Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage is Associated with Worse Urinary Risk Factors and Access to Medical Management for Urolithiasis.

Medical management of recurrent kidney stones utilizes 24-hour urine testing to guide counseling and therapy. Poor socioeconomic status is a well-established risk factor for urolithiasis; however, associations are often based on complex statistics not readily accessible in clinical practice. Area Deprivation Index (ADI) is a quantitative measure of socioeconomic status based on United States census variables reflecting neighborhood disadvantage and is reportable in the electronic medical record.

Does type of anesthesia during procedural management of suspected renal colic during pregnancy have an impact on preterm birth?

Introduction: Anesthesia choice during the procedural management of suspected renal colic during pregnancy may vary based on available resources and patient or provider preferences, as there are no specific recommendations. Our objective was to evaluate whether preterm birth (<37 weeks) was associated with anesthesia type, anesthesia timing by trimester, or procedure type.

Methods: We retrospectively identified pregnant patients who required procedural management with ureteral stent, percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN), or ureteroscopy (URS) for suspected renal colic based on laboratory and imaging findings from 2009-2021 at our center.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Hypocontractile Bladders Undergoing Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate.

Objective: To compare post-operative outcomes in patients who underwent holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and had urodynamic evidence of bladder hypocontractility versus those with normocontractile bladders.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed HoLEP patients with pre-operative urodynamic studies at a single institution, categorizing them into normocontractile and hypocontractile groups based on the bladder contractility index (BCI) (hypocontractile defined as BCI < 100). Post-void residual (PVR) volume was measured at 6 weeks and 6 months.

Gender differences in ergonomics during simulated ureteroscopy.

Background: Female urologists report higher rates of work-related physical discomfort compared to male urologists. We compared ergonomics during simulated ureteroscopy, the most common surgery for kidney stones, between male and female urologists.

Methods: Surface electromyography was used to measure muscle activation during common ureteroscopic tasks in urology trainees and staff with different surgeon positions and ureteroscopes.

HDACi promotes inflammatory remodeling of the tumor microenvironment to enhance epitope spreading and antitumor immunity.

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) with tumor-specific memory T cells has shown increasing efficacy in regressing solid tumors. However, tumor antigen heterogeneity represents a longitudinal challenge for durable clinical responses due to the therapeutic selective pressure for immune escape variants. Here, we demonstrated that delivery of the class I histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 promoted sustained tumor regression by synergizing with ACT in a coordinated manner to enhance cellular apoptosis.

Multimodal imaging needle combining optical coherence tomography and fluorescence for imaging of live breast cancer cells labeled with a fluorescent analog of tamoxifen.

Significance: Imaging needles consist of highly miniaturized focusing optics encased within a hypodermic needle. The needles may be inserted tens of millimeters into tissue and have the potential to visualize diseased cells well beyond the penetration depth of optical techniques applied externally. Multimodal imaging needles acquire multiple types of optical signals to differentiate cell types.

Clinical validation of an audio-based uroflowmetry application in adult males.

Introduction: Uroflowmetry is a common test to evaluate lower urinary tract symptoms. Audio-based uroflowmetry is a novel, alternative approach that determines urine flow by measuring sound. Available as a smartphone application, it has potential for screening and monitoring common urological pathologies, particularly in out-of-office environments.

Rating of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Mobile Applications for Treatment of Urinary Incontinence in Women.

Objective: To identify pelvic floor muscle therapy mobile health applications (apps) targeting women with urinary incontinence (UI), and evaluate them in a standardized fashion.

Methods: A systematic search of English language apps on the Canadian App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) Store was performed. Eligible apps were evaluated independently by 5 reviewers using the validated Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) tool.

Growth rates and outcomes of observed large renal masses.

Introduction: The natural history of small renal masses has been well defined, leading to the recommendation of active surveillance in some patients with limited life expectancy. However, this information is less clear for large renal masses (LRM), leading to ambiguity for management in the older, comorbid patient. The objective of this study was to define the natural history, including the growth rate and metastatic risk, of LRM in order to better counsel patients regarding active surveillance.

A mechanism-based GlcNAc-inspired cyclophellitol inactivator of the peptidoglycan recycling enzyme NagZ reverses resistance to β-lactams in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The development of a potent mechanism-based inactivator of NagZ, an enzyme critical to the production of inducible AmpC β-lactamase in Gram-negative bacteria, is presented. This inactivator significantly reduces MIC values for important β-lactams against a clinically relevant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

HDACi Delivery Reprograms Tumor-Infiltrating Myeloid Cells to Eliminate Antigen-Loss Variants.

Immune recognition of tumor-expressed antigens by cytotoxic CD8 T cells is the foundation of adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) and has been shown to elicit significant tumor regression. However, therapy-induced selective pressure can sculpt the antigenicity of tumors, resulting in outgrowth of variants that lose the target antigen. We demonstrate that tumor relapse from ACT and subsequent oncolytic viral vaccination can be prevented using class I HDACi, MS-275.

Angled Vortex Fluidic Mediated Multicomponent Photocatalytic and Transition Metal-Catalyzed Reactions.

The dynamic thin film formed in an angled rapidly rotating tube in a vortex fluidic device (VFD) is effective in facilitating multicomponent reactions (MCRs) as photocatalytic or metal-mediated processes. Here, we demonstrate the utility of the VFD by using two known MCRs, an Ugi-type three component reaction and an A -coupling reaction. The Ugi-type reaction can be done in either confined or continuous-flow modes of operation of the microfluidic platform whereas the A -coupling reaction was optimized for the confined mode of operation.

Study habits of Canadian urology residents: Implications for development of a competence by design curriculum.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the study habits of Canadian urology residents throughout their residency training.

Methods: A survey was administered to all final-year Canadian urology residents over a two-year period. Sixty-seven respondents answered a survey consisting of 54 questions scored on a 10-point Likert score.

Ovarian vein thrombosis: A complication of percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

The medical and surgical complications of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) are well-known, including deep venous thrombosis. Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is a rare, but potentially serious type of venous thrombosis that has not previously been reported as a complication of PCNL or ureteral stent placement. We report a case of OVT associated with ureteral stenting following a tubeless PCNL.

A new selective fluorescent probe based on tamoxifen.

Developing targeted validation probes that can interrogate biology is of interest for both chemists and biologists. The synthesis of suitable compounds provides a means for avoiding the costly labeling of cells with specific antibodies and the bias associated with the interpretation of biological validation experiments. The chemotherapeutic agent, tamoxifen has been routinely used in the treatment of breast cancer for decades.

Single ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injection for treatment of supraspinatus tendinopathy in dogs.

The effect of a single platelet-rich plasma injection for supraspinatus tendinopathy was assessed in 10 dogs. Subjective (owner-assessed) improvement in lameness and function were seen in 40% of dogs with improved tendon heterogeneity and echogenicity in 60%. There were no significant changes in gait reaction forces 6 wk after treatment.

Characterization of Zinc Influx Transporters (ZIPs) in Pancreatic β Cells: ROLES IN REGULATING CYTOSOLIC ZINC HOMEOSTASIS AND INSULIN SECRETION.

Zinc plays an essential role in the regulation of pancreatic β cell function, affecting important processes including insulin biosynthesis, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and cell viability. Mutations in the zinc efflux transport protein ZnT8 have been linked with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, further supporting an important role for zinc in glucose homeostasis. However, very little is known about how cytosolic zinc is controlled by zinc influx transporters (ZIPs).

-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator promotes proliferation and invasiveness of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

The -induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) is the protein product of the p53 target gene, . TIGAR blocks glycolysis and promotes cellular metabolism via the pentose phosphate pathway; it promotes the production of cellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), which leads to enhanced scavenging of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and inhibition of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in normal cells. Our previous study identified a novel nucleoside analog that inhibited cellular growth and induced apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines via downregulation of TIGAR expression.

Chemotherapy and Oncolytic Virotherapy: Advanced Tactics in the War against Cancer.

Cancer is a traitorous archenemy that threatens our survival. Its ability to evade detection and adapt to various cancer therapies means that it is a moving target that becomes increasingly difficult to attack. Through technological advancements, we have developed sophisticated weapons to fight off tumor growth and invasion.

Clinical outcomes of surgically managed ectopic ureters in 33 dogs.

Factors that predict postoperative continence and incontinence were evaluated in 33 female dogs with surgically corrected ectopic ureters. The current study found that intramural or extramural, left- or right-sided, and unilateral or bilateral ectopic ureters were not significant factors influencing postoperative incontinence in affected dogs. The presence of either hydroureter or urinary tract infection was also not significantly associated with postoperative incontinence.

Fluorescent triphenyl substituted maleimide derivatives: synthesis, spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations.

In this paper we describe a semi-empirical quantum method for predicting the wavelength of maximum fluorescence excitation and emission for several known and new maleimide derivatives. All new maleimides, containing a N-Benzyl attachment, were successfully synthesised via a tandem Suzuki reaction with aryl boronic acids containing either an electron donating, electron withdrawing functional groups. Absorption and emission spectra calculated using the semi-empirical AM1 method with excited state ZINDO calculations proved more reliable than either Hartree-Fock Configuration interaction or time dependent density functional methods.