Comparison of adjustable male slings and artificial urinary sphincter in the treatment of male urinary incontinence: a retrospective analysis of patient selection and postoperative continence status

PURPOSE

To analyze and compare preoperative patient characteristics and postoperative results in men with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) selected for an adjustable male sling system or an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) in a large, contemporary, multi-institutional patient cohort.

METHODS

658 male patients who underwent implantation between 2010 and 2012 in 13 participating institutions were included in this study (n = 176 adjustable male sling; n = 482 AUS). Preoperative patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. For statistical analysis, the independent T test and Mann-Whitney U test were used.

RESULTS

Patients undergoing adjustable male sling implantation were less likely to have a neurological disease (4.5% vs. 8.9%, p = 0.021), a history of urethral stricture (21.6% vs. 33.8%, p = 0.024) or a radiation therapy (22.7% vs. 29.9%, p = 0.020) compared to patients that underwent AUS implantation. Mean pad usage per day (6.87 vs. 5.82; p < 0.00) and the ratio of patients with a prior incontinence surgery were higher in patients selected for an AUS implantation (36.7% vs. 22.7%; p < 0.001). At maximum follow-up, patients that underwent an AUS implantation had a significantly lower mean pad usage during daytime (p < 0.001) and nighttime (p = 0.018). Furthermore, the patients' perception of their continence status was better with a subjective complete dry rate of 57.3% vs. 22.0% (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients selected for an AUS implantation showed a more complex prior history and pathogenesis of urinary incontinence as well as a more severe grade of SUI. Postoperative results reflect a better continence status after AUS implantation, favoring the AUS despite the more complicated patient cohort.

“UroMaix” Scaffolds: Novel Collagen Matrices for Application in Tissue Engineering of the Urinary Tract

Reconstruction of bladder and ureter tissue is indicated in cases of injury, stenosis, infection or tumor. Substitution by ileum, colon or pure synthetic polymers generates a variety of complications. Biohybrid tissue mimicking structural and functional attributes of the multilayered wall architecture of the urinary conduit may be the solution to current problems.

This study reports on porcine urinary tract cells isolated and placed on UroMaix matrices with different degrees of cross-linking produced from highly purified type I collagen from medically approved porcine tissue. A patented procedure revealed membrane structures composed of a dense fibrous side and an open fibrous side. These scaffolds with the porcine urinary tract cells were incubated in a batch culture system for up to 14 days. Cell growth and topographical orientation were examined.

Urothelial cells showed maximum attachment and a significant increase of living cells on the dense fiber layer of UroMaix-1. No attachment of urothelial cells occurred on the other prototypes. Smooth muscle cells showed similar behavior within the open fiber layer of all UroMaix matrices. Both urothelial and smooth muscle cells retained their phenotypes as demonstrated by the immunostaining of epithelial cytokeratin 18 and the smooth muscle myosin heavy chain respectively. Thus we could show that UroMaix scaffolds support the attachment and proliferation of urinary tract cells. The elastomeric properties of the collagenous matrices promise attractive applications in the tissue engineering of the urinary tract with its high mechanical demands.

[Metastasectomy in renal cell cancer after neoadjuvant therapy with multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors]

BACKGROUND

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) still poses a challenge to therapists in spite of the availability of multiple innovative molecular treatment options. Complete remission is rare and in cases of partial remission it is often unclear if necrosis or vital carcinoma tissue persists. We report on a cohort of patients who underwent metastasectomy after neoadjuvant therapy with multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (MTKI).

METHODS

In 2009 a total of 11 patients (7 male and 4 female) underwent metastasectomy after achievement of ≥ 3 months stable partial remission. All patients received either sunitinib (n=7, mean 5.5 cycles), bevacizumab and interferon (IFN)-α2a (n=2, mean 8.5 months), temsirolimus (n=1, mean 9 months) or a combination of sunitinib followed by temsirolimus (n=1). Of the patients 7 presented with retroperitoneal lymph node metastases with a mean diameter of 3.5-12 cm, 2 patients with pulmonary metastases, 1 patient with lymph node and pancreas tail metastases and 1 female patient showed residual disease in the vena cava.

RESULTS

All metastases were completely resected with negative surgical margins. In 82% of the cases histologically active, Ki-67 positive renal cell cancer tissue was identified. The following adjunctive interventions were necessary: vena cava resection with vascular prosthesis and reimplantation of the renal vein (n=3), partial liver resection (n=1), splenectomy (n=1) and pancreas tail resection (n=1). There were no significant perioperative complications but 1 patient developed fascial dehiscence and underwent revision surgery and 1 patient developed clinically insignificant pancreatitis. After a median follow-up of 12 months (range 8-19 months) 5 patients had no recurrence and 6 of the patients showed liver (n=3), lung (n=2) or bone (n=1) recurrences from which 3 patients died.

CONCLUSIONS

Metastasectomy of mRCC is associated with a low rate of complications in experienced centers. Surgical resection of metastatic disease is indicated to achieve complete remission with a favorable prognosis because of biologically active kidney cancer tissue. Patients with isolated and resectable metastases are ideal candidates for such a procedure.

[Metastasectomy for renal cell cancer]

BACKGROUND

Metastasectomy prior to or after systemic medical cancer treatment is performed within a multimodal therapeutic approach in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) to improve the prognosis. The role of metastasectomy in mRCC is controversially discussed and the potential therapeutic benefit is unquantifiable. The purpose of the current review is to critically discuss the available data.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was carried out in the MedLinedatabase to identify original publications, review articles and editorials with respect to metastasectomy in mRCC and the current European guidelines were also taken into consideration.

RESULTS

Metastasectomy is one of the approaches for mRCC recommended in the guidelines in cases of stable disease for at least 3 months, complete resectability of all metastatic lesions independent of the anatomic localization and a good performance status of the patient. The median survival time varies between 35 and 55 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In mRCC metastasectomy is an indiviudal therapeutic approach which might be considered for limited metastatic disease and the presence of good prognostic risk factors to improve average survival time. Especially in renal cell cancer metastasectomy should be considered early.

[Organ-limited prostate cancer with positive resection margins. Importance of adjuvant radiation therapy]

For pT3 prostate cancer with positive resection margins, the importance of postoperative radiation therapy is confirmed by a high level of evidence. However, for the pT2,R1 situation prospective, randomized studies concerning this question are lacking. Despite better local tumor control in the pT2 stage the PSA recurrence rate lies between 25% and 40% and positive margins are an independent factor for recurrence. Retrospective studies suggest a positive effect of adjuvant or salvage radiation for the oncological outcome in the pT2,R1 situation. On the other hand the side effects profile, with a potentially negative influence of postoperative continence and various delayed toxicities, is not insignificant despite modern radiation techniques and in the era of ultrasensitive PSA analysis should be considered in the risk-benefit assessment. As long as the optimal initiation of postoperative radiation therapy is unclear, the assessment of indications for adjuvant or salvage radiation for organ-limited prostate cancer with positive resection margins should be made after an individual patient consultation and under consideration of the recurrence risk factors, such as the Gleason grade and the localization and extent of the resection margins.

11c-choline-PET/CT versus transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy to diagnose locally recurrent prostate cancer following radiation therapy

119

Background: Radical salvage prostatectomy (SRP) represents one local secondary treatment option with curative intent in patients failing radiation therapy (RT) for localized prostate cancer (PCA). 11C-PET/CT represents an innovative imaging study to detect systemic spread of prostate cancer. However, there is only limited experience with regard to the sensitivity of C-PET/CT to detect locally recurrent PCA following radiation therapy. The purpose of our study was to analyse the sensitivity of C-PET/CT to diagnose PCA and extra- and intraprostatic extension.

Methods: 45 patients with the suspicion of locally recurrent PCA underwent 12-core transrectal ultrasound- guided biopsy of the prostate, C-PET/CT, bonne scan and radical salvage prostatectomy. Findings of the imaging studies were correlated with the pathohistological findings of the prostate biopsy and the radical prostatectomy specimen. All prostatectomy specimens were proceeded according to the Stanford protocol and the number and location of intraprostatic cancer foci > 5mm were correlated with the PE/CT findings.

Results: The mean preoperative serum PSA was 7.8 (2–24) ng/ml; the mean biopsy Gleason Score was 5.6 (4–9). Prostate biopsy was positive in 37/45 (82.2%) patients whereas 8/45 (17.8%) had a negative biopsy despite positive PET/CT findings. PET/CT was positive in 45/45 patients. Radical prostatectomy specimens identified locally recurrent PCA in 44/45 (97.8%). One patient turned out to have pT0pN0 disease despite increasing PSA. PET/CT identified 1, 2, and > 2 intraprostatic cancer foci of significant volume in 23 (51.1%), 13 (28.9%) and 9 (20%) patients, respectively. Sensitivity to detect intraprostatic, histologically proven PCA foci is 95.6% which is significantly superior to the biopsy results. There was a high correlation between the PET/CT results and the final histology of the radical prostatectomy specimens.

Conclusions: Choline PET/CT is an innovative imaging to identify patients with locally recurrent PCA following radiation therapy. PET/CT is superior to prostate biopsy and we recommend a PET/CT in patients who are candidates for radical salvage prostatectomy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Functional and oncologic outcomes of nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) greater than 4 cm in diameter

347

Background: Organ preserving surgery represents the guideline recommended surgical treatment of choice for patients with small renal tumors ≤ 4cm in diameter. There are only few data in the literature with regard to the oncological and functional outcome of elective NSS in RCC larger than 4cm.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients who underwent elective NSS for RCC at our institution during 2004-2009. We identified 288 patients of whom 196 (68.1%) patients and 92(31.9%) patients underwent NSS for a tumor < 4cm (group 1) and a tumour ≥ 4cm (group 2), respectively. We analyzed tumor size, TNM-classification, OR time, surgical margins, complications, mortality, recurrences and metastases in both groups.

Results: We identified significant differences between group 1 and 2 for the following variables: mean tumor size (2.9 vs. 8.6cm, p = 0.03), necessity for warm ischemia (15.1% vs. 51%, p = 0.001), mean ischemia time (3.5 vs. 10.2 min, p = 0.002), need for endoluminal stenting due to involvement of the renal pelvis (0.5% vs. 24.2%, p = 0.001). Significantly less pT2 (12.7% vs. 29.7%, p = 0.03) and pT3 tumors (8.7% vs. 12%, p = 0.05) were identified in group 1 when compared to group 2. There were no significant differences with regard to mean OR time (61 vs. 74 min), positive surgical margins (1/192 vs. 1/92), hospital stay, and perioperative complications. There were no significant differences with regard to stage specific overall survival, cancer-specific survival and progression-free survival. There was no significant survival difference between NSS and radical nephrectomy.

Conclusions: NSS can be safely performed in RCC > 4 cm without increasing the frequency of treatment-associated complications or decreasing cancer-specific survival. NSS should represent the treatment of choice in all patients with RCC of 4-7cm in diameter if technically feasible.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Long-term therapy with sunitinib and sorafenib in patients with metastasizing renal cell carcinoma

407

Background: Multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (MTKIs) constitute the established therapy in patients with metastasizing renal cell carcinoma. There are only few data concerning efficiency and safety, the reasons for a longterm response with good tolerability under MTKIs is still unknown.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients (pts.) under long-term therapy (>1 year) with sorafenib or sunitinib. Localization of metastases, number of cycles, sequence of therapy, treatment-associated toxicities, and frequency of dose reductions were our main focus of interest.

Results: 15 pts. (14 male, one female) with an mean age of 66,33 (44-81) years, were treated with 19,86 (12-35) cycles of sorafenib or sunitinib. 14/15 pts. underwent radical nephrectomy before the treatment. Localization of metastasis were as follows: pulmonary (9/15), hepatic (4/15), nodal (8/15), osseous (3/15), and pancreatic (2/15). In four pts. two or more organs were affected, in six pts. only one organ. As a first-line therapy nine pts. received sunitinib for 20.67 (12-35) cycles and one patient sorafenib for 44 cycles. For second line therapy two pts. were treated with sunitinib for 13 (12-14) cycles and three pts. with sorafenib for 23.33 (18-28) cycles. In five pts. a dose reduction of 25-50% was necessary due to significant treatment associated side effects, afterwards toxicities were tolerable under long term therapy (grade 1 in 10 pts.).

Conclusions: The results show, that longterm therapy with sunitinib or sorafenib is tolerable and efficacious independent on previous treatment. Prognostic factors concerning longterm response and low toxicity profile at a molecular biological level are still unknown, further investigations are of importance and are currently performed at our institution.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A limited LCA of bio-adipic acid: manufacturing the nylon-6,6 precursor adipic acid using the benzoic acid degradation pathway from different feedstocks

A limited life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed on a combined biological and chemical process for the production of adipic acid, which was compared to the traditional petrochemical process. The LCA comprises the biological conversion of the aromatic feedstocks benzoic acid, impure aromatics, toluene, or phenol from lignin to cis, cis-muconic acid, which is subsequently converted to adipic acid through hydrogenation. Apart from the impact of usage of petrochemical and biomass-based feedstocks, the environmental impact of the final concentration of cis, cis-muconic acid in the fermentation broth was studied using 1.85% and 4.26% cis, cis-muconic acid. The LCA focused on the cumulative energy demand (CED), cumulative exergy demand (CExD), and the CO(2) equivalent (CO(2) eq) emission, with CO(2) and N(2) O measured separately. The highest calculated reduction potential of CED and CExD were achieved using phenol, which reduced the CED by 29% and 57% with 1.85% and 4.26% cis, cis-muconic acid, respectively. A decrease in the CO(2) eq emission was especially achieved when the N(2) O emission in the combined biological and chemical process was restricted. At 4.26% cis, cis-muconic acid, the different carbon backbone feedstocks contributed to an optimized reduction of CO(2) eq emissions ranging from 14.0 to 17.4 ton CO(2) eq/ton adipic acid. The bulk of the bioprocessing energy intensity is attributed to the hydrogenation reactor, which has a high environmental impact and a direct relationship with the product concentration in the broth.

[Optimizing treatment of advanced testicular germ cell tumors]

Testicular germ cell cancer represents the most frequent solid neoplasm in young men aged 20-40 years. Depending on the prognosis according to the IGCCCG classification, the treatment of choice for advanced germ cell tumors consists in three to four cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) in accordance with the current European Consensus Guidelines. Although residual tumor resection (RTR) adheres to guidelines as the treatment for residual metastatic lesions, numerous questions remain unresolved, which we intend to systematically answer within the scope of our research group by conducting prospective/retrospective and clinical/molecular investigations in cooperation with national and international project groups.

[Solitary peritoneal carcinomatosis in prostate cancer]

INTRODUCTION

Peritoneal carcinomatosis is a rare finding in metastatic prostate cancer. In the literature peritoneal carcinomatosis is usually reported in its final stages with multiple metastases. A single peritoneal carcinomatosis with no further metastases is a very rare finding.

CASE REPORT

We report the case of a 75-year-old patient with initial ischuria. A prostate cancer could be confirmed and the further diagnostics showed no metastasis. In a transperitoneal approach for laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy a peritoneal carcinomatosis from prostate cancer was proven. A complete antiandrogen therapy was started and PSA decreased for more than 14 months to a stable level of < 1 microg/L.

CONCLUSION

An isolated peritoneal carcinomatosis from prostate cancer is a very rare finding. The complete antiandrogen therapy is effective.

[Nephron-sparing therapy for renal tumors]

In this article up-to-date, nephron-sparing therapy for renal cell cancer such as radical tumor nephrectomy, partial resection or enucleation is summarised. The results of open and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and tumor enucleation are presented. Problems and complications associated with the techniques are reviewed. There are as yet no randomized, controlled trials and most published studies show retrospective data. Further new alternative techniques in nephron-sparing therapy like cryosurgery and radiofrequency ablation are presented.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and -9) and their inhibitors (TIMP-1 and -2) in prostate cancer tissue

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in progression and metastases of different tumours. The balance between the MMPs and their natural inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases; TIMP) seems to be an important factor related to this role. Here, the expression of MMP-2 and -9 along with TIMP-1 and -2 was examined in prostate cancer tissue. A total of 40 radical prostatectomy specimens were embedded in paraffin and immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect MMP-2 and -9, and TIMP-1 and -2. The immunoreactivity was assessed semiquantitively using routine light microscopy. The intensity of staining was correlated to preoperative PSA, T category, Gleason score and clinical parameters of the specimens. The imbalance of MMPs and TIMPs was recognised as a significant loss of TIMP-1 in malignant epithelium and an upregulation of MMPs. Palpable tumours (T2, T3) expressed significantly more MMP-2 and significantly less MMP-9 than T1c tumours. Our data are in accordance with other literature reports in that an imbalance of MMPs and TIMPs is found in malignant tumours. The observed imbalance of MMP and TIMP is mainly caused by a loss of TIMP-1. Furthermore, palpable tumours demonstrated significantly more MMP-2 and significantly less MMP-9 expression than nonpalpable tumours.

[Potency-sparing radical perineal prostatectomy]

We evaluated the results of a unilateral nerve-sparing radical perineal prostatectomy in a prospective study. Thirty patients with histologically confirmed unilateral prostate cancer and adequate erectile function preoperatively underwent a nerve-sparing procedure. The criteria were a PSA of <10 ng/ml, prostate volume of <60 ml, and a Gleason score <7. In 29 patients the procedure was technically feasible. In one patient significant damage to the neurovascular bundle was seen at the end of the procedure. Bilateral tumors were present in 18 patients on final pathology. Positive surgical margins were observed in five patients (pT2: 2/20; pT3: 3/10). After a follow-up of 3-12 months, 15 of 29 patients (51%) reported some erectile function without additional medication. Of 14 patients, 2 had enough rigidity for penetration within 3 months.The short-term results after unilateral nerve-sparing perineal prostatectomy are encouraging. Since the neurovascular bundle can be exposed very well, interposition of sural nerve should be considered.

Radical prostatectomy in patients with previous groin hernia repair using synthetic nonabsorbable mesh

OBJECTIVE

Identification of patients in whom the perineal route is the optimal approach to perform radical prostatectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

During 1992-1999, 376 patients with prostate cancer underwent radical perineal prostatectomy. Four patients were identified in whom the perineal approach was indicated because of previous bilateral groin hernia repair using synthetic meshes. In addition, 1 patient underwent perineal prostatectomy elsewhere for similar reasons.

RESULTS

The perineal approach offered an uneventful surgical solution for an adequate and straightforward radical perineal prostatectomy without complications and without biochemical recurrence during the follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Radical perineal prostatectomy is suggested to be the optimal approach in patients with previous bilateral groin hernia repair using synthetic, nonabsorbable meshes.

Perioperative morbidity of the extended radical perineal prostatectomy

PURPOSE

Perioperative morbidity is an essential indicator for the quality of an operative technique. This fact is especially important in radical prostatectomy since different treatment modalities may provide similar outcome in terms of local tumor control.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The conventional type of radical perineal prostatectomy is associated with a significant percentage of positive surgical margins and was therefore substituted by a modified extended radical perineal prostatectomy at our institution. This procedure which includes partial resection of the dorsal vein complex and extrafascial resection of the seminal vesicals was performed in 200 patients with clinical T1 to T3 prostate cancer. The medical records were retrospectively reviewed for perioperative morbidity.

RESULTS

There was no perioperative mortality and only 7% of the patients experienced postoperative complications. Blood substitution was indicated in 14% of the patients and could be reduced to 4% in the last 50 patients. The reintervention rate was 2.5% including 3 patients in whom a rectocutaneous fistula had to be repaired. The suction drainage was removed in 92% patients within 5 days. The indwelling catheter stayed in place for less than 14 days in 89% of all patients and was removed as early as after 2-7 days in 92% of the last 50 patients. Anastomotic strictures were observed in 8 (5%) of 160 patients followed for more than 6 months. 87.4% of patients were considered continent after at least 6 months follow-up. However, pad use was reported in 33.6%.

CONCLUSION

The extended type of radical perineal prostatectomy provides excellent results in terms of perioperative morbidity, although a significant learning curve can be noted, which is indicated by blood substitution and duration of necessary catheter drainage. Since the rate of positive surgical margins in pT3 tumors is low (21%) and iatrogenic positive margins in pT2 tumors are avoided, this type of prostatectomy should be performed in case a potency sparing procedure is not indicated.

Detection of prostate-specific antigen immunoreactivity in amniotic fluid

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is present in amniotic fluid, whether the amniotic fluid PSA concentration changes with gestational age, and whether there is an association between amniotic fluid PSA and fetal sex.

METHODS

The PSA concentration was measured in the amniotic fluid of 48 pregnant women. Thirty-four samples were obtained during routine amniotic fluid analyses performed during gestational weeks 16-18, whereas 14 samples were obtained during cesarean section performed after gestational week 36.

RESULTS

PSA was detected in all amniotic fluid samples. The median amniotic fluid PSA was 0.193 ng/ml during gestational weeks 16-18 and 0.39 ng/ml after gestational week 36 (p = 0.1). Furthermore, no significant association was seen between amniotic fluid PSA and fetal sex. The median amniotic fluid PSA level was 0.233 ng/ml for the 21 boys and 0.222 ng/ml for the 27 girls investigated (p = 0.72).

CONCLUSIONS

These results confirm recent literature reports that PSA may serve as a growth regulator during normal fetal development. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate the exact role of PSA during fetal development.

[Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry of bone marrow aspiration specimen and peripheral blood for detection of microdisseminated prostatic carcinoma. A comparative analysis]

Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for prostate-specific antigen and immunocytochemistry for cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) are tests for the detection of microdisseminated carcinoma of the prostate. Bone marrow aspirates and peripheral venous blood from 50 patients with clinically organ-confined prostate cancer were examined. The rate of positive results was independent of the pT stage, serum PSA, and previous antiandrogen treatment. RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry have to be tested under standardized conditions in prospective trials, and the results have to be compared to the serum PSA follow-up.

Are age-specific reference ranges for prostate specific antigen population specific?

INTRODUCTION

At present PSA is Considered to be the leading screening test for prostate cancer. We determined whether in men 60 to 79 year old with a serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) within age specific PSA reference ranges prostate biopsy could be safely eliminated.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed all 60-79 year old men who had undergone radical perineal prostatectomy (RPP) for prostate cancer (CaP) at our institution. All patients had undergone prostate biopsy following an abnormal rectal examination and/or PSA greater than 4.0 ng/ml. We compared our results using the standard reference range of 0 to 4.0 ng/ml with those we had obtained using the age specific PSA reference ranges of Oesterling et al.

RESULTS

204 men between 60-69 years and 67 men between 70-76 years had undergone RPP for CaP. Applying age specific PSA reference ranges 56 CaP would have been overlooked. Of those 46% had a favourable histology. Taken together 54% of the cancers overlooked had an unfavourable histology.

CONCLUSION

In contrast to previous reports of unfavourable histological characteristics in only 5-24% of missed cancers, applying age specific PSA reference ranges, 54% of missed cancers in our patients exhibited an unfavourable histology. We therefore conclude that age specific PSA reference ranges did not safely eliminate the need for prostate biopsy in our study population.

Cytokeratin 8/18 levels in patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES

Recently, tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS), a cytokeratin 18 marker, was described to be discriminative between cancer of the prostate (CaP) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Cyfra 8/18, a marker which recognizes both cytokeratin 8 and 18 fragments, is discussed to improve sensitivity and specificity of TPS. We investigated whether Cyfra 8/18 serum concentration discriminates between patients with clinically localized CaP and BPH.

METHODS

Serum Cyfra 8/18 levels were determined in patients with untreated CaP before radical prostatectomy (pT1-3pNoMo; n = 11) and with histologically confirmed BPH (n = 22). Cyfra 8/18 concentration was correlated to the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration.

RESULTS

Median Cyfra 8/18 level was 0.64 ng/ml in CaP patients and 0.57 ng/ml in BPH patients. This difference is statistically not significant (p = 0.91). Furthermore, no correlation to PSA levels could be established (CaP: r = 0.036; BPH: r = 0.09).

CONCLUSION

In contrast to a recent report we found the Cyfra 8/18 serum concentration to be a nondiscriminative parameter between CaP and BPH.

[Expanded, radical perineal prostatectomy]

One hundred and twenty-five consecutive patients with prostate cancer underwent an extended, radical perineal prostatectomy according to the technique described by VE Weldon. This technique was modified by an initial complete mobilization of the posterior aspect of the prostate and seminal vesicles from the rectum and pelvic wall, incision of the endopelvic fascia, and partial resection of the dorsal vein complex after suture ligature. The perioperative morbidity was low. An operative revision was necessary in four (3.2%) patients because of arterial bleeding from a drainage channel (n = 1), wound infection (n = 2), and rectocutaneous fistula (n = 1). The in-dwelling catheter was removed on day 4-8 in 104 (83%) patients. Positive surgical margins were diagnosed in 22 (17.6%) patients only. These patients had pT3 (n = 17) and pT4 (n = 5) tumors with a Gleason score > or = 7 (n = 17) mostly; extensive, multifocal capsular penetration (n = 18); seminal vesicle invasion (n = 11); and lymph node metastases (n = 4). The unifocal positive margins were localized at the apex (n = 3), dorsolateral (n = 6) aspect, and bladder neck (n = 4). In nine patients, multifocal positive surgical margins were noted. The risk for a positive surgical margin depends on the serum PSA level, Gleason score, and tumor volume. In case potency preservation is not considered, the extended, radical perineal prostatectomy with the above mentioned modifications should be considered to guarantee a low rate of surgical margins.

Cytokeratin markers in patients with prostatic diseases

OBJECTIVES

Recently tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS), a cytokeratin 18 marker, was described to be discriminative between cancer of the prostate (CaP) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Cyfra 8/18, a marker which recognizes both cytokeratin 8 and 18 fragments, is thought to improve sensitivity and specificity of TPS. In our study we investigated the ability of the TPS and cyfra 8/18 serum concentration to discriminate between patients with clinically localized CaP and BPH.

METHODS

Serum levels of TPS and Cyfra 8/18 were determined in patients with untreated CaP (pT1-3pNoMo: n = 11) and BPH (n = 22). The TPS and the Cyfra 8/18 concentrations were correlated to the prostate specific antigen (PSA) serum concentration.

RESULTS

Median TPS concentration was 45.3 U/L in CaP-patients and 54.8 U/L in BPH-patients. This difference is statistically not significant (p = 0.2). Median Cyfra 8/18 level was 0.64 ng/mL in CaP-patients and 0.57 ng/mL in BPH-patients. This difference is statistically not significant (p = 0.91). Furthermore no correlation with PSA levels could be established (TPS: r = -0.13; Cyfra 8/18: r = 0.17).

CONCLUSION

In contrast to recent reports we found both cytokeratin markers, TPS as well as Cyfra 8/18, to be non-discriminative parameters in CaP and BPH.

[Radical perineal prostatectomy without lymphadenectomy. Patients with cT1 + 2, G1 +2, PSA < or = 10 ng/ml prostate carcinoma]

Pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients with organ confined prostate cancer (PCa) is of no therapeutic value and is questionable in many patients because of the low incidence of metastases. 49 patients with < or = cT2 b, G1 + 2, PSA < or = 10 ng/ml underwent laparocopic pelvine lymphadenectomy and radical perineal prostatectomy. Only 1 patient (2%) had microscopic metastases which were missed on frozen section. Because of these own results and those reported in the literature we then performed in patients with this constellation the radical perineal prostatectomy without lymphadenectomy (n = 32). The differences present in both groups concerning complication rate and morbidity are due to laparoscopic lymphadenectomy and the learning curve in perineal prostatectomy.

Induction of drug-resistant bladder carcinoma cells in vitro: impact on polychemotherapy with cisplatin, methotrexate and vinblastine (CMV)

Residual tumor, tumor progression or relapse after chemotherapy of patients with advanced or metastasized transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCCB) are suggested to reflect intrinsic drug resistance of cancer cells, or the development of chemotherapy-resistant tumor cell populations. The present study aimed to establish drug-resistant subculture cell lines from human TCCB, selected for anticancer drugs, administered in the cisplatin, methotrexate and vinblastine (CMV) polychemotherapy protocol. Tumor cells from chemonaive cell lines of human TCCB (HT1376, TCCSUP) have been exposed to progressively increasing concentrations of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP), methotrexate (MTX), vinblastine (VBL) or etoposide (VP16). The resulting drug-resistant subculture cell lines (HT1376-CDDP, HT1376-MTX, HT1376-VBL, HT1376-VP, TCCSUP-CDDP, TCCSUP-MTX, TCCSUP-VBL, TCCSUP-VP) were analyzed with regard to the achieved resistance factor (RF) for the inductive anticancer agent, the acquisition of cross-resistance, DNA content, cell cycle distribution and cellular morphology. Parental HT1376 cells were intrinsically less sensitive to all anticancer drugs (1.7-50x), compared with TCCSUP cells. Relative resistance against the inductive anticancer agents was similar for the final drug-resistant subculture cell lines of both parental cell lines concerning CDDP and VP-16 (RF: 4-5x), but were reciprocal for MTX and VBL, respectively. MTX led to much stronger resistance (RF > 200) than the other drugs (RF < 10). Pleiotropic cross-resistances were observed in six out of eight (75%) drug-resistant subculture cell lines. Highest RF (50-500x) and frequency of cross-resistance (five of six cell lines) occured for MTX, and the least from exposure to CDDP (one of six cell lines). Overall, the results corroborated the central role of CDDP against urothelial carcinoma whereas repetitive applications of MTX appeared to be a doubtful strategy. Moreover, the experiments provide the largest panel so far of drug-resistant cell lines of human TCCB. They represent an appropriate tool for basic research on drug-resistance mechanisms, for the development and screening of future anticancer drugs or to elaborate strategies to overcome drug resistance for those patients who ultimately fail to respond to standard chemotherapy.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 serum concentration in patients with prostatic cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE

To assess serum levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), normally markedly elevated in prostate cancer tissue, in patients with cancer of the prostate, and to correlate these levels with tumour stage and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Serum TFG-beta1 and PSA levels were determined in 32 patients with untreated prostate cancer. Patients were divided into: group 1, 14 patients with pT1-3pN0M0; group 2, four with T1-3pN+M0); and group 3, 14 with T1-4NxM+. Ten patients with histologically confirmed benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) served as controls.

RESULTS

The median TGF-beta1 levels were no different between patients with cancer or BPH (30.7 ng/mL and 26.9 ng/mL, respectively; P > 0.05). Furthermore, there was no increase in TGF-beta1 concentrations with advancing tumour stage (group 1, 34.1 ng/mL; group 2, 33.0 ng/mL; group 3, 28.3 ng/mL; P > 0.05). There was no correlation with PSA levels (group 1, r= -0.42: group 2, r= -0.43; group 3, r= -0.23; BPH, r=0.38).

CONCLUSION

TGF-beta1 levels did not discriminate between patients with BPH and prostate cancer, and there was no increase in TGF-beta1 levels with advancing tumour stage.

Mandibular third molars as mediated by three cues. Dentists' treatment decisions on asymptomatic molars compared with molars associated with pathologic conditions

The aim was to study how three cues (patient's age and angular position and degree of impaction of the molar) were distributed among removed mandibular third molars associated with pathologic conditions and to compare these results with dentists' treatment decisions in another group of molars consisting of asymptomatic mandibular third molars, as mediated by the same cues. The overall agreement was fairly high between the dentists' treatment decisions and the removal rate among the molars subjected to removal. Thus, molars partially covered by soft tissue in patients aged 19 to 40 years had a high removal rate, and molars totally covered by bone tissue had the lowest removal rate in accordance with the dentists' treatment decisions. There were some exceptions. For example, molars partially covered by soft tissue in horizontal and mesioangular positions were rated higher by the dentists than the removal rates indicated. Distoangular molars in patients aged 26 to 40 years had the highest removal rate but a considerably lower order according to the dentists' decisions. Scientific evidence indicates that molars in mesioangular and horizontal positions present a low risk and molars in distoangular position present the highest risk of developing pathologic conditions, compared with other angular positions.

Judgement of removal of asymptomatic mandibular third molars: influence of position, degree of impaction, and patient's age

Our aim was to study general dental practitioners' (GDPs') and oral surgeons' judgement of the need for removal of asymptomatic mandibular third molars, described by three cues. The judges were also asked to estimate the development of pathologic conditions. There was considerable variance with regard to the individual judgements. As a group, GDPs estimated the need for removal to be higher for patients less than 40 years than those more than 40 years old. The oral surgeons estimated the need to differ for three different age groups. The GDPs estimated the need to be highest for distoangular molars and lowest for vertical molars, whereas the oral surgeons estimated these positions to be equal. Molars partially covered by soft tissue were given the highest priority for removal by both groups of judges. The mean proportion of variation explained by the three cues was high, except for tumor development, indicating that the judges used the cues and the combination of them to a great extent in their judgement of the risk for development of pathologic conditions.

Pathoses associated with mandibular third molars subjected to removal

OBJECTIVES

To measure the prevalence of disease of mandibular third molars referred for removal and to estimate the risk for development of pathoses for two cues.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective cohort study on molars subjected to removal was performed. The prevalence of different diseases and the patient's age, angular position, and degree of impaction of the molars were registered. Odds ratio for molars with different positions and impaction states were estimated.

RESULTS

Pericoronitis was found in 64% of cases, caries in the third molar in 31%, periodontitis in association with 8%, caries in the second molar in 5%, and root resorption of the second molar with 1% of the molars with pathoses. Odds ratio was highest for distoangular molars (5.8) and for molars partially covered by soft tissue (6.7).

CONCLUSIONS

The odds ratio is about 22 and 34 times higher for molars partially covered by soft tissue than for molars completely covered by soft or bone tissue. For distoangular molars the odds ratio is 5 to 12 times higher than for molars in other positions.

Road safety improvement in large companies. An experimental comparison of different measures

Road accidents among professional drivers are a major problem in many companies. There are several traditional measures for improving safety, but knowledge about what measures are most effective is rather limited. The aim of the study is to compare four different measures for reducing accident involvement through changed driver behaviour. The measures are driver training, group discussions, campaigns and bonuses for accident free driving. Five groups of approximately 900 drivers each employed by the Swedish telephone company "Televerket" have been used in the experiment. Four of the groups were test groups, where each took part in one of the measures. The fifth group was a control group. The effect on accident risk (accidents in relation to mileage) and accident costs have been calculated for a period of 2 years after the measures were applied. The results show that group discussions and driver training with the rather unusual design used in the experiment succeeded in improving the accident risk compared to the control group. Accident costs were reduced in all four test groups, but not in the control group.

Rating the preventive indication for mandibular third-molar surgery. The appropriateness of the visual analogue scale

The aim was to determine whether a visual analogue scale (VAS) is an appropriate way for general dental practitioners and oral surgeons to rate their judgement of the indication for therapy of asymptomatic mandibular third molars. Thirty general dental practitioners and 10 oral surgeons had to judge the need for removal of 36 third molars. They were also asked to estimate the strength of the indication for extraction on a VAS. To assess the reliability of the judgment, the 36 cases were duplicated. For each participant, two mean indication indices with 95% confidence limits were calculated, one index for molars proposed to be extracted and one index for molars proposed not to be extracted. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to estimate the intra-examiner reliability and the correlation between the number of molars proposed for extraction and the mean indication index. The correlation between the number of molars proposed to be extracted and the mean indication index was high (p < 0.001). The intra-examiner reliability was also high, with a mean correlation coefficient of 0.72 for the general practitioners and 0.84 for the oral surgeons. No single judge presented any overlap for the 95% confidence limits for the mean indication index of teeth proposed to be extracted versus teeth proposed not to be extracted. These results indicate that the VAS seems to be an appropriate method for analyzing the judgements on a therapeutic strategy like extraction versus no intervention for asymptomatic mandibular third molars.

Judgement on removal of asymptomatic mandibular third molars: influence of the perceived likelihood of pathology

Thirty general dental practitioners and 10 oral surgeons were asked to judge the need for removal of 36 asymptomatic impacted third molars. To estimate the reliability of the judgement, the 36 cases were duplicated. The participants had to estimate the strength of the indication for extraction and, if the teeth were not extracted, the probability of development of pathology in general and of six specific complications on a Visual Analogue Scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to describe their judgement. There was a high correlation between the indication index for extraction and the perceived likelihood of the development of pathology, although there was considerable individual variation. The general dental practitioners rated cyst development as the most, and pericoronitis as the second most, influential factors in their decision to extract the third molar. The oral surgeons rated pericoronitis the highest and the development of a cyst or caries in the second molar as the second highest factors influencing their judgement. Tumour formation and root resorption received low weightings. Intraexaminer reliability was high. The study confirms that the judgement to extract asymptomatic impacted third molars is not made solely on the basis of cognitive factors.

General dental practitioners' evaluation of the need for extraction of asymptomatic mandibular third molars

Thirty general dental practitioners were asked to evaluate the need for extraction of asymptomatic mandibular third molars. Thirty-six mandibular third molars with equal distribution of angular positions, impaction status, males and females and age groups were selected. To estimate the consistency of the evaluation, the 36 cases were duplicated so that, in all, 72 teeth were evaluated. The number of molars proposed to be extracted by the observers varied from 0 to 26. There was no third molar which all observers agreed should be extracted. The two molars which most observers, 25 and 23 of altogether 30 observers, proposed to be extracted were partially covered by soft tissue. The decision not to extract two molars was unanimous. Both of these were completely covered by bone tissue and positioned vertically. The mean overall intra-observer agreement for the therapeutical decision was 92%, with a range of 69-100%. The length of professional experience of the observer did not influence the evaluation whether or not to extract. We conclude that there is a great variation among general dental practitioners regarding their evaluation on the need for removal of asymptomatic mandibular third molars.

Dynamic decision making: human control of complex systems

This paper reviews research on dynamic decision making, i.e., decision making under conditions which require a series of decisions, where the decisions are not independent, where the state of the world changes, both autonomously and as a consequence of the decision maker's actions, and where the decisions have to be made in real time. It is difficult to find useful normative theories for these kinds of decisions, and research thus has to focus on descriptive issues. A general approach, based on control theory, is proposed as a means to organize research in the area. An experimental paradigm for the study of dynamic decision making, that of computer simulated microworlds, is discussed, and two approaches using this paradigm are described: the individual differences approach, typical of German work in the tradition of research on complex problem solving, and the experimental approach. In studies following the former approach, the behaviour of groups differing in performance is compared, either with respect to strategies or with respect to performance on psychological tests. The results show that there are wide interindividual differences in performance, but no stable correlations between performance in microworlds and scores on traditional psychological tests have been found. Experimental research studying the effects of system characteristics, such as complexity and feedback delays, on dynamic decision making has shown that decision performance in dynamic tasks is strongly affected by feedback delays and whether or not the decisions have side effects. Although neither approach has led to any well-developed theory of dynamic decision making so far, the results nevertheless indicate that we are now able to produce highly reliable experimental results in the laboratory, results that agree with those found in field studies of dynamic decision making. This shows that an important first step towards a better understanding of these phenomena has been taken.

Asymptomatic mandibular third molars: oral surgeons' judgment of the need for extraction

Ten oral surgeons were asked to judge the need for extraction of asymptomatic mandibular third molars. Thirty-six mandibular third molars with equal distribution of angular position, impaction status, and patient's sex and age were selected. To estimate the consistency of judgment, the 36 cases were duplicated so that, in all, 72 cases were judged. The judgment of the oral surgeons was compared with that of 30 general dental practitioners (GDPs). The number of mandibular third molars the oral surgeons proposed to extract varied from 3 to 21 of 36 teeth. The mean number of molars proposed for extraction was 12 for the oral surgeons and 13 for the GDPs. There was no third molar that all the observers in the two groups agreed should be extracted. About three times as many observers in both groups proposed extraction of molars partially covered by soft tissue. The oral surgeons were unanimous in their judgment not to extract 11 molars, and the GDPs were also unanimous in judgment not to extract two of these. The mean intraobserver agreement within the two groups was comparable, 94% for the oral surgeons and 92% for the GDPs. We conclude that there is a great variation among oral surgeons in their judgment on the need for removal of asymptomatic mandibular third molars. A similar variation in judgment also was observed among GDPs.

[Differential diagnosis of acute scrotum by nuclear medicine study]

Sixty-four patients with acute scrotal pain were examined by radionuclide scrotal scanning. We compared clinical, surgical and radionuclide findings. The scrotal scanning is a rapid, non invasive and painless examination with high accuracy in inflammatory disease. But two falsely negative scans in acute testicular torsion warn against this simple method. Torsion of the appendix testis were not recognized by scanning.

[The diagnostic and therapeutic value of second look operation in patients with testicular germinal cell tumors (author's transl)]

We report on 32 patients with testicular tumor who--after earlier retroperitoneal lymph node dissection--underwent a second-look operation. Whereas in 16 patients vital tumor tissue was found in the retroperitoneum 9 patients had only degenerative changes with fibrosis and necrosis. In 7 patients the retroperitoneum showed no evidence of disease. It is our conclusion that an extensive pre-operative diagnostic workup, including tumor-markers, ultrasound and CT in patients treated with chemo- and radiotherapy cannot determine whether viable tumor tissue is present in the retroperitoneum. In 13 patients with non-seminomatous germinal cell tumors where viable tumor tissue was found at second-look operation 61,5% had normal tumor-markers. Those patients in whom at second-look operation no viable tumor tissue was found benefit from that approach because of the possibility of terminating aggressive chemotherapy. On the other hand patients with vital tumor tissue had a poor prognosis.

[Radiolucent filling defects of the ureter (author's transl)]

Ureteral filling defects and their differential diagnosis are discussed. Excretory urography including late films and especially endoscopy in combination with retrograde ureterograms might clarify doubtful ureteral lesions.

[Value of lymphography in teratoid testicular tumors (author's transl)]

In 72 patients with malignant testicular tumors lymphograms were reviewed and correlated with the microscopic findings of the resected lymphnodes. In 55 patients (76%) the roentgenographic diagnosis was confirmed by histology. In 6 patients lymphography was false positive as microscopic examination of the resected lymphnodes showed. In 4 patients lymphography was considered negative but metastatic disease proven microscopically from retroperitoneal lymphnodes. Out of 7 patients with questionable positive lymphograms 2 had retroperitoneal metastases confirmed by microscopic examination. The limits, errors and value of lymphography in patients with testicular tumors are discussed.

[Combined surgical and cytostatic therapy in patients with advanced metastatic nonseminomatous testicular cancer (author's transl)]

Lymphadenectomy and chemotherapy were carried out on 18 patients with grossly disseminated nonseminomatous testicular cancer. Of the 14 patients so far evaluable, remission was obtained in 13 (92%), complete remission in 7 (50%). Results suggest that even when the disease is advanced, lymphadenectomy is of diagnostic, therapeutic, and palliative value.

[Ureteroureterostomies: indications and results (author's transl)]

Thirteen unilateral ureteroureterostomies and twenty-five transureteroureterostomies (TUU) were performed since 1968. In 22 of these, a transureteroureterocutaneostomy (TUUC) was done. Indications, operative procedures, results and complications are discussed. No complications due to the anastomosis were found. In six cases stenosis of the ureterocutaneostomy was demonstrated which, in four instances, made another form of urinary diversion necessary. Ureteroureterostomies should only be performed with well functioning kidneys and with one well preserved ureter. TUUC is recommended in cases with at least one dilated ureter.