Artificial urinary sphincter implantation after transperineal open reconstruction of post-prostatectomy vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis.

Purpose: This study evaluates the effectiveness of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation following transperineal reanastomosis in men with vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis (VUAS) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after radical prostatectomy (RP), focusing on long-term explantation rates and urinary continence.

Methods: Patients treated between 2009 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Those undergoing AUS implantation post-transperineal reanastomosis for recurrent VUAS, excluding cases with prior pelvic irradiation and overactive bladder, were included.

The Importance of Antibody Titer Determination to the Effective Use of Convalescent Plasma.

Convalescent Plasma (CP) has been used prophylactically and therapeutically over the past century to address a variety of infectious threats. Two tenets of the use of CP were clear from prior experience in the setting of other infectious outbreaks: (1) best results are obtained when CP is given early in the course of the disease, and (2) plasma containing high-titer neutralizing capacity is necessary to achieve optimal results. The magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic along with the initial lack of effective therapeutic alternatives, combined with the relative safety of the approach of administration of CP, led to the initiation of an expanded access program (EAP) that ultimately provided CP to tens of thousands of individuals.

Proposal and clinical validation of a perioperative algorithm enhancing antimicrobial stewardship in substitution urethroplasty.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a standardized antibiotic stewardship protocol on three subsequent endpoints in patients undergoing urethroplasty.

Methods: Men undergoing bulbar substitution urethroplasty between January 2009 and December 2016 were stratified by urine culture (UCx) at the time of surgery (sterile non-sterile) and were subjected to a standardized algorithm for urinalysis and antimicrobial therapy. We performed quantitative and qualitative exploration of UCx results and the microbial spectrum.

Comparative evaluation of swabbing sites for Omicron variant detection in PCR testing.

Purpose: The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 raised concerns about the best sampling sites for PCR testing, with early indications suggesting throat swab samples were better than nasal swab samples. Our study evaluated the sensitivity of detecting SARS-CoV-2 across different swabbing sites.

Methods: Participants undergoing testing at NHS Test and Trace sites in England provided self-collected samples using nose only, throat only, and combined nose and throat swabs, which were analysed by realtime PCR.

Patient-reported outcomes after one-stage neourethral reconstruction in transmen with phalloplasty-associated strictures and fistulas.

Introduction: Urethral strictures and fistulas arising after gender-affirming surgery in transmen require meticulous management strategies. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of urethral reconstruction and patient satisfaction post-surgery.

Methods: A retrospective analysis examined peri- and postoperative data from transmen undergoing urethral reconstruction for urethral fistula and/or strictures at the distal urethral anastomosis between December 2017 and April 2023.

The use of vasopressors to reduce post-intubation hypotension in critically ill adult patients undergoing emergent endotracheal intubation: a scoping review.

Introduction: Patients requiring emergent endotracheal intubation are at higher risk of post-intubation hypotension due to altered physiology in critical illness. Post-intubation hypotension increases mortality and hospital length of stay, however, the impact of vasopressors on its incidence and outcomes is not known. This scoping review identified studies reporting hemodynamic data in patients undergoing emergent intubation to provide a literature overview on post-intubation hypotension in cohorts that did and did not receive vasopressors.

Factors associated with experiencing stigma, discrimination, and negative health care treatment among people who inject drugs.

Introduction: Stigma has negative consequences for the health of people who inject drugs and people living with hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study evaluated factors associated with stigma related to injecting drug use (IDU) or HCV and those associated with being treated negatively by health workers.

Methods: ETHOS Engage is an observational cohort study of people who inject drugs attending drug treatment clinics and needle and syringe programs in Australia.

Long-term functional success and patient-reported outcomes after female one-stage buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty.

Introduction And Objectives: Female urethral strictures are a rare condition that significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Patient-reported outcomes are crucial, yet data regarding sexual function and treatment satisfaction are scarce. We aimed to provide insights from a reconstructive referral center.

Female non-obstetric urogenital fistula repair: long-term patient-reported outcomes and a scoping literature review.

Objective: To investigate long-term and patient-reported outcomes, including sexual function, in women undergoing urogenital fistula (UGF) repair, addressing the lack of such data in Western countries, where fistulas often result from iatrogenic causes.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis at a tertiary referral centre (2010-2023), classifying fistulas based on World Health Organisation criteria and evaluating surgical approaches, aetiology, and characteristics. Both objective (fistula closure, reintervention rates) and subjective outcomes (validated questionnaires) were assessed.

Impact of COVID-19 on the time to counseling and treatment of prostate cancer.

Purpose: This study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic (CP) impacted the timeline between initial diagnosis (ID) of prostate carcinoma and subsequent therapy consultation (TC) or radical prostatectomy (RP) due to the implementation of a "minimal contact concept," which postponed clinical examinations until the day of admission.

Methods: We analyzed patient data from a tertiary care center from 2018 to September 2021. The focus was on comparing the time intervals from ID to TC and from ID to RP before and during the CP.

Advancing Intraoperative Assessment of Urethral Stricture Anatomic Variation: A Prospective Proof-of-Concept Study.

Introduction: Urethral strictures, particularly those refractory to endoscopic interventions, are commonly treated through open urethroplasty. However, predicting recurrence in homogeneous patient populations remains challenging.

Methods: To address this, we developed an intraoperative urethral stricture assessment tool aiming to identify comprehensive risk predictors.

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Ability of Comorbidity and Health Status Indices to Improve the Prediction of Perioperative Morbidity and Long-Term Survival Outcomes After Radical Cystectomy.

Background: In the era of standardized outcome reporting, it remains unclear if widely used comorbidity and health status indices can enhance predictive accuracy for morbidity and long-term survival outcomes after radical cystectomy (RC).

Patients And Methods: In this monocentric study, we included 468 patients undergoing open RC with pelvic lymph node dissection for bladder cancer between January 2009 and December 2017. Postoperative complications were meticulously assessed according to the EAU guideline criteria for standardized outcome reporting.

The value of observational registry studies for the next infectious disease emergency.

During infectious disease emergencies, it may be necessary to deploy new therapies without conclusive evidence for their effectiveness. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, several countries used registries to track the use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP). Those registries provided evidence that CCP was effective when used early and with high titer.

The national utilization of nonoperative management for small renal masses over 10 years.

Background: Management of small renal masses often involves a nonoperative approach, but there is a paucity of information about the use and associated predictors of such approaches. This study aimed to determine the trends in and predictors of use of nonoperative management of small renal masses.

Methods: Using data from the National Cancer Database for localized small renal masses (N0/M0, cT1a) diagnosed between 2010 and 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional study.

Psychotherapies for eating disorders: findings from a rapid review.

Background: Psychotherapy is considered central to the effective treatment of eating disorders-focusing on behavioural, psychological, and social factors that contribute to the illness. Research indicates psychotherapeutic interventions out-perform placebo, waitlist, and/or other treatments; but, outcomes vary with room for major improvement. Thus, this review aims to (1) establish and consolidate knowledge on efficacious eating disorder psychotherapies; (2) highlight select emerging psychotherapeutic interventions; and (3) identify knowledge gaps to better inform future treatment research and development.

Mortality and mental health funding-do the dollars add up? Eating disorder research funding in Australia from 2009 to 2021: a portfolio analysis.

Background: Eating Disorders (EDs) are among the deadliest of the mental disorders and carry a sizeable public health burden, however their research and treatment is consistently underfunded, contributing to protracted illness and ongoing paucity of treatment innovation.

Methods: We compare absolute levels and growth rates of Australian mental health research funding by illness group for the years 2009-2021, with a specific focus on eating disorders analysed at the portfolio level.

Findings: Actual and adjusted data obtained from Australia's three national medical research funding bodies (NHMRC, ARC and MRFF) shows eating disorders receive a disproportionately low allocation of mental health research funding despite having amongst the highest mortality rates.