Publications by authors named "Antonio Tufano"

Article Synopsis
  • This study aimed to analyze how common surgically induced chronic kidney disease (CKD-S) is in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after they undergo radical nephroureterectomy (RNU), focusing on survival outcomes.* -
  • Researchers looked at data from 1,862 patients and found that 34.7% developed CKD-S3a and 39.6% developed CKD-S3b after surgery, with older age, lower preoperative kidney function, and certain chemotherapy treatments linked to higher risks of developing CKD-S3b.* -
  • The study revealed that while CKD-S3b patients had worse overall survival rates (59% over 5 years), CK
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Background: Oxidative stress has emerged as a key contributor to numerous NCDs (non-communicable diseases), including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. This study aims to explore the potential of targeted interventions to mitigate oxidative stress as part of a primary prevention strategy.

Methods: The study included 32 healthy participants (11 men, 21 women) aged 45-65 who completed both the initial and follow-up assessments of the Healthy Days Initiative, a community-based wellness program organized by the non-profit Associazione O.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the effects of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy on survival rates in patients with Upper tract urothelial carcinoma undergoing Nephroureterectomy, using data from a multicenter registry.
  • A total of 1,994 patients were analyzed, revealing that neoadjuvant chemotherapy notably improved cancer-specific and overall survival, especially in patients with advanced tumors or positive nodes.
  • The results suggest a significant survival benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy, indicating a need for further research to explore its impact in this patient population.
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Objective: To analyse surgical, functional, and mid-term oncological outcomes of robot-assisted nephroureterectomy (RANU) in a contemporary large multi-institutional setting.

Patients And Methods: Data were retrieved from the ROBotic surgery for Upper tract Urothelial cancer STtudy (ROBUUST) 2.0 database, an international, multicentre registry encompassing data of patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma undergoing curative surgery between 2015 and 2022.

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Background: Recently, an innovative tool called "proficiency score" was introduced to assess the learning curve for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). However, the initial study only focused on patients with low-risk prostate cancer for whom pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) was not required. To address this issue, we aimed to validate proficiency scores of a contemporary multicenter cohort of patients with high-risk prostate cancer treated with RARP plus extended PLND by trainee surgeons.

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Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an advanced imaging technique that integrates conventional US with the intravenous injection of specific US contrast agents (UCAs), combining the non-invasiveness of US with the higher accuracy of contrast-enhanced imaging. In contrast with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and cystoscopy, CEUS has few contraindications, and UCAs are non-nephrotoxic agents that can be safely used in patients with kidney failure. CEUS is a well-established method for the detection of liver lesions and for echocardiography, and its indications are expanding.

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Background: In intermediate/high risk prostate cancer, preoperative staging exams are mandatory. The aim of these imaging studies is to evaluate eventual lymph nodes involvement and/or metastatic spread of the tumor. Nevertheless, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), bone scan modalities have controversial sensitivity.

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We aimed to report sexual and reproductive outcomes following post-chemotherapy robot-assisted retroperitoneal unilateral lymph node dissection (PC-rRPLND) for non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs) at a high-volume cancer center. We collected records regarding sexual and reproductive outcomes of patients undergoing unilateral PC-rRPLND for stage II NSGCTs from January 2018 to November 2021. Preoperative and postoperative (at 12 months) ejaculatory function as well as erectile function, based on the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Erection Hardness Score (EHS), were assessed.

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Background: The role of kidney-sparing surgery in patients with high-risk upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma is controversial. The present study aimed to assess oncological and functional outcomes of robot-assisted distal ureterectomy in patients with high-risk distal ureteral tumors.

Methods: The ROBUUST 2.

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Background: Diagnostic ureteroscopy (URS) with or without biopsy remains a subject of contention in the management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), with varying recommendations across different guidelines. The study aims to analyse the decision-making and prognostic role of diagnostic ureteroscopy (URS) in high-risk UTUC patients undergoing curative surgery.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective multi-institutional analysis of high-risk UTUC patients from the ROBUUST dataset, a comparison between patients who received or not preoperative URS and biopsy before curative surgery was carried out.

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This review focuses on ablative techniques for small renal masses (SRMs), including radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoablation (CA), microwave ablation (MWA), and irreversible electroporation (IRE), and discusses recurrence management. Through an extensive literature review, we outline the procedures, outcomes, and follow-up strategies associated with each ablative method. The review provides a detailed examination of these techniques-RFA, CA, MWA, and IRE-elucidating their respective outcomes.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the effectiveness of the preoperative albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) in predicting pathologic node-positive disease in penile cancer patients undergoing lymph node removal.
  • Researchers analyzed clinical data from 42 patients with squamous cell carcinoma who had surgery between 2016 and 2021, establishing a significant AAPR cutoff value of 0.53.
  • Findings suggest that a lower AAPR, along with other factors like lymphovascular invasion and existing clinical node-positive disease, significantly predicts the likelihood of pathologic node-positive involvement in these patients.
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: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is increasingly being employed in the management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and it is expanding in the field of complex renal tumors. The aim of this systematic review was to consolidate and assess the results of RAPN when dealing with entirely central hilar masses and to examine the various methods used to address the surgical difficulties associated with them. : A thorough literature search in September 2023 across various databases focused on RAPN for renal hilar masses, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.

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(1) Background: Less than 30% of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and reasons for underuse remain unclear. One potential explanation is the concern for the increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of NAC on the risk of detrimental perioperative outcomes in patients with MIBC treated with radical cystectomy (RC).

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Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a diagnostic tool that is gaining popularity for its ability to improve overall diagnostic accuracy in bladder cancer (BC) staging. Our aim is to determine the cumulative diagnostic performance of CEUS in predicting preoperative muscle invasiveness using a comprehensive systematic review and pooled meta-analysis.

Methods: A systematic review until October 2023 was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement.

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Incidental findings of renal masses are increasing. However, a substantial portion of surgically treated renal masses turn out to be benign on histopathological examination. Thus, there is a clear need for improved pre-surgical assessment to minimize unnecessary invasive procedures.

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Background: Men with localized invasive penile cancer (PC) can be treated with organ-sparing treatments with different functional and aesthetical outcomes. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate sexual outcomes in patients with PC confined to the glans that underwent wide local excision (WLE) vs. glansectomy with urethral glanduloplasty.

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Objective: Post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) represents an integral component of the management of patients with non-seminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT). Modified templates have been proposed to minimize the surgical morbidity of the procedure. Moreover, the implementation of robotic surgery in this setting has been explored.

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Article Synopsis
  • Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) using the CyberKnife System shows high rates of control and low toxicity in treating low to intermediate-risk prostate cancer, with no differences in effectiveness based on radiation dose.
  • A study involving 122 patients monitored biochemical control, toxicity levels, and quality of life, revealing strong biochemical disease-free survival rates over 1, 2, and 5 years.
  • Toxicity levels were minimal, with only a small percentage of patients experiencing Grade 2 urinary and rectal issues, and no severe toxicities (Grade 3-4) recorded, indicating the treatment's safety.
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  • The study aimed to review the effectiveness of the Fournier gangrene severity index (FGSI) and its simplified versions in predicting mortality in patients with Fournier's Gangrene.
  • Data was collected from 40 studies, involving 2,257 patients, and analyzed for differences in severity scores between survivors and non-survivors.
  • Results showed that higher FGSI, SFGSI, and UFGSI scores at admission correlated with higher mortality rates, with the Uludag FGSI demonstrating the best accuracy in predicting outcomes.
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Background: BPH-6 achievement remains an objective far to be evaluated for every technique currently available for the surgical management of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) with the goal of preserving ejaculatory function. The aim of this study was to evaluate predictors of BPH-6 achievement of urethral-sparing robot assisted simple prostatectomy (us-RASP) on a large series performed at two tertiary-care centers.

Methods: Two institutional us-RASP datasets were merged, considering eligible all patients with a follow-up >12 months.

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