Is the ultrasound-estimated bladder weight a reliable method for evaluating bladder outlet obstruction?

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation between ultrasound-estimated bladder weight (UEBW) in patients with different degrees of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO).METHODSWe evaluated 50 consecutive non-neurogenic male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) referred to urodynamic study (UDS). All patients self-answered the International Prostate Score Symptoms (IPSS) questionnaire. After the UDS, the bladder was filled with 150 mL to determine UEBW.Patients with a bladder capacity under 150 mL, a previous history of prostate surgery or pelvic irradiation, an IPSS score <8, a bladder stone or urinary tract infection were excluded.After a pressure-flow study, the Schafer linear passive urethral resistance relation nomogram was plotted to determine the grade of obstruction: Grades I-II/VI were defined as mild obstruction, Grades III-IV/VI as moderate obstruction, and Grades V-VI/VI as severe obstruction.RESULTSThe UEBW was 51.7 +/- 26.9, 54.1 +/- 30.0 and 54.8 +/- 28.2 in patients with mild, moderate and severe BOO, respectively (P = 0.130). The UEBW allowed us to define four groups: (i) UEBW < 35 g; (ii) 35 g <= UEBW < 50 g; (iii) 50 g <= UEBW < 70 g; and (4) UEBW >= 70 g.We did not find any differences in age, prostate weight, IPSS, PVR, cystometric bladder capacity, presence of detrusor overactive and degree of obstruction in the aforementioned groups.CONCLUSIONDespite the fact that some studies have emphasized the value of UEBW as an efficient non-invasive method for evaluating lower urinary tract obstruction, our study suggests that UEBW does not present any individual correlation with LUTS or objective measurements of BOO.

Occurrence of infection by Platynosomum illiciens (Braun, 1901) in captive neotropical primates

Platynosomum illiciens (Trematoda, Plagiorchida) is a trematode parasite reported in felids and falconiforms. It was identified in the gall bladder of eight captive neotropical necropsied primates from the National Primate Center (CENP), Ananindeua, State of Para, Brazil. This is the first description of Platynosomum illiciens as a parasite of primates.

Urinary bladder washings in autopsies. A cytopathologic study of 63 cases

The sediment from urinary bladder washings from 63 consecutive autopsies was cytologically studied in order to achieve a better understanding of the changes in urothelial cells collected from hospital populations. The observed alterations were correlated with alterations in the urinary system and with therapy preceding death. The specimens obtained were of good quality. In 39.7% of the cases, the sediment contained giant superficial multinucleated cells. Three of nine cases previously subjected to radiation or chemotherapy showed atypical urothelial cells. In three cases with immunosuppression, there was cytologic evidence of subclinical infection by polyomavirus, and virus particles were identified by electron microscopy of the vesical mucosa. The study of the smear background offered additional information: the sediment contained hyaline or hematic or hyaline-cellular casts in 17.4% of the cases, in all of which there were renal tubulopathies when the kidney sections were studied. The method is useful for a good evaluation of the autopsy as well as for training in urinary cytopathology.