Comparison of Safety, Efficacy and Outcomes of Robot Assisted Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty vs Conventional Laparoscopy.

Pyeloplasty is considered the gold standard for the management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in cases of flank pain, recurrent stone formation or infection, and deteriorating renal function. Over the last two decades, minimally invasive techniques such as robotic (RALP) and laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) have become increasingly popular and have been moderately replacing the open approach. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive up-to-date review on safety, efficacy and outcomes regarding robotic repair of UPJO compared to the conventional laparoscopic procedure.

Will vaccine hesitancy compromise our efforts to face the next SARS-CoV-2 epidemic wave?

We have checked the vaccination history of 389 elderly patients (62.9% males, mean age of 78.5 + 8.

Exploring the Residents' Perspective on Smart learning Modalities and Contents for Virtual Urology Education: Lesson Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: The COVID-19 outbreak has substantially altered residents' training activities. While several new virtual learning programs have been recently implemented, the perspective of urology trainees regarding their usefulness still needs to be investigated.

Methods: A cross-sectional, 30-item, web-based Survey was conducted through Twitter from April 4, 2020 to April 18, 2020, aiming to evaluate the urology residents' perspective on smart learning (SL) modalities (pre-recorded videos, webinars, podcasts, and social media [SoMe]), and contents (frontal lessons, clinical case discussions, updates on Guidelines and on clinical trials, surgical videos, Journal Clubs, and seminars on leadership and non-technical skills).

The impact of PrEP: results from a multicenter Health Technology Assessment into the Italian setting.

Introduction: The use of oral tenofovir/emtricitabine (FTC/TDF) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among high-risk people without Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is emerging as an innovative strategy to decrease HIV epidemic. The study aims at evaluating the implications related to PrEP introduction, from a multidimensional point of view, as required by Health Technology Assessment (HTA) approach, with a particular attention on sustainability and social factors, influencing PrEP implementation.

Methods: An analysis was conducted involving 35 Italian Infectious Disease Departments.

Urology apps: overview of current types and use.

Introduction: In recent years numerous applications have been developed with different purposes, aimed both at simplifying the lives of doctors and patients also within the urological field.

Material And Methods: In January 2020 we conducted a search in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Results: A total of 521 apps were reviewed, an increase of 8 times as compared to the last complete available review of eight years ago.

Is partial nephrectomy safe and effective in the setting of frail comorbid patients affected by renal cell carcinoma? Insights from the RECORD 2 multicentre prospective study.

Background: To investigate the perioperative and morbidity outcomes after partial nephrectomy (PN) in patients with short life expectancy (SLE) (≥95% 10-year expected mortality (10y-EM)), to assess the main predictors of outcomes in this population and to compare these results with those of a group at the opposite upper range with long LE (LLE, ≤5% 10y-EM) relying on a multicenter Italian prospective registry of kidney surgery (the RECORD 2 project).

Methods: Clinical data of 4,325 patients undergone kidney surgery were collected at 26 urological Italian Centers from 2013 to 2016. SLE was defined as a ≥95% 10y-EM (assessed using the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index [CCI]).

Viremia copy-years and risk of estimated glomerular filtration rate reduction in adults living with perinatal HIV infection.

Among people with perinatal HIV infection (PHIV), non-communicable diseases, such as chronic kidney disease, are increasing. Both HIV replication and antiretroviral therapy are recognised causes of renal impairment. Objective of the study is to describe the impact of viremia copy-years (VCY) and antiretroviral therapy on trend of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a cohort of adults with perinatal HIV infection.

Prognostic value of cardiac CT.

In the past decades, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has become a powerful tool in the management of coronary artery disease. The diagnostic and prognostic value of CCTA has been extensively demonstrated in both large observational studies and clinical trials among stable chest pain patients. The quantification of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is a well-established predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in asymptomatic subjects.

Prepuce-sparing corporoplasty as a safe alternative for patients with acquired penile curvature.

Objectives: penile curvature is a rare condition, classified as congenital or acquired (Peyronie's disease) (PD). Surgical correction is the standard treatment. It's common practice to associate circumcision with penile de-gloving to prevent complications.

Assessment of trends and clinical presentation in the emergency department of patients with renal colic during the COVID-19 pandemic era.

Introduction: We hypothesized that the recent COVID-19 pandemic may lead to a delay in renal colic patients presenting to the Emergency Department due to the fear of getting infected. This delay may lead to a more severe clinical condition at presentation with possible complications for the patients.

Material And Methods: Retrospective review of data collected from three institutions from Spain and Italy.

Marked decrease in acquired resistance to antiretrovirals in latest years in Italy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate acquired drug resistance in Italy in the 2009-2018 period.

Methods: We analysed 3094 patients from the Italian ARCA database who had failed antiretroviral treatment and who had received a genotypic test after 6 months of treatment. Drug resistance mutations were identified using International AIDS Society (IAS)-USA tables and the Stanford HIVdb algorithm.

Knowledge gap across continents: the andrology and male infertility exposure among urology residents in the United States and Europe.

It is well established that resident's exposure and training are of primary importance and positively correlated with patient and health quality outcomes. We aimed to compare and contrast urology residents' self-reported perspectives and attitudes toward exposure and education of andrology and male infertility during residency in both the United States and Europe. We performed a cross-sectional design study using a survey that was distributed to a representative sample of American and European urology residents.

Screening for Fabry disease in unknown origin axonal polyneuropathy: to do or not to do, this is the question!

Fabry disease (FD) is a systemic X-linked lysosomal disorder. A 'peripheral nerve variant' of FD has been hypothesized in subjects with neuropathy, without the early manifestations of the classic phenotype. A cohort of undiagnosed neuropathy patients with chronic polyneuropathy of undetermined aetiology and demyelinating neuropathy, unresponsive to immunomodulating treatment, were screened for FD.

Predicting needlestick and sharps injuries in nursing students: Development of the SNNIP scale.

Aim: To develop an instrument to investigate knowledge and predictive factors of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) in nursing students during clinical placements.

Design: Instrument development and cross-sectional study for psychometric testing.

Methods: A self-administered instrument including demographic data, injury epidemiology and predictive factors of NSIs was developed between October 2018-January 2019.

Simulator Availability Index: a novel easy indicator to track training trends. Is Europe currently at a urological training recession risk?

Introduction: To evaluate the European trend regarding the availability of surgical simulators and to propose a novel index to easily track this trend.

Material And Methods: During European Urology Residents Education Program, from 2014 to 2018, residents were asked through an anonymous survey about the availability of specific simulator training boxes at their department. The Simulator Availability Index (SAI) was made by the ratio between the number of departments with at least one box trainer and the total number of departments evaluated.

Evaluation of virological response and resistance profile in HIV-1 infected patients starting a first-line integrase inhibitor-based regimen in clinical settings.

Background: Virological response and resistance profile were evaluated in drug-naïve patients starting their first-line integrase inhibitors (INIs)-based regimen in a clinical setting.

Study Design: Virological success (VS) and virological rebound (VR) after therapy start were assessed by survival analyses. Drug-resistance was evaluated at baseline and at virological failure.

Mechanisms Regulating Muscle Protein Synthesis in CKD.

Background: CKD induces loss of muscle proteins partly by suppressing muscle protein synthesis. Muscles of mice with CKD have increased expression of nucleolar protein 66 (NO66), as do muscle biopsy specimens from patients with CKD or those undergoing hemodialysis. Inflammation stimulates NO66 expression and changes in NF-B mediate the response.

Consensus based recommendations for diagnosis and medical management of Poland syndrome (sequence).

Background: Poland syndrome (OMIM: 173800) is a disorder in which affected individuals are born with missing or underdeveloped muscles on one side of the body, resulting in abnormalities that can affect the chest, breast, shoulder, arm, and hand. The extent and severity of the abnormalities vary among affected individuals.

Main Body: The aim of this work is to provide recommendations for the diagnosis and management of people affected by Poland syndrome based on evidence from literature and experience of health professionals from different medical backgrounds who have followed for several years affected subjects.