Infrared Thermometer: an accurate tool for temperature measurement during renal surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate infrared thermometer (IRT) accuracy compared to standard digital thermometer in measuring kidney temperature during arterial clamping with and without renal cooling.

Materials And Methods: 20 pigs weighting 20Kg underwent selective right renal arterial clamping, 10 with (Group 1 - Cold Ischemia with ice slush) and 10 without renal cooling (Group 2 - Warm Ischemia). Arterial clamping was performed without venous clamping.

Phase II trial of customized first line chemotherapy according to ERCC1 and RRM1 SNPs in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Customized chemotherapy has several advantages: patients are more likely to be treated with the most effective agents and can be spared the toxicity of ineffective drugs. Based on the literature, excision repair cross complementation group 1 (ERCC1) and ribonucleotide reductase M1 (RRM1) genes represent predictive biomarkers of response to platinum compound and gemcitabine, in NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: We had planned a phase II trial (Simon design) to evaluate combination chemotherapy according to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ERCC1 (118T/C and 8092C/A) and RRM1 (-37C/A and -524T/C) in naïve patients affected by advanced NSCLC.

Can obese stone formers follow dietary recommendations?

Introduction: Obese patients have an increased risk of kidney stones, and several studies have identified specific urinary derangements on 24-hour collections. The objective of this study was to assess obese and super-obese stone formers, and their compliance with dietary modifications over time, based on 24-hour urine outcomes.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review was performed searching for all stone formers who completed a 24-hour urine collection before and after dietary counseling for stone prevention.

Hydrophilic guidewires: evaluation and comparison of their properties and safety.

Objective: To compare physical and mechanical properties of 10 commercially available hydrophilic guidewires.

Methods: In vitro testing was performed to evaluate 10 different straight hydrophilic guidewires (5 regular and 5 stiff wires): Glidewire, NiCore, EZ Glider, Hiwire, and Zipwire. The forces required for tip perforation, tip bending, shaft bending, and friction during movement were measured for all 10 wires.

Hydroureteronephrosis secondary to juxta-uretrovesical junction bladder diverticula.

Bladder diverticulum is rarely associated to hydroureteronephrosis. We present clinical images of an adult patient with a bladder diverticulum near the ureterovesical junction (UVJ) with secondary obstruction. An 84-year-old man presented with left hydroureteronephrosis and a presumed 25-mm left ureteral stone at UVJ on computed tomography.

Surgical management of bladder stones: literature review.

Bladder stones are rare and most cases occur in adult men with bladder outlet obstruction. Currently, there are few data on the best treatment of this disease. The aim of this review is to discuss some aspects of pathogenesis and treatment approaches for bladder lithiasis.

Urolithiasis in horseshoe kidney with duplex collecting system.

Horseshoe kidney is a congenital renal fusion abnormality that can be complicated by stones; in rare cases, it has also been associated with a duplex collecting system. We present images of a horseshoe kidney with a right partial duplex collecting system that was not detected on the preoperative computed tomography scan. The use of a prone-split leg position for percutaneous nephrolithotomy facilitated the performance of flexible ureterorenoscopy of the lower pole moiety and percutaneous nephrolithotomy of the upper pole moiety in 1 setting with complete stone clearance.

Prognostic value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic Peptide in outpatients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the plasma levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) correlate with functional capacity. However, their prognostic relevance remains unresolved. We followed up 183 stable outpatients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (age 50 ± 17 years, 64% men) for 3.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction is an early feature of cardiac involvement in patients with Anderson-Fabry disease.

Aims: Male patients with Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) often exhibit cardiac involvement, characterized by LV hypertrophy (LVH), associated with severe coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). Whether CMD is present in patients without LVH, particularly when female, remains unresolved. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of CMD by positron emission tomography (PET) in AFD patients of both genders, with and without evidence of LVH.

Predicting calyceal access for percutaneous nephrolithotomy with computed tomography multiplanar reconstruction.

Objectives: Objective parameters in computed tomography (CT) scans that could predict calyceal access during percutaneous nephrolithotomy have not been evaluated. These parameters could improve access planning for percutaneous nephrolithotomy. We aimed to determine which parameters extracted from a preoperative multiplanar reconstructed CT could predict renal calyceal access during a percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Penile enlargement with methacrylate injection: is it safe?

CONTEXT Penis size is a great concern for men in many cultures. Despite the great variety of methods for penile augmentation, none has gained unanimous acceptance among experts in the field. However, in this era of minimally invasive procedure, injection therapy for penile augmentation has become more popular.

Allele percentage of the BRAF V600E mutation in papillary thyroid carcinomas and corresponding lymph node metastases: no evidence for a role in tumor progression.

Context: The relevance of the BRAF V600E mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) as a negative prognostic factor is a subject of intense debate. This mutation has been associated with several clinicopathological features, but the lack of consistency among data does not support its usefulness as marker of tumor aggressiveness and poorer outcome. Due to the genetic heterogeneity of the tumor, both the occurrence and the allele percentage of the BRAF mutation should be considered to unravel this controversy.

Endovascular repair of a nearly fatal iliac artery injury after endoureterotomy.

Endourological methods are attractive procedures for the treatment of ureterointestinal stenosis. However, serious complications may occur. This article reports the case of an endovascular repair of a nearly fatal ruptured common iliac artery pseudoaneurysm after endoureterotomy.

Modified complete supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy: solving some problems.

Background And Purpose: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the gold standard treatment for patients with renal stones larger than 2 cm. In this article, we aim to describe our modified technique with the patient in a complete supine position for PCNL (csPCNL).

Patients And Methods: A total of 117 patients (120 renal units) who underwent csPCNL for large stones from November 2008 to November 2011 were prospectively evaluated.

Laparoscopic testicular preservation in adults with intra-abdominal cryptorchidism: is it beneficial?

Purpose. To present the results in a midterm followup of laparoscopic testicular preservation in adults with intra-abdominal cryptorchidism. Methods.

BEST1 sequence variants in Italian patients with vitelliform macular dystrophy.

Purpose: To analyze the spectrum of sequence variants in the BEST1 gene in a group of Italian patients affected by Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (VMD).

Methods: Thirty Italian patients with a diagnosis of VMD and 20 clinically healthy relatives were recruited. They belonged to 19 Italian families predominantly originating from central Italy.

Single center experience with elective surgical patients as living kidney donors.

Purpose: To report a single center experience with elective surgical patients as living kidney donors.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a prospective database of 458 living kidney donors from September 2005 to May 2011. Fifteen (3.

Lessons from 90 consecutive laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasties in a residency program.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report on the safety and efficacy of 90 consecutive laparoscopic pyeloplasties carried out in a university hospital.

Material And Methods: The outcomes of 90 transperitoneal dismembered pyeloplasties that were performed by residents at the hospital from March 2004 to March 2010 were analyzed. All of the surgeries were performed because of symptomatic ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

Can we predict which patients will evolve to chronic kidney disease after nephrectomy for cortical renal tumors?

Introduction: While some studies show that patients submitted to radical nephrectomy have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), some studies report that carefully selected living kidney donors do not present a higher risk for CKD. Here, we aim to study predictive factors of CKD after radical nephrectomy.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2006 to January 2010, 107 patients submitted to radical nephrectomy for cortical renal tumors at our institution were enrolled in this study.

Development and initial validation of a scoring system to diagnose testicular torsion in children.

Purpose: Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency requiring prompt intervention. Although clinical diagnosis is recommended, scrotal ultrasound is frequently ordered, delaying treatment. We created a scoring system to diagnose testicular torsion, decreasing the indication for ultrasound.

Discovering chimeric transcripts in paired-end RNA-seq data by using EricScript.

Motivation: The discovery of novel gene fusions can lead to a better comprehension of cancer progression and development. The emergence of deep sequencing of trancriptome, known as RNA-seq, has opened many opportunities for the identification of this class of genomic alterations, leading to the discovery of novel chimeric transcripts in melanomas, breast cancers and lymphomas. Nowadays, few computational approaches have been developed for the detection of chimeric transcripts.

Combination therapy of hyaluronic acid mesotherapic injections and sclerotherapy for treatment of lower leg telangiectasia without major venous insufficiency: a preliminary clinical study.

Background: Telangiectasia is the dilation of dermal capillaries mainly due to hypertension and vein insufficiency. Treatments of choice for this condition are sclerotherapy with foam liquid or intradermal fiber optic laser energy delivery.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a new therapeutic approach consisting in the use of polymerized hyaluronic acid mesotherapic injections following sclerotherapy in the areas of the skin affected by telangiectasia in patients without major vein insufficiency.

Current outcome of prioritized patients for kidney transplantation.

Purpose: To analyze the outcome of deceased donor recipients given priority in allocation due to lack of access for dialysis and compare this data to the one obtained from non-prioritized deceased donor kidney transplant recipients.

Materials And Methods: we reviewed electronic charts of 31 patients submitted to kidney transplantation that were given priority in transplantation program due to lack of access for dialysis from January 2005 to December 2008. Immunological and surgical complications rates, and grafts and patients survival rates were analyzed.