Initial experience of a novel ureteral silicon-covered metallic mesh stent in malignant ureteric obstruction: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate initial experiences and outcomes of a retrograde inserted new silicone-covered metallic ureteric stent (Urexel™) for malignant ureteric obstruction.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records for 12 consecutive patients who underwent Urexel™ stent placement for malignant ureteric obstruction from March 2020 to March 2021. The Urexel™ stent is a segmental metallic ureteric stent composed of a nitinol mesh covered with a silicone membrane.

Machine Learning Models for the Noninvasive Diagnosis of Bladder Outlet Obstruction and Detrusor Underactivity in Men With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and evaluate machine learning models, specifically CatBoost and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), for diagnosing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in male patients. The objective is to differentiate between bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and detrusor underactivity (DUA) using a comprehensive dataset that includes patient-reported outcomes, uroflowmetry measurements, and ultrasound-derived features.

Methods: The dataset used in this study was collected from male patients aged 40 and older who presented with LUTS and sought treatment at the urology department of Samsung Medical Center.

Primary pyeloplasty for uretero-pelvic obstruction in the USA adult population with or without double-J indwelling ureteral stents. Insurance claims data on contemporary time to removal trends, perioperative complications, health care costs, and re-intervention rates.

Background: Using a large population-based dataset, we primarily sought to compare postoperative complications, health-care expenditures, and re-intervention rates between patients diagnosed with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) undergoing stented vs. non-stented pyeloplasty. The secondary objective was to investigate factors that influence the timing of DJ stent removal.

RenseNet: A Deep Learning Network Incorporating Residual and Dense Blocks with Edge Conservative Module to Improve Small-Lesion Classification and Model Interpretation.

Deep learning has become an essential tool in medical image analysis owing to its remarkable performance. Target classification and model interpretability are key applications of deep learning in medical image analysis, and hence many deep learning-based algorithms have emerged. Many existing deep learning-based algorithms include pooling operations, which are a type of subsampling used to enlarge the receptive field.

Interpretation of SLC3A1 and SLC7A9 variants in cystinuria patients: The significance of the PM3 criterion and protein stability.

Cystinuria is a genetic disorder caused by defects in the b transporter system, which is composed of rBAT and bAT coded by SLC3A1 and SLC7A9, respectively. Variants in SLC3A1 and SLC7A9 follow autosomal recessive inheritance and autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance, respectively, which complicates the interpretation of cystinuria-related variants. Here, we report seven different SLC3A1 variants and six different SLC7A9 variants.

Korean Society of Endourology and Robotics (KSER) recommendation on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of urolithiasis.

This article provides evidence-based recommendations and expert opinions to aid urologists in making optimal decisions regarding managing urolithiasis in various clinical scenarios. The most frequently asked questions by urologists in their clinical practice have been collected and answered in the form of FAQs; based on the latest evidence and expert opinions. The natural history of urolithiasis is divided into active treatment and silent phases, with the active treatment stage divided into typical and special situations and peri-treatment management.

Inner surface modification of polyurethane ureteral stents using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition to improve the resistance to encrustation in a pig model.

Purpose: We developed a ureteral stent with a non-fouling inner surface using plasma micro-surface modification technology. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this stent in animal model.

Materials And Methods: Ureteral stents were placed in five Yorkshire pigs.

Effects of hormone therapy on the clinical outcomes of endoscopic intervention in patients with endometriosis-related ureteral obstruction.

Purpose: We investigated whether endoscopic interventions, including laser endoureterotomy and balloon dilatation following hormone therapy, are a good choice to treat ureteral obstruction due to ureteral endometriosis instead of laparoscopic or open surgery.

Materials And Methods: Patients with ureteral obstruction due to endometriosis who underwent endoscopic intervention between 2004 and 2021 were reviewed. Patients with other causes of ureteral obstruction or previous ureteral surgery were excluded from the study.

Inner surface modification of ureteral stent polyurethane tubes based by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition to reduce encrustation and biofilm formation.

Encrustation and/or biofilm formation in ureteral stents are major causes of obstruction and reduce the lifetime of a ureteral stent. In this study, the inner surfaces of polyurethane (PU) tubes (inner and outer diameters of 1.2 and 2.

Feasibility of a deep learning-based diagnostic platform to evaluate lower urinary tract disorders in men using simple uroflowmetry.

Purpose: To diagnose lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a noninvasive manner, we created a prediction model for bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and detrusor underactivity (DUA) using simple uroflowmetry. In this study, we used deep learning to analyze simple uroflowmetry.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 4,835 male patients aged ≥40 years who underwent a urodynamic study at a single center.

The Feasibility of Pop-Dusting Using High-Power Laser (2 J × 50 Hz) in Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery for Renal Stones: Retrospective Single-Center Experience.

Recently, retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) using laser lithotripsy has become popular. However, the optimal laser energy setting for pop-dusting has not been established. In this study, we report our experiences of RIRS using the high-power (up to 100 W) pop-dusting (HPPD) technique.

Characterization and functional roles of KCNQ-encoded voltage-gated potassium (Kv7) channels in human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle.

The group of KCNQ-encoded voltage-gated potassium (Kv7) channels includes five family members (Kv7.1-7.5).

Transvesicoscopic Politano-Leadbetter ureteral reimplantation in children with vesicoureteral reflux: A novel surgical technique.

Purpose: We introduce our novel procedure for transvesicoscopic ureteral reimplantation using the Politano-Leadbetter technique (TVUR-PL). We describe the detailed surgical procedure and report operative outcomes.

Materials And Methods: We report a retrospective analysis of operative outcomes of TVUR-PL performed in children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) from January 2017 to July 2018.

Long-term outcomes of two types of metal stent for chronic benign ureteral strictures.

Background: We aimed to compare the results of long-term use of two types of metal stent for chronic benign ureteral strictures.

Methods: Our study included 46 ureter units (UUs) that underwent metal stent placement from 2010 to 2017. We included benign ureteral strictures causes by variety reasons that could not be solved by other treatment and malignant obstructions were excluded.

Comparison of outcomes in totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy according to nephrostomy tract sealing with fibrin versus gelatin matrix: a propensity score matching study.

To investigate and compare surgical outcomes in totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (ttPCNL) patients according to the type of sealant during nephrostomy tract closure, the records of 158 patients who underwent ttPCNL were retrospectively reviewed. Fibrin sealant [Tisseel; n = 107, fibrin-only sealant (FS)] or gelatin matrix hemostatic sealant [FloSeal; n = 51, gelatin matrix sealant (GS)] was applied during tract closure according to surgeon's preference. On the first postoperative day, computed tomography (CT) was scanned for all patients.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the role of curcumin in prostate cancer patients with intermittent androgen deprivation.

Background: The anti-cancer activities of curcumin are well-documented from preclinical studies using prostate cancer models. Our objective was to evaluate the anti-cancer activity of oral curcumin in patients with prostate cancer.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed on patients with prostate cancer who received intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD).

Changing Trends in the Treatment of Nephrolithiasis in the Real World.

Introduction: Changes in the surgical treatment of nephrolithiasis, owing to recent technical advances and innovations, have made treatments more effective and less invasive. In this retrospective, observational cohort study, we identified the changing trends in the treatment of nephrolithiasis.

Materials And Methods: We included patients with newly diagnosed nephrolithiasis who received any treatment in the United States, including extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL), retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), and open surgery, from January 2007 to December 2014.

Clinical Usefulness of a Self-Retaining Internal Organ Retractor for Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Adrenalectomy.

Introduction: Although laparoendoscopic single-site adrenalectomy (LESS-A) is feasible, it is still considered as a challenging procedure because of technical limitations. Making an optimal retraction is one of major obstacles in LESS-A, and it sometimes requires additional ports or needlescopic devices. Internal organ retractor (IOR) is a novel retraction device that is applied intracorporeally without additional port.

Long-Term Outcomes of Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Nephrolithotomy for Caliceal Diverticular Calculi: A Case Series.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of laparoendoscopic single-site nephrolithotomy (LESS-NL) for symptomatic caliceal diverticular calculi.

Patients And Methods: From November 2009 to March 2014, 11 cases of LESS-NL with a homemade single-port device for caliceal diverticular calculi were performed by a single experienced laparoscopic surgeon. All patients were assessed at postoperative 1 month, 1 year, and 3 years for symptom-free status and by CT for stone-free and caliceal diverticular obliteration status.

Efficacy and safety of tamsulosin 0.4 mg single pills for treatment of Asian patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia with lower urinary tract symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial.

Objective: To verify the efficacy and safety of tamsulosin 0.4 mg and tamsulosin 0.2 mg compared with those of placebo in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Discrepancies on the association between androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer and subsequent dementia: meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Limited literature exists on the association between androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PCa) and subsequent dementia and the study conclusions are in conflicts with one another. We searched several cohort databases from 1960 to 2017 for observational or prospective studies that reported on an association between ADT for PCa and subsequent dementia. A meta-analysis was performed to cumulatively determine the association between ADT and dementia including Alzheimer's disease using an incidence rate ratio (IRR), crude hazard ratio (HR), and adjusted HR.

Association of Robotic-Assisted vs Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy With Perioperative Outcomes and Health Care Costs, 2003 to 2015.

Importance: Use of robotic surgery has increased in urological practice over the last decade. However, the use, outcomes, and costs of robotic nephrectomy are unknown.

Objectives: To examine the trend in use of robotic-assisted operations for radical nephrectomy in the United States and to compare the perioperative outcomes and costs with laparoscopic radical nephrectomy.

The incidence of unsuccessful partial nephrectomy within the United States: A nationwide population-based analysis from 2003 to 2015.

Purpose: Partial nephrectomy (PN) remains underutilized within the United States and few reports have attempted to explain this trend. The aim of this study is to evaluate the nationwide incidence of unsuccessful PN and factors that predict its occurrence.

Methods: Using the Premier Healthcare Database, we retrospectively analyzed a weighted sample of 66,432 patients undergoing curative surgery for renal mass between 2003 and 2015.

Surgeon preference of surgical approach for partial nephrectomy in patients with baseline chronic kidney disease: a nationwide population-based analysis in the USA.

Purpose: To examine trends in utilization of open, laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgical approaches for treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing partial nephrectomy (PN) within the USA.

Methods: We analyzed a weighted sample of 112,117 patients from the Premier administrative dataset who underwent PN for renal mass between 2003 and 2015. Proportions of surgical approach utilization were evaluated by CKD status and further stratified by surgery year and surgeon volume.