Interleukin-6 Is a Biomarker for the Development of Fatal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Pneumonia.

Hyper-inflammatory responses induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are a major cause of disease severity and death. Predictive prognosis biomarkers to guide therapeutics are critically lacking. Several studies have indicated a "cytokine storm" with the release of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and IL-8, along with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and other inflammatory mediators.

Performance assessment of 11 commercial serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 on hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

Background: Commercial availability of serological tests to evaluate immunoglobulins (Ig) targeting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has grown exponentially since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Thorough validation of these tests is important before use as epidemiological tools to infer seroprevalence in specific populations and as diagnostic tools to complement molecular approaches (e.g.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, are low-risk patients really at low risk? A case report.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetically determined myocardial disease that constitutes the main cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes. Apical HCM (ApHCM) represents a complex subset of patients, whose risk of SCD seems not negligible. Most applied scores likely underestimate the risk of heart events in this subset of patients.

Outcomes of minimally invasive partial nephrectomy among very elderly patients: report from the RESURGE collaborative international database.

The aim of the study was to perform a comprehensive investigation of clinical outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) or laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in elderly patients presenting with a renal mass. The REnal SURGery in Elderly (RESURGE) collaborative database was queried to identify patients aged 75 or older diagnosed with cT1-2 renal mass and treated with RAPN or LPN. Study outcomes were: overall complications (OC); warm ischemia time (WIT) and 6-month estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); positive surgical margins (PSM), disease recurrence (REC), cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and other-cause mortality (OCM).

Does sequential balloon expulsion test improve the screening of defecation disorders?

Background: A defecation disorder (DD) is a difficulty in evacuation documented by physiological exams. However, this physiological evaluation can be cumbersome, inaccessible and costly. Three "low-cost" tools to evaluate DD-a clinical DD score, the balloon expulsion test (BET) and a digital rectal examination (DRE) score were evaluated as separate or combined tests for DD screening.

Active surveillance for small renal masses in elderly patients does not increase overall mortality rates compared to primary intervention: a propensity score weighted analysis.

Background: The aim of the study was to test the effect of active surveillance (AS) versus primary intervention (PI) on overall mortality (OM) in elderly patients diagnosed with SRM.

Methods: Elderly patients (75 years or older) diagnosed with SRMs (<4 cm) and treated with either PI (i.e.

Effects of testosterone replacement on serotonin levels in the prostate and plasma in a murine model of hypogonadism.

Benign prostate hyperplasia is a dysfunctional disease with an elevated prevalence. Despite the accepted impact of aging and testosterone (TES) in its pathophysiology, its aetiology remains unknown. Recent studies described that serotonin (5-HT) inhibits benign prostate growth through the modulation of the androgen receptor, in the presence of TES.

Dysregulation of glycerophospholipid metabolism during Behçet's disease contributes to a pro-inflammatory phenotype of circulating monocytes.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a relapsing, multisystem and inflammatory condition characterized by systemic vasculitis of small and large vessels. Although the etiopathogenesis of BD remains unknown, immune-mediated mechanisms play a major role in the development of the disease. BD patients present leukocyte infiltration in the mucocutaneous lesions as well as neutrophil hyperactivation.

[Navigation systems for the percutaneous access to the kidney].

Background: Percutaneous access to the renal pelvis still remains the most difficult step before nephrolitholapaxy (PCNL). New imaging techniques, such as 3D imaging and various navigation instruments such as electromagnetic, sonographic, CT-controlled and marker-based/iPAD try to simplify this step and reduce complications.

Objectives: In this review, various new techniques for puncturing the renal collecting system are presented and their advantages and disadvantages are evaluated.

Impact of time to second transurethral resection on oncological outcomes of patients with high-grade T1 bladder cancer treated with intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin.

Purpose: To determine the impact of time to restaging transurethral resection (Re-TUR) on recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and cancer specific survival (CSS) of patients with high-grade T1 bladder cancer (BC) treated with intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG).

Materials And Patients: Our prospectively maintained NMIBC databases were queried to identify patients with high-grade T1 BC who underwent Re-TUR before receiving intravesical BCG treatment (induction + 1-year maintenance). Patients were divided into three groups based on time to Re-TUR (group A: ≤ 6 weeks; group B: > 6-12 weeks; group C: > 12-18 weeks).

Retinoic Acid: A Key Regulator of Lung Development.

Retinoic acid (RA) is a key molecular player in embryogenesis and adult tissue homeostasis. In embryo development, RA plays a crucial role in the formation of different organ systems, namely, the respiratory system. During lung development, there is a spatiotemporal regulation of RA levels that assures the formation of a fully functional organ.

Efficacy and safety of renal drainage options for percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the gold-standard for treatment of renal stones larger than 20 mm. Traditionally, a nephrostomy tube (NT) is placed, causing discomfort and prolonged hospitalization but some surgeons prefer the tubeless technique (TL). Simultaneously, the effectiveness of ureteral stents after PNCL is doubtful.

Outcome measures and motion capture systems for assessing lower limb orthosis-based interventions after stroke: a systematic review.

Purpose: To review and categorize, according to the International Classification of Functioning, the outcome measures, and motion capture systems for studying the evidence-based practice of orthotic-based interventions in post-stroke gait rehabilitation.

Methods: An electronic literature search was conducted up to February 2018 in Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE and Physiotherapy Evidence Database. Randomized trials measuring activity, impairment or participation outcome measures for studying the evidence-based practice of orthoses in gait rehabilitation after an acute or chronic stroke were identified.

Technical Note: Assessment of electromagnetic tracking systems in a surgical environment using ultrasonography and ureteroscopy instruments for percutaneous renal access.

Purpose: Electromagnetic tracking systems (EMTSs) have been proposed to assist the percutaneous renal access (PRA) during minimally invasive interventions to the renal system. However, the influence of other surgical instruments widely used during PRA (like ureteroscopy and ultrasound equipment) in the EMTS performance is not completely known. This work performs this assessment for two EMTSs [Aurora Planar Field Generator (PFG); Aurora Tabletop Field Generator (TTFG)].

Automatic detection of small bowel tumors in wireless capsule endoscopy images using ensemble learning.

Purpose: Wireless Capsule Endoscopy (WCE) is a minimally invasive diagnosis tool for lesion detection in the gastrointestinal tract, reaching places where conventional endoscopy is unable to. However, the significant amount of acquired data leads to difficulties in the diagnosis by the physicians; which can be eased with computer assistance. This paper addresses a method for the automatic detection of tumors in WCE by using a two-step based procedure: region of interest selection and classification.

Intact Perineum: What are the Predictive Factors in Spontaneous Vaginal Birth?

Introduction: Perineal trauma at birth is distressing for women and can cause serious short and long term morbidity.

Aim: Investigate the prevalence and predictive factors of intact perineum after normal vaginal birth among Portuguese women who had spontaneous vaginal births.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was carried out among pregnant women who had spontaneous vaginal births, between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, in a single birth centre in Portugal.

Mirizzi syndrome: when the gallbladder meets bile ducts.

A 64-year-old female presented to the Emergency Department with jaundice, choluria, fever and abdominal pain over the last few days. The abdomen was tender with epigastric pain on palpation.

Major Acute Cardiovascular Events After Transurethral Prostate Surgery: A Population-based Analysis.

Objective: To test the prevalence and predictors of major acute cardiovascular events (MACE) after transurethral prostate surgery (TPS).

Material And Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2011-2016) was queried for patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate, photoselective vaporization, or laser enucleation. MACE included: cerebrovascular events, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis requiring therapy, and pulmonary embolism episodes occurred up to 30 days after discharge.

Accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound in gastric adenocarcinoma patient selection for neoadjuvant therapy.

Background: Recent studies demonstrated the positive impact of neoadjuvant treatment in locally advanced gastric cancer.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the selection of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma for neoadjuvant therapy (T ≥ 2 and/or N+).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with an anatomopathological diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma between January 2011 and June 2017, who had EUS for staging and underwent surgery as a first therapeutic attempt.

Uveal melanoma: physiopathology and new in situ-specific therapies.

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults. It can arise from melanocytes in the anterior (iris) or posterior uveal tract (choroid and ciliary body). Uveal melanoma has a particular molecular pathogenesis, being characterized by specific chromosome alterations and gene mutations (e.

Reliability of Paris Classification for superficial neoplastic gastric lesions improves with training and narrow band imaging.

Paris Classification is used to classify gastrointestinal superficial neoplastic lesions and to predict presence of submucosal invasion. We aimed to evaluate interobserver reliability and agreement for this classification among Western endoscopists. A total of 54 superficial gastric lesions were independently classified according to Paris classification by eight endoscopists (4 experts and 4 non-experts).

Minimally Invasive Radical Prostatectomy after Previous Bladder Outlet Surgery: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of Comparative Studies.

Purpose: Prostate cancer surgery after previous bladder outlet surgery of benign prostatic hyperplasia is an uncommon yet challenging scenario. We performed a systematic review and pooled analysis of comparative studies on laparoscopic and robotic minimally invasive radical prostatectomy after bladder outlet surgery.

Materials And Methods: We searched the literature on PubMed®, Embase® and Web of Science™ up to February 2019 according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) statement to identify eligible studies.

Pulmonary-renal syndrome: diagnostic challenge.

Vasculitis presents several diagnostic challenges. Herein, we present a clinical case of a 71- year old woman, observed in our emergency department due to asthenia, vomiting and persistent cough. The patient had a history of progressive renal failure and anaemia over the last years.

Quality of life in elderly Portuguese war veterans with post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Background: Studies show that post-traumatic stress symptoms among Portuguese veterans who participated in Colonial War (1961-75) are high, even though 43 years have gone by since the end of the war.

Aims: This study analyzed the role of family type, personality traits, and social support as predictors of post-traumatic stress symptoms and quality of life in war veterans, and whether satisfaction with social support was a mediator between neuroticism/post-traumatic stress symptoms and quality of life.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted including 230 war veterans with a mean age of 60 years (SD=3.