Insights into the genetic landscape of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas in a Brazilian cohort.

Objective: Germline and somatic drivers are identified in 30% and 40% of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs), respectively. In this study, we investigated the genetic landscape of PPGLs in a Brazilian cohort.

Methods: We studied 182 index patients with PPGLs (116 females and 66 males), comprising 118 pheochromocytoma and 70 paraganglioma cases.

Association between papillary thyroid cancer and primary aldosteronism in individuals with hypertension.

Background: Aldosterone excess chronically induces oxidative stress and cell proliferation. Previously, a single study investigated primary aldosteronism (PA) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), albeit without a matched control group.

Methods: We conducted a propensity score matched case-control study to investigate the association between PA and PTC in individuals with arterial hypertension (HT).

Ureteroscopy vs laparoscopic ureterolithotomy for large proximal ureteric stone: a randomised trial.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of retrograde flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) with retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (RLU) for large proximal ureteric stones.

Patients And Methods: A prospective randomised trial was conducted from January 2018 through December 2022 including patients with impacted proximal ureteric stones of 15-25 mm. Patients underwent fURS or RLU.

Clinical and Pathological Predictors of Death for Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and lethal disease with a poor prognosis. This study aims to share our 41-year experience as a referral center, focusing on identifying risk factors associated with ACC mortality. Our retrospective analysis included a cohort of 150 adult patients with ACC in all stage categories, treated between 1981 and 2022.

Efficacy of Oral Furosemide Test for Primary Aldosteronism Diagnosis.

Context: Confirmatory tests represent a fundamental step in primary aldosteronism (PA) diagnosis, but they are laborious and often require a hospital environment due to the risks involved.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of oral furosemide as a new confirmatory test for PA diagnosis.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated the diagnostic performance of 80 mg of oral furosemide in 64 patients with PA and 22 with primary hypertension (controls).

Renal Function Evolution and Hypoaldosteronism Risk After Unilateral Adrenalectomy for Primary Aldosteronism.

Few studies demonstrated a percentage decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at a single time and the rate of hypoaldosteronism after adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism (PA). Our aim was to investigate the evolution of renal function and the hypoaldosteronism risk after adrenalectomy for PA. Aldosterone, renin, eGFR, and electrolyte levels were determined before and at 1 week, 1, 3 and 6 months after unilateral adrenalectomy in 94 PA patients (40 men and 54 women).

Evidence for a Founder Effect of SDHB Exon 1 Deletion in Brazilian Patients With Paraganglioma.

Context: Limited information is available concerning the genetic spectrum of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) patients in South America. Germline SDHB large deletions are very rare worldwide, but most of the individuals harboring the SDHB exon 1 deletion originated from the Iberian Peninsula.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the spectrum of SDHB genetic defects in a large cohort of Brazilian patients with PPGLs.

Intra-individual Variability of Serum Aldosterone and Implications for Primary Aldosteronism Screening.

Context: Primary aldosteronism (PA) screening relies on an elevated aldosterone to renin ratio with a minimum aldosterone level, which varies from 10 to 15 ng/dL (277-415.5 pmol/L) using immunoassay.

Objective: To evaluate intra-individual coefficient of variation (CV) of aldosterone and aldosterone to direct renin concentration ratio (A/DRC) and its impact on PA screening.

The influence of interstitial cells of Cajal density in the outcomes of pyeloplasty in adults: A prospective analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate if the density of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) influences the outcomes of pyeloplasty in adults.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with the diagnosis of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) that underwent laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty were included. ICC density was measured using immunohistochemistry reaction for c-KIT expression in the resected UPJ segment.

MiR-200c-3p expression may be associated with worsening of the clinical course of patients with COVID-19.

COVID-19 represents a public health emergency, whose mechanism of which is not fully understood. It is speculated that microRNAs may play a crucial role in host cells after infection by SARS-CoV-2. Thus, our study aimed to analyze the expression of miR-200c-3p in saliva samples from patients with COVID-19.

Videolaparoscopic prostatectomy in porcine model for training residents.

Introduction:: Surgical training models prepare the resident for a more ethical surgical practice as well as providing a less steep learning curve. In urology, there are well-known models of pyeloplasty simulation, urethro-vesical anastomosis and nephrectomy, which have helped in the training of urology residents (–3). Learning laparoscopic prostatectomy is a difficult surgery and requires advanced surgical skill from the surgeon (4), requires operate without a direct view of the surgical field in a two-dimensional space and with longer instruments (5).

Shorter leukocyte telomere length is associated with severity of COVID-19 infection.

The infection by COVID-19 is a serious global public health problem. An efficient way to improve this disease's clinical management would be to characterize patients at higher risk of progressing to critically severe infection using prognostic biomarkers. The telomere length could be used for this purpose.

Pyeloplasty in Adults With Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction in Poorly Functioning Kidneys: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: To systematically summarize the available evidence concerning the impact of pyeloplasty on symptoms and differential renal function (DRF) in adults with unilateral UPJO in poorly functioning kidneys (PFK), and to identify potential predictors of kidney function recovery that could help clinicians select candidates for pyeloplasty.

Methods: A literature search (MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the WHO Clinical Trials Registry) and systematic review were performed up to September 2020 according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Genetic and clinical aspects of paediatric pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.

Objective: Few and conflicting reports have characterized the genetics of paediatric pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). This study aimed to investigate the clinical and genetic features of Brazilian children with PPGL.

Patients And Methods: This study included 25 children (52% girls) with PPGL.

Short-term outcomes of pyeloplasty vs. nephrectomy in adult patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction and differential renal function ≤15.

Objectives: To compare symptom resolution and short-term renal function after pyeloplasty or nephrectomy in adults with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in poorly functioning renal units (PFRU).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of adult patients with UPJO and differential renal function (DRF) ≤ 15% who underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty or nephrectomy. Primary endpoints included symptom resolution and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 12 months.

Low Protein Expression of both and as Novel Negative Prognostic Markers of Adult Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy that is associated with a dismal prognosis. Pan-genomic studies have demonstrated the involvement of and genes in adrenocortical tumorigenesis. Our aims were to evaluate the protein expression of and in a cohort of 82 adults with ACC and to establish their prognostic value.

Mobilization of a peritoneal dialysis catheter using an extra-corporeal magnet: preliminary experimental phase study.

Purpose: To evaluate in an experimental model, the mobility of a novel peritoneal dialysis catheter with a metallic tip (Mag-Cath) using an extra-corporeal magnet.

Materials And Methods: The Mag-Cath was installed in a porcine model under general anesthesia using laparoscopic access. A senior urologist, a urology resident, and a 3rd-year medical student were assigned to complete 2 tasks guided by fluoroscopy: (1) Move the catheter tip from the right flank to the pelvis and (2) move the catheter tip from the pelvis to the left flank.

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty as an alternative to nephrectomy in adults with poorly functioning kidneys due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

Objectives: To evaluate outcomes of laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) in adults with poorly functioning kidney due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO).

Methods: A retrospective comparative analysis was performed between adult patients who underwent LP due to UPJO with differential renal function (DRF) ≤ 15% and DRF > 15%. LP success rate and complications were assessed.

Retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy to treat large ureteral stones in the proximal ureter.

Introduction: Retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy emerged as an option for the extraction of large stones in the proximal ureter, offering short convalescence and low rates of residual fragments.

Materials And Methods: We describe the case of a 50-year-old male, who presented at our emergency department with right flank pain for 15 days without fever. He had a past medical history of nephrolithiasis.