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Roberto Jarimba,1 João Pedroso Lima,1 Miguel Eliseu,1 João Carvalho,1 Hugo Antunes,1,2 Edgar Tavares da Silva,1,2 Pedro Moreira,1 Arnaldo Figueiredo1,2 1Urology and Renal Transplantation Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalCorrespondence: Roberto JarimbaUrology and Renal Transplantation Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Rua Professor Mota Pinto, Coimbra 3004-561, PortugalTel +351968209250Email robertojarimba@chuc.min-saude.ptIntroduction: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. Radical prostatectomy is a potentially curative alternative for localized disease, although a significant percentage of these patients will suffer a biochemical recurrence with associated mortality. A wide spectrum of anticancer properties of statins has been demonstrated and the role of these drugs in prevention and treatment of other types of cancer is being increasingly studied.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of statins is associated with reduced risk of biochemical recurrence among patients submitted to radical prostatectomy.Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 875 patients submitted to radical prostatectomy between January 2009 and December 2018. Approximately 45.7% of the patients were on medication with statins at the time of surgery. We evaluated a possible association between statin use and biochemical recurrence and which patients would benefit the most with statin treatment.Results: Overall, statins were associated with an approximately 40% reduction in risk of biochemical recurrence at a median follow-up time of 51.2 months (HR 0.599, p< 0.05). Patients with pT2c staging (HR 0.486, p=0.017) and ISUP ≥ 3 (HR 0.61, p=0.011) seem to have benefited more from statin use.Conclusion: In this cohort, use of statins proved beneficial in reducing the risk of biochemical recurrence among patients submitted to radical prostatectomy. Prospective studies are required to confirm this result and to evaluate its safety profile in those patients.Keywords: prevention, prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy, recurrence, statins

Colleters are secretory structures that play a role in protecting meristems from dehydration. Little attention has been given to the effect of seasonal variation on colleter exudates. Therefore, this study aimed to characterise the main chemical groups found in colleter exudates as well as to correlate the chemical nature of the secretion with seasonal variation. We used Myrcia splendens as a model to understand seasonal variation in colleter exudates. For that, meristems and shoot apices of M. splendens were collected and subjected to standard anatomical techniques. In M. splendens , colleters arise from protodermal cells and are similar to trichomes. Mature colleters are conic and composed of a short stalk and a long secretory head. Histochemical analyses found that colleter exudates differed according to the seasonality. Composition of the secretions was more diverse in the dry season than in the wet season. During the dry season, colleters secreted five different compounds (i.e. total polysaccharides, mucilage–pectins, total proteins, total lipids and phenolic compounds), whereas in the wet season, only three compounds were found (i.e. total proteins, total lipids and phenolic compounds). Our study extends what was known in earlier works, demonstrating changes in colleter exudates due to environmental seasonality. Colleters are secretory structures important in protecting developing plant organs from dehydration. However, little attention has been given to the effect of seasonal variation on colleter exudates. We used Myrcia splendens as a model to show that the chemical nature of the secretion differed according to the seasonality. During the dry season, colleters secreted more hygroscopic compounds, confirming the importance of such structures in guaranteeing that developing leaves are kept moist, thus preventing dehydration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: The presence of blood in the urine should be promptly investigated to rule out urological malignancies, bladder cancer being the most frequent. Given its frequency among general population and the lack of unlimited health resources in an era of cost-effectiveness, it is important to prioritize patients with higher risk of malignancy., Objectives: To identify predictive factors of bladder cancer among patients presenting with hematuria., Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 296 cases referred to our department for hematuria. We evaluated different demographic, clinical and ultrasound features to uncover possible associations with diagnosis of bladder cancer in those patients, to estimate the individual risk of being diagnosed with bladder cancer during the investigation of hematuria., Results: A total of 296 patients were studied for hematuria between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019, 23.6% of those having ultimately bladder cancer confirmed after transurethral resection. Older age, male gender (OR 2.727, p = 0.069), a history of smoking (OR 3.84, p < 0.05), recurrent hematuria (OR 3.396, p < 0.05) and positive ultrasound exam for bladder cancer (OR 30.423, p < 0.05) were identified as predictors of bladder cancer in patients with hematuria., Conclusions: This study suggests that it is possible to reliably estimate the risk of bladder cancer in patients with hematuria, using clinical and imaging data to help defining who should be investigated first and in whom the investigation could be postponed.

Introduction: Cycling is a popular means of transport and recreational activity; bicycles are also a source of genitourinary injuries and there is the idea that cycling may have a significant impact on sexual function. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of amateur cycling on erectile function., Methods: We used a questionnaire comparing amateur cyclists (n = 199) and footballers (n = 43), regarding sexual related comorbidities and hours of practice per week. The cyclists were also characterized in terms of road vs cross-country, breaks during cycling, saddle, and shorts. To evaluate erectile function, the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire was applied., Results: there was no difference in International Index of Erectile Function total score between groups. Age and presence of erectile dysfunction associated comorbidity were negative factors in the International Index of Erectile Function score in cyclists but not in the footballers., Conclusions: Cycling is usually associated with perineal numbness, but that numbness did not lead to lower International Index of Erectile Function scores. In conclusion amateur cycling has no effect on EF.

Introduction: Urolithiasis is common worldwide, with ureteric stones being a particular burden. Ureteroscopy (URS) is one of the most useful procedures in treating ureteric stones not passed spontaneously; this procedure has a complication risk of 4%. Negative URS, with described rates up to 15%, represents an avoidable patient risk and use of medical resources., Objectives: To describe rates and identify predictive factors for negative URS and to define strategies which would minimize patient and financial burden from these unnecessary procedures., Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study analyzed patients who underwent URS in our Center to treat ureteric stones over a period of 2 years. Patient age, gender, and comorbidities, as well as laboratory and imaging findings, were analyzed., Results: 262 patients underwent URS for ureteric stones. The female population was 50.8% with a mean age of 56.89 years. A total of 78 (29.8%) URS procedures were negative. Univariate analysis showed a higher prevalence of negative URS in female patients, as well as in primary, smaller, and radiolucent stones. At multivariate analysis, a logistic regression model correctly classified 76% of patients, with smaller stone size and radiolucency being significant predictors of negative URS., Discussion and Conclusions: Our Center showed a high rate of negative URS, higher than commonly described in the literature. Female patients tend to have an even higher rate, possibly due to unnoticed passage of stones. Patients with small, radiolucent stones showed the highest rates of negative URS.

Introduction: To reduce cold ischemia time (CIT), many kidney transplants are performed in the early morning. Conducting complex surgeries in the early morning may influence the surgeon's technical capacity and rate of surgical complications (SC)., Aim: Evaluate the influence of surgery start hour (SSH) regarding duration of surgery (DS), immediate diuresis (ID), SC and acute rejection (AR); evaluate the influence of CIT regarding SC, ID, and AR., Methods: 2855 cadaveric transplants performed between June 1980 and March 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Regarding SSH, two groups were created: Group M (00: 00h-05.59h, n = 253) and Group D (06: 00h - 23: 59h, n = 2602). Analyzing the impact of SSH on DS, ID, SC and AR. Evaluate the relationship between CIT (< 18h, 18-30h and > 30h) on ID, SC and AR utilizing univariate and multivariate statistical analysis with SPSS., Results and Conclusion: Groups M and D were comparable in all evaluated demographic variables (p > 0.05), except cold ischemia time (Group M with higher CIT, p < 0.001). Regarding univariate analysis, Surgery start hour did not influence DS (p = 0.344), and SC (p = 0.264), but related with higher ID (p = 0.028) and AR (p = 0.018). CIT related with immediate diuresis (p = 0.020) and acute rejection (p < 0.001) but did not relate with complications (p = 0.734). Regarding multivariate analysis, SSH only influenced immediate diuresis (p = 0.026) and did not influenced acute rejection (p = 0.055). CIT influenced immediate diuresis (p = 0.019) and acute rejection (p < 0.001). Surgery start hour influences Immediate diuresis. With this study, we conclude that the priority must be a short cold ischemia time.

Introduction: Penile cancer is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all male cancers in industrialized countries. It is most common in areas of high prevalence of HPV, being a third of cases attributed to the carcinogenic effect of HPV. Tumour cells infected with HPV overexpress p16INK4a, as such p16INK4a has been used as a surrogate of HPV infections., Objective: To evaluate the prognostic factor of p16INK4a overexpression in penile cancer., Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with penile cancer, submitted to surgery in a Portuguese Oncological Institution in the last 20 years (n = 35). Histological review of surgical pieces and immunohistochemical identification of p16INK4a. Relation between p16INK4a and the following factors were studied: age, histological subtype, tumour dimensions, grade, TNM stage, perineural invasion, perivascular invasion, disease free survival (DFS) and cancer specific survival (CSS)., Results: p16INK4a was positive in 8 patients (22.9%). Identification of p16INK4a did not correlate with none of the histopathological factors. In this work we identified a better DFS and CSS in patients positive for p16INK4a (DFS at 36 months was 100.0% vs. 66.7%; CSS at 36 months was 100.0% vs. 70.4%), although without statistical significance (p > 0.05). In multivariate analysis of histopathological factors studied, only N staging correlated with DFS and CSS (p = 0.017 and p = 0.014, respectively)., Discussion: the percentage of cases positive for p16INK4a is smaller than the one found in literature, which can suggest a less relevant part of HPV infection in the oncogenesis of penile cancer in the studied population. Identification of p16INK4a did not relate with other clinicopathological factors. Tendency for a more favourable prognosis in patients with p16INK4a agrees with results found in literature. The most relevant factor for prognosis is nodal staging., Conclusions: penile cancer positive for p16INK4a shows a trend for better survival, although the most relevant factor is nodal staging.

Introduction: Prostatic multiparametric magnetic resonance (mpMRI) allows for guided prostate biopsy (PB)., Objective: To evaluate localization agreement between mpMRI lesions and histology obtained by cognitive PB and radical prostatectomy (RP) surgical specimen (SS)., Methods: Out of 115 consecutive cognitive biopsied patients, 37 with positive PB were studied. Sample was characterized regarding age, prostatic volume, PI-RADS, location of lesion on mpMRI, lesion dimension, total number of fragments obtain by PB, number of fragments directed to the lesion, number of fragments with prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCa) and ISUP classification. The relationship between mpMRI and SS piece was analysed in 15 patients who underwent RP., Results: Regarding agreement between mpMRI and PB, agreement of location was observed in 26 (70.3%); 7 (18.9%) presented PCa positive fragments in the suspected zone plus others in the same lobe; 3 (8.1%) in the suspected zone plus the contralateral lobe and 1 (2.7%) had no PCa in the suspected zone but had bilateral PCa. The total number of fragments with PCa was lower in cases with agreement between mpMRI and PB (p < 0.05). Regarding agreement between mpMRI and SS, 5 cases (33.3%) presented the same location as described by mpMRI, 5 (33.3%) showed ipsilateral lesions in other zones of the prostate; 4 (26.7%) presented extensive bilateral lesions on all prostate zones and 1 (6.7%) showed previously unknown contralateral lesions. None of the factors studied related mpMRI and RP (p > 0.05)., Conclusions: Localization agreement of mpMRI vs PB and mpMRI vs SS was present in 26/37 (70.3%) and 5/15 (33.3%), respectively. That suggests the existence of other lesions (multifocality) not identified on mpMRI.

Female-to-male transsexual patient, 22 years old, with neophallus from radial forearm free flap (phalloplasty in March 2014), history of urethral fistula and urethral stricture 1 year later treated with surgical correction (fistulectomy) and suprapubic urinary diversion. Subsequently, he developed a new urethral stenosis located in the urethral anastomosis. Immediately proximal to the stenosis, there was a urethral dilatation (pseudodiverticulum) with a fibrous septum and several retracted stones. The stones were fragmented, the fibrous septum destroyed and the urethral stricture corrected, all with holmium laser. After 40 months of follow-up the patient shows satisfactory urinary flow with no signs of residual lithiasis or stricture., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Hospitals are dealing with patients who may have clinical discharge but cannot return to their home due to non-medical issues., Material and Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of all the cases referred to the Integrated Care Network during the year 2016. Evaluation of waiting times, typology, reason for referral and clinical parameters. IBM SPSS 24.0 software was used for all statisticalanalyses., Results: In the evaluated period, 2294 patients were discharged from our department. Of these, 55 were referred to Integrated Care Network. The mean length of hospitalization of the patients referred to the network was 20.6 ± 11.4 days, and the mean overall length of hospital stay in the period analyzed was 4.8 ± 0.9 days. The mean time between hospitalization and referral for continuing care was 10.7 ± 7.2 days. The time between referral and discharge of the hospital was 10.0 ± 8.7 days. Thirty-nine (70.9%) patients were hospitalized for oncological diseases. The most common referral was to Palliative Care units (n = 16; 29.1%). Patients referred to Palliative Care units showed the largest waiting times between the referral for the network and the hospital discharge, 12.2 ± 10.51 days. We observed 289 hospitalization days with patients who had no need of specialized urological care., Discussion: In order to reduce time between referral to the network and hospital discharge, there is a need for enhanced cooperation and coordination among doctors, nurses and social workers., Conclusion: Early identification by physicians and nurses of patients who will require care after discharge will provide a better response from social workers and increased hospital performance.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the effects of glucose levels and diabetes mellitus in prostate cancer (PCa) biology., Materials and Methods: Two PCa cell lines (LNCap and PC3) were cultured in RPMI medium with different glucose concentrations [5mM (LG) and 25mM (HG)]. Expressions of androgen receptor, Her2/neu and glucose transporters (GLUT1, 3, 5 and 12) were evaluated by flow cytometry. Proliferation rate was assessed by colorimetric assay MTT and cellular characterization was performed by haematoxylin and eosin staining. Additionally, we performed a cross sectional analysis of 704 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy who were divided into two groups (diabetic and non-diabetic). An analysis of clinical and histological data seeking to identify the differences on tumor aggressiveness between the two groups was performed., Results: In LNCaP cell line, when the glucose concentration in the medium increased, there was an increased in AR expression. Regarding expression of Her2/neu receptor, medium's glucose concentration significantly changed the expression of this receptor in both PC3 and LNCaP cell lines. Growth rate was higher on the HG medium for both cell lines. The clinical study of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy revealed no relationship between the presence of diabetes and the development of more aggressive tumours. Diabetic patients had significantly higher prostatic volumes, however, no significant difference was found between the relapse risk classification or the ISUP classification between the two groups., Conclusions: Our results showed that medium glucose concentration could influence prostate cancer cells growing but not the aggressiveness.

Objective: The last edition of the AJCC staging system eliminated the pT2 subclassification of prostate cancer (PCa). Our objective was to evaluate the association of pT2 subclassification with the oncological results of patients with PCa who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP)., Material and Methods: We evaluated 367 patients who underwent RP between 2009 and 2016, with pT2 disease in the final pathological evaluation. We assessed differences in rates of biochemical recurrence (BCR), metastasis and mortality between T2 substages (pT2a/b vs pT2c)., Results: Fifty-three (14.4%) patients presented pT2a/b disease and 314 (85.6%) pT2c disease. The mean follow-up time was 4.9 ± 2.6 years. Grade group scores (p = 0.1) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) (p = 0.2) did not differed between pT2 substages. The rate of BCR in pT2a/b and pT2c patients was 11.3% and 18.2%, respectively (p = 0.2). Five (9.4%) patients with pT2a/b and 45 (14.3%) with pT2c substage underwent salvage radiotherapy (p = 0.3). The rate of positive surgical margins did not differ between groups (p = 0.2). Seven (2.2%) patients with pT2c had lymph nodes or distant metastases. The overall survival was 92.5% and 93.6% in pT2a/b and pT2c, respectively (p = 0.2)., Conclusion: Our results are in accordance with the changes introduced in the 8th edition of the AJCC staging system in which the pT2 subclassification was eliminated.