Search

OBJECTIVE To describe functional and anatomic changes of the lower urogenital tract of healthy male dogs during the sexually immature period and up to 2 years of age by urodynamic and morphometric assessment. ANIMALS 6 sexually intact male Beagle littermates. PROCEDURES Dogs underwent electromyography-coupled urodynamic tests, CT-assisted retrograde urethrography, prostatic washes, and blood sampling monthly from 4 through 12 months of age and then at 3-month intervals. Urodynamic and morphometric variables and serum canine prostate–specific esterase concentrations were analyzed by statistical methods. RESULTS Integrated pressure of the urethra was significantly increased beginning at 8 months of age, compared with earlier time points. Urethral pressure peak amplitudes varied among anatomic regions. During bladder filling, few electromyographic signals were concurrent with urethral pressure peaks; these were most commonly detected in the penile portion of the urethra. Urethral length and prostate gland volume were significantly greater from 7 to 24 months of age than at younger ages. Urethral length was approximately 26 to 27 cm after 9 months, and prostate gland volume was approximately 11 to 12 cm3 after 11 months of age. Serum canine prostate–specific esterase concentrations correlated with prostate gland volume. Urinary bladder threshold volume was significantly increased at 6 months of age, compared with that at 4 months, with a maximum of 197.7 mL at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Urethral resistance was acquired at approximately 8 months of age, when growth of the lower urinary tract was incomplete. Electromyographic and integrated pressure measurement results and the distribution and amplitude of urethral pressure peaks highlighted the potential role of the prostate gland and possibly the bulbocavernosus muscles in control of continence.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of the transobturator vaginal tape inside-out (TVT-O) in incontinent female dogs affected with urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) and to determine its urodynamic and morphologic effects. Study Design: Case series. Animals: Incontinent spayed female dogs (n=7). Methods: TVT-O tape was inserted in 7 incontinent female dogs diagnosed with USMI. Urethral pressure profilometry (UPP) and vaginourethrograms were performed preoperatively, and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Clinical efficacy of the technique was evaluated and complications reported. Follow-up information was evaluated by a telephone questionnaire. Results: All dogs were continent immediately after the procedure. Incontinence recurred 2 months after surgery in 1 dog and was treated by phenylpropanolamine administration. At mean follow-up time of 11.3 months, 6 of 7 dogs were continent. An iatrogenic urethral tear occurred intraoperatively in 1 dog. No postoperative complications were encountered. The postoperative UPPs showed significantly increased maximal urethral closure pressure and integrated pressure. Postoperative vaginourethrograms were unremarkable. The surgical procedure did not modify the location of the urinary bladder neck in dogs with a “pelvic urinary bladder” preoperatively. Conclusions: TVT-O was efficient in maintaining short term continence in 6 of 7 dogs affected with USMI.

Background Accumulating evidence suggests that DNA methylation markers could serve as sensitive and specific cancer biomarkers. Objective To determine whether a panel of methylated genes would have the potential to identify primary bladder cancer (BCa) in voided urine samples. Design, setting, and participants A pharmacologic unmasking reexpression analysis in BCa cell lines was initially undertaken to unveil candidate methylated genes, which were then evaluated in methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) assays performed on DNA extracted from noncancerous and cancerous bladder tissues. The most frequently methylated genes in cancerous tissues, with 100% specificity, were retained for subsequent MSP analysis in DNA extracted from urine samples to build and validate a panel of potential methylated gene markers. Urine samples were prospectively collected at three urologic centres from patients with histologically proven BCa and processed for use in real-time MSP and cytologic analysis. Patients with nonmalignant urologic disorders were included as controls. Measurements A urine sample was classified as valid when ≥10 copies of the gene encoding s-actin were measured in the urine sediment genomic DNA. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the MSP and cytology tests were assessed and compared. Results and limitations MSP assays performed on 466 of the 496 (94%) valid urine samples identified two genes, TWIST1 and NID2, that were frequently methylated in urine samples collected from BCa patients, including those with early-stage and low-grade disease. The sensitivity of this two-gene panel (90%) was significantly better than that of cytology (48%), with comparable specificity (93% and 96%, respectively). The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the two-gene panel was 86% and 95%, respectively. Conclusions Detection of the methylated TWIST1 and NID2 genes in urine sediments using MSP provides a highly (≥90%) sensitive and specific, noninvasive approach for detecting primary BCa. Trial registration BlCa-001 study – EudraCt 2006-003303-40.

Medium-term results of transobturator tapes for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are largely unknown. We analyzed the 3-yr results of a prospective, observational study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the TVT-O procedure.Preoperative and postoperative evaluations included physical examination, uroflowmetry and postvoid residual (PVR) measurement, and urinary symptoms and quality of life (QoL) questionnaires. Data were compared by means of the Wilcoxon matched pairs test.Between March 2003 and December 2003, 102 consecutive patients with clinical and urodynamic diagnoses of SUI who fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent the TVT-O procedure; the latter was associated with pelvic organ prolapse treatment in 16 patients (15.7%). Three-year minimum follow-up (median, 40 mo) was available for 91 patients (89.2%). No erosion or persistent pain was noted. Four patients required tape release or section. Disappearance and improvement of SUI were observed in 88.4% and 9.3% of the patients, respectively. These cure rates were similar to those obtained 1 yr after the operation (p=0.55). Frequency and urge symptoms were improved at 3 yr (p0.005). Whereas maximum flow rates were somewhat decreased (p=0.01), the severity of obstructive symptoms and PVR volumes were not statistically different (p=0.11 and p=0.32, respectively). Incontinence severity and QoL scale scores were largely better than preoperative ones (p0.001) and did not differ from those reported at 1 yr (p=0.15 and p=0.08, respectively).The TVT-O procedure is a safe and efficient treatment of female SUI, with maintenance of high cure rates after a 3-yr minimum follow-up.

Purpose: We have recently described a novel surgical technique for female stress urinary incontinence, that is the transobturator vaginal tape inside out, which uses specific instruments for the passage of a synthetic tape from beneath the urethra toward the thigh folds. Herein we report the results of cadaver dissection performed to determine the anatomical trajectory of the tape and its relationships with neighboring neurovascular structures and organs. Materials and Methods: Insertion of the transobturator vaginal tape inside out tape was performed by different surgeons in 12 freshly frozen female cadavers according to the standard procedure. The thigh, obturator, perineal and pelvic regions were dissected and tape trajectory was recorded. An additional cadaver was dissected without prior tape placement. Results: The tape was inserted according to a certain consistent path, that is penetration from the suburethral space into a strictly perineal region limited medial and cranial by the levator ani muscle, caudal by the perineal membrane and lateral by the obturator internus muscle. This region corresponded to the most anterior recess of the ischiorectal fossa. The tape then perforated the obturator membrane and muscles, and exited through the skin after traversing adductor muscles and subcutaneous tissue. The tape was coursed away from 1) the dorsal nerve to the clitoris located more superficially below the perineal membrane, 2) the obturator nerve and vessels, and 3) the saphenous and femoral vessels. Conclusions: These findings strongly suggest that our transobturator technique is highly accurate, reproducible and safe, and it does not require perioperative cystoscopy.

Objectives: To describe a new, simple surgical technique for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and to evaluate its feasibility. Methods: We have developed a novel surgical treatment of SUI, the transobturator inside-out tension-free urethral suspension, which uses specifically designed surgical tools, and in which a synthetic tape is passed from underneath the urethra, through the obturator foramens, towards the thigh folds, without entering the pelvic region at any time during the procedure. The tape is positioned without tension under the junction between mid and distal urethra. Results: The procedure was carried out in 107 consecutive patients (mean age: 62 years) using the same operative protocol in all case subjects, independently of the patient's size and weight. Mean operative time was 14min (range: 7–20) in case of isolated SUI treatment. No bladder or urethral injuries and no vascular (hematoma or bleeding) or neurological complications were encountered. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that our novel transobturator inside-out surgical technique for treating SUI is feasible, accurate, and quick. This technique avoids damage to the urethra and bladder and, therefore, makes cystoscopy not necessary. Further prospective studies are currently ongoing to determine the efficacy of our new surgical approach for treating SUI.

Increasing the dose to prostatic adenocarcinoma in conformal external beam therapy (EBT) has resulted in increased levels of PSA normalization and increased percentage of biochemical disease-free survival rates. However technical problems due to prostate motion inside the pelvis or patients' set-up make difficult the realization of the EBT boost fields above 72 Gy. Brachytherapy which overcomes these problems was investigated to deliver the boost dose to achieve 85 Gy. PSA nadir which has been identified as the strongest independent predictor of any failure in many studies has been used as the end point for early evaluation of this work.In a retrospective way we report on 163 patients' PSA kinetics after EBT alone to 68 Gy or EBT first and a brachytherapy boost up to 75 or 85 Gy.At 12 months follow-up, PSA nadirs percentageor = 0.5 oror = 1 ng/ml increased from 7.5 and 20.7% after 68 Gy EBT to 49.8 and 71.2% after a brachytherapy boost to deliver 85 Gy (p0.0001). In the Cox PH model analysis, the total dose remained the most important factor for predicting PSA normalization.These results are in accordance with the most recent results published after conformal EBT at the same 80 Gy level of dose. If confirmed on a higher number of patients they could place brachytherapy among the most accurate methods of boosting in the radiation treatment of prostatic carcinoma.

Widespread screening for early detection of prostate cancer has resulted in a dramatic rise in the proportion of clinically silent prostate malignant lesions (1‐5).To date, no reliable predictors of the risk for such lesions to progress are available. Therefore, the urologist faces the therapeutic dilemma of whether to perform a radical treatment (prostatectomy or external radiotherapy) with the knowledge that some patients will have treatment complications with uncertain survival benefit or to carefully watch this group of patients with the known risk that some will experience the morbidity of clinically overt disease. Furthermore, for many patients, the extent of their prostate carcinoma is underevaluated and unpredictable, which results in inadequate therapeutic strategies (6‐9).

Tension-free suburethral tapes have revolutionized the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). These tapes are inserted by way of a retropubic or transobturator route. The inside-out tension-free vaginal tape transobturator approach, or TVT-Obturator system (TVT-O, Ethicon Women's Health and Urology, Somerville, NJ), was developed ten years ago with the aim of minimizing the risk of urinary tract injuries associated with retropubic and outside-in transobturator tapes while reproducibly ensuring minimal tissue dissection. Cadaveric studies have shown that the anatomical trajectory of the TVT-O tape is strictly perineal and courses away from neighboring obturator and pudendal neurovascular structures. Several meta-analyses have shown similar SUI cure rates after retropubic and transobturator tape procedures. Yet, the transobturator route may be associated with less voiding dysfunction, blood loss, bladder perforation, and shorter operating time. The original TVT-O procedure was modified with the aim of reducing the incidence of postoperative groin pain as well as the rather theoretical risk of obturator nerve injury. This modified procedure, named TVT-ABBREVO (Ethicon Women's Health and Urology, Somerville, NJ), utilizes a shortened, 12-cm-long polypropylene tape. In addition, perforation of the obturator membrane with the scissors and guide is avoided in order to reduce the depth of lateral dissection, and consequently, to maximize securing of the tape within the obturator muscular/aponeurotic structures. In a comparative anatomical study, it was indeed observed that the shorter tape traversed less muscular structures (with no or only a minimal amount of tape lying in the adductor muscles) than its original counterpart, while still consistently anchoring in the obturator membrane at a similarly safe distance from the obturator canal. In a single-center randomized clinical trial, after a 3-year minimum follow-up, the modified TVT-O procedure with a shorter tape and reduced dissection was found to be as safe and efficient as the primal procedure for treating female SUI, with less severe and frequent groin pain in the immediate postoperative period.

Background Transobturator slings are currently promoted for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after radical prostatectomy (RP), but data on outcome remain limited. Objective To assess, at midterm, the efficacy and safety of the inside-out transobturator male sling for treating post-RP SUI and to determine factors associated with failure. Design, setting, and participants Prospective one-center trial involving 173 consecutive patients without detrusor overactivity, treated between 2006 and 2011 for SUI following RP. Intervention Placement of an inside-out transobturator sling. Measurements Baseline and follow-up evaluations included uroflowmetry and continence and quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaires. Cure was defined as no pad use and improvement as a number of pads per day reduced by ≥50% and two or fewer pads. Complications were recorded, and factors associated with treatment failure were evaluated. Results and limitations Preoperatively, 21%, 35%, and 44% of the patients were using two, three to five, and more than five pads per day, respectively. After a median follow-up of 24 mo (range: 12–60 mo), 49% were cured, 35% improved, and 16% not improved. QoL was enhanced ( p p =0.004); postvoid residual volumes were similar ( p =0.097). Complications were urinary retention after catheter removal (15%), perineal/scrotal hematoma (9%), pain lasting >6 mo (3%), and sling infection (2%); all were managed conservatively. Severe SUI before sling surgery was not associated with a worse outcome, whereas obesity and a history of pelvic irradiation or bladder neck stenosis were independent risk factors of failure, with risk ratios of 7.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3–18.9), 3.3 (95% CI, 1.4–7.8), and 2.6 (95% CI, 1.1–6.5), respectively. Conclusions The inside-out transobturator male sling is an efficient and safe treatment for post-RP SUI at midterm. Patients with prior pelvic irradiation may not be suitable candidates.

(1) To describe a surgical technique adapted from the "transobturator vaginal tape inside-out" (TVT-O) used in women and to define the trajectory of the tape on canine cadavers, and (2) to determine the urodynamic and morphological effects of the TVT-O in continent bitches.Cadaveric and experimental in vivo study.Fresh female canine cadavers (n=12) and spayed female Beagle dogs (2).(1) TVT-O was inserted in 12 cadavers. Dissection was performed and distances between the tape and neighboring structures were recorded. (2) TVT-O was inserted in 2 continent female Beagle dogs. Urethral pressure profilometry and vaginourethrograms were performed preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and 2, 4, and 6 months postoperatively. Histopathology was performed 6 months after surgery.(1) TVT-O tape was consistently located in a perineal space before entering the obturator foramina and was located at a safe distance from major neurovascular structures including the femoral vessels and obturator nerve. (2) TVT-O was performed without any surgical or postoperative complications in 2 continent bitches. Histopathologic examination of the tissues surrounding the tape revealed a mild fibroblastic proliferation with a mild to minimal lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltration.TVT-O is a feasible and accurate procedure that can be performed in continent bitches with a low risk of complications.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of the transobturator vaginal tape inside-out (TVT-O) in incontinent female dogs affected with urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) and to determine its urodynamic and morphologic effects.Case series.Incontinent spayed female dogs (n=7).TVT-O tape was inserted in 7 incontinent female dogs diagnosed with USMI. Urethral pressure profilometry (UPP) and vaginourethrograms were performed preoperatively, and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Clinical efficacy of the technique was evaluated and complications reported. Follow-up information was evaluated by a telephone questionnaire.All dogs were continent immediately after the procedure. Incontinence recurred 2 months after surgery in 1 dog and was treated by phenylpropanolamine administration. At mean follow-up time of 11.3 months, 6 of 7 dogs were continent. An iatrogenic urethral tear occurred intraoperatively in 1 dog. No postoperative complications were encountered. The postoperative UPPs showed significantly increased maximal urethral closure pressure and integrated pressure. Postoperative vaginourethrograms were unremarkable. The surgical procedure did not modify the location of the urinary bladder neck in dogs with a "pelvic urinary bladder" preoperatively.TVT-O was efficient in maintaining short term continence in 6 of 7 dogs affected with USMI.

In this study we investigated the involvement of several different pituitary hormones on rat prostate development. 22-day-old Wistar rats, hypophysectomized (hypox) at 19 days of age were supplemented with highly purified human prolactin (hPRL), human luteinizing hormone (hLH), porcine follicle-stimulating hormone (pFSH), and bovine growth hormone (bGH) or with saline. Quantitative analysis of RNAs shows that treatment with either PRL or GH increases significantly steady-state mRNAs levels of the following genes in the prostate: androgen receptor (AR) (respectively 3.5- and 4.8-fold above hypox controls), IGF-I (5- and 2.7-fold), and IGF-I receptor (2.9- and 2.3-fold). LH and FSH, by contrast, have negative effects on these parameters. To test whether the enhancing effect of PRL and GH on AR-mRNA abundance was followed by increased content in the protein itself, binding assays were performed with the androgen agonist [3H]R1881 (131 and 153 fmol/mg protein while hypox controls contained 110 fmol/mg protein). In addition to the well-documented presence of prolactin receptors in prostatic tissues, we have further demonstrated, by means of nuclease S1 protection assays plus dot- and Northern-blot analyses, that a GH receptor mRNA is produced in the immature rat prostate. Moreover, we observed not only strong lactogenic but also purely somatogenic binding to be occurring in the immature prostates. Finally, we have studied IGF-I mRNA content in separated epithelial/stromal cell fractions and have concluded that IGF-I expression is principally located in the prostatic stroma. Taken together, these results suggest that PRL and GH are involved in regulating AR synthesis, at least partially by direct action on the organ. In this context IGF-I appears as a paracrine factor playing a role in epithelium/stroma interactions during prostatic development.

Six years ago, the inside-out transobturator tape TVT-O procedure was developed for the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with the aim of minimizing the risk of urethra and bladder injuries and ensuring minimal tissue dissection. Initial feasibility and efficacy studies suggested that the TVT-O procedure is associated with high SUI cure rates and low morbidity at short term. A recent analysis of medium-term results indicated that the TVT-O procedure is efficient, with maintenance, after a 3-year minimum follow-up, of cure rates comparing favorably with those reported for TVT. No late complications were observed. As of July 2008, more than 35 clinical papers, including ten randomized trials and two national registries, have been published on the outcome of the TVT-O surgery. Results from these studies have confirmed that the TVT-O procedure is safe and as efficient as the TVT procedure, at least in the short/medium term.

Objectives To describe a new sling procedure for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after radical prostatectomy (RP) and prospectively evaluate its short-term safety and efficacy. Methods The sling technique uses specific instruments and a polypropylene mesh with two arms that are passed inside to outside through the obturator foramens, pulled for compressing the bulbar urethra upward, and tied to each other across the midline. Patients with detrusor overactivity were excluded. Baseline and follow-up evaluations included uroflowmetry and continence and quality of life (QoL) questionnaires. Cure was defined by no pad use and improvement by a number of pads/d ≤2 and reduced by at least 50%. Complications were recorded. Results From April 2006 through February 2007, 20 consecutive patients suffering from post-RP SUI underwent the sling procedure using the same operative protocol. Preoperatively, 3 (15%), 11 (55%), and 6 (25%) patients were using 2, 3–5, and >5pads/d, respectively. The procedure was preceded by an endoscopic urethrotomy in four patients. No perioperative complication was noted; three patients required suprapubic catheterization. At 6 mo, nine (45%) patients were cured and eight others (40%) were improved (1pad/d). QoL was significantly enhanced and 80% of patients were moderately to completely satisfied with the procedure. Preoperative and postoperative maximum flow rate and postvoid residual values were not statistically different. No sling infection, urethra erosion, persistent pain, or neurologic complications were observed. Conclusions The inside-out trans-obturator sling procedure appears to be safe and efficient at short term. Further studies are warranted to determine long-term outcome.

A new surgical technique, the inside-out transobturator tension-free urethral suspension (TVT-Obturator), has been developed for treatment of women suffering from stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This simple procedure uses specifically designed surgical instruments to allow the accurate passage of a synthetic tape from underneath the urethra, through the obturator foramens, toward the thigh folds, with the tape being positioned without tension under the junction between mid and distal urethra. Cadaver dissection studies have demonstrated that the anatomical trajectory of the tape in tissues is strictly perineal and consistently coursed away from neighboring neurovascular structures, including the obturator, femoral, and saphenous nerves and vessels, as well as the pudendal nerve. Consequently, as opposed to retropubic sling systems, no perioperative cystoscopy is required because the TVT-O tape does not enter the pelvic region at any time during the procedure. These anatomical data, which suggest the TVT-O technique is safe, have been corroborated by initial clinical experience. Our feasibility and ongoing efficacy studies have shown that TVT-O is associated with a low incidence of perioperative and postoperative complications. In our current series of more than 500 consecutive patients treated with TVT-O, no injury to the bladder or urethra was encountered and no perineal or obturator hematoma, heavy bleeding, or neurological complication was observed. Medium-term results have suggested that TVT-O is as efficient as retropubic tension-free slings for treatment of female SUI, with +/-90% complete cure rates after one-year follow up.

To evaluate on 201 locally advanced prostatic cancers prospectively treated in a phase II trial, the efficacy of a combination of external beam radiotherapy (39.6 Gy) and (192)Ir low dose rate brachytherapy (Bt) (40-45 Gy).Sixty-four patients were included in the intermediate prognosis group with only one of the following adverse factors (PSA10 ng/ml, Gleason scoreor = 7 or clinical stageor =T2b) and 137 in the unfavourable group when at least two of these factors were present.The actuarial 4 years biochemical no evidence of disease is 82.8% for the entire population. It is, respectively, 97 and 76% in the intermediate and unfavourable prognosis groups (P0.0001). Gradeor =3 late urinary complications occurred in 13 patients (6.5%). Eight patients (4%) presented late grade 2 rectal complications but no grades 3-5 was observed.Even if an alpha/beta of 1.5-3 Gy theoretically favours the use of a high dose rate mode of irradiation, the early results presented here are as good as those reported for similar groups of patients with high dose rate treatments. Late toxicity is identical but our urinary toxicity is within the less favourable and rectal toxicity within the most favourable results. We can postulate that while inducing very high hyperdosage regions (V150) mainly focused on the peripheral zone, most of the Bt techniques consist of a more ablative treatment. Many of the radiobiological studies on Bt did not in fact take into account the heterogeneity of irradiation inside the CTV. This study highlights the need to explore pulsed dose rate therapies, permanent implant and new available radioisotopes such as (169)Ytterbium that will offer the safety of low and lower dose rates. The actual late toxicity of the different Bt techniques is not yet inexistent indeed.

We analyzed the results of a prospective, observational trial designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the TVT-O procedure for female SUI.Preoperative and postoperative evaluations included physical examination, and urinary symptom and quality of life scale questionnaires.Between March 2003 and December 2004, 253 patients with clinical and urodynamic diagnoses of SUI who fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the trial and underwent the TVT-O procedure. No significant intraoperative complications were observed. One-year minimum followup was available on 99 of the initial 102 patients, of whom 16 had undergone concomitant pelvic organ prolapse surgical treatment. The SUI complete cure rate was 91%. No patient had vaginal or urethral erosion. Four patients required tape release or section. Frequency and urge symptoms improved after the operation (p0.001). The severity of obstructive symptoms slightly increased postoperatively in the group of patients who did not undergo associated pelvic organ prolapse treatment (p0.05), while maximum flow rates somewhat decreased (p0.001) and post-void residual urine volumes somewhat increased (p0.005). Most patients reported a significant decrease in incontinence severity and improvement in quality of life (p0.0001).The results of this study, which suggest that the TVT-O procedure is a safe and efficient surgical treatment for female SUI, warrant further comparative evaluation of this procedure with retropubic and outside in transobturator approaches in appropriately designed, prospective, randomized trials.

The authors report two cases of pelvic lipomatosis associated with glandular cystitis. This is a rare disease with variable and nonspecific clinical features. Complementary investigations useful for the diagnosis of pelvic lipomatosis are CT and especially MRI, intravenous urography and biopsies. The clinical features, radiological findings and therapeutic approach are discussed in the light of a review of the literature.

Primary retroperitoneal tumours are rare in adults. Among retroperitoneal tumours derived from nervous tissue, schwannoma is defined as a tumour arising from neurilemma or Schwann nerve sheath cells. It is a very rare tumour, especially in the retroperitoneal site (0.2%). Its diagnosis is immunohistological, and treatment is surgical, consisting of complete resection of the mass due to the risk of malignant degeneration. The authors report the case of a 38-year-old patient admitted with isolated right lumbar pain. Imaging (ultrasound and CT urography) revealed a retroperitoneal tumour measuring 6 x 9 cm. Resection was performed by right thoraco-pleuro-laparatomy. The immunological and histological study concluded on benign schwannoma. With a postoperative follow-up of two years, the patient has not presented any recurrence of this retroperitoneal schwannoma.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of total intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) versus total continuous androgen deprivation (CAD) for treating patients with advanced prostate cancer in a phase III randomized trial. A total of 68 evaluable patients with hormone-naive advanced or relapsing prostate cancer were randomized to receive combined androgen blockade according to a continuous (n = 33) or intermittent (n = 35) regimen. Therapeutic monitoring was assessed by use of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements. Patients in the CAD and IAD groups were equally stratified for age, biopsy Gleason score, and baseline serum PSA levels. The outcome variable was time to androgen-independence of the tumor, which was defined as increasing serum PSA levels despite androgen blockade. Mean follow-up was 30.8 months. The 35 IAD-treated patients completed 91 cycles, and 19 of them (54.3%) completed > or = 3 cycles. Median cycle length and percentage of time off therapy were 9.0 months and 59.5, respectively. The estimated 3-year progression rate was significantly lower in the IAD group (7.0% +/- 4.8%) than in the CAD group (38.9% +/- 11.2%, P = 0.0052). Our data suggest that IAD treatment may maintain the androgen-dependent state of advanced human prostate cancer, as assessed by PSA measurements, at least as long as CAD treatment. Further studies with longer follow-up times and larger patient cohorts are needed to determine the comparative impacts of CAD and IAD on survival.

Nutcracker syndrome should be considered in the case of left ureteric haematuria based on computed tomography with vascular reconstruction of the hilar region of the kidney. The best confirmation is obtained by studying the pressure gradient between the left renal vein and the inferior vena cava during cavography. Various modalities of surgical treatment have been proposed by a few authors, but have been criticised by some authors who question the clinical reality of this syndrome and the efficacy of treatment. The decision to operate may be difficult and other investigations may be useful to confirm the diagnosis. We report the case of a patient in whom the diagnosis of nutcracker syndrome was confirmed intraoperatively by the immediate appearance of massive, reversible haematuria induced by clamping of the renal vein during vein dissection and augmentation plasty. In the light of this original case, we believe that a preoperative percutaneous haematuria provocation test by temporary obstruction of the left renal vein during venography could allow a more formal diagnosis of nutcracker syndrome when this syndrome is highly suspected.

We define guidelines for the exploration and treatment of adult müllerian duct cysts.From January 1988 through September 1999 a diagnosis of enlarged prostatic utricle was made in 65 adults based on transrectal ultrasound findings. Echographic criteria to define simple versus complicated cysts were detailed. We reviewed the clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, indications for invasive procedures and postoperative outcome.The usual clinical presentations were hematospermia in 40% of cases, other ejaculatory disturbances in 20%, recurrent testicular or pelviperineal pain in 33%, lower urinary tract irritation symptoms in 25%, lower urinary tract infection in 18.5%, male infertility in 12% and incidental finding in 18.5%. Cyst dimensions did not influence the indication for invasive procedures, which were performed in only 27 of the 65 patients (41.5%) to treat disabling symptoms in 28% and obstructive infertility in 5%, and investigate complicated cysts on transrectal ultrasound in 6%. These procedures included transperineal or transrectal puncture in 9 patients, simple endoscopic section of the utricle meatus in 12 and large marsupialisation in 6. Complete and sustained cure was noted in half of the patients treated with cyst puncture only, although echographic relapse was the rule. Endoscopic procedures definitely improved or cured 82% of the patients at a mean followup of 51 months, during which neither early nor late complications were noted.Since almost 60% of adults diagnosed with a müllerian duct cyst did not experience any cyst related symptoms or ejaculatory-fertility impairment, we recommend that investigation and/or treatment should only be done in symptomatic or infertile patients.

BACKGROUND Homeobox (HOX)-containing proteins have been identified as regulators controlling the coordinated expression of genes involved in development and differentiation. Recent data also suggest a possible involvement of HOX genes in malignant transformation and/or progression. We have previously shown that HOXC8 expression was selectively turned on in human cervix cancer cells compared with normal keratinocytes, suggesting that HOXC8 may be involved in the process leading to the transformation of cervix keratinocytes [Alami et al.: Biochem Biophys Res Commun 257:738–745, 1999]. METHODS RT-PCR and in situ hybridization experiments were performed to investigate the expression and cell type localization of HOXC8 transcripts in human prostate cancer cell lines and tissues. In situ hybridization was performed with the use of an HOXC8 anti-sense digoxigenin-labeled probe to investigate HOXC8 mRNA expression in 27 prostate cancer tissue specimens. RESULTS Out of the three human prostate cancer cell lines tested, DU-145 and PC3 but not LNCaP cells expressed detectable amount of HOXC8 transcripts. Results from in situ hybridization experiments demonstrated that HOXC8 gene was expressed mainly in malignant epithelial cells. Furthermore, the staining intensity in epithelial cells was significantly increased in high Gleason score carcinomas (scores 7–9, n = 12; labeling intensity 2 + to 3 +) compared with the one observed in low and intermediate Gleason score tumors (scores 3–6, n = 15; labeling intensity 0 and 1 +) (ANOVA test, P

Reliable prognostic indicators are needed for a better pretherapeutic assessment of the agressiveness of organ-confined prostate cancer (PC) lesions. The 67-kD laminin receptor (67LR) is a cell-surface-associated protein involved in the acquisition of the invasive and metastatic phenotype of a variety of human cancer cell types. We have previously shown that 67LR detection in PC tissues from radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens is an independent predictor of biochemical (PSA) relapse in patients with clinically localized PC. In this study, we assessed 67LR detection in diagnostic PC biopsies as a predictor of biochemical relapse after RP.Diagnostic biopsy and subsequent RP tissue specimens from 151 patients with clinically localized PC were immunohistochemically analyzed for 67LR expression. The level of 67LR expression was evaluated by both intensity and extent of the staining. Clinicopathological preoperative and postoperative parameters, including 67LR expression, were correlated with each other and tested as predictors of biochemical relapse.67LR was detected in 67.5 and 68.2% of biopsies and RPs, respectively. 67LR detection in RP specimens was an independent predictor of relapse. The level of 67LR expression in the biopsy was significantly associated with the biopsy Gleason score (p0.05) but failed to predict the pathological stage (p0.1). Biochemical progression-free estimates for patients whose biopsy did or did not express the protein differed with only borderline statistical significance (p = 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified biopsy Gleason score as the only independent preoperative predictor of recurrence. Significant discrepancies in levels of 67LR expression were found between matched biopsy and RP specimens (p0.05), with exact agreement rates40%.67LR detection in PC biopsies was not a significant preoperative predictor of outcome after RP. Heterogeneity of 67LR expression and biopsy sampling errors most likely represented the main reasons for discordant results between biopsy and RP specimens.

Background : Increasing the radiation dose to prostatic adenocarcinoma has provided higher local control rates. A total of 80 Gy seem necessary to achieve this goal but patient set-up and prostate motion remain difficult problems to solve in conformal radiotherapy. Brachytherapy which overcomes these points could be an alternative way to external beam boost fields. We wanted to transpose the irradiation models largely used in cervix cancer treatment combining external beam radiotherapy and low dose rate brachytherapy. Materials and methods : In 71 patients with 19.5 and 13 ng/ml mean and median PSA levels, respectively, a dose escalation from 74 to 85 Gy was performed in four groups. Results : Shifting from intraoperative placement of sources vectors (Group I) to positioning under ultrasound controls (groups II–IV), improving the implantation shape and optimizing radiation delivery to urethral bed have reduced the total dose to rectal wall under 65 Gy and to urethra under 100 Gy. Rectal/prostate dose ratio was lowered from 0.7 (Groups I–II) to 0.58 (Groups III–IV) while avoiding problems resulting from pelvic bone arch interference, prostate volume or seminal vesicles location. The mean and median follow-up periods are 28 and 18 months. In Groups III and IV 85% of patients without hormonotherapy treated with 80–85 Gy normalized PSA under 1 ng/ml within 6 months. No severe late effect has been noted for patients implanted under echographic control. Conclusions : The method described allows to deliver 85 Gy. Longer follow-up is however needed but the levels of dose delivered are not expected to induce prohibitive side effects.

Background: Bone sialoprotein (BSP), a bone matrix protein, was recently found to be expressed ectopically in breast cancer and to have a statistically significant association with poor prognosis and the development of bone metastases in that disease. These data prompted us to investigate whether BSP might also be expressed in human prostate cancer, which often metastasizes to bone, and be predictive for progression risk. Methods: Tissue sections from 180 patients who had undergone a radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer were analyzed immunohistochemically for BSP expression. Biochemical progression was defined as an increasing serum prostate-specific antigen level of 0.5 ng/mL or more. Statistical analysis was used to assess associations between pathologic findings and level of BSP expression, and a Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine which clinical and histologic parameters, including stage, Gleason score, and BSP expression (immunostaining intensity and extent), were independently associated with biochemical progression. All P values were two-sided. Results: Most of the prostate cancer lesions examined (78.9%) expressed detectable levels of BSP, compared with no or low expression in the adjacent normal glandular tissue. A statistically significant association was found between BSP expression and biochemical progression in both univariate and multivariate analyses. After a follow-up interval of 3 years, the biochemical relapse rate was 36.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 23.4%-47.7%) in patients whose tumors expressed high levels of BSP compared with 12.1% (95% CI = 2.3%-20.8%) in patients whose tumors expressed no or a low detectable level of the protein (logrank test, P = .0014). BSP expression status could identify those patients at higher risk of biochemical progression (logrank test, P

Dear Editor, We thank G.H. Page and A.-S. Page for their interesting comment on our study [1]. In our modified TVT-O technique, the tape is shortened to 12 cm and the dissection is reduced, the obturator membrane being no longer perforated either by the scissors or by the guide. The rationale for this reduced dissection was to ensure the anchoring of the shortened tape in the obturator membrane and muscles. Using this modified TVT-O technique, we have observed significantly reduced immediate postoperative groin pain compared with the original TVT-O procedure. As mentioned in the introduction section of our paper, the source of groin pain after transobturator procedures may originate from (1) trauma secondary to the penetration of the dissecting scissors, needles and/or tape into muscular (i.e. obturator and adductor muscles), and/or aponeurotic (i.e. obturator membrane) structures; (2) the foreign body reaction to the tape; (3) possibly owing to proximity to peripheral obturator nerve branches. From the data we have presented, one cannot identify why the modified TVT-O procedure generates less postoperative groin pain than its original counterpart. We believe this reduced groin pain is likely the result of both the minimized dissection and a lesser inflammatory reaction due to a reduced mesh load. Indeed, it is interesting to note that in the group of patients who had undergone the modified TVT-O procedure, postoperative groin pain scores were variable, thus potentially highlighting individual variability in the acute inflammatory reaction to the shorter tape. In order to evaluate the relative contributions of these two mechanisms, in our trial, we would have needed to include a third arm with patients in whom the original TVT-O tape would have been inserted with minimized dissection (no perforation of the obturator with the scissors/guide). With this in mind, it is legitimate to modify the original TVT-O dissection to a reduced one that no longer includes perforation of the obturator membrane with the scissors/guide.

To the Editor: Portal hypertension is a frequent consequence of cirrhosis and may lead to dilated venous collaterals. Usually, varices due to portal hypertension develop in the lower esophagus, stomach, or rectum and rarely in other parts of the digestive tract.1 Extraintestinal ectopic varices are very rare. We recently treated a patient with cirrhosis who had gross hematuria from vesical varices. A 54-year-old woman with ongoing alcohol abuse had a sudden onset of profuse gross hematuria. She had a history of alcoholic liver cirrhosis, complicated by decompensated ascites and ruptures of esophageal varices, and chronic pancreatitis. She had undergone sclerotherapy . . .