Prostate cancer poses a significant health challenge globally,demanding proactive prevention strategies.This editorial explores the emerging role of vitamin D in prostate cancer prevention.While traditionally associat...Prostate cancer poses a significant health challenge globally,demanding proactive prevention strategies.This editorial explores the emerging role of vitamin D in prostate cancer prevention.While traditionally associated with bone health,vitamin D is increasingly recognized for its broader impact on immune function,cellular signaling,and cancer prevention.Epidemiological studies suggest an intriguing link between vitamin D deficiency and elevated prostate cancer risk,particularly in regions with limited sunlight exposure.Mechanistically,vitamin D regulates cellular processes,inhibiting unchecked cancer cell growth and bols-tering immune surveillance.Personalized prevention strategies,considering individual factors,are deemed essential for harnessing the full potential of vitamin D.To unlock this potential,the future calls for robust research,public awareness campaigns,dietary improvements,and vigilant medical guidance.Collaborative efforts are poised to pave the way toward a future where vitamin D stands as a sentinel in prostate cancer prevention,ushering in hope and improved health for men worldwide.展开更多
Background: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the commonest causes of lower obstructive uropathy and usually presents with lower urinary tract symptoms. However, in developing nations, the presentation is l...Background: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the commonest causes of lower obstructive uropathy and usually presents with lower urinary tract symptoms. However, in developing nations, the presentation is late often large prostate and associated complications of bladder outlet obstruction (diverticulae, stones, impaired renal function etc.) warranting open prostatectomy. Objective: The objective of this study is to share our experience of perioperative outcomes of open transvesical prostatectomy over a year involving two referral centers in Monrovia Liberia. Methodology: This was a retrospective study performed at The John F. Kennedy Medical Center and the Saint Joseph Catholic Hospital involving a total of 31 patients. Results: The mean age was 64.6 years (SD = 9.03) with a range 52 - 85 years. The study showed that 54.8% (17/31) of patients had preoperative catheter. The maximum duration of Catheter was greater than 4 weeks with a mean duration of 3.17 weeks. The mean hemoglobin was 11.30 g/dl. The commonest presenting complication was urinary retention at 25.8% (8/31) followed by hematuria 16.1% (5/31). Hypertension 41.9% (13/31) and diabetes 6.5% (/31) were the commonest comorbidity. The rate of postoperative complication was 38.7% with the commonest being surgical site infection 16.1% (5/31) and clot retentions 9.7% (3/31). There was a high rate of transfusion was 77.4% (24/31) patients. Up to about 13% (4/32) patients had coexisting stricture with 6.5% (2/31) patients treated with urethroplasty and 6.5% (2/31) patients treated by dilatation. The mortality rate was 6.5% (2/31) from renal impairment and severe sepsis. Conclusion: BPH is a common cause of lower obstructive uropathy. Most patients present with complications of the disease such as refractory symptoms, bladder stones or diverticulae necessitating surgery. However, due to the absence of endourological equipments in most parts of Africa and the large prostate at presentation, most settings consider open transvesical prostatectomy as a viable option. The perioperative morbidity is relatively higher, but the outcome remains acceptable.展开更多
Background: The incidence of posterior gastric perforation worldwide is low;the literature has no previous record of its occurrence in Liberia. The diffuse symptoms of a perforated posterior gastric ulcer, delay by pa...Background: The incidence of posterior gastric perforation worldwide is low;the literature has no previous record of its occurrence in Liberia. The diffuse symptoms of a perforated posterior gastric ulcer, delay by patients before they present to hospital, and the lack of skilled personnel and facilities in Liberia to diagnose and treat this condition increase the mortality associated with posterior gastric perforation. Objective: To report the first case of posterior gastric perforation encountered in Liberia. Materials and Method: Case report. Case Presentation/Report: A 44 year old male was referred to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital (Liberia’s principal teaching hospital) with a diagnosis of gastritis after six days of worsening epigastric pain. He had a history of NSAID use for a chronic leg and foot ulcer. Physical examination revealed a moderately distended, markedly tender abdomen characterized by guarding, rigidity and low-pitched bowel sounds. Patient was resuscitated with intravenous fluids, antibiotics and analgesics. An emergency exploratory laparotomy subsequently performed revealed a large collection of purulent peritoneal fluid, a 3 × 4 cm perforation on the posterior wall of the stomach and a 3 × 2.5 cm perforation of the transverse mesocolon. The perforations were repaired and the patient recovered satisfactorily. Conclusion: Though relatively rare and associated with a high morbidity and mortality, this case report shows that the paucity of reported cases of posterior gastric perforation may also be attributable to lack of specialist staff with capacity for clinical diagnosis and surgical intervention in a resource poor setting. Identifying patients with gastric perforation and having the skill to repair the perforations significantly enhance the clinical outcome.展开更多
Background: Penile cancer is uncommon in Liberia with no record of its occurrence so far in the literature. Its occurrence worldwide is significantly affected by cultural or religious practices like childhood circumci...Background: Penile cancer is uncommon in Liberia with no record of its occurrence so far in the literature. Its occurrence worldwide is significantly affected by cultural or religious practices like childhood circumcision. Smoking, poor penile hygiene and inflammatory processes in the presence of smegma increase the risk of its occurrence. Objective: To review the first case of penile cancer treated in Liberia. Materials and Method: Case report. Case Presentation/Report: Our index patient is a 65-year old man referred from a peripheral centre in acute urinary retention. He also presented with a year history of progressively expanding ulcerative penile lesion affecting the glans and penile shaft. Local examination of the genitalia revealed an ulcerated lesion extending from the glans up to the mid shaft of the penis. The penobulbar urethra was free of induration. The external urethral meatus was infiltrated by the lesion. The scrotum and testes were normal and digital rectal examination revealed a moderately enlarged benign prostate. Bilateral inguinal lymph node enlargement was elicited. A diagnosis of advanced penile cancer with benign prostatic hyperplasia was made. The patient had partial penectomy, reconstruction of new external urethral meatus and inguinal lymphadenectomy. The specimen was histologically confirmed to be Squamous cell Carcinoma of the penis;the resection margins and lymph nodes biopsied were found to be adequate and tumor free respectively. Patient’s post operative recovery was uneventful and he was discharged after a week. His follow up status after 6 months has remained satisfactory. Conclusion: Though rare, penile cancer does occur in Liberia and specialist staff with capacity for diagnosing and surgical intervention remains critical to patients’ outcome. Early intervention improves the chances of better outcome;counseling is critical to prevent treated patient lapsing into depression.展开更多
文摘Prostate cancer poses a significant health challenge globally,demanding proactive prevention strategies.This editorial explores the emerging role of vitamin D in prostate cancer prevention.While traditionally associated with bone health,vitamin D is increasingly recognized for its broader impact on immune function,cellular signaling,and cancer prevention.Epidemiological studies suggest an intriguing link between vitamin D deficiency and elevated prostate cancer risk,particularly in regions with limited sunlight exposure.Mechanistically,vitamin D regulates cellular processes,inhibiting unchecked cancer cell growth and bols-tering immune surveillance.Personalized prevention strategies,considering individual factors,are deemed essential for harnessing the full potential of vitamin D.To unlock this potential,the future calls for robust research,public awareness campaigns,dietary improvements,and vigilant medical guidance.Collaborative efforts are poised to pave the way toward a future where vitamin D stands as a sentinel in prostate cancer prevention,ushering in hope and improved health for men worldwide.
文摘Background: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the commonest causes of lower obstructive uropathy and usually presents with lower urinary tract symptoms. However, in developing nations, the presentation is late often large prostate and associated complications of bladder outlet obstruction (diverticulae, stones, impaired renal function etc.) warranting open prostatectomy. Objective: The objective of this study is to share our experience of perioperative outcomes of open transvesical prostatectomy over a year involving two referral centers in Monrovia Liberia. Methodology: This was a retrospective study performed at The John F. Kennedy Medical Center and the Saint Joseph Catholic Hospital involving a total of 31 patients. Results: The mean age was 64.6 years (SD = 9.03) with a range 52 - 85 years. The study showed that 54.8% (17/31) of patients had preoperative catheter. The maximum duration of Catheter was greater than 4 weeks with a mean duration of 3.17 weeks. The mean hemoglobin was 11.30 g/dl. The commonest presenting complication was urinary retention at 25.8% (8/31) followed by hematuria 16.1% (5/31). Hypertension 41.9% (13/31) and diabetes 6.5% (/31) were the commonest comorbidity. The rate of postoperative complication was 38.7% with the commonest being surgical site infection 16.1% (5/31) and clot retentions 9.7% (3/31). There was a high rate of transfusion was 77.4% (24/31) patients. Up to about 13% (4/32) patients had coexisting stricture with 6.5% (2/31) patients treated with urethroplasty and 6.5% (2/31) patients treated by dilatation. The mortality rate was 6.5% (2/31) from renal impairment and severe sepsis. Conclusion: BPH is a common cause of lower obstructive uropathy. Most patients present with complications of the disease such as refractory symptoms, bladder stones or diverticulae necessitating surgery. However, due to the absence of endourological equipments in most parts of Africa and the large prostate at presentation, most settings consider open transvesical prostatectomy as a viable option. The perioperative morbidity is relatively higher, but the outcome remains acceptable.
文摘Background: The incidence of posterior gastric perforation worldwide is low;the literature has no previous record of its occurrence in Liberia. The diffuse symptoms of a perforated posterior gastric ulcer, delay by patients before they present to hospital, and the lack of skilled personnel and facilities in Liberia to diagnose and treat this condition increase the mortality associated with posterior gastric perforation. Objective: To report the first case of posterior gastric perforation encountered in Liberia. Materials and Method: Case report. Case Presentation/Report: A 44 year old male was referred to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital (Liberia’s principal teaching hospital) with a diagnosis of gastritis after six days of worsening epigastric pain. He had a history of NSAID use for a chronic leg and foot ulcer. Physical examination revealed a moderately distended, markedly tender abdomen characterized by guarding, rigidity and low-pitched bowel sounds. Patient was resuscitated with intravenous fluids, antibiotics and analgesics. An emergency exploratory laparotomy subsequently performed revealed a large collection of purulent peritoneal fluid, a 3 × 4 cm perforation on the posterior wall of the stomach and a 3 × 2.5 cm perforation of the transverse mesocolon. The perforations were repaired and the patient recovered satisfactorily. Conclusion: Though relatively rare and associated with a high morbidity and mortality, this case report shows that the paucity of reported cases of posterior gastric perforation may also be attributable to lack of specialist staff with capacity for clinical diagnosis and surgical intervention in a resource poor setting. Identifying patients with gastric perforation and having the skill to repair the perforations significantly enhance the clinical outcome.
文摘Background: Penile cancer is uncommon in Liberia with no record of its occurrence so far in the literature. Its occurrence worldwide is significantly affected by cultural or religious practices like childhood circumcision. Smoking, poor penile hygiene and inflammatory processes in the presence of smegma increase the risk of its occurrence. Objective: To review the first case of penile cancer treated in Liberia. Materials and Method: Case report. Case Presentation/Report: Our index patient is a 65-year old man referred from a peripheral centre in acute urinary retention. He also presented with a year history of progressively expanding ulcerative penile lesion affecting the glans and penile shaft. Local examination of the genitalia revealed an ulcerated lesion extending from the glans up to the mid shaft of the penis. The penobulbar urethra was free of induration. The external urethral meatus was infiltrated by the lesion. The scrotum and testes were normal and digital rectal examination revealed a moderately enlarged benign prostate. Bilateral inguinal lymph node enlargement was elicited. A diagnosis of advanced penile cancer with benign prostatic hyperplasia was made. The patient had partial penectomy, reconstruction of new external urethral meatus and inguinal lymphadenectomy. The specimen was histologically confirmed to be Squamous cell Carcinoma of the penis;the resection margins and lymph nodes biopsied were found to be adequate and tumor free respectively. Patient’s post operative recovery was uneventful and he was discharged after a week. His follow up status after 6 months has remained satisfactory. Conclusion: Though rare, penile cancer does occur in Liberia and specialist staff with capacity for diagnosing and surgical intervention remains critical to patients’ outcome. Early intervention improves the chances of better outcome;counseling is critical to prevent treated patient lapsing into depression.
