Belgrade researchers dominate Best Abstract winners at 7th SEEM

Researchers from Belgrade, Serbia, dominated the abstract competition in the 7th South Eastern European Meeting held over the weekend in Skopje with their innovative studies ranging from reconstructive surgery, bladder and prostate cancers.M. Djordjevic and colleagues won the first prize from Karl Storz with their abstract titled "Total phalloplasty in female transsexuals: technique and outcomes." The equivalent first prize granted by Richard Wolf was granted to O. Davceva and colleagues from Skopje for their study titled "Chemical composition of urinary tract stones in the Republic of Macedonia."

EAU Adjunct Secretary General & Executive Member Science Prof. Walter Artibani and Prof. Zhivko Popov, chairman of the 7th SEEM, led the awarding ceremonies held at the end of the annual two-day event.

Artibani cited the dynamic research studies and efforts coming from the region and noted that the annual SEEM provides a platform for urologists in the region to interact and pool research efforts that contribute greatly to the development of European urology.

Popov for his part said that holding the SEEM in Skopje reflects the growing role of urological specialists based in Southeastern Europe, and commented that the EAU’s support to local urologists is crucial in providing not only a boost to practitioners in the region but also actively engages and challenges urologists to maintain their professional and knowledge skills.

“We are glad to host this annual event since it gives us a chance to build and maintain strong ties not only with neighboring countries but also with the rest of Europe," Popov said.

The second and third prize winners for the Karl Storz award were A.P. Labanaris and colleagues (Gronau, Germany) and R. Saglam and colleagues (Ankara, Turkey), respectively. Labanaris received the second prize for his study titled "The value of endorectal magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate in improving the detection of anterior prostate cancer." Saglam, meanwhile, went home with the third prize for his study titled "Turkish robot "Avicenna" for flexible ureterorenoscopic surgery."

Richard Wolf presented the second prize to R. Milosevic and colleagues from Belgrade for their work titled "Elevation of urine interleukin (IL) 8 and IL5 concentration as a predictive and prognostic factor in patients with bladder carcinoma.”

The Richard Wolf third prize went to another group from Belgrade, V. Andrejevic and colleagues for their work titled "Repeat biopsies of prostate- our experience."

Next year’s 8th SEEM will be held in Bulgaria’s capital city Sofia.