[The 1-cm lower calyx calculus: SWT, URS or Mini-PCNL? Guidelines vs. reality.].

Urinary stones of the upper urinary tract can be considered a widespread public health concern due to their high incidence and prevalence and their health policy-related and financial implications. A significant proportion of newly diagnosed kidney stones are lower-pole stones, i.e.

[CpG-ODN instillation boosts ICAM-1 expression in an orthotopic murine UCC model: immunohistochemical evaluation of the local response to immunostimulatory DNA].

Background: Immunostimulatory CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) have been verified as an effective antineoplastic agent for intravesical application in a murine orthotopic C57-BL6 /MB-49 urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC). To date, many details in the mode of action have remained unclear. Preceding studies pointed towards a Th1-weighted response.

Assessing blood platelets as RNA biomarker source for prostate cancer.

Context: Blood platelets may offer as RNA biomarker source for cancer as recently described for an oncogenic transcript in glioma patients and for PCA3 in prostate cancer (PCa) patients.

Objective: Here, we elaborated on this aspect for PCa.

Materials And Methods: PCA3 and other PCa-associated RNA markers were measured in platelets of PCa patients (cases) and healthy subjects (controls) in comparison to PCa cell lines by relative quantitative RT-PCR.

Lymphoceles Post-Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy: A Retrospective Evaluation of Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Outcome.

Introduction: We aimed at evaluating the incidence of lymphoceles, a common complication after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), at a high volume centre, define risk factors and assess the clinical outcome.

Materials And Methods: 454 patients receiving RRP and pelvic lymph node dissection were assessed for postoperative lymphoceles using the ultrasound method. Findings were correlated to clinical parameters from a database (age, BMI, initial PSA, number of lymph nodes removed, prostate weight, duration of surgery, hospital stay, duration of catheterisation) and possible unconventional risk factors using meteorological data.

TLR4- and TLR9-dependent effects on cytokines, cell viability, and invasion in human bladder cancer cells.

Objectives: Adjuvant immunotherapy of bladder cancer by instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is highly recommended within certain groups of non-muscle-invasive stages but only partially effective. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) TLR4 and TLR9 likely mediate BCG effects by triggering innate systemic immune cell responses. In addition, TLR4 and TLR9 expressed in bladder cancer cells may contribute to the outcome of BCG treatment.

TOT approach in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) - outcome in obese female.

Background: Only limited data are available on the outcome of tension-free obturator tape (TOT) procedures in overweight and obese women. We would like to verify the objective and subjective outcomes of TOT in women with a higher body mass index (BMI).

Methods: We evaluated the records of 116 patients who had undergone TOT, stratifying by BMI into normal weight (n = 31), overweight (n = 56), and obese (n = 29) groups.

Epithelial mesenchymal transition status is associated with anti-cancer responses towards receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibition by dovitinib in human bladder cancer cells.

Background: Dovitinib (TKI-258) is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and further related RTKs. TKI-258 is under investigation as anticancer drug for the treatment of various cancers including bladder cancer with aberrant RTK signaling. Here, we analyzed the responses of ten human bladder cancer cell lines towards TKI-258 treatment in relation to the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) status of the cells.

Isolated upper pole access in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a large-scale analysis from the CROES percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study.

Purpose: We analyzed the indications for and outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy using upper pole access.

Materials And Methods: Between 2007 and 2009 prospective data were collected by the Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society (CROES) from consecutive patients at 96 centers globally. Data on 4,494 patients were included in this analysis.

Efficacy and safety of the Accordion stone-trapping device: in vitro results from an artificial ureterolithotripsy model.

One of the challenges of intracorporeal ureterolithotripsy is undesired stone migration. Stone-trapping devices have been designed to prevent this quite common phenomenon. These devices have to be effective in terms of ureteral obstruction and safe in terms of resistance to the action of commonly used lithotriptors.

Urinary collecting system invasion in renal cell carcinoma: incidence and long-term prognosis.

Objectives: Current data on the prognostic impact of urinary collecting system (UCS) invasion by renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are highly conflicting. The aim of the present study was to assess incidence and long-term prognosis of RCC patients with and without UCS involvement.

Methods: We evaluated 780 patients who had undergone renal surgery between 1990 and 2005.

Comparison of a 20-min pad test with the 1-hour pad test of the international continence society to evaluate post-prostatectomy incontinence.

Objectives: Urinary incontinence is a hygienic and socially distressing problem for affected people and causes high healthcare costs. Objective standardized noninvasive quantification of urinary incontinence is highly important and, in addition, enables control of therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility, accuracy and reproducibility of a standardized 20-min pad test to measure urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy in comparison to the 1-hour pad-weighing test recommended by the International Continence Society (ICS).

Overweight is associated with improved cancer-specific survival in patients with organ-confined renal cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Overweight/obesity is known to increase the risk of developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, data on the prognostic impact of overweight in RCC is still conflicting. We assessed whether different body mass index (BMI) levels at the time of surgery had an effect on the long-term prognosis of RCC patients.

In vitro and in vivo effects of CpG-Oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) on murine transitional cell carcinoma and on the native murine urinary bladder wall.

Background: Intravesical BCG instillation is established and efficient in the prophylaxis of recurrent transitional cell carcinoma. A Th-1 biased immune response is postulated. Recent work has proven the efficacy of synthetic CpG-Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) as inducers and adjuvants for a strong Th1-response and there is evidence for a direct and/or adjuvant anti-neoplastic effect.

Metastatic non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma: current therapeutic options.

Non-clear cell (ncc) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 25% of all patients with metastatic RCC. It is refractory to standard immuno(chemo)therapy and, to date, no specific trials have been reported to evaluate the efficacy of novel targeted drugs in the different subtypes of metastatic nccRCC. We review all available data from subgroup analyses of the global sorafenib and sunitinib expanded access programmes, current phase-III trials, and smaller multi- and single-centre studies focusing on the activity of targeted agents in these specific and rare RCC subtypes.

Pre- and perioperative predictors of short-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy.

Percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy (PCNL) with modern stone disintegration technologies is the treatment of choice for patients with extensive stone burden or stones refractory to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. However, little is known about factors predicting unfavourable outcome in terms of perioperative complications, residual stone burden or prolonged hospitalization. The aim of this study was to evaluate preoperative, patient- and stone-related parameters that might influence the perioperative course and short-term clinical outcomes.

Clinical significance of a prostate-specific antigen flare phenomenon in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer receiving docetaxel.

Docetaxel has shown promise for the treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer and has become the standard of care. The flare phenomenon is a known entity in androgen-deprivation therapy of advanced prostate cancer and it has also been described in palliative chemotherapy of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of a prostate-specific antigen flare phenomenon in docetaxel-treated hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients.