Total and Free PSA, PCA3, PSA Density and Velocity

Since the late 1980s, the diagnosis and follow-up of prostate cancer (PCa) has relied on the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a blood laboratory measurement that was shown to be associated with pathological diagnosis of cancer and had both diagnostic and prognostic clinical validity and utility. In 1986 the Food and Drug Administration approved the test to monitor those men already diagnosed with cancer, and in 1994 it went further, authorizing the test to help detect cancer in men aged 50 and older. Through the years, PSA has provided significant advancements in diagnosis and prognosis of PCa, although it was counterbalanced by its low sensitivity and specificity. PSA clinical availability triggered a frenzied hunt for the tumor, but its indiscriminate use let critics of the testing, once regarded as heretics, gain credibility. In 2004 the World Health Organization arranged an international consultation to assess new markers recognizing the limitation of PSA testing. Recently, PSA has been thrust into the public spotlight after several publications showed the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of low-risk PCa in particular, which showed that nonperformance of PSA testing would not have affected the longevity or the quality of life. Such shortcoming led urologists to optimized the use of PSA (PSA density and velocity), to investigate some isoforms of PSA (free PSA, [−2]proPSA) and to develop novel molecular markers (PCA3 or molecular markers, i.e., cell cycling processing genes)

Innovative diagnostic methods for early prostate cancer detection through urine analysis: A review

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among men. It is an asymptomatic and slow growing tumour, which starts occurring in young men, but can be detected only around the age of 40-50. Although its long latency period and potential curability make prostate cancer a perfect candidate for screening programs, the current procedure lacks in specificity. Researchers are rising to the challenge of developing innovative tools able of detecting the disease during its early stage that is the most curable. In recent years, the interest in characterisation of biological fluids aimed at the identification of tumour-specific compounds has increased significantly, since cell neoplastic transformation causes metabolic alterations leading to volatile organic compounds release. In the scientific literature, different approaches have been proposed. Many studies focus on the identification of a cancer-characteristic “odour fingerprint” emanated from biological samples through the application of sensorial or senso-instrumental analyses, others suggest a chemical characterisation of biological fluids with the aim of identifying prostate cancer (PCa)-specific biomarkers. This paper focuses on the review of literary studies in the field of prostate cancer diagnosis, in order to provide an overview of innovative methods based on the analysis of urine, thereby comparing them with the traditional diagnostic procedures

Application and uses of electronic noses for clinical diagnosis on urine samples: A review

The electronic nose is able to provide useful information through the analysis of the volatile organic compounds in body fluids, such as exhaled breath, urine and blood. This paper focuses on the review of electronic nose studies and applications in the specific field of medical diagnostics based on the analysis of the gaseous headspace of human urine, in order to provide a broad overview of the state of the art and thus enhance future developments in this field. The research in this field is rather recent and still in progress, and there are several aspects that need to be investigated more into depth, not only to develop and improve specific electronic noses for different diseases, but also with the aim to discover and analyse the connections between specific diseases and the body fluids odour. Further research is needed to improve the results obtained up to now; the development of new sensors and data processing methods should lead to greater diagnostic accuracy thus making the electronic nose an effective tool for early detection of different kinds of diseases, ranging from infections to tumours or exposure to toxic agents

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and clinical variables: Which is the best combination to predict reclassification in active surveillance patients?

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peri operative mortality and long term survival after partial versus radical cystectomy for muscle invasive bladder cancer

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare partial cystectomy (PC) and radical cystectomy (RC) with respect to 90-day mortality as well as long-term, all cause (ACM) and cancer specific mortality (CSM). Methods: Using the SEER-Medicare database 3913 patients with T2-T3 urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder (UCUB) who underwent either RC (n = 3419) or PC (n = 494) were identified. After propensity score matching to reduce potential treatment selection bias, 90-day mortality, ACM-free and CSM-free rates between patients treated with PC and RC were estimated. Multivariable regression models (MVA) addressed 90-day mortality as well as 5-years ACM and CSM. Results: After matching, 33% (n = 494) and 67% (n = 988) patients treated respectively with PC or RC remained. Median follow-up was 26 months. The 90-day mortality rate was 3.2% (n = 16) after PC and 8.1% (n = 80) after RC (P = 0.001). In MVA, PC vs. RC was associated with a lower 90-day mortality (P < 0.001). At 5 years the ACM-free survival rate was 38% after PC and 40% after RC (P = 0.3) and failed to differ in MVA (P = 0.9). At 5 years the CSM-free survival rate was 59% after PC and 62% after RC (P = 0.2) and also failed to differ in MVA (P = 0.57). The same results were observed after restriction to patients with pT2N0 UCUB. Conclusions: Relative to RC, PC is associated with lower short-term mortality and the same long-term ACM and CSM rates. These observations should encourage greater consideration to PC in those selected cases when this type of surgery may be applied

Bulbar urethroplasty using the dorsal approach: current techniques

INTRODUCTION: The use of flaps or grafts is mandatory in patients with longer and complex strictures. In 1995-96 we described a new dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty. Over time, our original technique was better defined and changed. Now this procedure (also named Barbagli technique) has been greeted with a fair amount of enthusiasm in Europe and in the United States. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: The patient is placed in normal lithotomy position, and a midline perineo-scrotal incision is made. The bulbar urethra is then free from the bulbo-cavernous muscles, and is dissected from the corpora cavernosa. The urethra is completely mobilized from the corpora cavernosa, it is rotated 180 degrees, and is incised along its dorsal surface. The graft (preputial skin or buccal mucosa) or the flap is fixed and quilted to the tunica albuginea of the corporal bodies. The right mucosal margin of the opened urethra is sutured to the right side of the patch-graft. The urethra is rotated back into its original position. The left urethral margin is sutured to the left side of the patch graft and to the corporal bodies, and the grafted area is entirely covered by the urethral plate. The bulbo-cavernous muscles are approximated over the grafted area. A 16F silicone Foley catheter is left in place. COMMENTS: Dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty is a versatile procedure that may be combined with various substitute materials like preputial skin, buccal mucosa grafts or pedicled flaps