The actual duration of spinal cord stimulator use in patients with complex regional pain syndrome: a Korean nationwide cohort study.

Background: Spinal cord stimulators (SCSs) are used to reduce pain and improve quality of life in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). However, many patients opt for device removal after SCS implantation due to diminished effect or complications. There is limited research on the actual duration of SCS use in CRPS patients, and no nationwide population-based studies exist.

Risk factors for urinary retention after robot-assisted radical cystectomy with orthotopic neobladder diversion: a multicenter study.

To determine risk factors for urinary retention (UR) after robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RALC) with orthotopic neobladder diversion. A total of 269 patients who underwent RALC with orthotopic neobladder diversion from 2008 to 2019 at seven tertiary hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. There were 68 patients who had UR (UR arm) and 201 patients who did not have UR (no-UR arm).

The Role of Local Prostate and Metastasis-Directed Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer.

Oligometastatic prostate cancer (OMPC) represents an early stage of metastatic disease characterized by a limited number of lesions. Recent advancements in imaging and treatment have revived interest in personalized therapies, including metastasis-directed radiotherapy (OMDRT) and primary prostate radiotherapy (PPR). This study evaluates the impact of OMDRT timing and the role of PPR on survival outcomes in OMPC patients; In this retrospective cohort study, 82 patients with OMPC who underwent OMDRT between 2010 and 2019 were analyzed.

The role of cytoreductive nephrectomy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma in immune-oncology era (SEVURO-CN): study protocol for a multi-center, prospective, randomized trial.

Background: The role of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) remains unclear in the immuno-oncology (IO) era. The results of two randomized trials, CARMENA and SURTIME, questioned the role and timing of CN. However, despite the latest advances in the systemic treatment of mRCC, previous trials have only used targeted therapy, and no studies have fully investigated the role of CN in immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) settings, and there is an urgent need for future studies to better define the role and timing of CN.

Preoperative smoking and robot-assisted radical cystectomy outcomes & complications in multicenter KORARC database.

To investigate the influence of preoperative smoking history on the survival outcomes and complications in a cohort from a large multicenter database. Many patients who undergo radical cystectomy (RC) have a history of smoking; however, the direct association between preoperative smoking history and survival outcomes and complications in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who undergo robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) remains unexplored. We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from 749 patients in the Korean Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy Study Group (KORARC) database, with an average follow-up duration of 30.

Robotic ureter reconstruction using the native ureter to treat long-segment ureteral stricture of the transplant kidney utilizing Indocyanine green: The first Korean experience.

Purpose: Ureteral strictures are a common complication after kidney transplantation. Open reconstruction is preferred for long-segment ureteral strictures that cannot be resolved endoscopically; however, it is known to have the potential to fail. We report 2 successful cases of robotic reconstruction surgery of a transplant ureter using the native ureter with the aid of intraoperative Indocyanine green (ICG).

Superiority of magnetic resonance imaging in small renal mass diagnosis where image reports mismatches between computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To analyze malignancy of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results in the same renal mass.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1,216 patients who underwent partial nephrectomy from January 2017 to December 2021 in our institute. Patients who had both CT and MRI reports prior to surgery were included.

Ultra-soft and highly stretchable tissue-adhesive hydrogel based multifunctional implantable sensor for monitoring of overactive bladder.

A highly stretchable and tissue-adhesive multifunctional sensor based on structurally engineered islets embedded in ultra-soft hydrogel is reported for monitoring of bladder activity in overactive bladder (OAB) induced rat and anesthetized pig. The use of hydrogel yielded a much lower sensor modulus (1 kPa) compared to that of the bladder (300 kPa), while the strong adhesiveness of the hydrogel (adhesive strength: 260.86 N/m) allowed firm attachment onto the bladder.

Effect of Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression on Intensity of Pain and Herniated Disc Volume in Subacute Lumbar Herniated Disc.

Objective: Nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy (NSDT) is a conservative treatment for the lumbosacral herniated intervertebral disc (L-HIVD). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the NSDT and change in disc volume through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in subacute L-HIVD.

Methods: Sixty patients with subacute L-HIVD were randomized into either the decompression group (group D,  = 30) or the nondecompression group (group N,  = 30).

Aspirin Cessation Before Interventional Procedures: Not Blindly Following Guidelines but Making Test-based Decisions.

Background: Deciding whether to continue or discontinue aspirin prior to interventional procedures is a major concern for pain physicians. Many guidelines have been published on the discontinuation of aspirin before invasive procedures; however, the recommendations are inconsistent and do not consider individual platelet function. Furthermore, many studies have shown a high prevalence of aspirin resistance  in patients taking this medication.

The first robotic kidney transplantation in Korea: a case report.

Minimally invasive surgery reduces perioperative pain and morbidity, facilitating rapid recovery. However, the field of kidney transplantation has lagged in this regard, its customary open surgical techniques going nearly unchanged until recently. Robotic kidney transplantation (RKT) is a novel and welcomed innovation yielding good surgical outcomes.

Clinical Implications for da Vinci SP Partial Nephrectomy in High-Complexity Tumors: Propensity Score-Matching Analysis.

To compare surgical outcomes between robot-assisted laparoendoscopic single-site (R-LESS) surgery using the da Vinci Si or Xi system and the da Vinci SP system for partial nephrectomy. From 2008 to 2020, 66 partial nephrectomies were performed using a single-site robotic approach: 44 used the da Vinci Xi or Si system (R-LESS group) and 22 used the da Vinci SP system (SP group). After 1:1 propensity score matching, surgical outcomes were compared between groups.

Mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming by SIRT3 regulation ameliorates drug resistance in renal cell carcinoma.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) alters metabolic signals frequently, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, such as increase of glycolysis and accumulation of lipid. Sirtuin3 (SIRT3) is a key factor for the regulation of both mitochondrial integrity and function. SIRT3 is downregulated and contributes in both cancer development and progression in ccRCC.

Diagnostic accuracy of prostate-specific antigen below 4 ng/mL as a cutoff for diagnosing prostate cancer in a hospital setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) cutoff of 4 ng/mL has been widely used for prostate cancer screening in population-based settings. However, the accuracy of PSA below 4 ng/mL as a cutoff for diagnosing prostate cancer in a hospital setting is inconclusive. We systematically reviewed the accuracy of PSA below 4 ng/mL cutoff in a hospital setting.

Pure single-port retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with the da Vinci SP: Initial experience and technique description.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and safety of pure single-port (SP) retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) using the da Vinci SP and describe the technique.

Materials And Methods: From August 2020 to November 2020, data of 10 consecutive patients with localized prostate cancer, who underwent SP retzius-sparing RARP, were prospectively collected. Patients demographics, intraoperative variables, postoperative complications, early oncological, and functional outcomes were assessed.

Determining the Definitive Time Criterion for Postherpetic Neuralgia Using Infrared Thermographic Imaging.

Introduction: The time criteria used in many studies of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) are arbitrary and do not have supporting evidence. Therefore, this study sought to determine the definite time criterion for PHN by analyzing the skin temperature to estimate the time point when zoster-induced skin inflammatory reaction ends.

Methods: Infrared thermography was used to measure the difference in skin temperature between the affected and unaffected areas (ΔTemp) in the craniocervical and thoracic regions of patients with herpes zoster (HZ).

Predicting factor analysis of postoperative complications after robot-assisted radical cystectomy: Multicenter KORARC database study.

Objectives: To evaluate postoperative complications following robot-assisted radical cystectomy in patients diagnosed with bladder cancer and reveal if there are predictors for postoperative complications.

Methods: Prospectively collected medical records of 730 robot-assisted radical cystectomy patients between 2007/04 and 2019/05 in 13 tertiary referral centers were reviewed. Perioperative outcomes were compared between two groups by postoperative complications (complication vs non-complication).

Evaluation of the Surgical Margin Threshold for Avoiding Recurrence after Partial Nephrectomy in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: An adequate minimal surgical margin for partial nephrectomy (PN) has not yet been conclusively established. Therefore, we aimed to compare PN recurrence rates according to surgical margin status and to establish an adequate minimal surgical margin.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively studied patients with clinically localized renal cell carcinoma who underwent PN between 2005 and 2014.

Gender-related outcomes in robot-assisted radical cystectomy: A multi-institutional study.

Purpose: Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) optimizes patient recovery and has outcomes comparable with those of open surgery. This study aimed to compare the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of RARC in female and male patients.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort study of the Korean Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy Study Group database from 2007 to 2019 identified 749 patients (111 females and 638 males).

Computed Tomography-Derived Skeletal Muscle Radiodensity Is an Early, Sensitive Marker of Age-Related Musculoskeletal Changes in Healthy Adults.

Background: A decrease in computed tomography (CT)-derived skeletal muscle radiodensity (SMD) reflects age-related ectopic fat infiltration of muscle, compromising muscle function and metabolism. We investigated the age-related trajectory of SMD and its association with vertebral trabecular bone density in healthy adults.

Methods: In a cohort of healthy adult kidney donors aged 19 to 69 years (n=583), skeletal muscle index (SMI, skeletal muscle area/height2), SMD, and visceral-to-subcutaneous fat (V/S) ratio were analyzed at the level of L3 from preoperative CT scans.

Metabolic tumour volume on F-FDG PET/CT predicts extended pathological T stages in patients with renal cell carcinoma at staging.

We evaluated the predictive value of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) for extended pathological T (pT) stages (≥ pT3a) in Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients at staging. Thirty-eight RCC patients who underwent F-FDG PET/CT at staging, followed by radical nephrectomy between September 2016 and September 2018, were included in this prospective study. Patients were classified into two groups (limited pT stage: stage T1/2, n = 17; extended pT stage: T3/4, n = 21).

Development of prediction models of spontaneous ureteral stone passage through machine learning: Comparison with conventional statistical analysis.

Objectives: To develop a prediction model of spontaneous ureteral stone passage (SSP) using machine learning and logistic regression and compare the performance of the two models. Indications for management of ureteral stones are unclear, and the clinician determines whether to wait for SSP or perform active treatment, especially in well-controlled patients, to avoid unwanted complications. Therefore, suggesting the possibility of SSP would help make a clinical decision regarding ureteral stones.