Neuroblastoma (NB) is an undifferentiated malignant tumor of the sympathetic ganglia, occurring in children under 5 years of age. However, it is a rare histology in adult patients, occurring once per every 10 million patients per year. We present the case of a 68-year-old male patient presented to our department for right lumbar pain, asthenia, loss of weight and altered general status. The contrast-enhanced abdominal computer tomography revealed bilateral adrenal tumoral masses of 149 mm and 82 mm on the right and left sides, respectively, with invasion of the surrounding organs. The patient underwent right 3D laparoscopic adrenalectomy and right radical nephrectomy. The pathological result concluded that the excised tumor was a neuroblastoma of the adrenal gland. The patient followed adjuvant oncological treatment; however, due to disease progression, he passed away 22 months after the surgery. To our knowledge, less than 100 cases of adrenal NB in adult patients have been published, the eldest case being diagnosed at 75 years of age; meanwhile, the largest reported tumor measured 200 mm, and was excised through open surgery. Minimally invasive techniques have been limited so far to smaller, organ-confined diseases, thus making the present case the largest adrenal NB removed entirely laparoscopically. Neuroblastoma in the adult population is a rare finding, with worse prognosis compared to pediatric patients. The available literature does not provide enough data for standardized, multimodal management, as the patients are treated following adapted pediatric protocols, thus reinforcing the need for international, multidisciplinary boards for rare tumors.

Synchronous prostatic adenocarcinoma found in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) that undergo radical cistoprostatectomy is not uncommon. Nonetheless, the occurrence of collision metastasis, where both prostate cancer and bladder cancer involve the same lymph node, is exceptionally uncommon, with few cases being reported in the literature. We present a case of a 65-year-old patient diagnosed with MIBC who underwent laparoscopic radical cistoprostatectomy with extended lymph node dissection and intracorporeal ileal conduit. The final pathology revealed urothelial carcinoma pT3bN1 as well as prostatic adenocarcinoma pT3bN1. One lymph node presented metastasis from both bladder cancer and prostate cancer.

Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones used in clinical practice as an effective therapeutic option for their effects regarding the dysregulated immune reactions and hyperactive immune system. Their administration in the short- and long-term exposure has been associated with numerous metabolic side effects. Probiotics have been shown to modulate basal metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress through the regulation of composition and function of the gut microbial environment. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Saccharomyces boulardii and Lactobacillus paracasei probiotics in dexamethasone-treated rats. The study comprised four groups, with 6 Charles River Wistar albino male rats/group; group 1 represented the negative control, rats from group 2 were administered dexamethasone, rats from group 3 were administered dexamethasone and probiotics containing the strain Saccharomyces boulardii, and rats from group 4 were administered dexamethasone and probiotics containing the strain Lactobacillus paracasei. We have assessed the plasmatic levels of glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-10, catalase activity, and total antioxidant capacity. The administration of dexamethasone led to elevated serum concentrations of glycolipid metabolism parameters and cytokines and resulted in hepatic steatosis at the morphological level. Administration of probiotics containing Saccharomyces boulardii or Lactobacillus paracasei reduced glucose and tumor necrosis factor-alpha serum concentration in dexamethasone-treated rats. Moreover, the administration of Lactobacillus paracasei probiotics in rats that received dexamethasone increased interleukin-10 and reduced catalase activity. Regarding the liver tissue morphology, the rats that received probiotics showed improved liver histological aspects compared to the dexamethasone-treated group, suggesting that probiotics could provide positive effects regarding the metabolic and histological disturbances induced by glucocorticoids.