Kinetics of testosterone recovery in clinically localized prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy and subsequent short-term adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a standard treatment for metastatic, recurrent and locally advanced prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of this study is to investigate the timing and extent of testosterone recovery in clinically localized PCa patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) and subsequent short-term adjuvant ADT. A total of 95 localized PCa patients underwent RP and 9-month adjuvant ADT were included in this prospective study. Serum testosterone level was measured before adjuvant ADT, at ADT cessation, and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after cessation of ADT. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess variables associated with the time of testosterone normalization. The results showed that median patient age was 67 years and median testosterone level before adjuvant ADT was 361 (230–905) ng dl⁻¹. All patients finished 9-month adjuvant ADT and achieved castrate testosterone level. At 3 months after ADT cessation, testosterone recovered to supracastrate level in 97.9% patients and to normal level in 36.9% patients. The percentage of patients who recovered to normal testosterone level increased to 66.3%, 86.3% and 92.6% at 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. Cox regression model found that higher baseline testosterone level (≥300 ng dl⁻¹) was the only variable associated with a shorter time to testosterone normalization (hazard ratio: 1.98; P = 0.012). In conclusion, in most patients, testosterone recovered to supracastrate level at 3 months and to normal level at 12 months after 9-month adjuvant ADT cessation. Patients with higher baseline testosterone level need shorter time of testosterone normalization.     

宫腔镜输卵管插管通液术在输卵管性不孕诊治中的应用

目的探讨宫腔镜下输卵管插管通液术对输卵管通畅度诊断的价值以及对输卵管通而不畅治疗的作用。方法 2009年1～12月120例不孕者（233条输卵管）经子宫输卵管造影术（hysterosalpingography,HSG）诊断为输卵管通而不畅214条,近端阻塞或未显影19条,宫腔镜输卵管插管通液来进一步诊断和治疗。结果 HSG诊断214条输卵管通而不畅,宫腔镜下输卵管插管通液诊断142条通而不畅,63条通畅,9条阻塞;HSG诊断19条输卵管近端阻塞或未显影,宫腔镜下输卵管插管通液诊断10条不通,5条通畅,4条通而不畅。146条（76例）输卵管通而不畅经通液治疗1～3次后,通畅110条（57例）,通而不畅36条（19例）,插管治疗治愈率75.3%（110/146）,病例治愈率75.0%（57/76）。对治疗后通畅的57例术后随访1年,术后1年内受孕率57.9%（33/57）,分娩率54.4%（31/57）;治疗后输卵管通而不畅的19例建议行宫、腹腔镜联合检查。结论宫腔镜下输卵管插管通液术对输卵管性不孕的诊断和通而不畅的治疗是安全、经济而有效的。     

The effectiveness of the TAX 327 nomogram in predicting overall survival in Chinese patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Based on the results of TAX 327, a nomogram was developed to predict the overall survival of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer （mCRPC） after first-line chemotherapy. The nomogram, however, has not been validated in an independent dataset, especially in a series out of clinical trials. Thus, the objective of the current study was to validate the TAX 327 nomogram in a community setting in China. A total of 146 patients with mCRPC who received first-line chemotherapy （docetaxel or mitoxantrone） were identified. Because clinical trials are limited in mainland China, those patients did not receive investigational treatment after the failure of first-line chemotherapy. The predicted overall survival rate was calculated from the TAX 327 nomogram. The validity of the model was assessed with discrimination, calibration and decision curve analysis. The median survival of the cohort was 21 months （docetaxel） and 19 months （mitoxantrone） at last follow-up. The predictive c-index of the TAX 327 nomogram was 0.66 （95% CI： 0.54-0.70）. The calibration plot demonstrated that the 2-year survival rate was underestimated by the nomogram. Decision curve analysis showed a net benefit of the nomogram at a threshold probability greater than 30%. In conclusion, the present validation study did not confirm the predictive value of the TAX 327 nomogram in a contemporary community series of men in China, and further studies with a large sample size to develop or validate nomograms for predicting survival and selecting therapies in advanced prostate cancer are necessary.     

手术治疗高血压脑出血短期预后因素分析

【摘要】 目的 探讨影响手术治疗高血压脑出血患者短期预后的相关因素,为指导临床和预后评估提供依据。方法 回顾性分析我院神经外科自2000年1月至2009年12月间收治的76例经手术治疗的高血压脑出血病例。入院时年龄、体重指数、收缩压、血肿体积、入院GCS评分、脑室是否有积血、是否出现肺部感染等资料为自变量,发病后3个月功能性评定(FIM)评分为因变量;利用t检验、方差分析以及线性相关分析,建立多重线性回归模型,筛选有意义的影响因素并确定其影响力。结果 体重指数、血肿体积、入院GCS评分、入院时收缩压水平、是否肺部感染等因素均与手术治疗高血压脑出血的短期预后相关。结论 高血压脑出血与多种因素相关。体重指数、血肿体积、入院GCS评分、入院时收缩压水平、是否肺部感染5因素是高血压脑出血短期预后的关键性预测因素。临床中应加强对这些因素的治疗、控制和预防。     

Renal function and injury in infants and young children with congenital heart disease

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate renal function and injury in infants and young children with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 58 CHD children aged ??3?years and 20 age-matched controls and divided these into four groups: Group I, acyanotic CHD (n?=?24); Group II, cyanotic CHD with arterial oxygen saturation of >75?% (n?=?20); Group III, cyanotic CHD with arterial oxygen saturation of ??75?% (n?=?14); Group IV, normal controls (n?=?20). Urinary levels of microalbumin (MA), N-acetyl-?-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), and ??1-microglobulin (??1-MG) corrected by creatinine (UCr) were compared.

Results

Children with CHD had elevated urinary ??1-MG/UCr levels, with Group III children having the highest level. Groups I and III children had higher urinary NAG/UCr levels than those of Groups II and IV. Urinary MA/UCr levels in the three patient groups were comparable and significantly higher than that in the control group. A ??1-MG?×?100/ (??1-MG?+?MA) of <15?%, indicative of glomerular damage, was present in two patients in Group I and one in Group III, but none in Group II.

Conclusions

Tubular injury can occur in CHD patients during infancy and early childhood. Among our patient cohort, it was most prominent in children with severe cyanosis. Glomerular injury was detected in some individuals with advanced heart failure or severe cyanosis.     

Validation of the prognostic value of lymph node ratio in patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma: a population-based study

Purpose

The aim of this study was to validate the prognostic value of lymph node ratio (LNR), the proportion of metastatic among removed lymph nodes, for patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma in a population-based database.

Methods

A total of 210 eligible patients with node-positive disease were identified from the surveillance epidemiology end results database. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) was the clinical outcome of interest. The prognostic ability of LNR was assessed by Cox regression analyses. Logrank test was used to compare CSS between low-risk and high-risk groups stratified by cutoff points of LNR.

Results

The median number of LNs removed was 16, and the median value of LNR was 0.20. First, LNR was a significant prognostic factor of CSS in univariate analysis (HR = 4.08). Second, LNR retained independent predictive ability (HR = 6.74) in the multivariate model including demographic data, disease characteristics and number-based LN variables. Addition of LNR remarkably improved the predictive accuracy and clinical usefulness of the survival model. Third, maximum stratification of CSS can be achieved at the cutoff point of 0.33.

Conclusion

In the population-based study, LNR outperformed number-based LN variables for predicting CSS of node-positive penile cancer. The ratio-based prognostic factor stresses the important role of adequate LND and identification of metastatic LNs in the community setting.     

Prognostic significance of tumor location and superficial urothelial bladder carcinoma history in patients with ureteral urothelial carcinoma treated with radical nephroureterectomy

Purpose

To investigate the significance of tumor location and superficial urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC) history on oncological outcomes in patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for ureteral urothelial carcinoma (UC).

Methods

One hundred and thirty-two patients treated with RNU for ureteral UC between January 1999 and July 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Recurrence probabilities and survival rates were analyzed, stratified by tumor location and superficial UBC history.

Results

Comparison of patients with proximal, middle, and distal ureteral UC showed that percentage of bladder recurrence was 13.3, 14.7, and 25.0 %, respectively (P = 0.285); retroperitoneal (tumor bed or lymph node) recurrence was 26.7, 14.7, and 27.9 % (P = 0.319); and contralateral recurrence was 0, 2.9, and 0 % (P = 0.234). Comparison of patients with and without history of superficial UBC revealed that percentage of bladder recurrence was 15.4 and 20.2 %, respectively (P = 0.681); retroperitoneal recurrence was 15.4 and 25.2 % (P = 0.433); and contralateral recurrence was 0 and 0.84 % (P = 0.740). Using multivariable Cox regression analyses, there were no significant differences of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) with regard to neither tumor location nor superficial UBC history (RFS: P = 0.282 and 0.762, CSS: P = 0.272 and 0.818, respectively).

Conclusions

Tumor location and history of superficial UBC could not be used to predict oncological outcomes of patients who underwent RNU for ureteral UC. Therefore, operative strategies or postoperative surveillance should not be affected by tumor location or history of superficial UBC.     

Laparoscopic-Assisted Resection for Advanced Colorectal Cancer in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

ABSTRACT

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility, short- and long-term outcomes, and safety of laparoscopic resection for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) in solid organ transplant recipients. Methods: Between September 2001 and April 2016, five patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted resection for CRC after solid organ transplantation were included in this study. Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed with regard to patient demographics, immunosuppressive therapy, tumor characteristics, surgical outcomes, and follow-up data. Results: Four kidney and one heart transplant recipients were included. Laparoscopic-assisted low anterior resection was performed in four patients with rectal or rectosigmoid junction cancer, and sigmoidectomy was done in one with sigmoid colon cancer. One kidney transplant patient received a protective loop transverse colostomy. All resections achieved complete tumor removal with tumor-free margins and total mesorectal excision, with an average number of 14 lymph nodes harvested. Most tumors were in stage III (n = 3), one was in stage II, and one in stage IV. The mean duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay were 144 min, 105 mL, and 8.8 days, respectively. No major complications occurred and graft function stayed well. During a mean follow-up period of 62 months, two patients developed metastasis and died eventually. Conclusion: Laparoscopic resection for advanced CRC in organ transplant recipients is technically feasible and therapeutically safe, and seems to have the advantages of few postoperative complications, short recovery time, and acceptable oncological outcomes.