Visually navigated, ultrasound-guided, freehand percutaneous calyceal puncture - preclinical evaluation of a novel device to simplify a complex surgical task.

 Freehand sonographic percutaneous puncture techniques for the renal calyceal system are on the rise. Much time and practice are required to master this technique. Navigation-supported puncture aids could help make percutaneous access easier and faster.

CD24 targeting with NK-CAR immunotherapy in testis, prostate, renal and (luminal-type) bladder cancer and identification of direct CD24 interaction partners.

Alternative therapeutic options targeting urologic malignancies, such as germ cell tumours, as well as urothelial, renal and prostate carcinomas, are still urgently needed. The membrane protein CD24 represents a promising immunotherapeutical approach. The present study aimed to decipher the molecular function of CD24 in vitro and evaluate the cytotoxic capacity of a third-generation natural killer (NK) cell chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against CD24 in urologic tumour cell lines.

Profiling the 3D interaction between germ cell tumors and microenvironmental cells at the transcriptome and secretome level.

The tumor microenvironment (TM), consisting of the extracellular matrix (ECM), fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells, might affect tumor invasiveness and the outcome of standard chemotherapy. This study investigated the cross talk between germ cell tumors (GCT) and surrounding TM cells (macrophages, T-lymphocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts) at the transcriptome and secretome level. Using high-throughput approaches of three-dimensional (3D) co-cultured cellular aggregates, this study offers newly identified pathways to be studied with regard to sensitivity toward cisplatin-based chemotherapy or tumor invasiveness as a consequence of the cross talk between tumor cells and TM components.

Does the Identification of a Minimum Number of Cases Correlate With Better Adherence to International Guidelines Regarding the Treatment of Penile Cancer? Survey Results of the European PROspective Penile Cancer Study (E-PROPS).

Background: Penile cancer represents a rare malignant disease, whereby a small caseload is associated with the risk of inadequate treatment expertise. Thus, we hypothesized that strict guideline adherence might be considered a potential surrogate for treatment quality. This study investigated the influence of the annual hospital caseload on guideline adherence regarding treatment recommendations for penile cancer.

Contemporary options and future perspectives: three examples highlighting the challenges in testicular cancer imaging.

Purpose: One of the main issues in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) management is to reduce the necessary amount of treatment to achieve cure. Excess treatment burden may arise from late diagnosis of the primary as well as from false positive or negative staging results. Correct imaging is of paramount importance for successful management of TGCT.

The signal transducer CD24 suppresses the germ cell program and promotes an ectodermal rather than mesodermal cell fate in embryonal carcinomas.

Testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) are stratified into seminomas and nonseminomas. Seminomas share many histological and molecular features with primordial germ cells, whereas the nonseminoma stem cell population-embryonal carcinoma (EC)-is pluripotent and thus able to differentiate into cells of all three germ layers (teratomas). Furthermore, ECs are capable of differentiating into extra-embryonic lineages (yolk sac tumors, choriocarcinomas).

Guideline-adherence in the treatment of symptomatic urolithiasis in children and adolescents in southwestern Germany.

Background: Approximately 1% of urolithiasis cases in Germany affect children. Interdisciplinary groups have agreed on national and international guidelines for children to recommend appropriate treatment pathways. The aim of this retrospective and preliminary study is to analyze whether adherence to current guidelines for pediatric stone disease in southwestern Germany is feasible.

Analysis of performance factors in 240 consecutive cases of robot-assisted flexible ureteroscopic stone treatment.

Flexible ureteroscopy is the keystone of modern kidney stone treatment. Although a simple surgical technique achieves good clinical results and a low complication rate, there are high demands on the surgeon's dexterity and ergonomic restrictions. Robotic-assisted flexible ureteroscopy (rfURS) could overcome these limitations.

Adherence to European Association of Urology and National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines Criteria for Inguinal and Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection in Penile Cancer Patients-A Survey Assessment in German-speaking Countries on Behalf of the European Prospective Penile Cancer Study Group.

Background: Urologists' adherence to European Association of Urology and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline recommendations to perform inguinal (ILND) and pelvic (PLND) lymph node dissection in penile cancer (PC) patients is not known.

Objective: To assess a German-speaking European cohort of urologists based on their criteria to perform ILND and PLND in PC patients.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A 14-item survey addressing general issues of PC treatment was developed and sent to 45 clinical centers in Germany (n = 34), Austria (n = 8), Switzerland (n = 2), and Italy (n = 1).

A Novel Tissue and Stem Cell Specific TERF1 Splice Variant Is Downregulated in Tumour Cells.

In this study, we describe the identification of a novel splice variant of TERF1/PIN2, one of the main components of the telomeric shelterin complex. This new splice variant is identical to TERF1, apart from a 30 amino acid internal insertion near to the C-terminus of TERF1. Based on genome comparison analyses and RNA expression data, we show that this splice variant is conserved among hominidae but absent from all other species.

Hemorrhagic shock induces renal complement activation.

Purpose: Complement is activated in hemorrhagic shock and protective effects by specific complement inhibition were shown. However, it remains unclear if complement activation contributes to the local tissue damage and organ failure. Zonulin is known to activate complement and affect organ failure.