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Background: Prostate size estimation is a valuable clinical measure widely utilized in urology. This study evaluated the accuracy of preoperative transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) compared to radica...

Incontinence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) significantly impacts quality of life. This study aims to compare the age-stratified continence outcomes in Canadian men undergoing RARP.A retrospective review was performed on a prospectively maintained database of 1737 patients who underwent RARP for localized prostate cancer between 2007 and 2019. Patients were stratified into five groups based on age: group 1, ≤ 54 years (n = 245); group 2, 55-59 years (n = 302) ; group 3, 60-64 years (n = 386); group 4, 65-69 years (n = 348); and group 5, ≥ 70 years (n = 116). Functional outcomes were assessed up to 36 months. Log-rank and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to compare the time to recovery of pad-free continence by age group.Continence rates of groups 1 to 5 were respectively 90.2%, 79.1%, 80.4%, 71.4%, and 59.8% at 1-year follow up (p0.001). After 3 years, groups 1 through 5 had continence rates of 97%, 91.7%, 89.3%, 81.4%, and 77.6%, respectively (p0.001). Median time to recovery of continence was 58, 135, 140, 152 and 228 days, respectively. Among men who remained incontinent, older patients consistently required more pads. In Cox proportional hazard model, groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were respectively 33% (p0.001), 34% (p0.001), 33% (p = 0.001), and 41% (p = 0.005) more likely to remain incontinent compared to group 1.Age is associated with significantly lower rates of continence recovery, longer time to recovery of continence, and more severe cases of incontinence after RARP.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to compare perioperative and postoperative outcomes and to assess the safety and feasibility of same-day trial of void (TOV) in patients who underwent standard holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) vs. MOSES(TM) HoLEP (MoLEP). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected data of patients that underwent HoLEP (100 W) or MoLEP (120 W) with same-day catheter removal three hours postoperatively at our institution from August 2018 to September 2021. Patient demographics, intraoperative parameters, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Data were compared as means with standard deviation and medians with interquartile range (IQR) or numbers and percentages. Continuous and categorical variables were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-squared test, respectively. Predictors of shorter enucleation time and failed same-day TOV were investigated. RESULTS: Of the 90 patients included, 28 underwent HoLEP while 62 had MoLEP. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the successful TOV (23 [82%] vs. 58 [93.5%], p=0.1) and readmission rate (3 [10.7%] vs. 1 [1.6%], p=0.08); however, the MoLEP group had a significantly shorter mean enucleation time (p

Aims Bariatric surgeries induce profound weight loss (decrease in body mass index, BMI), through a decrease in fat mass (FM) and to a much lesser degree of fat-free mass (FFM). Some reports indicate that the weight which is lost after gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is at least partially regained 2 years after surgery. Here we compare changes in BMI and body composition induced by four bariatric procedures in a 5 years follow-up study. Methods We analyzed retrospectively modifications in BMI, FM and FFM obtained through Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) and a long common limb revisional biliopancreatic diversion (reduction of the gastric pouch and long common limb; BPD + LCL−R). Patients were evaluated at baseline and yearly for 5 years. Of the whole cohort of 565 patients, a subset of 180 patients had all yearly evaluations, while the remaining had incomplete evaluations. Setting University Hospital. Results In a total of 180 patients evaluated yearly for 5 years, decrease in BMI and FM up to 2 years was more rapid with RYGB and SG than BPD and BPD + LCL−R; with RYGB and SG both BMI and FM slightly increased in the years 3–5. At 5 years, the differences were not significant. When analysing the differences between 2 and 5 years, BPD + LCL−R showed a somewhat greater effect on BMI and FM than RYGB, BPD and SG. Superimposable results were obtained when the whole cohort of 565 patients with incomplete evaluation was considered. Conclusions All surgeries were highly effective in reducing BMI and fat mass at around 2 years; with RYGB and SG both BMI and FM slightly increased in the years 3–5, while BPD and BPD + LCL−R showed a slight further decreases in the same time interval.

Greenlight photo-selective vaporization of the prostate (GL-PVP) has gained international acceptance as a safe and effective alternative procedure for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), especially in anticoagulated men. This descriptive analysis aims to characterize the current state of GL-PVP, pooling data from international centers. Data from 3627 patients who underwent GL-PVP with the XPS-180 W system in seven international centers performed by eight expert surgeons between 2011 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, perioperative, and postoperative data were collected, including IPSS, QoL, Qmax, PVR, and PSA, and complications. At baseline, median age, prostate volume, PSA, and IPSS were 70 years (interquartile range 64–77), 64 (47–90), 3.1 ng/mL (1.8–6), and 22 (19–27), respectively. Median lasing and operative time were 34 (23–48) and 62 min (46–85), respectively. Median energy use was 250.0 kJ (168.4–367.9), with 92.6% of procedures being completed with one laser fiber. In 60.1% of cases, catheter was removed on postoperative day 1 with median length of 2 days. All-cause mortality within 30 days was 0.3%. Median PSA reduction at 3 months and 60 months compared to baseline was 43.9 and 46.4%, respectively (p

Most Canadian hospitals face significant reductions in operating room access during the summer. We sought to assess the impact of longer wait times on the oncological outcomes of localized prostate cancer patients following robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained RARP database in two high-volume academic centers, between 2010 and 2019. Assessed outcomes included the difference between post-biopsy UCSF-CAPRA and post-surgical CAPRA-S scores, Gleason score upgrade and biochemical recurrence rates (BCR). Multivariable regression analyses (MVA) were used to evaluate the effect of wait times. A total of 1057 men were included for analysis. Consistent over a 10 year period, summer months had the lowest surgical volumes despite above average booking volumes. The lowest surgical volume occurred during the month of July (7.1 cases on average), which was 35% less than the cohort average. The longest average wait times occurred for patients booked in June (93 ± 69 days, p

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) remains controversial in men with treated prostate cancer. We assessed its safety and functional impacts in patients after definitive surgical treatment with robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). We performed a retrospective analysis of 1303 patients who underwent RARP during the years 2006–2019. We identified men with symptoms of andropause and low serum testosterone who received TRT post-RARP; then we divided the cohort into two groups accordingly for comparison. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included functional outcomes. Predictors of BCR, including the effect of TRT on BCR, were evaluated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Among the forty-seven men who received TRT, the mean age was 60.83 years with a median follow-up of 48 months. Three (6.4%) and 157 (12.56%) patients experienced BCR in TRT and non-TRT groups, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar between both groups except for higher mean BMI in the TRT group (p = 0.03). In the multivariate analysis (MVA), higher pre-RARP prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (p = 0.043), higher International Society of Urological Pathology score (p

In this review, we will discuss the state of the literature regarding Rezūm and opportunities for its application in the treatment of BPH. A comprehensive review of original research on convective water vapor thermal therapy (Rezūm) was conducted. Articles related to transurethral resection of the prostate, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, Aquablation, and greenlight photoselective vaporization of the prostate were reviewed for discussion. Rezūm distinguishes itself from other treatment options by its durable improvement in objective clinical outcomes such as IPSS and BPH Impact Index, while being cost-effective and versatile in its ability to treat a variety of prostate gland morphologies. This treatment option shows good lower urinary tract symptom relief, especially in small-to-moderate prostate sizes (30–80 cc). The use of convective heat transfer is unique and allows for localized treatment, avoiding damage to surrounding structures, thus providing an excellent safety profile and sexual function preservation. The current evidence on Rezūm warrants its consideration as a therapeutic alternative to transurethral surgery in selected patients.

In this review, we will discuss the state of the literature regarding Aquablation, its limitations, and opportunities for its application in the treatment of benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). A comprehensive review of original research on Aquablation was conducted. Articles related to transurethral resection of the prostate, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, greenlight photoselective vaporization of the prostate, and simple prostatectomy were reviewed for discussion. For small–medium prostates (30–80 mL), Aquablation’s main advantages include better ejaculatory function and similar functional outcomes compared to TURP. For large prostates (80–150 mL), Aquablation demonstrates shorter operative time and superior ejaculatory function when compared to simple prostatectomy, HoLEP, and Greenlight PVP. In addition, Aquablation displays shorter hospital stays than simple prostatectomy. The integration of software programming and semi-automatic technology increases the reproducibility of the procedure and helps standardize overall outcomes, while also accelerating the learning curve. Its ability to preserve antegrade ejaculation makes Aquablation a very compelling option for sexually active patients. However cost and postoperative bleeding risks remain a concern. The current evidence suggests that Aquablation is a safe and effective alternative for BPE for small to large prostates. Further prospective clinical trials, with comparisons to other BPE modalities, and data from longer follow-up periods are still required.

SummaryIron sulfide (FeS) scales create well deliverability and integrity problems such as decreased production rates and damage to well tubulars. The application of chelating agents for production enhancement has been successful because of its high-temperature stability and its clean characteristic nature without the need for expensive additives. However, chelating agents have not been studied adequately for FeS dissolution. This paper investigates ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacteic acid (DTPA), and N-(2-hydroxyethyl) ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′-triacetic acid (HEDTA) for their FeS dissolution capacities and kinetics at 150°F and 300°F.Chelating agents are expensive chemicals and must be investigated carefully to determine the optimum concentration, pH, treatment time, and dissolver/scale ratio. FeS (0.1 g) composed of mainly troilite was used as the scale. EDTA, DTPA, and HEDTA solutions (10 cm3) were prepared at different concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.4 mol/L using deionized water with a resistivity of 18.2 MΩ-cm. The pH of the dissolvers was dependent on the concentration and the degree of neutralization. The ligands were deprotonated at higher pH using sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. A comparative study of the chelating agents with a low pH (3 to 5), moderate pH (5 to 9), and high pH (10 to 14) determined the optimum pH for the scale treatment. The sampling time of the dissolution process set at 1, 2, 4, 8, 20, 30, and 72 hours determined the kinetics of the scale-dissolution process and helped optimize the treatment time. A dissolver/scale ratio of 100:1, 50:1, and 20:1 cm3/g were tested. The iron concentration in the dissolver was quantified using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).Two calculated parameters, dissolution capacity and dissolver consumption, determined the effectiveness of the chelating agent in dissolving FeS sulfide. From the bottle tests at 150°F, lower pH solutions were more effective. One hundred percent of the iron from FeS was complexed by 0.3 mol/L dipotassium DTPA (K2-DTPA) after 20 hours of soaking; 0.2 mol/L disodium EDTA (Na2-EDTA) and 0.3 mol/L potassium HEDTA (K-HEDTA) were able to remove, respectively, 69 and 96% of the initial iron present in 0.1 g FeS. The mechanism of dissolution at pH 10), the dissolution of the scale was negligible and was a result of solution complexation after FeS dissociation. The order of the chelating agents in terms of dissolution capacity was DTPA > HEDTA > EDTA at all pH conditions. The kinetics study showed that the optimum treatment depended on the pH of the chelating agent. For pH 5, there was an improvement in the effectiveness of the ligands because of the increase in the system energy and increased activity of the chelating agent. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study showed the changes in the morphology of the FeS particles after dissolution with low- and high-pH solutions of the chelating agent.The role of chelating agents in FeS dissolution has not been thoroughly investigated. No study reports the optimum treatment time and dissolver/scale ratio. The role of the pH of the dissolver also needs more attention. This paper fills these gaps in the literature and provides the optimum dissolver composition and treatment time for field operations.

We aimed to compare postoperative functional outcomes following robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in elderly men with localized prostate cancer. A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of men who underwent RARP between January 2007 and November 2018 was performed. Patients over 65 years of age were selected (N = 302) and then stratified by age group: 66–69 years old (N = 214) and ≥ 70 years old (N = 88). Full continence was defined as strict 0-pad per day usage. Preoperative potency included those with a Sexual Health Inventory for Men score ≥ 17. Preoperative and postoperative functional outcomes were assessed. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to estimate time to recovery of continence in both groups. Both groups had comparable preoperative parameters. Continence rates at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months in the 66–69-year-old group were 6%, 34%, 61%, 70%, 74%, 80% and 87%, respectively. Comparatively in the ≥ 70-year-old group, continence rates were significantly lower at all time points (3%, 22%, 50%, 56%, 66%, 69% and 75%, respectively). Men in the 66–69-year-old group were significantly more likely to be continent after RARP when compared to patients 70 years of age and above [(Hazards ratio (HR) 0.73; 95%confidence interval 0.54–0.97, (p = 0.035)]. Our results suggest that RARP is feasible in elderly patients. Nevertheless, elderly patients in the ≥ 70-year-old group had significantly inferior postoperative continence rates compared to patients aged 66–69 years. Such information is valuable when counselling men during preoperative RARP planning to ensure that they have realistic postoperative expectations.

Background. Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) defines a spectrum of proliferative disorders of trophoblastic epitheli- um of the placenta. Incidence, risk factors, and outcome may differ from one country to another. Objective. To describe incidence, patient characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcome of GTD at Mansoura University which is a referral center of Lower Egypt. Methods. An observational prospective study was conducted at the GTD Clinic of Mansoura University. The patients were recruited for 12 months from September 2015 to August 2016. The patients’ characteristics, management, and outcome were reported. Results. We reported 71 clinically diagnosed GTD cases, 62 of them were histologically confirmed, 58 molar (33 CM and 25 PM) in addition to 4 initially presented GTN cases. Mean age of the studied cases was 26.22 years ± 9.30SD. Mean pre-evacu- ation hCG was 136170 m.i.u/ml ±175880 SD. Most of the cases diagnosed accidentally after abnormal sonographic findings (53.2%). Rate of progression of CM and PM to GTN was 24.2% and 8%, respectively. Conclusion. The incidence of molar pregnancy and GTN in our locality was estimated to be 13.1 and 3.2 per 1000 live births respectively. We found no significance between CM and PM regarding hCG level, time to hCG normalization, and progression rate to GTN. Keywords. Molar pregnancy; incidence; outcome.

Purpose To evaluate changes in global perioperative data of GreenLight-XPS 180-Watt photo-selective vaporization of the prostate (GL-XPS) of the Global Greenlight Group (GGG) database. Methods 3441 men, who underwent GL-XPS for symptomatic BPH between 2011 and 2019 at seven high volume international centers, were included. Primary outcome measurements were operative time (OT; min), effective laser time (LT; min of OT), as well as intraoperative and postoperative adverse events (AEs), all analyzed by year of surgery (2011–2019) and prostate volume (PV) group ( 150 ml). Results The median age was 70 years (interquartile range 64–77), the median PV was 64 ml (IQR 47–90). The OT and LT slightly increased but stayed highly efficient all in all. Median OT was 60 min (IQR 45–83) and LT was 33 min (IQR 23–46). Median energy use was 253 kJ (IQR 170–375) with an energy density of 3.94 kJ/ml (IQR 2.94–5.02). The relative probability of perioperative AEs decreased by 17% each year (p p = 0.007). The early postoperative complications (within 30 days after surgery) decreased significantly from 48.8% (n = 106) in 2011 to 24.7% (n = 20) in 2019 (p > 0.001). Conclusion These findings from the GGG demonstrate significant improvement secondary to growing experience with GL-XPS between 2011 and 2019 in intraoperative AEs, including transfusions, and postoperative AEs. While staying highly efficient in OT and LT of GL-XPS within a 9-year period of experience.

To determine the safety and efficacy of same-day urethral catheter removal after laser vaporization of the prostate and to identify factors contributing to a successful trial of void (TOV).We conducted a retrospective analysis of 98 patients who underwent laser vaporization of the prostate using GreenLight or Holmium Xpeeda laser fibers from April 2018 to March 2021. All patients included in the study were offered a same-day TOV and had their catheters removed 3 hours postoperatively. Patient demographics, intraoperative parameters, and postoperative outcomes were collected and analyzed. Patients who were medically unfit or those on antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine potential predictors of a failed TOV.The median age of included patients was 69 years (56-86) with a prostate size of 54 grams (40-78.4). The median operative time was 50 minute (20-93). 72 patients (73.5%) had a successful TOV without the need for urethral catheter reinsertion. The median hospital stay for patients was 5 hours. Preoperative post-void residual (PVR) urine was the only predictor of a successful TOV on both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.Same-day catheter removal following laser vaporization of the prostate is a feasible option with a 73.5% success rate.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:This study aims to report age-stratified potency outcomes in Canadian men undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).METHODS:A retrospective review was perfor...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Incontinence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) significantly impacts quality of life. This study aims to compare the age-stratified continence outcomes in...

Following recent hydrocarbon exploration activity, a new study has been carried out with the goal of defining the high-resolution biochronologic sequence stratigraphy of the Oligocene section in the offshore Nile Delta. A total of 98 samples were selected from 2 wells: Burullus 1 Memphis and Petrobel 1 Habbar. The study is based on a high-resolution microfossil biochronology including benthic and planktonic foraminifera and nannofossils as well as facies analysis and wire-line log calibration to investigate the evolution of Oligocene gas-bearing sequences in the southeastern Mediterranean region. The planktonic–benthic ratio, foraminiferal diversity, and upper depth limit of benthic foraminiferal taxa as well as the abundance of calcareous nannoplankton help in interpreting the depositional paleoenvironments of the Oligocene succession as fluvial, shallow-marine, middle- to outer-shelf, and bathyal domains. Six sequences were identified, three of which are lower Oligocene (Rupelian) (RuSeq1, RuSeq2, and RuSeq3), and the others are upper Oligocene (Chattian) (ChSeq4, ChSeq5, and ChSeq6). The sequence boundaries and flooding surfaces were correlated with the global eustatic sea-level models. Three major breaks—Eocene–Oligocene, lower–upper Oligocene, and upper Oligocene–lower Miocene boundaries—with intraformational breaks were well defined.

Introduction and Objectives: The GreenLight™ MoXy® laser fiber has been used since 2010 for benign prostatic hyperplasia procedures. We tested a novel principle to increase the saline irrigation fl...

Background: Survival after hospital admission has been evaluated as a possible risk factor for long-term mortality in selected classes of diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate survival after hospital admission in all patients admitted as in-patients in a general hospital of Milano, Italy. Methods: 2,580 consecutive patients admitted at Ospedale San Paolo, July1-December 31, 2012, for several classes of diseases (internal medicine, cancer, infectious diseases, trauma and surgery, pneumonia, and heart diseases) were studied; age, total diseases, type of admission, length of admission, age-adjusted Charlson index, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and full blood count were evaluated. Results: At univariate analysis, all investigated variables, except sex and lymphocytes, were associated with death of patients. At stepwise regression analysis, Charlson index or age plus total diseases, type of admission, number of admissions, and PNI were significant risk factors in the whole sample and in the majority of classes of diseases. Conclusion: Pre-existing conditions and nutritional state represent the major risk factor for mortality in most classes of disease, and possibly influence other predictors, such as type of admission, length of stay. This suggests that the current model of hospital admission might be improved, for instance through comprehensive care at home, instead of hospital admission, or before admission. Funding Information: This study received only institutional funds from Universita degli Studi di Milano and from IRCCS Multimedica; a grant by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute), was issued to IRCCS Multimedica (Ricerca Corrente). Declaration of Interests: LL, FG, ASZ, MF, AV, AEP, and ET declare no conflict of interest with the content of this paper. Ethics Approval Statement: The protocol of the study was approved by the local Ethics in 2013 (original study) and in 2020 (follow-up study).

Previous analyses of the impact of median lobe presence on Greenlight photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) outcomes were limited by their small sample size and the ability to adjust for important confounders. As such, we sought to investigate the impact of prostate median lobe presence on the operative outcomes of 180 W XPS GreenLight PVP using a large international database. Data were obtained from the Global GreenLight Group (GGG) database which pools data of eight high-volume, experienced surgeons, from a total of seven international centers. All men with established benign prostatic hyperplasia who underwent GreenLight PVP using the XPS-180 W system between 2011 and 2019 were eligible for the study. Patients were assigned to two groups based on presence or absence of median lobes. Analyses were adjusted for patient age, prostate volume, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesia (ASA) score. A total of 1650 men met the inclusion criteria. A median lobe was identified in 621 (37.6%) patients. Baseline prostate volume, patient age, and ASA score varied considerably between the two groups. In adjusted analyses, the operative and lasing time of patients with median lobes was 6.72 (95% CI 3.22–10.23; p

The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of having a nadir and persistently detectable ultrasensitive prostate-specific antigen (uPSA) between 0.01 and 0.1 ng/ml post-robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), on future biochemical recurrence (BCR). We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained cohort of 1359 men who underwent RARP, between 2006 and 2019. Patients were followed with uPSA at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 months and annually thereafter. We included patients with PSA nadir values between 0.01 and 0.1 ng/ml within 6 months of surgery and with at least 2 follow-up measurements within the same range. We divided patients based on their BCR status and analyzed uPSA changes. Multivariable Cox-regression models (CRMs) were used to analyze variables predicting BCR-free survival (BCR-FS). We identified 167 (12.3%) patients for analyses, with a mean follow-up time of 60.2 ± 31.4 months. In our cohort, 5-year BCR-FS rate was 86%. Overall, 32 (19.1%) patients had BCR, with a mean time to BCR of 43.7 ± 24.3 months. BCR-free patients had stable mean uPSA values ≤ 0.033 ng/ml, while patients who developed BCR showed a slowly rising trend over time, with a significant difference between groups starting at 9 months (p

In the current review, we will discuss the state of the literature of vaporization of the prostate for the treatment of benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). We discuss two methods of vaporization of the prostate: Transurethral Vaporization of the Prostate (TUVP) and Greenlight Photo-selective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP). A comprehensive review of the literature was performed on TUVP and PVP. The literature on transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) was also extensively reviewed as a comparative surgical method. The evidence shows that TUVP appears to be the safer choice, as compared to TURP due to less intra- and peri-operative complications. PVP was associated with less bleeding complications than TURP with outpatient discharge. Importantly, PVP was not associated with serious bleeding events requiring blood transfusions or medical treatment in patients under anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapies. PVP was also shown to be a cost-effective option compared to TURP. Prostate vaporization for the treatment of BPE appears to be an efficient and safer alternative to TURP. Vaporization techniques, particularly Greenlight PVP, should be offered to most men, especially those under anticoagulation therapy, as well as patients at risk of bleeding complications.

In this review, we will discuss the state of the literature regarding Rezūm and opportunities for its application in the treatment of BPH.A comprehensive review of original research on convective water vapor thermal therapy (Rezūm) was conducted. Articles related to transurethral resection of the prostate, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, Aquablation, and greenlight photoselective vaporization of the prostate were reviewed for discussion.Rezūm distinguishes itself from other treatment options by its durable improvement in objective clinical outcomes such as IPSS and BPH Impact Index, while being cost-effective and versatile in its ability to treat a variety of prostate gland morphologies. This treatment option shows good lower urinary tract symptom relief, especially in small-to-moderate prostate sizes (30-80 cc). The use of convective heat transfer is unique and allows for localized treatment, avoiding damage to surrounding structures, thus providing an excellent safety profile and sexual function preservation.The current evidence on Rezūm warrants its consideration as a therapeutic alternative to transurethral surgery in selected patients.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Amongst the surgical treatment modalities available, Greenlight photo-selective vaporization of the prostate (GL-PVP) has gained international acceptance as a safe and ef...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Most Canadian hospitals face significant reductions (20-50%) in operative room access during summer months due to nursing shortages, leading to increased surgical delays....

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Ultrasensitive PSA assays is widely used in the early detection of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after RARP, setting a value of

Introduction: In light of the recent Canadian Urological Association (CUA) and other urological association (America Urological Association, European Association of Urology) recommendations for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), open simple prostatectomy (OSP) remains the recommended approach for large prostates with measured volumes over 80 cc.1 We sought to assess the current state of OSP and other BPH surgical training across Canadian urology residency programs and the use of guideline-recommended imagery prior to BPH surgery. Methods: A survey was distributed among Canadian urology program directors in June 2019. We identified the various surgical modalities available for the treatment of BPH offered by each program and obtained the annual number of OSP performed at each academic residency program. Additionally, we evaluated if preoperative transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) of the prostate was routinely performed to obtain the prostate volume during patient counselling as recommended by 2018 CUA guidelines. Results: All 13 program directors from the Canadian urology programs responded to our survey. OSP and monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) remain the most common across programs and are practiced in all centers. Greenlight photo-vaporization, bipolar TURP, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate and robot-assisted simple prostatectomy were practiced in 76.8%, 69.2%, 23.1%, and 23.1% of centers, respectively. The mean number of OSP per academic training program was 4.7 cases annually. Moreover, only five (38%) academic centers routinely performed a preoperative TRUS to evaluate prostate volume for BPH counselling. Conclusions: Although recognized and referenced as the BPH gold standard for the treatment of prostates over 80 cc, Canadian urology trainees’ annual OSP exposure remains extremely limited. Considering the degree of importance given (category A) to the direct observation (of a minimum of five) of this intervention during residency training in the new Royal College's practice guidelines, it may be unrealistic to reach these national standards considering the annual case OSP volumes in Canadian academic urology faculties.

Background and aims: Bariatric surgery (BS) reduces long-term mortality in comparison with medical treatment of obesity. Some studies indicate that this effect is significant for patients above mean age in different cohorts, but not for younger patients. These findings raise the question whether morbid obese patients should undergo BS as soon as possible, or whether patients might undergo surgery later in their life. Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis of two studies; we evaluated surgery-related long-term mortality in: (1) the whole cohort [857 surgery patients (163 diabetes) vs. 2086 controls (512 diabetes)]; (2) patients above mean age [> 43 years, 427 surgery patients (133 diabetes) vs. 1054 controls (392 diabetes)]; (3) patients below mean age [≤ 43 years, 432 surgery patients (30 diabetes) vs. 1032 controls (120 diabetes]. Then, we analyzed age-related long-term mortality in the whole cohort, as well as in surgery patients and in controls. Finally, we analyzed incident diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer) as a function of surgery versus no-surgery and of mean age. Results: Surgery patients, compared with controls receiving standard medical/dietary treatment, had reduced mortality in the whole cohort (HR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.33–0.62, p = 0.001) and in the study group aged > 43 years (HR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.28–0.56, p = 0.001), but not in the study group aged ≤ 43 years (HR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.42–1.80, p = 0.711). Reduced mortality was observed in non-diabetic and diabetic patients aged > 43 years (HR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.23–0.62, p = 0.001 and HR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.27–0.74, p = 0.002, respectively) who underwent bariatric surgery. In contrast, in patients aged ≤ 43 years, no significant protective effect of bariatric surgery appeared in non-diabetic patients (HR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.24–1.71, p = 0.371), and mortality increased, almost significantly, in diabetic patients aged < 43 years (HR = 2.87, 95% CI 0.96–8.56, p = 0.058), and even more in diabetic patients aged 33–43years; HR = 4.99, 95% CI 1.18–21.09, p = 0.029). As expected, age-related mortality was increased in the whole cohort (HR = 7.23, 95% CI 5.14–10.17, p = 0.001), in non-diabetic and diabetic controls (HR = 8.55, 95% CI 5.77–12.68, p = 0.001, and HR = 3.76, 95% CI 1.97–7.18, p = 0.001, respectively). The effect of aging was slightly reduced in surgery patients (HR = 3.76, 95% CI 1.87–7.58, p = 0.001), while it was not significant in diabetic surgery patients (HR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.26–1.90, p = 0.88), further emphasizing that diabetes per se has a strong negative effect on survival, also with concomitant bariatric surgery. In a supplementary analysis, HRs did not change when surgery and control parents were matched for the presence of diabetes. Incident diseases (cardiovascular, diabetes, and cancer) were less frequent in surgery than in control patients, irrespective of age. Conclusion: Bariatric surgery reduces long-term mortality in comparison with medical treatment when performed in patients aged > 43 years, but not in younger patients, where it is neutral or could even increase mortality; reduction in morbidity occurs at any age.

Bariatric surgeries such as gastric banding (LAGB), gastric bypass (RYGB), vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), and sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) decrease body weight in morbid obesity, leading to the resolution of coexisting diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension in the majority of cases as well as improvements of renal function and liver steatosis. BS (LAGB, RYGB, VBG, and LSG) also reduce incident cases of diabetes, of cardiovascular diseases, and of cancer; these therapeutic and preventive effects on comorbidities of obesity have not been analyzed for malabsorptive surgeries such as biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) or biliointestinal bypass (BIBP). The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of comorbidities, i.e., diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, in obese subjects undergoing BPD and BIBP, in comparison with standard medical treatment of obesity. Medical records of 1983 obese patients (body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m2, aged 18–65 years, undergoing surgery (n = 472, of which 111 with diabetes) or medical treatment (n = 1511, of which 422 with diabetes), during the period 1999–2008 (visit 1)) were collected; incident cases of comorbidities were ascertained through December 31, 2016. Observation period was 12.0 ± 3.48 years (mean ± SD). Compared to non-surgical patients matched for age, body mass index, and blood pressure, malabsorptive surgeries were associated with reduced new incident cases of diabetes (p = 0.001), cardiovascular diseases (p = 0.001), hyperlipidemia (p = 0.001), oculopathy (p = 0.021), and cancer (p = 0.001). The preventive effect of BS was similar in both nondiabetic and diabetic patients for cardiovascular diseases and hyperlipidemia (both p = 0.001). The preventive effect was significant in nondiabetic subjects for coronary heart disease and for cancer, not significant in diabetic subjects. Patients undergoing malabsorptive bariatric surgery show less incident cases of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipidemia, oculopathy, and cancer than controls receiving medical treatment.

Long-term comparisons between bariatric surgical techniques have been performed for gastric bypass (RYGB), sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), and biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) vs gastric banding (LAGB), but short-term studies (6 months–4 years) have only compared biliointestinal bypass (BIBP) and LAGB. The participating institutions regularly perform both BIBP and LAGB with a common protocol, and the aim of this retrospective study was to compare long-term effects of the two procedures on body weight, on clinical and metabolic variables, and on resolution of obesity and of diabetes. All procedures performed between 01/01/1998 and 31/12/2005 were considered; 73 out of 91 patients undergoing BIBP, and 154 out of 249 patients undergoing LAGB were evaluable up to 9 years. BIBP was significantly more effective than LAGB in terms of weight loss and of resolution of obesity (BMI

To characterize testosterone profile changes over time in a cohort of prostate cancer (PCa) patients managed with active surveillance (AS) and to assess its correlation with the initial disease characteristics and further progression. We conducted retrospective chart review of PCa patients managed with AS. Patients were followed with PSA, total, free and bioavailable testosterone measurements, physical examination, and by repeat biopsies or periodic magnetic resonance imaging. Disease progression was identified by follow-up biopsy changes or by imaging. A Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to assess the association between testosterone profile at baseline and the risk of progression. For the 122 patients included in analyses, the mean age at diagnosis was 65.8 years; the mean follow-up time was 7.8 years. At baseline, 108 (88.5%) patients had a Gleason score of ≤ 6. In all, 45 (36.8%) patients had disease progression, with a mean time to progression of 4.6 years. During follow-up, PSA levels showed a rising trend, while testosterone profile levels showed a trend of decrease over time. There was no significant correlation between PSA and testosterone profile (total, free, and bioavailable) level changes over time (ρ = − 0.14, − 0.11 and − 0.16, P = 0.16, 0.34, and 0.20, respectively). In addition, multivariable analysis showed that serum-free testosterone was an independent predictor of disease progression (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88–0.99, P = 0.029). Our study results showed that testosterone profile measurements tended to decrease over time in PCa patients managed with AS. Free testosterone was a significant independent variable of disease progression.

A sequence biostratigraphic analysis has been done for the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene sedimentary outcrops at Wadi Raha, Sudr El-Hetan and Wadi El-Giddi areas in west-central Sinai. The sequences are subdivided into four carbonate rock units; from base to top: the Wata, Themed, Sudr and Waseiyit formations. The biostratigraphic analysis of the studied samples led to the identification of two main planktonic foraminiferal zones, three benthic foraminiferal zones with the ammonite zone. Eleven microfacies associations are recorded in the rock units. Nine constitutes a limestone facies with one constitutes a dolostone facies and one a claystone facies. The stratigraphic data, and the facies study support the identification of three major breaks (sequence boundaries) and four depositional sequences. The depositional sequences are subdivided into four supercycles and seven cycles of 3rd order. The oldest break (∼90-88.5Ma.) exists at the top of the Wata Formation coincides with the intra Turonian drop in the global sea level with the initiation of the Syrian Arc inversion phase. The second major break (85 - ∼75Ma.) coincides with the major inversion phase and the evolution of the doubly plunging anticlines. The third major break (∼68 through ∼53Ma.) represents the last phase of the Syrian Arc inversion and complete the missing of Paleocene sequences.

Introduction/Background Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) defines a spectrum of proliferative disorders of trophoblastic epithelium of the placenta. Incidence, risk factors, and outcome may differ from a country to another. Methodology An observational prospective study was conducted at the GTD Clinic of Mansoura University. The patients were recruited for 12 months from September 2015 to August 2016. The patients9 characteristics, management, and outcome were reported. Results We reported 71 clinically diagnosed GTD cases, 62 of them were histologically confirmed, 58 molar (33 CM and 25 PM) in addition to 4 initially presented GTN cases. Mean age of the studied cases was 26.22 years ± 9.30SD. Mean pre-evacuation hCG was 136170 m.i.u/ml ±175880 SD. Most of the cases diagnosed accidentally after abnormal sonographic findings (53.2%). Rate of progression of CM and PM to GTN was 24.2% and 8%, respectively. Conclusion The incidence of molar pregnancy and GTN in our locality was estimated to be 13.1 and 3.2 per 1000 live births respectively. We found no significance between CM and PM regarding hCG level, time to hCG normalization, and progression rate to GTN. Disclosure Nothing to disclose

We aimed to compare postoperative functional outcomes following robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in elderly men with localized prostate cancer.A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of men who underwent RARP between January 2007 and November 2018 was performed. Patients over 65 years of age were selected (N = 302) and then stratified by age group: 66-69 years old (N = 214) and ≥ 70 years old (N = 88). Full continence was defined as strict 0-pad per day usage. Preoperative potency included those with a Sexual Health Inventory for Men score ≥ 17. Preoperative and postoperative functional outcomes were assessed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate time to recovery of continence in both groups.Both groups had comparable preoperative parameters. Continence rates at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months in the 66-69-year-old group were 6%, 34%, 61%, 70%, 74%, 80% and 87%, respectively. Comparatively in the ≥ 70-year-old group, continence rates were significantly lower at all time points (3%, 22%, 50%, 56%, 66%, 69% and 75%, respectively). Men in the 66-69-year-old group were significantly more likely to be continent after RARP when compared to patients 70 years of age and above [(Hazards ratio (HR) 0.73; 95%confidence interval 0.54-0.97, (p = 0.035)].Our results suggest that RARP is feasible in elderly patients. Nevertheless, elderly patients in the ≥ 70-year-old group had significantly inferior postoperative continence rates compared to patients aged 66-69 years. Such information is valuable when counselling men during preoperative RARP planning to ensure that they have realistic postoperative expectations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES We evaluated the short- and long-term outcome in bladder cancer (BC) patients treated with radical cystectomy (RC) in Quebec (Canada). METHODS Data were collected from provincial registries on all BC patients who underwent RC in Quebec province in 2000-2015. Outcomes were hospitalization rates and survival. Survival analyses were conducted using log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS In total, 4450 patients were included in our analysis. RC was increasingly conducted by higher-volume surgeons in larger, higher-volume, academic hospitals. Comparing patients treated in 2010-2015 to 2000-2009, recently treated patients had shorter postoperative hospital stays (absolute difference, 0.9 days, P