Short-term outcomes after robot-assisted versus open radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in patients with diabetes mellitus: an analysis of the United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample of 2005-2018.

: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with worse surgical outcomes, and is a risk factor for bladder cancer and subsequent oncological outcomes. This study evaluated outcomes robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) compared to open radical cystectomy (ORC) in patients with DM. : Data of adults ≥ 18 years old with DM who underwent radical cystectomy were extracted from the United States National Inpatient Sample database 2005-2018.

Ultrasound-guided extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy with minimal x-ray exposure prevented genitourinary tract injury patients with urolithiasis in Taiwan.

Background: This study investigated the use of ultrasound-guided extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) to break stones in the genitourinary tract and prevent genitourinary injury. Our goals were to achieve accurate focusing and minimal X-ray exposure for the benefit of the patients.

Methods: The LiteMed LM-9200 lithotripter with ultrasonography and fluoroscopy was used for two different procedures: autoaimed and autoperiodical.

Influenza vaccination is associated with lower risk of renal cell carcinoma among chronic kidney disease patients: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients possess a higher risk for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) possibly because of related underlying inflammation and immune dysregulation. In the current population-based cohort study, we evaluate the effects of influenza vaccination on RCC among CKD patients.

Methods: We analysed the vaccinated and unvaccinated CKD patients (≥55 years of age) identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database.

Concomitant High Apoptosis Inhibitor of Macrophage (AIM) and Low Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Indicates Activated T Cell-Mediated Anticancer Immunity, Enhance Sensitivity to Pembrolizumab, and Elicit Good Prognosis in Prostate Cancer.

Background: Despite its widespread use, the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) alone as a screening biomarker for prostate cancer (PCa) leads often to unwarranted prostate biopsy, over-diagnosis, and consequently, over-treatment, because of its limited specificity. There are reports that the apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM), secreted mainly by macrophages and epithelial cells, is upregulated during inflammation and facilitates immune recognition of cancerous cells by blocking human regulator of complement activation.

Objective: These controversies around the PSA utility necessitate a reexamination of its use as a screening tool.

Do partial AZFc deletions affect the sperm retrieval rate in non-mosaic Klinefelter patients undergoing microdissection testicular sperm extraction?

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prognostic factors for sperm retrieval and determine if Y chromosome deletion is associated with deleterious effects on spermatogenesis in non-mosaic Klinefelter patients. Whether Y chromosome deletion determines the sperm retrieval rate in non-mosaic Klinefelter patients has not yet been addressed.

Methods: We retrospectively collected medical records of azoospermic patients from Sep 2009 to Dec 2018, and enrolled 66 non-mosaic 47, XXY patients who were receiving mTESE.

Patients with chronic periodontitis are more likely to develop upper urinary tract stone: a nation-wide population-based eight-year follow up study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between chronic periodontitis (CP) and upper urinary tract stone (UUTS) in Taiwan by using a population-based data set.

Methods: A total of 16,292 CP patients and 48,876 randomly-selected controls without chronic periodontitis were selected from the National research database and studied retrospectively. Subjects selected have not been diagnosed with UUTS previously.

Clinical and demographic characteristics among patients with urothelial carcinomas of the upper urinary tract and bladder in Taiwan.

Background: Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is derived from the urothelium of the urinary tract, and includes cancers of the bladder, renal pelvis and ureter. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and demographic features among patients with bladder cancer and urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UTUC) in Taiwan.

Methods: The present study recruited a total of 736 histopathologically confirmed UC cases, which consisted of 470 bladder cancer and 266 UTUC between September 1998 and December 2009.

An Adult Paratesticular Malignant Ectomesenchymoma With Post-operative Flare-up of Lung Metastasis.

Malignant ectomesenchymoma (MEM) which is derived from the remnants of migratory neural crest cells (ectomesenchyme) is a rare and rapidly progressing tumor consisting of neuroectodermal and mesenchymal neoplastic elements. This tumor occurs mostly in children and adolescents, but rarely in adults. We report a 34-year-old male with left paratesticular malignant ectomesenchymoma who received radical orchiectomy and was followed by post-operative flare-up of lung metastasis within 2 weeks.