Synaptic hyperexcitability of cytomegalic pyramidal neurons contributes to epileptogenesis in tuberous sclerosis complex.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a developmental disorder associated with epilepsy, autism, and cognitive impairment. Despite inactivating mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes and hyperactive mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, the mechanisms underlying TSC-associated neurological symptoms remain incompletely understood. Here we generate a Tsc1 conditional knockout (CKO) mouse model in which Tsc1 inactivation in late embryonic radial glia causes social and cognitive impairment and spontaneous seizures.

Accuracy of the CUETO, EORTC 2016 and EAU 2021 scoring models and risk stratification tables to predict outcomes in high-grade non-muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer.

Purpose: Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers (NMIBC) constitute 3-quarters of all primary diagnosed bladder tumors. For risk-adapted management of patients with NMIBC, different risk group systems and predictive models have been developed. This study aimed to externally validate EORTC2016, CUETO and novel EAU2021 risk scoring models in a multi-institutional retrospective cohort of patients with high-grade NMIBC who were treated with an adequate BCG immunotherapy.

Transperineal Targeted Microwave Ablation (TMA) of localized prostate cancer guided by MRI-Ultrasound fusion and organ-based tracking: a pilot study.

Background: To investigate the efficacy of transperineal targeted microwave ablation (TMA) in treating localized prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: This is a single-centre prospective phase 2 trial recruiting men with low to intermediate-risk localized PCa to undergo transperineal TMA. TMA was performed with MRI-Ultrasound fusion guidance and organ-based tracking.

Fragmentomics of urinary cell-free DNA in nuclease knockout mouse models.

Urinary cell-free DNA (ucfDNA) is a potential biomarker for bladder cancer detection. However, the biological characteristics of ucfDNA are not well understood. We explored the roles of deoxyribonuclease 1 (DNASE1) and deoxyribonuclease 1-like 3 (DNASE1L3) in the fragmentation of ucfDNA using mouse models.

Current trends in erectile rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy: Results from a worldwide survey.

We aimed to analyse the current trend of erectile rehabilitation (ER) following radical prostatectomy (RP) using a dedicated survey. An online survey was developed between July and September 2020, aiming to evaluate the ER protocols after RP in daily practice among urologists, andrologists, sexual medicine specialists and residents. We investigated demographics data, type of RP performed, and type, schedule, timing and duration of ER protocols.

An approach to evaluating scrotal skin-based lesions: A case report of Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Scrotum in patient with multiple risk factors.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is rare on non-sun exposed skin such as the scrotum and thus diagnosis is often delayed. This case highlights an approach to scrotal skin lesions, risk factors and diagnostic features of BCC. Importantly, scrotal BCCs are more likely to metastasise than non-scrotal BCCs.

Device-assisted intravesical chemotherapy treatment for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer: 2022 update.

Purpose Of Review: To critically analyze the oncological outcomes and safety profile of device-assisted intravesical chemotherapy studies reported in 2021. Studies were considered eligible if they included patients with nonmuscle invasive blood cancer (NMIBC), had a prospective or retrospective design, included at least 10 patients, were published in 2021, and assessed the oncological impact of device-assisted intravesical chemotherapy and/or reported standardized adverse effects (AEs).

Recent Findings: Eight new studies reported oncological outcomes after hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy (HIVEC).

Selecting the Best Candidates for Cisplatin-based Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Radical Cystectomy Among Patients with pN+ Bladder Cancer.

A trend towards greater benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in pN+ bladder cancer (BCa) has been observed in multiple randomized controlled trials. However, it is still unclear which patients might benefit the most from this approach. We retrospectively analyzed a multicenter cohort of 1381 patients with pTany pN1-3 cM0 R0 urothelial BCa treated with radical cystectomy (RC) with or without cisplatin-based ACT.

Complications and outcomes of tubeless versus nephrostomy tube in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

We aimed to perform a systematic review of randomized trials to summarize the evidence on the safety and stone-free rate after Tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) (ureteral stent/catheter, no nephrostomy) compared to Standard PCNL (nephrostomy, with/without ureteral stent/catheter) to evaluate if the tubeless approach is better. The inverse variance of the mean difference with a random effect, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), and p values was used for continuous variables. Categorical variables were assessed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method with the random effect model, and reported as Risk Ratio (RR), 95% CI, and p values.

The Power of Hashtags in Social Media: Lessons Learnt from the Urology Tag Ontology Project.

Standardisation of hashtags for urologic diseases in the Urology Tag Ontology (UTO) project has facilitated more efficient filtering of social media content. Hashtags must be recognisable and easy to understand. The UTO list should be expanded to include hashtags for urologic procedures and the hashtags could be used on social media platforms other than Twitter to reach a wider audience.

Tuning Surface Plasmon Resonance Responses through Size and Crosslinking Control of Multivalent Protein Binding-Capable Nanoscale Hydrogels.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena have been widely studied to detect biomolecules because of their high sensitivity and ability to determine biomolecular interactions with kinetic information. However, highly selective detection in specific concentration ranges relevant to target biomolecules is still a challenging task. Recently, we developed bioresponsive nanoscale hydrogels to selectively intensify SPR signals through multivalent protein binding (MPB) events with target biomolecules, including IL-2, where we were able to demonstrate exceptional selectivity for target biomolecules with minimal responses to nonspecific and monovalent binding events.

Adipose and serum zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) expressions predict longitudinal change of adiposity, wasting and predict survival in dialysis patients.

There were limited data on adipose and serum zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) expression and its association with body composition in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to quantify adipose and serum ZAG expression and evaluate their association with body composition and its longitudinal change, together with mortality in incident dialysis patients. We performed a single-center prospective cohort study.

Technique, outcome and changes in prostate dimensions in patients with urinary retention managed by aquablation.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the functional and urodynamic outcome of Aquablation in patients with acute urinary retention (AUR) on catheters.

Methods: Men aged 50-70 who failed medical treatment of BPO with AUR failing to wean off urethral catheter were recruited to undergo Aquablation. Individuals were assessed pre-operatively and at 3 and 6 months after surgery.

Predicting perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy: Data from the Asian Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy Consortium.

Objectives: To report the perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy and elucidate their risk factors.

Methods: A review of the Asian Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy Consortium database from 2007 to 2020 was performed. The perioperative outcomes studied included complication rates, time to solid food intake, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, and 30-day readmission rates.

Developing lisocabtagene maraleucel chimeric antigen receptor T-cell manufacturing for improved process, product quality and consistency across CD19 hematologic indications.

Background Aims: Autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies have demonstrated substantial clinical benefit across several hematologic malignancies. However, patient-to-patient variability and heterogeneity of starting cellular material across patient populations and disease indications pose challenges to manufacturing consistency. Lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) is an autologous, CD19-directed, defined-composition, 4-1BB CAR T-cell product administered at equal target doses of CD8 and CD4 CAR T cells.

Correlation Between Transurethral Interventions and Their Influence on Type and Duration of Postoperative Urinary Incontinence: Results from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Comparative Studies.

To perform a systematic review to assess the incidence of transient (<6 months) and persistent (>6 months) stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urge urinary incontinence (UUI), and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) after transurethral surgeries for benign prostatic hyperplasia. A systematic literature search was performed using Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science. We included studies comparing monopolar (M)/bipolar (B) transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) ablation enucleation procedures.

Single unit analysis and wide-field imaging reveal alterations in excitatory and inhibitory neurons in glioma.

While several studies have attributed the development of tumour-associated seizures to an excitatory-inhibitory imbalance, we have yet to resolve the spatiotemporal interplay between different types of neuron in glioma-infiltrated cortex. Herein, we combined methods for single unit analysis of microelectrode array recordings with wide-field optical mapping of Thy1-GCaMP pyramidal cells in an ex vivo acute slice model of diffusely infiltrating glioma. This enabled simultaneous tracking of individual neurons from both excitatory and inhibitory populations throughout seizure-like events.

Comparative Outcomes of Primary Versus Recurrent High-risk Non-muscle-invasive and Primary Versus Secondary Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer After Radical Cystectomy: Results from a Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Background: Radical cystectomy (RC) is indicated in primary or secondary muscle-invasive bladder cancer (primMIBC, secMIBC) and in primary or recurrent high- or very high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (primHR-NMIBC, recHR-NMIBC). The optimal timing for RC along the disease spectrum of nonmetastatic urothelial carcinoma remains unclear.

Objective: To compare outcomes after RC between patients with primHR-NMIBC, recHR-NMIBC, primMIBC, and secMIBC.

A Global Survey of Ergonomics Practice Patterns and Rates of Musculoskeletal Pain Among Urologists Performing Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery.

Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) requires urologists to adopt an awkward body posture for long durations. Few urologists receive training in ergonomics despite the availability of ergonomic best practices utilized by other surgical specialties. We characterize ergonomic practice patterns and rates of musculoskeletal (MSK) pain among urologists performing RIRS.

Gender Disparities Among Editorial Boards of International Urology Journals.

Background: Gender composition among surgical academic leadership, including academic medical journals, disproportionately favors men and may inadvertently introduce a bias. An understanding of the factors associated with gender representation among urologic journals may aid in prioritizing an equitable balance.

Objective: To evaluate female representation on editorial boards of pre-eminent international urologic journals.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not increase peri-operative morbidity following radical cystectomy.

Objective: To determine whether use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is associated with a higher risk of post-operative complications following radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BCa).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records of patients undergoing RC for non-metastatic urothelial BCa at 13 tertiary care centres from 2007-2019. Patients who received NAC ('NAC + RC' group) were compared with those who underwent upfront RC ('RC alone' group) for intra-operative variables, incidence of post-operative complications as per the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) and rates of re-admission and re-intervention.

Rezum to the rescue: Early outcomes of Rezum on patients with recurrent lower urinary tract symptoms after surgical interventions for benign prostatic enlargement.

We aim to report the short-term outcomes of patients undergoing Rezum as a re-treatment intervention for recurrent lower urinary tract symptoms after prior surgical treatment for benign prostate enlargement. Data from two institutions for baseline International Prostatic Symptom Score with Quality of life item, prostate size, and maximum flow-rate was acquired. Patients were assessed 3-month post-treatment.