Human in vivo baseline intrarenal pressure, peristaltic activity and response to ureteric stenting.

Objectives: To assess human in vivo intrarenal pressure (IRP) and peristaltic activity at baseline and after ureteric stent placement, using a narrow calibre pressure guidewire placed retrogradely in the renal pelvis.

Patients And Methods: A prospective, multi-institutional study recruiting consenting patients undergoing ureteroscopy was designed with ethical approval. Prior to ureteroscopy, the urinary bladder was emptied and the COMET™ II pressure guidewire (Boston Scientific) was advanced retrogradely via the ureteric orifice to the renal pelvis.

Intrarenal pressure with hand-pump or pressurized-bag irrigation: randomized clinical trial at retrograde intrarenal surgery.

Background: The aim was to ascertain the impact of irrigation technique on human intrarenal pressure during retrograde intrarenal surgery.

Methods: A parallel randomized trial recruited patients across three hospital sites. Patients undergoing retrograde intrarenal surgery for renal stone treatment with an 11/13-Fr ureteral access sheath were allocated randomly to 100 mmHg pressurized-bag (PB) or manual hand-pump (HP) irrigation.

IMPROVER (Involving Men with Prostate Cancer in Engaged Research): Assessing Patient Experience With Testing, Diagnosis, And Surveillance.

Background: Our understanding of patient experiences with prostate cancer testing for diagnosis and surveillance is limited. The aim of this study was to collaborate with patients and clinicians to understand their lived experience and unmet needs around the early detection, diagnosis and monitoring (active surveillance) of prostate cancer.

Methods: Two focus groups were held with patients (n = 20) and healthcare professionals (n = 16), to identify the main challenges in prostate cancer detection, diagnosis, and monitoring.

Surgical Approach for Partial Nephrectomy in the Management of Small Renal Masses: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

A variety of surgical and nonsurgical management options for small renal masses (SRMs) now exist. Surgery in the form of partial nephrectomy (PN) has three different approaches. It is unclear which PN approach, if any, offers superior clinical outcomes.

Perceptions and Practice Patterns of Urologists Relating to Intrarenal Pressure During Ureteroscopy: Findings from a Global Cross-Sectional Analysis.

To explore beliefs and practice patterns of urologists regarding intrarenal pressure (IRP) during ureteroscopy (URS). A customized questionnaire was designed in a 4-step iterative process incorporating a systematic review of the literature and critical analysis of topics/questions by six endourologists. The 19-item questionnaire interrogated perceptions, practice patterns, and key areas of uncertainty regarding ureteroscopic IRP, and was disseminated via urologic societies, networks, and social media to the international urologic community.

In vivo ureteroscopic intrarenal pressures and clinical outcomes: a multi-institutional analysis of 120 consecutive patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the pressure range generated in the human renal collecting system during ureteroscopy (URS), in a large patient sample, and to investigate a relationship between intrarenal pressure (IRP) and outcome.

Patients And Methods: A prospective multi-institutional study was conducted, with ethics board approval; February 2022-March 2023. Recruitment was of 120 consecutive consenting adult patients undergoing semi-rigid URS and/or flexible ureterorenoscopy (FURS) for urolithiasis or diagnostic purposes.

Implementing a physiotherapy led cancer exercise programme in a National Cancer Centre: the FIXCAS study.

Objectives: To examine the feasibility of implementing a 10-week exercise-based cancer rehabilitation programme in a national cancer centre.

Design: A single-arm prospective feasibility study.

Setting: An outpatient physiotherapy department.

ExPeCT: a randomised trial examining the impact of exercise on quality of life in men with metastatic prostate cancer.

Purpose: All patients living with cancer, including those with metastatic cancer, are encouraged to be physically active. This paper examines the secondary endpoints of an aerobic exercise intervention for men with metastatic prostate cancer.

Methods: ExPeCT (Exercise, Prostate Cancer and Circulating Tumour Cells), was a multi-centre randomised control trial with a 6-month aerobic exercise intervention arm or a standard care control arm.

Introduction of an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP)-led male lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) clinic and development of integrated referral pathway.

Introduction: Ireland's population is living longer, and the prevalence of any LUTS is estimated to be 63-83% in adult men, increasing with age. Ireland has one of the lowest urologists per population ratio in Europe, at approximately 1:127,027. The patients waiting the longest are those with routine benign conditions such as men with LUTS.

Isolated soft tissue mass of the finger as the first presentation of oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma.

A man in his 70s was referred to plastic surgery with a suspected foreign body in the pulp of his right index finger. An excisional biopsy was performed for a presumed foreign body granuloma. Histology revealed metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Upper urinary tract pressures in endourology: a systematic review of range, variables and implications.

Objectives: To systematically review the literature to ascertain the upper tract pressures generated during endourology, the relevant influencing variables and clinical implications.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review of the MEDLINE, Scopus and Cochrane databases was performed by two authors independently (S.C.

The unintentional spread of misinformation on 'TikTok'; A paediatric urological perspective.

Introduction: 'TikTok' is a social media application based on the publication of short videos that has accumulated over 1.1 billion users worldwide since its launch in 2016. With the use of 'TikTok' on the rise, there is an increasing tendency for patients or family members to seek medical information online.

En bloc transurethral resection of bladder tumors: A review of current techniques.

Introduction: Growing interest surrounds the concept of en bloc transurethral resection of bladder tumors (ERBT). Theoretical advantages include improved adherence to oncological principles and potential yield of superior pathological specimens. Multiple ERBT methods exist.

Circulating Tumour Cell Numbers Correlate with Platelet Count and Circulating Lymphocyte Subsets in Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer: Data from the ExPeCT Clinical Trial (CTRIAL-IE 15-21).

Interactions between circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and platelets are thought to inhibit natural killer(NK)-cell-induced lysis. We attempted to correlate CTC numbers in men with advanced prostate cancer with platelet counts and circulating lymphocyte numbers. Sixty-one ExPeCT trial participants, divided into overweight/obese and normal weight groups on the basis of a BMI ≥ 25 or <25, were randomized to participate or not in a six-month exercise programme.

Hyperglycaemic crisis secondary to emphysematous pyelonephritis.

A 49-year-old woman presented to the emergency department acutely unwell. Initial investigations revealed hyperglycaemia, ketosis and an acute kidney injury precipitated by urosepsis. She was found to have a new diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (type 2) with a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of 156 mmol/mol.

The feasibility of implementing an exercise programme for deconditioned cancer survivors in a national cancer centre: FIXCAS Study.

As both the number of cancer survivors and the length of survival time are increasing, long-term health issues related to cancer and its treatment are becoming more prevalent. Research suggests that exercise can mitigate several negative health consequences in cancer survivors and improve physical function and quality of life. Multi-modal exercise interventions have been proposed as a cornerstone for survivorship care.

Urology at your fingertips: the development of a urology m-learning app for medical students.

Background: Surgical education has embraced advancing technology with an emphasis on e-learning in recent years. Smartphones are a useful tool for medical teaching and learning with increasing use by medical students to access e-books, medical calculators, podcasts, and medical applications (apps). Our aim was to develop a dedicated urology app for medical students as an adjunct to traditional teaching.

Platelet cloaking of circulating tumour cells in patients with metastatic prostate cancer: Results from ExPeCT, a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) represent a morphologically distinct subset of cancer cells, which aid the metastatic spread. The ExPeCT trial aimed to examine the effectiveness of a structured exercise programme in modulating levels of CTCs and platelet cloaking in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

Methods: Participants (n = 61) were randomised into either standard care (control) or exercise arms.

Implementation of a nurse-led lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) clinic reduces general urology clinic workload in a Model 4 Hospital: a pilot study in Tallaght University Hospital.

Background: With among the lowest urologist per population ratios in Europe, the demand for urology specialist review in Ireland far exceeds supply. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) account for a significant number of referrals. The traditional paradigm of every patient being reviewed in a consultant-led clinic is unsustainable.

Survey on ureTEric draiNage post uncomplicaTed ureteroscopy (STENT).

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess whether avoiding ureteric drainage is superior to performing ureteric drainage after Uncomplicated Ureteroscopy and/or Flexible Ureterorenoscopy (URS/FURS) treatment of a urinary tract stone in improving patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and 30-day unplanned readmission rates. A secondary objective was to understand current practice of urologists regarding ureteric drainage after uncomplicated URS/FURS (UU).

Material And Methods: We undertook an online survey of urologists, circulated amongst members of international urological societies and through social media platforms.

Men's sexual help-seeking and care needs after radical prostatectomy or other non-hormonal, active prostate cancer treatments.

Objective: To examine prostate cancer (PCa) survivors' sexual help-seeking intentions, behaviours, and unmet needs.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, men who underwent active, non-hormonal treatment completed baseline (N = 558) and 6-month follow-up (N = 387) questionnaires. Theory of planned behaviour (TPB) constructs (sexual help-seeking intention, perceived behavioural control (PBC), subjective norm, attitude), masculine values (e.

Urological service provision during the COVID-19 period: the experience from an Irish tertiary centre.

Purpose: Urological service provision has changed dramatically with the advent of the SARS-CoV-2, necessitating restructuring and reorganization. The aim of this study was to review the reorganization of our unit, map the change in volume of departmental activities and discuss potential solutions.

Methods: Departmental activities over the months of April and May 2020 and 2019 were analysed.

Evaluating liquid biopsies for methylomic profiling of prostate cancer.

Background: Liquid biopsies offer significant potential for informing on cancer progression and therapeutic resistance via minimally invasive serial monitoring of genetic alterations. Although the cancer epigenome is a central driving force in most neoplasia, the accuracy of monitoring the tumor methylome using liquid biopsies remains relatively unknown.

Objectives: to investigate how well two types of liquid biopsy (urine and blood) capture the prostate cancer methylome, and may thus serve as a non-invasive surrogate for studying the tumor epigenome.

Implications of faecal ESBL carriers undergoing TRUS-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSPB): role of screening prior to TRUSPB.

Introduction: Modification of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSPB) based on pre-procedure rectal culture results is effective for prevention of infection from fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) Escherichia coli strains. This has several implications for service delivery and cost. Our aim was to audit sepsis rates after introduction of ESBL screening and to identify risk factors for FQ resistance in ESBL strains and factors for sepsis risk.