Biomedical subjects

E Kocjancic

Publications and source records attributed to E Kocjancic.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Evaluation of minimally invasive analysis system for cough leak point pressure measurement.

PURPOSE: Leak point pressure (LPP) measurement has become standard in the diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence. Leak point pressure is determined by increasing abdominal pressure, which can be done with a Valsalva maneuver or coughing, that is Valsalva LPP and cough LPP (CLPP). It may be influenced by catheter size, bladder volume and interobserver variability. A new, computerized LPP measuring technique for routine use in daily urodynamic practice was tested at a female unit urodynamic practice to evaluate female urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 28 female patients with a mean age of 54.07 years (range 23 to 82) and urinary incontinence underwent a new, minimally invasive measurement of the cough leak point. Measurements are made with the patient standing and repeated 3 times per patient. Additionally, parameters of the corresponding leak were recorded simultaneously. All patients underwent new CLPP measurement and a standard, complete urodynamic investigation, including filling cystometry with abdominal LPP and urethral pressure profile at rest. Statistical evaluation was done by linear regression analysis and the correlation coefficients among CLPP, age, standard abdominal LPP and maximum urethral pressure, and among the 3 measurements for each patient. RESULTS: : The assignment of leakage to the pressure signal presented no problem. All CLPP data were reproducible in the 3 repeated measurements per patient. No correlation was seen between CLPP and abdominal LPP or the urethral pressure profile. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirm that the CLPP is a practicable, consistent and minimally invasive method in routine use. Clinical use is easy and reproducible, and only 1 catheter is required for measurement.

Abdomen↗

PubMed2004

Transvaginal sling using acellular human dermal allograft: safety and efficacy in 253 patients.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of using human dermal allograft material for transvaginal slings to treat female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a prospective series of 253 patients with SUI treated with a transvaginal sling using a Repliform cadaveric human dermal allograft (LifeCell Corp., The Woodlands, Texas) and a bone anchor fixation kit. Clinical history, urogynecologic examination and videourodynamics were performed preoperatively. Results were assessed by a third party through validated quality of life questionnaires (Incontinence Impact Questionnaire and Urogenital Distress Inventory), overall impression and percent of improvement as perceived by the patients, and pad use. Scheduled followup examination were performed to rule out erosion, infection, obstruction, pain or recurrent incontinence. RESULTS: Complete followup was available on 234 of 253 patients. Average followup was 18 months. Of the patients 78% were cured or improved according to the questionnaires. The average improvement was 80%. At 18 months of followup incontinence average distress and scores decreased 10 and 7 points, respectively. Complications were de novo urgency in 5% of cases, recurrent SUI in 15% with no cases of persistent SUI, retention in 2% and slow vaginal wall healing in 1.7%. Of 156 patients 51 (22%) had persistent urgency. There were no cases of vaginal or urethral erosion, osteitis pubis or osteomyelitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that use of human dermal allograft for transvaginal slings is associated with low complication rates and favorable outcomes at an average of 18 months of followup.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

[Does PSA density of the transition zone represent a useful parameter in the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma?].

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) has unequivocally proved its clinical usefulness ad a serum marker for prostate cancer. In order to enhance the specificity of serum PSA, several diagnostic parameters have been employed including PSA density of transition zone (TZ). The authors report their experience on the efficacy of PSA density TZ with level of PSA < 4 ng/ml, between 4-10 ng/ml, > 10 ng/ml, in the diagnostic of prostate cancer. The PSA density of TZ resulted uscless for PSA levels < 4 ng/ml, but improved the diagnostic specificity associated to PSA serum in the PSA levels ranging between 4-10 ng/ml and > 10 ng/ml.

Humans↗

PubMed2000

[Voiding ultrasonographic cystourethrography].

Transvaginal ultrasonography examines the bladder base, the urethral anatomy and the relationship between these structures. This procedure particularly evaluates the striated sphincter and periutrehral structures, during micturition attention is focused on elasticity of urethral walls, deviation of urethral axis, the presence of fibrotic rings, fibrosis extending to the whole urethra and on urethral diverticuli. At che present, the literature available does not provide certain diagnostical criteria for the identification of female vaiding disorders. The high number of proposed therapeutical solutions indicate that the solution to this problem is yet to be found.

Female↗

PubMed1997

[Clinical response and survival in metastatic renal carcinoma during subcutaneous administration of interleukin-2 alone. Subcutaneous Il-2 in renal carcinoma].

Several clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy with Il-2 alone in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In an attempt to better define the clinical parameters which may predict the efficacy of treatment, the present study shows the results obtained with subcutaneous Il-2 alone in 91 evaluable metastatic RCC patients. IL-2 was injected subcutaneously at 3 million IU twice/day for 5 days/week for 6 weeks, corresponding to one immunotherapeutic cycle. In nonprogressing patients, a second cycle was given after 28-day rest period. A complete response (CR) was achieved in 2/91 patients. Moreover, 19/91 patients had a partial response (PR). Therefore, objective response (OR) rate was 21/91 (23%) patients. Stable disease (SD) was achieved in 41 patients, while the remaining 29 patients had a progressive disease (PD). OR rate was significantly higher in patients with a long disease-free survival than in patients with synchronous metastases, in nephrectomized patients than in the non-nephrectomized ones, and in patients with high than in those with low PS. The survival obtained in patients with CR or PA was significantly longer with respect to that found in patients with SD or PD. The toxicity was substantially low in all patients. This study confirms that the subcutaneous immunotherapy with IL-2 alone is an effective and well tolerated therapy of metastatic RCC.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

[Preoperative subcutaneous immunotherapy with interleukin-2 in renal carcinoma with synchronous metastasis: randomized clinico-biological study. Preoperative use of Il-2 in renal carcinoma].

Despite the efficacy of IL-2 in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the prognosis of patients with synchronous metastases still remains poor. Nephrectomy itself, as well as other surgical operations, may further suppress the antitumor immune response. Previous studies suggested that the preoperative injection of IL-2 may neutralize surgery-induced lymphocytopenia in advanced colon cancer. On this basis, a pilot randomized study was performed in an attempt to evaluate the effects of a preoperative administration of IL-2 on postoperative lymphocyte numbers and on the survival in advanced RVV patients with more than 3 synchronous metastases. The study included 20 consecutive patients, who were randomized to receive nephrectomy alone or nephrectomy plus preoperative subcutaneous immunotherapy with IL-2 (18 million IU/day for 3 days). Then, all patients underwent postoperative immunotherapy with IL-2 (6 million IU/day for 5 days/week for 6 weeks). Surgery-induced lymphocytopenia was completely abolished by IL-2 preoperative injection. The frequency of postoperative complications was significantly higher in controls than in patients preoperatively treated with IL-2. On the contrary, significant differences between control and patients preoperatively treated with IL-2 were observed neither in the clinical response to IL-2 immunotherapy, nor in the percent of 1-year survival. The results of this preliminary pilot study would suggest that IL-2 preoperative immunotherapy may neutralize surgery-induced lymphocytopenia and reduce the postoperative complications in RCC patients with synchronous metastases, without, however, influencing their prognosis in terms of survival time.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[Orthotopic ileal neobladders in men and women: techniques and comparison].

PURPOSE: evaluation of results and complications of ileal orthotopic neobladders in men and women with transitional cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: between 12-89 and 12-95 we performed 146 radical cystectomy for bladder neoplasm, in 32 patients we can perform ileal orthotopic neobladder, 29 were male and 3 were female. Oncologic indications to this kind of operation were: clinical stage T2, T3a, T3b, T1G3 multicentric and or recurrence, absence of metastasis absence of nodal metastasis, negativity of urethral biopsy. General contraindications were urethral stenosis and incontinence. Oncological contraindications, in woman, were bladder neck neoplasm or urethral neoplasm. In 4 patients we use Camey II technique, in 19 pts we performed the paduan ileal neobladder, in 9 pts we use Hautmann technique. 7 patients performed neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 4 circles of MVAC, 4 pts underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, and 2 pts salvage chemotherapy. In woman we take care during cystectomy to dissect cardinal ligament very close to cervix uteri, to resect the uterosacral ligament far to the sacrum. We did not dissect under the ureter and we cut the urethra 0.5-1 cm far from the bladder neck. RESULTS: follow up was between 6 and 66 months. 24 patients are now alive and disease free, 2 patients are alive with disease progression, 1 have a pelvic recurrence and 1 have pulmonary recurrence. 4 pts died for disease progression and 2 for non oncological cause, quality of life was considered as regard to continence and sexual activity. 1 pts was completely incontinent and 1 pts has nocturnal incontinence with a daily micturation every 1 hour. We can evaluate only 18 patients for sexual activity and 4 reported normal erection. COMPLICATIONS: in three cases we had to reoperate for early complications due to mechanical bowel obstruction, ileocutaneous fistula and wound dehiscence. In three cases we had the formation of stones, in two patients ureteroileal stenosis, in two cases urethro-ileal stenosis and 1 reflux from the neobladder. Orthotopic ileal neobladder allows a very good quality of life and is the first choice derivation after radical cystectomy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMed1995

[Terazosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy].

Benign prostatic hypertrophy provokes clinical manifestations correlated on one hand to a static obstructive component, due to the increase in glandular size, and on the other hand to a dynamic component, controlled by the alpha adrenergic autonomic system which gives the smooth muscular tonus of the prostatic adenoma. The alpha adrenergic receptor block reduces the dynamic component, improves the clinical and urodynamic parameters determined by the infra-bladder obstruction in patients with BPH. The selective alpha 1, long acting antagonists especially, such as terazosin, offer a safe and efficient therapy for selected patients suffering from BPH. They also have the indisputable benefit of mono-administration. In this study the basic concepts of BPH treatment with terazosin are discussed.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical efficacy of Apomorphine SL in erectile dysfunction of diabetic men.

Although subgroup analyses from large randomised premarketing studies have shown that Apomorphine SL enhances the percentage of erections firm enough for sexual intercourse in diabetic men, the clinical role of the drug in this patient population remains to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of Apomorphine SL in diabetic males with erectile dysfunction (ED) and to identify factors predicting those who may benefit from the treatment. A total of 130 diabetic patients were randomised to receive either four tablets of 3 mg Apomorphine or a matching placebo. Assessments of efficacy comprised the erectile function (EF) domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the one-item global efficacy question (GEQ). Patients with both a positive response to the GEQ and an improvement of at least 5 points in the EF domain of the IIEF were considered responders and subanalysed by several parameters indicative of the severity of both ED and diabetes. Response rate was 17% after placebo and 22% after Apomorphine SL. The EF domain of the IIEF and both questions 3 and 4 scores did not significantly improve in either of the two arms over the baseline. A younger age and a lower Hb1Ac were significantly linked to the status of responder in the Apomorphine arm. Apomorphine SL failed to show a statistically significant benefit over a placebo, but 22% of patients had a clinically significant erectile response. These figures seem to suggest that the drug has a limited use for ED diabetic patients.

Apomorphine↗