Randomised controlled feasibility trial of retroperitoneal vs transperitoneal robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: the ROPARN study.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of trial recruitment and confirm that retroperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy (RRPN) has the same oncological efficacy as transperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy (TRPN), with time advantages and less peri-operative morbidity, in a randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Patients And Methods: The study was designed as a single-centre, open-label, feasibility RCT. Patients with suspected localised renal cell carcinoma referred for robotic partial nephrectomy were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either TRPN or RRPN.

Does time matter in early radical cystectomy? Comparing outcome, clinical and pathological characteristics of immediate versus deferred radical cystectomy.

Introduction: Early radical cystectomy (eRC) can be performed for high or very high risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Whether immediate eRC is beneficial is still unclear. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes between immediate eRC, delayed eRC and radical cystectomy (RC) at diagnosis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

Impact of sarcopenia and fat distribution on outcomes in penile cancer.

Sarcopenia, defined as age-associated loss of skeletal muscle function and muscle mass, is a negative prognostic marker for survival in several tumor entities. However, data evaluating the impact of sarcopenia and fat distribution on penile cancer are rarely described. We performed a retrospective study including 38 patients who were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.

Long-Term Orthopaedic and Radiological Outcomes of Symphysis Approximation without Osteotomy in Primary Bladder Exstrophy Repair.

Introduction:  Previous assumptions suggested that the technique of approximation without osteotomy in primary exstrophy repair (PER) could only be applied in newborns and anticipated poorer outcomes. Recent studies indicated that this technique can be successfully executed not only in immediate PER but also yields favorable long-term results. Therefore, we evaluated and compared the orthopaedic and radiological long-term outcomes after pubic symphysis approximation without osteotomy in immediate and delayed PER.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to prove if the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic resulted in a delay in diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (PC).

Methods: A monocentric, retrospective analysis was conducted at a university cancer center. Included were all patients with untreated PC diagnosed between January 2019 and December 2021.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Peritoneal Interposition Flap in Symptomatic Lymphocele Reduction following Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Insights from the PIANOFORTE Trial.

The available randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the influence of peritoneal interposition flaps (PIF) on the reduction of symptomatic lymphoceles (sLCs) post robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) do not constitute a sufficient follow-up (FU) to assess the long-term effects. The PIANOFORTE trial was the first of these RCTs, showing no sLC reduction at the 3-month FU. Therefore, all 232 patients from the PIANOFORTE trial were invited for long-term FU.

Ureterorenoscopic Stone Removal without Antibiotic Prophylaxis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of sparing routine antibiotic prophylaxis in patients without preoperative urinary tract infection undergoing ureterorenoscopy (URS) for stone removal.

Methods: A retrospective, monocentric study was conducted to evaluate the outcome of a modified perioperative antibiotic management strategy according to the principles of antibiotic stewardship. Patients with preoperative unremarkable urine culture received no antibiotic prophylaxis for URS stone removal (NoPAP).

Toward Optogenetic Hearing Restoration.

The cochlear implant (CI) is considered the most successful neuroprosthesis as it enables speech comprehension in the majority of the million otherwise deaf patients. In hearing by electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve, the broad spread of current from each electrode acts as a bottleneck that limits the transfer of sound frequency information. Hence, there remains a major unmet medical need for improving the quality of hearing with CIs.

Ureteroplasty with buccal mucosa graft without omental wrap: an effective method to treat ureteral strictures.

Purpose: Successful treatment options for ureteral strictures are limited. Surgical options such as ileal interposition and kidney autotransplantation are difficult and associated with morbidity and complications. Techniques such as Boari flap and psoas hitch are limited to distal strictures.

Multichannel laser diode to polymer waveguide array coupling with a double-aspheric lens.

An optical system for multichannel coupling of laser arrays to polymer waveguide array probes with a single biconvex lens is developed. The developed cylindrical module with 13 mm and 20 mm in diameter and length, respectively, enables coupling of eight individual optical channels using an aspheric lens. Specific coupling with crosstalk below -13 for each channel and quasi-uniform coupling over all channels is achieved for a waveguide array with 100 µm lateral facet pitch at the incoupling site.

Angle-dependent light scattering in tissue phantoms for the case of thin bone layers with predominant forward scattering.

The cochlea forms a key element of the human auditory system in the temporal bone. Damage to the cochlea continues to produce significant impairment for sensory reception of environmental stimuli. To improve this impairment, the optical cochlear implant forms a new research approach.

Risk factors for bladder neck contracture after transurethral resection of the prostate.

Introduction: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the most frequently used treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia with a prostate volume of <80 mL. A long-term complication is bladder neck contracture (BNC). The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors for BNC formation after TURP.

On the Fabrication and Characterization of Polymer-Based Waveguide Probes for Use in Future Optical Cochlear Implants.

Improved hearing restoration by cochlear implants (CI) is expected by optical cochlear implants (oCI) exciting optogenetically modified spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) via an optical pulse generated outside the cochlea. The pulse is guided to the SGNs inside the cochlea via flexible polymer-based waveguide probes. The fabrication of these waveguide probes is realized by using 6" wafer-level micromachining processes, including lithography processes such as spin-coating cladding layers and a waveguide layer in between and etch processes for structuring the waveguide layer.

Onlay Pedicled Transverse Skin Flap versus One-Stage Inlay Buccal Mucosal Graft in Penile Urethroplasty: A Prospective Matched-Pair Analysis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare urethroplasty using onlay pedicled transverse skin flap (PSF) versus one-stage inlay buccal mucosa graft (BMG) in repair of penile urethral strictures.

Methods: We conducted a prospective matched-pair analysis of 44 male patients receiving penile urethroplasty between June 2016 and June 2019. There were 22 patients who received PSF and 22 patients who received BMG.

Early Revision after Artificial Urinary Sphincter Implantation Does Not Impair the Long-Term Treatment Success.

Introduction: After implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) due to stress urinary incontinence, in some cases revision procedures may be necessary. This is mostly due to device infection or cuff erosion in the long term. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of early revision procedures (prior to or immediately after AUS activation) on the long-term outcome.

High BMI, Aggressive Tumours and Long Console Time Are Independent Predictive Factors for Symptomatic Lymphocele Formation after Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy and Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection.

Introduction: Lymphocele (LC) formation is a common complication which may cause severe symptoms after robot-assisted radical prostatovesiculectomy (RARP) with concomitant pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND). Compared to open radical prostatectomy, the amount of data on potential risk factors for LC formation is still limited. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for symptomatic LC formation (sLC) after RARP with PLND.

Epidemiology and therapy of symptomatic lymphoceles after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Background: Lymphoceles are a common postoperative complication after radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Therapeutic options include cannulation and drainage (CD), drainage and instillation (DI), or laparoscopic fenestration (LF). The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of symptomatic lymphoceles (SLC) and evaluate the treatment options.

Obesity leads to a higher rate of positive surgical margins in the context of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Results of a prospective multicenter study.

Introduction: Current results concerning the effect of body mass index (BMI) on positive surgical margins (PSMs) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in patients with localized prostate cancer are inconsistent. Therefore, the aim of this study was to further analyse the association between BMI and PSMs after RARP.

Material And Methods: Between March 2017 and December 2017 a multicentre, prospective, randomised, single-blind series with a blinded outcome assessment of 232 RARP patients was performed.

High-Density μLED-Based Optical Cochlear Implant With Improved Thermomechanical Behavior.

This study reports the realization of an optical cochlear implant (oCI) with optimized thermomechanical properties for optogenetic experiments. The oCI probe comprises 144 miniaturized light-emitting diodes (μLEDs) distributed along a bendable, 1.5-cm-long, 350-μm-wide and 26-μm-thick probe shaft, individually controlled via a n × p matrix interconnection.

Phosphor-based light conversion for miniaturized optical tools.

This paper describes the application of phosphor-based light conversion for its use in optogenetic experiments to tailor the wavelength of light emitted from implantable miniaturized light sources. Gallium-nitride-based blue light-emitting diodes are used in combination with orthosilicate phosphor immersed in an epoxy matrix and emitting in the yellow wavelength range. The miniaturization of the phosphor-containing polymer droplets toward diameters as small as 300 μm provides the compatibility with implantable optical probes.