Pre-Hydration and a Forced Diuresis Protocol for F-FDG PET/CT Yielded an Optimal Effect on Primary Pelvic Malignancies.

Positron emission tomography (PET) with F-FDG is being used more frequently to evaluate primary pelvic tumors (PTs). However, a standardized hydration protocol is essential for an optimal diuretic effect and constant results. We reviewed 109 patients with PTs who had undergone F-FDG PET/CT examinations between November 2006 and April 2013.

The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) Increases the Prognostic Significance of Lymphovascular Invasion in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma After Radical Nephroureterectomy.

Purpose: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) both have been proved to correlate with oncologic outcomes in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). We hypothesize that integrating SII with LVI may be an aid for risk-stratification of prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of combined SII and LVI in patients with localized UTUC.

Pre‑existing renal insufficiency synchronous with high preoperative neutrophil‑to‑lymphocyte ratio as a risk factor of intravesical recurrence in patients with pure upper tract urothelial carcinoma after radical nephroureterectomy.

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on bladder recurrence in patients with impaired renal function following radical nephrouretectomy (RNU) to treat pure upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Retrospective data of 362 patients with pure UTUC who underwent RNU between 2008 and 2019 were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed to evaluate the association of preoperative NLR and estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with intravesical recurrence-free survival (IVRF).

Dynamic changes of quality of life in muscle-invasive bladder cancer survivors.

Background: To explore the dynamic changes and effects of radical cystectomy on quality of life in muscle-invasive bladder cancer survivors.

Methods: Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer were randomly recruited in this study. We used the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief questionnaire to assess consecutive patients' quality of life.

Is bladder preservation safe? The oncology outcomes of patients after 2-sided radical nephroureterectomies due to bilateral upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas.

Purpose: The prognosis of patients undergoing 2-sided radical nephroureterectomies (RNUs) with a residual bladder due to bilateral upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is poorly understood. This study was aimed toward surveying the oncology outcomes and prognostic factors that may help in shared decision-making related to bladder preservation in patients preparing to receive 2-sided RNUs.

Methods: Patients with synchronous or metachronous bilateral UTUC who received bilateral RNUs with a residual bladder in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

Tumor Necrosis with Adjunction of Preoperative Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a New Risk Stratification Marker Can Independently Predict Poor Outcomes in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the prognostic impact of tumor necrosis and preoperative monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) in patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods: A total of 521 patients with UTUC treated with RNU from January 2008 to June 2019 at our institution were enrolled. Histological tumor necrosis was defined as the presence of microscopic coagulative necrosis.

Additive Effects of Arsenic and Aristolochic Acid in Chemical Carcinogenesis of Upper Urinary Tract Urothelium.

Background: Aristolochic acids (AA) and arsenic are chemical carcinogens associated with urothelial carcinogenesis. Here we investigate the combined effects of AA and arsenic toward the risk of developing upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods: Hospital-based ( = 89) and population-based (2,921 cases and 11,684 controls) Taiwanese UTUC cohorts were used to investigate the association between exposure to AA and/or arsenic and the risk of developing UTUC.

Combination of Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio and Monocyte-Lymphocyte Ratio as a New Promising Prognostic Factor in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma With Large Tumor Sizes > 3 cm.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic values of pathological tumor size and preoperative blood-based inflammation biomarkers, including the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Materials And Methods: From 2007 to 2017, retrospective data of 449 patients with UTUC who underwent radical nephroureterectomy were assessed. Use of Kaplan-Meier and univariable/multivariable analyses evaluated the effect of preoperative blood-based inflammation biomarkers on overall (OS), cancer-specific (CSS), and progression-free survival (PFS) in pathological tumor sizes > and ≤3 cm.

Incorporating Simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index with early surgical intervention can maximize survival in high-risk Fournier's gangrene patients.

Objectives: To determine the optimal surgical timing in high-risk patients with Fournier's gangrene by the Simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index.

Methods: From 1989 to 2018, 118 male patients diagnosed with Fournier's gangrene with complete medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' demographics, laboratory parameters at initial diagnosis, Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index and Simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index, and the time interval from emergency room arrival to surgical intervention were collected.

Sex hormones and oxidative stress mediated phthalate-induced effects in prostatic enlargement.

Prostatic enlargement might affect up to 30% of men and can cause signs and symptoms in the lower urinary tract in the elderly. Imbalanced estrogen and androgen secretions are important in prostatic physiopathology. Phthalates-environmental endocrine disruptors-affect androgen secretion and disrupt sexual organs, including testes and the prostate, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear.

Combination of the Preoperative Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and Monocyte-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Novel Prognostic Factor in Patients with Upper-Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of the preoperative systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) combined with the monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) for patients with upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods: The clinical data of 424 patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy from January 2007 to June 2017 were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate associations of preoperative systemic immune-inflammatory biomarkers with overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and progression-free survival (PFS).

Long-term outcomes of total ureterectomy with ileal-ureteral substitution treatment for ureteral cancer: a single-center experience.

Background: To explore the feasibility and long-term outcomes of renal preservation in a retrospective cohort of patients with ureteral urothelial carcinoma undergoing total ureterectomy with ileal-ureteral substitution.

Methods: A retrospective review of the data from patients treated with total ureterectomy with ileal-ureteral substitution from 1988 to 2016 was performed. The pre-operative oncological status, long-term oncological outcome, long-term renal functional outcome, early and late complications were analyzed.

Long-term outcomes of complete urinary tract exenteration for dialysis patients with urothelial cancer.

Purpose: To survey long-term outcomes of dialysis patients with urothelial cancers who have undergone complete urinary tract exenteration (bilateral nephroureterectomy and cystectomy).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our patients with urinary tract urothelial cancer. Forty-two dialysis patients who underwent complete urinary tract exenteration were enrolled in our study.

Foxp3 enhances HIF-1α target gene expression in human bladder cancer through decreasing its ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) can control a transcriptional factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) protein expression in T lymphocyte differentiation through proteasome-mediated degradation. In this study, we unveil a reverse regulatory mechanism contributing to bladder cancer progression; Foxp3 expression attenuates HIF-1α degradation. We first demonstrated that Foxp3 expression positively correlates with the metastatic potential in T24 cells and can increase the expression of HIF-1α-target genes, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and glucose transporter (GLUT).

Chemotherapeutics-induced Oct4 expression contributes to drug resistance and tumor recurrence in bladder cancer.

Cancer cells initially characterized as sensitive to chemotherapy may acquire resistance to chemotherapy and lead to tumor recurrence through the expansion of drug-resistant population. Acquisition of drug resistance to conventional chemotherapy is a major obstacle in the treatment of recurrent cancer. Here we investigated whether anticancer drugs induced Oct4 expression, thereby contributing to acquired drug resistance and tumor recurrence in bladder cancer.

Analysis of Urinary Prostate-Specific Antigen Glycoforms in Samples of Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.

Glycans of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in prostate cancer were found to be different from that in benign disease. It is difficult to analyze heterogeneous PSA glycoforms in each individual specimen because of low protein abundance and the limitation of detection sensitivity. We developed a method for prostate cancer diagnosis based on PSA glycoforms.

Validation and simplification of Fournier's gangrene severity index.

Objectives: To validate the predictive value of Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index in patients with Fournier gangrene and to facilitate patient mortality risk-stratification by simplifying the Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index.

Methods: From January 1989 to December 2011, 85 male patients with clinically-documented Fournier's gangrene undergoing intensive treatment and with complete medical records were recruited. The demographic information and nine parameters of Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index were compared between survivors and non-survivors.

Febrile infection in post-prostate biopsy: results of a ten-year single-institution study in South Taiwan.

Background: Post-biopsy infection is one of the major concerns of urologists and patients for prostate biopsy. Many efforts have been made to reduce the infection rate. We conducted a study at a single institution with the goal of describing the bacteriology and incidence trends of febrile infections following trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy of the prostate.

Doppler spectral waveform parameters at neurovascular bundle vessels in patients with prostate biopsy.

Introduction And Objectives: There is a need to improve prescreening determination of prostate cancer to better select patients who need biopsy. Such a strategy properly implemented, will decrease the number of negative biopsies for prostate cancer and in turn better balance the risks and morbidity for patients recommended for biopsy. The aim of study is to investigate Doppler spectral waveform parameters of neurovascular bundle (NVB) vessels and determine differences between benign and malignant pathologies.

Impact of earlier ureteral ligation on intravesical recurrence during hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy.

Objective: To determine the impact of earlier ureteral ligation (EUL) during hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (HARN) for primary renal pelvis urothelial cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 240 patients with upper urinary tract urothelial cancer who underwent HARN. Only patients with primary renal pelvis urothelial cancer and complete follow-up with a minimum of 1 year after HARN were enrolled into our study.

Partial nephrectomy without renal ischemia using an electromagnetic thermal surgery system in a porcine model.

Objective: To test the feasibility of partial nephrectomy using needle arrays under alternating current (AC) electromagnetic field without renal artery clamping.

Methods: We performed an experimental study for partial nephrectomy without renal artery clamping in a porcine model, comparing a new thermal surgery system consisting of an AC electromagnetic field generator and stainless steel needle arrays (using 10 pigs) vs an ultrasonic Harmonic Scalpel (on 8 pigs). Two cm of the upper pole of the kidneys were resected, and then the feasibility, operation time, blood loss, biochemical parameters, pathology, and complications were observed for 14 days.

Diurnal temperature change is associated with testicular torsion: a nationwide, population based study in Taiwan.

Purpose: We investigated the association between climatic variables and testicular torsion in Taiwanese males.

Materials And Methods: Using the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database, we reviewed the files of patients who were diagnosed with testicular torsion and underwent orchiectomy or orchiopexy between January 1996 and December 2008. Children younger than 1 year were excluded from the study.

Retroperitoneoscopic hand-assisted nephroureterectomy using a homemade device.

Purpose: To carry out hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (HARN) and open bladder cuff excision using a homemade hand-assist device.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients with upper tract transitional cell carcinoma received HARN and open bladder cuff excisions. The procedures were carried out using a homemade hand-assist device comprising a medium-sized Alexis wound retractor and surgical gloves.

Acute urinary retention increases the risk of complications after transurethral resection of the prostate: a population-based study.

Unlabelled: Study Type--Prognosis (cohort) Level of Evidence 2a. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Higher mortality and morbidity rates in men presenting with AUR have been reported in previous studies. This study has comprehensive comparisons of post-TURP complications between patients with and without AUR.

Clinical characteristics and reproductive outcomes in infertile men with testicular early and late maturation arrest.

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics and reproductive outcomes of nonobstructive azoospermic men with uniform early and late maturation arrest.

Methods: Patients with biopsy-documented uniform maturation arrest undergoing testicular sperm retrieval and complete medical records were enrolled in the present study. Their medical history, physical examination findings, testicular volume, serum hormone parameters, genetic anomalies, sperm retrieval, and reproductive outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.