PURPOSE: The survival benefits of adjuvant androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in prostate cancer and lymph node metastasis remain unclear. We assessed the role of ADT in disease progression after radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 937 patients who underwent RP, we identified 40 (4.2%) who had lymph node metastasis. A total of 18 received adjuvant ADT (ADT group) and 22 were observed (observation group). Clinical progression-free survival (PFS), cancer- specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were compared in the 2 groups. Prognostic factors for clinical progression and biochemical recurrence (BCR) were analyzed. RESULTS: The 5-year PFS, CSS, and OS of the entire cohort were 75.0%, 85.0%, and 72.5%, respectively. In the ADT group, 6 patients (33.3%) showed clinical progression at a median 42.7 months. The 5-year PFS, CSS, and OS rates of this group were 72.2%, 83.3%, and 72.2%, respectively. In the observation group, 14 patients (63.6%) received salvage therapy owing to BCR. Nine patients (40.9%) with BCR in the observation group showed clinical progression at a median 43.4 months after RP. The 5-year PFS, CSS, and OS rates of this group were 77.2%, 86.4%, and 72.8%, respectively. In the observation group, the BCR rate was lower in patients with pT3a or less disease than in those with pT3b disease. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant ADT in node-positive prostate cancer did not reduce or delay disease progression or improve survival. Because a substantial number of untreated patients with pT3a or less disease did not experience recurrence, administration of ADT should be initiated carefully. However, in patients with pT3b disease, adjuvant ADT and radiotherapy could be considered.
Androgens ; Cohort Studies ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostate ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Recurrence ; Salvage Therapy

PURPOSE: We wanted to investigate the effect of dominant kidney nephrectomy on the postoperative renal function and we wanted to determine the preoperative risk factors that influence the postoperative renal function in living donor nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 297 living kidney donors(159 males and 138 females) who underwent nephrectomy were included in this study. Renal function was measured by the serum creatinine levels and (99m)Tc-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid(DTPA) renal scanning. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, the following independent variables were evaluated to predict a postoperative serum creatinine level 1.5mg/dl or higher: removal of a functionally dominant kidney or a larger kidney according to the DTPA renal scan or CT, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), comorbidity, preoperative serum creatinine and the preoperative glomerular filtration rate(GFR). RESULTS: Of the 297 subjects, 134(55%) underwent donor nephrectomy on the left side, and 163(45%) underwent donor nephrectomy on the right side. Univariate analysis showed that gender and the preoperative creatinine level were significantly associated with postoperative serum creatinine elevation(1.5mg/dl or higher)(p<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the preoperative creatinine level(p<0.001), the preoperative GFR (p=0.015) and removal of a functionally dominant kidney(p=0.049) were significant factors. The cut-off values from the receiver operating characteristics(ROC) curves were 1.0mg/dl for the preoperative creatinine level, 90.24ml/min/1.73m2 for the preoperative GFR, and 10.94% for the difference of the relative renal function on DTPA. CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative serum creatinine level and the preoperative GFR are critical predictive factors for renal function after living donor nephrectomy. The impact of removing a functionally dominant kidney on the postoperative renal function should be cautiously interpreted in patients where the function of the nondominant kidney is favored.
Azotemia ; Body Mass Index ; Comorbidity ; Creatinine ; Filtration ; Humans ; Kidney ; Living Donors ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nephrectomy ; Pentetic Acid ; Risk Factors ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: This study was designed to better understand the mechanism of low temperature burn and to show clinical cases of low temperature burn. METHODS: The local temperature increase of electric pad was investigated at 4 different surface cooling conditions. Blocks (5x5x2 cm3) made of silicone rubber, aluminum, or urethane foam were placed on the top of the electric pad, and temperature between the blocks and electric pad was measured up to 7 hours after switching on maximally (level 7). Each block has different thermal conductivity (TC) and TC of silicone rubber (0.2 W/m.degrees C) is similar to TC of human skin (0.37 W/m.degrees C). TC of aluminum is higher and TC of urethane foam is lower than TC of human skin. Experiments were performed on two occasions with or without a blanket covering over the electric pad and blocks. RESULTS: The initial surface temperature (18degrees C) of the electric pad under the silicone rubber block was elevated to 36.5degrees C at 1 hour, 41.8degrees C at 3 hours, 44.2degrees C at 5 hours, and 45.5degrees C at 7 hours. After covering the electric pad and blocks with a blanket, the temperature of the electric pad under the silicone rubber block was elevated to 40.9degrees C at 1 hour, 51.8degrees C at 3 hours, 56.1degrees C at 5 hours and 58.1degrees C at 7 hours. Under the same conditions, surface temperatures under the urethane foam and aluminum blocks were 70.8degrees C and 50.degrees C respectively at 7 hours. CONCLUSION: The local temperature increase of electric pad was dependent on the surface cooling conditions, heating time and blanket covering over the electric pad. The surface temperature increased to 56.1degrees C at 5 hours after blanket covering over the silicone block which temperature can cause severe injuries on the human skin within a minute.
Aluminum ; Beds ; Burns* ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Silicon ; Silicone Elastomers ; Silicones ; Skin ; Thermal Conductivity ; Urethane

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of three phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors in the treatment of mele erectile dysfunction according to patient preference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2004 and August 2005, 113 male erectile dysfunctional patients were enrolled to this randomized, prospective, comparative, open-label, triple-crossover study of three PDE5 inhibitors. Patients were assigned to one of six medication schedules, and were prescribed a full dose of the drugs for 8 weeks, with a week of washout period prior to the next drug cycle. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores and side effects related with each medication were obtained at the end of study. 48 patients finished all the medications, and completed the study with a global assessment questionnaire on their drug preference and reasons for that preference. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 54.6 (33-73) years. The mean pre-treatment IIEF and EF domain scores (+/-S.D.) were 28.2+/-14.7 and 10.6+/-6.6, respectively. The scores were significantly improved, to 47.9+/-14.6 and 19.9+/-6.6 with sildenafil, to 49.7+/-12.3 and 21.3+/-5.8 with vardenafil, and to 47.9+/-14.9 and 19.8+/-7.2 with tadalafil (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the scores or frequencies of side effects between the drugs. The preference percentages were 29.2, 29.2 and 35.4% for sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil, respectively. Patient preference was mainly due to improvement in erectile function (70.9%), such as rigid erection, prolonged erection and fast erection, and not to the infrequent rate of side effects (20.8%). CONCLISIONS: There were no significant differences of the efficacy and safety among the three PDE5 inhibitors. The preference for a drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction was mainly related to the efficacy on the improvement of erectile function rather than the less frequent side effects.
Appointments and Schedules ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Humans ; Male ; Patient Preference* ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors* ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; Prospective Studies ; Questionnaires

The University of California, San Francisco, announced in 2011 Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment Postsurgical (CAPRA-S) score which included pathologic data, but there were no results for comparing preoperative predictors with the CAPRA-S score. We evaluated the validation of the CAPRA-S score in our institution and compare the result with the preoperative progression predictor, CAPRA score. Data of 130 patients were reviewed who underwent radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer from 2008 to 2013. Performance of CAPRA-S score in predicting progression free probabilities was assessed through Kaplan Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression test. Additionally, prediction probability was compared with preoperative CAPRA score by logistic regression analysis. Comparing CAPRA score, the CAPRA-S score showed improved prediction ability for 5 yr progression free survival (concordance index 0.80, P = 0.04). After risk group stratification, 3 group model of CAPRA-S was superior than 3 group model of CAPRA for 3-yr progression free survival and 5-yr progression free survival (concordance index 0.74 vs. 0.70, 0.77 vs. 0.71, P < 0.001). Finally the CAPRA-S score was the more ideal predictor concerned with adjuvant therapy than the CAPRA score through decision curve analysis. The CPARA-S score is a useful predictor for disease progression after radical prostatectomy.
Combined Modality Therapy ; Decision Making ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Period ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/analysis ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms/mortality/*pathology/therapy ; Retrospective Studies

The University of California, San Francisco, announced in 2011 Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment Postsurgical (CAPRA-S) score which included pathologic data, but there were no results for comparing preoperative predictors with the CAPRA-S score. We evaluated the validation of the CAPRA-S score in our institution and compare the result with the preoperative progression predictor, CAPRA score. Data of 130 patients were reviewed who underwent radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer from 2008 to 2013. Performance of CAPRA-S score in predicting progression free probabilities was assessed through Kaplan Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression test. Additionally, prediction probability was compared with preoperative CAPRA score by logistic regression analysis. Comparing CAPRA score, the CAPRA-S score showed improved prediction ability for 5 yr progression free survival (concordance index 0.80, P = 0.04). After risk group stratification, 3 group model of CAPRA-S was superior than 3 group model of CAPRA for 3-yr progression free survival and 5-yr progression free survival (concordance index 0.74 vs. 0.70, 0.77 vs. 0.71, P < 0.001). Finally the CAPRA-S score was the more ideal predictor concerned with adjuvant therapy than the CAPRA score through decision curve analysis. The CPARA-S score is a useful predictor for disease progression after radical prostatectomy.
Combined Modality Therapy ; Decision Making ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Period ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/analysis ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms/mortality/*pathology/therapy ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristics of patients who received primary androgen deprivation therapy (PADT) for prostate cancer and the clinical efficacy of this treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred forty patients treated by PADT were reviewed. These patients could not receive definitive therapy owing to old age, patient need, and medical comorbidity. The patients were divided into three groups according to the extent of prostate cancer: localized, locally advanced, and metastatic. Then, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression in these groups was analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 73.0 years, and the median pretreatment PSA level was 47.0 ng/mL. Of the patients, 91.7% were treated with combined androgen blockade, and 8.3% were treated with monotherapy. Clinical factors for PSA progression were a PSA nadir and a high clinical stage. Estimated PSA recurrence-free median survival time in each group was 57, 24, and 12 months, respectively. A PSA nadir of >0.2 ng/mL and metastatic stage were independent factors for expecting a poor response to PADT (hazard ratio 4.26, p<0.001; and 2.60, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer who did not receive definitive therapy had lower PSA progression rates than those at metastatic stage during PADT. Further, a PSA nadir of < or =0.2 ng/mL showed better progression-free survival. Therefore, PADT can be another therapeutic option in well-selected patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer and PSA change should be checked carefully.
Androgen Antagonists ; Comorbidity ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies*

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationships among the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, androgen receptor (AR), and clinicopathological factors in hormone-naive prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted with132 cases of hormone-naive prostate cancer treated by prostatectomy and prostate needle biopsy. An immunohistochemical study using antibodies against beta-catenin, matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), and the AR was performed. For the in vitro study, PC-3, LNCaP, 22Rv1, and DU145 cell lines were used. RESULTS: The clinical or pathological stage ware a localized cancer in 36 patients (27.3%), locally advanced cancer in 31 (23.5%), and metastatic cancer in 65 (49.2%). We detected increased beta-catenin, AR, and MMP-7 expression with a high Gleason grade, disease progression, and increasing serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (p<0.01). In Spearman's rank correlations, the expression of cytoplasmic beta-catenin, MMP-7, and the AR were found to be significantly positively correlated. In addition, the expression of beta-catenin, MMP-7, and the AR were significantly correlated with clinicopathological variables indicative of a poor prognosis. Forty-nine patients with primary androgen deprivation had short response durations from hormone therapy to PSA progression with elevated MMP-7 expression on the Kaplan-Meier curve (p=0.0036). CONCLUSIONS: These data show that an activated Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and AR expression in prostate cancer are correlated with metastasis and aggressiveness. In addition, the expression of MMP-7 protein, a target of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, is associated with PSA progression in prostate cancer patients undergoing primary hormone therapy.
Antibodies ; beta Catenin ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cell Line ; Cytoplasm ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Receptors, Androgen