Publications by authors named "Ragonese M"

Background: The American Urologic Association (AUA) and the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines endorse percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for symptomatic stones larger than 20 mm despite significant risks such as bleeding and urosepsis. Robotic pyelolithotomy (RPL) is emerging as an appealing alternative to PCNL, particularly for patients with anatomical variations like pelvic or horseshoe kidneys, malrotation, previous unsuccessful PCNL, and congenital renal anomalies such as ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO).

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted involving patients from Miulli Hospital and A.

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The Y chromosome (ChrY) is essential for male sex determination and spermatogenesis. However, recent studies have revealed its broader role in various physiological processes and disease susceptibility, including cancer. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases like MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.

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Technological advancements have revolutionized surgical methods, with laparoscopic and robotic surgeries offering significant benefits over traditional open procedures. These benefits include reduced intraoperative blood loss, shortened hospital stays, faster recovery, and improved cosmetic outcomes. However, the learning curve for laparoscopic surgery remains a challenge.

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  • * The diagnosis was confirmed using scrotal ultrasound and normal serum tumor markers, followed by a successful testis-sparing surgery to remove it.
  • * Advances in diagnostic techniques allow for accurate identification and less invasive surgical options, crucial for preserving fertility in young patients with this condition.
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: Perinephric fluid is commonly identified in patients with renal colic and urolithiasis, especially in cases associated with hydronephrosis. However, its clinical relevance, particularly its impact on treatment decisions and prognosis, is not well established. : This retrospective, single-center study included adult patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with suspected renal colic between January 2021 and October 2023.

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  • - X-linked acrogigantism (X-LAG) is a serious genetic condition caused by duplications on chromosome X that affect the GPR101 gene, leading to excessive growth due to misexpression of this gene in the pituitary gland.
  • - The researchers used advanced genomic techniques, specifically 4C/HiC-seq, to examine the impact of GPR101 duplications on the functional structure of the genome in families with these duplications, finding that some did not create harmful changes.
  • - The study emphasizes the significance of chromatin interactions and boundaries in understanding genetic disorders and demonstrates the utility of 4C/HiC-seq in genetic counseling and clinical decision-making for suspected TADopathies.
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  • - Several studies indicate that chemical pollutants can disrupt endocrine functions and play a role in tumor development, particularly increasing instances of acromegaly in polluted regions.
  • - The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is linked to both cancer formation and detoxification, and its deregulation may influence pituitary tumors, especially those that secrete growth hormone (GH).
  • - Despite some findings on the relationship between environmental pollutants and GH-secreting pituitary tumors, more research is necessary to clarify how AHR signaling and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) interact in this context.
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Background: Robotic-assisted surgery (particularly with the da Vinci Surgical System) has revolutionized urological interventions. The advent of the Versius Surgical System introduces a compelling alternative. This study compares outcomes of extraperitoneal robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (eRARP) using da Vinci and Versius, presenting the largest case series to date.

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The world of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses a wide range of practices, treatments, and products that fall outside the realm of conventional (mainstream) medicine. The use of complementary and CAM has become increasingly popular in Western nations. People are turning to CAM for a variety of reasons, including managing chronic diseases, relieving symptoms of various conditions, and improving their overall health and well-being.

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  • The study compared two types of robotic surgery systems, Hugo RAS and daVinci, used for a procedure called RARP in 400 patients.
  • Researchers looked at important results like surgery time, blood loss, and complications to see if one system was better than the other.
  • They found that both systems had similar outcomes, which means Hugo RAS works just as well as daVinci for this type of surgery. *
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: Gross Hematuria is a relevant cause of admission to the emergency department in the general population and particularly in older adults (≥80 years). This specific urological symptom is often underestimated and usually associated with benign conditions such as urinary infections or poor hydration. Nevertheless, hematuria could lead to severe acute complications or be the first symptom of urological cancers.

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Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MpMRI) and MRI-guided biopsy (MRGB) are the diagnostic gold standard in the management of men with suspicious prostate cancer (PCa). There are not enough studies, yet, that compare TRUS-MRGB, COG-TB and IB-MRGB. Despite IB-MRGB could be more accurate in detecting PCa in smaller lesions and a less operator dependent technique, there are still some concerns regarding high resource costs and the chance of missing lesions not visible at MRI or detected by systematic biopsy.

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: to assess surgical, oncological, and functional outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) performed using the novel Hugo™ RAS system. : A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases. Eligible papers included studies involving adult males undergoing RARP with the Hugo™ RAS platform, with at least ten patients analyzed.

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Background: Robotic-assisted surgery is the gold standard for performing radical prostatectomy (RARP), with new robotic devices such as Hugo RAS gaining prominence worldwide.

Objective: We report the surgical, perioperative, and early postoperative outcomes of RARP using Hugo RAS.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Between April 2022 and October 2023, we performed 132 procedures using the Montsouris technique with a four-robotic-arm configuration in patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer (PCa).

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Purpose: Endocrine disruptors exert a plethora of effects in endocrine tissues, from altered function to carcinogenesis. Given its lipophilic nature, the adrenal cortex represents an ideal target for endocrine disruptors and thus, possibly, xenobiotic-induced adrenocortical dysfunction. However, there is no clear understanding of the effect of endocrine disruptors on adrenal steroidogenesis, in particular as regards the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway, one of the key mediators.

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  • The study compared robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) to open radical cystectomy (ORC) in terms of surgical and cancer outcomes using specific criteria called trifecta and pentafecta.
  • Data from 41 patients undergoing RARC were compared to 330 patients who had ORC, focusing on factors like surgical margins, complications, and cancer recurrence.
  • While there were no significant differences in success rates between the two methods, RARC demonstrated a notable advantage with less blood loss during surgery.
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  • * Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion is the standard treatment for muscle invasive BC, but it requires careful consideration of age and health status to reduce complications and hospital readmissions.
  • * Literature review indicates that while non-continent urinary diversion is favored for patients over 75, there isn't strong evidence against considering older patients for orthotopic neobladder reconstruction if they are carefully selected based on their health.
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Introduction: Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections in the prostate gland have been used as a minimally invasive option for treating bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). However, the efficacy of transurethral BoNT-A injections for BOO is not well established in the literature. The aim of this study is to collect evidence on the efficacy of transurethral BoNT-A injections for the treatment of BOO.

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Unlabelled: Inflammation is widely acknowledged as a significant characteristic of cancer, playing a substantial function in both the initiation and advancement of cancers. In this research, we planned to compare pan-immune inflammation markers and other well-known markers (systemic immune inflammation index and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio) to predict prognosis in individuals treated with radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we focused on preoperative PIV, systemic immune inflammation index (SII), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in 193 individuals managed with radical cystectomy for bladder cancer between January 2016 and November 2022.

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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) present a formidable challenge in the care of individuals affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Lower urinary tract dysfunction is a prevalent issue among MS patients, predisposing them to an elevated risk of UTIs. When left untreated, UTIs can further exacerbate the already compromised quality of life in individuals with MS.

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  • The study aimed to investigate how various patient, disease, and treatment-related factors affect the likelihood of achieving long-term control of acromegaly, a hormonal disorder.
  • Data from 1546 patients treated with pegvisomant were analyzed over a 10-year period, focusing on baseline IGF-1 levels and other factors through comprehensive statistical analysis.
  • Key findings indicated that lower baseline IGF-1 levels (especially <300 µg/L) were strongly associated with improved long-term control of acromegaly, while factors such as age, sex, BMI, and pegvisomant dosage were not significant predictors.
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Introduction: Hem-o-lok clips (HOLCs) are a useful tool in mini-invasive surgery, especially for renal surgery. However, in rare cases, they could migrate into the collecting system and be calculogenic.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a 53 years old man with an incidental CT finding of a left staghorn caliceal stone increasing its size in the last 2 years.

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: To assess the potential prognostic role of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in predicting oncological outcomes in a cohort of patients treated with radical cystectomy (RC). : From 2016 to 2022, a retrospective monocentric study enrolled 193 patients who were divided into two groups based on their SII levels using the optimal cutoff determined by the Youden index. The SII was obtained from a preoperative blood test approximately one month before RC.

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Background: Renal cell carcinoma accounts for 2-3% of all malignant cancers in adults and is characterized by the potential development of venous tumor thrombus.

Case Presentation: We present a rare case of a 62-year-old Caucasian man who arrived in the emergency department for monosymptomatic hematuria. Further investigation revealed a right renal cell carcinoma with 16 cm intravascular extension through the renal vein into the inferior vena cava and right atrium associated with significant coronary artery disease based on the computed tomography scan and coronary angiography.

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most frequent neurological disease in young adults, with the greatest incidence between age of 30 and 35 years. Sexual dysfunctions (SDs) are frequent, but are often underestimated in patients with MS, and can have a significantly high impact on patient's quality of life. Aim of this review is to summarize sexual dysfunctions in male and female MS patients and to illustrate current and emerging therapeutic options for treatment.

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