Trends in testicular germ cell tumors among native black African men do not mirror those of African Americans: multi-institutional data from South Africa

Background

Testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) is most frequently diagnosed in young males and its etiology remains poorly understood. Cases of newly diagnosed TGCT have been rising in the United States and incidence among African Americans (AA) has increased nearly 40%. Incidence of TGCT in native black African (BA) males, conversely, has remained low. We sought to determine the racial identification of patients diagnosed with TGCT in Cape Town, South Africa. We hypothesize that the rise in TGCT among AA males is distinct from that of BA males in South Africa.

Methods

A retrospective review involving two tertiary care centres in the Western Cape was performed. Data were extracted for males > 13 years of age diagnosed with TGCT from January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2015. Racial status was self-declared and included BA, Caucasian, Mixed Ancestry (MA), and Asian. Patients were identified from combined Urology–Oncology clinic logs at both institutions, as well as from pathology records at the National Health Laboratory Service indicating any form of testicular cancer.

Results

225 patients were identified. 97% of cases involved males identified as MA (130) or Caucasian (88). Only 2% of the study population identified as BA, with complete absence of self-identifying BA males for several years within the queried interval. Among males diagnosed with TGCT, the percentage self-identifying as Caucasian increased over time (R2 0.92).

Conclusions

Males diagnosed with TGCT in the Western Cape predominantly self-identify as MA or Caucasian. Exceedingly few cases are attributed to BA, and even less to Asian males. The trend in racial distribution suggests that the increasing incidence reported for AAs may be due to interracial gene exchange, environmental factors, or a combination thereof.

Gunshot wounds to the penis and scrotum: a narrative review of management in civilian and military settings

Gunshot wounds (GSW) to the penis and scrotum are present in two thirds of all genitourinary (GU) trauma, with a growing proportion of blast injuries in the military setting. Depending on the energy of the projectile, the injury patterns present differently for military and civilian GSWs. In this review, we sought to provide a detailed overview of GSWs to the external genitalia, from mechanisms to management. We examine how ballistic injury impacts tissues, as well as the types of injuries that occur, and how to assess these injuries to the external genitalia. If there is concern for injury to the deep structures of the penis or scrotum, operative exploration and repair is warranted. Relevant history and physical examination, role of imaging, and choice of conservative or surgical treatment options in the civilian and military setting are discussed, as well as guidelines for management set forth by the American Urological Association (AUA) and European Association of Urology (EAU).

Renal leiomyoma: a case report and literature review

Background

Renal leiomyomas are exceptionally rare, benign, mesenchymal tumours originating from smooth muscle in the kidney. Historically, because of their small size, most renal leiomyoma cases were discovered incidentally based on autopsy findings. However, since the advent and improved access to imaging modalities such as ultrasound and computed tomography (CT), renal leiomyomas are being discovered more frequently. Although usually incidental discoveries, clinical presenting signs and symptoms comprise abdominal or flank pain, a palpable flank mass, and haematuria in 20% of those with symptoms.

Case presentation

We study the case of an incidentally found, asymptomatic, left kidney mass that presented in a 60-year-old female. Initial suspicions on CT imaging of either renal cell carcinoma or oncocytoma resulted in a radical nephrectomy of the left kidney. Postoperative pathological examination of the mass revealed a renal leiomyoma; a rare, benign tumour that is mostly indistinguishable from malignant tumours on imaging.

Conclusions

With the current availability of ultrasonography and CT, they are often discovered incidentally, and the radiological differential diagnoses are often inadequate or challenging in such cases. The gold standard management of these suspicious cancer cases is still a radical nephrectomy with postoperative pathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Due to its benign nature, patients enjoy excellent prognoses without recurrence. We discuss and briefly review the relevant literature of the clinical, imaging and pathological features of renal leiomyomas and those of the differential diagnoses.

Extracellular vesicle concentrations of glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light measured 1 year after traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is linked to long-term symptoms in a sub-set of patients who sustain an injury, but this risk is not universal, leading us and others to question the nature of individual variability in recovery trajectories. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a promising, novel avenue to identify blood-based biomarkers for TBI. Here, our aim was to determine if glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light (NfL) measured 1-year postinjury in EVs could distinguish patients from controls, and whether these biomarkers relate to TBI severity or recovery outcomes. EV GFAP and EV NfL were measured using an ultrasensitive assay in 72 TBI patients and 20 controls. EV GFAP concentrations were elevated in moderate and severe TBI compared to controls (p’s < 0.001) and could distinguish controls from moderate (AUC = 0.86) or severe TBI (AUC = 0.88). Increased EV GFAP and EV NfL levels were associated with lower 1-year Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended (GOS-E) score (p’s < 0.05). These findings suggest that blood-derived EV concentrations of GFAP and NfL drawn even 1 year after injury are higher in TBI patients compared to controls, and are related to injury severity and poor recovery outcomes, suggesting that TBIs alter the activity of these biomarkers, likely contributing to individual variability in recovery.

Time course and diagnostic utility of NfL, tau, GFAP, and UCH-L1 in subacute and chronic TBI

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether neurofilament light (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), tau, and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) measured in serum relate to traumatic brain injury (TBI) diagnosis, injury severity, brain volume, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures of traumatic axonal injury (TAI) in patients with TBI.

METHODS

Patients with TBI (n = 162) and controls (n = 68) were prospectively enrolled between 2011 and 2019. Patients with TBI also underwent serum, functional outcome, and imaging assessments at 30 (n = 30), 90 (n = 48), and 180 (n = 59) days, and 1 (n = 84), 2 (n = 57), 3 (n = 46), 4 (n = 38), and 5 (n = 29) years after injury.

RESULTS

At enrollment, patients with TBI had increased serum NfL compared to controls (p < 0.0001). Serum NfL decreased over the course of 5 years but remained significantly elevated compared to controls. Serum NfL at 30 days distinguished patients with mild, moderate, and severe TBI from controls with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.84, 0.92, and 0.92, respectively. At enrollment, serum GFAP was elevated in patients with TBI compared to controls (p < 0.001). GFAP showed a biphasic release in serum, with levels decreasing during the first 6 months of injury but increasing over the subsequent study visits. The highest AUROC for GFAP was measured at 30 days, distinguishing patients with moderate and severe TBI from controls (both 0.89). Serum tau and UCH-L1 showed weak associations with TBI severity and neuroimaging measures. Longitudinally, serum NfL was the only biomarker that was associated with the likely rate of MRI brain atrophy and DTI measures of progression of TAI.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum NfL shows greater diagnostic and prognostic utility than GFAP, tau, and UCH-L1 for subacute and chronic TBI.

CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE

This study provides Class III evidence that serum NfL distinguishes patients with mild TBI from healthy controls.

Neurofilament light as a biomarker in traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether serum neurofilament light (NfL) correlates with CSF NfL, traumatic brain injury (TBI) diagnosis, injury severity, brain volume, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) estimates of traumatic axonal injury (TAI).

METHODS

Participants were prospectively enrolled in Sweden and the United States between 2011 and 2019. The Swedish cohort included 45 hockey players with acute concussion sampled at 6 days, 31 with repetitive concussion with persistent postconcussive symptoms (PCS) assessed with paired CSF and serum (median 1.3 years after concussion), 28 preseason controls, and 14 nonathletic controls. Our second cohort included 230 clinic-based participants (162 with TBI and 68 controls). Patients with TBI also underwent serum, functional outcome, and imaging assessments at 30 (n = 30), 90 (n = 48), and 180 (n = 59) days and 1 (n = 84), 2 (n = 57), 3 (n = 46), 4 (n = 38), and 5 (n = 29) years after injury.

RESULTS

In athletes with paired specimens, CSF NfL and serum NfL were correlated (r = 0.71, p < 0.0001). CSF and serum NfL distinguished players with PCS >1 year from PCS ≤1 year (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] 0.81 and 0.80). The AUROC for PCS >1 year vs preseason controls was 0.97. In the clinic-based cohort, NfL at enrollment distinguished patients with mild from those with moderate and severe TBI (p < 0.001 and p = 0.048). Serum NfL decreased over the course of 5 years (ß = -0.09 log pg/mL, p < 0.0001) but remained significantly elevated compared to controls. Serum NfL correlated with measures of functional outcome, MRI brain atrophy, and DTI estimates of TAI.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum NfL shows promise as a biomarker for acute and repetitive sports-related concussion and patients with subacute and chronic TBI.

CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE

This study provides Class III evidence that increased concentrations of NfL distinguish patients with TBI from controls.

African KhoeSan ancestry linked to high-risk prostate cancer

Backgrounds

Genetic diversity is greatest within Africa, in particular the KhoeSan click-speaking peoples of southern Africa. South African populations represent admixture fractions including differing degrees of African, African-KhoeSan and non-African genetic ancestries. Within the United States, African ancestry has been linked to prostate cancer presentation and mortality. Together with environmental contributions, genetics is a significant risk factor for high-risk prostate cancer, defined by a pathological Gleason score ≥ 8.

Methods

Using genotype array data merged with ancestry informative reference data, we investigate the contribution of African ancestral fractions to high-risk prostate cancer. Our study includes 152 South African men of African (Black) or African-admixed (Coloured) ancestries, in which 40% showed high-risk prostate cancer.

Results

Genetic fractions were determined for averaging an equal African to non-African genetic ancestral contribution in the Coloured; we found African ancestry to be linked to high-risk prostate cancer (P-value = 0.0477). Adjusting for age, the associated African ancestral fraction was driven by a significant KhoeSan over Bantu contribution, defined by Gleason score ≥ 8 (P-value = 0.02329) or prostate specific antigen levels ≥20 ng/ml (P-value = 0.03713). Additionally, we observed the mean overall KhoeSan contribution to be increased in Black patients with high-risk (11.8%) over low-risk (10.9%) disease. Linking for the first time KhoeSan ancestry to a common modern disease, namely high-risk prostate cancer, we tested in this small study the validity of using KhoeSan ancestry as a surrogate for identifying potential high-risk prostate cancer risk loci. As such, we identified four loci within chromosomal regions 2p11.2, 3p14, 8q23 and 22q13.2 (P-value = all age-adjusted < 0.01), two of which have previously been associated with high-risk prostate cancer.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that ancient KhoeSan ancestry may be linked to common modern diseases, specifically those of late onset and therefore unlikely to have undergone exclusive selective pressure. As such we show within a uniquely admixed South African population a link between KhoeSan ancestry and high-risk prostate cancer, which may explain the 2-fold increase in presentation in Black South Africans compared with African Americans.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12920-019-0537-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Lessons learned from the world's first successful penis allotransplantation

We performed a successful penis allotransplantation on 11 December 2014. Sharing the lessons learned might help more patients in need to be treated this way. We divided the project into manageable segments that was each overseen by an expert. The ethical review and conduct paved the way for a publically acceptable and successful project. Screening for a psychological stable recipient is important. The most difficult part of the project was finding a donor penis. This was successfully negotiated with the family of a brain dead donor by creating a neo-phallus for the donor, thereby maintaining the dignity of the donor. Working with transplant coordinators that are sympathetic to aphallic men is crucial. Surgeons versed in microvascular techniques is a critical part of the team. Transplant immunologists have to adapt to treat composite tissue transplantation patients.

Urinary tract tuberculosis in a child with late presentation posterior urethral valves

A case is reported of urinary tract tuberculosis in a 7-year-old boy with a history of late presentation posterior urethral valves. Persistent hydroureteronephrosis after valve ablation at the age of 5 years and a draining urinary fistula from the site where a suprapubic catheter had been inserted prior to valve surgery alerted to the possibility of urinary tract tuberculosis.

Comparison of the roll-plate and sonication techniques in the diagnosis of microbial ureteral stent colonisation: results of the first prospective randomised study

BACKGROUND

Microbial ureteral stent colonisation (MUSC) is one leading risk factor for complications associated with ureteral stent placement. As MUSC remains frequently undetected by standard urine cultures, its definitive diagnosis depends on microbiological investigation of the stent. However, a standard reference laboratory technique for studying MUSC is still lacking.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 271 ureteral stents removed from 199 consecutive patients were investigated. Urine samples were obtained prior to device removal. Stents were divided into four parts. Each part was separately processed by the microbiology laboratory within 6 h. Ureteral stents were randomly allocated to roll-plate or sonication, respectively, and analysed using standard microbiological techniques. Demographic and clinical data were prospectively collected using a standard case-report form.

RESULTS

Overall, roll-plate showed a higher detection rate of MUSC compared with sonication (35 vs. 28 %, p < 0.05) and urine culture (35 vs. 8 %, p < 0.05). No inferiority of Maki's technique was observed even when stents were stratified according to indwelling time below or above 30 days. Compared with roll-plate, sonication commonly failed to detect Enterococcus spp., coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Enterobacteriaceae. In addition, sonication required more hands-on time, more equipment and higher training than roll-plate in the laboratory.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective randomised study demonstrates the superiority of Maki's roll-plate technique over sonication in the diagnosis of MUSC and that urine culture is less sensitive than both methods. The higher detection rate, simplicity and cost-effectiveness render roll-plate the methodology of choice for routine clinical investigation as well as basic laboratory research.

Distant cutaneous metastases secondary to squamous carcinoma of the penis

Penile cancer normally spreads in a predictable manner to the regional lymph nodes: first inguinal and then the pelvic nodes. We report a case where the patient presented synchronously with secondary skin metastases and primary high grade penile squamous carcinoma. In addition the patient also had pulmonary metastases, loco regional spread to the groin nodes, liver metastases and tumour erosion of a right sided rib. The skin metastases appeared nodular, were firm in consistency and appeared intradermal. Skin metastases have been described for a number of solid malignancies - the clinician must have an index of suspicion to relate a less obvious primary lesion with secondary skin lesions. The patient died before chemotherapy could be administered.