The Publication Rate of Abstracts Presented at the 2003 Urological Brazilian Meeting

OBJECTIVE: To determine the publication rate of orally-presented abstracts from the 2003 Urological Brazilian Meeting, as well as the factors determining this publication rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The publication rate of the 313 orally-presented abstracts at the 2003 Urological Brazilian Meeting was evaluated by scanning the Lilacs, Scielo and Medline databases. The time between presentation and publication, the state and country of the abstract, the research methodology (cross-sectional, case-control, retrospective case series, prospective case series or clinical trial), whether drugs were utilized and the topic of the study were all characterized. RESULTS: Thirty-nine percent of the abstracts were published after a median time of 14 months (range: 1 to 51 months). There were high publication rates for cross-sectional abstracts (75%), drug utilization studies (51.3%), clinical trials (50%) and prospective case series' (48.1%). However, there was only a moderate statistical trend towards a higher publication rate in the prospective case series (p=0.07), while the retrospective case series' showed statistically lower publication rates than the other groups (33.7%, p=0.04). Abstracts on laparoscopic surgery had the highest publication rate (61.9%, p=0.03) compared to others topics. In 57% of the unpublished abstracts, there was no interest in or attempt to publish, and rejection was responsible for the lack of publication of only 4% of the abstracts. CONCLUSION: The publication rate of the orally-presented abstracts from the 2003 Urological Brazilian Meeting was comparable to that of international congresses. The subsequent publication of presented abstracts and the selection of prospective studies with stronger evidence should be encouraged and may improve the scientific quality of the meeting

Epidemiology of urogenital tuberculosis worldwide

Objectives: To characterize the epidemiology of urogenital tuberculosis worldwide and to compare the features of patients from developing countries to those from developed countries. Methods: A comprehensive search of articles published up to April 2008 using a combination of the terms `tuberculosis`, `genitourinary`, `renal` and `urogenital` was performed. Results: Urogenital tuberculosis affects more men than women (2:1), with a mean age of 40.7 years (range 5-90). In 26.9% of cases there is a non-functioning unilateral kidney and in 7.4%, renal failure. Patients from developing countries are more likely to have a delayed diagnosis with a higher frequency of renal failure, unilateral non-functioning kidney, ablative surgery and contracted bladder. Conclusions: Urogenital tuberculosis is a worldwide disease with more destructive behavior in developing countries where urgent strategies for early detection are particularly warranted

Correlation between pelvic floor strength and physical activity level in healthy men.

The male pelvic floor muscles comprise a pair of compound muscle layers referred to as the levator ani. Studies have shown that pelvic floor muscle strength is affected by physical activity. This study aimed to assess male pelvic floor muscle strength through manometry of the external anal sphincter and evaluation of its association with physical activity level, BMI, and rectal pressure in healthy men. To assess physical activity level over the previous week, we used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire 8 (IPAQ). Pelvic floor muscle strength was assessed via anorectal manometry. The results shows a negative correlation between resting pressure and MET, a positive correlation between rectal pressure and resting and maximum pressure. The novel finding of this study is a negative correlation between walking and pelvic floor strength. This study raises new questions about the understanding of the interaction among physical activity, intraabdominal pressure, and pelvic floor strength in the physiology of continence in men

Urogenital tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients

Compare the clinicoradiological presentation of urogenital tuberculosis (UGT) between immunocompromised and nonimmunocompromised patients. Eighty patients diagnosed with UGT were divided into two groups: eight immunocompromised patients (four with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS], and four renal transplant patients on immunosuppressive therapy) and 72 nonimmunocompromised patients. The groups were compared as for age, signs and symptoms, diagnostic approach, pattern of urogenital organ involvement, and early specific mortality (within 6 months from diagnosis). AIDS patients were younger (median age 26 years, range 16-38 years), and renal transplant patients were older (median age 51.5 years, range 45-57 years), compared with the nonimmunocompromised subjects (median age 35 years, range 12-75 years). Immunocompromised patients had greater frequency of fever (87.5% versus 43.1%, P = 0.024), lower frequency of storage symptoms (37.5% versus 76.4%, P = 0.033), shorter length of disease (< 6 months: 87.5% versus 2.8%, P < 0.001), and larger frequency of disseminated tuberculosis (62.5% versus 18.1%, P = 0.012). Predominantly parenchymatous renal involvement was more frequent in immunocompromised patients (87.5% versus 6.2%, P < 0.001), who also had lower frequency of stenosis of the collecting system (12.5% versus 93.8%, P < 0.001) and contracted bladder (12.5% versus 65.3%, P = 0.001). UGT has a different clinicoradiological presentation in immunocompromised patients, with predominance of systemic symptoms, disseminated tuberculosis, multiple parenchymatous renal foci, and lower frequency of lesions of the collecting system. In the context of immunosuppression, UGT behaves as a severe bacterial infection, with bacteremia and visceral metastatic foci

A prospective evaluation of plastibell® circumcision in older children

Introduction and Objective Circumcision is one of the oldest surgical procedures and one of the most frequently performed worldwide. It can be done by many different techniques. This prospective series presents the results of Plastibell® circumcision in children older than 2 years of age, evaluating surgical duration, immediate and late complications, time for plastic device separation and factors associated with it. Materials and Methods We prospectively analyzed 119 children submitted to Plastic Device Circumcision with Plastibell® by only one surgeon from December 2009 to June 2011. In all cases the surgery was done under general anesthesia associated with dorsal penile nerve block. Before surgery length of the penis and latero-lateral diameter of the glans were measured. Surgical duration, time of Plastibell® separation and use of analgesic medication in the post-operative period were evaluated. Patients were followed on days 15, 45, 90 and 120 after surgery. Results Age at surgery varied from 2 to 12.5 (5.9 ± 2.9) years old. Mean surgical time was 3.7 ± 2.0 minutes (1.9 to 9 minutes). Time for plastic device separation ranged from 6 to 26 days (mean: 16 ± 4.2 days), being 14.8 days for children younger than 5 years of age and 17.4 days for those older than 5 years of age (p < 0.0001). The diameter of the Plastibell® does not interfered in separations time (p = 0,484). Late complications occurred in 32 (26.8%) subjects, being the great majority of low clinical significance, especially prepucial adherences, edema of the mucosa and discrete hypertrophy of the scar, all resolving with clinical treatment. One patient still using diaper had meatus stenosis and in one case the Plastibell® device stayed between the glans and the prepuce and needed to be removed manually. conclusions Circumcision using a plastic device is a safe, quick and an easy technique with low complications, that when occur are of low clinical importance and of easy resolution. The mean time for the device to fall is shorter in children under 6 years of age and it is not influenced by the diameter of the device