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- We present the results of a prospective randomised trial of Estradurin, a long-acting oestrogen preparation (polyoestradiol phosphate), 160 mg per month, compared with bilateral orchiectomy in patients with advanced prostatic carcinoma (T3M1; T4MO/M1). The dose was lower than that usually recommended to induce a consistent fall in serial plasma testosterone levels to within the castrate range. Most patients treated with oestrogen showed an initial clinical and biochemical response equal to that obtained for patients undergoing orchiectomy. The inevitable relapse in hormone sensitivity sometimes occurred very soon after the start of oestrogen treatment. Many patients had poorly suppressed plasma testosterone expressed as a mean of monthly serial measurements, but then responded to secondary orchiectomy. These data only suggest that, in the treatment of hormone-sensitive prostatic carcinoma, it may be necessary to reduce plasma testosterone to midway between castrate and normal ranges. The data support the theory that response to androgen withdrawal is qualitative rather than quantative. The effective dose of oestrogen may therefore be reduced and the risk of thrombo-embolic complications minimised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- From 1983 to 1986 140 patients underwent surgery for ureteric calculus. In approximately 30%'blind' basket extraction was considered appropriate and continued to be effective. Increasing expertise with the rigid ureterorenoscope led to a considerable reduction in open ureterolithotomy (15% in 1985-86), the majority following failed ureteroscopic extraction. In the same year both 'blind' basket extraction and ureteroscopy were successful in 82 and 86% of attempts respectively. Electrohydraulic and ultrasonic lithotripsy were used in 12 patients to reduce large impacted calculi. The commonest complication of ureteroscopic stone surgery was perforation; this occurred in 14% of cases, though it was usually trivial and near the vesicoureteric junction. Perforations higher in the ureter tended to follow endoscopic lithotripsy and were often associated with urinary extravasation. Extra-ureteric stone fragments were also occasionally observed in such cases. There were no serious sequelae, although the in-patient stay was prolonged beyond the 48 h customary for uncomplicated extraction. The results suggest that ureteroscopic stone extraction, which can be conveniently introduced into urological practice, should become a standard endoscopic procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- Plasma testosterone, oestradiol, luteinising hormone (LH) growth hormone and prolactin were measured serially in 140 patients with advanced prostatic carcinoma (T3, T4, MI and MO) randomised in a trial of diethylstilboestrol 3 mg/day against estramustine 560 mg/day. Both drugs suppressed plasma testosterone and LH and increased plasma growth hormone and prolactin, though estramustine induced a greater rise in prolactin. Oestradiol levels fell on stilboestrol but were considerably elevated on estramustine. Initial hormone levels reflected neither the extent of disease nor the response to treatment. The data also showed that close attention should be given to plasma LH in identifying patients who are unreliable, since intermittent hormone dosage caused an exaggerated rise even when plasma testosterone remained at castrate levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- Serial transrectal needle biopsies were taken from 146 patients (657 specimens) with advanced prostatic cancer (T3/T4, M1/MO) admitted to a trial of two forms of oestrogen therapy. Histological grading by Gleason and Mostofi techniques on the initial biopsy showed no correlation either with extent of disease or its eventual outcome on treatment. Change in grade was dissociated from the response of bone metastases to hormone treatment and did not appear to influence survival. However, the prognosis of 16 patients showing clearance of tumour from their serial biopsies was generally good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- One hundred and twenty-seven patients with locally advanced prostatic cancer were evaluated for the presence and progress of bone metastases before and during hormonal therapy, by serial radionuclide imaging and frequent measurement of plasma acid (tartrate-labile) and alkaline phosphatase. For comparison, serial changes in imaging and phosphatases were classified in each patient into one of six groups. Of 71 patients with negative imaging before treatment, 82% had normal alkaline phosphatase levels and 83% had normal acid phosphatase levels. Of 56 patients with bone metastases at presentation, false negative alkaline and acid phosphatase levels were noted in 18% and 36% respectively, though a few patients eventually developed abnormal levels. Serial plasma biochemistry and particularly alkaline phosphatase showed a response to treatment which was not always obvious on imaging. An assessment of the hepatic component of alkaline phosphatase by reference to plasma gamma glutamyl transpeptidase and isoenzyme electrophoresis was helpful in the evaluation of a false positive result but unnecessary where imaging was positive and phosphatase elevated. It is concluded that serial alkaline phosphatase estimation is essential in the follow-up of patients with prostatic cancer and bone metastases, and probably renders serial imaging studies superfluous once the presence of skeletal metastases has been proven. By comparison, acid phosphatase is a much less effective marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- Fifty-five patients with chronic urinary retention and incipient or actual renal failure were studied. In the majority of patients renal function improved after bladder decompression, irrespective of whether or not a diuresis occurred. Excessive loss of salt and water was rarely a matter of concern and most patients did not require intravenous fluid replacement. Several lost weight and experienced a fall in blood pressure during the period of diuresis without adverse effect upon renal functional recovery. A profound fall in blood pressure occurred in only three patients, all of whom required long-term sodium supplementation. It is concluded that the problem of salt and water loss after bladder decompression in patients with renal failure is exaggerated and difficult to predict. Over-enthusiastic replacement of fluid in strict accordance with output could readily lead to fluid overload and prolongation of the diuretic period. Therefore fluid replacement should be determined by the clinical condition of the patient and measurement of improving renal function with less emphasis on urine output and its electrolyte content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- Thirty-nine patients with ductal prostatic carcinoma have been reviewed. Their mode of presentation, initial stage, plasma phosphatase levels and response to hormone therapy were found to be similar to those in a group of 124 patients with the common acinar prostatic cancer. Histochemical examination demonstrated prostate-specific antigen in all ductal carcinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- The morphological response of the bladder surface to acute and chronic urinary tract infection (UTI) was investigated using both scanning and transmission electron microscopy of bladder biopsies taken during routine cystoscopy. Acute bacterial infection only minimally altered bladder epithelium, whereas in chronic infections the surface layers showed gross changes which included loss of the outer layers of epithelial cells and alteration of the bladder contour. In addition, more erythrocytes and polymorphonucleocytes were present in chronic infection. In both acute and chronic urinary infection, bacteria were confined to a limited number of sites on the bladder surface and appeared to be arranged in microcolonies, but more bacteria were attached to bladder surfaces in chronic than in acute UTI. These findings were confirmed by studying epithelial cells shed from patients with proven urinary infections. A few patients who had been treated with antibiotics before cystoscopy and biopsy were also studied. These antibiotics included cephalosporins which had been previously shown to produce bacterial morphological variations in vitro. Some of these changes were subsequently observed in the biopsies and the results suggest mechanisms whereby bacteria involved in urinary tract infection can survive exposure to antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- Seventy-seven patients with carcinoma of the urinary bladder were investigated by computed tomography (CT) and the results compared with those of pathological staging. The overall accuracy rate was 81 % for the estimation of local tumour extension. Perivesical tumour extension was overestimated by CT owing to previous bladder surgery or radiotherapy in about half of the cases. Nevertheless, CT gives unrivalled diagnostic information in advanced tumour invasion. The diagnostic accuracy rate of CT in the detection of lymph node metastases was 89%, compared with 73% for lymphography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- A modification of the technique of Politano and Leadbetter for reimplantation of wide ureters is described. Nine patients with obstructive megaureter (10 ureters) and 6 with gross vesicoureteric reflux (9 ureters) were treated. A satisfactory result was obtained in 6 of the obstructed patients (7 ureters) and ultimately, after re-operation, in 1 of the remaining ureters. Reflux was corrected in all 6 patients. This method requires less extravesical dissection than others involving extensive remodelling of the wide ureter. There is therefore less risk of damage to the distal ureteric blood supply and the natural flap valve mechanism at the ureteric orifice may be more effectively emulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- Nineteen patients with Peyronie's disease were treated by a modification of Nesbit's operation. The deformity was completely corrected in 18 patients. Potency was restored to 4 of the 6 impotent patients and satisfactory coitus became possible for 15 patients, whereas it had been possible for only 3 before operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the localization of the anti-MUC1 mucin monoclonal antibody (mAb) NCRC48 to bladder cancer following intravesical administration., Patients and Methods: mAb NCRC48 (330-500 micrograms) radiolabelled with 111indium (11-17 MBq) was administered intravesically to 12 unselected patients with radiological evidence of bladder cancer. Tumour localization was assessed by gamma-camera imaging and by tissue biodistribution studies on biopsies obtained at cystoscopy at about 2 or 24 h after the procedure. After 24 h, whole blood radioactivity was measured and 3 weeks after the procedure the serum level of human anti-mouse antibodies was estimated using an ELISA method., Results: Eleven patients had tumours confirmed at cystoscopy (grades 1-3, stages pTa-pT2). The mean uptake of NCRC48 by tumour and by normal urothelium (expressed as the percentage of the instilled dose/g x 10(3) +/- SD) at 2 h was 3.42 +/- 3.68 and 0.41 +/- 0.77 (P < 0.05). After 24 h, the values for tumour and normal urothelium were 1.17 +/- 1.18 and 0.17 +/- 0.11, respectively. Areas of increased activity on the scintigrams were consistent with the position of the tumours at cystoscopy. No radioactivity was detected in blood at 24 h and there was no evidence of a human anti-mouse antibody response., Conclusion: The MUC1 mucin may be a suitable antigen to study the potential of therapeutic strategies based on monoclonal antibody targeting of superficial bladder cancer and may allow the development of more effective agents in the treatment of this condition.

Objective: To study the long-term results of a single 8 week course of intravesical Evans bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) on carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the urinary bladder., Patients and Methods: This study reports on 43 patients who each received a single 8 week course of intravesical BCG., Results: In spite of the good initial complete response rate of 70%, the long-term follow-up was disappointing with half the patients either having recurrence or progression of their disease by 2 years. The patients had a close follow-up protocol with early radical treatment when disease progressed. The cause specific survival at 5 years was 70%., Conclusion: We feel that similar future treatment protocols without maintenance treatment are not justified.

A series of 45 patients (31 female) underwent clam enterocystoplasty for urgency and incontinence. The majority had detrusor instability. Prolonged conservative treatment had failed in all cases. Improvement occurred in 71% and those younger than 30 years had better overall results; 29% remained incontinent, with 9% requiring a urinary diversion. Many patients did not achieve maximum benefit until 9 months post-operatively. Surgery had no statistically significant effect on any urodynamic parameter and post-operative complications were common. The operation was performed in either the coronal (19) or the sagittal plane (26); this did not influence results. In general, surgery was found to be technically simpler in the sagittal group and it is recommended that this becomes the standard procedure. We feel that this operation involves major surgery and should only be offered with reluctance.