15-year biochemical failure, metastasis, salvage therapy, and cancer-specific and overall survival rates in men treated with robotic radical prostatectomy for PSA-screen detected prostate cancer.

Background: An informed decision regarding a treatment option requires data on its long-term efficacy and side-effect profile. While the side-effects of robotic radical prostatectomy have been well-quantified, the data on its long-term efficacy are lacking. We here provide 15-year oncological outcomes of clinically-localized prostate cancer (CLPCa) patients treated with robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP).

The impact of a wireless audio system on communication in robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery: A prospective controlled trial.

Background: Robotic surgery presents a challenge to effective teamwork and communication in the operating theatre (OR). Our objective was to evaluate the effect of using a wireless audio headset device on communication, efficiency and patient outcome in robotic surgery.

Methods And Findings: A prospective controlled trial of team members participating in gynecologic and urologic robotic procedures between January and March 2015.

Use of Main Renal Artery Clamping Predominates Over Minimal Clamping Techniques During Robotic Partial Nephrectomy for Complex Tumors.

Introduction: Hilar clamping is often performed to facilitate robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN). Minimal clamping techniques may reduce renal ischemia, including early unclamping, selective clamping, and off-clamp RPN. We assess the utilization of clamping techniques in a large international consortium of surgeons performing RPN for complex tumors.

Quality of life outcomes in peri-urethral calcium hydroxylapatite injection.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Peri-urethral calcium hydroxylapatite injection is an established treatment for patients with stress urinary incontinence. Information is limited regarding calcium hydroxylapatite treatment and quality of life (QOL) outcomes. We hypothesize that patients might improve QOL after peri-urethral calcium hydroxylapatite injection, which was reflected in validated questionnaires.

Intermediate-term cancer control outcomes in prostate cancer patients treated with robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a multi-institutional analysis.

Purpose: Cancer control outcomes following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer (PCa) remain inadequately addressed over intermediate-term (≥5-year) follow-up. We examined biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS), clinical recurrence-free survival (CRFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in a multi-institutional cohort of men undergoing RARP for localized PCa.

Materials And Methods: A total of 5670 PCa patients undergoing RARP ± pelvic lymph node dissection as primary treatment modality at three tertiary care centers between 2001 and 2010 were analyzed.

Ureteral injuries sustained during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Background And Purpose: During the last decade, the annual volume of robot-assisted prostatectomies performed in the United States has risen steadily. Refinements in surgical technique, understanding of anatomy, and experience have led to more complex patients being offered surgery for management of organ-confined prostate cancer. Complication rates of robot-assisted prostatectomy have been reported in several articles; however, a paucity of data exists when evaluating ureteral injuries sustained during robot-assisted prostatectomy.

Oncological outcomes after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: long-term follow-up in 4803 patients.

Objective: To evaluate oncological outcomes in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) at a high-volume tertiary centre with focus on biochemical recurrence (BCR); previous studies on oncological outcomes for patients undergoing RARP for prostate cancer are limited to small series.

Patients And Methods: In all, 5152 consecutive patients underwent RARP from 2001 to 2010; 4803 patients comprised the study cohort after exclusions. BCR was defined as a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of ≥0.

Long-term functional urinary outcomes comparing single- vs double-layer urethrovesical anastomosis: two-year follow-up of a two-group parallel randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To evaluate long-term urinary outcomes in participants of a two-group randomized clinical trial comparing continence after robotic prostatectomy (RP) between those who had reconstruction of the rhabdosphincter and puboprostatic collar (double-layer anastomosis) with those who had not.

Methods: Consecutive patients (n = 116) undergoing RP at a single institution were randomized to either single- or double-layer urethrovesical (UV) anastomosis between August and December of 2007. Patients were contacted an average of 23.

Comorbidities, functional limitations, and geriatric syndromes in relation to treatment and survival patterns among elders with colorectal cancer.

Purpose: To examine patterns of colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment and survival in relation to comorbidities (COM), functional limitations (FL), and geriatric syndromes (GS).

Methods: Our study population consisted of Ohio elders diagnosed with incident invasive CRC in the period August 1999 to November 2001 and admitted to home health care (HHC) in the 30 days before or after cancer diagnosis (n = 1009). We used data from the Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System, vital records, and Medicare administrative data, including the HHC Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS), which includes detailed clinical data for HHC patients.

Methodological quality in medical evidence, quo vadis?

Efforts in research quality have led to a diffusion of publication guidelines for high-quality reporting of medical evidence with the aim to instill transparency to its evaluation. The maturity of this process has led to a second stage in which a surplus of scales measuring methodological quality is in place. However, there is no clear consensus as to which of these guidelines should be recommended for usage and how to integrate the methodological quality information into the evidence synthesis process.

Characteristics of genomic instability in clones of TK6 human lymphoblasts surviving exposure to 56Fe ions.

Genomic instability in the human lymphoblast cell line TK6 was studied in clones surviving 36 generations after exposure to accelerated 56Fe ions. Clones were assayed for 20 characteristics, including chromosome aberrations, plating efficiency, apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, response to a second irradiation, and mutant frequency at two loci. The primary effect of the 56Fe-ion exposure on the surviving clones was a significant increase in the frequency of unstable chromosome aberrations compared to the very low spontaneous frequency, along with an increase in the phenotypic complexity of the unstable clones.