The effects of lovastatin on conventional medical treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms with finasteride

Objective: To explore whether or not statins have any impact on the progression of components of benign prostatic hyperplasia (lower urinary tract symptoms severity, prostate volume and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) when combined with other agents inhibiting growth of prostate cells. Materials and Methods: This was a preliminary, clinical study. Eligible patients were aged > 50 yrs, with International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) between 9 and 19, total prostate volume (TPV) > 40 mL, and serum PSA > 1.5 ng/mL. Patients were divided in two groups: those with and those without lipidemia. After selection, eligible BPH patients with lipidemia (n = 18) were prescribed lovastatin 80 mg daily and finasteride 5 mg daily, while eligible patients without lipidemia (n = 15) were prescribed only finasteride 5 mg daily. IPSS, TPV and serum PSA were evaluated at end point (4 months). Results: There was no difference between the two groups on the primary end point of mean change from baseline in IPSS (p = 0.69), TPV (p = 0.90) and PSA (p = 0.16) after 4 months of treatment. Conclusions: Short-term lovastatin treatment does not seem to have any effect on IPSS, TPV and PSA in men with prostatic enlargement due to presumed BPH

Incidence of impalpable carcinoma of the prostate and of non-malignant and precarcinomatous lesions in Greek male population: An autopsy study

OBJECTIVE. The present study investigates the incidence of impalpable carcinoma of the prostate and the pathological findings of impalpable prostate carcinoma (PC) detected in autopsy material. The frequency of pre-carcinomatous and non-carcinomatous lesions as well as their relationship to the impalpable PC, were also examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Data were obtained from 212 autopsy specimens of the prostate gland, of men aged above 30 and under 98 years of age, born and living in Greece, who died (between 8/2002 and 8/2004), of causes other than carcinoma of the prostate. RESULTS. The age-independent frequency of histological PC in our study’s population is 18.8% (ranging from 0% to 56.2% according to different age groups), whereas the age-independent frequency of histological benign prostate hyperplasia is 65.5% (ranging from 27.7% to 90.6%), of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia 15.5% (ranging from 5.5% to 25%), of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) 26.4% (ranging from 5.5% to 47.2%) and of prostate atrophy (PA) 10.3% (ranging from 0% to 43.7%). There was a statistically significant correlation between PIN and PC volume. Most impalpable carcinomas found within necropsy material were characterized by small volume, favorable histological type, and relatively low aggressiveness. The prevalence of PC and pre-carcinomatous lesions in our study population appears to be lower than that of most autopsy studies. CONCLUSIONS. The frequency of clinical PC in a certain population could be related to the frequency and prevalent model of impalpable carcinoma as well as to the frequency of pre-carcinomatous lesions

Emorragia renale spontanea in paziente in emodialisi per nefropatia cistica acquisita: descrizione di un caso e revisione della letteratura

In questo articolo si descrive un raro caso clinico di emorragia renale spontanea in paziente con nefropatia cistica acquisita in emodialisi. Si prospettano le opinioni moderne circa il trattamento di questa situazione rara sulla base di una breve revisione della letteratura

RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA METASTASES TO THE SKIN - A NOT SO RARE CASE

Objective To describe the clinical, histological, immunohistochemical and behavioural patterns of the metastases of renal cell carcinoma to the skin. Patients and methods In a retrospective review of 132 cases of renal cell carcinoma submitted for examination to the Anticancer Institute ‘St Savas’ nine patients with metastatic disease to the skin were discovered. Clinical data and follow-up information were collected and correlated to tumour behaviour and patient survival, Immunohistochemical studies with epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), vimentin, keratin and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) were performed. Results In six of the nine patients the skin metastasis was the first evidence of a tumour, Histology of the skin nodule led to identification of the primary site, Histological proof of the renal origin of the tumour was obtained using the above immunohistochemical studies. All patients died from their disease within 3 years of presenting with the skin metastases. Conclusion Metastases to the skin from a renal cell carcinoma as first evidence of the disease may not be as rare as the literature describes. Definite proof of the origin of the tumour requires specialized immunohistochemical techniques

Transurethral thermotherapy in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Transurethral radio frequency thermotherapy for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia was performed in 50 selected patients, using the THERMEX II device. High surgical risk patients were included, among them 13 previously catheterized ones, because of unresolved retention for more than 6 months. The treatment consisted of a three-hour single session at 47 °C. Follow-up studies were carried out at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months using Madsen score, maximum flow rate, residual urine volume determinations and prostate bulk measurement by transrectal ultrasound. Subjective and objective improvement (of more than two parameters) was noticed in 62% of the patients. Prostatic volume did not change. In the retention group 54% of the patients remained free of catheter. Postoperative histology in 8 cases that failed to respond, revealed focal haemorrhagic and necrotic changes in periurethral glandular tissue. This is a promising method for selected high risk patients that achieves reasonable but not comparable results to TURP and requires further investigation in larger patient groups with BPH

Massive incrustation on silicone ureteral stent: A severe complication

We report the first case of unilateral, upper tract obstruction secondary to incrustation and stone formation on a silicone double-J ureteral stent. We believe that the main cause of this complication was the neurological bladder dysfunction of the patient coupled with urinary tract infection. © 1985 Akadémiai Kiadó