Evaluation of TKTL1 as a biomarker in serum of prostate cancer patients.

Introduction Monocyte associated transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1) as a cancer biomarker has become popular with alternative practitioners, but plays no role in conventional medicine. This investigation evaluates the potential of serum TKTL1 as a biomarker for prostate cancer. Material and methods Patients (n = 66) undergoing curative radical prostatectomy (RPE) for biopsy-pro-ven PCa were included in the study. Controls (n = 10) were healthy, age-matched, male volunteers. 10 ml of peripheral blood was drawn from patients several days before surgery and from controls. Serum TKTL1 was measured using the ELISA method. Results The median age at tumor diagnosis was 66 years and median serum PSA was …

Tapering of the Megaureter

Metabolic Consequences after Urinary Diversion

Metabolic disturbances are well-known, but sometimes neglected immediate consequences or late sequelae following urinary diversion (UD) using bowel segments. Whereas subclinical disturbances appear to be quite common, clinically relevant metabolic complications, however, are rare. Exclusion of bowel segments for UD results in loss of absorptive surface for its physiological function. Previous studies demonstrated that at least some of the absorbtive and secreting properties of the bowel are preserved when exposed to urine.For each bowel segment typical consequences and complications have been reported. The use of ileal and/or colonic segments may result in hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis …

Continent Anal Urinary Diversion in Classic Bladder Exstrophy: 45-Year Experience

Objective To evaluate the long-term outcomes in patients with classic bladder exstrophy and continent anal urinary diversion (CAD) for continence, upper urinary tract status, secondary malignancies, and sexual function. Patients and Methods The medical records of 82 exstrophy patients having undergone CAD in our department between 1970 and 2015 were reviewed. Patients were invited for follow-up examinations and asked to complete validated questionnaires relating to sexual function. Results Thirty-two of 57 eligible patients with a median follow-up of 23.9 years were included in the study. Ninety-seven percent of patients were fully continent during daytime. Upper urinary tract and renal fun…

Commentary to 'Early clean intermittent catheterization may not prevent dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan abnormalities in children with spinal dysraphism'.

The authors aimed to address a clinically relevant issue: do we prevent new renal scarring by early administration of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) in patients with spina bifida? In 2006, Peter Dik and co-workers presented their results of the concept of prophylactic initiation of CIC combined with antimuscarinic therapy in myelodysplastic newborns. Out of 144 children, five patients had pre-existing renal abnormalities, 69 had an overactive sphincter, 27 had reflux, and six had renal scarring. Five of the six patients with renal scarring were put on CIC and antimuscarinic therapy several months after birth. This study provided prima facie evidence that early initiation of CIC an…

Sexual Function and Fertility of Women with Classic Bladder Exstrophy and Continent Urinary Diversion

We evaluated the outcome in female patients with classic bladder exstrophy and continent urinary diversion for sexual function and fertility.We reviewed the medical records of female exstrophy patients who underwent continent urinary diversion in our department between 1969 and 2014. Patients were invited for followup examination and asked to complete questionnaires relating to sexual function, social integration and maternity.Of 38 eligible patients 29 (response rate 76%) with a followup of 22.3 years were included in study. Primary continent urinary diversion was done in 62% of patients and 38% underwent secondary continent urinary diversion after failed reconstruction of the exstrophic b…

Bladder augmentation using bowel segments (enterocystoplasty)

Sexual Function, Social Integration and Paternity of Males with Classic Bladder Exstrophy following Urinary Diversion.

We evaluated patients with classic bladder exstrophy and a history of urinary diversion for sexual function, social integration and paternity.We reviewed the medical records of males older than 18 years with exstrophy who had undergone urinary diversion at our department between 1969 and 2014. Patients were invited for structured followup examinations and were asked to complete questionnaires relating to sexual function, social integration and paternity.Of 79 eligible patients 39 (49%) with a mean followup of 23.8 years (range 2 to 45) were included in the study. Of the patients 41% had undergone primary urinary diversion and 59% had undergone secondary urinary diversion after failed recons…

Robot-Assisted Transvesical Enucleation of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Lessons from a Single Surgeon’s Learning Curve

Abstract Introduction Open simple prostatectomy is a well-established and effective operation for prostate volumes greater than 80 gm but also associated with bleeding and urinary incontinence. To benefit from the advances of laparoscopy, robot-assisted simple prostatectomy was established. We determined the learning curve of this minimally invasive surgery by evaluating the first procedures by an experienced robotic surgeon. Methods Patients presenting for surgical therapy with prostate volumes greater than 80 gm were considered for the study. Evaluation included validated questionnaires preoperatively, and at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Blood loss, transfusions, operation time and pad…

Incidence, Risk Factors and Management of Symptomatic Lymphoceles after Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

Abstract Introduction We investigated the incidence, clinical course and risk factors for symptomatic lymphoceles after radical retropubic prostatectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection. Moreover, we explored parameters for the failure of percutaneous lymphocele drainage. Methods The incidence of symptomatic lymphoceles in patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection in our department between 2008 and 2013 was investigated retrospectively. The occurrence of lymphoceles was correlated with several clinical and histopathological parameters. In addition, logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the value of independ…

Intraoperative Monitoring of Bladder and Internal Anal Sphincter Innervation: A Predictor of Erectile Function following Low Anterior Rectal Resection for Rectal Cancer? Results of a Prospective Clinical Study

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The objective was to investigate whether two-dimensional intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of pelvic autonomic nerves has the potential to predict erectile function (EF) following surgery for rectal cancer. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A consecutive series of 17 sexually active male rectal cancer patients undergoing IONM-based nerve-sparing low anterior rectal resection were evaluated prospectively. IONM was performed by electric stimulation of the pelvic splanchnic nerves with concomitant electromyography of the internal anal sphincter and cystomanometry. Sexual function was assessed using a validated questionnaire. &l…

Presentation, Management and Long-Term Outcome of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction in Duplex Kidneys.

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction in association with a duplex collecting system is a rare but challenging upper urinary tract pathology. We report our 21-year experience with this anomaly in terms of presentation, diagnostic evaluation and management.We retrospectively identified all patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction in a duplex collecting system between 1991 and 2012. We reviewed each case for presenting symptoms, anatomy and management. Median followup was 10.8 years (range 2 to 22).Ureteropelvic junction obstruction in duplex kidneys was diagnosed in 21 patients. Ten patients presented with clinical symptoms such as flank pain and urinary tract infection but 11 were asym…

Pancreatic Fistulae after Urologic Surgery - A Single Centre Experience.

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> To evaluate incidence, symptoms and management of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after urologic surgery based on our experience. <b><i>Material and Methods:</i></b> Database was searched for clinically evident POPF after urologic surgery between 1998 and 2014. Fistulae were graded using the POPF classification. Clinical course of every POPF patient was evaluated. <b><i>Results:</i></b> During this time, 3,200 surgeries for renal, adrenal and retroperitoneal pathologies were performed. Twelve POPF occurred postoperatively in this series. Eight fistulae were POPF grade A, 3 POPF grade …

Psoas hitch and Boari flap ureteroneocystostomy

Aquaporin 3 Expression Loss in Urothelial Carcinoma: Association with Tumor Invasion Depth, but not with Grading?

We have previously provided molecular evidence of expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) in normal human urothelium and in UBC of various stages. Whereas former studies demonstrated that loss of AQP3 was associated with invasive and high-grade disease and worse progression-free and cancer-specific survival, this report investigates the expression of AQP3 in associated CIS. Contrary to what we had expected, all CIS specimens were shown to exhibit strong AQP3 expression, suggesting loss of AQP3 in UBC is primarily associated with the ability of tumor cells for invasion but not with grading as sign of dedifferentiation.