Browsing by Author "Aćimović, Miodrag (6508256624)"

Background/Aim. Prostate delineation, pre-planning and catheter implantation procedures, in high-dose rate brachy-therapy (HDR-BT), are commonly based on the prostate manually segmented transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) images. The aim of this study was to quantitatively analyze the consistency of prostate capsule delineation, done by a single therapist, prior to each HDR-BT fraction and the changes in the shape of the prostate capsule during HDR-BT, using two dimensional (2D) TRUS axial image. Methods. A group of 16 patients were treated at the Medical System Belgrade Brachy-therapy Department with definitive HDR-BT. The total applied median dose of 52 Gy was divided into four individual fractions, each fraction being delivered 2-3 weeks apart. Real time prostate axial visualization and the manual segmentation prior to each fraction were performed using B-K Medical ultrasound. Quantitative analyses, analysis of an area and shape were applied on 2D-TRUS axial images of the prostate. Area analyses were used to calculate the average value of the cross-sectional area of the prostate image. The parameters of the prostate shape, the fractal dimension and the circularity ratio of the prostate capsule contour were estimated at the maximum axial cross section of the prostate image. Results. The sample group consisted of four phases, each phase being performed prior to the first, second, third and fourth HDR-BT fraction, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that dur-ing HDR-BT fractions there were no significant differences in the average value of area, as well as in the maximum shape of prostate capsule. Conclusions. Quantitative analysis of TRUS axial prostate segmented images shows a successful capsule delineation in the series of manually segmented TRUS images, and the prostate maximum shape remaining unchanged during HDR-BT fractions. © 2017, Institut za Vojnomedicinske Naucne Informacije/Documentaciju. All rights reserved.

Testis cancer (TC) is the most common malignancy of young men. Current evidence from studies, alongside genetics and hormonal status, suggests a significant role of toxic metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), in the origin and development of TC. Besides oxidative stress and endocrine disruption, interaction with bioelements is one of the critical mechanisms of Cd and Pb toxicity and malign transformation. This study aimed to investigate metal levels in blood, healthy, and tumor testis tissue and to reveal hormone, oxidative status, and bioelements levels in patients with TC. The study enrolled 52 patients with TC and 61 healthy volunteers. Toxic metals and bioelements levels were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) while electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) and spectrophotometry methods were used for hormone and oxidative parameters evaluation. Significantly higher blood Cd levels were depicted in TC cohort. Furthermore, blood Cd elevation was associated with a 1.98 higher probability of TC developing. However, a metal concentration between healthy and tumor testis tissue did not differ significantly. Lower levels of estradiol and testosterone, established in a cohort of TC patients, followed the significant role of hormones in TC development. At the same time, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) has been recognized as a parameter with very good accuracy as a potential diagnostic marker for TC. The study revealed different distribution patterns of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the three compartments of the patients, as well significant correlation between essential metals Cu/Zn and toxic metals Cd/Pb indicating metal-metal interactions as pivotal mechanisms of metals toxicity. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd

Testis cancer (TC) is the most common malignancy of young men. Current evidence from studies, alongside genetics and hormonal status, suggests a significant role of toxic metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), in the origin and development of TC. Besides oxidative stress and endocrine disruption, interaction with bioelements is one of the critical mechanisms of Cd and Pb toxicity and malign transformation. This study aimed to investigate metal levels in blood, healthy, and tumor testis tissue and to reveal hormone, oxidative status, and bioelements levels in patients with TC. The study enrolled 52 patients with TC and 61 healthy volunteers. Toxic metals and bioelements levels were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) while electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) and spectrophotometry methods were used for hormone and oxidative parameters evaluation. Significantly higher blood Cd levels were depicted in TC cohort. Furthermore, blood Cd elevation was associated with a 1.98 higher probability of TC developing. However, a metal concentration between healthy and tumor testis tissue did not differ significantly. Lower levels of estradiol and testosterone, established in a cohort of TC patients, followed the significant role of hormones in TC development. At the same time, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) has been recognized as a parameter with very good accuracy as a potential diagnostic marker for TC. The study revealed different distribution patterns of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the three compartments of the patients, as well significant correlation between essential metals Cu/Zn and toxic metals Cd/Pb indicating metal-metal interactions as pivotal mechanisms of metals toxicity. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd

Background: Penile cancer (PC) is a highly aggressive disease, with a significant tendency for lymphatic spreading and subsequent development of distant metastases. The mutilating nature of PC surgical treatment has profound implications on the patient’s body integrity and self-image, sexual life and intimacy, voiding and mental health. The aim of our study was to comprehensively evaluate PC patients’ post-treatment quality of life (QoL), sexual activity, self-esteem, fatigue and fear of disease recurrence. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinic of Urology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, and included 31 PC patients. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire. (3) Results: The average score on the Global health status scale was 67.2 out of 100 (ranging from 16.7 to 100), and the SD was 22.5. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that demographic characteristics, Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) anxiety and depression scores, total Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, Fear of cancer recurrence and Rosenberg scores and erectile function score explained a total of 78.2% of the variance in the global health status/QoL scale of PC patients. (4) Conclusions: Efforts should be made not only to increase the survival of PC patients after surgical treatment but also to enable the best possible level of QoL in the post-operative period. © 2023 by the authors.

Background: Penile cancer (PC) is a highly aggressive disease, with a significant tendency for lymphatic spreading and subsequent development of distant metastases. The mutilating nature of PC surgical treatment has profound implications on the patient’s body integrity and self-image, sexual life and intimacy, voiding and mental health. The aim of our study was to comprehensively evaluate PC patients’ post-treatment quality of life (QoL), sexual activity, self-esteem, fatigue and fear of disease recurrence. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinic of Urology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, and included 31 PC patients. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire. (3) Results: The average score on the Global health status scale was 67.2 out of 100 (ranging from 16.7 to 100), and the SD was 22.5. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that demographic characteristics, Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) anxiety and depression scores, total Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, Fear of cancer recurrence and Rosenberg scores and erectile function score explained a total of 78.2% of the variance in the global health status/QoL scale of PC patients. (4) Conclusions: Efforts should be made not only to increase the survival of PC patients after surgical treatment but also to enable the best possible level of QoL in the post-operative period. © 2023 by the authors.

Background/Aim. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a pathological process, which is one of the most common causes of so-called lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). LUTS affect many aspects of daily activities and almost all domains of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of operative treatment of BPH using standard clinical diagnostic procedures and effects on LUTS using the symptom-score validated to Serbian language as well as implications on HRQoL. Methods. Seventy-four patients underwent surgical treatment for BPH. The study protocol included objective and subjective parameters of the following sets of variables measured before and after the surgery: voiding and incontinence symptoms were measured using the International Continence Society male Short Form (ICS male SF) questionnaire, HRQoL was measured using the SF-36 questionnaire along with standard clinical measurement of residual urine and urine flow. Results. After the surgery, all patients had decrease of voiding scores (13.5 ± 3.3 before and 1.5 ± 1.4 after surgery) and incontinence symptoms (5.7 ± 3.9 before and 0.6 ± 0.8 after surgery) in comparison to period before operative treatment. Significant improvements in all dimensions of HRQoL were noticed, particularly in emotional health. Although mental and physical total scores were significantly better than prior to the surgery, the level of improvement of voiding and incontinence scores were significantly correlated only with the level of improvement of mental score. Conclusion. After BPH surgery, patients are likely to have normal voiding symptoms, barely some involuntary control over urination and overll better HRQoL, particularly in emotional domain. © 2019 Inst. Sci. inf., Univ. Defence in Belgrade. All rights reserved.