The Interplay between von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Gene, Lon Protease, ROS Accumulation, and Inflammation in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

This study explores the role of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene and Lon protease in the development of clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) through mechanisms involving inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in kidney cells. By examining the impact of VHL on the early stages of kidney cancer development, this research highlights the contributions of inflammation and ROS, as well as the involvement of Lon protease. The findings reveal increased Lon expression and ROS levels in VHL-knockdown HK-2 cells, along with elevated phospho-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) levels, emphasizing the complex interplay between VHL, Lon protease, inflammation, and ROS in kidney cell models. These insights point to potential therapeutic pathways for ccRCC.

Prognostic factors of intravesical recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate predictive factors of increasing intravesical recurrence (IVR) rate in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after receiving radical nephroureterectomy (RNUx) with bladder cuff excision (BCE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2114 patients were included from the updated data of the Taiwan UTUC Collaboration Group. It was divided into two groups: IVR-free and IVR after RNUx, with 1527 and 587 patients, respectively. To determine the factors affecting IVR, TNM stage, the usage of pre-operative ureteroscopy, and pathological outcomes were evaluated. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to estimate the rates of prognostic outcomes in overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), disease-free survival (DFS), and bladder recurrence-free survival (BRFS), and the survival curves were compared using the stratified log-rank test. RESULTS: Based on our research, ureter tumor, female, smoking history, age (< 70 years old), multifocal tumor, history of bladder cancer were determined to increase the risk of IVR after univariate analysis. The multivariable analysis revealed that female (BRFS for male: HR 0.566, 95% CI 0.469-0.681, p < 0.001), ureter tumor (BRFS: HR 1.359, 95% CI 1.133-1.631, p = 0.001), multifocal (BRFS: HR 1.200, 95% CI 1.001-1.439, p = 0.049), history of bladder cancer (BRFS: HR 1.480, 95% CI 1.118-1.959, p = 0.006) were the prognostic factors for IVR. Patients who ever received ureterorenoscopy (URS) did not increase the risk of IVR. CONCLUSION: Patients with ureter tumor and previous bladder UC history are important factors to increase the risk of IVR after RNUx. Pre-operative URS manipulation is not associated with higher risk of IVR and diagnostic URS is feasible especially for insufficient information of image study. More frequent surveillance regimen may be needed for these patients.

De Garengeot Hernia, an acute appendicitis in the right femoral hernia canal, and successful management with transabdominal closure and appendectomy: a case Report.

Incarceration of the appendix within a femoral hernia is a rare condition of abdominal wall hernia about 0.1 to 0.5% in reported femoral hernia [1]. We report a case of a 56-year-old female whose appendix was trapped in the right femoral canal. There are few reports in the literature on entrapment of the appendix within a femoral hernia. The management of this condition includes antibiotics, drainage appendectomy, hernioplasty and mesh repair.

Treatment of primary aldosteronism: Clinical practice guidelines of the Taiwan Society of Aldosteronism.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension and one of the few medical diseases that can be cured by surgery. Excessive aldosterone secretion is highly associated with cardiovascular complications. Many studies have shown that patients with unilateral PA treated with surgery have better survival, cardiovascular, clinical, and biochemical outcomes than those who receive medical treatment. Consequently, laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the gold standard for treating unilateral PA. Surgical methods should be individualized according to the patient's tumor size, body shape, surgical history, wound considerations, and surgeon's experience. Surgery can be performed through a transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach, and via a single-port or multi-port laparoscopic approach. However, total or partial adrenalectomy remains controversial in treating unilateral PA. Partial excision will not completely eradicate the disease and is prone to recurrence. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists should be considered for patients with bilateral PA or patients who cannot undergo surgery. There are also emerging alternative interventions, including radiofrequency ablation and transarterial adrenal ablation, for which data on long-term outcomes are currently lacking. The Task Force of Taiwan Society of Aldosteronism developed these clinical practice guidelines with the aim of providing medical professionals with more updated information on the treatment of PA and improving the quality of care.

Prediction of clinically significant prostate cancer through urine metabolomic signatures: A large-scale validated study.

PURPOSE: Currently, there are no accurate markers for predicting potentially lethal prostate cancer (PC) before biopsy. This study aimed to develop urine tests to predict clinically significant PC (sPC) in men at risk. METHODS: Urine samples from 928 men, namely, 660 PC patients and 268 benign subjects, were analyzed by gas chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrophotometry (GC/Q-TOF MS) metabolomic profiling to construct four predictive models. Model I discriminated between PC and benign cases. Models II, III, and GS, respectively, predicted sPC in those classified as having favorable intermediate risk or higher, unfavorable intermediate risk or higher (according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk groupings), and a Gleason sum (GS) of ≥ 7. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). RESULTS: In Models I, II, III, and GS, the best AUCs (0.94, 0.85, 0.82, and 0.80, respectively; training cohort, N = 603) involved 26, 24, 26, and 22 metabolites, respectively. The addition of five clinical risk factors (serum prostate-specific antigen, patient age, previous negative biopsy, digital rectal examination, and family history) significantly improved the AUCs of the models (0.95, 0.92, 0.92, and 0.87, respectively). At 90% sensitivity, 48%, 47%, 50%, and 36% of unnecessary biopsies could be avoided. These models were successfully validated against an independent validation cohort (N = 325). Decision curve analysis showed a significant clinical net benefit with each combined model at low threshold probabilities. Models II and III were more robust and clinically relevant than Model GS. CONCLUSION: This urine test, which combines urine metabolic markers and clinical factors, may be used to predict sPC and thereby inform the necessity of biopsy in men with an elevated PC risk.

Betainization of Polydopamine/Polyethylenimine Coating for Universal Zwitterionization.

Biofoulants can adhere to multiple surfaces, degrading the performance of medical devices and industrial facilities and/or causing nosocomial infection. The surface immobilization of zwitterionic materials can prevent the initial attachment of the foulants but lacks extensive implementation. Herein, we propose a facile, universal, two-step surface modification strategy to improve fouling resistance. In the first step, the substrates were immersed in a codeposition solution containing dopamine and branched polyethylenimine (PEI) to form a "primer" layer (PDA/PEI). In the second step, the primer layers were treated with 1,3-propane sultone to betainize primary/secondary/tertiary amine moieties of PEI, generating zwitterions on substrates. After betainization, PS-grafted PDA/PEI (PDA/PEI/S) via a ring-opening alkylation reaction manifested changes in wettability. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the presence of zwitterionic moieties on the PDA/PEI/S surfaces. Further investigations using ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy were conducted to scrutinize the relation among the PEI content, film thickness, primer stability, and betainization. As a result, zwitterion-decorated substrates prepared under optimal conditions can exhibit high resistance against bacterial fouling, achieving a 98.5% reduction in bacterial attachment. In addition, the method shows a substrate-independent property, capable of successfully applying it on organic and inorganic substrates. Finally, the newly developed approach shows excellent biocompatibility, displaying no significant difference compared with blank control samples. Overall, we envision that the facile surface modification strategy can further promote the preparation of zwitterion-decorated materials in the future.

Large retroperitoneal extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma with renal pedicle invasion: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma (EES) is a rare malignant tumor primarily found in children and young adults. Localized disease can present with nonspecific symptoms such as local mass, regional pain, and increased skin temperature. More severe cases may present with systemic symptoms such as malaise, weakness, fever, anemia, and weight loss. Among these lesions, retroperitoneal sarcomas are relatively uncommon and difficult to diagnose. Since they are usually asymptomatic until large enough to compress or invade the surrounding tissues, most are already advanced at first detection. Traditionally, the treatment of choice is complete surgical resection, sometimes combined with postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We report a case of EES with left renal artery invasion in the left retroperitoneal cavity successfully treated with transarterial embolization and surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old woman with a negative family history of cancer presented at our Urology Department with a large left retroperitoneal tumor found by magnetic resonance imaging during the health exam. Physical examination showed a soft abdomen and no palpable mass or tenderness. Imaging studies showed that the tumor covered the entire left renal pedicle, but the left kidney, left adrenal gland, and pancreas appeared tumor free. Since the tumor tightly covered the entire renal pedicle, tumor excision with radical nephrectomy was advised. The patient underwent transarterial embolization of the left renal artery with 10 mg of Gelfoam pieces daily before surgical excision. Tumor excision and left radical nephrectomy were uneventful the day after embolization. Post-operatively, the patient recovered well and was discharged on day 10. The final histopathological analysis showed a round blue cell tumor consistent with an Ewing sarcoma, and the surgical margins were tumor free. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneal malignancies are rare but usually severe conditions. Our case report showed that retroperitoneal EES with renal artery invasion could be treated safely with transarterial embolization and surgery.

Impact of pathological response on oncological outcomes in patients with upper tract urothelial cancer receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the rates of pathological complete response (ypT0N0/X) and pathological response (ypT1N0/X or less) in patients with upper tract urothelial cancer who were treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and to examine their impact on oncological outcomes. METHODS: This study is a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of patients with high-risk upper tract urothelial cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical nephroureterectomy between 2002 and 2021. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate all clinical parameters for response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Cox proportional hazard models were performed to assess the effect of the response on the oncological outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients with UTUC who received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy were identified. Among them, 44 (52.4%) patients received cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and 22 (26.2%) patients had a carboplatin-based regimen. The pathological complete response rate was 11.6% (n = 10), and the pathological response rate was 42.9% (n = 36). Multifocal tumors or tumors larger than 3 cm significantly reduced the odds of pathological response. In the multivariable Cox proportional hazard model, pathological response was independently associated with better overall survival (HR 0.38, p = 0.024), cancer-specific survival (HR 0.24, p = 0.033), and recurrence-free survival (HR 0.17, p = 0.001), but it was not associated with bladder recurrence-free survival (HR 0.84, p = 0.69). CONCLUSION: Pathological response after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and radical nephroureterectomy is strongly associated with patient survival and recurrence, and it might be a good surrogate for evaluating the efficacy of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in the future.

Comparison of oncological outcomes for hand-assisted and pure laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy: results from the Taiwan Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer Collaboration Group.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LNU) has gradually become the new standard treatment for localized upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC). With more blunt dissection and tactile sensation, hand-assisted LNU might shorten the operative time compared with the pure laparoscopic approach. However, whether the use of the hand-assisted or the pure laparoscopic approach has an effect on oncological outcomes remains unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 629 patients with non-metastatic UTUC who underwent hand-assisted (n = 515) or pure LNU (n = 114) at 9 hospitals in Taiwan between 2004 and 2019. Overall survival, cancer-specific survival, recurrence-free survival, and bladder recurrence-free survival were compared between these two groups using inverse-probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) derived from the propensity scores for baseline covariate adjustment. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 32.9 and 28.7 months in the hand-assisted and the pure groups, respectively. IPTW-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models showed that the laparoscopic approach (pure vs. hand-assisted) was not significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.49-1.24, p = 0.304), cancer-specific mortality (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.51-1.51, p = 0.634), or extra-vesical recurrence (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.41-1.04, p = 0.071). However, the pure laparoscopic approach was significantly associated with lower intra-vescial recurrence (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43-0.96, p = 0.029) for patients who underwent LNU. Kaplan-Meier curves also revealed that the pure laparoscopic approach was associated with better bladder recurrence-free survival compared with the hand-assisted laparoscopic approach in both the original cohort and the IPTW-adjusted cohort (log-rank p = 0.042 and 0.027, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The performance of hand-assisted or pure LNU does not significantly affect the all-cause mortality, cancer-specific mortality, or extra-vesical recurrence for patients with non-metastatic UTUC. However, the hand-assisted laparoscopic approach could increase the risk of intra-vesical recurrence for patients who undergo LNU.

Predictive factors of post-laparoscopic inguinal hernia acute and chronic pain: prospective follow-up of 807 patients from a single experienced surgeon.

INTRODUCTION: Convalescence after hernia repair is one of the main focuses for hernia surgeons. We analyzed our prospectively collected data to identify possible predictive factors for post-operative acute and chronic pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively collected the demographic data and peri-operative findings. Post-operative acute pain was evaluated with Visual Analog Pain Scale. The chronic pain (pain persists for > 6 months since operation) was also recorded. RESULTS: From June 2008 to August 2018, there were 807 patients with 1029 sites of inguinal hernia enrolled in our analysis. Pain before operation was associated with the severity of acute pain on OP (operation) day, POD 1 (post-operative day 1), and POD 7 (post-operative day 7). Younger patients had significantly higher post-operative acute pain on OP day, POD 1, and POD 7. The staple mesh fixation method resulted in a higher pain score at OP day and POD 1. The predictive factors for chronic pain were sex (female), young age (< 65 years), having no past history of hypertension, pain before operation, and mesh material. CONCLUSION: A younger age and inguinal pain before operation were the main predictive factors for higher post-operative pain. Younger patients, females, having inguinal pain before surgery, and using heavy weight mesh have a higher risk of chronic pain.

Influence of Vincristine, Clinically Used in Cancer Therapy and Immune Thrombocytopenia, on the Function of Human Platelets.

Vincristine is a clinically used antimicrotubule drug for treating patients with lymphoma. Due to its property of increasing platelet counts, vincristine is also used to treat patients with immune thrombocytopenia. Moreover, antiplatelet agents were reported to be beneficial in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Therefore, we investigated the detailed mechanisms underlying the antiplatelet effect of vincristine. Our results revealed that vincristine inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen, but not by thrombin, arachidonic acid, and the thromboxane A2 analog U46619, suggesting that vincristine exerts higher inhibitory effects on collagen-mediated platelet aggregation. Vincristine also reduced collagen-mediated platelet granule release and calcium mobilization. In addition, vincristine inhibited glycoprotein VI (GPVI) signaling, including Syk, phospholipase Cγ2, protein kinase C, Akt, and mitogen-activated protein kinases. In addition, the in vitro PFA-100 assay revealed that vincristine did not prolong the closure time, and the in vivo study tail bleeding assay showed that vincristine did not prolong the tail bleeding time; both findings suggested that vincristine may not affect normal hemostasis. In conclusion, we demonstrated that vincristine exerts antiplatelet effects at least in part through the suppression of GPVI signaling. Moreover, this property of antiplatelet activity of vincristine may provide additional benefits in the treatment of TTP.

A comprehensive study comparing tack and glue mesh fixation in laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair for adult groin hernias.

BACKGROUND: Glue mesh fixation is thought to cause less pain compared to tack mesh fixation during laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (TEP). However, the clinical benefits of glue mesh fixation are still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the acute pain, chronic pain, and recurrence rate between these two fixation methods. METHODS: After reviewing all patients in our prospective hernia repair database from February 2008 to December 2017, we identified 583 patients who underwent TEP with tack mesh fixation and 70 patients with glue fixation by a single surgeon. Acute post-operative pain and activity level were evaluated using a Visual Analog Score (VAS) and the modified Medical Outcome Study (MOS) score. The primary endpoint was chronic pain 6 months after TEP. The secondary endpoints were acute pain, activity level, complications, and recurrence. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the glue mesh fixation had significant lower VAS at 2 h post operation during rest and coughing and on the first day after surgery during coughing (p = 0.005, p < 0.001, and p = 0.011). The modified MOS on the first day was higher in the glue group (p < 0.001). There were no reduced risk of chronic pain or increased risk of recurrence for the glue group compared to the tack group [Odds ratio (OR) = 0.237, p = 0.169; OR = 2.498, p = 0.299]. In the sub-group analysis for recurrent hernia repair, glue fixation is associated with better modified MOS (p = 0.031) on first day and lower VAS on the operative day and first day at rest (p = 0.003 and p = 0.024) after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Glue fixation method was superior to tack fixation method in acute post-operative pain and early post-operative activity level after laparoscopic TEP repair. However, both fixation methods had similar incidence of chronic pain-, recurrence-, and procedure-related complications after laparoscopic TEP repair.

Possible predictor of early recovery on urinary continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy - Bladder neck level and urodynamic parameters.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between post-operative bladder neck levels and urodynamic parameters and their effect on urinary incontinence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). METHODS: Forty-eight consecutive patients undergoing LRP were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were assessed using retrograde cystography after LRP and were grouped according to their bladder neck position: Level 0: at or above the superior margin of the symphysis pubis (SMSP); Level -1: at <2 cm below SMSP; and Level -2: at >2 cm below SMSP. Urodynamic studies were conducted at baseline as well as at 1 and 3 months post-operatively. Early recovery of urinary continence was defined as no urine leakage or only one pad/day used within 3 months after surgery. Demographic characteristics, changes in urodynamic parameters, and continence outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall rate of early recovery of urinary continence was 33.3%. Patients with higher bladder neck levels experienced a significantly earlier recovery of urinary continence in univariate analysis (77.8%, 29.2%, and 13.3% for bladder neck levels 0, -1, and -2, respectively, p = 0.004). Patients with early recovery of urinary continence had significantly longer functional profile lengths (FPLs) 1 month post-surgery (21.0 mm vs 14.8 mm, p = 0.019). Higher bladder neck levels were significantly associated with longer FPLs at 1 month (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Bladder neck level is associated with FPLs at 1 month post-surgery, which is the possible predictor of early recovery of urinary continence after LRP. Patients with longer FPL at 1 month after LRP have a higher rate of early recovery of urine continence.

Targeted treatment of primary aldosteronism - The consensus of Taiwan Society of Aldosteronism.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Even with the increasing recognition of primary aldosteronism (PA) as a cause of refractory hypertension and an issue of public health, the consensus of its optimal surgical or medical treatment in Taiwan has not been reached. Our objective was to develop a clinical practice guideline that is feasible for real-world management of PA patients in Taiwan. METHODS: The Taiwan Society of Aldosteronism (TSA) Task Force recognized the above-mentioned issues and reached this Taiwan PA consensus at its inaugural meeting, in order to provide updated information of internationally acceptable standards, and also to incorporate our local disease characteristics and constraints into PA management. RESULTS: In patients with lateralized PA, including aldosterone producing adenoma (APA), laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the 'gold standard' of treatment. Mini-laparoscopic and laparoendoscopic single-site approaches are feasible only in highly experienced surgeons. Patients with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia or those not suitable for surgery should be treated by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. The outcome data of PA patient management from the literature, especially from PA patients in Taiwan, are reviewed. Mental health screening is helpful in early detection and management of psychopathology among PA patients. CONCLUSION: We hope this consensus will provide a guideline to help medical professionals to manage PA patients in Taiwan to achieve a better quality of care.

Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair is safe and feasible in patients with continuation of antithrombotics.

AIMS: We aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair in patients with the continuation of their antithrombotic agents. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was prospective cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 115 patients who underwent TEP inguinal hernia repair between January 2015 and September 2016 were included in the analysis. Seventeen patients continued their antithrombotics (antithrombotic group); the other 98 had not been on antithrombotics (control group). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The analysis was performed by using Mann-Whitney U-test, Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The antithrombotic group had a greater mean age (65.9 ± 8.0 vs. 57.7 ± 13.6,P= 0.002) and higher prevalence of hypertension (64.7% vs. 33.7%,P= 0.015), cardiovascular diseases (64.7% vs. 7.1%,P < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (23.5% vs. 0,P < 0.001), ischaemic heart disease (35.3% vs. 0,P < 0.001) and the American Society of Anaesthesiologists ≥2 (94.1% vs. 81.6%,P= 0.005). The operation time for the antithrombotic group was longer than that of the control group (92.06 ± 32.81 min vs. 72.33 ± 20.99 min,P= 0.015). None experienced conversion to open surgery in either group. There was no difference in the post-operative complications (29.4% vs. 28.6%) and sero-haematoma formation (23.5% vs. 11.1%). The analgesic requirement, hospital stays (23.72 ± 7.74 vs. 22.35 ± 10.33 h) and the time for return to normal daily activity (3.56 ± 1.74 vs. 3.63 ± 1.90) were not statistically different between the two groups. None in either group experienced major cardiovascular events within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair can be safely performed in patients with the continuation of their antithrombotic agents in experienced hands.

Factors affecting operative efficiency and post-operative convalescence in laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) adrenalectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) adrenalectomy is a novel challenging technique which is still under clinical evaluation. Initial reports have revealed its superiority in patient convalescence. In addition, it has been reported that some patient or anatomic factors might affect the ergonomics of LESS adrenalectomy. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible factors that might affect procedural efficiency and patient convalescence in LESS adrenalectomy. METHODS: Between October 2009 and July 2015, 105 consecutive adult patients with benign adrenal tumors, who underwent LESS retroperitoneal adrenalectomy were enrolled in this study. All the relevant peri-operative parameters were prospectively collected for later analysis. By using stepwise linear regression and stepwise selection of these peri-operative parameters, those that might affect the operative efficiency and patient convalescence were analyzed. RESULTS: Finally, 78 patients who completed follow-up and were eligible for stepwise linear regression were enrolled for final analysis. For parameters affecting operative efficiency, the fitted model revealed that patients with a pre-operative diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, a higher BMI, and an associated co-morbidity of heart disease are associated with a longer operative time. In addition, the fitted model revealed that patients with a lower post-operative pain score, a delayed oral intake, and a diagnosis of non-functioning adrenal tumor were associated with a lengthier period before returning to normal activity. CONCLUSION: A higher BMI is the only anatomic factor that affects procedural efficiency in LESS adrenalectomy. In addition, post-operative pain score, time to oral intake, and a diagnosis of non-functioning adrenal tumor are the factors affecting patient convalescence.

Intravesical botulinum toxin-A injections reduce bladder pain of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome refractory to conventional treatment - A prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Intravesical onabotulinumtoxinA (BoNT-A) injection is a beneficial treatment for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), yet its therapeutic efficacy remains to be validated. This study tests efficacy and safety of intravesical BoNT-A injections for treatment of IC/BPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with IC/BPS refractory to conventional treatment. Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to hydrodistention plus suburothelial injections of BoNT-A 100 U (Botox group) or the equivalent amount of normal saline (N/S group). The primary endpoint was a decrease in pain assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) at week 8 after treatment. Secondary endpoints included voiding diary and urodynamic variables. The Wilcoxon sign rank and rank sum tests were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients (8 males, 52 females, age 50.8 ± 13.9 years) including 40 in the Botox and 20 in the N/S groups were enrolled. At week 8, a significantly greater reduction of pain was observed in the Botox group compared to the N/S group (-2.6 ± 2.8 vs. -0.9 ± 2.2, P = 0.021). The other variables did not differ significantly between groups except for cystometric bladder capacity, which was increased significantly in the Botox group. The overall success rates were 63% (26/40) in the Botox group and 15% (3/20) in the N/S group (P = 0.028). Adverse events did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: Intravesical injections of 100 U of BoNT-A effectively reduced bladder pain symptoms in patients with IC/BPS. The adverse events were acceptable. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:609-614, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Feasibility and safety of laparoendoscopic single-site surgery of total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair after previous open groin hernia repair: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed at evaluating the feasibility and safety of laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) for totally extraperitoneal (TEP) endoscopic hernia surgery after previous open groin hernia repair that may hamper preperitoneal dissection. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 213 consecutive patients undergoing LESS TEP hernia repair between January 2009 and December 2013. The study group consisted of 36 patients with a history of previous open inguinal hernia repair before undergoing LESS TEP hernia repair. The study enrolled the other 177 patients who underwent LESS TEP during the same period and were enrolled as the control group. We obtained perioperative data for all patients including demographic data, operation time, length of hospital stay, narcotic dose, conversions, and complications. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients with inguinal hernia underwent LESS TEP repair. One case in the control group (0.56 %) required conversion to LESS transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair, while no cases in the study group required conversion. We observed no differences between the two groups in terms of operative time, analgesic use, hospital stay, and postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: LESS TEP hernia repair for patients with previous open inguinal hernia repair can be performed safely by experienced surgeons. Operative outcomes were comparable between both the primary inguinal and recurrent hernia groups.

Ergonomic principles and techniques in facilitating advanced laparoendoscopic single site (LESS) urinary tract reconstruction with conventional laparoscopic instruments.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The technical and ergonomic details of laparoendoscopic single site (LESS) reconstruction have not been reported. In this study, we explored the feasibility and safety of performing advanced LESS upper urinary tract reconstruction with conventional laparoscopic instruments. METHODS: Between September 2010 and March 2011, we retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data from five patients who underwent LESS urinary tract reconstruction. The LESS reconstruction included pyeloureterostomy (N = 1), dismembered pyeloplasty (N = 2), ureteroneocystostomy (N = 1), and ureteroplasty for bifid blind ending ureter (N = 1). The perioperative and postoperative parameters were collected for analysis. The ergonomic principles and techniques are detailed. RESULTS: All reconstructive LESS procedures were completed successfully without open conversion or laparoscopic conversion. Ancillary ports or ancillary instruments were not applied in any of the patients. The mean patient age was 40.4 years. The mean operative time was 213 ± 69 minutes, the estimated blood loss ranged from minimal to 50 mL, and the mean hospital stay was 4.4 ± 4 days. No operation-related complication occurred. CONCLUSION: Based on our ergonomic principles and suturing/knotting techniques, conventional laparoscopic instruments are feasible and safe for LESS urinary reconstructive procedures.

The use of porcine small intestine submucosa implants might be associated with a high recurrence rate following laparoscopic herniorrhaphy.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The efficacy of porcine small intestine submucosa (SIS) implants in hernia repair has rarely been reported and remained elusive. We herein report our experience to further elucidate the efficacy of SIS mesh in herniorrhaphy. METHODS: Between June 2008 and October 2009, a total of 82 patients with 125 inguinal hernias undergoing endoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) herniorrhaphy were included. Seventy patients (with 108 hernias) had traditional polypropylene and 12 patients (with 17 hernias) had SIS mesh repair. Postoperative complications and recurrence rates were compared between the two meshes. RESULTS: The demographics between two groups were similar. All operations were performed smoothly with laparoscopy, and the postoperative courses were uneventful. After a median follow-up of 18 months, five (7%) in the polypropylene group and three (25%) in the SIS group had chronic pain (p = 0.09). Five of 17 (29.4%) hernia repairs in the SIS group had an ipsilateral recurrence, compared to no recurrence in the polypropylene group. In the five cases, the second laparoscopy revealed the SIS mesh had been totally degraded and there was no obvious fibrotic tissue in the previous mesh sites. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the use of SIS mesh in endoscopic TEP herniorrhaphy might be associated with a high recurrence rate. The second look laparoscopy in these recurrent cases revealed slow and inadequate integration of host tissue. More evidence is still required to further evaluate the efficacy of SIS mesh in endoscopic TEP herniorrhaphy.