Arab Journal of Urology最新文献

Background: Healthcare system costs associated with bladder cancer treatment are among the highest of curable malignancies, and prognosis in advanced disease remains poor. This scoping review examines the worldwide status of bladder cancer research by systematically mapping publications, exploring research topics, support, gaps and limitations that need to be addressed.

Methods: We searched the Web of Science database for publications using controlled vocabulary. Results were limited between 2000-2020, and were included in our study based on pre-specified eligibility criteria. Data used for analysis included author's names, country of affiliation, language, journal, citations, and funding. Analysis was conducted using Biblioshiny R and SPSS. Research topics were identified according to sub-filters of title words and strings pre-determined by authors.

Results: 40,657 results were retrieved, of which 19,976 original articles and reviews met the pre-specified criteria. 92% of the publications originated from 20 countries and were included in the analysis. Trends show an increase across the world, most of which is due to increasing contributions from USA and China. An increase by 1000% in funded publications has been achieved. Studies focused on Surgery, Pathology, and Diagnosis, while Radiotherapy, Palliative care, quality of life and Epidemiology were the least described. Genetics had the most increase while being the most funded. GDP, incidence, prevalence and mortality were each significantly positively correlated with overall bladder cancer research output.

Conclusion: This review described the evolution of bladder cancer research. It also identified significant gaps and limitations that need to be highlighted as priority areas for research investment.

Objectives: To develop and validate an Arabic version of the pediatric lower urinary tract symptom score (PLUTSS).

Methods: The linguistic translation of the PLUTSS into Arabic was carried out by following the guidelines that have been set out for cross-cultural adaptation of health-related QoL measures (Translation, Reconciliation, Retranslation, Review of retranslation, Debriefing and final review). The questionnaires were applied to 80 patients, 40 patients seeking urology clinic for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and 40 patients visiting a pediatric clinic without urological compliant. The discrimination validity and strength of association were tested using Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests. Reliability of translation was tested for internal consistency using the Cronbach's α and ROC Curve was used to evaluate the ability of the questionnaire to discriminate between cases and controls.

Results: Patients with LUTS had a higher PLUTSS score and QoL score than controls (P < 0.001). The value of Cronbach's alpha of the 13 items (excluding Qol) evaluated on the scale was 0.717 (95% CI: 0.616-0.800). The ROC curve determined the ability of the questionnaire to discriminate between cases and controls where the area under the curve was 0.901 (95% CI: 0.830-0.972).

Conclusion: The Arabic translated version of the PLUTSS is an acceptable and reliable tool for assessing and evaluating pediatric patients with LUTS in Arabic-speaking countries.

Objective: To assess differences in the distribution of type and number of D'Amico high-risk criteria (DHRCs) according to race/ethnicity (R/E) and their effect on cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated with external beam radiotherapy (RT).

Methods: In the SEER database (2004-2016), we identified 31,002 PCa patients treated with RT with at least one DHRCs, namely PSA >20 ng/dL, biopsy Gleason Grade Group 4-5, and clinical T stage ≥T2c. Competing risks regression (CRR) model tested the association between DHRCs and 5-year CSM in all R/E subgroups.

Results: Of 31,002 patients, 20,894 (67%) were Caucasian, 5256 (17%) were African American, 2868 (9.3%) were Hispanic-Latino, and 1984 (6.4%) were Asian. The distributions of individual DHRCs and combinations of two DHRCs differed according to R/E, but not for the combination of three DHRCs. The effect related to the presence of a single DHRC, and combinations of two or three DHRCs on absolute CSM rates was lowest in Asians (1.2-6.8%), followed by in African Americans (2.3-12.2%) and Caucasians (2.3-12.1%), and highest in Hispanic/Latinos (1.7-13.8%). However, the opposite effect was observed in CRR, where hazard ratios were highest in Asians vs. other R/Es: Asians 1.00-2.59 vs. others 0.5-1.83 for one DHRC, Asians 3.4-4.75 vs. others 0.66-3.66 for two DHRCs, and Asians 7.22 vs. others 3.03-4.99 for all three DHRCs.

Conclusions: R/E affects the proportions of DHRCs. Moreover, within the four examined R/E groups, the effect of DHRCs on absolute and relative CSM metrics also differed. Therefore, R/E-specific considerations may be warranted in high-risk PCa patients treated with RT.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the most common cause of urinary retention in men (BPH). The gold standard surgical treatment is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). However, due to the morbidity and mortality associated with TURP, more minimally invasive treatments, such as vaporizing the prostate with the Rezum system, have been introduced. We investigated the efficacy of Rezum in the treatment of refractory urinary retention due to BPH in this review.

Methodology and materials: To conduct this review, the Cochrane methodology for systematic reviews was used. All studies that used Rezum to treat catheter-dependent patients with enlarged prostates were included. The literature search showed 111 studies, 84 of which were excluded due to non-relevance based on titles and 18 due to lack of relevance based on abstract review. Full manuscripts were reviewed in nine studies, three of which were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria.

Results: This review included 301 patients in total. The rate of a successful trial of voiding post Rezum therapy was 85%. The complication rated between 3.8 and 4.3% all of which were mild and self-limited. As there was no major complication of Rezum (clavien dindo >2), the procedure-related morbidity is negligible.

Conclusion: In this review, Rezum was found to be an efficacious and safe alternative in the treatment of refractory retention with mild complications and minimal morbidity.

Objective: to evaluate the effect of bacterial colonization on ureteral stent-associated morbidity.

Methods: This was a prospective study that took place between February 2019 and March 2022. We examined one hundred fifteen patients for ureteric stents application. On the same day of stent removal, the Arabic version of Ureteral Stent Symptoms Questionnaire (USSQ) was used to assess stent-associated morbidity. The stent-associated morbidity and the specificity and sensitivity of culture in the stent and midstream urine were recorded.

Results: In 15.6% of the patients stent colonization was positive; E. coli was the most common isolated organism. There was no statistically significant difference between sex, age, irrigation fluid volume and duration of operation for stent colonization. However, stent indwelling time was significantly higher in patients with stents with positive cultures. In the colonized stents, there was a statistically significant difference with regards to the total score of USSQ, pain, urinary symptoms, work performance and additional problems of USSQ. Meanwhile, there was no statistically significant difference in the general health and sexual matter.

Conclusions: stent colonization may be a contributing factor in stent-related morbidity. Stent bacterial colonization increases with the time of stent retention. Stent cultures are not needed as the same microorganisms are detected in urine cultures.

Purpose: Cystoscopy (rigid/flexible [FC]) is the standard surveillance tool for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Nevertheless, it has its drawbacks. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of microscopic hematuria (MH), abdominal ultrasonography (US), and urine cytology (UC) as potential substitutes for FC in patients with T1-low-grade (T1-LG) NMIBC.

Methods: Over a 12-month period, patients attending our tertiary referral center for T1-LG NMIBC follow-up underwent urine analysis for MH and UC, and then US and FC were performed as outpatient surveillance procedures. Those with positive findings underwent inpatient rigid cystoscopy under anesthesia and biopsy. The negative predictive values (NPV) and sensitivity of different combinations of MH, UC, US, and FC were compared with the standard histopathology.

Results: In 218 evaluated patients, FC had the highest NPV (97.9%). However, this figure showed no statistically significant difference if compared with the combination of negative MH and US (93.8%) (difference = 0.04, p = 0.1) or the combination of MH, US, and UC (94.9%) (difference = 0.03, p = 0.2). The reported sensitivity results were similarly comparable between FC (94.2%) and the aforementioned combinations (90.4% and 92.3%; differences: 0.038 and 0.019; p = 0.4 and 0.7, respectively).

Conclusions: During the surveillance of NMIBC for patients diagnosed with T1-LG disease, the combination of MH/US has comparable sensitivity and NPV with FC. This non-invasive combination could be considered the first station that might preclude the need for FC in a considerable percentage of this group of patients.

Introduction: Improper penile assessment, together with carrying out circumcision by an inexperienced person, results in major complications. One of the complex complications is the complete or sub-complete penile skin loss, which in many cases, necessitates one or staged repair.

Purpose: To evaluate modified one-stage bilateral anterolateral scrotal-based flaps to compensate for penile skin loss after circumcision.

Methods: This study was performed on patients with almost penile skin loss after circumcision from February 2013 to July 2021. In all cases, one-stage modified bilateral anterolateral scrotal skin flaps were used to compensate for penile skin loss. The modification includes scrotal skin flap fashioning in a novel way, in addition to the use of penodermal fixation sutures at the penoscrotal junction, to create a stable penoscrotal junction and new penile skin coverage. Patients were discharged from the hospital on the same day of surgery. The dressing was left for 5 days. Follow-up visits were scheduled weekly in the first month, 3 and 6 months later, then annually.

Results: Forty-six children were included in this study. Their mean age was 4.5 ± 1.5 years. The mean operative time was 139.6 ± 11.5 min. No flap ischemia or necrosis was reported. One case (2.2%) developed a scrotal hematoma managed conservatively. Three (6.5%) cases presented with wound dehiscence at the penoscrotal angle. Three (6.5%) cases had self-limited penile edema. Two (4.3%) cases had dorsal midline hypertrophic scar; one improved after treatment with triamcinolone acetonide ointment, and the other needed scar revision. The mean follows up was 23.33 ± 9.13 months.

Conclusion: The modified scrotal skin flap technique provides a good substitution for stable penile skin coverage and a one-stage reconstruction of penile skin loss. It results in good parents' satisfaction with acceptable complications.

Objectives: Safety of GreenLight™ laser prostatectomy (GL-LP) in patients with ongoing blood thinners has been proven. Yet, the possibility of drug manipulation makes it a less challenging situation compared to treating patients with uncorrectable bleeding tendency. Herein, we aim at evaluating the outcomes of XPS™-180 W GL-LP for treatment of BPH in patients who had uncorrectable bleeding tendency due to hepatic dysfunction.

Methods: A prospectively maintained database for all patients who underwent GL-LP for symptomatic BPH was reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the degree of hepatic dysfunction using Fib-4 index: Group 1 (indexed patients; low-risk Fib-4) and Group 2 (non-indexed patients; intermediate-high-risk Fib-4) included those who had chronic liver disease associated with either thrombocytopenia and/or hypoprothrombinemia. Primary outcome was the difference in perioperative bleeding complications between the two groups. Other outcome measures included all perioperative findings and complications as well-functional outcome measures.

Results: The study included 140 patients (93 indexed patients and 47 non-indexed). There were no significant differences between both groups in operative time, laser time and energy, auxiliary procedures, catheter time, hospital stay, and hemoglobin deficit. The need for blood transfusion was significantly more in group 2 (two patients (4.3%) versus no patients in group 1, P = 0.045). Perioperative and late postoperative complications were comparable for both groups (P = 0.634 and 0.858, respectively). There were no significant differences in the postoperative uroflow, symptoms score, and PSA reduction between the two groups (P = 0.57, 0.87, and 0.05, respectively).

Conclusions: XPS™-180 W GL-LP is a safe and effective technique for treatment of BPH in patients with uncorrectable bleeding tendency due to hepatic dysfunction.

Background: Few studies assessed the relationships between BMI and post varicocelectomy semen quality and fertility potential and they reported inconsistent findings.

Objective: To assess the association of BMI with semen parameters and reproductive hormones before and after microsurgical varicocelectomy.

Materials and methods: Retrospective chart review in a tertiary infertility center. Of 1170 patients with clinical varicocele during the study period (8 years), 813 patients were eligible and included. Patients were grouped into: Group A (kg/m², n = 251 patients), B (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m², n = 289), C (BMI 30-34.9 kg/m², n = 183) and D (kg/m², n = 90). Clinical data, semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation and hormonal profile were collected before and 3 months after microsurgical varicocelectomy.

Results: Patients' mean age was 35.87 ± 8.17 years. Higher-grade varicocele was significantly more prevalent in the lower BMI groups. BMI was significantly negatively correlated with preoperative sperm concentration, total motility progressive motility and total motile sperm count. Pre-operatively, sperm concentration, total motility, progressive motility and total motile sperm count showed significant differences between BMI groups, where higher BMI (Groups C and D) exhibited the poorest semen parameters. Postoperatively, all groups showed significant improvement in sperm concentration compared with pre-operative values. However, total and progressive motility were significantly improved in Groups A, B and C, while in Group D (highest BMI), total motility improved clinically but not statistically, progressive motility did not display improvement, and total motile sperm count was significantly improved only in Groups B and C. Postoperatively, mean improvements in semen parameters across the BMI groups were not significantly different, except for morphology, which improved significantly more in the less obese patients.

Conclusion: For infertile patients with clinical varicocele undergoing micro-surgical varicocelectomy, BMI appears not to impact the improvements across most of the semen parameters and hormones. The procedure might improve the fertility potential.

The first described case of deep dorsal vein thrombosis of the penis secondary to vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), a complication of COVID adenoviral vector vaccines. The patient reported pain in the penis one month after vaccination. On ultrasound, a deep dorsal vein thrombosis was found and a biological workup was ordered to confirm the VITT trail. Anticoagulant therapy was immediately initiated and the patient responds well while suffering from erectile dysfunction. VITT is a potentially serious event that can be life-threatening; every practitioner should know how to deal with it.