement of PSA and citrate concentration, respectively, were collected from patients and controls. Citrate concentration in the seminal fluid ([CITRATE]) was determined by means of 1HNMRS. The capacities of PSA and [CITRATE] to predict csPCa were compared by means of univariate analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: Median [CITRATE] was significantly lower among patients with csPCa compared to controls (3.93 mM/l vs. 15.53 mM/l). There was no significant difference in mean PSA between patients and controls (9.42 ng/mL vs. 8.57 ng/mL). The accuracy of [CITRATE] for detecting csPCa was significantly superior compared to PSA (74.8% vs. 54.8%). Conclusion: Measurement of [CITRATE] by means of 1HNMRS is superior to PSA for early detection of csPCa in men with elevated PSA.

Evaluation of serum and seminal levels of prostate specific antigen in men with spinal cord injury.

PURPOSE: Recent studies have used prostate specific antigen (PSA) as an indicator of prostate gland activity in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Thus, the present study was performed to determine whether SCI can induce alterations in total serum and seminal PSA, and to compare the findings obtained to those of normal men (controls). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 44 men with SCI (cases, mean age +/- SD 33.98 +/- 9.12 years) and 44 controls (mean age +/- SD 34.09 +/- 9.16 years) were studied. Blood and semen samples were collected after 3 days of abstinence from ejaculation and stored at a controlled temperature between -70 and -79C. Seminal fluid was kept at room temperature for 15 minutes before storage. The tests for determination of total serum and seminal PSA were performed using AxSYM equipment and reagents. RESULTS: The mean total seminal PSA obtained from patients (0.609 mg/ml) was lower than the 0.773 mg/ml value obtained from controls (p = 0.0012), but the mean total serum PSA of patients (0.918 ng/ml) did not differ significantly from that obtained from controls (0.976 ng/ml, p = 0.9967). CONCLUSIONS: SCI patients have a significant decrease in total seminal PSA but total serum PSA is not affected by this lesion.

Segurança e eficácia da sildenafila em pacientes com disfunção erétil secundária à lesão espinhal / Safety and efficacy of sildenafil in Brazilian men with erectile dysfunction secondary to spinal cord injury

Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do sildenafil em pacientes brasileiros com disfunção erétil secundária à lesão de medula espinhal. Métodos: Os participantes foram examinados por ocasião da adesão ao estudo, e duas e seis semanas depois. Dados iniciaise de seguimento sobre a função sexual foram obtidos. Depois da segunda semana, a dose inicial de sildenafil (50 mg) podia ser ajustada, de acordo com a eficácia e tolerabilidade. A eficácia foi avaliada principalmente pelos escores nas questões 3 e 4 do questionário do Índice Internacional para Disfunção Erétil. Análises secundárias incluíram questões e domínios do índice, a avaliação da eficácia global, percentual de sucesso na relação sexual, respostas ao questionário de Qualidade de Vida e Função Erétil, além da satisfação da parceira. Resultados: Noventa e um pacientes foram avaliados quanto à eficácia e 94 quanto à segurança. A mediana da idade dos pacientes foi de 33 anos e a mediana do tempo entre a lesão medular e a adesão ao estudo de três anos. O sildenafil levou a um aumento significativo nos escores médios nas questões 3 e 4(p < 0,001 nas duas comparações), bem como em outras questõese em todos os domínios do Índice Internacional para Disfunção Erétil. A melhora na ereção foi relatada por 89% dos pacientes e a proporção de relações sexuais bem sucedidas aumentou de 6 para 74%(p < 0,001). Os escores médios do questionário de Qualidade de Vida e Função Erétil aumentaram de 60 para 74% (p < 0,001). Noventa por cento de 42 mulheres estavam moderadamente ou bastante satisfeitas com o tratamento do parceiro. Os efeitos adversos maiscomuns foram cefaléia (16%), rubor (11%) e congestão nasal (10%). Conclusões: Sildenafil se mostrou seguro e efetivo no tratamentode homens brasileiros portadores de disfunção erétil secundária à lesão traumática da medula espinhal.