Renal hypothermia during partial nephrectomy for patients with renal tumours: a randomised controlled clinical trial protocol.

Introduction: Partial nephrectomy is a standard of care for non-metastatic renal tumours when technically feasible. Despite the increased use of partial nephrectomy, intraoperative techniques that lead to optimal renal function after surgery have not been rigorously studied. Clamping of the renal hilum to prevent bleeding during resection causes temporary renal ischaemia.

Female radical cystectomy patients have a higher risk of surgical site infections.

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSI) are common after radical cystectomy. The objectives of this study were to evaluate if female sex is associated with postoperative SSI and if experiencing an SSI was associated with subsequent adverse events.

Methods: This was a historical cohort study of radical cystectomy patients from the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database between 2006 and 2016.

Tranexamic Acid versus Placebo to Prevent Blood Transfusion during Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer (TACT): Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Radical cystectomy for bladder cancer is associated with a high risk of needing red blood cell transfusion. Tranexamic acid reduces blood loss during cardiac and orthopedic surgery, but no study has yet evaluated tranexamic acid use during cystectomy.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind (surgeon-, anesthesiologist-, patient-, data-monitor-blinded), placebo-controlled trial of tranexamic acid during cystectomy was initiated in June 2013.

Age-stratified perioperative mortality after urological surgeries.

Introduction: More elderly patients are presenting for surgical consultation. Understanding the risk of mortality by age group after urological surgery is important for patient selection and counselling.

Methods: A historical cohort study of The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database from 2006-2015 was performed.

An assessment of Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance (PRIAS) criteria for active surveillance of clinically low-risk prostate cancer patients.

Introduction: Active surveillance is a strategy to delay or prevent treatment of indolent prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance (PRIAS) criteria were developed to select patients for prostate cancer active surveillance. The objective of this study was to compare pathological findings from PRIAS-eligible and PRIAS-ineligible clinically low-risk prostate cancer patients.

Are renal tumour scoring systems better than clinical judgement at predicting partial nephrectomy complexity?

Introduction: We aimed to determine how renal tumour scoring systems, such as RENAL, PADUA, and Centrality (C)-index, compare to clinical judgement at predicting time required for tumour removal and kidney reconstruction during partial nephrectomy.

Methods: A consecutive cohort of partial nephrectomy patients treated at The Ottawa Hospital, a tertiary care uro-oncological centre, was retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative axial images were reviewed by four experienced urological oncologists who independently rated the complexity of a partial nephrectomy from 110 to generate a clinical judgement score.

Needs Assessment Survey for the Management of Kidney Cancer.

Introduction: In this study we determined self-perceived knowledge gaps and continuing medical education preferences among Canadian urologists and medical oncologists related to the treatment of patients with kidney cancer.

Methods: A needs assessment survey was created by the Quality Initiative group of the Kidney Cancer Research Network of Canada using an iterative feedback process. The survey determined knowledge gaps and continuing medical education preferences pertaining to 23 previously validated quality indicators of kidney cancer care.

The Safety and Efficacy of Lysine Analogues in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Lysine analogues are effective agents used for the reduction of blood loss and transfusion. However, the safety of lysine analogues in cancer patients remains in question due to a potential risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The objective of our review is to investigate safety and efficacy of lysine analogue administration in the patients with cancer.

The Risks and Benefits of Cavernous Neurovascular Bundle Sparing during Radical Prostatectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: We summarize published data on associations between cavernous neurovascular bundle preservation (nerve sparing) during prostatectomy and positive surgical margins, erectile function, urinary function and other patient reported outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A systematic literature search of MEDLINE®, Embase® and Cochrane Reviews databases was performed for interventional or observational studies published between 2000 and 2014. English language articles that compared clinical outcomes of patients undergoing nerve sparing and nonnerve sparing radical prostatectomy were included.

Current guidelines do not sufficiently discriminate venous thromboembolism risk in urology.

Purpose: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the leading cause of noncancer death following major cancer surgery. Current thromboprophylaxis guidelines do not address procedure-specific risk of venous thromboembolism for urological patients. This project was created to determine the risk and timing of VTE after major urological surgery and to evaluate if surgical procedure was an independent risk factor for VTE after adjusting for previously established risk factors.

Risk of Active Tuberculosis in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Cancer is a known risk factor for developing active tuberculosis (TB). We determined the incidence and relative risk of active TB in cancer patients compared to the general population.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched up to December 2015: Medline, Medline InProcess, EMBASE, PubMed, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cancerlit, and Web of Science.

Prostate volume estimations using magnetic resonance imaging and transrectal ultrasound compared to radical prostatectomy specimens.

Introduction: We sought to evaluate the accuracy of prostate volume estimates in patients who received both a preoperative transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in relation to the referent pathological specimen post-radical prostatectomy.

Methods: Patients receiving both TRUS and MRI prior to radical prostatectomy at one academic institution were retrospectively analyzed. TRUS and MRI volumes were estimated using the prolate ellipsoid formula.

Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy is associated with higher risk of adverse events compared to laparoscopic radical nephrectomy.

Introduction: Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) and laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) are similar procedures and some surgeons may believe the perioperative risks are the same. The purpose of this study is to characterize and compare complications following LRN and LNU.

Methods: A historical cohort of patients who received either LRN or LNU between 2006 and 2012 was reviewed from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database.

The effect of wide resection during radical prostatectomy on surgical margins.

Introduction: The impact of nerve-sparing on positive surgical margins during radical prostatectomy (RP) remains unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of positive surgical margins with a wide resection compared to a nerve-sparing technique.

Methods: A consecutive, single-surgeon patient cohort treated between August 2010 and November 2014 was reviewed.

Active surveillance in Canadian men with low-grade prostate cancer.

Background: Recent guidelines recommend against routine screening for prostate cancer, partly because of the risks associated with overtreatment of clinically indolent tumours. We aimed to determine the proportion of patients whose low-grade prostate cancer was managed by active surveillance instead of immediate treatment.

Methods: We reviewed data for patients who were referred to the Ottawa regional Prostate Cancer Assessment Clinic with abnormal results for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or prostate examination between Apr.

Change in Adverse Events After Enrollment in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) is the first nationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based program to measure and compare the quality of surgical care across North America. Participation in this program may provide an opportunity to reduce the incidence of adverse events related to surgery.

Study Design: A systematic review of the literature was performed.

Reducing the Harm of Prostate Cancer Screening: Repeated Prostate-Specific Antigen Testing.

Objective: To determine if repeating a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test in men with an elevated PSA level is associated with a decreased risk of prostate biopsy and cancer diagnosis.

Patients And Methods: A cohort of patients referred to the Ottawa Regional Prostate Cancer Assessment Clinic from April 1, 2008, through May 31, 2013, who had referral PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/mL were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate associations between a normal result on repeated PSA testing and the risk of prostate biopsy, cancer diagnosis, and Gleason score of 7 or higher were examined.

Correction: The Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Antibodies in Immigrants and Refugees from Intermediate and High Endemic Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

The Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Antibodies in Immigrants and Refugees from Intermediate and High Endemic Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant global health issue that leads to 350,000 preventable deaths annually due to associated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Immigrants and refugees (migrants) originating from intermediate/high HCV endemic countries are likely at increased risk for HCV infection due to HCV exposure in their countries of origin. The aim of this study was to estimate the HCV seroprevalence of the migrant population living in low HCV prevalence countries.

Seroprevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection and prior immunity in immigrants and refugees: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: International migrants experience increased mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma compared to host populations, largely due to undetected chronic hepatitis B infection (HBV). We conducted a systematic review of the seroprevalence of chronic HBV and prior immunity in migrants arriving in low HBV prevalence countries to identify those at highest risk in order to guide disease prevention and control strategies.

Methods And Findings: Medline, Medline In-Process, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched.

Expression of chemokine decoy receptors and their ligands at the porcine maternal-fetal interface.

Successful pregnancy requires coordinated maternal-fetal cross-talk to establish vascular connections that support conceptus growth. In pigs, two waves of spontaneous fetal loss occur and 30-40% of conceptuses are lost before parturition. Previous studies associated these losses with decreased angiogenic and increased inflammatory cytokines.

Angiogenic DC-SIGN(+) cells are present at the attachment sites of epitheliochorial placentae.

Spontaneous early and mid-gestation fetal losses occur in swine. At both stages, endometrial lymphocytes associated with smaller, paler conceptuses have fewer pro-angiogenic and more pro-inflammatory cytokine transcripts compared with robust conceptuses. We hypothesized that similar differences occur in conceptus-associated dendritic cells (DCs).