Risk factors for residual disease at re-TUR in a large cohort of T1G3 patients.

Introduction And Objectives: The goals of transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TUR) are to completely resect the lesions and to make a correct diagnosis in order to adequately stage the patient. It is well known that the presence of detrusor muscle in the specimen is a prerequisite to minimize the risk of under staging. Persistent disease after resection of bladder tumors is not uncommon and is the reason why the European Guidelines recommended a re-TUR for all T1 tumors.

Association of patients' sex with treatment outcomes after intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy for T1G3/HG bladder cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the association of patients' sex with recurrence and disease progression in patients treated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for T1G3/HG urinary bladder cancer (UBC).

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the data of 2635 patients treated with adjuvant intravesical BCG for T1 UBC between 1984 and 2019. We accounted for missing data using multiple imputations and adjusted for covariate imbalance between males and females using inverse probability weighting (IPW).

Correction to: Outcome of kidney function after ischaemic and zero-ischaemic laparoscopic and open nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell cancer.

Following publication.

Outcome of kidney function after ischaemic and zero-ischaemic laparoscopic and open nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell cancer.

Background: Nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) remains gold standard for the treatment of localised renal cell cancer (RCC), even in case of a normal contralateral kidney. Compared to radical nephrectomy, kidney failure and cardiovascular events are less frequent with NSS. However, the effects of different surgical approaches and of zero ischaemia on the postoperative reduction in renal function remain controversial.

Predictors of oncological outcomes in T1G3 patients treated with BCG who undergo radical cystectomy.

Purpose: To evaluate the oncological impact of postponing radical cystectomy (RC) to allow further conservative therapies prior to progression in a large multicentre retrospective cohort of T1-HG/G3 patients initially treated with BCG.

Methods: According to the time of RC, the population was divided into 3 groups: patients who did not progress to muscle-invasive disease, patients who progressed before radical cystectomy and patients who experienced progression at the time of radical cystectomy. Clinical and pathological outcomes were compared across the three groups.

Oncological outcomes, quality of life outcomes and complications of partial cystectomy for selected cases of muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

To evaluate the oncological results, associated complications, and postoperative health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients treated with partial cystectomy (PC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). 27 patients who underwent open PC for cT2 MIBC were included. A simple Cox's proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association of several potential prognostic factors with survival.

Recurrence, progression and cancer-specific mortality according to stage at re-TUR in T1G3 bladder cancer patients treated with BCG: not as bad as previously thought.

Purpose: The goals of transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TUR) are to completely resect the lesions and to make a correct diagnosis to adequately stage and treat the patient. Persistent disease after TUR is not uncommon and is why re-TUR is recommended in T1G3 patients. When there is T1 tumor in the re-TUR specimen, very high risks of progression (82%) have been reported.

Influence of hematuria and infection on diagnostic accuracy of urinary LASP1: a new biomarker for bladder carcinoma.

Aim: To further promote the clinical use of urinary LASP1 as biomarker for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder regarding limitations and alternative testing systems.

Patients & Methods: Urine stabilization, alternative measurement systems and limitations by erythrocyte contamination and infection were investigated in 246 patients.

Results: Thimerosal allowed sufficient stabilization.

The SIGHT questionnaire: A novel assessment tool for Satisfaction In Genital Hypospadias Treatment.

Purpose: Psychosexual development is currently underrepresented in hypospadias outcome research. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire addressing psychosexual long-term satisfaction, specifically of adolescent patients, after hypospadias repair.

Materials And Methods: In a multistep participative design we identified key interests of adolescent patients with hypospadias.

The efficacy of BCG TICE and BCG Connaught in a cohort of 2,099 patients with T1G3 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Background: Potential differences in efficacy of different bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) strains are of importance for daily practice, especially in the era of BCG shortage.

Objective: To retrospectively compare the outcome with BCG Connaught and BCG TICE in a large study cohort of pT1 high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Individual patient data were collected for 2,451 patients with primary T1G3 tumors from 23 centers who were treated with BCG for the first time between 1990 and 2011.

Quantum Effects in Higher-Order Correlators of a Quantum-Dot Spin Qubit.

We measure time correlators of a spin qubit in an optically active quantum dot beyond the second order. Such higher-order correlators are shown to be directly sensitive to pure quantum effects that cannot be explained within the classical framework. They allow direct determination of ensemble and quantum dephasing times, T_{2}^{*} and T_{2}, using only repeated projective measurements and without the need for coherent spin control.

Coulomb Mediated Hybridization of Excitons in Coupled Quantum Dots.

We report Coulomb mediated hybridization of excitonic states in optically active InGaAs quantum dot molecules. By probing the optical response of an individual quantum dot molecule as a function of the static electric field applied along the molecular axis, we observe unexpected avoided level crossings that do not arise from the dominant single-particle tunnel coupling. We identify a new few-particle coupling mechanism stemming from Coulomb interactions between different neutral exciton states.

Dynamics of Urinary Calprotectin after Renal Ischaemia.

Background: Urinary calprotectin has been identified as a promising biomarker for acute kidney injury. To date, however, the time-dependent changes of this parameter during acute kidney injury remain elusive. The aim of the present work was to define the time-course of urinary calprotectin secretion after ischaemia/reperfusion-induced kidney injury in comparison to neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, thereby monitoring the extent of tubular damage in nephron sparing surgery for kidney tumours.

Urothelial Cancer in Renal Transplant Recipients: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Oncological Outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for urothelial cancer (UC) as well as the oncological outcome and allograft function in renal transplant recipients.

Subjects/patients: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1855 consecutive patients undergoing renal transplantation (TX) between February 1982 and May 2014 at a single center. UC incidence, overall and cancer-specific survival, recurrence and progression rates, risk factors for UC, and renal function were determined.

The impact of re-transurethral resection on clinical outcomes in a large multicentre cohort of patients with T1 high-grade/Grade 3 bladder cancer treated with bacille Calmette-Guérin.

Objectives: To determine if a re-transurethral resection (TUR), in the presence or absence of muscle at the first TUR in patients with T1-high grade (HG)/Grade 3 (G3) bladder cancer, makes a difference in recurrence, progression, cancer specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS).

Patients And Methods: In a large retrospective multicentre cohort of 2451 patients with T1-HG/G3 initially treated with bacille Calmette-Guérin, 935 (38%) had a re-TUR. According to the presence or absence of muscle in the specimen of the primary TUR, patients were divided in four groups: group 1 (no muscle, no re-TUR), group 2 (no muscle, re-TUR), group 3 (muscle, no re-TUR) and group 4 (muscle, re-TUR).

An anti-ubiquitin antibody response in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Background: To use combinatorial epitope mapping ("fingerprinting") of the antibody response to identify targets of the humoral immune response in patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder.

Methods: A combinatorial random peptide library was screened on the circulating pool of immunoglobulins purified from an index patient with a high risk TCC (pTa high grade plus carcinoma in situ) to identify corresponding target antigens. A patient cohort was investigated for antibody titers against ubiquitin.

Prognostic factors and risk groups in T1G3 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients initially treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin: results of a retrospective multicenter study of 2451 patients.

Background: The impact of prognostic factors in T1G3 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (BCa) patients is critical for proper treatment decision making.

Objective: To assess prognostic factors in patients who received bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) as initial intravesical treatment of T1G3 tumors and to identify a subgroup of high-risk patients who should be considered for more aggressive treatment.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Individual patient data were collected for 2451 T1G3 patients from 23 centers who received BCG between 1990 and 2011.

The glandular resection and central embedding modification (GRACE) in Duckett and Barcat hypospadias repair.

Introduction: We recently reported a novel modification of the Barcat technique termed glandular resection and central embedding (GRACE). Here, we report results from a large patient population and apply this modification also to Duckett hypospadias repair.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 488 patients who had undergone primary or secondary hypospadias repair by Barcat or Duckett using the GRACE modification.

Standardized flexible ureteroscopic technique to improve stone-free rates.

Objective: To present a unique completely standardized sequence of steps performed before, during, and after flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) that achieves superior results for FURS treatment of renal calculi.

Materials And Methods: The "Freiburg FURS technique" includes the following steps: (a) preoperative ureteral stenting; (b) placement of 2 hydrophilic wires; (c) semirigid ureteroscopy before FURS; (d) the use of a large access sheath (14F-16F) if multiple ureteral passages are expected; (e) the use of a 2-working channel flexible endoscope; (f) a modified active flushing system; and (g) an advanced holmium laser technique with complete stone extraction. We performed a prospective analysis of 153 consecutive FURS procedures for nephrolithiasis from August 2009 to July 2011.

Glandular resection and central embedding in hypospadias repair--a novel modification of the Barcat technique.

Purpose: Urethrocutaneous fistula and urethral or meatal stricture, to date, remain the commonest complications of hypospadias repair, with increased tissue tension being a major cause of failure. We developed a novel technique comprising glandular resection and central embedding of the neourethra to specifically address this critical issue. We report the results of the first 112 procedures, of which 7 cases were a secondary hypospadias repair.

LASP-1, a novel urinary marker for detection of bladder cancer.

Objectives: The LIM and SH3 (LASP)-1 protein is a focal adhesion protein that has been linked to oncogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic use of the detection of LASP-1 in tumor specimens and in urine for noninvasive detection of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

Materials And Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for LASP-1 was performed on 72 archived bladder tumor specimens, and LASP-1 content was measured in 132 spontaneous urine sample sediments by Western blot analysis.

Nephron sparing surgery in von Hippel-Lindau associated renal cell carcinoma; clinicopathological long-term follow-up.

We evaluated the clinicopathological outcome of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)-patients who had mainly undergone nephron sparing surgery (NSS) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) when the tumour diameter has reached 4.0 cm. Multiple, bilateral RCC with high recurrence rates and subsequent repeated interventions, followed by increasing risk for end-stage renal failure and metastases is characteristic for VHL.

[The Freiburg Index of Patient Satisfaction: introduction and validation of a new questionnaire].

Background: In the era of evidence-based medicine health-related quality of life measurements are recognized as valuable indicative factors. Because there was no generally applicable questionnaire addressing patient satisfaction after interventional or surgical procedures, the Freiburg Index of Patient Satisfaction was developed and psychometrically evaluated.

Methods: A preliminary version was evaluated and optimized through structured interviews with 20 patients (qualitative pre-study).

[Modern urinary stone therapy: is the era of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy at an end?].

Background: Treatment of urolithiasis saw major changes with the introduction of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and percutaneous and ureteroscopic techniques in the 1980s. Since then these minimally invasive treatment modalities have continuously been developed further.

Results: For years ESWL has been the treatment of choice.