No 3 (2010)

To characterize endothelial dysfunction in operated nephrolithiasis patients, we studied NO, VEGF, ET-1, IL-6 concentration in the blood serum and NO in the urine of nephrolithiasis patients divided into three groups by the type of surgical treatment before operation, 7-10 days and 1 month after it. We used beta-2 microglobulin as an indicator of tubular dysfunction. We found a significant rise of a concentration of the endothelial dysfunction markers ET-1, IL-6 and VEGF in the blood serum (p < 0.05), showing endothelial dysfunction in nephrolithiasis patients, especially in early postoperative period after multiple exposure to short-wave lithotripsy. One month after open surgery or lithotripsy a complete recovery of endothelial function was not recorded.

Side effects of radiopharmaceuticals (RP) used in urological clinics, their incidence rate and cost are analysed basing on the cost in inpatient RP application in patients with different forms of pyelonephritis. RP cost in such cases reaches up to 1/4 of the money spent on medication. Ways of optimal cost-effect RP use are proposed.

Urgent surgical treatment was conducted in 3 patients admitted to hospital with neocystic rupture which occurred 6, 10 and 22 months after removal of the bladder with orthotopic cystoplasty. Two patients have undergone laparotomy, neocystic defect repair and drainage. In the third patient mobilization of the reservoir was accompanied with accidental cut of the ureters. Relaparotomy was made with bilateral ureterocutaneostomy. Intestinal plastic reconstruction of both ureters followed after stabilization of the patients' condition. Thus, all the patients with ileoneocystis rupture were successfully rehabilitated.

Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PN) was used as monotherapy in modification with one additional nephroscopic approach in surgical treatment of 57 patients suffering from stag-horn nephroliths with complicated stereometric configuration. According to classification of stag-horn concrements, C3 and C4 groups comprised 36(63.1%) and 21(36.9%) patients, respectively. The greater part of the stone was removed through a standard percutaneous approach regarding the angle of a rigid nephroscope, the other part of the concrement was evacuated through an additional transcutaneous approach for a small-diameter nephroscope. A mean duration of the operation was 60-150 min. The internal stent-catheter was not installed. Residual concrements were detected in 2(5.6%) and 4(19%) cases, in C3 and C4, respectively. The presence of residual fragments is explained by complicated stereometric configuration, high density of the concrements, technical difficulties in surgical intervention. As in such cases residual fragments were clinically significant, they were destroyed ub fragments and eliminated according to the "second look" technique in early postoperative period (day 3-4) through nephrostomic fistulas. All the patients were discharged from the hospital in satisfactory condition on postoperative day 5-9. This modification has advantages: one-stage removal of the stone, low invasiveness and traumatism.

Postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RLND) was performed in 70 testicular non-seminoma patients with elevated serum tumor markers (age median 27.0±8.1 years) from 1983 to 2008. N1, N2, N3, Nx were diagnosed in 4 (5.7%), 10 (14.3%), 35 (50.0%), 21 (30.0%) patients. Distant metastases were present in 23 (32.9%) cases. The level of the initial tumor markers was elevated in all the patients: S1- 169(46.0%), S2 - 108(29.4%), S3 - 51(13.9%), Sx - 39(10.6%). According to the IGCCCG prognostic model, 11 (15.7%) patients were classified as good, 19 (27.1%) - as moderate, 16 (22.9%) - as poor prognostic groups. The prognostic group was not identified in 24 (34.3%) cases which started treatment in other hospitals. All the patients received induction cisplatin-based chemotherapy following orchidectomy (first-line - 24(34.3%), second-line - 46(65.7%) which resulted in tumor shrinkage < 50% in 7 (10.0%), 51-90% in 23 (32.9%), > 90% - in 2 (2.9%) cases. The response was not properly assessed in 38 (54.3%) cases. CT scan revealed residual retroperitoneal masses after chemotherapy in all the patients: < 2 cm - 5 (7.1%), 2-5 cm - 25 (35.7%), > 5 cm - 40 (57.1%). The level of the tumor markers remained positive in all the patients. Further chemotherapy was not perspective in all 70 patients who further underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RLND). Radical RLND was performed in 59 (84.3%) patients. Postoperative chemotherapy was given to 27 (38.6%) cases. Median follow-up was 20.8 (3-137) months. Complications developed in 12.9% (9/70) patients. Mortality was 1.4% (1/70). Histology revealed necrosis in 20 (28.6%), teratoma - in 26 (37.1%), cancer - in 24 (34.3%) specimens. Prognostic factors for cancer in retroperitoneal pathology were the following: S > S1 (p = 0.013), intermediate or poor prognosis group IGCCCG (p = 0.014), absence of embryonal carcinoma (p = 0.003), the presence of choriocarcinoma in the testicular tumor (p = 0.028), second-line chemotherapy (p = 0.001), residualmass > 2 cm (p = 0.006). Five-year overall, specific and progression-free survival of 70 patients was 41.0%, 42.4% and 31.8%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed an adverse impact on progressive-free survival of category S > S1 (p = 0.015), intermediate or poor prognostic group IGCCCG (p = 0.01), the presence of embryonal carcinoma (p = 0.020) and the absence of choriocarcinoma in the testicular tumor (p = 0.029), tumor shrinkage < 50% (p < 0.0001), incomplete RLND (p = 0.012), an incomplete effect of the combined treatment (p < 0.0001), cancer in the residual mass (p < 0.0001). The multivariate analysis proved predictive value of an incomplete effect of the combined treatment (p < 0.0001). Thus, selected testicular non-seminoma patients with elevated serum tumor markers are curable with surgery. The best candidates for RLND in this group are patients without a tumor markers level increase during chemotherapy, with S1 category, good IGCCCG prognosis, tumor shrinkage > 50% and potentially respectable residual disease.

Ejaculatory disorders are one of the most frequent sexual dysfunction. To study this problem in different climatic regions, we made a population-based trial with participation of 543 Russian men (149 from the south of Russia, 394 from Siberia). Correlation of ejaculatory disorders with IELT duration, a testosterone level, comorbid chronic prostatitis was estimated. We found that 59.2% of young men had normal ejaculation but only 20% of men over 50 years of age. In the latter group of patients delayed ejaculation predominated. 43.6% of the southerners and 33.5% of the Siberians had premature ejaculation, and 6.1 and 16.9% - delayed ejaculation, respectively; 26.7 and 31.2% were hypogonadal, respectively. Ejaculation was normal in 74.6% men with a normal testosterone level. Hypogonadal patients had premature ejaculation in 48.2% cases, delayed ejaculation in 28.3%. Of the total 543 men, 67.2% had chronic prostatitis. Only 46% of patients with chronic prostatitis had normal ejaculation, 43.3% had premature ejaculation and 10.7% had delayed ejaculation. Thus, in cold climate delayed ejaculation occurs more often, in the South premature ejaculation predominates. A low testosterone level as well as chronic prostatitis resulted in ejaculatory disorders. There are significant differences in ejaculation between young and old men, whose living in the South and Siberia, eugonadal and hypogonadal. Therefore, when characterizing a copulative act as "normal" it is necessary to take into account age, comorbidity, region of living and other factors.

The examination of 72 males with somatotropinoma has found that 65% of such patients have hypogonadism which is essential in pathogenesis of sexual dysfunction and spermatogenetic disorders. However, hypogonadism in males with somatotropinoma does not provoke sexual dysfunction in most the cases. High production of somatotropic hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 in somatotropinoma leads to prostatic hyperplasia which is not accompanied with a rise of a PSA level and symptoms of infravesical obstruction.