Gender-Specific Differences in Recurrence and Progression following Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Instillation for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Introduction: To assess gender-specific differences in recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) among patients with intermediate or high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) receiving BCG was the primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: In July 2023, we performed a literature search using MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. This study was prospectively registered at PROSPERO (CRD 2023443269).

Surgical Trends and Complications in Partial and Radical Nephrectomy: Results from the GRAND Study.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the current trends in renal cancer surgery, as well as to compare the perioperative outcomes of partial versus radical nephrectomy.

Methods: We used the GeRmAn Nationwide inpatient Data (GRAND), provided by the Research Data Center of the Federal Bureau of Statistics (2005-2021). We report the largest study in the field, with 317,843 patients and multiple patient-level analyses.

Long-Term Follow-Up in Patients Undergoing Renal Mass Biopsy: Seeding is not Anecdotal.

Introduction: Renal biopsy is recommended if the outcome might alter therapeutic decisions for patients who present with renal masses of unclear etiology. However, little is known about long-term risks related to this procedure.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of an institutional database maintained by a tertiary referral center that included patients who underwent renal biopsies between 2003 and 2005 with a follow-up of at least 15 years.

Gender-specific outcomes in immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To analyze gender-specific differences in survival parameters in advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibition.

Methods: The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate gender-specific differences in disease-free (DFS), progression-free (PFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR). The sources MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library were systematically searched from January 2010 to June 2022.

Effect of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza vaccinations on infections, immune response and asthma control in preschool children with asthma.

Background: Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae), Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and influenza vaccines are administered in children to prevent infections caused by these pathogens. The benefits of vaccination for asthma control in children and the elicited immune response are not fully understood.

IL-9 Producing Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Treg Subsets Drive Immune Escape of Tumor Cells in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Although lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, the mechanisms how lung cancer cells evade the immune system remain incompletely understood. Here, we discovered IL-9-dependent signaling mechanisms that drive immune evasion in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We found increased IL-9 and IL-21 production by T cells in the tumoral region of the lung of patients with NSCLC, suggesting the presence of Th9 cells in the lung tumor microenvironment.

Deep learning in CT colonography: differentiating premalignant from benign colorectal polyps.

Objectives: To investigate the differentiation of premalignant from benign colorectal polyps detected by CT colonography using deep learning.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis of an average risk colorectal cancer screening sample, polyps of all size categories and morphologies were manually segmented on supine and prone CT colonography images and classified as premalignant (adenoma) or benign (hyperplastic polyp or regular mucosa) according to histopathology. Two deep learning models SEG and noSEG were trained on 3D CT colonography image subvolumes to predict polyp class, and model SEG was additionally trained with polyp segmentation masks.

Image-Guided Robotic Radiosurgery for the Treatment of Lung Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma-A Retrospective, Single Center Analysis.

Pulmonary metastases are the most frequent site of metastases in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Metastases directed treatment remains an important treatment option despite advances in systemic therapies. However, the safety and efficacy of robotic radiosurgery (RRS) for the treatment of lung metastases of RCC remains unclear.

Physical activity in asthma control and its immune modulatory effect in asthmatic preschoolers.

Background: The impact of physical activity on immune response is a hot topic in exercise immunology, but studies involving asthmatic children are scarce. Our aims were to examine whether there were any differences in the level of physical activity and daily TV attendance, to assess its role on asthma control and immune responses to various immune stimulants.

Methods: Weekly physical activity and daily television attendance were obtained from questionnaires at inclusion of the PreDicta study.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced CT-derived blood flow measurements enable early prediction of long term outcome in metastatic renal cell cancer patients on antiangiogenic treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of dynamic contrast-enhanced CT (DCE-CT) as an independent non-invasive biomarker in predicting long term outcome in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) on antiangiogenic treatment.

Material And Methods: Eighty two mRCC patients were prospectively enrolled from 09/2011 to 04/2015, out of which 71 were included in the final data analysis; the population was observed until 12/2020 to obtain complete overall survival data. DCE-CT imaging was performed at baseline and 10 to 12 weeks after start of treatment with targeted therapy.

Machine Learning-based Differentiation of Benign and Premalignant Colorectal Polyps Detected with CT Colonography in an Asymptomatic Screening Population: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background CT colonography does not enable definite differentiation between benign and premalignant colorectal polyps. Purpose To perform machine learning-based differentiation of benign and premalignant colorectal polyps detected with CT colonography in an average-risk asymptomatic colorectal cancer screening sample with external validation using radiomics. Materials and Methods In this secondary analysis of a prospective trial, colorectal polyps of all size categories and morphologies were manually segmented on CT colonographic images and were classified as benign (hyperplastic polyp or regular mucosa) or premalignant (adenoma) according to the histopathologic reference standard.

Safety and Efficacy of Robotic Radiosurgery for Visceral and Lymph Node Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective, Single Center Analysis.

Despite rapid advances of systemic therapy options in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), local tumor or metastases treatment remains important in selected patients. Here, we assess the safety and efficacy of robotic radiosurgery (RRS) as an ablative therapy for visceral and lymph node metastases of RCC. Patients with histologically confirmed RCC and radiologically confirmed progression of visceral or lymph node metastases underwent RRS and were retrospectively analyzed.

Single-fraction image-guided robotic radiosurgery efficiently controls local prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: To assess the therapeutic potential of single-fraction robotic stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) in patients with locally recurrent prostate cancer (PC) after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Materials And Methods: We included 35 patients with biochemical failure after RP with single-site local recurrence in the prostate bed diagnosed by PSMA PET/CT. About 20/35 pts had previously received post-surgical adjuvant radiation therapy.

Safety, efficacy and prognostic impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors in older patients with genitourinary cancers.

Introduction: Immunosenescence might impact immunotherapy (IT) in patients with advanced age. However, pivotal studies were not powered for this clinical question. Our aim is to explore toxicity (primary objective) and activity (secondary objective) of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with renal cell (RCC) and urothelial carcinoma (UC) older than 75 years compared to the younger population.

Targeted deletion of NFAT-Interacting-Protein-(NIP) 45 resolves experimental asthma by inhibiting Innate Lymphoid Cells group 2 (ILC2).

Here we investigated the role of NFAT-interacting protein (NIP)-45, an Interleukin (IL)-4 inducing Transcription Factor, and its impact on the differentiation of Group 2 Innate -Lymphoid -Cells (ILC2s) in the pathogenesis of asthma. NIP45, a transcription factor regulating NFATc1 activity, mRNA was found to be induced in the Peripheral Blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) of asthmatic pre-school children with allergies and in the peripheral blood CD4 T cells from adult asthmatic patients. In PBMCs of asthmatic and control children, NIP45 mRNA directly correlated with NFATc1 but not with T-bet.

Does Gallery Lighting Really Have an Impact on Appreciation of Art? An Ecologically Valid Study of Lighting Changes and the Assessment and Emotional Experience With Representational and Abstract Paintings.

We report two studies considering the potential for gallery lighting conditions to modulate appraisals and emotional experience with works of visual art. As recently documented in a number of papers, art appreciation represents a complex blend of formal artwork factors, personalities and backgrounds of viewers, and multiple aspects of context regarding where and how art is experienced. Among the latter, lighting would be expected to play a fundamental role.

Robot Learning of Assistive Manipulation Tasks by Demonstration via Head Gesture-based Interface.

Assistive robotic manipulators have the potential to support the lives of people suffering from severe motor impairments. They can support individuals with disabilities to independently perform daily living activities, such as drinking, eating, manipulation tasks, and opening doors. An attractive solution is to enable motor impaired users to teach a robot by providing demonstrations of daily living tasks.

Autonomous Multi-Sensory Robotic Assistant for a Drinking Task.

Assistive robots have the potential to support people with disabilities in their Activities of Daily Life. The drinking task has a high priority and requires constant assistance by caregivers to be executed regularly. Due to incapacitating disabilities such as tetraplegia, which is the paralysis of all limbs, affected people cannot use classic control interfaces such as joysticks.

Papillary vs clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Differentiation and grading by iodine concentration using DECT-correlation with microvascular density.

Objectives: Various imaging methods have been evaluated regarding non-invasive differentiation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) allows iodine concentration (IC) analysis as a correlate of tissue perfusion. Microvascular density (MVD) in histopathology specimens is evaluated to determine intratumoral vascularization.

Optimized management of urolithiasis by coloured stent-stone contrast using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT).

Background: We analysed in vitro the appearance of commonly used ureteral stents with dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) and we used these characteristics to optimize the differentiation between stents and adjacent stone.

Methods: We analysed in vitro a selection of 36 different stents from 7 manufacturers. They were placed in a self-build phantom model and measured using the SOMATOM® Force Dual Source CT-Scanner (Siemens, Forchheim, Germany).

Imaging in Suspected Renal-Cell Carcinoma: Systematic Review.

Objective: To systematically assessed the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) compared to other imaging modalities for diagnosing and staging renal-cell carcinoma in adults.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted through various electronic databases. Data from the selected studies were extracted and pooled, and median sensitivity and specificity were calculated wherever possible.

Improved prediction of nephron-sparing surgery versus radical nephrectomy by the optimized R.E.N.A.L. Score in patients undergoing surgery for renal masses.

Background: One major objective of currently available morphometric scores (MS) for renal masses, i.e., R.

An interdisciplinary consensus on the management of bone metastases from renal cell carcinoma.

Bone is a major site of haematogenous tumour cell spread in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and most patients with RCC will develop painful and functionally disabling bone metastases at advanced disease stages. The prognosis of these patients is generally poor and the treatment is, therefore, aimed at palliation. However, RCC-associated bone metastases can be curable in select patients.