Initial experience with robot-assisted ureteroscopy with Ily® Robot.

The aim of this study is to present the first Italian experience with robotic-assisted retrograde intrarenal surgery (rRIRS) using the Ily platform. Procedures were performed for renal stones using the Ily Robot (STERLAB, Vallauris, France), which is a ureteroscope holder with multiple degrees of freedom that can be controlled remotely through a wireless controller. In March 2023, consecutive patients with indications for rRIRS were included in the study.

A Multicenter Study of 2-year Outcomes Following Hyperthermia Therapy with Mitomycin C in Treating Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: HIVEC-E.

Introduction: High grade, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is usually treated with intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin. Chemohyperthermia therapy (CHT) may be a novel alternative therapy for the treatment of NMIBC.

Objective: To evaluate the recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients treated with CHT using the Combat bladder recirculation system (BRS) for NMIBC.

Robot-assisted-radical-cystectomy with total intracorporeal Y neobladder: Analysis of postoperative complications and functional outcomes with urodynamics findings.

Objectives: To describe our robotic Y intracorporeal neobladder (ICNB) technique and to report its post-operative complications and urodynamics (UD) findings.

Subjects: and Methods: In this prospective study we enrolled patients affected by MIBC (T1-T4N0-N1M0) from 01/2017 to 06/2021 at our Centers. All the patients underwent robotic radical cystectomy (RARC) with Y-ICNB reconfiguration.

Percutaneous Kidney Puncture with Three-dimensional Mixed-reality Hologram Guidance: From Preoperative Planning to Intraoperative Navigation.

Background: Despite technical and technological innovations, percutaneous puncture still represents the most challenging step when performing percutaneous nephrolithotomy. This maneuver is characterized by the steepest learning curve and a risk of injuring surrounding organs and kidney damage.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of three-dimensional mixed reality (3D MR) holograms in establishing the access point and guiding the needle during percutaneous kidney puncture.

Prostate cancer management at an Italian tertiary referral center: does multidisciplinary team meeting influence diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making process? A snapshot of the everyday clinical practice.

Background: Multidisciplinary team (MDT) management decision-making process appears as an interesting tool to answer most aspects of prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and treatment, allowing a fairer choice of therapies. The aim of this study to prospectively investigate the impact on prostate cancer clinical management of the uro-oncology MDT meeting at an Italian tertiary referral center.

Methods: All cases discussed over an 18-months period at San Luigi Hospital uro-oncology MDT were prospectively evaluated for the impact of the MDT discussion on PCa clinical decision-making.

[Ureteroscopy: is it the best?].

Over the last 40 years the treatment of urolithiasis passed from open surgical therapies to minimally invasive approaches. From the introduction of the first ureteroscopes in '80s many technological improvements allowed to reduce endourological instruments' size, ensuring in the meanwhile an increasingly high success rate in the resolution of the urolithiasis. The purpose of the study is to review the current role of the ureteroscopy(URS) in the treatment of urinary stones.

Effects of serum testosterone levels after 6 months of androgen deprivation therapy on the outcome of patients with prostate cancer.

Background: Controversy exists about whether testosterone serum levels at a cutoff point of < 50 ng/dL during luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (LHRHA) treatment are related to the outcome of patients with prostate cancer. We assessed the relationship between serum testosterone levels after 6 months of LHRHA therapy and disease outcome in a consecutive series of patients with prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: Serum testosterone levels were measured prospectively in a cohort of patients given LHRHA for 6 months.

Randomised controlled trial comparing laparoscopic and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Background: The advantages of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) over laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) have rarely been investigated in randomised controlled trials.

Objective: To compare RARP and LRP in terms of the functional, perioperative, and oncologic outcomes. The main end point of the study was changes in continence 3 mo after surgery.

Surgical margin status of specimen and oncological outcomes after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: experience after 400 procedures.

Purpose: To analyse the surgical margins status of prostatic glands, resected by laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) for prostate cancer, and to correlate it with biochemical free survival rate (BFSR).

Methods: Data were collected prospectively from 405 patients undergoing LRP from 2000 to 2009 at a single institution. Patients undergoing neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy were excluded from the study.

Endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery for high burden renal stones.

"High burden stones" include single or multiple large calculi (altogether surface area > 300 mm 2, or largest diameter > 20 mm), and staghorn calculi (any branched stone occupying more than one portion of the renal collecting system, i.e. pelvis with one or more calyceal extensions).

The patient position for PNL: does it matter?

Currently, PNL is the treatment of choice for large and/or otherwise complex urolithiasis. PNL was initially performed with the patient in a supine-oblique position, but later on the prone position became the conventional one for habit and handiness. The prone position provides a larger area for percutaneous renal access, a wider space for instrument manipulation, and a claimed lower risk of splanchnic injury.

Prognostic role of neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer, putting together the pieces of the puzzle.

Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation is a common feature in prostate cancer (PC). The clinical significance of this phenomenon is controversial; however preclinical and clinical data are in favor of an association with poor prognosis and early onset of a castrate resistant status. NE PC cells do not proliferate, but they can stimulate the proliferation of the exocrine component through the production of paracrine growth factors.

Treatment of the pyelocalyceal tumors with laser.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UUT-TCC) is relatively uncommon, accounting for 2-5% of all urothelial tumors. Its incidence appears to be increasing as a result of progress in imaging, endoscopy, and improved survival from bladder cancer. Renal pelvis tumors represent 10% of all renal cancers.

Endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery in Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia position: a new standard for percutaneous nephrolithotomy?

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), the gold standard for the management of large and/or complex urolithiasis, is conventionally performed with the patient in the prone position, which has several drawbacks. Of the various changes in patient positioning proposed over the years, the Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia (GMSV) position seems the most beneficial. It allows simultaneous performance of PCNL and retrograde ureteroscopy (ECIRS, Endoscopic Combined Intra-Renal Surgery) and has unquestionable anaesthesiological advantages.

Changes in prostate cancer at radical prostatectomy during the prostate specific antigen era: an Italian experience.

Objective: To assess changes in prostate cancer clinical and pathologic features by review of 15 years' experience with radical prostatectomy.

Study Design: A total of 596 consecutive patients who underwent open or laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RP) between 1991 and 2006 were included. All had clinically localized prostate cancer.

Feasibility of 21-day continuous infusion of epirubicin in hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients.

Background: Epirubicin (EPX) has been found to be active in hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) patients. Prolonged EPX infusion has never been investigated in this patient subset.

Patients And Methods: A feasibility study was conducted in which EPX was administered in 21-day continuous infusion to 15 patients with HRPC.

[Asymptomatic prostatitis: a frequent cause of raising PSA].

The Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA) is one of the best tumour markers currently available, and it is widely employed in the diagnosis and follow up of prostate cancer. Nevertheless, it is not specific for prostatic carcinoma, and an increase in its serum levels can also be related to benign prostatic hyperplasia, inflammation/infection or traumatic manoeuvres on the prostatic gland. Because of its well-known clinical features acute prostatitis does not require PSA evaluation for diagnosis, but other prostatitis (such as category IV NIH prostatitis) can be responsible of an increase in PSA levels without associated symptoms.

PSA decrease after levofloxacin therapy in patients with histological prostatitis.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of levofloxacin (LVX) oral therapy on total serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) values in patients with histological prostatitis.

Materials And Methods: All consecutive outpatients with histological evidence of chronic prostatitis, total PSA > 4 ng/ml, normal DRE and urinalysis and treated once daily with LVX 500 mg per os for 20 days were retrospectively evaluated for total serum PSA reduction. A decrease of PSA value > 5% was considered correlated with the antibiotic therapy.