Proteasome inhibition suppresses the induction of lipocalin-2 upon systemic lipopolysaccharide challenge in mice.

Lipocalin-2 (Lcn2), a protein secreted by immune-activated cells, including reactive astrocytes, is detrimental to the brain and induces neurodegeneration. We previously showed that Lcn2 levels are reduced in primary mouse astrocytes after treatment with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (BTZ). However, it remains unknown whether a decrease in Lcn2 levels after BTZ treatment can also be observed in vivo and whether it reduces neurotoxicity during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation in vivo.

Lymphatic embolization for early post-operative lymphatic leakage after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

Background And Objective: Although radical cystectomy (RC) with pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is the standard treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer, it may cause lymphatic leakage. Recent studies describe lymphatic embolization (LE) as an option to manage post-operative lymphatic leakage. Hence, this study evaluated the outcome of LE in patients receiving RC and analyzed factors associated with outcomes.

Single-port robot-assisted pyeloplasty using the da Vinci SP system versus multi-port pyeloplasty: Comparison of outcomes and costs.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of single-port (SP) robotic pyeloplasty by comparing perioperative outcomes with those of multiport (MP) robotic pyeloplasty.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the data from patients who underwent robot-assisted pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) at a single tertiary institution between March 2016 and May 2022. Radiographic and symptomatic improvements were assessed 3 months postoperatively.

Clinical Validation of the Proenkephalin () Methylation Urine Test for Monitoring Recurrence of Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer.

Background And Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a urine-based proenkephalin ( methylation test using linear target enrichment-quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (me test) for detection of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) recurrence compared to cytology and the NMP22 test.

Methods: We first conducted a retrospective case-control study involving 54 patients with primary BC and 29 healthy individuals. We then prospectively enrolled 186 patients (January to December 2022) undergoing cystoscopy surveillance after transurethral resection of bladder tumor, of whom 59 had recurrent tumors.

Prediction of Stent Failure for Malignant Ureteral Obstruction in Non-Urological Cancer.

Purpose: To analyze prognostic factors associated with ureteral stent failure and to develop a prediction model for malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) in patients with non-urological cancers.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with non-urological cancers who underwent ureteral stenting or percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) for MUO between 2006 and 2014. Variables predicting stent failure were identified using Cox regression analysis.

Outcomes of single-port robotic ureteral reconstruction using the da Vinci SP system.

Purpose: The da Vinci SP robotic system enables three double-jointed wristed instruments and a fully wristed three-dimensional camera to be placed through a single port. This study presents our experience with robot-assisted ureteral reconstruction using the SP system and reports its outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Between December 2018 and April 2022, a single surgeon performed robotic ureteral reconstruction using the SP system in 39 patients: 18 underwent pyeloplasty and 21 received ureteral reimplantation.

Quantification of structural heterogeneity in H&E stained clear cell renal cell carcinoma using refractive index tomography.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common histopathological subtype of renal cancer and is notorious for its poor prognosis. Its accurate diagnosis by histopathology, which relies on manual microscopic inspection of stained slides, is challenging. Here, we present a correlative approach to utilize stained images and refractive index (RI) tomography and demonstrate quantitative assessments of the structural heterogeneities of ccRCC slides obtained from human patients.

Reduced secretion of LCN2 (lipocalin 2) from reactive astrocytes through autophagic and proteasomal regulation alleviates inflammatory stress and neuronal damage.

LCN2/neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin/24p3 (lipocalin 2) is a secretory protein that acts as a mammalian bacteriostatic molecule. Under neuroinflammatory stress conditions, LCN2 is produced and secreted by activated microglia and reactive astrocytes, resulting in neuronal apoptosis. However, it remains largely unknown whether inflammatory stress and neuronal loss can be minimized by modulating LCN2 production and secretion.

Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitor Use in Robot Assisted Radical Prostatectomy Patients Is Associated with Reduced Risk of Death: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis of 1,058 Patients.

Purpose: We investigated whether the use of a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5i) after robot assited radical prostatectomy has a survival benefit over non-use patients because there are controversial results on the association between PDE5i use and survival outcomes for prostate cancer patients in literature.

Materials And Methods: We designed a retrospective, matched, large-sample cohort study of 5,545 patients who underwent robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) during 2013-2021 in a single institute. The exclusion criteria was patients who were aged >70 years at surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification grade 4 or 5, history of other malignancies, patients who started PDE5i 6 months after survery and patients with follow up period less than 24 months after surgery.

Metabolic syndrome-related factors as possible targets for lower urinary tract symptoms in Korean males.

Introduction: A positive association between benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) was reported in several studies, but studies from Asia often showed conflicting results.

Materials And Methods: Medical records were obtained from a health promotion center database between 2021 and 2022. Men without a history of treatment for LUTS were evaluated using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), transrectal ultrasonography.

Noninvasive studies may have potential to replace cystoscopy in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer follow-up.

Bladder cancer has a high recurrence rate which requires frequent follow-up. Cystoscopy is currently the gold standard for follow-up which is invasive and undesirable procedure for patients. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of noninvasive studies for follow-up of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Dyslipidemia Fact Sheets in Korea 2020: an Analysis of Nationwide Population-based Data.

Objective: The Korean Society of Lipid and Atherosclerosis (KSoLA) has published the Dyslipidemia Fact Sheets in Korea 2020 to provide an overview of magnitude and management status of dyslipidemia and their recent trends therein.

Methods: The Fact Sheets were based on the analyses of Korean adults aged 20 years or older of the 2007-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the 2002-2018 National Health Insurance Big Data (NHI-BD).

Results: Between 2007 and 2018, the crude prevalence of hypercholesterolemia increased from 9.

Prostate epithelial genes define therapy-relevant prostate cancer molecular subtype.

Background And Objectives: Transcriptomic landscape of prostate cancer (PCa) shows multidimensional variability, potentially arising from the cell-of-origin, reflected in serum markers, and most importantly related to drug sensitivities. For example, Aggressive Variant Prostate Cancer (AVPC) presents low PSA per tumor burden, and characterized by de novo resistance to androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARIs). Understanding PCa transcriptomic complexity can provide biological insight and therapeutic guidance.

Thirty-six Year Trends in Mortality from Diseases of Circulatory System in Korea.

Background And Objectives: Understanding the trends in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is important for developing burden reduction strategies. Based on the Cause of Death Statistics, we examined the changing patterns of CVD mortality in Korea between 1983 and 2018.

Methods: Causes of death were coded according to the International Classification of Disease, 10th revision.

Korea hypertension fact sheet 2020: analysis of nationwide population-based data.

Background: The Korean Society of Hypertension has published the Korea Hypertension Fact Sheet 2020 to provide an overview of the magnitude and management status of hypertension and their recent trends.

Methods: The Fact Sheets were based on the analyses of Korean adults aged 20 years or older of the 2007-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the 2002-2018 National Health Insurance Big Data (NHI-BD).

Results: Currently, the population average of systolic/diastolic blood pressure was 118/76 mmHg in Korean adults aged 20 years or older showing little change in the recent decade.

Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication and Incident Cardiovascular Events in Young Adults With Hypertension.

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Clinical Outcomes After Urinary Diversion for Malignant Ureteral Obstruction Secondary to Non-urologic Cancer: An Analysis of 778 Cases.

Background: This study investigated patient outcomes after urinary diversion in order to manage malignant ureteral obstruction caused by non-urologic cancers and to evaluate predictive factors for overall survival.

Methods: The study retrospectively reviewed patients with non-urologic malignancies who underwent ureteral stenting or percutaneous nephrostomy for ureteral obstruction between 2006 and 2014. The variables for predicting overall survival were identified by Cox regression analysis.

External validation of the post-varicocele repair semen analysis nomogram to predict total motile sperm count: A multicenter study.

Total motile sperm count is an important parameter for predicting the probability of natural pregnancy. We have externally validated the Samplaski's post-varicocele repair semen analysis nomogram to confirm the predictive accuracy of total motile sperm count. A total of 300 patients who had undergone varicocelectomy between July 2016 and July 2019 from 4 treatment centres were included in this validation cohort study.

Muscle Characteristics Obtained Using Computed Tomography as Prognosticators in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Limited studies have investigated the correlation between body composition and prostate cancer outcomes. We analyzed the effect of muscle mass and quality on castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) outcomes. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) and skeletal muscle attenuation (SMA) were measured for 411 patients at the L3 vertebral level using computed tomography at CRPC diagnosis and were dived to low and high groups at the value of median.

Association between the Thigh Muscle and Insulin Resistance According to Body Mass Index in Middle-Aged Korean Adults.

Background: We examined the associations between thigh muscle area (TMA) and insulin resistance (IR) according to body mass index (BMI) in middle-aged Korean general population.

Methods: TMA was measured using quantitative computed tomography and corrected by body weight (TMA/Wt) in 1,263 men, 788 premenopausal women, and 1,476 postmenopausal women all aged 30 to 64 years. The tertiles of TMA/Wt were calculated separately for men and for premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Factors associated with dietary adherence to the guidelines for prevention and treatment of hypertension among Korean adults with and without hypertension.

Background: Although dietary modification is strongly recommended for prevention and treatment of hypertension, little is known about which factors are associated with adherence to dietary guidelines. We investigated knowledge and attitude, perceived benefits of, barriers to, and self-efficacy of dietary therapy, and identified the factors associated with dietary adherence among adults with and without hypertension.

Methods: We collected information on the knowledge/attitudes and perceived benefits of dietary therapy, as well as barriers to and self-efficacy regarding dietary adherence from 497 middle-aged (34-69 years) adults who participated in the follow-up examination of the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Center (CMERC) cohort study during December 2018 and February 2019.

Urethral realignment with maximal urethral length and bladder neck preservation in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: Urinary continence recovery.

Purpose: To evaluate early recovery of urinary continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with urethral realignment using bladder neck preservation (BNP) and maximal urethral length preservation (MULP).

Methods: Patients who underwent RARP between 2014 and 2017 owing to prostate cancer with a Gleason score ≤ 7 (3+4), ≤ cT2c stage, and prostate-specific antigen level < 20 ng/ml were investigated. Patients with tumors of the bladder neck or apex on magnetic resonance imaging were excluded.