Search

Objectives: 1) To determine p53 expression in urinary wash cytology by immunohistochemistry in patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and controls; 2) to correlate p53 in urinary wash cytology and anatomopathological characteristics of the bladder tumors analyzed; 3) to determine the utility of p53 expression in urinary wash cytology as a prognostic factor; and 4) to identify a subgroup of patients with superficial tumors of worse prognosis in order to improve control of the evolution of the tumor and treatment., Methods: From 1993 to 1998, 141 cases were studied; 32 controls comprised group I and 109 (38 primary and 71 recurrence) patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder comprised group II., Results: In group II, 29.5% were positive for p53 in urinary wash cytology, while no positive cases were found in group I. A total of 104 valid data were analyzed, which showed a higher percentage of p53-positive cases in grade III tumors (44.4%). Statistical analysis showed the percentage of p53-positive cases increased with tumor grade in a linear trend (p = 0.17). The recurrence rate in the p53-positive was 20% greater than in the p53-negative cases. Tumor progression was three times higher in the p53-positive than in the p53-negative patients., Conclusions: The application of biomolecular knowledge to cytology is a useful complement in follow-up of patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and offers additional parameters to distinguish benign and malignant cells. Immunohistochemical determination of p53 in urinary wash cytology identifies patients with superficial tumors with a worse prognosis.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of doxazosin for 6 months in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)., Methods: A prospective clinical and uroflowmetric study was conducted on 65 males with BPH treated with doxazosin 4 mg daily for 6 months. Patient mean age was 66.7 years (range 45-79). Clinical evaluation (IPSS and andrologic data) and blood analyses were performed before and after treatment. IPSS data were obtained according to the WHO validation and Spanish translation., Results: A significant improvement was found between the mean pre- and post-treatment IPSS scores (19.8 +/- 4.8 vs 11.9 +/- 4.6; p < 0.001). Maximum flow rate before treatment was 9.13 ml/sec, which increased to 16.23 ml/sec after treatment (p < 0.001). Postvoid residual urine dropped from 21.7% to 12.5% (p < 0.01). All the patients were normotensive before (135.9 mean systolic and 78.9 mean diastolic blood pressure) and after treatment (135.4 mean systolic and 77.8 mean diastolic blood pressure). Mean heart rate was similar before and after treatment (71.9 +/- 5.8 vs 71.8 +/- 5.9). A relationship between low IPSS score before treatment and urinary symptoms improvement was demonstrated (coeff. -0.45939). No relationship was found between prostate volume (digital rectal examination or transabdominal ultrasound) and improvement in the IPSS score. No statistical relationship was found between the IPSS and postvoid residual urine or peak flow. No modifications of sexual activity was demonstrated with doxazosin treatment. Pre- and post-treatment blood analytical data fell within the normal ranges. Transient side effects were observed in 12 patients (20%): headache in 6 patients (10%), fatigue in 6 (10%), dizziness in 3 (5%) and somnolence in (5%)., Conclusions: Doxazosin, at a daily dose of 4 mg daily for 6 months, is a safe and effective treatment in patients with BPH.

Objective: To analyze the clinical and urodynamic efficacy of treatment with doxazosin during 6 months for voiding phase disorders in patients with BPH., Methods: A prospective clinical and urodynamic study (before and after treatment) was performed in 65 consecutive male patients with BPH, aged 54-79 years (mean 66.7), to evaluate the results of treatment with doxazosin 4 mg/day during 6 months. Clinical evaluation included patient history and the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) and urodynamic evaluation included uroflowmetry with post-void residual data and pressure-flow test. A static urethral pressure profile was associated with the urodynamic voiding study., Results: The IPSS score improved significantly from 19.8 +/- 4.8 before treatment to 11.9 +/- 4.6 after treatment (p < 0.001). Urinary symptoms improved significantly more markedly after treatment (coeff. -0.45939) in patients with a lower IPSS score. The symptomatic improvement demonstrated by the IPSS did not correlate with the DRE or the transabdominal US prostatic volume. Mean maximum flow rate before treatment was 9.13 ml/sec and increased to 16.23 ml/sec after treatment (p < 0.01). Postvoid residual dropped from 21.7% to 12.5% (p < 0.01). In the pressure-flow test, foot-point PURR dropped significantly from 69 cms H2O to 45.9 cms H2O (p < 0.001). The PURR curvature diminished from 0.27416 to 0.15964 cms H2O (ml/sec2) (p < 0.01). A statistically significant improvement of the compressive (p < 0.001) and constrictive (p < 0.05) elements of lower urinary tract obstruction was observed. The urethral functional length of the urethral profile showed a significant reduction (pre-treatment: 5.56 cms; post-treatment 4.31 cms) (p < 0.05). A statistical correlation was found between the urethral functional length and the foot-point PURR post-treatment., Conclusions: Adrenergic blockade with doxazosin reduces both the compressive and constrictive elements of lower urinary tract obstruction in the voiding phase in patients with BPH, although no statistical correlation with the IPSS could be demonstrated.

Objective: To analyze the clinical and urodynamic efficacy of treatment with doxazosin during 6 months for bladder filling phase disorders in patients with BPH., Methods: A prospective clinical and urodynamic study was performed in 65 males with BPH, aged 54-79 years (mean 66.7), who had been treated with doxazosin (4 mg/day) during 6 months. Clinical [International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS)] and urodynamic evaluations (cystometry and filling cystography) before and after treatment were performed. IPSS data were obtained according to the WHO recommendation following validation and translation into Spanish., Results: The IPSS score improved significantly from 19.8 +/- 4.8 before treatment to 11.9 +/- 4.6 after treatment (p < 0.001). All the patients were normotensive before and after treatment (systolic and diastolic blood pressures 135.9/78.9 and 135.4/77.8 mmHg, respectively). No tachycardia was observed before (71.9 +/- 5.8) or after treatment (71.8 +/- 5.9). A relationship between the lower IPSS before treatment and urinary symptoms improvement was demonstrated (coef.-0.45939). We found no relationship between prostate volume (digital rectal examination or transabdominal ultrasonography) and IPSS modifications after treatment. Bladder instability decreased significantly from 71.6% before treatment to 33.3% after treatment (p < 0.01). Instability pressure also diminished from 99.2 cms H2O to 60.3 cms H2O after doxazosin treatment (p < 0.001). We found no significant relationship between IPSS and bladder instability post-treatment., Conclusions: Adrenergic blockade with doxazosin 4 mg/day for 6 months achieves a significant decrease in the bladder instability associated with prostatic obstruction in patients with BPH, although no statistical correlation with the IPSS could be demonstrated.

Objectives: The result of an epidemiological study and evaluation of diagnosis and treatment of transitional cell tumors of the upper urinary tract are presented., Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 34 patients with transitional cell tumor of the upper urinary tract., Results: The most common symptom was intermittent hematuria. Smoking was found to be the most important risk factor and 41.7% of the cases previously had a bladder cancer. IVP was the diagnostic technique most commonly utilized (61.7%). Nephroureterectomy was performed in 58.8% of the cases. Six cases had recurrence of the upper urinary tract tumor. There were 9 deaths (26.5%)., Conclusions: The epidemiological data are similar to those of larger series. The tumors appear to develop in the presence of generalized urothelial disease. The low incidence of recurrence in the ipsilateral ureteral meatus indicates that resection of the distal ureter may not be required in patients at high risk.

Sarcomas are a rare entity among malignant tumours of the bladder. This paper presents the case of a male patient with leiomyosarcoma within a vesical diverticulum. The approach undertaken was diverticulectomy and, since the tumour was limited to the diverticulum and no metastatic disease was present, no other adjuvant therapy was considered.

Objectives: Ureteral injury can be a complication of peripheral vascular reconstructive surgery or aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. The present study analyses 4 cases of obstructive uropathy; 3 following peripheral vascular reconstructive surgery and 1 from aneurysm of the abdominal aorta., Methods: All 4 patients were prospectively evaluated., Results: Both renal units were compromised in all 4 cases. The initial management consisted of internal urinary diversion with a double J catheter. Ureterolysis was performed in one case of unresolved uropathy secondary to prior bypass surgery. One case with uropathy due to infection of the vascular prosthetic graft required graft replacement., Conclusions: The risk of ureteral injury is likely to be seen more often due to the increasing number of operations on the vascular tree and enhanced survival of patients with aortic aneurysm. Prevention of the foregoing complication includes doing US and/or IVP early postoperatively and in the first 4 months following surgery. Patient management is initially conservative.

Herein it is described the survival rate, the quality of life and the complications of the upper urinary tract diversion in 22 pluri-treated tumoral patients (both male and female, average 65.2 years old). Cancer etiology has been: colon-rectum neoplasia (36.3%), bladder carcinoma (36.3%), prostate carcinoma (9.9%), ovary cancer (4.5%), abdominal wall desmoid tumor (4.5%), pheochromocytoma (4.5%) and gastric carcinoma (4.5%). Urinary diversions type has been: percutaneous nephrostomy (40.9%), ureteral stent (31.8%), both (13.6%) and cutaneous ureterostomy (13.6%). Urinary diversions were performed unilateral in 90.9%. The average survival has been 4.8 months. The quality of life was poor in 68.1%. The following complications were observed: urinary infection (45.4%), hematuria (36.3%), diversion catheter lose (34.8%) and obstruction (27.2%). Urinary diversion in pluri-treated cancer patients must be carefully indicated to prevent negative aspects upon psychophysic and social activity of the patients.

The carbohydrate antigen CA 50 is expressed in the epithelial tissue during the process of neoplastic transformation; i.e., transitional cell bladder carcinoma. The present study evaluated the biological behaviour of the CA 50 antigen in malignant superficial, deep localized and disseminated bladder tumors. One hundred subjects were entered into the study: 30 carefully selected healthy subjects comprised the first group and 70 patients with a diagnosed transitional cell bladder carcinoma comprised the second group. The serum CA 50 antigen was determined by immunofluorometric assay (Delfia CA 50 kit). Our results indicate that the carbohydrate CA 50 antigen can be utilized as a prognostic marker in patients with malignant bladder tumors. The serum antigen levels were higher for the more undifferentiated tumors and those in the advanced stages.