Murtaza Dungerwalla¹, Nicholas Davies², Marlon Perera¹, Nathan Papa¹, Nathan Lawrentschuk^1,3,4

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.22, No.6, pp. 8093-8098, 2015

Abstract Introduction: Manual bladder washouts (MBWs) are an integral skill for healthcare workers dealing with urological patients. Despite this they are often overlooked by educators and omitted from formal teaching curricula. We aimed to determine the level of competence and training among healthcare workers in performing a MBW.
Materials and methods: Following a literature review for correct MBW technique, a 15-question survey was developed to assess knowledge and self-reported competency of doctors and nurses in performing a MBW. Two hundred paper and email-based surveys were distributed to doctors and nurses in the urology wards of Australian public and… More >

Seth A. Cohen¹, Ryan P. Kopp¹, Kerrin L. Palazzi¹, Michael A. Liss¹, Reza Mehrazin², Jason Woo¹, Hak J. Lee¹, Ramzi Jabaji¹, Kyle Gillis¹, Song Wang¹, Robert W. Wake², Anthony L. Patterson², Ithaar H. Derweesh¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.22, No.6, pp. 8085-8092, 2015

Abstract Introduction: To investigate the association of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, with renal functional decline in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy (PN) for renal mass.
Materials and methods: Retrospective study of patients who underwent PN between February 2006-March 2011, with ≥6 months follow-up. Data was analyzed between two groups: CRP increase ≥0.5 mg/L from 6 months postoperative ("CRP rise," CRPR) versus no CRP increase ≥0.5 ("CRP stable," CRPS). Primary outcome was change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (ΔeGFR, mL/min/1.73 m²), with de novo postoperative stage III chronic kidney disease (stage III-CKD, eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m²)… More >

Seth A. Cohen¹, Ryan P. Kopp¹, Kerrin L. Palazzi¹, Michael A. Liss¹, Reza Mehrazin², Jason Woo¹, Hak J. Lee¹, Ramzi Jabaji¹, Kyle Gillis¹, Song Wang¹, Robert W. Wake², Anthony L. Patterson², Ithaar H. Derweesh¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.22, No.6, pp. 8085-8092, 2015

Abstract Introduction: To investigate association of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, with renal functional decline in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy (PN) for renal mass.
Materials and methods: Retrospective study of patients who underwent PN between February 2006-March 2011, with ≥6 months follow up. Data was analyzed between two groups: CRP increase ≥0.5 mg/L from 6 months postoperative ("CRP rise," CRPR), versus no CRP increase ≥0.5 ("CRP stable," CRPS). Primary outcome was change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (ΔeGFR, mL/min/1.73 m²), with de novo postoperative stage III chronic kidney disease (stage III-CKD, eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m²)… More >

Victor Srougi, Guilherme P. Padovani, Giovanni S. Marchini, Fabio C. Vicentini, Eduardo Mazzucchi, Miguel Srougi

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.22, No.6, pp. 8079-8084, 2015

Abstract Introduction: To evaluate the outcomes of ureteral strictures treatment after endoureterotomy using the holmium laser or open/laparoscopic surgery.
Material and methods: From a database of 1101 patients that underwent semi-rigid holmium laser ureterolithotripsy from 2003 to 2013, we performed a search for patients treated for ureteral stricture. Parameters analyzed included patient demographic, stone burden, and ureteral stricture characteristics. Treatment included holmium laser endoureterotomy for stenosis ≤1 cm and open/laparoscopic repair for stenosis >1 cm or for failed endoscopic treatment. Outcomes and complications were assessed. Success was defined as symptom improvement and radiographic obstruction resolution.
Results: Of all the… More >

Joseph Wagner, Peter Haddock

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.22, No.6, pp. 8074-8078, 2015

Abstract Introduction: Bladder neck contractures (BNC) are an uncommon complication following radical prostatectomy. Occasionally, BNCs can be refractory to endoscopic approaches. We describe the effectiveness of a novel robotic-assisted laparoscopic catheterizable bladder augment in treating recalcitrant BNCs.
Materials and methods: Patients undergoing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RALP) between 2004-2014 who developed a postoperative BNC were identified. We documented our experience with robotic-assisted laparoscopic catheterizable bladder augment for recalcitrant BNCs. Total operative time, robotic time, estimated surgical blood, length of hospital stay, serum creatinine, complications, and postoperative course/upper tract imaging were recorded.
Results: Thirty-six of 2002 RALP patients (1.8%) experienced a… More >

Zachary L. Smith¹, Eugene J. Pietzak¹, Chelsey K. Meise², Keith Van Arsdalen¹, Alan J. Wein¹, S. Bruce Malkowicz¹, Thomas J. Guzzo¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.22, No.6, pp. 8069-8073, 2015

Abstract Introduction: The Fuhrman grading system (FGS) is the most widely utilized pathological classification and predictor of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) prognosis. The aim of this study was to test the prognostic ability of a simplified two-tier FGS.
Materials and methods: We reviewed the data of 509 patients with clear cell RCC who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy between January 1994 and April 2007. The conventional four-tier (I, II, III, IV) FGS was compared to a simplified two-tier FGS in which grades I and II were combined (low grade) and grades III and IV were combined (high grade).… More >

Premal Patel¹, Jasmir G. Nayak^1,2, Zlatica Biljetina⁴, Bryan Donnelly³, Kiril Trpkov⁴

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.22, No.6, pp. 8056-8062, 2015

Abstract Introduction: Limited data exist on long term pathological outcomes in patients with initial prostate biopsies showing either high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) or benign findings, who are subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Materials and methods: Preoperative characteristics of patients showing either HGPIN or benign initial prostate biopsies were investigated and compared in patients with and without a subsequent diagnosis of prostate cancer. We also compared the biopsy and prostatectomy findings in patients with prostate cancer in both groups.
Results: We evaluated 161 and 85 patients with initial HGPIN and benign prostate biopsies, respectively, who underwent a subsequent biopsy. After… More >

E. David Crawford¹, Daniel P. Petrylak², Celestia S. Higano³, Adam S. Kibel⁴, Philip W. Kantoff⁵, Eric J. Small⁶, Neal D. Shore⁷, Anna Ferrari⁸

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.22, No.6, pp. 8048-8055, 2015

Abstract Introduction: Numerous treatments are approved for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), including sipuleucel-T, an FDA-approved immunotherapy.
Materials and methods: In this paper we review recent data providing insights into the mechanism of action of sipuleucel-T which suggests sipuleucel-T may be most effective when administered to mCRPC patients with a low burden of disease. Published and presented data from the sipuleucel-T clinical trials NeoACT (NCT00715104), IMPACT (NCT00065442), ProACT (NCT00715078), PROTECT (NCT00779402), OpenACT (NCT00901342), STAMP (NCT01487863) and STAND (NCT01431391), individually or across trials, were included in this review.
Results: Overall, a growing body of evidence supports the concept that sipuleucel-T,… More >

Jian-lin Yang^*1, Ye Qin^*1, Liang Li^†, Chu-yu Cao^*, Qing Wang^*, Qian Li^*, Ya-feng Lv^*, Yanlin Wang^*

Oncology Research, Vol.23, No.1-2, pp. 79-86, 2015, DOI:10.3727/096504015X14478843952942

Abstract In the process of tumor cell apoptosis induced by specific regents, calreticulin (CRT) was transferred from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) onto the cell membrane. These tumor cells, when used as the cellular vaccine to immunize experimental animals, could initiate effective antitumor immunoresponse against homologous tumor cells. This is referred to as immunogenic cell death. Lidamycin (LDM) is an enediyne antibiotic, which has extremely potent cytotoxicity to cancer cells. In this study, the mouse melanoma B16-F1 cancer cells were used to investigate the ability of LDM in promoting immunogenic cell death. Our data showed that LDM could… More >

Encieh Choghaei^*, Gholamreza Khamisipour^†, Mojtaba Falahati^*, Behrooz Naeimi^†, Majid Mossahebi-Mohammadi^‡, Rahim Tahmasebi^†, Mojtaba Hasanpour^†, Shakib Shamsian^†, Zahra Sadat Hashemi^§

Oncology Research, Vol.23, No.1-2, pp. 69-78, 2015, DOI:10.3727/096504015X14478843952906

Abstract Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer among women. MicroRNAs as noncoding small RNA molecules play pivotal roles in cancer-related biological processes. Increased levels of microRNA-29a in the serum of breast cancer patients have been reported. Since heat shock proteins (HSPs) play important roles in cell events, the quantitative fluctuations in their cellular levels could be deemed as key indicators of how the exerted treatment alters cell behavior. In this regard, using an antisense small RNA, we attempted to investigate the effects of miR-29a knockdown on the expression of HSPs genes in the MCF-7… More >