Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Diabetic kidney disease is a leading cause of kidney failure worldwide and is easily detectable with screening examination. Diabetes causes hyperfiltration and activation of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system by hemodynamic changes within the nephron, which perpetuates damaging physiology. Diagnosis is often clinical after detection of heavy proteinuria in a patient with diabetes,but can be confirmed by observation of histologic stages on kidney biopsy.

Handgrip strength and body mass index exhibit good predictive value for sarcopenia in patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Aim: The diagnosis of sarcopenia in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) in clinics is limited owing to its relatively complicated process and the need for expensive assessment equipment. This study aimed to develop and validate sex-specific nomogram models based on body mass index (BMI), handgrip strength, and other routine follow-up examination indicators to predict sarcopenia in patients on PD.

Methods: From March 2023 to February 2024, 699 eligible patients were recruited from the PD centers of two tertiary hospitals in southeastern China.

Medical education videos - comparative analysis of sonography vs. clinical examination videos: user perception and educational value.

Background: Video content has become an increasingly valuable tool in medical education, particularly for teaching hands-on skills like sonography and clinical examination. This study evaluates the satisfaction and content of sonography and clinical examination videos on the AMBOSS platform, a prominent medical education resource in Germany.

Objective: The goal of this study was to compare how effective and well-received sonography and clinical examination videos are on the AMBOSS platform.

Congenital Aortic Arch Malformation Presenting as Bilateral Pulsatile Neck Mass: A Unique Case Report.

Vascular malformations of the aortic arch and its main branches such as cervical aortic arch and high-riding brachiocephalic artery can present as pulsatile neck swelling. Although this entity is rare, an initial Doppler ultrasound is suggested before intervention to avoid complications from unidentified aberrant vessels.

Personalized membrane protein vaccine based on a lipid nanoparticle delivery system prevents postoperative recurrence in colorectal cancer models.

While accessing tumor neoantigens and developing effective delivery systems have posed significant challenges in therapeutic oncology vaccines, this study introduces a cost- and time-efficient personalized tumor vaccine demonstrating potent anti-tumor effects in a mouse xenograft model. This vaccine utilizes a lipid nanoparticle (C5 LNP) system loaded with membrane protein antigens (mAg) derived from surgically excised tumor tissue. Its safety and efficacy were validated in a B16-OVA murine model.

Sequential versus concomitant treatment of androgen receptor signaling inhibitors and docetaxel for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: an network meta-analysis.

Background: Androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSis), when administered sequentially or in combination with docetaxel and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), have been shown to enhance overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Nonetheless, the optimal sequence for administering chemotherapy and ARSis remains to be determined.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of ARSis sequential therapy with ARSis combined therapy for mHSPC, and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different combination regimens.

Industry-Sponsored Research Funding to Urologists in the United States Between 2014 and 2022.

Introduction: Urologists face challenges in obtaining public research funding, leading to increasing reliance on the industry for research support. This study aimed to examine the extent and trends in industry-sponsored research payments to urologists from 2014 to 2022 in the United States.

Methods: We identified all US urologists using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services National Plan and Provider Enumeration System database and extracted their industry-sponsored research payments data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments Database.

Effects of Varicocele Repair on Testicular Endocrine Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: The objective of this manuscript is to assess the effect of varicocele repair (VR) in patients with clinical varicoceles on serum total testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and inhibin B serum levels.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed in compliance with the Meta-Analysis and Systematic Reviews of Observational Studies (MOOSE) guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P). All eligible studies were selected following the PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison/Comparator, Outcomes, Study design) model.

Impact of varicocele repair on semen parameters and spontaneous pregnancy: An endless debate put to rest.

There has been much controversy about the true value of varicocele repair for improving fertility and the chances of natural conception. This review summarizes the latest research findings, current professional societies' recommendations, and the conclusions of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The current evidence suggests a positive role for varicocele repair in improving basic sperm parameters and increasing the likelihood of natural pregnancy.

Germline and somatic testing for homologous repair deficiency in patients with prostate cancer (part 1 of 2).

Background/objectives: Unfortunately, not all metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients receive available life-prolonging systemic therapies, emphasizing the need to optimize mCRPC treatment selections. Better guidelines are necessary to determine genetic testing in prostate cancer.

Subjects/methods: In this two-part expert opinion-based guide, we provide an expert consensus opinion on the utilization of germline and somatic testing to detect HRR alterations in patients with mCRPC.

Impact of Varicocele Repair on Assisted Reproductive Technique Outcomes in Infertile Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated assisted reproductive technology (ART) success in infertile men with clinical varicocele and abnormal semen parameters who underwent varicocele repair (VR) before the ART procedure as compared to those who did not.

Materials And Methods: A comprehensive search of the Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted using a specific query string to identify studies examining the impact of VR on ART outcomes, including fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and live-birth rate, until October 2023. Outcomes were analyzed based on the type of ART.

Therapeutic implications of homologous repair deficiency testing in patients with prostate cancer (Part 2 of 2).

Background/objectives: Unfortunately, not all metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients receive available life-prolonging systemic therapies, emphasizing the need to optimize mCRPC treatment selections. Better guidelines are necessary to determine genetic testing for prostate cancer.

Subjects/methods: In this two-part expert opinion-based guide, we provide an expert consensus opinion on the utilization of germline and somatic testing to detect HRR alterations in patients with mCRPC.

Experiences and Outcomes of the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons Fellowship Training: Growth in Fellowships Mirrors the Evolution of the Discipline.

Objective: To describe experiences and outcomes of the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons (GURS) fellowship match. In 2012, GURS developed a centralized fellowship match which has grown from 13 to 30 programs.

Methods: GURS match statistics and case logs were reviewed from 2013-2024.

Optimising prostate biopsies and imaging for the future-a review.

Conventionally, transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx) was the main technique used for the diagnosis of prostate cancer since it was first described in 1989 [1]. However, the PROMIS trial showed that this random, nontargeted approach could miss up to 18% of clinically significant cancer (csPCa) [2]. Furthermore, risk of sepsis post TRUS-Bx can be as high as 2.

Development of multilayered artificial urethra graft for urethroplasty.

To enhance the treatment of patients' urethral defects, such as strictures and hypospadias, we investigated the potential of using artificial urethral tissue. Our study aimed to generate this tissue and assess its effectiveness in a rabbit model. Two types of bioprinted grafts, based on methacrylated gelatin-silk fibroin (GelMA-SF) hydrogels, were produced: acellular, as well as loaded with autologous rabbit stem cells.

Spns1 is an iron transporter essential for megalin-dependent endocytosis.

Proximal tubule endocytosis is essential to produce protein-free urine as well as to regulate system-wide metabolic pathways, such as the activation of Vitamin D. We have determined that the proximal tubule expresses an endolysosomal membrane protein, protein spinster homolog1 (Spns1), which engenders a novel iron conductance that is indispensable during embryonic development. Conditional knockout of Spns1 with a novel Cre-LoxP construct specific to megalin-expressing cells led to the arrest of megalin receptor-mediated endocytosis as well as dextran pinocytosis in proximal tubules.

Double-face urethroplasty in patients with obliterative bulbar strictures post-transurethral resection of the prostate mid-term outcomes in high-volume referral center.

Objective: Incidences of post-transurethral resection of the prostate (post-TURP) strictures are between 2.2% and 9.8%.

Acidity-Actuated Polymer/Calcium Phosphate Hybrid Nanomotor (PCaPmotor) for Penetrating Drug Delivery and Synergistic Anticancer Immunotherapy.

Tumor acidity-driven nanomotors may offer robust propulsion for tumor-specific penetrating drug delivery. Herein, an acidity-actuated poly(amino acid) calcium phosphate (CaP) hybrid nanomotor (PCaPmotor) was designed, using a mPEG-PAsp-PPhe@THZ531 micelle (Poly@THZ) for CaP mineralization accompanied by αPD-L1 antibody encapsulation. Dissolution of the CaP layer in an acidic tumor environment gave off heat energy to propel the nanomotor to augment the cellular uptake and penetration into deeply seated cancer cells while facilitating αPD-L1 release.

Prostate-specific antigen and health-related quality of life in individuals with advanced prostate cancer treated with apalutamide: a plain language summary of the SPARTAN and TITAN studies.

What Is This Summary About?: This is a summary of a paper that describes the results of the SPARTAN and TITAN studies, which looked at whether a treatment called apalutamide can help treat individuals with advanced prostate cancer.The SPARTAN study included 1207 participants with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (or nmCRPC). The TITAN study included 1052 participants with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (or mCSPC).