Preoperative Belladonna and Opium Suppository for Ureteral Stent Pain: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Study.

Objective: To investigate whether the use of a belladonna and opium (B&O) rectal suppository administered immediately before ureteroscopy (URS) and stent placement could reduce stent-related discomfort.

Methods: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was performed from August 2013 to December 2014. Seventy-one subjects were enrolled and randomized to receive a B&O (15 mg/30 mg) or a placebo suppository after induction of general anesthesia immediately before URS and stent placement.

First in Human Clinical Trial of Ultrasonic Propulsion of Kidney Stones.

Purpose: Ultrasonic propulsion is a new technology using focused ultrasound energy applied transcutaneously to reposition kidney stones. We report what are to our knowledge the findings from the first human investigational trial of ultrasonic propulsion toward the applications of expelling small stones and dislodging large obstructing stones.

Materials And Methods: Subjects underwent ultrasonic propulsion while awake without sedation in clinic, or during ureteroscopy while anesthetized.

Use of the Acoustic Shadow Width to Determine Kidney Stone Size with Ultrasound.

Purpose: Ultrasound is known to overestimate kidney stone size. We explored measuring the acoustic shadow behind kidney stones combined with different ultrasound imaging modalities to improve stone sizing accuracy.

Materials And Methods: A total of 45 calcium oxalate monohydrate stones were imaged in vitro at 3 different depths with the 3 different ultrasound imaging modalities of conventional ray line, spatial compound and harmonic imaging.

Renal Vasoconstriction Occurs Early During Shockwave Lithotripsy in Humans.

Introduction: In animal models, pretreatment with low-energy shock waves and a pause decreased renal injury from shockwave lithotripsy (SWL). This is associated with an increase in perioperative renal resistive index (RI). A perioperative rise is not seen without the protective protocol, which suggests that renal vasoconstriction during SWL plays a role in protecting the kidney from injury.

Tools to improve the accuracy of kidney stone sizing with ultrasound.

Purpose: Ultrasound (US) overestimates stone size when compared with CT. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the overestimation of stone size with US in an in vitro water bath model and investigate methods to reduce overestimation.

Materials And Methods: Ten human stones (3-12 mm) were measured using B-mode (brightness mode) US by a sonographer blinded to the true stone size.

Preclinical safety and effectiveness studies of ultrasonic propulsion of kidney stones.

Objective: To provide an update on a research device to ultrasonically reposition kidney stones transcutaneously. This article reports preclinical safety and effectiveness studies, survival data, modifications of the system, and testing in a stone-forming porcine model. These data formed the basis for regulatory approval to test the device in humans.

Role of maximal endoscopic resection before cystectomy for invasive urothelial bladder cancer.

Introduction/background: The aim of this study was to examine whether TUR of all visible endophytic tumors performed before RC, with or without NC, affects final pathologic staging.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from patients with clinical T2-T4N0-1 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who underwent RC at our institution between July 2005 and November 2011. Degree of TUR was derived from review of operative reports.

Pathologic Response Rates of Gemcitabine/Cisplatin versus Methotrexate/Vinblastine/Adriamycin/Cisplatin Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Muscle Invasive Urothelial Bladder Cancer.

Objectives. To compare pathologic outcomes after treatment with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) versus methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin (MVAC) in the neoadjuvant setting. Methods.

Comparison of lymph node yield in robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy with that in open radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Objective: • To investigate both the feasibility and the adequacy of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) by comparing lymph node yields obtained during RALP with those obtained during traditional open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP).

Patients And Methods: • We retrospectively reviewed 1047 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between 2001 and 2009. • In all, 626 patients underwent RALP while 421 patients had traditional open RRP.

High-resolution ultrasonography in the diagnosis and intraoperative management of peripheral nerve lesions.

Object: The diagnosis of peripheral nerve lesions relies on clinical history, physical examination, electrodiagnostic studies, and radiography. Magnetic resonance neurography offers high-resolution visualization of structural peripheral nerve lesions. The availability of MR neurography may be limited, and the costs can be significant.

2-(N-Fmoc)-3-(N-Boc-N-methoxy)-diaminopropanoic acid, an amino acid for the synthesis of mimics of O-linked glycopeptides.

Amino acids with N-alkylaminooxy side chains have proven effective for the rapid synthesis of neoglycopeptides. Chemoselective reaction of reducing sugars with peptides containing these amino acids provides glycoconjugates that are structurally similar to their natural counterparts. 2-(N-Fmoc)-3-(N-Boc-N-methoxy)-diaminopropanoic acid (Fmoc: 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl; Boc: t-butyloxycarbonyl) was synthesized from Boc-Ser-OH in >40% overall yield and incorporated into peptides by standard Fmoc chemistry based solid phase peptide synthesis.