Financial Relationships between Urologists and Industry: An Analysis of Open Payments Data.

Introduction: The Open Payments Program was enacted to increase transparency of financial relationships between physicians and the medical device and pharmaceutical industry. We examined nonresearch related financial relationships between urologists and industry in the United States using the latest Open Payments data.

Methods: We performed a descriptive analysis of Open Payments data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for 2014.

Lymph node dissection during radical cystectomy following prior radiation therapy: results from the SEER database.

Purpose: Population studies of patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BC) suggest that a more extended lymph node dissection (LND) increases survival. However, information regarding LNDs of patients undergoing RC with a history of radiation therapy for BC is largely unknown. This study aims to define the lymph node yield (LNY) in patients undergoing RC for BC following radiation of the bladder using the surveillance epidemiology and end results (SEER) database.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-targeted Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) for the Treatment of EGFR-expressing Bladder Cancer.

The use of light as a means of therapy for bladder cancer has a long history but has been hampered by a lack of tumor specificity and therefore, damage to the normal bladder mucosa. Here, we describe a targeted form of phototherapy called photoimmunotherapy (PIT), which targets EGFR-expressing bladder cancer. Anti-EGFR antibody panitumumab was labeled with the photoabsorber (PA), IRDye 700Dx (IR700), to create a panitumumab-IR700 antibody-PA conjugate that is activated by near-infrared radiation (NIR).

Case Presentation: Lung Consolidation as Sequelae of BCG Sepsis After Combined Intravesical and Intraurethral BCG.

BCG sepsis is rarely seen with modern intravesical therapy and therefore its presentation may not be apparent to recently trained urologists. We describe BCG sepsis occurring in a patient treated with combined intravesical and intraurethral BCG which resulted in lung consolidation with acid-fast bacilli requiring cessation of BCG and initiation of systemic antibiotic therapy.

Lyso-thermosensitive liposomal doxorubicin for treatment of bladder cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate lyso-thermosensitive liposomal doxorubicin (LTLD, ThermoDox) in combination with loco-regional mild hyperthermia (HT) for targeted drug delivery to the bladder wall and potential treatment of bladder cancer.

Material And Methods: Porcine in vivo studies were performed with the following groups: (i) intravenous (IV) LTLD with hyperthermia (LTLD + HT); (ii) IV doxorubicin (DOX) with hyperthermia (IV DOX + HT) and (iii) IV LTLD without hyperthermia (LTLD - HT). Drug formulations were delivered via 30 min IV infusion coinciding with 1-h bladder irrigation (45 °C water for HT groups, 37 °C for non-HT group), followed by immediate bladder resection.

Nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer: a primer on immunotherapy.

Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has long been the gold standard treatment of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer. Recently, there has been an emergence of novel immunotherapeutic agents, which have shown promise in the treatment of urothelial cell carcinoma. These agents aim to augment, modify, or enhance the immune response.

Novel immunotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of urothelial carcinoma.

Immunotherapy has long played a role in urothelial cancers with the use of bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) being a mainstay in the treatment of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer. Novel therapeutic approaches have not significantly impacted mortality in this population and so a renaissance in immunotherapy has resulted. This includes recombinant BCG, oncolytic viruses, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and adoptive T-cell therapy.

Evolving immunotherapy strategies in urothelial cancer.

The treatment of nonmuscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) represents the importance of immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer. Despite its clinical efficacy, up to 30% of patients will ultimately experience progression to muscle-invasive disease. This, along with an improved understanding of the biologic pathways involved, has led to efforts to improve, enhance, or alter the immune response in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma.

Comparison of postural ergonomics between laparoscopic and robotic sacrocolpopexy: a pilot study.

Study Objective: To compare resident, fellow, and attending urologic and gynecologic surgeons' musculoskeletal and mental strain during laparoscopic and robotic sacrocolpopexy.

Design: Prospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Academic medical center.

Targeted therapies in urothelial carcinoma.

Purpose Of Review: Greater understanding of the biology and genetics of urothelial carcinoma is helping to identify and define the role of molecules and pathways appropriate for novel-targeted therapies. Here, we review the targeted therapies that have been reported or are in ongoing urothelial carcinoma clinical trials, and highlight molecular targets characterized in preclinical and clinical studies.

Recent Findings: Trials in nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer are evaluating the role of immunotherapy and agents targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or fibroblast growth factor receptor-3.

Continuous monitoring of enzyme reactions on a microchip: application to catalytic RNA self-cleavage.

Kinetic analysis of RNA enzymes, or ribozymes, typically involves the tedious process of collecting and quenching reaction time points and then fractionating by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). As a way to automate and simplify this process, continuous analysis of a ribozyme reaction is demonstrated here using completely automated capillary sample introduction onto a microfabricated device with laser-induced fluorescence detection. The method of injection is extremely reproducible thereby standardizing data analysis.

Destabilization of phospholipid model membranes by YplA, a phospholipase A2 secreted by Yersinia enterocolitica.

Yersinia enterocolitica produces a virulence-associated phospholipase A(2) (YplA) that is secreted via its flagellar type-III secretion apparatus. When the N-terminal 59 amino acids of YplA are removed (giving YplA(S)), it retains phospholipase activity; however, it is altered with respect to the apparent kinetics of hydrolysis using fluorescent phospholipid substrates in micellar form. To explore the physical properties of YplA more carefully, Langmuir phospholipid monolayers were used to study the association of YplA with biological membranes.

Incorporation of blood clotting factor X into phospholipid model membranes: fluorescence microscopy imaging and subphase effects surrounding the lipid phase transition region.

Factor X is a blood clotting protein that associates at membrane surfaces to become activated during the coagulation cascade. A molecular level understanding of the protein-membrane phospholipid interactions has not been reached, although it is thought that the protein binds to phospholipids in the presence of calcium through a bridge with the Gla (gamma-carboxyglutamic acid) domain on the protein. In this work, phospholipid Langmuir monolayers have been utilized as model membranes to study factor X association with phospholipid membrane components.

Incorporation of Blood-Clotting Proteins into Phospholipid Langmuir Monolayers: A Fluorescence Microscopy Study.

Phospholipid monolayers adsorbed at an air-water interface are model cell membranes and have been used in this work to study interactions with blood-clotting proteins. Factor I (non-membrane binding) was used as a control protein, and its association with L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine Langmuir monolayers was compared to factor VII, a membrane-binding protein. Fluorescence micrographs indicated that factor I penetration of the lipid monolayers in the phase transition region occurred extensively, causing condensation of the lipid film.