Multi-frame blind deconvolution using X-ray microscope images of an in-plane rotating sample.

We propose a multi-frame blind deconvolution method using an in-plane rotating sample optimized for X-ray microscopy, where the application of existing deconvolution methods is technically difficult. Untrained neural networks are employed as the reconstruction algorithm to enable robust reconstruction against stage motion errors caused by the in-plane rotation of samples. From demonstration experiments using full-field X-ray microscopy with advanced Kirkpatrick-Baez mirror optics at SPring-8, a spatial resolution of 34 nm (half period) was successfully achieved by removing the wavefront aberration and improving the apparent numerical aperture.

Comparison of perioperative outcomes among patients with exophytic, mesophytic, and endophytic renal tumors undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy.

Objectives: It has been well documented that partial nephrectomy for completely endophytic renal tumors is a highly challenging procedure accompanied by several technical difficulties even with the assistance of a robotic surgical system. This study aimed to compare perioperative variables among patients with exophytic, mesophytic, and endophytic renal tumors undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy.

Methods: This study retrospectively included 265 consecutive patients with localized small renal masses undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy at our institution.

Robot-assisted radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy: Initial experience in Japan.

Introduction: Open surgical approach remains the standard treatment for renal cell carcinoma with an inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. In recent years, however, robot-assisted radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy have emerged as minimally invasive alternatives to conventional open surgery.

Case Presentation: Here, we describe a 76-year-old female patient with right renal cell carcinoma with a level I inferior vena cava thrombus undergoing robot-assisted radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy, which was successfully completed with a purely robotic procedure, resulting in the following outcomes: console time,167 min; total operative time, 211 min; and estimated blood loss, 150 mL.

Limited impact of erectile function on health-related quality of life in Japanese men undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Objective: To investigate the impact of erectile function on health-related quality of life in Japanese prostate cancer patients following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Methods: Time-dependent changes in erectile function and health-related quality of life were assessed using the erection hardness score and Medical Outcomes Study 8-Item Short Form Health Survey, respectively, in 229 consecutive Japanese patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. In this series, patients with erection hardness score ≥2 were considered to those having a certain erectile function.

Assessment of prognostic factors in previously treated Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received nivolumab: An observational multi-institute study.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognosis of Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) receiving nivolumab and to identify factors predicting the overall survival (OS) in this cohort of patients. This study retrospectively assessed the outcomes of 77 consecutive Japanese patients with mRCC who were treated using either 1 or 2 molecular-targeted agents followed by nivolumab in routine clinical practice. The best responses to nivolumab observed were as follows: Complete response in 3 patients, partial response in 27, stable disease in 33 and progressive disease in 14; therefore, the objective response rate in the 77 patients was 39.

Useful predictors of progression-free survival for Japanese patients with LATITUDE-high-risk metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer who received upfront abiraterone acetate.

Objective: Recently, hormonal therapy using abiraterone acetate, a second-generation androgen receptor axis-targeted agent, was reported to improve overall survival and progression-free survival in men with LATITUDE-high-risk metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. This observational multicenter study aimed to assess the efficacy of upfront abiraterone acetate in Japanese patients with LATITUDE-high-risk metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

Methods: The present study included 112 Japanese patients with LATITUDE-high-risk metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer who received upfront abiraterone acetate at four institutions belonging to the Tokai Urologic Oncology Research Seminar group, between January 2018 and September 2020.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between androgen deprivation therapy with up-front abiraterone and bicalutamide for Japanese patients with LATITUDE high-risk prostate cancer in a real-world retrospective analysis.

Background: Combining abiraterone (Abi) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) improves overall survival, compared to ADT only, in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). In Japan, bicalutamide (Bica) and ADT (combined androgen blockade: CAB) is frequently provided for mCSPC. Because these two treatments have not been compared, mCSPC patients who received either treatment were retrospectively analyzed.

Initial experience of robot-assisted radical nephrectomy in Japan: Single institutional study of 12 cases.

Introduction: To evaluate the initial experience of robot-assisted radical nephrectomy (RARN) in a single institution in Japan.

Methods: This study included a total of 12 patients with renal tumors who were not preoperatively regarded as optimal candidates for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and subsequently treated with RARN between April 2019 and June 2021 at our institution. Comprehensive perioperative outcomes in these patients were retrospectively analyzed.

Prognostic significance of third-line treatment for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: comparative assessments between cabazitaxel and other agents.

Background: Cabazitaxel has played an important role in the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC); however, several types of sequential therapy against mCRPC have been performed in routine clinical practice. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of third-line treatment on prognostic outcomes of mCRPC patients.

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes of 166 patients who received 3 agents following the diagnosis of mCRPC, consisting of 81 sequentially treated with either abiraterone or enzalutamide and then docetaxel, followed by third-line cabazitaxel (group A) and 85 treated with 3 agents, including abiraterone, enzalutamide, and docetaxel (group B).

Impact of Bladder Neck Angle Measured by Postoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Midterm Recovery of Urinary Continence in Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

MRI has helped clarify the relationship between pelvic anatomical structures and functional outcomes after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the bladder neck angle (BNA) measured by postoperative MRI on midterm recovery of urinary continence (UC) in patients undergoing RARP. This study retrospectively included 200 consecutive patients with prostate cancer who were treated by RARP and received MRI 3 months after RARP.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Small Renal Mass Who Underwent Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy: A Prospective Evaluation.

There have been insufficient data regarding the impact of partial nephrectomy (PN) with minimal invasive approaches, including robot-assisted PN (RAPN), on postoperative quality of life (QOL) in patients with small renal mass (SRM). The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in health-related QOL (HR-QOL) outcomes in patients with SRM who underwent RAPN. We performed a prospective observational study including 100 consecutive patients with SRM who underwent RAPN at our institution between April 2016 and August 2018.

Frequency of pre-treatment may not increase the immune-related adverse events of RCC patients treated with nivolumab.

Nivolumab has shown good prognosis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients previously treated with targeted therapy. We aimed to study irAE (immune-related adverse event) due to nivolumab and numbers of previous treatment lines in RCC patients. Between October 2016 and November 2019, 114 patients were treated with nivolumab as second- and later-line therapy.

Renal allograft rejection after treatment with nivolumab in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as nivolumab, pembrolizumab and ipilimumab, have been introduced into routine clinical practice for treating patients with several types of advanced cancer, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, activation of the immune system against cancer cells by the use of ICIs could result in the induction of allograft rejection in organ transplant patients, and to date, the safety of treatment for organ transplant patients with ICIs has not been well-investigated. Here, we report a case of renal allograft rejection in a kidney transplant recipient with metastatic RCC (mRCC) after the administration of nivolumab.

Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy for Patients with Multifocal Renal Tumors Arising in a Solitary Kidney: Report of Three Cases.

Surgical treatment of synchronous multifocal renal tumors arising in a solitary kidney remains an extremely unique and stressful challenge, since it is not easy to completely remove multiple tumors and effectively preserve the renal function without perioperative complications. In this report, we describe our experience of three patients with multifocal renal tumors detected in a solitary kidney who were treated by robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). Two men and one woman were found to have two small renal tumors in a solitary kidney, and subsequently underwent RAPN at our institution.

Perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: Comparative assessments between complex and non-complex renal tumors.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of renal tumor complexity on perioperative outcomes in patients receiving robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN).

Methods: This study included 153 consecutive patients with cT1 renal masses undergoing RAPN and analyzed their perioperative outcomes, particularly tumor complexity. In this series, cT1b, completely endophytic, hilar, and cystic tumors were considered complex tumors.

Development of novel ACN (albumin, C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) prognostication model for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving first-line molecular-targeted therapy.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to develop a novel prognostication model in patients with treatment-naïve metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Methods: This study included 325 consecutive mRCC patients receiving first-line molecular-targeted therapy at 4 institutions. Potential parameters associated with overall survival (OS) in these patients were investigated to develop a novel stratification model.

Kidney transplantation from a living donor with renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia: A case report on arterial grafting of the donor renal artery.

Introduction: Renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia is generally considered a contraindication of kidney transplantation, since fibromuscular dysplasia occasionally induces hypertension or renal insufficiency in the recipient and/or donor. To date, limited information remains available with respect to whether kidneys with renal arterial fibromuscular dysplasia can be successfully transplanted.

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old potential donor was diagnosed with fibromuscular dysplasia of the right renal artery.

Comprehensive assessment of oncological outcomes in 186 patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: A single institution retrospective study.

The aims of the current study were to analyze the oncological outcomes of patients with high-risk non-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and to identify prognostic factors in these patients. The present study included 186 consecutive patients who underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) between January 2007 and June 2017 at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine and were subsequently diagnosed with high-risk NMIBC according to the classification of the European Urological Association guidelines. The oncological outcomes, including recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in the 186 patients were evaluated.