Mild Systemic Inflammation Increases Erythrocyte Fragility.

There is growing evidence that inflammation impairs erythrocyte structure and function. We assessed the impact of mild systemic inflammation on erythrocyte fragility in three different settings. In order to investigate causation, erythrocyte osmotic fragility was measured in mice challenged with a live attenuated bacterial strain to induce low-grade systemic inflammation; a significant increase in erythrocyte osmotic fragility was observed.

Outcomes of a Standardized Pain Pathway for Transgender Patients Undergoing Vaginoplasty and Vulvoplasty.

Objective: To establish and evaluate a multimodal, opioid-minimizing pathway for gender-affirming vaginoplasty (GAVa) and vulvoplasty (GAVu) in treating postoperative pain.

Methods: A standardized pain pathway including opioids, non-opioid analgesics, and patient counseling was implemented at a single academic institution with a center for transgender care. Postoperative pain levels, analgesia methods, and opioid use for 84 GAVa and 64 GAVu patients were prospectively gathered during inpatient postoperative days 2-4 and outpatient follow-up at 2 weeks.

Interest In and Prior Receipt of Counseling on Fertility Preservation in Transgender Patients Presenting for Gender-affirming Orchiectomy.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of patients presenting for gender-affirming bilateral simple orchiectomy including interest in and prior education on reproductive options prior to gonad removal.

Methods: A retrospective chart review evaluated patients seeking gender-affirming bilateral orchiectomy. Data collected included age, family history, history of fertility preservation education prior to gender-affirming hormone therapy initiation, prior fertility preservation, interest in fertility preservation, and postorchiectomy surgical pathology results where applicable.

Minimizing opioids after gender affirming orchiectomy - a multimodal pain pathway.

Introduction: To evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized multimodal pain pathway for gender affirming orchiectomy (GAO) in adequately addressing postoperative pain while reducing the prescribing of unnecessary opioids.

Materials And Methods: A standardized discharge pain pathway for GAO +/- scrotectomy or testicular implants was implemented between May 2020 and March 2022. A retrospective analysis was performed on all consecutive patients who underwent GAO with a single surgeon.

Comparative evaluation of modified crater (endonucleation) chop and conventional crater chop techniques during phacoemulsification of hard nuclear cataracts: A randomized study.

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes of endonucleation chop (EC) versus conventional crater (CC) chop techniques in phacoemulsification of hard nuclear cataracts.

Methods: In this Prospective, longitudinal, randomized controlled study with double-blinding. Hundred consecutive eyes with uncomplicated cataracts (nucleus grades 3 and 4) were equally divided into Group A (EC) and Group B (CC).

Orbital magnetic resonance imaging profile and clinicoradiological correlation in COVID-19-associated rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis: A single-center study of 270 patients from North India.

Purpose: To study the clinical profile and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features in patients of COVID-19-associated rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (CA-ROCM) with orbital involvement and perform a clinicoradiological correlation.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at a tertiary care center in north India from May 2021 to June 2021. Consecutive patients with clinical, nasal endoscopic, and/or microbiological evidence of CA-ROCM underwent MRI of paranasal sinuses, orbit, and brain as per the study protocol.

A study of the association between Vitamin D deficiency and Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) in the Indian population.

Purpose: A study of the association between vitamin D deficiency and dry eye syndrome (DES) in the Indian population.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based observational study. Sixty patients diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/dl) who met the inclusion criteria were sent to the Eye OPD from the Endocrinology OPD (case) were compared to 60 subjects with normal vitamin D levels (≥20 ng/dl) who attended the Eye OPD (controls).

Systemic Inflammation Accelerates Changes in Microglial and Synaptic Markers in an Experimental Model of Chronic Neurodegeneration.

Bacterial infections are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly, and particularly in individuals with a neurodegenerative disease. Experimental models of neurodegeneration have shown that LPS-induced systemic inflammation increases neuronal damage, a process thought to be mediated by activation of "primed" microglia. The effects of a real systemic bacterial infection on the innate immune cells in the brain and neuronal networks are less well described, and therefore, in this study we use the ME7 prion model to investigate the alterations in microglia activation and phenotype and synaptic markers in response to a low grade, live bacterial infection.

Addressing Burnout in Urology: A Qualitative Assessment of Interventions.

Introduction: We characterized physician burnout among urologists to determine the prevalence and efficacy of specific burnout interventions utilized and to determine involvement of workplaces in effective burnout interventions.

Methods: The Western Section of the American Urological Association created an electronic, 29 question workforce survey. Several questions focused on assessing the level of urologist burnout, prevalence of work sponsored burnout interventions and efficacy of specific interventions.

Evaluating the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the intraocular fluid of COVID-19 patients.

Purpose: To detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in aqueous and vitreous humor of COVID-19 patients in a pilot study.

Methods: : Consecutive patients planned for emergency ophthalmic surgeries after ocular trauma were subjected to naso-oropharyngeal RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2. Laboratory-confirmed cases were enrolled for the study.

Incidence and causes of negative dysphotopsia after uncomplicated cataract surgery - A randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find incidence of negative dysphotopsia (ND) in eyes undergoing clear corneal phacoemulsification and identify its causes including corneal wound hydration and type of intraocular lens (IOL).

Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, consenting adult patients undergoing phacoemulsification were randomized to receive a hydrophobic (Alcon Acrysof SN60WF) or a hydrophilic acrylic IOL (CT Asphina 603P, Carl Zeiss Meditec) in a 1:1 ratio. At time of surgery, eyes were again randomized in 1:1 fashion to receive stromal wound hydration or not (n = 80 each in four groups).

Post-Surgical Complications After Bladder Outlet Reducing Surgery: An Analysis of The FDA Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database.

Objective: To examine voluntary reports in the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database, categorize complications and assign device-related causality with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), prostatic urethral lift (PUL), and transurethral water vapor therapy (TWVT).

Methods: A review was performed using the terms "Urolift," "Rezum," and "transurethral resection of the prostate" between 01/01/2015 and 12/31/2019. Duplicate and incomplete reports were excluded.

National patterns of injury and outcomes of gunshot wounds to the penis: A Trauma Quality Programs retrospective cohort analysis.

Aim: Gunshot wounds (GSW) to the penis represent a rare type of traumatic injury in the civilian United States population. Although small, single-center studies have reported results of care for these types of injured patients, no national analyses have examined this group.

Methods: A cohort of patients with GSW to the penis was identified using the 2017 American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Programs database, a comprehensive national database of 753 accredited trauma centers.

Burnout in the Urology Workforce: Voluntary Survey Results in the United States.

Introduction: Burnout among urologists is significant with studies estimating approximately 40% meet the criteria for burnout. This study sought to survey practicing urologists to identify factors associated with burnout and its implications.

Methods: A 16-question survey was created on SurveyMonkey.

Sustained Glycemic Control Observed in Diabetic Men Who Improve Hemoglobin A1c Values to Allow for Elective Penile Prosthesis Placement.

Objectives: We hypothesize that men with diabetes mellitus whose inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation is delayed for unacceptably high hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) will have durable improvements in their glycemic control after achieving acceptable HbA1c levels for surgery.

Methods: Per institutional protocol, an A1c <9% must be documented prior to IPP placement. After IRB approval, a single surgeon IPP database was retrospectively queried for data specific to diabetes mellitus management.

Hip Joint Pathology Among Men Referred to Urology for Chronic Orchialgia: A Source for Misdiagnosis and Opportunity for Quality Improvement.

Objective: To evaluate the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the ipsilateral hip(s) as part of the workup of men with chronic orchialgia (CO).

Methods: Following IRB approval, a retrospective chart review was performed from a single surgeon database of all men with a diagnosis of CO from June 2018 to October 2019 who underwent subsequent hip MRI evaluation.

Results: Ten men were identified.

A Quality Analysis of the Last Decade's Most Heavily Cited Data Relative to Outcomes After Penile Prosthesis Placement.

Background: The penile prosthesis has been used for men with erectile dysfunction for nearly 5 decades. Although many articles examine various outcome measures, wide variability exists in the quality of these studies.

Aim: We sought to critically evaluate the most referenced literature related to penile prosthesis outcomes over the last 10 years.

Multimodality imaging of the male urethra: trauma, infection, neoplasm, and common surgical repairs.

Objective: The aim of this article is to describe the indications and proper technique for RUG and MRI, their respective image findings in various disease states, and the common surgical techniques and imaging strategies employed for stricture correction.

Results: Because of its length and passage through numerous anatomic structures, the adult male urethra can undergo a wide array of acquired maladies, including traumatic injury, infection, and neoplasm. For the urologist, imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of these conditions, as well as complications such as stricture and fistula formation.

A lasered mouse model of retinal degeneration displays progressive outer retinal pathology providing insights into early geographic atrophy.

Early stages of geographic atrophy (GA) age-related macular degeneration is characterised by the demise of photoreceptors, which precedes the loss of underlying retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Sight-loss due to GA has no effective treatment; reflecting both the complexity of the disease and the lack of suitable animal models for testing potential therapies. We report the development and characterisation of a laser-induced mouse model with early GA-like pathology.

Engineering of erectile tissue: the state and future of corporal restoration.

Purpose: To provide an overview of the state of tissue engineering relative to male erectile tissue and the implications for treatment of penile pathology.

Methods: A PubMed review of the relevant peer-reviewed literature pertaining to engineering of penile tissues was performed.

Results: There are multiple pathologies that threaten form and/or function of the penis.

A User's Guide for Surgery Involving the Artificial Urinary Sphincter.

Introduction: The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) has long been regarded as the gold standard for surgical correction of male stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Despite impressive rates of initial success for restoration of continence, durability may wane to the point of considering revision surgery.

Aim: To provide a review of existing data as well as personal experience regarding patient selection, surgical technique, and postoperative troubleshooting for the AUS.

Biliary Decompression in Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma Improves Survival: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

Background And Aims: The complex biliary strictures of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma present significant challenges for providing adequate and long-lasting biliary drainage. The best approach to relieve obstruction remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess stenting outcomes in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Changes observed in prostate biopsy practices in an inner city hospital with a high risk patient population following the 2012 uspstf psa screening recommendations.

Introduction: We compared characteristics of patients undergoing prostate biopsy in a high-risk inner city population before and after the 2012 USPSTF recommendation against PSA based prostate cancer screening to determine its effect on prostate biopsy practices.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study including patients who received biopsies after an abnormal PSA measurement from October 2008-December 2015. Patients with previously diagnosed prostate cancer were excluded.