Lack of effect of renal function on uptake of 99mTc-sestamibi in renal masses.

Objective: The appropriate clinical management of indeterminate small renal masses can be improved based on accurate risk stratification. This study aimed to investigate the impact of renal function on the uptake of technetium-99m (99mTc)-sestamibi, a widely available imaging agent that can be utilized to identify oncocytomas and other benign/indolent renal masses.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, involving 100 consecutive patients who underwent 99mTc-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography.

Optimizing Prostate Cancer Surgery for Seniors: Single-Port Robotic-Assisted Platform.

The Da Vinci single-port (SP) platform is being used more frequently in radical prostatectomy (RP). In this study we aimed to compare the complications and oncological outcomes of the Da Vinci SP platform in robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (SP-RARP) between elderly and young age-groups and to further examine differences between young-old and old-old patients. Data from 193 patients who underwent SP-RARP between December 2018 and June 2024 were analyzed.

Knowledge and understanding of information after taking decision to participate or not in a randomized trial of surgery vs radiotherapy among patients with locally advanced prostate cancer - an observational study.

Background And Purpose: Informed consent from trial participants is mandatory. In a randomized clinical trial, we investigated (1) differences in knowledge and understanding of trial information between patients who participated and those who refrained, (2) differences in perceptions of information, and (3) differences in satisfaction with the information.

Patients: After the decision about participation in the randomized study, 'Surgery versus radiotherapy for locally advanced prostate cancer' (SPCG-15), patients were sent questionnaires ('Quality of Informed Consent', EORTC QLQ-INFO25).

Increased sodium consumption is associated with psoriasis: A population-based cohort study.

Background: Sodium is stored in skin and may trigger or perpetuate autoimmune diseases including psoriasis. One previous study found skin sodium was elevated in a small group of patients with severe psoriasis compared to healthy controls, but the relationship between sodium intake and psoriasis within a population has not been investigated.

Objectives: To identify whether dietary sodium intake is associated with psoriasis and whether there are subgroups of individuals more likely to have salt-sensitive psoriasis.

Patient and tumour characteristics in older patients (70 years or older) undergoing transperineal prostate biopsy: a retrospective cohort study.

Backgrounds: PSA screening is advocated in men with a life expectancy of >10 years. With a rising mean life expectancy of 81 years in Australia, many men in their 70s have life expectancies of >10 years. Additionally, advanced age is an independent risk factor for high grade prostate cancer.

Optimizing Prostate Cancer Diagnostic Work-Up Through Micro-Ultrasound: Minimizing Unnecessary Procedures and Reducing Overdiagnoses.

Introduction: We aim to critically assess Microultrasound (mUS) clinical performance in an outpatient setting, focusing on its ability to reduce unnecessary diagnostic procedures, potentially reshape prostate cancer (PCa) diagnostic protocols, and increase the ability to rule out clinically significant (Gleason Score ≥ 3 + 4) PCa (csPCa).

Materials And Methods: Between November 2018 and April 2022, we conducted a prospective study involving men who underwent mUS examination due to clinical symptoms, PSA elevation, or opportunistic early detection of PCa. Experienced urologists performed mUS assessments in an outpatient setting using the prostate risk identification using micro-ultrasound (PRI-MUS) protocol to identify lesions suspicious of csPCa (PRI-MUS score ≥ 3).

Development and Validation of a Competitive Risk Model in Elderly Patients with Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Transitional cell bladder carcinoma (tcBC) is the predominant form of bladder cancer, making up around 95% of reported cases. Prognostic factors for older individuals with tcBC differ from those affecting younger patients. The main purpose of this study was to establish a prognostic competing risk model for elderly patients with tcBC.

Chewing-Activated TRPV4/PIEZO1--Zn Axes in a Rat Periodontal Complex.

The upstream mechanobiological pathways that regulate the downstream mineralization rates in periodontal tissues are limitedly understood. Herein, we spatially colocalized and correlated compression and tension strain profiles with the expressions of mechanosensory ion channels (MS-ion) TRPV4 and PIEZO1, biometal zinc, mitochondrial function marker (), cell senescence indicator (), and oxygen status marker hypoxia-inducible factor-1α () in rats fed hard and soft foods. The observed zinc and related cellular homeostasis in vivo were ascertained by TRPV4 and PIEZO1 agonists and antagonists on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts ex vivo.

Pinocembrin alleviates renal ischemia-reperfusion injury/unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-generated renal fibrosis by targeting the CYP1B1/ROS/MAPK axis.

In our research, we constructed models of renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-exposed acute kidney injury (AKI) and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-stimulated renal fibrosis (RF) in C57BL/6 mice and HK-2 cells. We firstly authenticated that oral pinocembrin (PIN) administration obviously mitigated tissue damage and renal dysfunction induced by I/R injury, and PIN attenuated UUO-caused RF, as confirmed by the reduced expression of fibrotic markers as well as hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Sirius red, immunohistochemistry, and Masson staining. Meanwhile, the beneficial role of PIN was again demonstrated in HK-2 cells with hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) or transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) treatment.

Comparison of treatments for preventing lower urinary tract symptoms after BCG immunotherapy of bladder tumors : a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy is the standard adjuvant treatment for high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, BCG immunotherapy is commonly accompanied by significant lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) including symptoms such as urinary urgency, frequency, dysuria and pelvic pain. These symptoms can undermine treatment adherence and clinical outcomes.

Which combination of medical expulsive therapy is more effective for treatment of distal ureteral stone in adults? A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Medical Expulsive Therapy (MET) has been recommended as an established modality for the treatment of distal ureteral stones due to its clearance rate, pain control, and patient satisfaction while having minimal morbidity in comparison to other urologic interventions. In some studies, a combination of medications has been used, which we assessed in this network meta-analysis (NMA).

Methods: We conducted systematic searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify relevant trials published between 2001 and 2024.

Nedosiran in pediatric patients with PH1 and relatively preserved kidney function, a phase 2 study (PHYOX8).

Background: Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is an autosomal recessive disorder with dysregulated glyoxylate metabolism in the liver. Oxalate over-production leads to renal stones, progressive kidney damage and renal failure, with potentially life-threatening systemic oxalosis. Nedosiran is a synthetic RNA interference therapy, designed to reduce hepatic lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to decrease oxalate burden in PH.

Evaluating temperature dynamics: a single-center prospective randomized pilot study of holmium versus thulium laser fiber for renal stones.

Background: We aimed to evaluate and compare the rise in the temperature for the safety of the kidney parenchyma on firing the Holmium: Yttrium Aluminium Garnet laser and the Thulium Fiber Laser during laser lithotripsy in humans.

Method: We included 30 pre-stented patients with renal calculi undergoing Retrograde intra-renal surgery. They were randomized into two groups - 15 patients underwent holmium laser lithotripsy and 15 patients underwent TFL laser lithotripsy.

Epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of anterior prostate cancer.

Anterior prostate cancers (APCs) are a group of impalpable neoplasms located in regions anterior to the urethra, which comprise the transition zone, apical peripheral zone and anterior fibromuscular stroma. These regions are typically undersampled using conventional biopsy schemes, leading to a low detection rate for APC and a high rate of false negatives. Radical prostatectomy series suggest prevalence rates of at least 10-30%, but transperineal systematic biopsy is ideal for diagnosis, particularly where multiparametric MRI is unavailable.

Urology on a changing planet: links between climate change and urological disease.

Urological diseases and their varied forms of management warrant special attention in the setting of climate change. Regarding urological cancers, climate change will probably increase the incidence and severity of cancer diagnoses through exposures to certain environmental risk factors, while simultaneously disrupting cancer care delivery and downstream outcomes. Regarding benign urological diseases, a burgeoning body of work exists on climate-related heat waves, dehydration, urolithiasis, renal injury and infectious and vector-borne diseases.

Large language models improve the identification of emergency department visits for symptomatic kidney stones.

Recent advancements of large language models (LLMs) like generative pre-trained transformer 4 (GPT-4) have generated significant interest among the scientific community. Yet, the potential of these models to be utilized in clinical settings remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the abilities of multiple LLMs and traditional machine learning models to analyze emergency department (ED) reports and determine if the corresponding visits were due to symptomatic kidney stones.

Spinal CRH facilitates the micturition reflex via the CRH2 receptor in rats with normal bladder and bladder outlet obstruction.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) significantly affect patient quality of life. Treatment options for bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (a common cause of LUTS) are insufficient to relieve discomfort. As the incidence of BPH is increasing, new pharmacological targets for LUTS treatment are required.

Decreased nitric oxide production is a novel therapeutic target for salt-induced nocturnal polyuria in aging.

Nocturnal polyuria is a major cause of nocturia, which affects quality of life. Aging-related decreases in nitric oxide production have been reported to contribute to salt-induced nocturnal polyuria. We posited that enhanced nitric oxide production from exercise could mitigate salt-induced nocturnal polyuria.

Enfortumab Vedotin for Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: Comprehensive Treatment Outcomes and Prognostic Insights From a Multicenter Real-World Study (YUSHIMA Study).

Introduction: Enfortumab vedotin (EV) currently plays a predominant role in the evolving treatment paradigm of metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). However, large-scale real-world data on EV remain limited. This multicenter retrospective study comprehensively evaluated treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of EV monotherapy for mUC.

[Gender-/Sex-Specific Differences in Clinical Trials in Uro-Oncology].

Subgroup analyses in clinical trials sometimes reveal gender-/sex-dependent differences in cancer outcomes. However, drug approvals are rarely restricted to a specific sex or gender, and recommendations regarding dosage are rarely tailored accordingly. Furthermore, discrepancies exist between the gender-/sex-dependent enrollment rates in clinical trials and real-world incidence or mortality rates.

The urinary eccDNA landscape in prostate cancer reveals associations with genome instability and vital roles in cancer progression.

Introduction: Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) plays significant roles in cancer progression and prognosis. However, it remains unclear whether cell-free eccDNA, considered more stable than linear DNA, possesses cancer-specific genomic features. Furthermore, the biogenesis and function of eccDNAs are not yet fully understood.

Non-invasive diagnosis for urothelial carcinoma using a dual-target DNA methylation biomarker panel.

Background: Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a common malignancy worldwide. Aberrant DNA methylation is implicated in UC carcinogenesis. This study sought to delineate the DNA methylation landscape in UC and identify DNA methylation-based biomarkers for early detection of UC.

Free fatty acids derived from lipophagy enhanced resistance to anoikis by activating Src in high-invasive clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells.

Autophagy-mediated anoikis resistance plays a critical role in the initiation of tumor metastasis. Therefore, we investigated the role and mechanism of anoikis resistance mediated by free fatty acids (FFAs) derived from lipophagy in highly invasive clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Here, we found that the highly invasive ccRCC cell line Himi exhibited enhanced resistance to anoikis and elevated lipophagy levels.

A comprehensive report of the clinical and mutational profiles of 30 Iranian malignant infantile osteopetrosis patients.

Osteopetrosis is a group of genetically and clinically diverse inherited disorders characterized by an increase in bone density. The main known cause is an abnormality in the development or function of osteoclasts. Hence, the process of bone resorption is impaired, resulting in: 1- a reduction in bone marrow volume and, subsequently, a decrement in the hematopoietic capacity of bone marrow, which leads to anemia and compromised immunological function; 2- improper bone development, which leads to pressure on peripheral nerves, causing auditory, visual, and movement impairments; and 3- disturbance in the formation of bone microstructure that leads to susceptibility to bone fracture.