Ultraviolet radiation exposure increases basal cell carcinoma (BCC) risk, but may be protective against prostate cancer. We attempted to identify exposure patterns that confer reduced prostate cancer risk without increasing that of BCC. We used a questionnaire to assess exposure in 528 prostate cancer patients and 442 men with basal cell carcinoma, using 365 benign prostatic hypertrophy patients as controls.

No abstract

Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2007; 89: [153][154][155][156] 153 Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is generally a congenital condition presenting most frequently in childhood. Adults and elderly individuals may also present with UPJO due to a primary obstructive lesion, or one acquired secondary to stones, ureteral manipulation, ureteral compression from extrinsic processes, retroperitoneal fibrosis or other disorders that cause inflammation of the upper urinary tract. In adults, symptomatic UPJO (causing recurrent flank pain, urinary tract stones or infection) should be treated surgically. 1For over 100 years, however, the optimal surgical correction for UPJO has been a challenge for surgeons. 2In 1886, Trendelenburg unsuccessfully performed the first reconstructive procedure for UPJO but was followed 5 years later by Kuster who published the first successful dismembered pyeloplasty. The first half of the 20th century saw the development of several different techniques to treat UPJO but most were troubled with recurrent strictures. In 1943, Davis and colleagues popularised the technique of intubated ureterotomy, involving incision into the ureter which was left stented and subsequently regenerated. [3][4][5] In 1949, two British surgeons, Anderson and Hynes, described their open dismembered pyeloplasty which, with success rates of over 90%, became the gold standard for the treatment of UPJO.

Objective: The current economic and political climate demands a focus on efficiency and productivity, whilst delivering quality, across all aspects of the National Health Service (NHS). Operative theatres act as a critical, yet costly resource. The Audit Commission employs the use of percentage theatre utilisation as a principal measure of NHS operating theatre service and efficiency performance. We analysed theatre utilisation data in a five-consultant, high turnover, urology department within a NHS University Teaching Hospital. Our aim was to examine the relationship between theatre utilisation data, cost effectiveness and income generated. Patients and methods: Data on the usage of a dedicated urology theatre was collected over 251 hours for a full calendar month. A total of 176 consecutive procedures were performed. Linear regression analysis was performed to assess the correlation between number of operating hours, cases per hour, utilisation percentages and income generated. Results: There was no correlation between percentage theatre utilisation and income (R2=0.0191, p=0.82). No relationship was identified between percentage theatre utilisation and total number of cases performed (R2=0.0001, p=0.99). Although there appeared to be a positive correlation between the number of cases performed and income generated, this was not statistically significant (R2=0.725, p=0.067). Furthermore, there was no association between the number of cases performed per hour and income generated (R2=0.3184, p=0.32). Conclusion: Our data identifies no correlation between percentage theatre utilisation, income generated and number of cases performed. Utilisation percentages are not a reliable performance indicator when used in isolation, and therefore should be used as part of a more global picture when assessing cost effectiveness and efficiency performance.