Oncological and functional outcomes following open radical prostatectomy: how patients may achieve the "trifecta"?

PURPOSE: The desirable outcomes after open radical prostatectomy (RP) for localized prostate cancer (PC) are to: a) achieve disease recurrence free, b) urinary continence (UC), and c) maintain sexual potency (SP). These 3 combined desirable outcomes we called it the "Trifecta". Our aim is to assess the likelihood of achieving the Trifecta, and to analyze the influencing the Trifecta . MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1738 men with localized PC underwent RP from 1992-2007 by a single surgeon. The exclusion criteria for this analysis were: preoperative hormonal or radiation therapy, preoperative urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction, follow-up less than 24 months or insufficient data. Post-operative Trifecta factors were analyzed, including biochemical recurrence (BR).. We defined: BR as PSA > 0.2 ng/mL, urinary continence as wearing no pads, and sexual potency as having erections sufficient for intercourse with or without a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor. RESULTS: A total of 831 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the entire cohort was 59 years old. The median follow-up was 52 months (mean 60, range 24-202). The BR, UC and SP rates were 18.7%, 94.5%, and 71% respectively. Trifecta was achieved in 64% at 2 year follow-up, and 61% at 5 year follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed age at time of surgery, pathologic Gleason score (PGS), pathologic stage, specimen weight, and nerve sparing (NS) were independent factors. CONCLUSIONS: Age at time of surgery, pathologic GS, pathologic stage, specimen weight and NS were independent predictors to achieve the Trifecta following radical prostatectomy. This information may help patients counseling undergoing radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer

A new hypothesis regarding ovarian follicle development: ovarian rigidity as a regulator of selection and health

The mammalian ovary consists of a large number of dormant immature follicles, each containing a single oocyte and located on the periphery of the ovary. With each reproductive cycle, a group of immature follicles is sequentially activated to resume growth, and pituitary gonadotropins and ovarian steroid and peptide hormones cooperate to ensure further growth and development. A single dominant follicle eventually emerges, ovulates, and then involutes to allow the selection of the next group of follicles. While hormones are known to control the later stages of folliculogenesis, little is known about the pathways that activate individual immature primordial follicles in the dormant follicle pool. We advance a new hypothesis: that follicle activation is dependent on the physical environment of the ovary in addition to well-established hormonal cues. This novel perspective on ovarian function may provide new avenues to study follicle dynamics and identify therapeutic targets for ovarian dysfunction