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Cryotherapy is a salvage treatment for patients with biopsy-proved prostatic adenocarcinoma recurrent after radiotherapy. Proper sampling, labeling, and analysis of prostate biopsies allows prompt diagnosis, identification of important prognostic parameters, and planning of an appropriate therapeutic strategy. Whereas androgen-suppressive therapy is associated with only a temporary benefit, transperineal salvage cryosurgery offers a potentially curative option for patients with localized disease, even those with significant comorbidities. Technological advances, including computerized treatment planning and miniaturized cryoprobes, may provide further therapeutic advantages and lower complication rates. Cryotherapy should be included among the established therapeutic options for recurrence after radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we wanted to evaluate whether acupuncture reflexotherapy is able to treat the sensory irritative components of LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) that persist after transurethral resection of the prostate. We have evaluated 42 patients, randomly selected into three groups: 14 patients received placebo, 15 patients received oxybutynin, and 13 patient were treated with electrostimulation by acupuncture reflexotherapy. Before treatment, the mean maximum flow rate (Qmax) was 21.0 ± 3.2 mL/sec, the mean International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) score was 12.9 ± 4.2, the mean I-PSS Quality of Life (IPSS QoL) score was 3.6 ± 1.2. At the first check-up performed after 3 months, we could observe that the I-PSS and QoL scores were 12.6 ± 4.3 and 3.8 ± 1.3 in the group who received placebo; the scores decreased to 11.1 ± 3.2 and to 3.1 ± 1.0, respectively, in the 15 patients treated with oxybutynin and decreased to 6.1 ± 2.6 and 1.3 ± 1.1, respectively, in the 13 patients who underwent acupuncture reflexotherapy. At 1-year follow-up, these parameters were practically similar. The voiding diaries allowed us to deduce that the average number of daytime voidings decreased by 8% in patients who received oxybutynin and decreased by 20% in 13 patients who underwent reflexotherapy; the average number of nocturnal micturitions decreased by approximately 20% and 60%, respectively, in patients who received oxybutynin and reflexotherapy. This study has pointed out that acupuncture reflexotherapy has a real benefit in patients with sensory urgency that persists after transurethral resection of the prostate. Neurourol. Urodynam. 23:58–62, 2004. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract An international consultation on the diagnosis of non-invasive urothelial neoplasms was held in Ancona, Italy in May 2001. Besides histology and problems of classification, one group of experts (Committee no. 3) discussed the molecular pathology and cytometry of non-invasive urothelial carcinomas. In the following first part, special immunohistochemical and molecular markers for stratifications in bladder cancer were discussed including different cytokeratins (clone 34βE12, CK 20), cell proliferation markers (Ki67/MIB-1, PCNA, AgNOR, DNA-cytometry), tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes (p53, p21, erb-B2, bcl-2), different receptor expressions of epidermal growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor and others. These molecular markers were analyzed in diagnosis of urothelial carcinomas, recurrences, progression and response to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]