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Objectives To examine the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density (PSAD) and free to total PSA ratio (f/tPSA) in enhancing the specificity of PSA in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in patients with a total PSA (tPSA) of 4–10 ng/mL and with a normal digital rectal examination (DRE). Patients and methods The study comprised 77 consecutive men in whom the fPSA and tPSA levels were obtained before DRE and transrectal ultrasonography-guided sextant prostate biopsy. Prostate cancer was found in 39 patients and the histology was benign in 38. Receiver operator characteristic curves, obtained from all 77 patients, were used to determine the optimal thresholds for PSAD and f/tPSA in detecting cancer. A subset of 28 patients, including seven with prostate cancer, was identified who had a normal DRE and a tPSA of 4–10 ng/mL; PSAD and f/tPSA values were applied at the optimal thresholds to assess their use in identifying those patients with cancer. Results When applied to the selected group of 28 patients, the PSAD (threshold 0.15) failed to identify any with prostate cancer. The f/tPSA (threshold 0.12) yielded a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 38%, identifying only three of seven patients with cancer. By increasing the threshold to 0.25, six patients were correctly identified, giving a sensitivity of 86%, with a lower specificity of 14%. Conclusions These findings suggest that the neither PSAD nor f/tPSA either significantly reduce the negative biopsy rate or identify patients at greater risk of prostate cancer, particularly when the tPSA is equivocal at 4–10 ng/mL.

Objective To determine the subset of alpha 1-adrenoceptors mediating the functional abstraction of the prostate to noradrenaline. Materials and methods Radioligand experiments were performed with membranes prepared from rat 1 fibroblasts transfected with rat alpha 1a, hamster alpha 1b or bovine alpha 1c adrenoceptor cDNA. Human prostatic tissue obtained from transurethral resection of the prostate with full informed consent was submitted to functional in vitro muscle strip experiments. Results The binding experiments defined the potential subtype selectivity of various antagonists. Using this information, it was possible to define the functionally important alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtype in the human prostate. Conclusion This work reports the results of the first functional characterization of the alpha 1c-adrenoceptor subtype. The most functionally important alpha 1-adrenoceptor type in the human prostate appears to be the alpha 1c subtype. This finding may aid the development of prostate-selective adrenoceptor pharmacotherapy.

Summary None of the hypotheses to explain the genesis of obstructed detrusor instability covered in this report provide a satisfactory explanation, by themselves, for the condition. While symptoms associated with prostatic obstruction are a common cause of patient referral to a urologist, all therapeutic advances so far have been directed towards the relief of bladder outflow resistance. It is possible that pharmacotherapy, for example, with drugs which stabilize muscle cell membranes and autonomically active drugs such as α1-antagonists, possibly combined with anticholinergics, will have a therapeutic role in the treatment of obstructive detrusor instability. Further studies of obstructed human bladder are necessary to investigate the importance of changes in receptor density, affinity and distribution, agonist release and degradation and subsequently the ultrastructural and physiological alterations following the relief of obstruction.

The principal aim of this study was to provide an objective assessment of the potential role of urethral pressure profilometry as a technique for assessing prostatic size by direct comparison with endoscopic assessment of prostatic length and computed tomographic measurement of prostatic volume and length. There was a poor correlation between pre-operative prostatic length and amount resected in the operating theatre. The results obtained with urethral pressure profilometry correlated poorly with those obtained using the other techniques, and cannot therefore be relied upon in routine clinical practice. Although there was good correlation between the length of the prostate and prostatic size, assessed by pre-operative computed tomography, this correlated poorly with the amount of tissue resected at operation. Further studies need to be conducted to compare objectively the completeness of prostatic resection with the outcome following prostatectomy.

A series of 24 patients underwent 27 transtrigonal phenol injections for the treatment of bladder instability. Only 2 of 18 patients with detrusor instability and 2 of 6 with detrusor hyperreflexia continued to derive benefit from the procedure 6 months after it was carried out. Serious complications attributable to phenol were seen in 2 patients in this series and in a further 4 patients referred for complications resulting from this therapy in other centres. These results and a review of the literature lead us to suggest that transvesical phenol injection should not be used except in the hyper-reflexic bladder when no alternative treatment is possible. Particular care should be exercised in patients who have undergone extensive prior surgery or radiotherapy.

Summary— Haemodynamic changes were measured during routine transurethral prostatectomy (TU RP). The heart rate and stroke volume fell progressively over the first 30 min of surgery, resulting in a steady reduction in cardiac output. There was a significant increase in left ventricular afterload from commencement of the procedure. These findings demonstrate that haemodynamic responses, which are not detectable using conventional methods of monitoring, occur during TURP. Increased left ventricular afterload indicates increased myocardial work and oxygen demand which could result in myocardial ischaemia. This may contribute to the increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality which have been reported to occur after TURP. The possible underlying mechanisms are discussed.

Summary— Detrusor instability occurs in approximately 10% of the adult population, producing troublesome symptoms. The pharmacotherapy currently available is usually only partially effective and cannot be adequately evaluated except under “blind” conditions because of the significant component attributable to placebo effects. The results of the present study revealed no advantage resulting from treatment with flavoxate, as assessed both subjectively and objectively. We suggest that this therapy does not appear to be beneficial in the medical management of detrusor instability.

Summary— The main prevalence of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is in the adult female population. Although recognised as a clinical entity in adult males, little detailed information is available on this subject. A retrospective analysis was carried out on the results of 1519 consecutive videocystometrograms performed on male patients. VUR had an overall incidence of 8.6% within this population, with a range of 5.1% in patients with normal urodynamics to 15.6% in those with detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. The common denominator between VU R and urodynamic measurement appears to be the generation of high intravesical pressures. These findings suggest that VU R is not uncommon in the male population, is usually asymptomatic and should respond to the treatment of any underlying bladder abnormality.

Summary— Three cases of bladder stone due to a migrated Stamey suture and cuff are reported. In each case peroperative cystoscopy confirmed that the sutures were extravesical. The Stamey cuff subsequently formed a nidus for intravesical stone formation. The mechanism of migration of the cuff, the radiological findings and the operative technique are discussed.

To examine the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density (PSAD) and free to total PSA ratio (f/tPSA) in enhancing the specificity of PSA in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in patients with a total PSA (tPSA) of 4-10 ng/mL and with a normal digital rectal examination (DRE).The study comprised 77 consecutive men in whom the fPSA and tPSA levels were obtained before DRE and transrectal ultrasonography-guided sextant prostate biopsy. Prostate cancer was found in 39 patients and the histology was benign in 38. Receiver operator characteristic curves, obtained from all 77 patients, were used to determine the optimal thresholds for PSAD and f/tPSA in detecting cancer. A subset of 28 patients, including seven with prostate cancer, was identified who had a normal DRE and a tPSA of 4-10 ng/mL; PSAD and f/tPSA values were applied at the optimal thresholds to assess their use in identifying those patients with cancer.When applied to the selected group of 28 patients, the PSAD (threshold 0.15) failed to identify any with prostate cancer. The f/tPSA (threshold 0.12) yielded a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 38%, identifying only three of seven patients with cancer. By increasing the threshold to 0.25, six patients were correctly identified, giving a sensitivity of 86%, with a lower specificity of 14%.These findings suggest that the neither PSAD nor f/tPSA either significantly reduce the negative biopsy rate or identify patients at greater risk of prostate cancer, particularly when the tPSA is equivocal at 4-10 ng/mL.

Objective To assess the efficiency of a prostate clinic and to determine the treatment outcomes and the proportion of patients who could potentially be managed by their General Practitioners (GPs). Patients and methods Referral letters from GPs were screened by the consultant urologists and appropriate patients seen in the next available prostate clinic. The initial assessment consisted of an International Prostate Symptom Score and a medical history, uroflowmetry, ultrasonographically determined post-void urine volumes, renal function tests and measurement of prostate specific antigen, in addition to a physical examination and a digital rectal examination. Further investigations were requested as required. Results Over a period of 18 months, 403 patients were seen, 90% of them within 12 weeks from the time of referral. Uroflowmetry was performed in 96% of patients and further urodynamics in 22%. Bladder outlet obstruction was diagnosed in 246 (61%) patients and primary detrusor instability was detected in 20 (5%) patients. Fourteen per cent of patients were returned to the care of the GP following their first visit. The audit identified a potential group of patients (52%) who could be managed by their GP. Seven per cent underwent prostate surgery for the relief of bladder outlet obstruction. Conclusion The prostate clinic significantly reduced the delay for patients to be seen at the hospital and facilitated rapid assessment and investigation, much of which was carried out by a nurse practitioner during the first visit (in most cases). Several patients were identified who could be managed in the community.

Objective To review the pre-operative assessment of bladder neck competence and assess the success of non-operative management of the bladder neck in patients with pelvic fracture membranous urethral distraction defects. Patients and methods A series of four patients with long-standing post-pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects and open bladder necks demonstrated on pre-operative investigation are presented. Results All four patients were managed by perineal urethroplasty without surgery to the bladder neck. All patients were continent post-operatively despite the injury having ablated the distal sphincter mechanism. Conclusion We believe that the majority of patients can be managed successfully by a non-operative approach to the bladder neck, sparing them the unnecessary operative morbidity of an abdomino-perineal repair, which should be reserved for those with obviously scarred or distorted bladder necks.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of doxazosin in the treatment of bladder outflow obstruction resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Patients and methods One-hundred and thirty-five patients with symptomatic urodynamically confirmed obstructive BPH were treated for 12 weeks with either doxazosin (67 patients) or placebo (68 patients) after an initial 2 week baseline evaluation. The main outcome measures were urodynamic and symptomatic evaluation for efficacy. Blood pressure and adverse events were monitored. Results Data were obtained in 122 patients (60 doxazosin, 62 placebo). Doxazosin produced increases in both mean and maximum urinary flow rates of 1.01 ml/s and 3.2 ml/s respectively, compared with 0.21 ml/s and 2.2 ml/s on placebo. The increase in mean flow rate was statistically significant (P = 0.04), while that for maximum flow rate approached significance (P = 0.09). The maximum subtracted voiding pressure was substantially reduced (P = 0.007) and 19 of 53 (36%) patients had an increase in maximum flow rate of 50% or more compared with 9 of 54 (17%) on placebo (P = 0.024). Twelve weeks' therapy with doxazosin resulted in significant improvements (compared with placebo) in: hesitancy (doxazosin 26 of 46, placebo 11 of 43; P = 0.003), impaired urinary stream (doxazosin 31 of 55, placebo 16 of 48; P = 0.019) nocturia (doxazosin 22 of 56, placebo 10 of 54; P = 0.017) and urgency (doxazosin 27 of 45, placebo 16 of 42; P = 0.041). Frequency improved with doxazosin therapy (doxazosin 26 of 59, placebo 15 of 55; P = 0.062). Adverse events, most frequently dizziness and headache, were usually mild and transient and led to a discontinuation of doxazosin therapy in one patient. No clinically significant changes in sexual function or blood pressure were seen. Conclusion Doxazosin was well-tolerated and produced both urodynamic and symptomatic improvement in men with BPH, thereby providing a satisfactory alternative to existing drugs with the additional benefit of once daily dosage.

Objective To assess the potential value of ectopic β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (βHCG) measurement in the clinical management of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Patients and methods A prospective serological study of 16 3 consecutive patients undergoing cystoscopy as new or review cases was performed to assess any correlation between βHCG production and histological grading or stage. Results Ten per cent of patients with TCC had a raised βHCG level but there was no correlation with tumour differentiation, staging or prognosis. ConclusionsβHCG has no role as a tumour marker for TCC and therefore appears unlikely to play a part in the clinical management or treatment of urothelial tumours.