The top 100 cited articles in urology

Background

We identified and analyzed the characteristics of the 100 most frequently cited articles published between 1965 and 2007 in journals pertaining to urology and related fields.

Methods

We selected 69 of the highest impact urology and sub-specialty journals and 22 of the highest impact general medical and medical research journals from the 2006 edition of Journal Citation Reports: Science edition. We identified the 100 most frequently cited urological articles published in these 91 journals using the Science Citation Index Expanded (1965–present). We reviewed and analyzed the articles.

Results

The top 100 articles were cited a mean of 629 times (range 418–1435) and published between 1965 and 2003, with 89% published after 1979 and 54% published in the 1990s. Fifteen journals were represented, led by The New England Journal of Medicine (30), The Journal of Urology (22) and Lancet (11). Ninety publications originated from North America (81) or the United Kingdom (9). Johns Hopkins University (13), Harvard University (5), Stanford University (5) and University of California, Los Angeles (5) published the most articles. Five urologists were first authors of 2 or more of the articles. Fifty-six articles reported observational studies. Oncology (51) and transplantation (20) were the most commonly represented urological subfields.

Conclusion

These top-cited articles in urology identify topics and authors that contributed to major advances in urology. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials in oncology published in high-impact urological or medical journals constitute the most common type of highly cited publications.     

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and prostate cancer: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis

Prostate cancer is the most common visceral cancer in men. Many studies have shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. We systematically searched all relevant databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Collaboration, CINAHL, Database of Abstracts of Review of Effects and ACP Journal Club) to March 2008. We also explored bibliographies of the articles, pertinent journals and conferences. We selected relevant articles according to predefined inclusion criteria by 2 independent reviewers. We used both fixed and random-effect models for meta-analysis. We performed subgroup and sensitivity analysis based on predefined variables. From 962 extracted articles, 20 met the inclusion criteria with a total of 25 768 participants. All the studies had an observational design. There was a statistically significant protective effect for NSAIDs on risk of prostate cancer (odds ratio [OR] 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86–0.97). Subgroup analysis did not show any effect of study design or quality score on the results. There was a small but statistically significant protective effect for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91–1.00). Exposure to non-ASA NSAIDs was associated with a slightly reduced likelihood of prostate cancer (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.85–1.00). With the available data, we were not able to determine an optimum dosage for NSAIDs. We conclude that taking NSAIDs may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Nevertheless, the effect is small.     

Peripheral and central giant cell granulomas of the jaws: a retrospective study and surgical management

This 18-year retrospective multi-center study analyzed data from patients diagnosed and treated for peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) and central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws from 1991-2009. Data included age, gender, the jaw involved, the area of the lesion, the type of surgical treatment, and recurrence. Thorough curettage or partial resection was used to treat CGCG (96.39% success rate) and PGCG (98.71% success rate) in this group of patients documented during the follow-up period (1-18 years).     

New magnetic resonance imaging techniques for the detection of breast cancer

Summary The importance of contrast agents in enhancing diagnoses from magnetic resonance images has been established in numerous cases. However, the development of a potent tissue-specific contrast agent, as a sensitive probe for early detection and investigation of the physiological characteristics of a tumor, has not yet been realized in MR imaging (MRI). In nuclear scintigraphy the technique has been demonstrated; however, the poor spacial resolution inherent to the modality and the substantial dose of radioactivity administered to the patient has hindered its widespread use. This article will review the different classes of contrast agents in MRI, with special focus on the strategies involved in the development of targeted tissue-specific MRI contrast agents for the early detection of breast cancer. The features of a new class of contrast agents for targeted MR imaging will be described. Gadolinium-containing melanin polymers (GMP's) have been synthesized as MR contrast agents in our laboratory. These GMP's demonstrate significantly higher relaxivities than any other paramagnetic contrast agents reported; consequently, they are extremely effective contrast enhancing, imaging agents by themselves. The successful coupling of these potent GMP's to a monoclonal antibody specific for breast carcinoma, the 323/A3 monoclonal antibody, suggests thatin vivo tissue-specific MR imaging, at the receptor level, will become feasible in the near future.     

Pharmacological basis for cladribine resistance

The inherent or acquired resistance of leukemic cells to cytostatic agents is a major clinical challenge. The purpose of this review was to elucidate and analyse the available data concerning mechanisms of resistance of cladribine with emphasis on recent advances in the characterization of activating and inactivating enzymes in the induction of resistance to cladribine. All available in vitro and clinical data on cladribine was undertaken. Cladribine, unlike many other drugs, is toxic to both dividing and indolent lymphoid malignancies. Cladribine is a prodrug and must be phosphorylated intracellularly to cladribine-monophosphate (MP) by the nuclear/cystosol enzyme deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and the mitochondrial enzyme deoxyguanosine kinase. The cytotoxicity mainly depends on the accumulation of cladribine-triphosphates (TP) after phosphorylation of cladribine-MP by nucleoside monophosphate kinase and nucleoside diphosphate kinase. 5'-Nucleotidase (5'-NT) dephosphorylates cladribine-MP and the accumulation of cladribine-TP depends on the ratio of dCK and 5'-NT in the cells. The mechanisms underlying cladribine resistance are multifactorial, e.g. decreased nucleoside transport, decreased activity or deficiency of dCK, altered intracellular pools of competing nucleotides, altered regulation of ribonucleotide reductase and increased drug inactivation by 5'-NT. Finally, cladribine resistance may be a consequence of a defective induction of apoptosis. In spite of the fact that more than one mechanism can contribute to a cladribine resistance phenotype, a reduction in dCK activity is probably the major determinant of cladribine resistance. Insight into the mechanism of action and resistance to cladribine is crucial for its optimal use as well as for the development of newer analogues.     

Follicular large cell lymphoma localized to the testis in children

PURPOSE: Primary follicular lymphoma of the testis in childhood is rare with only 6 cases previously reported. We present 3 additional cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We extensively analyzed primary follicular lymphoma of the testis in 3 boys. Clinical data were obtained by reviewing patient charts. RESULTS: The patients were 4, 5 and 11 years old, respectively. Two patients presented with painless unilateral testicular enlargement and 1 presented with unilateral hydrocele. Laboratory findings were within normal limits in all patients. Radical orchiectomy was done in all cases. The excised testes were partially or completely replaced by tumor. In all cases the features were those of follicular, large cell-type malignant lymphoma. Tumor cells in all cases were CD20 and CDw75 positive, focally CD23 positive and bcl-2 negative, while in 2 they were CD10 positive and bcl-6 positive. Surface Ig was absent in the 2 cases studied. Karyotyping in 1 case showed a normal karyotype. Staging revealed no evidence of extratesticular disease. All patients underwent combination chemotherapy and were in complete remission 7 to 59 months after therapy. CONCLUSIONS: We present 3 cases of pediatric primary follicular lymphoma of the testis. Pathological findings and clinical features were similar to those in the 6 previously reported cases and suggest that primary pediatric testicular follicular lymphoma may represent unique subset of follicular lymphoma with a particularly good prognosis.