Nihal Mohamed

Understanding of unmet needs and their predictors among bladder cancer (BC) survivors is critical to optimize health care planning for patients. This study compares between younger (<65 Years) and older (≥65 Years) BC patients across seven domains of unmet needs (e.g., informational, psychological, supportive care, daily living, communication, logistic, and sexuality needs) and their demographic, clinical, and psychosocial predictors. BC survivors (N=159; 47% women) were recruited from the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network and completed a questionnaire that included the needs assessment survey (BCNAS-32), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), coping (BRIEF COPE), social provisions scale (SPS), and self-efficacy beliefs (GSE) scale. Although no significant group differences in all reported needs emerged, both groups reported more communication (IQR = 50 (62.5) and less sexuality needs (IQR =13 (52.1). Older patients reported higher depression and anxiety (IQR = 32 (11.5); N ...

OBJECTIVES To explore patient perspectives of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) on how the health care team and their social network can support them during their cancer trajectory. DATA SOURCES Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with MIBC survivors who underwent radical cystectomies at Ghent University Hospital. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with an iterative content analysis approach. CONCLUSION Information to support people affected by bladder cancer (BC) in several aspects of their disease trajectory (eg, shared decision-making and self-management of their urinary diversion) was most important throughout the interviews (although type and source of required information varied). The clinical nurse specialist was important for informational and emotional support because receiving sufficient information might help patients reduce emotional stress. People affected by BC are still reluctant to consult a psychologist, and several barriers were indicated for this. Also physical needs in the early postoperative phase could be reduced with appropriate information. Communication skills of clinicians in the hospital and knowledge of general practitioners about the important aspects of BC care are also important aspects that should be further optimized. Furthermore, peer support groups and family members can offer important support throughout the BC pathway. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE This study provides an overview of how people affected by BC want to be supported by their health care team and their social network. This overview can serve as a basis to develop educational interventions for both patients and health care professionals to guide restructuring of BC pathways and can also be used to develop future intervention studies to improve BC outcomes.

The urinary tract is highly innervated by autonomic nerves which are essential in urinary tract development, the production of growth factors, and the control of homeostasis. These neural signals may become dysregulated in several genitourinary (GU) disease states, both benign and malignant. Accordingly, the autonomic nervous system is a therapeutic target for several genitourinary pathologies including cancer, voiding dysfunction, and obstructing nephrolithiasis. Adrenergic receptors (adrenoceptors) are G-Protein coupled-receptors that are distributed throughout the body. The major function of α1-adrenoceptors is signaling smooth muscle contractions through GPCR and intracellular calcium influx. Pharmacologic intervention of α-and β-adrenoceptors is routinely and successfully implemented in the treatment of benign urologic illnesses, through the use of α-adrenoceptor antagonists. Furthermore, cell-based evidence recently established the antitumor effect of α1-adrenoceptor antagonis...

Racial disparities in prostate cancer have not been well characterized on a genomic level. Here we show the results of a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of 1,152 patients (596 African-American men (AAM) and 556 European-American men (EAM)) who underwent radical prostatectomy. Comparative analyses between the race groups were conducted at the clinical, genomic, pathway, molecular subtype, and prognostic levels. The EAM group had increased ERG (P < 0.001) and ETS (P = 0.02) expression, decreased SPINK1 expression (P < 0.001), and basal-like (P < 0.001) molecular subtypes. After adjusting for confounders, the AAM group was associated with higher expression of CRYBB2, GSTM3, and inflammation genes (IL33, IFNG, CCL4, CD3, ICOSLG), and lower expression of mismatch repair genes (MSH2, MSH6) (p < 0.001 for all). At the pathway level, the AAM group had higher expression of genes sets related to the immune response, apoptosis, hypoxia, and reactive oxygen species. EAM g...

The recent outbreak of infections and the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 represent one of the most severe threats to human health in more than a century. Emerging data from the United States and elsewhere suggest that the disease is more severe in men. Knowledge gained, and lessons learned, from studies of the biological interactions and molecular links that may explain the reasons for the greater severity of disease in men, and specifically in the age group at risk for prostate cancer, will lead to better management of COVID-19 in prostate cancer patients. Such information will be indispensable in the current and post-pandemic scenarios.

Importance:The COVID-19 pandemic exploits existing inequalities in social determinants of health (SDOH) in disease burden and access to healthcare. Few studies have examined these emerging disparities using indicators of SDOH.Objective:To evaluate predictors of COVID-19 test positivity, morbidity, and mortality and their implications for inequalities in SDOH and for future policies and health care improvements.Design, Setting, and Participants:A cross sectional analysis was performed on all patients tested for COVID-19 on the basis of symptoms with either a history of travel to at risk regions or close contact with a confirmed case, across the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) up until April 26th 2020.Main Outcomes and Measures:Primary outcome was death from COVID-19 and secondary outcomes were test positivity, and morbidity (e.g., hospitalization and intubation caused by COVID-19).Results:Of 20,899 tested patients, 8,928 tested positive, 1,701 were hospitalized, 684 were intubated, ...

OBJECTIVES We examined patient and informal caregiver unmet needs to identify areas for targeted supportive care interventions and programs to enhance both patient and informal caregiver experience. DATA SOURCES A total of 30 patients who underwent ostomy surgeries for bladder or colorectal cancers and 13 informal caregivers participated in the study. Patients were enrolled at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai between 2017 and 2018. Qualitative data were collected by individual interviews, audiotaped, and transcribed verbatim. Transcribed data were iteratively analyzed using Atlas.ti to explore patient and caregiver unmet needs. RESULTS Patients and informal caregivers reported having insufficient psychological preparation for ostomy surgeries, and very limited hands-on training on stoma care and utility of stomal appliances. Unmet psychological needs related to depression, anxiety, and distress caused by changes in body image and sexual, urinary, and bowel function were reported. Patients and caregivers also reported significant patient medical needs in the acute postoperative period including pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, inflammation, and complications resulting in hospital readmissions. Colorectal cancer patients specifically experienced significant challenges with changes in diet and nutrition that contributed to ostomy care burden. Both patients and caregivers recommended seeking psychological and social support to enhance both patient and caregiver emotional adjustment to life after ostomies. CONCLUSION Meeting patient and informal caregiver unmet informational and supportive care needs is imperative to improve their quality of life and adjustment. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE An effective supportive care plan should be designed and utilized in clinical care to improve ostomy patients' and caregivers' outcomes.

Coronavirus disease–2019 (COVID-19), a disease caused by Severe Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has become an unprecedented global health emergency, with fatal outcomes among adults of all ages in the United States, and the highest incidence and mortality in adult men. As the pandemic evolves there is limited understanding of a potential association between symptomatic viral infection and age. To date, there is no knowledge of the role children (prepubescent, ages 9-13 years) play as “silent” vectors of the virus, with themselves being asymptomatic. Throughout different time frames and geographic locations, the current evidence on COVID-19 suggests that children are becoming infected at a significantly lower rate than other age groups—as low as 1%. Androgens upregulate the protease TMPRSS2 (type II transmembrane serine protease-2), which facilitates efficient virus-host cell fusion with the epithelium of the lungs, thus increasing susceptibility to SARS-Co...

Renal cancer ranks twelfth in incidence among cancers worldwide. Despite improving outcomes due to better therapeutic options and strategies, prognosis for those with metastatic disease remains poor. Current systemic therapeutic approaches include inhibiting pathways of angiogenesis, immune checkpoint blockade, and mTOR inhibition, but inevitably resistance develops for those with metastatic disease, and novel treatment strategies are urgently needed. Emerging molecular and epidemiological evidence suggests that quinazoline-based α1-adrenoceptor-antagonists may have both chemopreventive and direct therapeutic actions in the treatment of urological cancers, including renal cancer. In human renal cancer cell models, quinazoline-based α1-adrenoceptor antagonists were shown to significantly reduce the invasion and metastatic potential of renal tumors by targeting focal adhesion survival signaling to induce anoikis. Mechanistically these drugs overcome anoikis resistance in tumor cells b...

PURPOSE to compare the performance of mpMRI for prediction of extra-prostatic extension (EPE) in African (AA) and Caucasian American (CA) men and to evaluate racial disparities in pathologic outcomes after radical prostatectomy (RP). METHODS we identified 975 patients who underwent RP with preoperative mpMRI between January 2013 and April 2019 at our institution. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed predicting pathological EPE, high-grade prostate cancer (PCa) [final pathology Gleason Grade Group (GGG)≥3] in the overall population, and pathological upgrading (defined as final pathology GGG≥3) in patients with diagnosis of GGG1-2 PCa. Adverse pathology was defined as pT3 and/or GGG≥3. RESULTS 221 (23%) patients were AA. Preoperatively 594 (60.9%) were GGG1-2 (low-risk group) and 381 (39.1%) GGG≥3 (high-risk group). In the low-risk group, rates of pathological EPE (18%vs12.8%, p-value=0.14), adverse pathology (18%vs13.4%, p-value=0.2) or upgrading (9.4%vs12.1%, p-value=0.4) were similar between races. Similarly, in the high-risk group, there was no difference in the rates of pathological EPE. At multivariable analysis, mpMRI predicted the presence of EPE (OR:1.80; 95% CI: 1.29-2.50) and high-grade PCa (OR:1.82; 95% CI: 1.25-2.67) on final pathology. Conversely, Race did not predict the outcomes of interest (all p-values>0.05). MpMRI showed comparable sensitivity (22.22%vs27.84%), specificity (89.2%vs79.2%), PPV (89.2%vs83.4%), and NPV (89.2%vs83.4%) between AA and CA men. CONCLUSIONS The accuracy of mpMRI at staging PCa was similar in AA and CA patients and no difference was found between races in pathologic outcomes after RP. These findings suggest that access to and use of advanced diagnostic tests may help mitigate PCa racial disparities.

Men diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer face multiple treatment options, each with distinctive side effects that have significant implications for post-treatment quality of life. Healing Choices for Men with Prostate Cancer is a multimedia educational and decision aid program. This nation-wide randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of Healing Choices on reducing decisional conflict and distress. Eligible prostate cancer patients who called the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service (CIS) were invited to participate. After a baseline interview, participants were randomized to usual personalized consultation with a CIS specialist (comparison condition) or CIS personalized consultation plus the Healing Choices program (intervention condition). The Decision Conflict Scale and Impact of Event Scale assessed decisional conflict about prostate cancer treatment and cancer-related distress, respectively. Analyses evaluated group differences at 2 months po...

Patient-reported outcomes (PRO), including health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures, represent important means for evaluating patients' health outcomes and for guiding health care decisions made by patients, practitioners, investigators, and policy makers. In spite of the large number of studies examining HRQOL in patients with bladder cancer, very few review articles investigated this topic. Because these review studies report mixed results, incorporating bladder cancer HRQOL measures into standard urological practice is not a viable option. In this non-systematic review of the literature and commentary we note some general concerns regarding PRO research, but our primary focus is on the HRQOL methodology within the context of two types of bladder cancer: muscle invasive and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Considering bladder cancer HRQOL as the interaction of four areas of the assessment process (i.e., what model of HRQOL to choose, what instruments are available to...

Introduction and Objectives Prostate cancer (PrCa) diagnosis and treatment are associated with increased psychological distress and decreased quality of life (QOL) among patients. The present study used a prospective and longitudinal design to examine depressive symptoms over a 12-month period following PrCa diagnosis and their impact on treatment decision making and post-treatment QOL among newly diagnosed PrCa patients.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in the United States. Management options for localized disease exist, yet an evidence-based criterion standard for treatment still has to emerge. Although 5-year survival rates approach 98%, all treatment options carry the possibility for significant side effects, such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. It is therefore recommended that patients be actively involved in the treatment decision process. We have developed an Internet/CD-ROM-based multimedia Prostate Interactive Educational System (PIES) to enhance patients' treatment decision making. PIES virtually mirrors a health center to provide patients with information about prostate cancer and its treatment through an intuitive interface, using videos, animations, graphics, and texts. (1) To examine the acceptability and feasibility of the PIES intervention and to report preliminary outcomes of the program in a pilot trial among patients with a new prostate cancer diagnosis, and (2) to explore the potential impact of tailoring PIES treatment information to participants' information-seeking styles on study outcomes. Participants (n = 72) were patients with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer who had not made a treatment decision. Patients were randomly assigned to 3 experimental conditions: (1) control condition (providing information through standard National Cancer Institute brochures; 26%), and PIES (2) with tailoring (43%) and (3) without tailoring to a patient's information-seeking style (31%). Questionnaires were administrated before (t1) and immediately after the intervention (t2). Measurements include evaluation and acceptability of the PIES intervention, monitoring/blunting information-seeking style, psychological distress, and decision-related variables (eg, decisional confidence, feeling informed about prostate cancer and treatment, and treatment preference). The PIES program was well accepted by patients and did not interfere with the clinical routine. About 79% of eligible patients (72/91) completed the pre- and post-PIES intervention assessments. Patients in the PIES groups compared with those in the control condition were significantly more likely to report higher levels of confidence in their treatment choices, higher levels of helpfulness of the information they received in making a treatment decision, and that the information they received was emotionally reassuring. Patients in the PIES groups compared with those in the control condition were significantly less likely to need more information about treatment options, were less anxious about their treatment choices, and thought the information they received was clear (P < .05). Tailoring PIES information to information-seeking style was not related to decision-making variables. This pilot study confirms that the implementation of PIES within a clinical practice is feasible and acceptable to patients with a recent diagnosis of prostate cancer. PIES improved key decision-making process variables and reduced the…

Bladder cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the most expensive adult cancer in average healthcare costs incurred per patient in the USA. However, little is known about factors influencing patients' treatment decisions, quality of life, and responses to treatment impairments. The main focus of this paper is to better understand the impact of muscle invasive bladder cancer on patient quality of life and its added implications for primary caregivers and healthcare providers. In this paper, we discuss treatment options, side effects, and challenges that patients and family caregivers face in different phases along the disease trajectory and further identify crucial areas of needed research.

BACKGROUND: Robotic assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) is considered a safe and feasible technique in patients with bladder cancer who are candidates for curative treatment. Intracorporeal urinary diversions (ICUD) represents one step forward into moving to an utterly minimal invasive procedure with the thought that it may improve patients outcomes and time to recovery after the surgical procedure. Overall, RARC has shown to provide similar oncological outcomes as other procedures. The impact of such approach in continence and sexual function of the patients is an important part of an integral health care of this subset of patients. OBJECTIVE: To describe the functional outcomes of RARC with ICUD across different manuscript evaluating this field. METHODS: A systematic literature search related to functional outcomes and diversion technique in RARC with ICUD, was performed on June 2019 using PubMed RESULTS: Out of 22 manuscripts evaluated we included 11 in our analysis. Although the ...

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic exploits existing inequalities in the social determinants of health (SDOH) that influence disease burden and access to healthcare. The role of health behaviours and socioeconomic status in genitourinary (GU) malignancy has also been highlighted. Our aim was to evaluate predictors of patient-level and neighbourhood-level factors contributing to disparities in COVID-19 outcomes in GU cancer patients. Methods: Demographic information and co-morbidities for patients screened for COVID-19 across the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) up to 10 June 2020 were included. Descriptive analyses and ensemble feature selection were performed to describe the relationships between these predictors and the outcomes of positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test, COVID-19-related hospitalisation, intubation and death. Results: Out of 47,379 tested individuals, 1094 had a history of GU cancer diagnosis; of these, 192 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Ensemble feature selection identi...

Radical prostatectomy (RP) is a common procedure for localized and locally advanced prostate cancer (PCa). Despite advances in the technique with the introduction of robotic surgery, erectile dysfunction (ED) remains a major drawback. Therefore, a personalized evaluation that considers the patient's expectations and cultural background, baseline erectile function (EF), health status, and tumoral extension is important to optimize outcomes. Since EF has a tremendous impact on the quality of life of the patient and the intimate partner, it is timely to review multidisciplinary approaches to be implemented in the preoperative setting. Here we propose various strategies divided into two main categories, namely, comprehensive preoperative planning and prehabilitation (Figure 1.).

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects millions of men in Europe and the USA and is associated with increasing age and such common conditions as Diabetes, Hypertension, and obesity (Dean, 2005). Approximately 25 million American men suffer from ED and more than 600,000 American men aged 40-69 develop ED annually. Recent advances have lead to a greater understanding of male sexual health and the development of new treatment options. The European Health Psychologist discussed the latest advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction with Dr. Natan Bar-Chama, MD, associate professor of urology at the Barbara and Maurice Dean Prostate Health and Research Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American men (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2007). It is estimated that 218,890 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 27,050 men will die from this disease in the United States in 2007 (ACS, 2007). Treatment options for localized disease (i.e., confined to the prostate, without metastases or nodal involvement) include radical prostatectomy, external beam radiation, radioactive seed implantation, and watchful waiting. Although either of these treatments is quite effective with an average 5-year survival rate of 95%, each treatment option brings risks of long term adverse physical effects (e.g., sexual, bowel, and urinary dysfunction) that have the potential to severely impact a patient’s disease-specific and general quality of life. In addition, treatment information is often presented in unfamiliar medical terms, fraught with probabilistic information that many...

Coronavirus disease–2019 (COVID-19), a disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has become an unprecedented global health emergency, with fatal outcomes among adults of all ages throughout the world. There is a high incidence of infection and mortality among cancer patients with evidence to support that patients diagnosed with cancer and SARS-CoV-2 have an increased likelihood of a poor outcome. Clinically relevant changes imposed as a result of the pandemic, are either primary, due to changes in timing or therapeutic modality; or secondary, due to altered cooperative effects on disease progression or therapeutic outcomes. However, studies on the clinical management of patients with genitourinary cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic are limited and do little to differentiate primary or secondary impacts of COVID-19. Here, we provide a review of the epidemiology and biological consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection in GU cancer patients ...

Background, context and purpose In spite of the mixed evidence for their impact, survivorship Care Plans (SCPs) are recommended to enhance quality of care for cancer survivors. Data on the feasibility of SCPs in bladder cancer (BC) is sparse. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study describes the iterative development, acceptability and feasibility of BC specific SCP (BC-SCP) in clinical settings. Methods In Phase I, we developed the BC-SCP. In Phase II, we conducted four focus groups with 19 patients and 15 providers to examine its acceptability and usability challenges. Data analyses using the Atlas.ti program, informed refinement of the BC-SCP. In Phase III, we conducted feasibility testing of the refined BC-SCP with 18 providers from 12 health-centers. An encounter survey was completed after each assessment to examine the feasibility of the BC-SCP. Chi-square and Fisher Exact tests were used for comparative analyses. Results During phase I, we observed high patient and provide...

176 Background: BC is the 6th leading cause of cancer in the US and it is estimated that 81,190 Americans will be diagnosed this year. Promoting patient knowledge and involvement in BC care have led to successful management strategies. We offered 1 hour of online education to patients and their caregivers to provide clinical and supportive information that lends a sense of control, supports effective self-management, and promotes patient-physician communication. Methods: PlatformQ Health Education, in partnership with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, developed and executed an interactive education program for patients with BC and their caregivers, which was broadcast live online on cancercoachlive.com on September 29, 2017 and on-demand through March 29, 2018. The program was viewed on cancercoachlive.com by 587 learners and attracted 533 additional learners through social media channels (e.g. Facebook). Education focused on treatment options and the accessibility of resources a...

Skin-bleaching practices, such as using skin creams and soaps to achieve a lighter skin tone, are common throughout the world and are triggered by cosmetic reasons that oftentimes have deep historical, economic, sociocultural, and psychosocial roots. Exposure to chemicals in the bleaching products, notably, mercury (Hg), hydroquinone, and steroids, has been associated with a variety of adverse health effects, such as Hg poisoning and exogenous ochronosis. In New York City (NYC), skin care product use has been identified as an important route of Hg exposure, especially among Caribbean-born blacks and Dominicans. However, surprisingly sparse information is available on the epidemiology of the health impacts of skin-bleaching practices among these populations. We highlight the dearth of large-scale, comprehensive, community-based, clinical, and translational research in this area, especially the limited skin-bleaching-related research among non-White populations in the US. We offer fiv...

The advancement of focal therapy technology for the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) is emerging as an option for a middle ground between radical therapies and active surveillance for individuals identified with localized, low-grade PCa. Two promising techniques are high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and focal cryoablation. Both focal cryoablation and HIFU show promise, but additional prospective trials are necessary before any definitive conclusions can be made on either method's viability.

Post-traumatic growth and benefit finding after adverse life events are emerging topics in stress and coping research. This study examined personal and social resources of cancer patients and their perception of positive life changes as a consequence of illness. In addition, the mediating role of coping strategies (acceptance and social comparison) was investigated. One month after tumor surgery, 105 cancer patients completed measures of social support and self-efficacy. Coping was assessed half a year after surgery, while benefit finding was examined 12 months post-surgery. Correlational and path analyses showed a link between personal resources (self-efficacy) as well as social resources (received social support) and benefit finding. The effect of self-efficacy disappeared when coping was specified as a mediator between the resources and benefit finding. Social support retained a direct effect on benefit finding. The results emphasize the predictive quality of resources for recove...

This study examined moderating effects of age on longitudinal associations among quality of life (QOL) and its demographic (e.g., age), clinical [e.g., prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level], and affective and cognitive predictors (i.e., distress, worries about recurrence, decisional regret, subjective life expectancy) in prostate cancer patients treated with external beam radiation (N = 391). Demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed at diagnosis, affective and cognitive variables at 6 months after diagnosis, and QOL at 12 months after diagnosis. Multiple-group analyses showed that among younger patients (< or =68 years old, n = 199), lower levels of decisional regret were associated with better functional QOL, and lower Gleason scores and PSA levels were associated with lower levels of distress and longer expected survival time, respectively. Being employed was related to higher levels of functional QOL and frequent worries about recurrence. Among older patients (>68 years old, n = 192), lower levels of distress were associated with higher levels of functional QOL, and longer expected survival time was associated with better functional and physical QOL.