A bioinspired and chemically defined alternative to dimethyl sulfoxide for the cryopreservation of human hematopoietic stem cells.

The cryopreservation of hematopoietic cells using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and serum is a common procedure used in transplantation. However, DMSO has clinical and biological side effects due to its toxicity, and serum introduces variation and safety risks. Inspired by natural antifreeze proteins, a novel class of ice-interactive cryoprotectants was developed.

"Bridged" n→π* interactions can stabilize peptoid helices.

Peptoids are an increasingly important class of peptidomimetic foldamers comprised of N-alkylglycine units that have been successfully developed as antimicrobial agents, lung surfactant replacements, enzyme inhibitors, and catalysts, among many other applications. Since peptoid secondary structures can be crucial to their desired functions, significant efforts have been devoted to developing means of modularly controlling peptoid backbone amide cis-trans isomerism using side chains. Strategic engineering of interactions between side chain aromatic rings and backbone cis-amides (n→π*(Ar) interactions) is an attractive strategy for stabilizing helical structures in N-a-chiral aromatic peptoids, which are among the most utilized classes of structured peptoids.

Overall survival and development of stage IV chronic kidney disease in patients undergoing partial and radical nephrectomy for benign renal tumors.

Background: Although partial nephrectomy (PN) has been associated with improved renal function compared with radical nephrectomy (RN) for renal cell carcinoma, the impact on overall survival (OS) remains controversial.

Objective: To evaluate comparative OS and renal function in patients following PN and RN for a renal mass where malignancy was not a confounding factor.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Using the Mayo Clinic Nephrectomy Registry, we retrospectively identified 442 patients with unilateral sporadic benign renal masses treated surgically with PN or RN between 1980 and 2008.

Pathogenesis of bladder calculi in the presence of urinary stasis.

Purpose: Although minimal evidence exists, bladder calculi in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia are thought to be secondary to bladder outlet obstruction induced urinary stasis. We performed a prospective, multi-institutional clinical trial to determine whether metabolic differences were present in men with and without bladder calculi undergoing surgical intervention for benign prostatic hyperplasia induced bladder outlet obstruction.

Materials And Methods: Men who elected surgery for bladder outlet obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia with and without bladder calculi were assessed prospectively and compared.

Factors influencing urologist treatment preference in surgical management of stone disease.

Objective: To assess the surgeon factors influencing the surgical treatment decisions for symptomatic stone disease. The factors influencing the selection of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), ureteroscopy, or percutaneous nephrolithotomy to treat symptomatic stone disease are not well studied.

Methods: Electronic surveys were sent to urologists with American Medical Association membership.

Metastatic potential of a renal mass according to original tumour size at presentation.

Objective: To determine the metastatic potential of renal masses based on original tumour size.

Materials And Methods: We identified 2651 patients who had undergone surgical resection for a unilateral, sporadic renal tumour between 1990 and 2006. Associations of tumour size with synchronous metastasis at presentation [M1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC)] and development of metastases, death from RCC, and death from any cause after surgery were evaluated using logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression.

Metachronous renal tumours after surgical management of oncocytoma.

Objective: • To assess the risk of metachronous renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and benign renal tumours after surgical treatment of primary renal oncocytoma.

Patients And Methods: • Patients treated for primary renal oncocytoma between 1970 and 2007 were identified. Tumours were reviewed by a urological pathologist and patients were followed for subsequent renal tumours.

Early results of chemotherapy with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for isolated retroperitoneal recurrence of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma after nephroureterectomy.

Purpose: Retroperitoneal lymph nodes are a recognized site of relapse in patients undergoing nephroureterectomy (NU) for high grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UC). Retrospective studies suggest that retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) may be curative at the time of NU for high grade upper tract UC. We hypothesized that chemotherapy followed by RPLND may successfully salvage select patients with isolated retroperitoneal relapse of upper tract UC following prior NU.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy for large or multiple upper tract calculi and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Purpose: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is standard therapy for upper tract calculi larger than 2 cm. However, the role of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease has not been well evaluated. We report our experience with percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Crystal structure of a cyclotetramer from a strained cyclic allene.

The low-temperature treatment of 1,1-dibromo-1a,9b-cyclopropa[l]phenanthrene (1) with butyllithium and copper(II) chloride in THF affords a dibenzoannellated 1,2,4,6-cycloheptatetraene which undergoes a rare cyclotetramerization. The crystal structure of this "formal" 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 cyclotetramer (2) reveals a central eight-membered ring folded in a zigzag fashion with hydrogen atoms and exocyclic double bonds occupying axial positions. B3LYP/6-31+G** calculations indicate that the strained cyclic allene is significantly distorted and could be formed by ring expansion of a putative cyclopropylidene intermediate.

Fibroepithelial polyps of the ureter: a single-institutional experience.

Objective: Ureteral fibroepithelial polyps (UFP) are rare lesions that may mimic ureteral malignancy, and management is not well defined. We report our experience with the management of UFP.

Materials And Methods: Between 1945 and 2008, review of our clinical database identified 27 patients who were found to have UFP.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic transvesical diverticulectomy and simple prostatectomy.

Acquired bladder diverticula are often associated with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). The increased voiding pressures required to overcome the BOO attenuate the detrusor and promote formation of diverticula. These patients may develop urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and incomplete bladder emptying.