Outcomes of thulium prostatectomy with "Oyster technique" versus transurethral prostatectomy (TURP): a randomized control trial.

Purpose: To compare the perioperative and postoperative outcomes between Oyster prostate vaporesection using Tm-YAG laser and the conventional transurethral prostatectomy using monopolar energy.

Methods: Patients with LUTS with an accumulative size of at least 60 ml were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups to undergo Tm-YAG laser vaporesection (Group 1) or conventional monopolar transurethral prostatectomy (Group 2). The primary endpoints were the reduction in IPSS and the increase in Qmax postoperatively.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Improves Erectile Function: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Animal studies postulate that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections improve key elements of the pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim: To conduct the first double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial assessing the efficacy and safety of PRP injections in patients with mild and moderate ED.

Methods: Sixty sexually active patients with mild and moderate ED were randomly assigned to two sessions, with a one-month difference, of 10 mL PRP (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) intracavernosal injections.

Therapeutic Effects of Micronutrient Supplements on Sperm Parameters: Fact or Fiction?

Background: Despite the limited evidence about the effect of micronutrient supplementation on the semen quality, many micronutrient supplements have been used to improve male fertility. Approximately, 40%- 50% of male infertility cases in general and up to 80% in men with idiopathic infertility cases are caused by oxidative stress and decreased level of seminal total antioxidant capacity.

Objective: To investigate the beneficial effects of micronutrient supplementation on sperm concentration, motility and morphology.

Flow resistive forces index (QRF): Development and clinical applicability assessment of a novel measure of bladder outlet resistance, aiming to enhance the diagnostic performance of uroflowmetry.

Background: Currently, the diagnostic ability of uroflowmetry, the most widely used urodynamic test available for initial assessment of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), is considered limited by its inability to accurately discriminate between the underlying mechanisms of this condition. To improve the diagnostic accuracy of uroflow, we developed a mathematical formula that calculates the flow resistive forces index (QRF), a novel measure of bladder outflow/urethral resistance, and assessed its clinical applicability compared to the maximum flow rate (Q ).

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in a cohort of 61 adult men presenting with voiding dysfunction symptoms, who all underwent free uroflowmetry followed by pressure flow study.

Experimental Studies of Nonabsorbable Polymeric Surgical Clips for Use in Urologic Laparoscopy.

This study aimed to compare the stability of the Click'aV (Grena), Click'aV plus (Grena), and Hem-o-lok (Weck, Teleflex) polymer clips and the evaluation of the clips stability on a complete porcine artery. A dynamometer with a custom support and clamp unit was used. The crank gradually increased the tension force being applied on the clip via the suture.

Combination Therapy with Alpha-blocker and Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitor for Improving Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Erectile Dysfunction in Comparison with Monotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Context: The effects of combination therapy consisted of an α-blocker and a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5I) for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED).

Objective: To systematically investigate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy in comparison with monotherapy.

Evidence Acquisition: The study complied with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement and the recommendations of the European Association of Urology Guidelines office.

The efficacy and safety of string stents after retrograde intrarenal surgery for urolithiasis.

Introduction: Ureteral stent insertion is frequently chosen after upper tract endourological procedures. The use of stents carrying a suture string is sometimes used to facilitate the extraction of the stent. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to provide stronger evidence for the efficacy of string stents, by comparing them to non-string stents, in matters of patients' quality of life (QoL), stent-related symptoms (SRS) and complications.

The use of S-curved coaxial dilator for urethral dilatation: Experience of a tertiary department.

Objective: Urethral strictures can be treated by urethral dilation, optical internal urethrotomy, or open surgical reconstruction (urethroplasty). Urethral dilation is done with filiforms and followers, balloons, or coaxial dilators inserted over a guidewire. The S-curved coaxial dilator (SCCD) was designed to facilitate the passage of the dilator through the stricture and the urethra because it imitates the curved anatomy of the male urethra.

Diet and stone formation: a brief review of the literature.

Purpose Of Review: Urolithiasis is a very common condition, which can be accompanied by serious complications. Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are of great cost for national health systems. Many studies have been published about the role of diet in both stone formation and prevention.

Robot-Assisted Simple Prostatectomy by an Extraperitoneal Approach.

The incidence of symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia and bladder outlet obstruction has increased during the last two decades. Most of men are treated conservatively. When medical therapy is inadequate to relief symptoms, surgical treatment is necessary.

The effectiveness of ureteric metal stents in malignant ureteric obstructions: A systematic review.

Objective: To review the literature on the effectiveness, safety and long-term patency of ureteric metal mesh stents (MSs), as a variety of MSs have been used for managing malignant ureteric obstruction over the last three decades.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review using the search string; Ureter∗ AND (stent OR endoprosthesis) AND metal∗ was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of science and Cochrane Library online databases in May 2016. Prospective, retrospective, and comparative studies including MSs were included.

Histological changes caused by the prolonged placement of ureteral access sheaths: an experimental study in porcine model.

The objective is to evaluate the histological damage to the ureteral wall caused by the prolonged placement of an access sheath in porcine model. Six ureters from three female pigs were randomized into three groups. In each group, an UAS with different indwelling time was inserted.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Puncture and Tract Dilation: Evidence on the Safety of Approaches to the Infundibulum of the Middle Renal Calyx.

Objective: To investigate the anatomical relations of the papillary, infundibular, and pelvic approach to percutaneous nephrolithotomy and evaluate the amount of vascularization at the respective sites.

Materials And Methods: Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) renal scintigraphies or computed tomography perfusion (CTP) was performed in 40 patients (prone n = 20 or supine position n = 20). The angle of approach (AoA) for access tracts and the respective regions of interest to the mid-calyceal papilla and infundibulum as well as renal pelvis were designed and compared.

Papillary vs Nonpapillary Puncture in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

Introduction: Literature suggests that the percutaneous punctures for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) must be performed at the papilla of the renal calix and a puncture at the infundibulum or the direction of the pelvis is not advisable because of increased hemorrhagic risk. A prospective randomized study was conducted to investigate the safety in terms of blood loss of the infundibular approach for PCNL.

Materials And Methods: Patients with renal stones with an accumulative size of at least 2 cm were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups to undergo PCNL with either papillary (Group 1) or infundibular (Group 2) renal access.

Prostate Cancer Predictive Simulation Modelling, Assessing the Risk Technique (PCP-SMART): Introduction and Initial Clinical Efficacy Evaluation Data Presentation of a Simple Novel Mathematical Simulation Modelling Method, Devised to Predict the Outcome of Prostate Biopsy on an Individual Basis.

Introduction: We developed a mathematical "prostate cancer (PCa) conditions simulating" predictive model (PCP-SMART), from which we derived a novel PCa predictor (prostate cancer risk determinator [PCRD] index) and a PCa risk equation. We used these to estimate the probability of finding PCa on prostate biopsy, on an individual basis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 371 men who had undergone transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy were enrolled in the present study.

Is vitamin D related to pathogenesis and treatment of Hashimoto's thyroiditis?

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate vitamin D status by measuring serum 25(OH)D levels in euthyroid patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) who lived and worked on the sunny island of Crete, Greece, and to evaluate whether vitamin D3 supplementation is beneficial for the management of HT patients with vitamin D deficiency.

Subjects And Methods: We studied 218 HT patients, euthyroid Caucasian Cretan Greek citizens: 180 females and 38 males. Among these patients, 186 (85.

The hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic effects of Spirulina () supplementation in a Cretan population with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a prospective pilot study.

Background: A pilot study was conducted to determine the effects of Spirulina () on Cretan patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Spirulina is a filamentous cyanobacterium taken as a dietary supplement.

Methods: Fifteen adult Cretan outpatients (13 men), median age 48 (range: 29-62) years, with NAFLD were orally supplemented with 6 g of Spirulina (Greek production) per day for six months.

Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis and vitamin D deficiency. Current aspects.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a chronic autoimmune thyroid disease caused by an interaction between genetic factors and environmental conditions, both of which are not yet completely understood. The significant association between vitamin D deficiency and HT has been investigated regarding the immune role of this hormone. In HT, an immunologic reaction is triggered when thyrocytes express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II surface HLA-DR antigens, a process induced by the production from T helper (Th)1 type lymphocytes, of inflammatory cytokines (especially IFN-γ), which may be inhibited by 1,25[OH]2D.