Editor's Comment

The November-December 2012 issue and the TOP 5 in 2012

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

The November-December 2012 issue of the International Braz J Urol presents original contributions from many different countries such as Brazil, France, Italy, Taiwan, Egypt, Puerto Rico, Republic of Korea, China, Turkey and USA, and as usual the editor's comment highlights some papers.

Doctor Favorito and collegues from Urogenital Research Unit – State Universtiy from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, performed on page 802 a interesting basic research about morphologic alterations in the foreskin of patients with phimosis, submitted to topic treatment with betamethasone in association with hyaluronidase. The success rate of the phimosis topic treatment with coerticosteroids is significant, with satisfactory results (67%–95%). In this study the topical treatment of phimosis with betamethasone 0.2% + hyaluronidase was effective with a success rate of 85%. Patients in whon topical steroid treatment failed had fewer elastic fibers, which is a characteristic of the healing processes, as well as an amplification of the collagen type III, a recently found collagen that is associated with muscular retraction. The betamethasone + hyaluronidase cream leads to significant histological alterations in the prepuce.

Dr. Gonzaga Silva and collegues from Ceara Cancer Hospital of Ceara Federal University, Brazil, performed on page 750 a elegant study about the testicular-sparing surgery X classic emasculation in patients with penile cancer. The authors studied 172 patients with Penile cancer and 16 (9%) underwent emasculation. The authors conclude that the finding of minimal testicle infiltration in only one of 32 testicles, even in the presence of clinically apparent scrotal invasion, suggests that emasculation without bilateral orchiectomy is a safe treatment option for patients with locally advanced PC.

Doctor Esmat and collegues from Ain Shams University, Egypt, performed on page 779 a study about the Yang-Monti principle. The authors studied Sixteen patients underwent ileal ureter replacement using the Yang-Monti principle to overcome long ureteric defects. They concluded that the reconfigured ileal segment for ureteric substitution is a safe technique with an excellent outcome. It uses short ileal segments for reconstruction of an ileal tube of adequate length and optimal caliber that permits easy antireflux implantation into the bladder so it not associated with excess mucus production or metabolic abnormalities and offers a durable preservation of renal function without urinary obstruction.

Doctor Kim and collegues from the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea performed on page 833 an interesting basic research about the Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) Associated to Matrixen on the erectile function after bilateral cavernous nerve injury. They studied 35 rats and induced bilateral cavernous nerve injury. The authors concluded that the erectile function was more preserved in MSCs/Matrixen group compared with the administration of MSCs alone in the rats with bilateral cavernous nerve crushing injury. Therefore, they consider that the use of transplant cell carrier such as Matrixen may help the implantation of MSCs and improve the therapeutic effect of MSCs.

Doctor Ornellas and collegues from the Brazilian National Cancer Institute from Brazil in collaboration with the Mário Kröeff Hospital from Brazil and with the University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy performed on page 739 an interesting basic research about the cancer markers in penile cancer. They analyzed the plasma of 36 healthy subjects and 25 patients with penile carcinoma who underwent surgical treatment. The plasma was collected and analyzed by the ClinProt/MALDI/ToF technique. Then the peptides were identified from the C8 MB eluted fraction of patients' and control subjects' plasma by LIFT MS/MS. They authors showed that as the disease progresses, the fragments C3 and C4 A/B are less expressed in comparison with healthy subjects. These results may be useful as prognostic tools.

Editorial TOP 5 in 2012

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

In 2012 the International Brazilian Journal of Urology editorial board would like to highlights some papers of great interest.

Oncology

Doctor Botrel and collegues (¹), performed a interesting meta-analysis about the Immunotherapy with Sipuleucel-T (APC8015) in patients with metastatic castration-refractory prostate cancer. The authors studied several databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS and CENTRAL. The endpoints were overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP) and side effects. The final analysis included 3 trials comprising 737 patients. The authors concluded that Sipuleucel-T prolongs overall survival in patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castration-refractory prostate cancer.

Doctor Lang and Collegues (²) performed a interesting study about the small renal masses in CTs. They performed a retrospective search for incidentally discovered small renal masses, less then 1 cm in size, was carried out in the files of 6 major US medical centers. 4822 such lesions had been reported over a 12 year period. The authors concluded that is questionable whether the small number of malignant neoplasms (0.4%), inflammatory lesions (5%) and renal medullary necrosis (6%) justify routine follow-up CTs and exposure to radiation. The delay in intervention in neoplastic lesions probably didn't influence tumor-free survival potential and clinical symptoms would soon have revealed inflammatory conditions. With exception of ambivalent lesions, clinical surveillance appears adequate.

Gender reassignment surgery

Doctor Rossi-Neto and collegues (³) performed a report on surgical outcomes from 332 patients who underwent male to female gender reassignment surgery (GRS). The results showed a great number of adverse events, although functionality preserved. Comparision of the outcomes with recent publications additionally showed that treatment options provide satisfying results. Moreover, outcomes reaffirm penile inversion vaginoplasty in combination with glans-derived sensate clitoroplasty as a safe technique. Nevertheless, discussing and improving surgical techniques in order to reduce complications and their influence on patient's quality of life is still strongly necessary and theme of our future reports.

Male Health

Doctors Da Ros and Averbeck (⁴), a prospective study about the stimulating effect of clomiphene citrate (CC) in the endogenous testosterone production pathway and to address the applicability of this medication as a therapeutic option for symptomatic hypogonadism. They studied 125 patients with hypogonadism and low libido and concluded that the CC was effective in stimulating the endogenous production of testosterone. A lower level of total cholesterol was verified after three months of treatment. This medication should be considered as a therapeutic option for some patients with symptomatic male testosterone deficiency.

Endourology/Laparoscopy

Doctor Tsivian and Collegues (⁵) performed a interesting study about the Simplified hemostatic technique during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. They studied 34 patients with Tumor size ranged from 17-85 mm. Median warm ischemia time was 23 min (range 12-45) and estimated blood loss 55 mL (30-1000). There were no intraoperative complications or conversions to open surgery. No urine leaks or postoperative bleedings were observed. They concluded that this simplified technique appears reliable and quick, and therefore may be attractive for many urologic surgeons. Furthermore, the avoidance of routine use of additional hemostatic maneuvers may provide an economical advantage to this approach with no compromise of the surgical outcome.

References

• ¹
  Botrel TE, Clark O, Pompeo AC, Bretas FF, Sadi MV, Ferreira U, Dos Reis RB. Immunotherapy with Sipuleucel-T (APC8015) in patients with metastatic castration-refractory prostate cancer (mCRPC): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Braz J Urol. 2012; 38: 1-11.
• ²
  Lang EK, Hanano A, Rudman E, Thomas R, Myers L, Nguyen Q, et al. The fate of small renal masses, less then 1 cm size: outcome study. Int Braz J Urol. 2012; 38: 40-8; discussion 48.
• ³
  Rossi Neto R, Hintz F, Krege S, Rubben H, Vom Dorp F. Gender reassignment surgery--a 13 year review of surgical outcomes. Int Braz J Urol. 2012; 38: 97-107.
• ⁴
  Da Ros CT, Averbeck MA. Twenty-five milligrams of clomiphene citrate presents positive effect on treatment of male testosterone deficiency - a prospective study. Int Braz J Urol. 2012; 38: 512-8.
• ⁵
  Tsivian A, Tsivian M, Benjamin S, Sidi AA. Simplified hemostatic technique during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Int Braz J Urol. 2012; 38: 84-8.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Nov-Dec 2012