Biocompatible gold nanoparticles designed to absorb light at wave-lengths of high tissue transparency have been of particular interest for biomedical applications. The ability of such nanoparticles ...to convert absorbed near-infrared light to heat and induce highly localized hyperthermia has been shown to be highly effective for photothermal cancer therapy, resulting in cell death and tumor remission in a multitude of preclinical animal models. Here we report the initial results of a clinical trial in which laser-excited gold-silica nanoshells (GSNs) were used in combination with magnetic resonance–ultrasound fusion imaging to focally ablate low-intermediate-grade tumors within the prostate. The overall goal is to provide highly localized regional control of prostate cancer that also results in greatly reduced patient morbidity and improved functional outcomes. This pilot device study reports feasibility and safety data from 16 cases of patients diagnosed with low- or intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer. After GSN infusion and high-precision laser ablation, patients underwent multiparametric MRI of the prostate at 48 to 72 h, followed by postprocedure mpMRI/ultrasound targeted fusion biopsies at 3 and 12 mo, as well as a standard 12-core systematic biopsy at 12 mo. GSN-mediated focal laser ablation was successfully achieved in 94% (15/16) of patients, with no significant difference in International Prostate Symptom Score or Sexual Health Inventory for Men observed after treatment. This treatment protocol appears to be feasible and safe in men with low- or intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer without serious complications or deleterious changes in genitourinary function.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of sacroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic and malignant sacral fractures by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature.
PubMed, ...Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases were searched from their inception until February 2018 for articles describing sacroplasty. Inclusion criteria were as follows: studies reporting > 5 patients, and pain assessment before and after the procedure recorded with visual analog scale (VAS). Demographic data, procedural details, technical success rates, VAS scores before and after the procedure, and procedural complications were recorded. A random-effects meta-analyses of the VAS pain score before the procedure, at 24-48 hours, at 6 months, and at 12 months were calculated.
Nineteen studies (18 case series and 1 cohort study) were identified consisting of 861 total patients (682 women and 167 men; mean age 73.89 ± 9.73 years). Patients underwent sacroplasty for the following indications: sacral insufficiency fractures secondary to osteoporosis (n = 664), malignancy (n = 167), and nonspecified sacral insufficiency fractures (n = 30). Technical and clinical successes were achieved in 98.9% (852/861) and 95.7% (623/651) of patients undergoing sacroplasty, respectively. The pooled major complication rate was 0.3%, with 3 patients requiring surgical decompression for cement leakage. Random-effects meta-analyses demonstrated statistically significant differences in the VAS pain level at preprocedure, 24-48 hours, 6 months, and 12 months, with cumulative pain scores of 8.32 ± 0.01, 3.55 ± 0.01, 1.48 ± 0.01, and 0.923 ± 0.01, respectively.
Sacroplasty appears safe and effective for pain relief in patients with osteoporotic or malignant sacral fractures, with statistically significant sustained improvement in VAS pain scores up to 12 months.
Purpose
To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of
n
-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for portal vein embolization (PVE) when used to induce contralateral future liver remnant (FLR) hypertrophy in ...patients undergoing planned hepatic resection for hepatic malignancy.
Materials and Methods
The PubMed database (including articles indexed by MEDLINE) was searched for articles published from 1970 to 2018 describing patients treated with PVE utilizing NBCA to induce hypertrophy of the FLR prior to contralateral hepatic lobe resection. Demographic data, embolization technique, complications of embolization, resultant FLR hypertrophy, and surgical outcomes were obtained when available. A meta-analysis was performed to determine the cumulative relative hypertrophy rate of the FLR following PVE with NBCA.
Results
The literature search yielded 18 relevant articles. Six hundred and seven patients (383 men, 220 women; mean age 60.7 years) with procedures describing PVE utilizing NBCA were reviewed. The most common underlying hepatic malignancies were colorectal metastases (
n
= 348), followed by cholangiocarcinomas (
n
= 92), and hepatocellular carcinomas (
n
= 89). Technical success was reportedly achieved in 603/607 patients, for a success rate of 99.3%. Fixed effects meta-analysis of the relative hypertrophy rate of the FLR among studies resulted in an aggregate rate of 49.4 ± 1.3%. Of the patients who underwent attempted PVE, 461/607 (75.9%) eventually underwent surgical resection. Major complications following PVE occurred in 19 patients (3.13%), while minor complications following PVE occurred in 38 patients (6.26%).
Conclusions
PVE utilizing NBCA to induce hypertrophy of the FLR prior to contralateral lobe resection in the setting of hepatic malignancy is safe and effective.
Level of Evidence
Level IIa—Systematic review of cohort studies.
To find an association between genomic features of connective tissue and pejorative clinical outcomes on radical prostatectomy specimens. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who ...underwent radical prostatectomy and underwent a Decipher transcriptomic test for localized prostate cancer in our institution (
= 695). The expression results of selected connective tissue genes were analyzed after multiple
tests, revealing significant differences in the transcriptomic expression (over- or under-expression). We investigated the association between transcript results and clinical features such as extra-capsular extension (ECE), clinically significant cancer, lymph node (LN) invasion and early biochemical recurrence (eBCR), defined as earlier than 3 years after surgery). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used to evaluate the prognostic role of genes on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Out of 528 patients, we found that 189 had ECE and 27 had LN invasion. The Decipher score was higher in patients with ECE, LN invasion, and eBCR. Our gene selection microarray analysis showed an overexpression in both ECE and LN invasion, and in clinically significant cancer for
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
, and underexpression in
and
. In the TCGA population, overexpression of these genes was correlated with worse PFS. Significant co-occurrence of these genes was observed. When presenting overexpression of our gene selection, the 5-year PFS rate was 53% vs. 68% (
= 0.0315). Transcriptomic overexpression of connective tissue genes correlated to worse clinical features, such as ECE, clinically significant cancer and BCR, identifying the potential prognostic value of the gene signature of the connective tissue in prostate cancer. TCGAp cohort analysis showed a worse PFS in case of overexpression of the connective tissue genes.
Bladder leiomyomas are rare, benign tumors with a variety of clinical presentations. Surgical approach is typically based on symptomatology and leiomyoma location. Literature on robotic excision is ...limited. We present our case of a unique transvesical approach. The patient had rapid convalescence with no complications, suggesting robotic transvesical excision is a safe, effective treatment for bladder leiomyoma for suitable candidates.
Intracavernosal injections (ICI) are a well-established treatment option for men with erectile dysfunction (ED); however, the anticipation of pain with injection remains a significant barrier to the ...use of ICI.
To evaluate the patient-anticipated degree of pain versus the experienced degree of pain pre- and post-ICI in men undergoing their first injection with an erectile agent.
We studied 51 patients who underwent their first ICI in our men's health clinic. Anticipated needle-associated pain was judged with a pre-injection score, and pain experienced during the injection was judged with a post-injection score. All patients graded their pre- and post-ICI pain using a standard 10-point scale (0-10).
Pre- and post-ICI pain was defined with the visual analogue scale (0-10) in men undergoing their first penile injection.
Medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs) of the patients' age 65 years (54.5-68.0), pre-injection pain 5 (4-7), and post-injection pain 1 (1-2) were recorded. Most men in the study had erectile dysfunction (68.6%) and/or Peyronie's Disease (64.7%). The average pre-injection prediction pain score was 5.45 ± 2.15; the average post-injection perceived pain score was 1.20 ± 0.73. Thus, there was an average discrepancy of over 4 points in predicted pain vs perceived pain. A paired t-test was performed which showed a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-injection scores (P < .05). A Wilcoxson Signed Rank Test showed statistical significance in the difference between pre- and post-injection pain scores (P < .05).
ICI is a safe, effective treatment for patients with ED and is associated with significantly less pain than is anticipated by patients.
This is the first report to describe the discrepancy between pre-ICI anticipated pain and post-ICI experienced pain. Limitations include an overall small sample size.
Patients experience significantly less pain with ICI than they anticipate having. This represents an important factor to consider when counseling patients about available ED treatments. Baird B, Wajswol E, Ericson C et al. Pre- and Post-Injection Needle Pain in Patients Undergoing First Intracavernosal Injection. J Sex Med 2022;19:590-593.
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