Outcomes and predictors of benign histology in patients undergoing robotic partial or radical nephrectomy for renal masses: A multicenter study

Introduction Theaim of this study was to assess preoperative factors associated with benign histology in patients undergoing surgical removal of a renal mass and to analyze outcomes of robotic partial nephrectomy (PN) and radical nephrectomy (RN) for these masses. Material and methods Overall, 2,944 cases (543 benign and 2,401 malignant) who underwent robotic PN and RN between 2003–2018 at 10 institutions worldwide were included. The assessment of the predictors of benign histology was made at the final surgical pathology report. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, Pearson’s χ2, and logistic regression analysis were used. Results Patients in the benign group were mostly female (61 vs. 33%; p <0.001), with lower body mass index (BMI) (26.0 vs. 27.1 kg/m2; p <0.001). The benign group presented smaller tumor size (2.8 vs. 3.5 cm; p <0.001), R.E.N.A.L. score (6.0 vs. 7.0; p <0.001). There was a lower rate of hilar (11 vs.18%; p = 0.001), cT≥3 (1 vs. 4.5%; p <0.001) tumors in the benign group. There was a statistically significant higher rate of PN in the benign group (97 vs. 86%; p <0.001) as well as a statistically significant lower 30-day re-admission rate (2 vs. 5%; p = 0.081). Multivariable analysis showed male gender (OR: 0.52; p <0.001), BMI (OR: 0.95; p <0.001), and cT3a (OR: 0.22; p = 0.005) to be inversely associated to benign histology. Conclusions In 18% of cases, a benign histologic type was found. Only 3% of these tumors were treated with RN. Female gender, lower BMI, and higher T staging showed to be independent predictors of benign histology

Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score as a Predictor of Recurrence in Patients with High Grade Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Undergoing Intravesical Bacillus Calmette–Guerin Immunotherapy

Background: A systemic inflammatory marker, the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), could predict outcomes in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NIMBC). We aimed to investigate the predictive power of mGPS in oncological outcomes in HG/G3 T1 NMIBC patients undergoing Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) therapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patient’s medical data from multicenter institutions. A total of 1382 patients with HG/G3 T1 NMIBC have been administered adjuvant intravesical BCG therapy, every week for 3 weeks given at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months. The analysis of mGPS for recurrence and progression was performed using multivariable and univariable Cox regression models. Results: During follow-up, 659 patients (47.68%) suffered recurrence, 441 (31.91%) suffered progression, 156 (11.28%) died of all causes, and 67 (4.84%) died of bladder cancer. At multivariable analysis, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio [hazard ratio (HR): 7.471; p = 0.0001] and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (HR: 0.706; p = 0.006 were significantly associated with recurrence. mGPS has no statistical significance for progression (p = 0.076). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed a significant difference in survival among patients from different mGPS subgroups. Five-year OS was 93% (CI 95% 92–94), in patients with mGPS 0, 82.2% (CI 95% 78.9–85.5) in patients with mGPS 1 and 78.1% (CI 95% 60.4–70) in mGPS 2 patients. Five-year CSS was 98% (CI 95% 97–99) in patients with mGPS 0, 90% (CI 95% 87–94) in patients with mGPS 1, and 100% in mGPS 2 patients. Limitations are applicable to a retrospective study. Conclusions: mGPS may have the potential to predict recurrence in HG/G3 T1 NMIBC patients, but more prospective, with large cohorts, studies are needed to study the influence of systemic inflammatory markers in prediction of outcomes in NMIBC for a definitive conclusion

A global reference for caesarean section rates (C-Model): a multicountry cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To generate a global reference for caesarean section (CS) rates at health facilities. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Health facilities from 43 countries. POPULATION/SAMPLE: Thirty eight thousand three hundred and twenty-four women giving birth from 22 countries for model building and 10,045,875 women giving birth from 43 countries for model testing. METHODS: We hypothesised that mathematical models could determine the relationship between clinical-obstetric characteristics and CS. These models generated probabilities of CS that could be compared with the observed CS rates. We devised a three-step approach to generate the global benchmark of CS rates at health facilities: creation of a multi-country reference population, building mathematical models, and testing these models. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Area under the ROC curves, diagnostic odds ratio, expected CS rate, observed CS rate. RESULTS: According to the different versions of the model, areas under the ROC curves suggested a good discriminatory capacity of C-Model, with summary estimates ranging from 0.832 to 0.844. The C-Model was able to generate expected CS rates adjusted for the case-mix of the obstetric population. We have also prepared an e-calculator to facilitate use of C-Model (www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/maternal_perinatal_health/c-model/en/). CONCLUSIONS: This article describes the development of a global reference for CS rates. Based on maternal characteristics, this tool was able to generate an individualised expected CS rate for health facilities or groups of health facilities. With C-Model, obstetric teams, health system managers, health facilities, health insurance companies, and governments can produce a customised reference CS rate for assessing use (and overuse) of CS. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: The C-Model provides a customized benchmark for caesarean section rates in health facilities and systems

Robotic versus other nephroureterectomy techniques: a systematic review and meta-analysis of over 87,000 cases

Purpose: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature inherent robotic nephroureterectomy (RNU) and to compare its outcomes with those of other nephroureterectomy (NU) techniques. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed up to April 2019 using PubMed, Embase®, and Web of Science. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Statement was followed for study selection. The following data were extracted for each study: baseline features, surgical outcomes, oncological outcomes, and survival outcomes. Stata® 15.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Literature search identified 80 studies eligible for the meta-analysis and overall 87,291 patients were included in the analysis: open NU (ONU; n = 45,601), hand-assisted laparoscopic NU (HALNU; n = 442), laparoscopic NU (LNU n = 31,093), and RNU (n = 10,155). RNU was more likely to be performed in those patients with multifocal tumor location (proportion: 0.19; 95% CI 0.14, 0.24) and high-grade disease (proportion: 0.70; 95% CI 0.53, 0.68). The lowest EBL was recorded in the RNU group (weighted mean (WM) 163.31 mL; 95% CI 88.94, 237.68), whereas the highest was in the ONU group (414.99 mL; 95% CI 378.52, 451.46). Operative time was shorter for ONU (224.98 mL; 95% CI 212.26, 237.69). RNU had lower rate of intraoperative complications (0.02; 95% CI 0.01, 0.05). ONU showed higher odds of transfusions (0.20; 95% CI 0.15, 0.25). LOS was statistically significantly shorter for the RNU group (5.35 days; 95% CI 4.97, 5.82). HALNU seemed to present lower risk of PSM (0.02; 95% CI − 0.01, 0.05), and lower risk of recurrence (0.22; 95% CI 0.15, 0.30), metastasis (0.07; 95% CI 0.05, 0.10), and cancer-related death (0.03; 95% CI 0.01, 0.06). ONU showed the lowest 5 years cancer specific survival (proportion: 0.77; 95% CI 0.74, 0.80). No correlation was found between the surgical technique and recurrence-free and cancer-specific survival. Conclusions: Evidence regarding RNU for the treatment of UTUC is increasing but it remains quite sparse and of low quality. Despite this, RNU seems to be safe, and to offer the advantages of a minimally invasive approach without impairing the oncological outcomes. Nevertheless, ONU, HALNU, and LNU still represent a valid, and commonly used surgical treatment option. As RNU becomes more popular, and concerns related to its use remain, the best surgical technique for NU remains to be determined

Prostate health index vs percent free prostate-specific antigen for prostate cancer detection in men with "gray" prostate-specific antigen levels at first biopsy: systematic review and meta-analysis

The most promising approach to improve the specificity of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test relies on the measurement of different molecular isoforms of PSA in serum. Currently, in men with a total PSA (tPSA) level between 2 and 10 ng/mL, measurement of %fPSA (free to total PSA ratio x100) is used as reflex testing to better distinguish between malignant and benign prostate disease. Recently, Beckman Coulter developed the prostate health index (PHI) and several studies suggested that this test may improve the diagnostic ability of %fPSA. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the usefulness of PHI compared with %fPSA in the detection of prostate cancer (PCa) at first biopsy in men with tPSA "gray" levels of 2-10 ng/mL. Data on sensitivity and specificity were extracted from 8 eligible studies. Only observational studies comparing the diagnostic ability of PHI and %fPSA in tPSA range of 2-10 ng/mL were included. A total of 8 studies involving 2969 patients with a tPSA range of 20 ng/mL undergoing first biopsy were included in this meta-analysis. Biopsy-confirmed PCa was detected in 1287 (43.3%) men. Selected studies determined both PHI and %fPSA as a reflex test. The areas under curve (AUCs) of PHI and %fPSA were 0.74 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.70-0.77) and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.58-0.67), respectively. Meta-regression analysis confirmed the superiority of PHI which showed, compared with %fPSA, a relative diagnostic odds ratio of 2.81 (95% CI, 2.19-3.6; P < 0.0001). In conclusion, PHI instead of %fPSA as a reflex test in men with tPSA "gray" levels is a better predictor of positive first biopsy and can offer a reduction in unnecessary biopsies

Outcomes of Laparoscopic and Robotic Partial Nephrectomy for Large (>4\ua0Cm) Kidney Tumors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) partial nephrectomy (MIPN) for large renal masses. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature review was performed up to September 2016 using multiple search engines to identify studies comparing MIPN for tumors larger than 4\ua0cm (>cT1a) with MIPN for tumors smaller than 4\ua0cm (cT1a). The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) criteria were used for article selection. Baseline demographics and surgical, functional, and oncological parameters were extracted from the included studies whenever available. An overall analysis including all studies was performed, then sensitivity analyses were performed for studies on laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (PN) only, and, finally, for studies on robotic PN only. Results: Overall, 13 case-control studies comparing the outcomes of PN in tumors 4\ua0cm (n\ua0=\ua01024) were included. Warm ischemia time was shorter for the <4\ua0cm group [weighted mean difference (WMD) 3.75\ua0min; 95% confidence interval (CI) 126.4 to 120.7; p\ua0=\ua00.01] and the odds of perioperative complications was lower [odds ratio (OR) 0.62; 95% CI 0.5\u20130.8; p\ua0<\ua00.001]. There were no significant differences in terms of postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (WMD 4.2\ua0ml/min; 95% CI 0.45\u20138.97; p\ua0=\ua00.08), as well as onset of postoperative chronic kidney disease (risk ratio 0.71; 95% CI 0.48\u20131.04; p\ua0=\ua00.08). In addition, no difference was found in the likelihood of positive surgical margins (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.43\u20131.28; p\ua0=\ua00.29). Conclusions: MIPN represents a viable treatment option for renal masses larger than 4\ua0cm (higher than cT1a) as it offers good functional outcomes, without increased risk of positive surgical margins. An increased rate of complications should be taken into account when approaching these tumors