Management of bicalutamide induced gynaecomastia. A randomized study comparing therapy versus prophylaxis with tamoxifen.

Introduction and Objective: Gynaecomastia is a potentially treatment limiting adverse event of antiandrogen monotherapy for prostate cancer. Tamoxifen has shown to be effective in therapy and prophylaxis of gynecomastia and breast pain. However, tamoxifene dosage and treatment duration are not established and debate still exists if prophylaxis is more effective than therapy at the early onset. This randomized study compared the prophylactic activity of tamoxifene at the dose of 10 mg with its therapeutic activity when given at the dose of 20 mg at the early appearance of gynecomastia in patients receiving bicalutamide 150 mg/d for prostate cancer. Methods: Between June 2005 and June 2007, 1…

Osservational Study on Early Diagnosis of Prostate Carcinoma in Sicily and Calabria

The diagnosis of prostate carcinoma has been monitored in Sicily and Calabria for one year. Material e Methods Twenty-seven urological centres of Sicily and Calabria joined the study. Detailed informations about age, familiarity, PSA, Gleason score and TNM stage at diagnosis were centralized between november 2001 and november 2002. Results 721 patients have been recruited. The median age was 73 years. More than 80% of the patients were older than 65 years. Median PSA was 14 ng/ml. The clinical stage at diagnosis was T1c in 33% of patients and 67% had an organ confined prostate cancer (T1-T2). Familiarity was detected in 8% of cases. Age and PSA at diagnosis in these patients were similar t…

A randomized trial comparing tamoxifen therapy vs. tamoxifen prophylaxis in bicalutamide-induced gynecomastia.

BACKGROUND: Tamoxifen (TAM) has been shown to be active against the bicalutamide-induced breast events (BEs) gynecomastia, and breast pain in patients with prostate cancer (PC). Optimal doses and schedules are not yet established. Debate still exists about whether prophylaxis with TAM is more effective than treatment of BEs when diagnosed. The results of a randomized study comparing TAM prophylaxis vs. TAM therapy are presented. METHODS: One hundred seventy-six patients with prostate cancer (PC) who were candidates for bicalutamide monotherapy were randomized to receive TAM 20 mg daily orally within 1 month from the onset of BEs (arm A) vs. TAM 10 mg daily starting simultaneously with bical…

Environmental Risk Factors in Superficial Bladder Cancer

As a preliminary approach to define the object of larger case-control studies, the distribution of potential risk factors coming from environmental pollution among patients affected by superficial bladder cancer (TCCB) has been analyzed. Material e Methods. The analysis included only patients affected by medium risk superficial TCCB. Forty Italian urological centres joined the study. Detailed information about age, sex, residency, employment, active and passive cigarette smoking, water resource, hair-dye use were centralized. All patients underwent TUR and early intravesical chemotherapy. The distribution of the above mentioned environmental factors was related to tumor characteristics suc…

[S1 Herpes zoster localization: acute urinary retention in woman].

Acute urinary retention in women is rare. The varicella-zoster virus causes inflammatory lesions of the sensory-root ganglions, meninges and, less frequently, spinal cord. Herpes zoster has been reported to affect, although rarely, lower urinary tract innervations, and acute urinary retention can be thought to occur in the presence of sacral dermatome involvement. Usually it is located in S2–4 dermatome and the prognosis for acute urinary retention is benign resolving in about 20 days. We present a case in which the S1 dermatome was interested and acute urinary retention developed. After 10 days of specific therapy and self catheterism the problem resolved.

L'etoposide per via Intravescicale Nella Chemioprofilassi Degli Uroteliomi Superficiali Della Vescica

Kelfiprim, a new sulpha-trimethoprim combination, versus cotrimoxazole, in the treatment of urinary tract infections: a multicentre, double-blind trial.

A new combination of trimethoprim with a sulphonamide, named Kelfiprim, differs from cotrimoxazole in that: a) the sulpha drug is sulphamethopyrazine instead of sulphamethoxazole; b) the trimethoprim to sulpha ratio is 5:4 instead of 1:5;c) the presence of a long-acting sulphonamide allows the administration of a daily dose of one capsule, following an initial loading dose of two capsules; d) a reduced amount of trimethoprim is given, as compared to cotrimoxazole, without any decrease of efficacy. Kelfiprim [KP] was compared to contrimoxazole [Co] in a multicentre double blind trial. Sixty four patients suffering from acute and chronic infections of the upper and lower urinary tract entered…

How radical prostatectomy procedures have changed over the last 10 years in Italy: a comparative analysis based on more than 1500 patients participating in the MIRROR-SIU/LUNA and the Pros-IT CNR study

Purpose Therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer (PCa) have been evolving dramatically worldwide. The current article reports on the evolution of surgical management strategies for PCa in Italy. Methods The data from two independent Italian multicenter projects, the MIRROR-SIU/LUNA (started in 2007, holding data of 890 patients) and the Pros-IT-CNR project (started in 2014, with data of 692 patients), were compared. Differences in patients' characteristics were evaluated. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify characteristics associated with robot-assisted (RA) procedure, nerve sparing (NS) approach, and lymph node dissection (LND). Results The two cohorts did not …

Pharmacokinetic Study on Adenomatous Prostate Tissue Concentrations of Cef operazone

Cephalosporins do not reach active therapeutical concentrations in the prostatic tissue in patients suffering from chronic bacterial prostatitis. Cefoperazone is an exception. Its efficacy in the trea

Relationship of Flow Rate with Symptoms, Quality of Life and Other Clinical Parameters in Patients with LUTS Suggestive of BPH

The uroflowmetry data of a selected number of patients who took part to the QUIBUS study (366 traces selected after quality control by a central panel of reviewer) were evaluated for their relationships with age, prostate volume, and IPSS and ICS-BPH scores. Waiting time, flow time, voided volume, maximum flow rate (Q(max)) and average flow rate (Q(ave)) were the flow variables considered for analysis. Only measurements with total voided volume exceeding 100 ml were included.An increasing percentage of subjects with voided volume200 ml was observed over 65 years of age. Age did not affect neither Q(ave) nor Q(max )(p = n.s. at correlation analysis). In particular, Q(max)was15 ml/s in about …

RE-TREATMENT BY INTRAVESICAL THERAPY IN RECURRING PATIENTS AFFECTED BY INTERMEDIATE RISK NON-MUSCLE INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER (NMI-BC)

Introduction & Objectives: Up to 70% of patients affected by intermediate risk NMI-BC recur after intravesical therapy (IT). The majority of them will be retreated by IT. The therapeutic strategy for these patients is not well defined. BCG is advocated when intravesical chemotherapy (ICH) fails. However, some patients are retreated by ICH and some others repeat BCG adopted as the first treatment. Not many studies have been published on second line IT. A retrospective analysis on 179 intermediate-risk patients undergoing re-treatment by IT is presented. Materials & Methods: The clinical files of patients affected by NMI-BC recurring after TUR and IT and retreated by IT were reviewed. The pat…

Open prostatectomy for benign prostatic enlargement in southern Europe in the late 1990s: A contemporary series of 1800 interventions

Abstract Objectives Contemporary series of open prostatectomies from Western countries are rare. Frequently, the analysis of the outcome of open prostatectomy refers to old experiences or to series from developing countries. Any comparison with transurethral resection of the prostate can be invalidated by complications of open surgery because of the lack of an adequate healthcare system and technology. Methods The Sicilian-Calabrian Society of Urology performed a retrospective study to assess the surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia in Sicily and Calabria in 1997 and 1998. A three-page questionnaire was sent to the 36 urologic units of these two Italian regions with more than…

Relationship between PTH and PSA Values in Patients with Pathological Finding of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

The functional relationship between parathyroid glands and prostatic gland is commonly very well known. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of PTH and serum levels of PSA in patients with pathological finding of BPH. According to 261 transrectal ultrasound-guided prostatic biopsies performed from March 2009 to March 2010, 75 patients, responding to our inclusion criteria, were selected. 26 patients (34.6%) ended the study. All patients with high serum levels of PSA (>4 ng/mL), with histological diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia, underwent the assay of serum levels of PTH. We observed high levels of PTH (> 66 pg/mL) in 9 patients (35.2…

ESWL Prediction of outcome and failure Prevention

Based on our own experiences and a review of the recent literature, this article evaluates recent developments in predicting outcomes and failures of shockwave lithotripsy when treating patients with urinary tract stones. After a detailed MEDLINE research, the authors identified several variables that influence and predict extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) success. These variables may be categorized as stone variables, patient variables and operator variables. Only multivariate analysis on a large number of homogenous patients may offer an objective evaluation of the factors conditioning ESWL outcome.

A randomized phase II study of estramustine phosphate versus estramustine phosphate plus etoposide in hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC)

20632 Background: Docetaxel-based regimens represent the treatment of choice of HRPC. However, in some patients toxicity may be a concern and the quality of life may be compromised. The aim of this phase II randomized study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose chemotherapy regimen adopting a combination of EMP and VP16 in patients affected by HRPC. Methods: 54 HRPC patients were randomized between: arm A, daily oral standard dose EMP (10mg/kg) and arm B, low-dose EMP (3mg/kg) plus VP16 (25mg/mq) for 2 weeks followed by 2-weeks’rest. Systemic toxicity and hematologic exams were monitored every 2 weeks. Performance status, pain and analgesic use were evaluated according to WH…

Interactive computerized morphometric analysis for the differential diagnosis between dysplasia and well differentiated adenocarcinoma of the prostate

To distinguish prostatic dysplasia (or adenosis) from well differentiated adenocarcinoma on transrectal needle biopsy, a morphometric study was conducted on 20 cases of adenosis and 20 cases of well differentiated adenocarcinoma of the prostate. About 100 cells for each patient were analyzed by means of a computerized image analyzer, and mean nuclear diameter, mean nuclear area, mean form factor and number of cells in eight classes of nuclear diameter were studied. The best predictors of malignancy (evaluated by means of Receiver Operating Characteristics curves) were mean nuclear area greater than 28 mu2, presence of more than 5% of cells with nuclear diameter greater than 6.15 mu, and mea…

Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Prostate Biopsy

Introduction Prostate biopsy is nowadays one of the most frequent diagnostic procedures in urology. The incidence of bacteraemia, bacteriuria and infective complications is higher after the transrectal procedure than after the transperineal one. A survey demonstrated that 98% of the urologists in USA use antibiotics to prevent infective complications. The transrectal prostate biopsy is the only diagnostic intervention procedure in urology for which an antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended, also for low-risk patients, by the guidelines of the European Association of Urology. If the perineal route is adopted, the antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended only in high-risk patients. Materials and …

A RANDOMISED STUDY EVALUATING MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IN EARLY ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY FOR INTERMEDIATE RISK NON-MUSCLE-INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER

ABSTRACT Introduction and Objective: Adjuvant intravesical chemotherapy or BCG immunotherapy after transurethral resection (TUR) is a standard treatment for non–muscle-invasive transitional cell cancer of the bladder (NMI TCCB) at intermediate risk. Although the clinical value of early intravesical adjuvant chemotherapy is well established, the optimal schedule regimen and the role of maintenance is still debated. Methods: Between May 2002 and August 2003, 577 patients, undergoing TUR for NMI TCCB, were recruited. All patients underwent TUR and early (within 6 hours) intravesical chemotherapy with epirubicin at the dose of 80 mg diluted in 60 ml of saline solution. When histology was availa…

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of urinary bladder: Immunohistochemical study of an uncommon case

A case of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the bladder is reported herein. Immunohistochemical staining with human pancytokeratin antibody was negative, while vimentin staining was strongly positive, suggesting a diagnosis of sarcoma of the bladder. Further immunohistochemical analysis revealed positivity for AE1/AE3 cytokeratins, permitting a correct diagnosis of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the bladder. It can be difficult to distinguish between sarcomatoid carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma and sarcoma, particularly if the biopsy specimens are of small size. In rare cases, sarcomatoid tumors may express epithelial markers different from those revealed by human pancytokeratin staining. Copyright ©…

Complications in radical cystectomy and their prevention

We wish to dedicate this review article on radical cystectomy, its complications and their prevention to the memory of Prof. Luciano Giuliani. The article is based on a work written originally by Jim Montie and many other authors for the consensus meeting on bladder cancer held in Antwerp in 1994 and recently published in a booklet entitled “Global strategy for bladder cancer” (1). With the consent of Montie and the other co-authors, we have prepared on updated Italian version, inserting some parts (such as vascular complications) which were treated more superficially in the preliminary text.

Adjuvant intravesical therapy in intermediate risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) recurring after first cycle of intravesical treatment.

Introduction and objectives The therapeutic management of intermediate risk NMI-BC recurring after intravesical therapy (IT) is not established. Cystectomy will be offered to patients at higher risk of progression but the majority will be retreated by IT. Although some Authors suggest BCG when intravesical chemotherapy (ICH) fails, some patients are retreated by ICH and some others repeat BCG adopted as first-line treatment. Not many studies have been published on this issue. The response to retreatment by intravesical therapy in terms of recurrence-free rate (RFR) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) is analyzed in 179 intermediate-risk patients. Materials and methods Only intermediate-risk …

Ricerca Clinica Comparativa Fra Cotrimoxazolo Ed Una Nuova Associazione Sulfamidico Trimethoprim Nelle Infezioni Dell'Apparato Urinario: Nota Preliminare

Management of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia in southern Italy: a retrospective analysis of the Sicilian-Calabrian Society of Urology (SSCU) of 32,000 patients.

<i>Introduction:</i> The availability of new pharmacological and surgical options is responsible for important changes in the management of symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The Sicilian-Calabrian Society of Urology performed a retrospective survey to assess the management of BPH in southern Italy in 1997 and 1998. <i>Patients and Methods:</i> A 3-page questionnaire was sent to the 36 urological units of these two regions. The real number of patients treated was required. The numbers were checked with data obtained from the Health Regional Offices. <i>Results:</i> Twenty-six urological units (72.3%) replied. Almost all patients underwent urin…