Outcomes and complications of pelvic lymph node dissection during robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy

Purpose

Describe the outcomes and complications of patients who underwent standard pelvic lymphadenectomy (SPLND) and extended PLND (EPLND), or who did not undergo PLND (non-PLND) at the time of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP).

Methods

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected longitudinal data of 492 RALPs performed by a single surgeon (Kane) over a 5-year period. Patients are subdivided into three treatment groups: 54 EPLND; 231 SPLND; and 207 non-PLND. Indications for EPLND include Gleason score ≥8, PSA ≥10 ng/mL, and higher D’Amico risk group. Patient demographics, perioperative complications, and short-term oncologic outcomes are compared.

Results

Patients who underwent EPLND had higher-risk prostate cancer as evidenced by higher mean PSA (8.5 ng/mL), biopsy Gleason sum (≥8) (57.7 %), and D’Amico risk group (75.9 %), compared to SPLND and/or non-PLND groups (p ≤ 0.001). The EPLND total lymph node yield was similar compared to SPLND (20 vs. 18; p = 0.070). When the EPLND (n = 41) and SPLND (n = 57) were examined among only high-risk patients, the lymph node (IQR) yields [20 (14–29) vs. 17 (12–23)] and the proportion of positive nodes [29.3 % (12/41) vs. 12.3 % (7/57)] differed significantly (p = 0.048 and p = 0.042, respectively). Complication rates for all groups were similar and lymphocele formation was 5 %; 2.5 % were clinically significant.

Conclusions

Robotic PLND can be performed with nodal yield comparable to open or laparoscopic PLND. Robotic EPLND improves nodal yield and the proportion of high-risk patients with nodal metastases recognized. Robotic PLND is associated with an approximately 5 % lymphocele rate. There is no difference in complications between EPLND and SPLND.     

Ameliorative Effects of Proanthocyanidin on Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Introduction. Several natural products have been reported to have beneficial effects on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, particularly from a preventative perspective. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the efficiency of proanthocyanidin (PA), a natural product derived from grape seed, on renal dysfunction and injury induced by I/R of rat kidney. Materials and Methods. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated, I/R, I/R+PA. Rats were given PA (100 mg/kg/day peroral) 7 days prior to I/R. All rats except sham-operated underwent 60 min of bilateral renal ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion. After reperfusion, kidneys and blood were obtained for evaluation. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl content, and nitrite/nitrate level (NO_x) were determined in the renal tissue. Serum creatinine (S_Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined in the blood. Additionally, renal sections were used for histological grade of renal injury. Results. PA significantly reduced the I/R-induced increases in S_Cr, BUN, and AST. In addition, PA markedly reduced elevated oxidative stress product, restored decreased antioxidant enzymes, and attenuated histological alterations. Moreover, PA attenuated the tissue NO_x, levels indicating reduced NO production. Conclusions. The pretreatment of rats with PA reduced the renal dysfunction and morphological changes, ameliorated cellular injury, and restored renal antioxidant enzymes caused by renal I/R.     

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in patients with premature ejaculation: a pilot study

Purpose

The etiology of both adult-type ADHD and PE is not completely understood, but the studies revealing common etiologic factors for both conditions suggest a high likelihood of coexistence. We aimed to find out the prevalence of ADHD among adult males with lifetime PE.

Methods

The patients with lifetime PE were included in the study. Both patients and controls were evaluated with the 10-item premature ejaculation index of Althof and Rosen for premature ejaculation, Wender Utah rating scale (WURS) and Conner’s adult ADHD rating scales (CAARS) for determining the presence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder syndrome.

Results

A total of 38 patients and 27 controls were included in the study. Patient and control groups were similar in terms of age and (p < 0.878), but different IELT (p < 0.001). ADHD was detected in 16 (42.1 %) of patients with PE, while ADHD symptoms were detected in only 1 (3.7 %) of control patients. Distribution of patients in the study group according to ADHD types was as follows: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 in 2 (5.3 %), 4 (10.5 %), and 10 (26.3 %) patients, respectively.

Conclusions

ADHD is significantly more frequent among patients with PE than controls. The close relationships between these two diseases must be examined by prospective studies.     

Higher Incidence of Cholelithiasis in Chronic Renal Failure Patients with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis

Background. In this study, we endeavored to determine whether the incidence of cholelithiasis (CL) was increased in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism on a peritoneal dialysis (PD) program. We also evaluated the factors that might have some influence on the development of CL. Methods. A total of 59 CRF patients undergoing PD were included in the study. We studied the following groups to determine whether parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were increased in CRF-PD patients: twenty patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (group 1) and 39 patients with normal PTH levels (group 2). PTH levels were maintained at three times the upper limit of normal. Biochemical parameters were obtained for each CRF-PD patient. All patients underwent abdominal ultrasonography to screen for the presence of cholelithiasis. For statistical analysis, χ², t test, and logistic regression analysis were used; p < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results. We found an almost ten times higher incidence (25% vs. 2.6%) of CL in group 1 patients with statistical significance (p = 0.007). When the incidence of CL according to sex, creatinine, and PTH levels were considered, female gender, creatinine, and PTH levels were higher in group 1, which was also significant statistically. No significant relationship was detected between gallbladder stone formation and the other analyzed biochemical parameters. Conclusions. We found that the incidence of CL in CRF-PD patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism was higher than CRF-PD patients with normal PTH levels. It was also detected that female gender, high creatinine levels, and elevated PTH levels might influence the development of CL in CRF-PD patients.     

PLASMA EXCHANGE AND DOUBLE FILTRATION PLASMAPHERESIS IN CHRONIC GLOMERULONEPHRITIS PATIENTS WITH GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME

Radiological procedures require the intravascular administration of iodinated contrast media, which are becoming a great source of an iatrogenic disease known as contrast-induced nephropathy. The development of contrast-induced nephropathy is associated with prolonged hospitalization, the potential need for renal replacement therapy, and increased mortality. Despite numerous clinical and experimental studies, several important issues regarding contrast-induced nephropathy remain controversial. One of the controversial points is its very definition: a universally accepted definition of contrast-induced nephropathy does not exist. This can be a major problem. Differing definitions of contrast-induced nephropathy and the clinical importance of these definitions were discussed in this letter.     

Low ERCC1 expression is associated with prolonged survival in patients with bladder cancer receiving platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy

PurposeExcision repair cross-complementation group 1 enzyme (ERCC1) plays a key role in the removal of platinum induced DNA adducts and cisplatin resistance. Prognostic role of ERCC1 expression in the neoadjuvant setting in bladder cancer has not been reported before. We evaluated the prognostic role of ERCC1 expression in bladder cancer receiving platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Materials and methodsThirty-eight patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer who received neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy were included. Clinical and histopathologic parameters along with immunohistochemical ERCC1 staining were examined and correlated with response rates and survival.ResultsPathologic complete response rates were similar between patients with low and high ERCC1 expression. Median disease-free survival (DFS) was 9.3 vs. 20.5 months (P = 0.186) and median overall survival (OS) was 9.3 vs. 26.7 months (P = 0.058) in patients with high ERCC1 expression compared with those with low expression, respectively. In multivariate Cox regression analysis: pathological complete response (pCR) after chemotherapy (hazard ratio (HR) 0.1, 95% CI 0.012–0.842, P = 0.034) and high ERCC1 expression (HR 3.7, 95% CI 1.2–11.2, P = 0.019) were significantly associated with DFS. Patient age (>60 vs. ≤60 years) (HR 3.4, 95% CI 1.2–9.4, P = 0.018), the presence of pCR (HR 0.11, 95% CI 0.014–0.981, P = 0.048) and high ERCC expression (HR 6.1, 95 CI 1.9–19.9, P = 0.002) were significantly associated with OS.ConclusionsOur results showed that high ERCC1 expression was independently associated with shorter disease-free and overall survival in patients with bladder cancer who received neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy. ERCC1 may represent a potential predictive marker for platinum-based treatment in bladder cancer.