Simultaneous laparoscopic management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction and renal lithiasis: the combined experience of two academic centers and review of the literature.

Introduction: Approximately one out of five patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) present lithiasis in the same setting. We present our outcomes of simultaneous laparoscopic management of UPJO and pelvic or calyceal lithiasis and review the current literature.

Methods: Thirteen patients, with a mean age of 42.

The role of CXC-chemokine receptor CXCR2 and suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) in renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Chemokine receptor signaling pathways are implicated in the pathobiology of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the clinical relevance of CXCR2 receptor, mediating the effects of all angiogenic chemokines, remains unclear. SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signaling)-3 is a negative regulator of cytokine-driven responses, contributing to interferon-α resistance commonly used to treat advanced RCC with limited information regarding its expression in RCC.

Implementation and external validation of Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical (PADUA) score for predicting complications in 74 consecutive partial nephrectomies.

Unlabelled: Study Type - Prognosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Partial nephrectomy (PN) is the gold standard operation for small renal tumours. The decision for or against a PN has been based mostly on preoperative radiological evaluation of the tumour. Three nephrometry scoring systems have been recently proposed for prediction of postoperative complications of PN (RENAL, C-index and PADUA).

Quantitative study of mast cells in experimentally induced benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Introduction: Mast cells are involved in a number of biological responses to exocrine and endocrine stimuli, by releasing growth factors and certain cytokines. The aim of this study was to evaluate their number and distribution in experimentally induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats.

Materials And Methods: Adult Wistar rats (100 days old) were given citral transdermally for 1 month.

Evaluation of complications in endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy in a modular training programme: a multicentre experience.

Objectives: Structured mentor-based "modular surgical training (MST)" has proved to be an effective way to teach endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy (EERPE) safely to residents, even those without previous experience in laparoscopic surgery. We report on complications in early patient series from two centres where EERPE was established by MST held at the same teaching centre.

Methods: Three trainees from two departments underwent MST at the same teaching centre.

Reconsidering the use of the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire in evaluating the preoperative erectile function status of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Objective: To assess the use of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), routinely used in patients being treated for localized prostate cancer, including potency-preserving, nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (RP), as many patients complain that the results of the IIEF over 4 weeks before RP are not representative.

Patients And Methods: The study included 123 consecutive patients (mean age 64.6 years, range 52-78) who had endoscopic-extraperitoneal RP and who completed the IIEF.

Efficacy of tolterodine in preventing urge incontinence immediately after prostatectomy.

Purpose: Urgency and urge incontinence are frequently observed after prostatectomy. Although symptoms ameliorate within a relatively short time, they usually cause significant stress and anxiety to the patient as far as their duration is concerned. Aim of our study was to determine the efficacy of tolterodine in preventing urgency and urge incontinence after catheter removal in patients that underwent prostatectomy for benign prostate hyperplasia.

Urgent superselective segmental renal artery embolization in the treatment of life-threatening renal hemorrhage.

Introduction: Renal hemorrhage is a major life-threatening condition that can be caused by trauma, operation, biopsy, as well as sudden spontaneous rupture of renal tumors or aneurysms. We report our experience with superselective segmental renal artery catheterization and embolization as therapeutic options for such cases.

Patients And Methods: Over the last 8 years, 28 patients with severe renal hemorrhage were admitted for evaluation and possible further treatment.

Delayed life-threatening haematuria from a renal pseudoaneurysm caused by blunt renal trauma treated with selective embolization.

Pseudo-aneurysms complicating blunt renal traumas, although very rare, represent significant causes of secondary haematuria, potentially life-threatening. Initial surgical repair of the injured kidney does not preclude the presence of an obscure pseudo-aneurysm that could become evident later on. We herein present a patient with a grade III blunt renal trauma initially treated surgically.

In vivo effect of the lipido-sterolic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) on mast cell accumulation and glandular epithelium trophism in the rat prostate.

The Serenoa repens lipido-sterolic extract (SRLSE, Permixon, Pierre Fabre Medicament, Castres, France) is used to treat benign prostate hyperplasia. We studied the in vivo effect of SRLSE on mast cell accumulation and the histological characteristics of the rat ventral prostate. Adult Wistar rats received either tocopherol or SRLSE (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively) every second day for 90 days.