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The aim of our study was to compare the performance of residents vs. consultants in transrectal fusion prostate biopsies (FUS-PBs), as well as patient-reported comfort. Between January 2021 and October 2022, a consecutive series of patients undergoing FUS-PBs were randomized into two groups: (A) FUS-PBs performed by a consultant; (B) FUS-PBs performed by trained residents (>50 procedures). All patients underwent FUS-PBs with 12 systematic cores and 3/6 target cores. The detection rate and number of positive cores in the target lesion were compared between groups, and the patient’s discomfort after the procedure was evaluated using the VAS scale. Overall, 140 patients with a median age of 72 years were enrolled. Overall, 69/140 (49.3%) presented prostate cancer and 53/69 (76.8%) presented a clinically significant cancer (Grade Group ≥ 2). Consultants presented a detection rate of 37/70 (52.9%) and residents a detection rate of 32/70 (45.7%) (p > 0.2); the mean number of positive cores in the index lesion was similar in both groups (1.5 vs. 1.1; p > 0.10). In terms of the patients’ experiences, the procedure was well tolerated, with a median VAS score of 2 in both groups, with no statistically significant differences. Residents showed satisfactory outcomes in terms of detection rate, procedural time, and patient comfort when performing prostate biopsies. Residents, after adequate training, can safely perform prostate biopsies.

Background and Aims: The aim of our study is to evaluate the possible urodynamic effect of prostatic urethral lift (PUL) in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Methods: A consecutive series of patients undergoing PUL placement were consecutively enrolled in two centers. Inclusion criteria: ≥50 years of age, benign prostatic obstruction (BPO), international prostate symptom score (IPSS) ≥ 13, prostate volume ≤ 60 mL, and no middle prostate lobe. All patients were evaluated using a detailed clinical history, a validated questionnaire, flexible cystoscopy, and pressure flow studies (PFS) at baseline. PFS were performed at 6 months to evaluate the urodynamic effect of PUL. Results: Overall, 20 patients with a median age of 63 were enrolled. At six months, statistically significant improvements in terms of median Qmax (11.5 vs. 8.5; p < 0.05) and median IPSS (16 vs. 10.5; p < 0.05) were recorded, and sexual function was maintained. All urodynamic parameters improved at 6 months, and significance was reached for all values except for PdetQmax. Finally, Schäfer’s class improved from a median of III to a median of II. More specifically, 16/20 presented an improvement in the Schäfer class, and 12/20 patients presented a BOOI < 20 at 6 months. Conclusions: PUL represents an effective treatment in patients with LUTS due to BPH and improves bladder outlet obstruction without any effect on sexual function.

The aim of our study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a sutureless off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (sl-oc RAPN), particularly its impact on renal function. A multicenter study was conducted from April 2021 to June 2022. Patients diagnosed with a renal mass of >2 cm and a PADUA score of ≤6 consecutively underwent an sl-oc RAPN procedure. Tumor features, patients characteristics, and intraoperative outcomes were assessed. An evaluation of renal function was performed preoperatively, and again at 1 and 3 months after surgery by measuring the creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. The renal function of the two separate kidneys was assessed by a sequential renal scintigraphy performed before and at least 30 days after surgery. A total of 21 patients underwent an sl-oc RAPN. The median age was 64 years (IQR 52/70), the median tumor diameter was 40 mm (IQR 29/45), and the median PADUA score was 4 (3.5/5). The intraoperative outcomes included operative time (OT), 90 (IQR 74/100) min; estimated blood loss (EBL), 150 (IQR 50/300) mL; and perioperative complications, CD > 3 1(5%); only two patients presented positive surgical margins in their final histology (2/21, 10%). Compared to the preoperative value, a decrease in renal function was highlighted with a statistically significant median decrease of 10 mL/min (p < 0.01). The renal scintigraphy showed an overall decrease in renal function compared to the preoperative value, with a range in the operated kidney that varied from 0 to 15 mL/s and from 0% to 40%, with a median value of 4 mL/s and 12%. sl-oc RAPN is a safe procedure, with a minimal impact on kidney function alteration. This technique has proven effective in preserving renal function and maintaining optimal oncological outcomes with limited complications.

The purpose of this study was to assess the importance of the post-void residual (PVR) ratio (PVR ratio) in achieving a favorable trifecta outcome for patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic enlargement (LUTS-BPE) who undergo transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Starting from 2015, a series of patients with LUTS-BPE who underwent TURP were included in a forward-looking study. These patients were assessed using the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) screening tool, uroflowmetry, and a transrectal ultrasound to measure prostate volume (TRUS). Both the PVR urine volume and the PVR ratio (PVR-R), which is the PVR as a percentage of total bladder volume (voided volume + PVR), were measured. The assessment of outcomes was based on the trifecta favorable outcome, defined as meeting all of the following criteria: (1) absence of perioperative complications, (2) a postoperative IPSS of less than eight, and (3) a postoperative maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) greater than 15 mL/s. A total of 143 patients were included, with a median age of 70 years (interquartile range 65–73). Of these, 58% (83/143) achieved a positive trifecta outcome. Upon conducting a multivariate analysis, both IPSS and Qmax were identified as predictors of a positive trifecta outcome, whereas the PVR-R did not prove to be an independent predictor. In summary, it was found that preoperative IPSS and Qmax are indicative of a trifecta outcome following TURP, whereas PVR-R is not.

Recently, researchers have proposed perilesional sampling during prostate biopsies to avoid systematic biopsies of patients at risk of prostate cancer. The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of perilesional sampling to avoid systematic biopsies of patients undergoing fusion biopsies. A prospective cohort of patients undergoing transrectal MRI transrectal fusion biopsies were consecutively enrolled. All the patients underwent systematic biopsies (SB), targeted biopsies (TB) and perilesional biopsies within 10 mm from the lesion (PB). The detection rates of different strategies were determined. A total of 262 patients were enrolled. The median age of those enrolled was 70 years. The mean BMI was 27 kg/m2, and the mean and prostate volume was 52 mL. A PIRADS score ≥ 4 was recorded in 163/262 (40%) patients. Overall, the detection rates of cancer were 43.5% (114/262) and 35% (92/262) for csPCa. The use of the target + peri-target strategy resulted in a detection of 32.8% (86/262) of cancer cases and of 29% (76/262) of csPCa cases (Grade Group > 2). Using the target plus peri-target approach resulted in us missing 18/262 (7%) of the csPCa cases, avoiding the diagnosis of 8/262 (3%) of nsPCa cases. A biopsy strategy including lesional and perilesional sampling could avoid unnecessary prostate biopsies. However, the risk of missing significant cancers is present. Future studies should assess the cost–benefit relationship of different strategies.

Abstract Background A prostate cancer diagnosis is based on biopsy sampling that is an invasive, expensive procedure, and doesn’t accurately represent multifocal disease. Methods To establish a model using plasma miRs to distinguish Prostate cancer patients from non-cancer controls, we enrolled 600 patients histologically diagnosed as having or not prostate cancer at biopsy. Two hundred ninety patients were eligible for the analysis. Samples were randomly divided into discovery and validation cohorts. Results NGS-miR-expression profiling revealed a miRs signature able to distinguish prostate cancer from non-cancer plasma samples. Of 51 miRs selected in the discovery cohort, we successfully validated 5 miRs (4732-3p, 98-5p, let-7a-5p, 26b-5p, and 21-5p) deregulated in prostate cancer samples compared to controls (p ≤ 0.05). Multivariate and ROC analyses show miR-26b-5p as a strong predictor of PCa, with an AUC of 0.89 (CI = 0.83–0.95;p

Insufficient physical activity (PA) may be a shared risk factor for the development of both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and prostate cancer (PCa). To investigate this correlation and to develop a nomogram able to predict tumor diagnosis. Between 2016 and 2018, a consecutive series of men who underwent prostate biopsy at three institutions were prospectively enrolled. PA was self-assessed by patients through the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) questionnaire; MetS was assessed according to Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. A logistic regression analyses was used to identify predictors of PCa diagnosis and high-grade disease (defined as International Society of Uro-Pathology grade >2 tumors). A nomogram was then computed to estimate the risk of tumor diagnosis. A total of 291 patients were enrolled; 17.5% of them (n = 51) presented with MetS. PCa was diagnosed in 110 (38%) patients overall while 51 presented high-grade disease. At multivariable analysis, age (OR 1.04; 95%CI: 1.00–1.08; p = 0.048), prostate volume (PV) (OR 0.98; 95%CI: 0.79–0.99; p = 0.004), suspicious digital rectal examination (OR 2.35; 95%CI: 1.11–4.98; p = 0.02), total PSA value (OR 1.12; 95%CI: 1.05–1.2; p < 0.001), and PASE score (OR 0.99; 95%CI: 0.98–0.99; p = 0.01) were independent predictors of tumor diagnosis. The latter two also predicted high-grade PCa. MetS was not associated with PCa diagnosis and aggressiveness. The novel nomogram displayed fair discrimination for PCa diagnosis (AUC = 0.76), adequate calibration (p > 0.05) and provided a net benefit in the range of probabilities between 20% and 90%. reduced PA was associated with an increased risk of PCa diagnosis and high-grade disease. Our nomogram could improve the selection of patients scheduled for prostate biopsy at increased risk of PCa.

The COVID-19 outbreak, in a few weeks, overloaded Italian hospitals, and the majority of medical procedures were postponed. During the pandemic, with hospital reorganization, clinical and learning activities performed by residents suffered a forced remodulation. The objective of this study is to investigate how urology training in Italy has been affected during the COVID-19 era. In this multi-academic study, we compared residents' training during the highest outbreak level with their previous activity. Overall 387 (67.1%) of the 577 Italian Urology residents participated in a 72-h anonymous online survey with 36 items sent via email. The main outcomes were clinical/surgical activities, social distancing, distance learning, and telemedicine. Clinical and learning activity was significantly reduced for the overall group, and after categorizing residents as those working only in COVID hospitals, both “junior” and “senior” residents, and those working in any of three geographical areas created (Italian regions were clustered in three major zones according to the prevalence of COVID-19). A significant decrease in outpatient activity, invasive diagnostic procedures, and endoscopic and major surgeries was reported. Through multivariate analysis, the specific year of residency has been found to be an independent predictor for all response modification. Being in zone 3 and zone 2 and having “senior” resident status were independent predictors associated with a lower reduction of the clinical and learning activity. Working in a COVID hospital and having “senior” resident status were independent predictors associated with higher reduction of the outpatient activity. Working in zone 3 and having “senior” resident status were independent predictors of lower and higher outpatient surgical activity, respectively. Working in a COVID hospital was an independent predictor associated with robotic surgical activity. The majority of residents reported that distance teaching and multidisciplinary virtual meetings are still not used, and 44.8% reported that their relationships with colleagues decreased. The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge, including changes in the training and education of urology residents. The COVID era can offer an opportunity to balance and implement innovative solutions that can bridge the educational gap and can be part of future urology training.

Abstract Background Even though evidence based medicine, guidelines and algorithms still represent the pillars of the management of chronic diseases (i.e: hypertension, diabetes mellitus), a patient centred approach has been recently proposed as a successful strategy, in particular to improve drug adherence. Aim of the present review is to evaluate the unmet needs in LUTS/BPH management and the possible impact of a patient centered approach in this setting. Methods A National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) PubMed search for relevant articles published from January 2000 until December 2016 was performed by combining the following MESH terms: patients centred medicine, patient centered care, person centered care, patient centered outcomes, value based care, shared decision making, male, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, treatment. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). All studies reporting on patient centred approach, shared decision making and evidence-based medicine were included in the review. All original article, reviews, letters, congress abstracts, and editorials comments were included in the review. Studies reporting single case reports, experimental studies on animal models and studies not in English were not included in the review. Results Overall 751 abstracts were reviewed, out of them 87 full texts were analysed resulting in 36 papers included. The evidence summarised in this systematic review confirmed how a patient centred visit may improve patient’s adherence to medication. Although a patient centred model has been rarely used in urology, management of Low Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) and Benign Prostatic Obstruction (BPO) may represent the perfect ground to experiment and improve this approach. Notwithstanding all the innovations in LUTS/BPO medical treatment, the real life picture is far from ideal. Conclusions Recent evidence shows a dramatical low drug adherence and satisfaction to medical treatment in LUTS/BPH patients. A patient centred approach may improve drug adherence and some unmet needs in this area, potentially reducing complications and costs. However further well designed studies are needed to confirm this data.

Abstract Background The National Research Council (CNR) prostate cancer monitoring project in Italy (Pros-IT CNR) is an observational, prospective, ongoing, multicentre study aiming to monitor a sample of Italian males diagnosed as new cases of prostate cancer. The present study aims to present data on the quality of life at time prostate cancer is diagnosed. Methods One thousand seven hundred five patients were enrolled. Quality of life is evaluated at the time cancer was diagnosed and at subsequent assessments via the Italian version of the University of California Los Angeles-Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI) and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Results At diagnosis, lower scores on the physical component of the SF-12 were associated to older ages, obesity and the presence of 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities. Lower scores on the mental component were associated to younger ages, the presence of 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities and a T-score higher than one. Urinary and bowel functions according to UCLA-PCI were generally good. Almost 5% of the sample reported using at least one safety pad daily to control urinary loss; less than 3% reported moderate/severe problems attributable to bowel functions, and sexual function was a moderate/severe problem for 26.7%. Diabetes, 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities, T2 or T3-T4 categories and a Gleason score of eight or more were significantly associated with lower sexual function scores at diagnosis. Conclusions Data collected by the Pros-IT CNR study have clarified the baseline status of newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. A comprehensive assessment of quality of life will allow to objectively evaluate outcomes of different profile of care.

Abstract Background In last years Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) has been closely associated to Benign Prostatic Enlargement (BPE) Aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of MetS and each single MetS parameter on prostate growth in men surgically treated for BPE. Methods Overall, 379 men were prospectively enrolled in two tertiary referral centers. Calculated prostate volume (PV) was measured with transrectal US defining the antero-posterior (AP), the cranio-caudal (CC) and the latero-lateral (LL) diameters through the ellipsoid formula, while raw PV was calculated by suprapubic US. MetS was defined according to the NCEP-ATPIII criteria. Results One-hundred and forty men (36.9%) were affected by MetS. The number of MetS parameters (0 to 5) and the presence of MetS were correlated with the calculated PV. The number of MetS parameters were also directly related to increasing prostate diameters. At the binary logistic regression, MetS resulted associated to high (>60 cc) raw and calculated PV. Moreover, multivariate analysis suggested that AP diameter was mainly correlated with HDL cholesterol (r:-0.3103, p = 0.002) CC diameter with triglycerides (r:-0.191, p = 0.050) and LL diameter with systolic blood pressure (r:0.154, p = 0.044). However, at the binary logistic regression, only low HDL Cholesterol was the main determinant for the enlargement of all diameters and consequently of the whole PV. Conclusions Metabolic factors, specially dyslipidemia, could play a central role in the pathogenesis and progression of BPE/LUTS. Interventional studies are needed to evaluate the impact of early treatment of dyslipidemia on progression of LUTS/BPH.

BACKGROUND:There are several treatments available to newly diagnosed prostate cancer (PCA) patients. Although surgery and radiotherapy (RT) with or without androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) are widely adopted treatment options for localized PCA together with active surveillance (AS), there is no consensus nor randomised trials on treatment selection, prospective quality of life (QOL), along with toxicity outcomes and according to treatment modality in the Italian population. The current study aimed to describe clinical-therapeutic features and QOL at PCA diagnosis, according to different treatment patterns in a large prospective, Italian population, enrolled in the Pros-IT CNR study. METHODS:The Pros-IT CNR is an on-going national, multicenter, observational, prospective study on patients affected by PCA who have been referred by 97 Italian Urology, Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology facilities participating in the project. The possible relationships between the treatment patterns reported in the 6 month follow-up case report form and patients' features at diagnosis were evaluated using exploratory multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and other data analysis method. RESULTS:At diagnosis, surgery and AS patients were significantly younger, had fewer comorbidities, lower PSA levels and Gleason Score (GS) values; they were also diagnosed at an earlier stage of disease with respect to the RT or ADT patients who showed significantly worse QoL scores at the time of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS:An analysis of the data collected at baseline and 6 months later uncovered substantial differences in ages, comorbidities, clinical and QOL features in the various treatment groups. These findings do not fully reflect the current PCA treatment guidelines and suggest the need for a multidisciplinary consensus guideline to ameliorate both the counselling and treatments of PCA patients.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are highly frequent in women, with a significant impact on healthcare resources. Although antibiotics still represent the standard treatment to manage recurrent UTI (rUTI), D-mannose, an inert monosaccharide that is metabolized and excreted in urine and acts by inhibiting bacterial adhesion to the urothelium, represents a promising nonantibiotic prevention strategy. The aim of this narrative review is to critically analyze clinical studies reporting data concerning the efficacy and safety of D-mannose in the management of rUTIs. Methods: A non-systematic literature search, using the Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Central Database of Systematic Reviews databases, was performed for relevant articles published between January 2010 and January 2021. The following Medical Subjects Heading were used: “female/woman”, “urinary tract infection”, and “D-mannose”. Only clinical studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses reporting efficacy or safety data on D-mannose versus placebo or other competitors were selected for the present review. Evidence was limited to human data. The selected studies were organized in two categories according to the presence or not of a competitor to D-mannose. Results: After exclusion of non-pertinent studies/articles, 13 studies were analyzed. In detail, six were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), one a randomized cross-over trial, five prospective cohort studies, and one a retrospective analysis. Seven studies compared D-mannose to placebo or others drugs/dietary supplements. Six studies evaluated the efficacy of D-mannose comparing follow-up data with the baseline. D-mannose is well tolerated, with few reported adverse events (diarrhea was reported in about 8% of patients receiving 2 g of D-mannose for at least 6 months). Most of the studies also showed D-mannose can play a role in the prevention or rUTI or urodynamics-associated UTI and can overlap antibiotic treatments in some cases. The possibility to combine D-mannose with polyphenols or Lactobacillus seems another important option for UTI prophylaxis. However, the quality of the collected studies was very low, generating, consequently, a weak grade of recommendations as suggested by international guidelines. Data on D-mannose dose, frequency, and duration of treatment are still lacking. Conclusion: D-mannose alone or in combination with several dietary supplements or Lactobacillus has a potential role in the non antimicrobial prophylaxis or recurrent UTI in women. Despite its frequent prescription in real-life practice, we believe that further well-designed studies are urgently needed to definitively support the role of D-mannose in the management of recurrent UTIs in women.

Urgency is the cornerstone symptom of overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome, which is associated with reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and affects patients with different profiles. We report here three clinical pictures of OAB: a male patient with mixed lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), a young woman with comorbidities, and an elderly woman with mixed urinary incontinence. The aim is to analyze the specificities of these real cases, to discuss what would be the most appropriate management, and how treatment with fesoterodine, an antimuscarinic agent with key pharmacological properties, might meet the patients’ expectations. Relevant and constructive messages are drawn: urgency, the cornerstone symptom, should be given special attention; fesoterodine is effective and well tolerated in the elderly; before switching to another medication consider increasing the dosage of fesoterodine; the major goal of initial therapy is to meet patient expectations; and involving the patient in the treatment plan increases her/his adherence.

The management of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most topical areas in urology. Although most patients are adequately managed conservatively, many still require surgery to reduce bladder outlet obstruction or relieve symptoms by removing the inflamed adenomatous tissue. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) remains the gold standard treatment in all national and international guidelines, with open prostatectomy and laser enucleation reserved for patients with a prostate >80 ml. The current trend in the surgical management of BPH is threefold: replacing open prostatectomy with transurethral enucleation of the adenoma, managing high-risk patients by photoselective vaporisation of the prostate thus minimising blood loss, and moving BPH surgery to ambulatory day surgery and one-day surgery units in selected patients. Laser enucleation has been pioneered using the Holmium laser, although the GreenLightTM laser has been recently proposed as an alternative approach. The absence of any bleeding in photovaporisation of the prostate allows surgery to be performed in a growing population of patients on anti-aggregant and anticoagulant medications. Randomised trials of the GreenLight XPSTM laser with the MoXy™ fibre versus TURP proved the effectiveness of photovaporisation in the surgical management of BPH and suggested that 50% of patients could be discharged within 24 hours. The demand for BPH surgery remains high and urologists have rapidly adapted to the increasing demand for minimally invasive surgery. Prostate surgery evolved from a heroic procedure that remained in the memories of the entire patient family for life into a day-case procedure, and the future hopefully holds ejaculation-sparing surgery.

Background: Oral pharmacotherapies to treat overactive bladder (OAB) are used less in men despite a similar prevalence of storage symptoms as women. The efficacy and safety of once-daily mirabegron 50 mg was evaluated in male OAB patients from five phase III studies that included placebo or antimuscarinic (tolterodine ER 4 mg or solifenacin 5 mg) as a comparator. Methods: Three pooled 12-week placebo-controlled studies (mirabegron 50 mg versus placebo) and one 12-week non-inferiority phase IIIb study (BEYOND; mirabegron 50 mg versus solifenacin 5 mg) were used for efficacy (daily micturition frequency, urgency and incontinence episodes) and safety analyses. An additional 52-week active-controlled phase III safety study (mirabegron 50 mg versus tolterodine ER 4 mg) was included in the safety analysis. Male patients aged ⩾18 years with OAB for ⩾3 months were included in the analyses. Patients may also have a history of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) or concomitant use of α 1 -blockers. Results: In the pooled studies, mirabegron 50 mg demonstrated superiority versus placebo (treatment difference: −0.37 [95% confidence interval (CI): −0.74, −0.01]) for reducing micturition frequency; improvements in urgency and incontinence were not significantly different between mirabegron 50 mg and placebo. In BEYOND, mirabegron 50 mg was comparable with solifenacin 5 mg for reducing micturition frequency, urgency, and incontinence episodes. Mirabegron was well tolerated at 12 and 52 weeks and overall treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were similar to those with placebo. Conclusions: In a male OAB population with or without LUTS associated with BPH/BPE, mirabegron 50 mg provided similar improvements in urgency, frequency, and incontinence as solifenacin 5 mg, and is a well-tolerated alternative to antimuscarinics. In the three pooled 12-week studies, significant differences were not seen for urgency and incontinence versus placebo, although mirabegron 50 mg did demonstrate significant improvements versus placebo for frequency.

Purpose To explore the association between serum levels of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and the risk of developing prostate cancer (PCa) as well as high grade disease in men undergoing prostate biopsy. Materials and Methods Between 2006 and 2012, we prospectively enrolled 740 patients with no history of PCa undergoing prostate biopsy. Before biopsy general data of the patient DRE, PSA and BMI were recorded. The risk of detecting cancer and high grade cancer was assessed as a function of SHBG using crude and adjusted logistic regressions. Results Serum levels of SHBG were not associated with an increased risk of PCa or high grade disease. Age (OR 1.027 95% CI 1.003-1.052 p = 0.027), DRE (OR 3.391 95% CI 2.258-5.092 p = 0.000) and PSA (OR 1.078 95% CI 1.037-1.120 p = 0.000) were found to be independent predictors of prostate cancer risk. Age (OR 1.051 95% CI 1.009-1.095 p = 0.016), DRE (OR 2.519 95% CI 1.384-4.584 p = 0.000), BMI (OR 1.098 95% CI 1.011-1.193 p = 0.027) and PSA (OR 1.074 95% CI 1.014-1.137 p = 0.015) were found to be independent predictors of high grade disease. Conclusions In our cohort of patients, serum levels of SHBG are not predictive of PCa or high grade disease. According to our experience SHBG should not be considered a biomarker in PCa diagnosis neither a marker for high grade disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) on a third prostate biopsy in a group of patients with two consecutive diagnoses of high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN). Materials and methods: From November 2004 to December 2007, patients referred to our clinic with a PSA ! 4 ng/ml or an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) were scheduled for trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided 12-core prostate biopsy. Patients with HGPIN underwent a second prostate biopsy, and if the results of such procedure yielded a second diagnosis of HGPIN, we proposed a third 12-core needle biopsy regardless of PSA value. Crude and adjusted logistic regressions were used to assess predictors of PCa on the third biopsy. Results: A total of 650 patients underwent 12 cores transrectal ultrasound prostatic biopsy in the study period. Of 147 (22%) men with a diagnosis of HGPIN, 117 underwent a second prostatic biopsy after six months and 43 a third biopsy after other six months. After the third biopsy, 19 patients (34%) still showed HGPIN, 15 (35%) were diagnosed with PCa and 9 (21%) presented with chronic prostatitis. Widespread HGPIN on a second biopsy was significantly associated with PCa on further biopsy (!2 = 4.04, p = 0.04). Moreover, the presence of widespread HGPIN significantly predicted the risk of PCa on crude and adjusted logistic regressions. Conclusions: Widespread HGPIN on second biopsy is associated with the presence of PCa on a third biopsy. Nonetheless, the relationship between HGPIN and PCa remains complex and further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Pure small cell carcinoma of the prostate is a rare and aggressive neoplasm, with only few cases described in literature and poor prognosis: mean survival is 5 months. We report the case of a patient with this disease, with special attention to the evolution of neuroendocrine markers as Chromogranine A and neuron-specific enolase during the progression of the tumor, evaluating their possible role in staging and follow up.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignancy in elderly men. The progressive ageing of the world male population will further increase the need for tailored assessment and treatment of PCa patients. The determinant role of androgens and sexual hormones for PCa growth and progression has been established. However, several trials on androgens and PCa are recently focused on urinary continence, quality of life, and sexual function, suggesting a new point of view on the whole endocrinological aspect of PCa. During aging, metabolic syndrome, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and central obesity, can be associated with a chronic, low-grade inflammation of the prostate and with changes in the sex steroid pathways. These factors may affect both the carcinogenesis processes and treatment outcomes of PCa. Any treatment for PCa can have a long-lasting negative impact on quality of life and sexual health, which should be assessed by validated self-reported questionnaires. In particular, sexual health, urinary continence, and bowel function can be worsened after prostatectomy, radiotherapy, or hormone treatment, mostly in the elderly population. In the present review we summarized the current knowledge on the role of hormones, metabolic features, and primary treatments for PCa on the quality of life and sexual health of elderly Pca survivors.