A closer look to the timing of orchidopexy in undescended testes and adherence to the AWMF-guideline.

Background: To lower the risk of testicular malignancies and subfertility, international guidelines recommend orchidopexy for undescended testis (UDT) before the age of 12-18 months. Previous studies reported low rates of 5-15% of timely surgery. Most of these studies are based on DRG and OPS code-based data from healthcare system institutions that do not distinguish between congenital and acquired UDT.

Detailed functional results after bladder-preserving surgery and high-dose-rate brachytherapy in pediatric bladder/prostate rhabdomyosarcoma.

Purpose: In pediatric bladder/prostate-rhabdomyosarcoma, the rate of bladder preservation after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is high, with an excellent oncological outcome. Information about functional urological long-term outcomes is rare.

Methods: Data of all patients who had undergone bladder-preserving surgery with or without brachytherapy at our institution between 2009 and 2020 were analyzed retrospectively.

Techniques of Primary Vaginoplasty in Young Adults with Differences of Sex Development and Female Identification.

: The ideal timing of genital surgery in differences/disorders of sex development (DSD) is controversial and differs according to the underlying type of DSD. Increasing numbers of persisting sinus as a result of delayed feminizing genitoplasty in DSD patients require interdisciplinary collaboration of pediatric surgeons/urologists and gynecologists. This study focusses on surgical techniques other than bowel vaginoplasties and results of gender assigning surgery in young adolescents.

Laparoscopic Excision of Solitary Dysontogenetic Liver Cysts in Young Children: Technical Aspects and Outcome.

Solitary dysontogenetic liver cysts are rare in young children. However, large cysts can cause symptoms and require therapy. Cyst excision is the therapeutic method least associated with cyst recurrence.

Surgical Therapy After Failed Feminizing Genitoplasty in Young Adults With Disorders of Sex Development: Retrospective Analysis and Review of the Literature.

Background: Secondary vaginal stenosis may occur after reconstruction of genital malformations in childhood or after failed vaginal aplasia repair in adults.

Aim: This study focusses on the results of the surgical treatment of these patients in our multidisciplinary transitional disorders/differences of sex development team of pediatric surgeons and gynecologists.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out on adult and female identified disorders/differences of sex development patients with vaginal stenoses treated between 2015 and 2018 in a single center with revision vaginoplasty.

New aspects and innovations in the local treatment of renal and urogenital pediatric tumors.

Local treatment plays a key role for patients' outcome in tumors of the urogenital tract in children. Despite a great variety of different etiologies, the specific localization of pediatric urogenital tumors renders several characteristic demands to the treating personnel. Surgery and radiotherapy are the main elements of local treatment in this group of neoplasms.

The Relevance of Preoperative Identification of the Adamkiewicz Artery in Posterior Mediastinal Pediatric Tumors.

Background: Injury to the artery of Adamkiewicz (AKA) during surgery may lead to spinal cord ischemia and severe neurologic complications. Posterior mediastinal tumors may be adjacent to AKA, but data on preoperative visualization of AKA in children are rare. This study analyzed the importance of identifying the AKA preoperatively by spinal digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in children with posterior mediastinal tumors for therapeutic procedure.

Hepatoblastoma: glutamine depletion hinders cell viability in the embryonal subtype but high GLUL expression is associated with better overall survival.

Purpose: Glutamine plays an important role in cell viability and growth of various tumors. For the fetal subtype of hepatoblastoma, growth inhibition through glutamine depletion was shown. We studied glutamine depletion in embryonal cell lines of hepatoblastoma carrying different mutations.

Antitumor effects of curcumin in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma in combination with chemotherapy and phototherapy in vitro.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcoma, has an unfavorable outcome in advanced tumor stages with less than 30% failure‑free survival. Curcumin (CUR) is a promising drug in complementary oncology with few side effects but proven efficacy in various adult oncological entities. The present study analyzed the effects of CUR on pediatric (RMS) cell lines in vitro.

The Role of Reconstructive Surgery and Brachytherapy in Pediatric Bladder/Prostate Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Purpose: The surgical approach to localized bladder/prostate rhabdomyosarcoma in children may change due to a new radiotherapeutic modality. We assessed the impact of brachytherapy following surgery for local tumor control, and report surgical techniques and outcomes.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of all children who underwent surgery for bladder/prostate rhabdomyosarcoma, including tumor relapse, at our institution from 2009 onward.

Guideline implementation for the treatment of undescended testes: Still room for improvement.

Background: Early orchidopexy (OP) around the age of 1 year is recommended in boys with congenital undescended testis (UDT) worldwide since decades. Former retrospectives studies did not distinguish congenital from acquired UDT with a consecutive negative bias concerning the age at surgery.

Methods: In a retrospective analysis, data of all boys who underwent OP in eight pediatric surgery institutions from 2009 to 2015 were analyzed.

Photodynamic Therapy Potentiates the Effects of Curcumin on Pediatric Epithelial Liver Tumor Cells.

Background/aim: Curcumin (CUM) is a promising agent in complementary oncology. The present study analyzed the photoactive properties of curcumin on pediatric epithelial liver tumor cell lines.

Materials And Methods: Hepatoblastoma cell lines (HuH6, HepT1) and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2, HC-AFW1) were treated with curcumin and exposed to blue light (phototherapy, 480 nm, 300 W).

Effects of curcumin in pediatric epithelial liver tumors: inhibition of tumor growth and alpha-fetoprotein in vitro and in vivo involving the NFkappaB- and the beta-catenin pathways.

In children with hepatocellular carcinoma (pHCC) the 5-year overall survival rate is poor. Effects of cytostatic therapies such as cisplatin and doxorubicin are limited due to chemoresistance and tumor relapse. In adult HCC, several antitumor properties are described for the use of curcumin.

Differences between intrinsic and extrinsic ureteropelvic junction obstruction related to crossing vessels: histology and functional analyses.

Purpose: In children, ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is mostly caused by intrinsic factors (IUPJO); extrinsic UPJO are rare and often due to crossing vessels (CVs).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all data of children with UPJO that underwent surgery in our institution from 2004 to 2011. Analyses included age at surgery, gender, preoperative and postoperative results of ultrasound and renal scans [differential renal function (DRF); signs of obstruction], and pathology reports.

The timing of surgery for undescended testis - a retrospective multicenter analysis.

Background: n Germany, it is recommended that the surgical treatment of an undescended testis should be carried out between the ages of 6 months and 1 year to lower the risks of subfertility and testicular carcinoma. Although this recommendation has appeared in the German guidelines from 2007 onward, orchidopexy is still frequently performed at later ages.

Method: We retrospectively analyzed data from seven pediatric surgical services in the German state of Baden-Württemberg on all boys who underwent orchidopexy from 2009 to 2012.

BH3-mimetic drugs prevent tumour onset in an orthotopic mouse model of hepatoblastoma.

Drug resistance and metastasis remain major challenges in the treatment of high-risk hepatoblastoma (HB) and require the development of alternative therapeutic strategies. Modulation of apoptosis in HB cells enhances the sensitivity of these cells towards various drugs and has been discussed to enforce treatment. We investigated the impact of apoptosis sensitisers, BH3-mimetics, on the interaction between the host and HB to reduce tumour growth and dissemination while enhancing immunity.

Single-stage surgical approach in complicated paediatric ureteral duplication: surgical and functional outcome.

Purpose: Surgical approach to children with complicated ureteral duplication is discussed controversially. Our aim was to determine the outcome of children with complicated renal duplication undergoing a single-stage surgical approach with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and open bladder reconstruction.

Methods: Data of patients from 2004 to 2008 were investigated retrospectively.

Pharmacological inhibition of beta-catenin in hepatoblastoma cells.

Purpose: The proto-oncogene beta-catenin is linked to an abnormal activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin-pathway and shows mutations in 50-90 % of hepatoblastoma (HB). Corresponding, the recently published murine orthotopic HB model differs from the former subcutaneous model by nuclear beta-catenin distribution. As the nuclear localization of beta-catenin is considered to reflect a more aggressive tumor growth, the influence of beta-catenin inhibition on cell viability and drug-efficiency in HB cells was analyzed.

Effect of sorafenib combined with cytostatic agents on hepatoblastoma cell lines and xenografts.

Background: Sorafenib has recently been shown to reduce tumour growth in hepatoblastoma (HB) xenografts. The effect of a combined administration with cytostatic agents was now investigated.

Methods: Cell viability after treatment with sorafenib and different cytostatic agents was evaluated in two HB cell lines (HUH6 and HepT1) using MTT assay.

Effect of duplex drugs linking 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5-FdU) with 3'-C-ethynylcytidine (ECyd) on hepatoblastoma cell lines.

Purpose: Duplex drugs are promising anticancer agents. After in vivo cleavage into active nucleoside analogues, they exert their anti-tumour activity with reduced toxicity and side effects. Here we evaluated the impact of two duplex drugs on the viability of hepatoblastoma (HB) cells lines and their toxicity against human fibroblasts.

In vitro evaluation of the Aurora kinase inhibitor VX-680 for Hepatoblastoma.

Purpose: Hepatoblastoma (HB) has a poor prognosis in advanced stages. The aim of this study was to enhance effectiveness of chemotherapy with antineoplastic kinase inhibitors.

Methods: Viability was monitored in HB cells (HUH6, HepT1) in monolayer and spheroid cultures treated with kinase inhibitors VX-680, Wee1-InhibitorII, and SU11274 alone or in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) using MTT assays.

Apoptosis sensitizers enhance cytotoxicity in hepatoblastoma cells.

Purpose: Drug resistance remains a major challenge for the treatment of high-risk hepatoblastoma (HB). To enhance effectiveness of chemotherapy we modulate apoptosis in HB cells in vitro.

Methods: Viability was monitored in HB cells (HuH6, HepT1) and fibroblasts in monolayer and spheroid cultures treated with ABT-737, obatoclax, HA14-1, and TW-37 and each in combination with CDDP, etoposide, irinotecan, paclitaxel, and DOXO in a MTT assay.

Successful establishment of an orthotopic hepatoblastoma in vivo model in NOD/LtSz-scid IL2Rγnull mice.

Investigation of hepatoblastoma in experimental conditions contributes relevantly to a detailed understanding of tumor biology and the investigation of new treatment approaches. Most systematical analyses currently use subcutaneous xenografts. We established a reproducible intrahepatic model with the hepatoblastoma-cell lines HuH6 and HepT1.