Serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) are commonly used for prostate cancer (PCa) detec... more Serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) are commonly used for prostate cancer (PCa) detection. However, their lack of specificity to distinguish benign prostate pathologies from PCa, or indolent from aggressive PCa have prompted the study of new non-invasive PCa biomarkers. Aberrant glycosylation is involved in neoplastic progression and specific changes in PSA glycosylation pattern, as the reduction in the percentage of α2,6-sialic acid (SA) are associated with PCa aggressiveness. In this study, we have characterised the main sialylated PSA glycoforms from blood serum of aggressive PCa patients and have compared with those of standard PSA from healthy individuals’ seminal plasma. PSA was immunoprecipitated and α2,6-SA were separated from α2,3-SA glycoforms using SNA affinity chromatography. PSA N-glycans were released, labelled and analysed by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography combined with exoglycosidase digestions. The results showed that blood serum PSA sialy...
We took 7 dogs to undergo thorough autotransplant of the ureter as an autologous nonvascularized ... more We took 7 dogs to undergo thorough autotransplant of the ureter as an autologous nonvascularized free graft, after having obtained good results with rats. The steps followed in these 7 dogs were the removal of a 10- to 12-cm segment of the ureter and the replantation of the same segment to the same animal. We must point out that both anastomoses were performed with interrupted sutures. Although some complications such as stenosis occurred, urographic studies showed that some animals kept their renal function for over 8 months after autotransplantation. Using contrast, we were able to observe the ureter. Similarly, we observed peristaltic waves on the ureters which were always dilated. Histologic studies showed preservation of the ureteral layers with hyperplasia of the ureteral mucosa, greater or lesser degree of submucosal fibrosis, and a variable degree of hyperplasia or muscular atrophy. Extensive areas of bone metaplasia were observed in some animals.
The current diagnosis of prostate cancer is based on randomized prostate biopsies to obtain histo... more The current diagnosis of prostate cancer is based on randomized prostate biopsies to obtain histological material for study, without introducing any imaging technique in the diagnostic algorithm. To conduct a literature review of the role of multiparametric MRI ( mMRI ) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, and present preliminary data from our series of 233 patients undergoing mRMN and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) prostate biopsy. We performed a PubMed search for those articles that refer to the usefulness of mMRI in the follow-up and monitoring of patients with persistently elevated PSA without previous biopsies, and those with a previous negative biopsy, and assess the power of mRMN for detecting PCa in both the peripheral and the central gland. We present the preliminary results of our series, consisting of 233 patients selected between 2008 and 2011 undergoing mMRI and TRUS-guided prostatic biopsy because of elevated PSA levels or suspicious digital rectal examination. We discu...
A simplified technique to repair seminal duct obstruction is described. Optical magnification, a ... more A simplified technique to repair seminal duct obstruction is described. Optical magnification, a channeled instrument as a suture guide that we have developed and fibrin glue are utilized. This technique is safe, reduces operating time and achieves similar results as with a surgical microscope. This technique facilitates repair of small caliber structures, reduces the operating time and does not require large microscopic systems.
We have developed a needle for direct percutaneous access in order to introduce the flexible wire... more We have developed a needle for direct percutaneous access in order to introduce the flexible wire with a single puncture, without creating two parallel tracks, thereby affording a lower morbidity than the conventional technique. The needle consists of an internal and an external device, with different lengths and diameters, that let us first create the access to the urinary tract with the inner device and then dilate with the outer device in order to introduce the metallic wire with a single puncture, sliding the outer over the inner device. We can achieve the same number of percutaneous accesses with less morbidity since less punctures are required to create the track. This is a useful needle for any type percutaneous access.
We discuss the cystic pathology of seminal vesicles, and its relation with ureteral ectopy, as we... more We discuss the cystic pathology of seminal vesicles, and its relation with ureteral ectopy, as well as the therapeutic options for both entities. We present our experience in the resolution of three typical cases.
The endorectal MR spectroscopic imaging (MRS) is a new imaging technique that allows a more accur... more The endorectal MR spectroscopic imaging (MRS) is a new imaging technique that allows a more accurate and reliable evaluation for the localization and staging of prostate cancer(PCa) than the sole morphological study offered by endorectal MR alone. The combination of endorectal MRI and MRS allows a simultaneous morphologic and metabolic study that improves the detection of PCa. Moreover, the technical improvements recently introduced in the spectroscopic study of the prostate have led to an increase of reliability in the detection of PCa. We present in this article the advantages this technique offers in the detection of PCa in patients at high risk, as well as in patients with progressive PSA rising and previous negative biopsies. It also seems to be useful in the study of biochemical recurrences of PSA in previously treated patients, and for the study of the central gland. We comment, as well, the chance to use this tool in the staging of PCa. Our group is actually working with MRS...
The management of prostate cancer represents a real clinical problem for its unknown natural hist... more The management of prostate cancer represents a real clinical problem for its unknown natural history, and unpredictable outcome and prognosis. The stage is the most important prognostic variable of any tumor. The use of nomograms, such as Partin's tables, supplies important information for the evaluation of the local stage. Nevertheless, these methods have low reliability because they do not use anatomical information of the gland. The development of MRI techniques incorporating high-resolution anatomical evaluation of the prostate in conjunction with metabolic information (MRI spectroscopy) offer the imaging technique of choice for the staging of prostate cancer in selected patients candidates to curative surgery. Prostate MRI offers the most reliable evaluation of local and regional staging. Anyway, many studies have described a wide variability in the reliability of prostate cancer staging by MRI, indicating that MRI is not a perfect imaging test because it cannot detect micr...
Conference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Conference, 2012
Serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) are commonly used for prostate cancer (PCa) detec... more Serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) are commonly used for prostate cancer (PCa) detection. However, their lack of specificity to distinguish benign prostate pathologies from PCa, or indolent from aggressive PCa have prompted the study of new non-invasive PCa biomarkers. Aberrant glycosylation is involved in neoplastic progression and specific changes in PSA glycosylation pattern, as the reduction in the percentage of α2,6-sialic acid (SA) are associated with PCa aggressiveness. In this study, we have characterised the main sialylated PSA glycoforms from blood serum of aggressive PCa patients and have compared with those of standard PSA from healthy individuals’ seminal plasma. PSA was immunoprecipitated and α2,6-SA were separated from α2,3-SA glycoforms using SNA affinity chromatography. PSA N-glycans were released, labelled and analysed by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography combined with exoglycosidase digestions. The results showed that blood serum PSA sialy...
We took 7 dogs to undergo thorough autotransplant of the ureter as an autologous nonvascularized ... more We took 7 dogs to undergo thorough autotransplant of the ureter as an autologous nonvascularized free graft, after having obtained good results with rats. The steps followed in these 7 dogs were the removal of a 10- to 12-cm segment of the ureter and the replantation of the same segment to the same animal. We must point out that both anastomoses were performed with interrupted sutures. Although some complications such as stenosis occurred, urographic studies showed that some animals kept their renal function for over 8 months after autotransplantation. Using contrast, we were able to observe the ureter. Similarly, we observed peristaltic waves on the ureters which were always dilated. Histologic studies showed preservation of the ureteral layers with hyperplasia of the ureteral mucosa, greater or lesser degree of submucosal fibrosis, and a variable degree of hyperplasia or muscular atrophy. Extensive areas of bone metaplasia were observed in some animals.
The current diagnosis of prostate cancer is based on randomized prostate biopsies to obtain histo... more The current diagnosis of prostate cancer is based on randomized prostate biopsies to obtain histological material for study, without introducing any imaging technique in the diagnostic algorithm. To conduct a literature review of the role of multiparametric MRI ( mMRI ) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, and present preliminary data from our series of 233 patients undergoing mRMN and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) prostate biopsy. We performed a PubMed search for those articles that refer to the usefulness of mMRI in the follow-up and monitoring of patients with persistently elevated PSA without previous biopsies, and those with a previous negative biopsy, and assess the power of mRMN for detecting PCa in both the peripheral and the central gland. We present the preliminary results of our series, consisting of 233 patients selected between 2008 and 2011 undergoing mMRI and TRUS-guided prostatic biopsy because of elevated PSA levels or suspicious digital rectal examination. We discu...
A simplified technique to repair seminal duct obstruction is described. Optical magnification, a ... more A simplified technique to repair seminal duct obstruction is described. Optical magnification, a channeled instrument as a suture guide that we have developed and fibrin glue are utilized. This technique is safe, reduces operating time and achieves similar results as with a surgical microscope. This technique facilitates repair of small caliber structures, reduces the operating time and does not require large microscopic systems.
We have developed a needle for direct percutaneous access in order to introduce the flexible wire... more We have developed a needle for direct percutaneous access in order to introduce the flexible wire with a single puncture, without creating two parallel tracks, thereby affording a lower morbidity than the conventional technique. The needle consists of an internal and an external device, with different lengths and diameters, that let us first create the access to the urinary tract with the inner device and then dilate with the outer device in order to introduce the metallic wire with a single puncture, sliding the outer over the inner device. We can achieve the same number of percutaneous accesses with less morbidity since less punctures are required to create the track. This is a useful needle for any type percutaneous access.
We discuss the cystic pathology of seminal vesicles, and its relation with ureteral ectopy, as we... more We discuss the cystic pathology of seminal vesicles, and its relation with ureteral ectopy, as well as the therapeutic options for both entities. We present our experience in the resolution of three typical cases.
The endorectal MR spectroscopic imaging (MRS) is a new imaging technique that allows a more accur... more The endorectal MR spectroscopic imaging (MRS) is a new imaging technique that allows a more accurate and reliable evaluation for the localization and staging of prostate cancer(PCa) than the sole morphological study offered by endorectal MR alone. The combination of endorectal MRI and MRS allows a simultaneous morphologic and metabolic study that improves the detection of PCa. Moreover, the technical improvements recently introduced in the spectroscopic study of the prostate have led to an increase of reliability in the detection of PCa. We present in this article the advantages this technique offers in the detection of PCa in patients at high risk, as well as in patients with progressive PSA rising and previous negative biopsies. It also seems to be useful in the study of biochemical recurrences of PSA in previously treated patients, and for the study of the central gland. We comment, as well, the chance to use this tool in the staging of PCa. Our group is actually working with MRS...
The management of prostate cancer represents a real clinical problem for its unknown natural hist... more The management of prostate cancer represents a real clinical problem for its unknown natural history, and unpredictable outcome and prognosis. The stage is the most important prognostic variable of any tumor. The use of nomograms, such as Partin's tables, supplies important information for the evaluation of the local stage. Nevertheless, these methods have low reliability because they do not use anatomical information of the gland. The development of MRI techniques incorporating high-resolution anatomical evaluation of the prostate in conjunction with metabolic information (MRI spectroscopy) offer the imaging technique of choice for the staging of prostate cancer in selected patients candidates to curative surgery. Prostate MRI offers the most reliable evaluation of local and regional staging. Anyway, many studies have described a wide variability in the reliability of prostate cancer staging by MRI, indicating that MRI is not a perfect imaging test because it cannot detect micr...
Conference proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Conference, 2012
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