Effectiveness and patient satisfaction with the new sildenafil oral suspension formulation compared to sildenafil oro-dispersible film: a real-life study.

Sildenafil is one of the most used phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in clinical practice. A new oral suspension formulation (OSF) of sildenafil has been introduced to overcome the drawbacks of previous formulations. We assess the efficacy and patients' experience with sildenafil 50 mg OSF in men with ED who were taking the sildenafil oro-dispersible film (ODF).

Can nutraceuticals counteract the detrimental effects of the environment on male fertility? A parallel systematic review and expert opinion.

Introduction: Male fertility relies on a complex physiology that may be negatively influenced by lifestyle, diet, and environment. The beneficial effect of nutraceuticals on male fertility is a debated claim. The aim of this study was to assess if the positive effect of nutraceuticals can counteract the negative effects of the environment on male fertility.

Assessment of Effectiveness and Safety of Aspiration-Assisted Nephrostomic Access Sheaths in PCNL and Intrarenal Pressures Evaluation: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Different suction-assisted nephrostomic sheaths have been developed for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). (1) To examine PCNL techniques performed with different aspiration-assisted sheaths (Clear Petra sheath, Superperc, SuperminiPCNL, and a miniPCNL patented sheath), with specific regard to effectiveness and safety outcomes in adult and paediatric patients; (2) to extrapolate intrarenal pressure (IRP) data during these procedures. A systematic literature search was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

Oral preparation of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, N-acetylglucosamine, and vitamin C improves sexual and urinary symptoms in participants with recurrent urinary tract infections: a randomized crossover trial.

Background: Intravesical instillation of hyaluronic acid (HA) has been associated with reduced sexual dysfunction in participants with recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs), but the efficacy of an oral treatment has never been investigated.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of an oral preparation of HA, chondroitin sulfate, N-acetylglucosamine, and vitamin C in improving sexual and urinary symptoms in a cohort of reproductive-age participants with rUTI.

Methods: In a monocentric randomized crossover pilot trial, participants with rUTI who were referred to our institute between March 2022 and April 2023 were randomized 1:1 in 2 groups: intervention vs control.

Vacuum-assisted mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy is associated with lower rates of infectious complications compared to vacuum-cleaner procedure in patients at high risk for infections: a single-center experience.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of vacuum-assisted mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (vamPCNL) vs. vacuum-cleaner mPCNL (vcmPCNL) on the rate of postoperative infectious complications in a cohort of patients with high risk factors for infections.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from 145 patients who underwent mPCNL between 01/2016 and 12/2022.

Extended pelvic lymph node dissection during robotic prostatectomy: antegrade versus retrograde technique.

Background: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with extended lymphadenectomy (ePLND) is the gold standard for surgical treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). Recently, the en-bloc ePLND has been proposed but no studies reported on the standardization of the technique. The aim of the study is to describe different standardized en-bloc ePLND, the antegrade and the retrograde ePLND, and to compare their surgical and oncological outcomes.

Transient ureteral obstruction after mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy is associated with stone volume and location: results from a single-center, real-life study.

Purpose: To evaluate the rate of and predictors of ureteral obstruction after mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL) for kidney stones.

Methods: We analyzed data from 263 consecutive patients who underwent mPCNL at a single tertiary referral academic between 01/2016 and 11/2022. Patient's demographics, stone characteristics, and operative data were collected.

Perioperative and Survival Outcomes of Patients Treated With Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy and Percutaneous Microwave Ablation for Small Renal Masses: A Single Center Experience.

Background: Robot assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and microwave ablation (MWA) are 2 of the most advanced techniques for the management of localized small renal masses.

Purpose: To compare the perioperative, functional and oncological results of RAPN and MWA.

Materials And Methods: Data from 171 consecutive patients undergoing either RAPN or MWA for a localized small renal mass at a single academic center was retrospectively collected.

Clinical and time-related predictors of sepsis in patients with obstructive uropathy due to ureteral stones in the emergency setting.

Purpose: Well-defined clinical predictors of sepsis after upper tract drainage for obstructive uropathy due to ureteral stones are needed. We aim to determine whether sepsis after decompression of the upper urinary tract may be predicted by clinical and time-related factors, specifically delay time from symptom onset to hospital presentation (StH) and from hospital presentation to surgical decompression (HtD).

Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, data from 196 consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department for obstructive uropathy due to ureteral stones and submitted to surgical decompression were evaluated.

Radiation Exposure and Surgical Outcomes after Antegrade Sclerotherapy for the Treatment of Varicocele in the Paediatric Population: A Single Centre Experience.

Introduction: Antegrade sclerotherapy (Tauber) effectively treats varicocele. However, fluoroscopy exposes young males to ionizing radiation. We aimed to evaluate radiation exposure and surgical outcomes after the Tauber procedure.

The clinical role of bacteremia and bacterial spread into the irrigation fluid during percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a prospective study.

Purpose: Backflow of pathogens and endotoxins from the renal pelvis to the bloodstream is one supposed mechanism for infectious complications development after endourological stones surgery. The aim of this study is detecting to prove bacterial spread into irrigation fluid and bloodstream during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and to correlate these findings with clinical and microbiological parameters and infectious complications (IC).

Methods: Bladder urine culture (BUC) was retrieved before PCNL; during the procedure, 2 blood samples (BC) and an irrigation fluid sample during fragmentation (SFUC) were collected for culture.

Validation of the Trifecta Scoring Metric in Vacuum-Assisted Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Scoring metrics to assess and compare outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) are needed. We aim to evaluate prevalence and predictors of trifecta in a cohort of patients treated with vacuum-assisted mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (vmPCNL) for kidney stones. Methods: Data from 287 participants who underwent vmPCNL were analysed.

Urologists are optimistic surgeons: prevalence and predictors of discordance between intraoperative stone-free rate and cross-sectional imaging evaluation after vacuum-assisted mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Purpose: To assess how accurate are urologists in predicting stone-free status (SFS) after vacuum-assisted mini-PCNL (vamPCNL) compared to computed tomography (CT) and clinical predictors of discordant SFS.

Methods: Data from 235 patients who underwent vamPCNL were analysed. Patient's demographics, stones' characteristics and operative data were recorded.

The comprehensive complication index as a tool for reporting the burden of complications after mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy: is it time to leave the Clavien-Dindo classification behind?

Purpose: To validate the comprehensive complication index (CCI) for mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL).

Methods: Data from 287 patients who underwent mPCNL were analyzed. Complications after mPCNL were classified using both the CCI and the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC).

The Effect of CO Pressure and Flow Variation on Carbon Particles Spread During Pneumoperitoneum: An Experimental Study.

A correlation between atypical recurrences and minimally-invasive surgery has been suggested in case of urothelial cancer; however, few data are available on the role of pneumoperitoneum in terms of gas flow and intra-abdominal pressure. The objective of the study is to analyze the impact of CO pneumoperitoneum variation on an inert material as surrogate of neoplastic cells. We designed an experimental model mimicking pneumoperitoneum in three settings: sealed flow (no leakage), pulsatile flow (alternating efflux and influx), and continuous flow (AirSeal insufflator).

Development of a Novel Clinical and Radiologic Risk Score to Predict Septic Complications After Urinary Decompression in Patients with Obstructive Uropathy.

Well-defined clinical predictors of sepsis after upper tract drainage for obstructive uropathy are lacking. The study aim is to develop a data-driven score to predict risk of sepsis after decompression of the upper urinary tract. Complete clinical and radiologic data from 271 patients entering the emergency department for obstructive uropathy and submitted to stent/nephrostomy tube decompression were evaluated.

Statin Use and Association with Postoperative Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rates in Patients Undergoing Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy.

To evaluate the association between preoperative statin use with changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). Three hundred eighty-nine consecutive patients undergoing RAPN were evaluated. Associations of preoperative statin use with change in eGFR from pre-RAPN to postoperative day 1 (POD1), 1, 6, and 12 months after RAPN were evaluated using longitudinal mixed-effects regression models with random patient-specific intercepts and slopes while accounting for imbalance of preoperative patient and tumor characteristics between groups with stabilized inverse propensity score weighting.

Spontaneous Upper Urinary Tract Rupture Caused by Ureteric Stones: Clinical Characteristics and Validation of a Radiological Classification System.

Background: This study seeks to validate a radiological classification system of spontaneous upper urinary tract rupture (sUUTR) and to analyse its relationship with clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics of sUUTR.

Methods: We analysed data from 66 patients with a computerised tomography (CT)-proven sUUTR treated with ureteral or nephrostomy catheter positioning. Comorbidities were scored with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI).

Cost analysis between mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy with and without vacuum-assisted access sheath.

Purpose: To perform a cost analysis between vacuum-assisted percutaneous nephrolithotomy (vmPCNL) and minimally invasive PCNL (MIP) and explore potential predictors of costs associated with the procedures.

Methods: We analyzed data from 225 patients who underwent vmPCNL or MIP at a single tertiary referral academic center between January 2016 and December 2020. We collected patients' demographics, peri-and postoperative data and detailed expense records.

The Matryoshka technique in percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Objective: Miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) reduces the risk of haemorrhagic complications, but the limited field of work represents a drawback. To obtain the best outcomes, the percutaneous access size should be intraoperatively tailored. Our purpose is to describe the indications and the procedural steps of the Matryoshka technique and to report its clinical outcomes.