Infant cries convey both stable and dynamic information about age and identity.

What information is encoded in the cries of human babies? While it is widely recognized that cries can encode distress levels, whether cries reliably encode the cause of crying remains disputed. Here, we collected 39201 cries from 24 babies recorded in their homes longitudinally, from 15 days to 3.5 months of age, a database we share publicly for reuse.

Pain cues override identity cues in baby cries.

Baby cries can convey both static information related to individual identity and dynamic information related to the baby's emotional and physiological state. How do these dimensions interact? Are they transmitted independently, or do they compete against one another? Here we show that the universal acoustic expression of pain in distress cries overrides individual differences at the expense of identity signaling. Our acoustic analysis show that pain cries, compared with discomfort cries, are characterized by a more unstable source, thus interfering with the production of identity cues.

Adults learn to identify pain in babies' cries.

Because the expression of pain in babies' cries is based on universal acoustic features, it is assumed that adult listeners should be able to detect when a crying baby is experiencing pain. We report that detecting that a baby's cry expresses pain actually requires learning through experience. Our psychoacoustic experiments reveal that adults with no experience of caring for babies are unable to identify whether a baby's cry is a pain cry induced by vaccination or a mild discomfort cry recorded during a bath, even when they are familiar with the discomfort cries from this particular baby.

Novel options for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Docetaxel had been the only treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) that demonstrated a survival benefit for the patients. After its approval, no considerable progress has been made for several years until cabazitaxel and abiraterone acetate demonstrated a significant survival benefit in phase III clinical trials. Apart from that several other new drugs appeared including inhibitors of the androgen receptor (MDV3100), endothelin receptor antagonists (atrasentan, zibotentan), bone-targeted drugs (denosumab, Alpharadin) and immunotherapies (sipuleucel-T) capable of improving the prognosis of patients with CRPC.

Modified concept for radioisotope-guided sentinel lymph node dissection in prostate cancer.

Purpose: To present a modified concept for sentinel lymph node (SLN)-guided pelvic lymph node dissection in prostate cancer.

Methods: A total of 463 patients with histologically proven prostate cancer underwent SLN-guided lymph node dissection. The day before surgery patients received intraprostatic injection of Tc-99 m-labeled nanocolloid (Tc-NC) under transrectal ultrasound guidance.

Laparoscopic heminephroureterectomy for duplex kidney anomalies in the pediatric population.

Objective: Despite increasing acceptance of laparoscopy in pediatric urology, few published data are available on laparoscopic heminephroureterectomy in patients with duplex kidney anomalies. In the present study, we report our own experiences with this technique.

Patients And Methods: From August 2003 to January 2006, five laparoscopic heminephroureterectomies were performed in four girls with a mean age of 41 (9-67) months.

Histological verification of 11C-choline-positron emission/computed tomography-positive lymph nodes in patients with biochemical failure after treatment for localized prostate cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the potential of (11)C-choline-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) for planning surgery in patients with prostate cancer and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) relapse after treatment with curative intent.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 10 patients with PSA recurrence after either external beam radiation (two) or radical retropubic prostatectomy (eight) for prostate cancer, and who had a laparoscopic lymphadenectomy for suspicious lymph nodes detected on (11)C-choline-PET/CT. The histological results and PET/CT findings were compared.

[Laparoscopic pyeloplasty in a complicated duplicated collecting system].

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty has been established as an effective and minimally invasive technique for treating ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Only case reports are available describing the use of laparoscopic pyeloplasty in patients with duplicated collecting systems. We report the case of a patient presenting with a short stenotic connection between the hydronephrotic lower pole system and a solitary ureter coming from the upper pole.

Post-chemotherapy laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection in testis cancer patients.

Background And Purpose: Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is still the most sensitive and specific method for the detection of malignant tumor and mature teratoma in stage II nonseminomatous testicular carcinoma after chemotherapy. Acceptance of this operation, however, has decreased because of the morbidity associated with the open approach. To reduce the morbidity and to improve the acceptance of RPLND, laparoscopy has been introduced.

The rationale for radical cystectomy as primary therapy for T4 bladder cancer.

Treatment of T4 bladder cancer patients remains a clinical challenge. Conservative management is often insufficient regarding local control, neoadjuvant chemotherapy delays definite treatment while leading to increased therapy-associated morbidity and mortality during the course of the disease. Primary cystectomy has also been reported to be associated with a high complication rate and unsatisfactory clinical efficacy.

Optimized coverage of high-risk adjuvant lymph node areas in prostate cancer using a sentinel node-based, intensity-modulated radiation therapy technique.

Purpose: Irradiation of adjuvant lymph nodes in high-risk prostate cancer was shown to be associated with improved rates of biochemical nonevidence of disease in the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group trial (RTOG 94-13). To account for the highly individual lymphatic drainage pattern we tested an intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) approach based on the determination of pelvic sentinel lymph nodes (SN).

Methods And Materials: Patients with a risk of more than 15% lymph node involvement were included.

Closing the tract of mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy with gelatine matrix hemostatic sealant can replace nephrostomy tube placement.

Objectives: To investigate the outcomes using gelatine matrix hemostatic sealant to close the tract after mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mini-PCNL), resulting in a tubeless setting.

Methods: After complete stone removal after mini-PCNL, a double-J ureteral stent was placed in an antegrade manner. After withdrawing the 17F Amplatz sheet from the collecting system under direct vision without irrigation, the urothelium collapsed.

Investigations of urothelial cells seeded on commercially available small intestine submucosa.

Objectives: To examine adherence and viability of human urothelial cells seeded on commercially available small intestine submucosa (SIS) specimens under serum-free conditions.

Materials And Methods: Before seeding, SIS was either washed with incubation medium or coated with collagen A, fibronectin, or pronectin. A possible influence of SIS itself on the viability of urothelial cells was analysed with conditioned cell culture medium obtained by incubation of SIS for 24hours.

Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in the management of low-stage testicular cancer: technique and results.

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is still the most sensitive and specific method for detection of lymph node metastases of testicular cancer. Because of its invasiveness and morbidity the acceptance of open RPLND has decreased significantly resulting in a diagnostic deficit. To reduce morbidity and to increase the acceptance of RPLND, laparoscopy has been introduced.

MRI-guided biopsy of the prostate increases diagnostic performance in men with elevated or increasing PSA levels after previous negative TRUS biopsies.

Objectives: Repeatedly negative prostate biopsies in individuals with elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels can be frustrating for both the patient and the urologist. This study was performed to investigate if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided transrectal biopsy increases diagnostic performance in individuals with elevated or increasing PSA levels after previous negative conventional transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsies.

Methods: 27 consecutive men with a PSA >4 ng/ml and/or suspicious finding on digital rectal examination, suspicious MRI findings, and at least one prior negative prostate biopsy were included.

Laparoscopic sentinel lymph node dissection--a novel technique for the staging of prostate cancer.

Objectives: Pelvic lymph node metastases indicate a poor prognosis for prostate cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of laparoscopic radioisotope guided sentinel lymph node (SLN) dissection in staging of prostate carcinoma.

Methods: 28 patients with prostate cancer and intermediate or high risk for lymph node metastases considered for external beam radiotherapy underwent laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy at our institution.

Docetaxel, estramustine and prednisone for hormone-refractory prostate cancer: a single-center experience.

Background: The results of chemotherapy in patients with advanced, hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) have been disappointing. Mitoxantrone has been used in the past for palliation, but it does not prolong survival. It was recently demonstrated that docetaxel is able to improve median survival as compared to mitoxantrone.

Laparoscopic management of the adult nonpalpable testicle.

Objectives: This report describes own experiences with laparoscopic management of adult men with cryptorchidism.

Patients And Methods: 8 men with nonpalpable testes were referred to our department. Laparoscopy was used to assess the presence and location of the gonad and perform an orchiectomy or orchidopexy, respectively.

Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection with the waterjet is technically feasible and safe in testis-cancer patient.

Background And Purpose: The acceptance of open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for stage I and II nonseminomatous testicular cancer has decreased because of the intraoperative and postoperative morbidity of the procedure. Laparoscopic RPLND is a minimally invasive and safe alternative for low-stage germ-cell tumors. It is, however, technically demanding and should therefore be performed only in experienced centers.

Intensity modulated radiotherapy for high risk prostate cancer based on sentinel node SPECT imaging for target volume definition.

Background: The RTOG 94-13 trial has provided evidence that patients with high risk prostate cancer benefit from an additional radiotherapy to the pelvic nodes combined with concomitant hormonal ablation. Since lymphatic drainage of the prostate is highly variable, the optimal target volume definition for the pelvic lymph nodes is problematic. To overcome this limitation, we tested the feasibility of an intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) protocol, taking under consideration the individual pelvic sentinel node drainage pattern by SPECT functional imaging.

[Tissue engineering of the urethra and ureter].

Congenital or acquired disorders of the urethra or ureter often require adequate tissue transfer for reconstruction. A variety of biomaterials have proved to be useful in the reconstruction of the urethra or ureter in animal models and meanwhile even clinically. Innovative tissues such as acellular matrices can be placed in the host and function as a scaffold to allow the natural process of tissue regeneration.

Late relapse after treatment for nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors according to a single center-based experience.

The introduction of cisplatin-based systemic chemotherapy into the clinical routine has resulted in a substantial improvement of the recurrence-free and long-term survival of patients with metastatic testicular germ cell tumors. Late relapses after the completion of first-line therapy, comprising systemic chemotherapeutic treatment in combination with a complete resection of residual tumor masses visible in about 25-50% of patients, have been reported to occur in 1-5% of patients later than 2 years following the initial treatment. It has been reported that the risk for the development of late recurrence is correlated to the tumor burden at first diagnosis and/or the presence of teratomatous components within the primary testicular cancer.

Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for nonseminomatous testicular carcinoma.

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is still the most sensitive and specific method for the detection of lymph node metastases in stage I nonseminomatous testicular carcinoma. In stage II disease, residual malignant tumor and mature teratoma can be removed. Acceptance of this operation, however, has decreased due to the morbidity caused by the open approach.