Epigenetic insights to pediatric uropathology: Celebrating the fundamental biology vision of Tony Khoury.

Introduction: Many pediatric urology conditions affect putatively normal tissues or appear too commonly to be based solely on specific DNA mutations. Understanding epigenetic mechanisms in pediatric urology, therefore, has many implications that can impact cell and tissue responses to settings, such as environmental and hormonal influences on urethral development, uropathogenic infections, obstructive stimuli, all of which originate externally or extracellularly. Indeed, the cell's response to external stimuli is often mediated epigenetically.

EZH2 and matrix co-regulate phenotype and KCNB2 expression in bladder smooth muscle cells.

Background: Partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBO) is a widespread cause of urinary dysfunction and patient discomfort, resulting in immense health care costs. Previously, we found that obstruction is associated with altered regulation of epigenetic machinery and altered function. Here we examined if PBO and chronic bladder obstructive disease (COBD) affect epigenetic marks in a proof of principle gene and explored mechanisms of its epigenetic regulation using models.

Contralateral testicular hypertrophy is associated with a higher incidence of absent testis in children with non-palpable testis.

Background And Objective: The objective of our study is to examine the impact of monorchism on contralateral testicular size in children with non-palpable testis (NPT). Enhanced contralateral testicular volume or longitudinal diameter (length) serves as a predictor of monorchism. In the present study, we assessed the ability of ultrasound measured enlarged contralateral testicular length for predicting monorchism (and hence a testicular nubbin) in children with NPT.

A comparison of patient and parental experiences and diagnostic quality of suprapubic versus transurethral voiding cystourethrogram in children.

Introduction: Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) used in the radiologic evaluation of the upper and lower urinary tract can be performed by suprapubic puncture (SP) or by transurethral catheterization (TC). Data on which instillation technique is superior are scarce. VCUG tends to be a distressing procedure for both parents and children.

Serious and Fatal Complications after Neonatal Circumcision.

Neonatal circumcision (NNC) is the most frequently performed surgical procedure worldwide and is generally considered safe in Western societies. Deaths attributed to NNC are seldom reported and are mostly explained by lack of adherence to medical standards. We reviewed our emergency department database for circumcision-related emergency admissions.

Symptom change trajectories in patients with persistent somatic symptoms and their association to long-term treatment outcome.

Objective: This study investigated symptom change trajectory for patients with persistent somatic symptoms (PSS) during psychotherapy and the association of these patterns with pre-treatment characteristics and long-term outcome.

Methods: Growth mixture modeling was used to identify trajectory curves in a sample of  = 210 outpatients diagnosed with PSS and treated either with conventional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or CBT enriched with emotion regulation training (ENCERT).

Results: We identified three subgroups of patients with similar symptom change patterns over the course of treatment (a "no change," "strong response," and "slow change" subgroup).

Network Analysis of Persistent Somatic Symptoms in Two Clinical Patient Samples.

Objective: Previous attempts to group persistent somatic symptoms (PSSs) with factor-analytic approaches have obtained heterogeneous results. An alternative approach that seems to be more suitable is the network theory. Compared with factor analysis, which focuses on the underlying factor of symptoms, network analysis focuses on the dynamic relationships and interactions among different symptoms.

Predicting optimal treatment outcomes using the Personalized Advantage Index for patients with persistent somatic symptoms.

Because individual patients with persistent somatic symptoms (PSS) respond differently to treatments, a better understanding of the factors that predict therapy outcomes are of high importance. Aggregating a wide selection of information into the treatment-decision process is a challenge for clinicians. Using the Personalized Advantage Index (PAI) this study aims to deal with this.

Subjective cognitive and neurocognitive functions over the course of CBT.

The aim of the study was to investigate changes in both subjectively and objectively measured cognitive functions as well as their discrepancy in outpatients with major depression disorder in the course of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). A neuropsychological test battery with cognitive tests measuring the domains of attention, memory, and executive functions as well as a questionnaire for the self-assessment of cognitive functions (FLei) in these domains were administered to depressed outpatients (n = 46) at the beginning of CBT, post-treatment after on average 40 sessions, as well as six months after the end of treatment. We found that subjectively as well as objectively measured cognitive functions did not change.

SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in medical employees in a large urologic department: Spread, containment and outcome.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge to health care systems worldwide. Data on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a hospital is rare and outbreaks among health care professionals are complex to control.

Material And Methods: Over the course of 6 consecutive weeks we recorded data on an exponential outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 within our department.

Longitudinal Changes of Cognitive Deficits and Treatment Outcome of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Major Depression.

The current study examined neuropsychological changes over the course of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in outpatients with major depressive disorder and the influence of cognitive deficits as predictors of clinical outcome in depression. A neuropsychological test battery was carried out on depressed outpatients (N = 54) at the beginning and at the end of CBT. Small improvements were found in divided attention, figural memory, and processing speed from pre- to posttreatment.

Turning a new “page”: ways to decrease the number of pages after hours without compromising patient care.

Background: Pages to house staff after hours, especially overnight, lead to interrupted sleep and fatigue the next day. Although some pages are urgent, others may not need an immediate response. In this study we aimed to identify unwarranted pages and to establish ways to reduce them.

[Hormonal therapy for undescended testes: an outdated concept?].

For decades, hormonal therapy was considered an integral part of the treatment regimen for undescended testes, particularly in Europe. However, the available data are controversial. According to many studies and a large meta-analysis, testicular descent can only be achieved in approximately 20 % of cases, whereas a few small studies report better results.

Neurocognitive profile of outpatients with unipolar depressive disorders.

: It is widely accepted that major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with impairments in several cognitive domains in inpatients, but cognitive functioning has barely been systematically investigated in depressed outpatients. The aims of the present study were to examine cognitive functioning in depressed outpatients in comparison with healthy controls and to determine whether cognitive deficits vary as a function of different disorder characteristics and demographic variables. : We compared 103 outpatients with recurrent MDD in an acute phase of the illness with 103 healthy controls matched on age, gender, and education level using a neuropsychological battery covering the domains of processing speed, attention, memory, working memory, and executive functions.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Complemented with Emotion Regulation Training for Patients with Persistent Physical Symptoms: A Randomised Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Persistent medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are a major burden for health care. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is efficacious for patients with MUS, with small to medium effects. The current study investigates whether therapy outcomes of a CBT for MUS patients can be improved by complementing it with emotion regulation training.

Longitudinal course of cognitive function across treatment in patients with MDD: A meta-analysis.

Background: The longitudinal change of cognitive function across psychological treatment remains unclear. The aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesize results from longitudinal studies of cognitive deficits in MDD patients across treatment to examine change and determine domains that are most sensitive to change.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Science direct, and Google scholar databases.

The role of therapist and patient in-session behavior for treatment outcome in exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder with agoraphobia.

Objective: There is a very limited amount of research on the relationship between therapist and patient in-session behavior and treatment outcome in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for panic disorder with agoraphobia (PD/AG). Additionally, the findings tend to be inconclusive. This study investigates the association between therapist competence, adherence, patient interpersonal behavior, and therapeutic alliance and outcome in a low-control CBT setting by using comprehensive measures.

Biased neurocognitive self-perception in depressive and in healthy persons.

Background: Cognitive deficits across several domains and subjective complaints about cognition are prevalent in major depression disorder (MDD). Nevertheless, subjective and objective cognitive functions show no associations. However, research concerning the extent and direction of discrepancy is rare.

Impaired emotion processing and a reduction in trust in patients with somatic symptom disorder.

There is accumulating evidence for deficits in the perception and regulation of one's own emotions, as well as the recognition of others' emotions in somatic symptom disorder (SSD). However, investigations of SSD focusing on specific aspects of emotion processing and how these might interact are missing. We included 35 patients with SSD and 35 healthy controls who completed questionnaires on the perception and regulation of their own emotions, as well as experimental investigations of emotion recognition and trust.