Is It the Load That Breaks You or the Way You Carry It: How Demanding Is Endourology?

Surgical outcomes are dependent on multiple factors. Besides patient-related or procedure-related factors, several surgeon-related factors contribute to surgical outcomes. The Surgery Task Load Index (SURG-TLX) questionnaire helps to assess the impact of several stressors on the perceived demands of surgeons during surgery.

Effect of different noise reduction techniques and template matching parameters on markerless tumor tracking using dual-energy imaging.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of various noise reduction algorithms and template matching parameters on the accuracy of markerless tumor tracking (MTT) using dual-energy (DE) imaging.

Methods: A Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator was used to acquire a series of alternating 60 and 120 kVp images (over a 180° arc) using fast kV switching, on five early-stage lung cancer patients. Subsequently, DE logarithmic weighted subtraction was performed offline on sequential images to remove bone.

Alpha particle microdosimetry calculations using a shallow neural network.

A shallow neural network was trained to accurately calculate the microdosimetric parameters, 〈〉 and 〈〉 (the first and second moments of the single-event specific energy spectra, respectively) for use in alpha-particle microdosimetry calculations. The regression network of four inputs and two outputs was created in MATLAB and trained on a data set consisting of both previously published microdosimetric data and recent Monte Carlo simulations. The input data consisted of the alpha-particle energies (3.

MRI and CT in the follow-up after irreversible electroporation of small renal masses.

Purpose: Ablation plays a growing role in the treatment of small renal masses (SRMs) due to its nephron sparing properties and low invasiveness. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) has the potential, although still experimental, to overcome current limitations of thermal ablation. No prospective imaging studies exist of the ablation zone in the follow up after renal IRE in humans.

An In-vivo Prospective Study of the Diagnostic Yield and Accuracy of Optical Biopsy Compared with Conventional Renal Mass Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Renal Cell Carcinoma: The Interim Analysis.

Background: Lack of accuracy in preoperative imaging leads to overtreatment of benign renal masses (RMs) or indolent renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is real time and high resolution, enabling quantitative analysis through attenuation coefficient (μ, mm).

Objective: To determine the accuracy and diagnostic yield of OCT and renal mass biopsy (RMB) for the differentiation of benign RMs versus RCC and oncocytoma versus RCC.

Irreversible Electroporation for the Ablation of Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Prospective, Human, In Vivo Study Protocol (IDEAL Phase 2b).

Background: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is an emerging technique delivering electrical pulses to ablate tissue, with the theoretical advantage to overcome the main shortcomings of conventional thermal ablation. Recent short-term research showed that IRE for the ablation of renal masses is a safe and feasible treatment option. In an ablate and resect design, histopathological analysis 4 weeks after radical nephrectomy demonstrated that IRE-targeted renal tumors were completely covered by ablation zone.

Irreversible electroporation: state of the art.

The field of focal ablative therapy for the treatment of cancer is characterized by abundance of thermal ablative techniques that provide a minimally invasive treatment option in selected tumors. However, the unselective destruction inflicted by thermal ablation modalities can result in damage to vital structures in the vicinity of the tumor. Furthermore, the efficacy of thermal ablation intensity can be impaired due to thermal sink caused by large blood vessels in the proximity of the tumor.

Percutaneous Needle Based Optical Coherence Tomography for the Differentiation of Renal Masses: a Pilot Cohort.

Purpose: We determine the ability of percutaneous needle based optical coherence tomography to differentiate renal masses by using the attenuation coefficient (μOCT, mm(-1)) as a quantitative measure.

Materials And Methods: Percutaneous needle based optical coherence tomography of the kidney was performed in patients presenting with a solid renal mass. A pathology specimen was acquired in the form of biopsies and/or a resection specimen.

Thermal Energy during Irreversible Electroporation and the Influence of Different Ablation Parameters.

Purpose: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) uses high-voltage electric fields to achieve cell death. Although the mechanism of IRE is mainly designated as nonthermal, development of secondary Joule heating is inevitable. The study purpose was to gain understanding of temperature development and distribution during IRE.

The efficacy and safety of irreversible electroporation for the ablation of renal masses: a prospective, human, in-vivo study protocol.

Background: Electroporation is a novel treatment technique utilizing electric pulses, traveling between two or more electrodes, to ablate targeted tissue. The first in human studies have proven the safety of IRE for the ablation of renal masses. However the efficacy of IRE through histopathological examination of an ablated renal tumour has not yet been studied.

In vivo, percutaneous, needle based, optical coherence tomography of renal masses.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is the optical equivalent of ultrasound imaging, based on the backscattering of near infrared light. OCT provides real time images with a 15 µm axial resolution at an effective tissue penetration of 2-3 mm. Within the OCT images the loss of signal intensity per millimeter of tissue penetration, the attenuation coefficient, is calculated.

Irreversible electroporation of the porcine kidney: Temperature development and distribution.

Objective: Although tissue ablation by irreversible electroporation (IRE) has been characterized as nonthermal, the application of frequent repetitive high-intensity electric pulses has the potential of substantially heating the targeted tissue and causing thermal damage. This study evaluates the risk of possible thermal damage by measuring temperature development and distribution during IRE of porcine kidney tissue.

Methods: The animal procedures were conducted following an approved Institutional Animal Ethics Committee protocol.

Irreversible electroporation: just another form of thermal therapy?

Background: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is (virtually) always called non-thermal despite many reports showing that significant Joule heating occurs. Our first aim is to validate with mathematical simulations that IRE as currently practiced has a non-negligible thermal response. Our second aim is to present a method that allows simple temperature estimation to aid IRE treatment planning.

Thermal ablation in renal cell carcinoma management: a comprehensive review.

Purpose Of Review: This article provides an overview of recent developments in the field of thermal ablation for renal cell carcinoma and focuses on current standard techniques, new technologies, imaging for ablation guidance and evaluation, and future perspectives.

Recent Findings: Emerging long-term data on cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) show marginally lower oncologic outcomes compared to surgical treatment, balanced by better functional and perioperative outcomes. Reports on residual disease vary widely, influenced by different definitions and strategies in determining ablation failure.

Users/consumers differences regarding ergonomics and design theory and practice.

This paper presents the concept of direct and indirect users, a key issue to cooperation between ergonomists, designers and managers involved in a sustainable approach to design. What issues for Ergonomics and Design are launched by this concept? User/consumer differences should be approached taking into account Ergonomics and Design theory and practice. What dialogue and tools could help the ergonomist/designer/manager to respond to all the requirements of the future clients of the product?

Manipulating each MreB of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus gives diverse morphological and predatory phenotypes.

We studied the two mreB genes, encoding actinlike cytoskeletal elements, in the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. This bacterium enters and replicates within other Gram-negative bacteria by attack-phase Bdellovibrio squeezing through prey outer membrane, residing and growing filamentously in the prey periplasm forming an infective "bdelloplast," and septating after 4 h, once the prey contents are consumed. This lifestyle brings challenges to the Bdellovibrio cytoskeleton.