[Minimizing the number of trocars during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Surgical technique].

INTRODUCTION: During last 20 years in urology there has been a number of significant advancements, which were due to the introduction into practice and improvement of minimally invasive techniques. Development of laparoscopic surgery allowed to actively introduce these procedures in various kidney disorders, including renal tumors. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is also undergoing changes in order to improve the technique. Standard technique requires four or more trocars, where fourth (additional) trocar is put for the assistant. However, there is an opinion that in most cases it is possible to perform partial nephrectomy without an assistant trocar, while maintaining the safety and efficiency of the procedure and improving some perioperative outcomes. The aim of our study was to compare the safety and efficiency of the three-trocar and four-trocar techniques during transperitoneal partial nephrectomy. This article also presents the technical features of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2021 and 2023, a total of 200 patients were included in the study comparing three- and four-trocar partial nephrectomy. RESULTS: There was no difference in the rate of achieving renal trifecta between the two groups. In the three-trocar group, 94 cases of renal trifecta were found, while in the four-trocar group, there were 95 patients with renal trifecta. CONCLUSIONS: The three-trocar technique is not inferior in safety and efficiency to the standard four-trocar technique. The main advantages of the three-trocar technique are less pain, cost and post-operative scarring.

[SARS-CoV-2-induced non-bacterial endomyocarditis with the development of acquired heart defects]. / SARS-CoV-2-indutsirovannyi nebakterial'nyi endomiokardit s razvitiem priobretennykh porokov serdtsa.

Patients with damage of the mitral, aortic and tricuspid valves and systolic myocardial dysfunction associated with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection are described. The diagnosis of acquired defect was established in 4 patients based on medical history, electrocardiography, echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging of the heart, endomyocardial or intraoperative myocardial biopsy, and in one case, autopsy. The study of the myocardium included H&E, Van Gieson staining, immunohistochemical (IHC) study with antibodies to CD3, CD20, CD45, CD68, to the nucleocapsid and Spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Previous valve diseases (prolapse, bicuspid aortic valve) served as a background for the development of the defect in 2 patients. In all cases, IHC studies revealed coronavirus proteins, lymphocytic endocarditis and myocarditis, moderate fibrosis, and signs of connective tissue disorganization. High titers of anticardiac antibodies indicated an autoimmune mechanism for carditis. No signs of infective endocarditis or thromboembolic complications were identified in any case. In patients with an unclear nature of valvular heart defects, a previous new coronavirus infection should be identified and taken into account as a possible etiological factor. The simultaneous development of lymphocytic myocarditis significantly increases the risk of surgical intervention on the valves and requires an integrated approach to treatment.

[Carboxycryobiopsy and carboxycryoextraction of bladder tumor. Experimental study].

AIM: To evaluate the possibility of performing transurethral carboxycryobiopsy (CCB) and carboxycryoextraction (CCE) of a bladder tumor for pathomorphological examination, as well as to perform a comparative analysis of the safety (quality) of biopsy material (tumor tissue) during standard transurethral biopsy and carboxycryobiopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the first experiment in vitro, CCE of bladder tumor fragments obtained after transurethral resection was performed. In the second pilot study, cystoscopy followed by CCB and CCE in a patient with multiple bladder tumors was done. The procedure was performed by transurethral access. During cryopreservation of the bladder tumor, a biopsy was performed. After freezing, the tumor was removed from the bladder and sent for histological examination. RESULTS: The first experiment showed that cryoextraction of the fragments of a bladder tumor using carbon dioxide (CCE) in vitro is a feasible procedure and allows the evacuation of tumor tissues of various sizes. According to the second experiment, CCB and CCE of the bladder tumor using carbon dioxide allows to obtain a biopsy of a bladder tumor of sufficient size without compression or coagulation artifacts, which contributes to a more accurate histological evaluation. CONCLUSION: Our experiments showed that CCB and CCE of a bladder tumor using carbon dioxide are feasible procedures that contribute to obtaining better biopsy material for pathomorphological examination, and also allows to evaluate the effect of low temperatures of carbon dioxide on the biopsy material (tumor tissue).

[Kidney carboxycryoablation. Pilot study].

AIM: The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of low temperatures of carbon dioxide on a "living" blood-supplying organ (pig kidney), to determine the possibility of performing cryoablation of kidney tissue with carbon dioxide (carboxycryoablation), as well as to establish experimentally modes of carboxycryoablation of the kidney. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To carry out this experimental study, a female of the mini-pig line was used. We performed laparoscopic access to the kidney for carboxycryoablation. During the freezing of the kidney, three modes were compared: 60, 90, and 120 s on one kidney of one animal. Immediately after the completion of cryoablation, nephrectomy was performed, and the removed kidney was sent for histological examination. According to the histological study, the results of the use of carbon dioxide during cryoablation of porcine kidney tissue were evaluated. RESULTS: Cryoablation based on carbon dioxide (carboxycryoablation) leads to irreversible death (necrosis) and destruction of the affected tissue. A direct relationship between the exposure mode and the size of the cryonecrosis zone was noted. Thus, the most extensive zone of necrosis with a diameter of 10 mm was achieved when performing cryoablation in the exposure mode of 120 s. CONCLUSION: This experiment showed that carbon dioxide-based cryoablation remains a feasible procedure that leads to irreversible death (necrosis) and destruction of the affected tissue. However, further studies on the safety and efficacy of cryoablation of kidney tissue with carbon dioxide are required.

[Morphological characteristics of renal changes in Fabry disease]. / Morfologicheskaya kharakteristika izmenenii pochek pri bolezni Fabri.

Fabry disease is an X-linked progressive lysosomal disease caused by a mutation in the gene that encodes the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A and leads to the intracellular accumulation of globotriazylceramide (GL-3). Kidney damage manifested itself as microproteinuria and microalbuminuria, followed by renal failure, is fatal to a patient. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fabry disease was diagnosed in 5 out of 600 cases of various kidney diseases, by using the 2014-2018 material. Light-optical, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopy methods were used to examine kidney biopsy specimens in Fabry disease. RESULTS: The glomeruli clearly exhibited intralysosomal inclusions, myelin bodies, and fatty vacuoles in the cytoplasm of podocytes, the small processes of which were predominantly reduced. The mesangial space was expanded; the mesangiocytes were in the proliferation state; there were fatty vacuoles in the cytoplasm; the deposits of immune complexes located intramembranously and paramesangially were also found in all cases. An immunohistochemical study revealed that each case was detected to have fixations of IgG, kappa and lambda immunoglobulin chains on the glomerular basement membrane of focal granular pattern. There was fixation of fibrinogen in 3 cases, that of IgM in 2 cases, and that of IgA and complement component 3 in one case. Thus, it can be supposed that although Fabry disease is a lysosomal disease with deposits in the podocytes and mesangiocytes of myelin bodies and fatty vacuoles; however, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies cannot exclude the involvement of immune processes in the development of glomerular injury. CONCLUSION: Fabry disease is a rare lysosomal disease accompanied by globotriazylceramide deposits in the podocytes and mesangiocytes. However, at the same time, the fact that immune mechanisms are involved in the development of this disease cannot be denied.

[Artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of prostate cancer]. / Iskusstvennyi intellekt v diagnostike raka predstatel'noi zhelezy.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the possibilities and prospects of using artificial intelligence (AI) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC). The laboratory diagnosis of PC is considered and prostate images are analyzed according to transrectal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging using AI algorithms. Particular emphasis is placed on prostate histologic evaluation.

[Liver alveococcosis concurrent with hepatocellular carcinoma (autopsy observation)]. / Sochetanie al'veokokkoza pecheni i gepatotselliuliarnoi kartsinomy (sektsionnoe nabliudenie).

The paper presents a unique case of an autopsy study of the concurrence of two diseases, such as liver alveococcosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, in a 46-year-old woman with obvious hypercoagulability syndrome caused by parasitic invasion. It gives the macroscopic and histological characteristics of this case.

[Laparoscopic appendectomy for mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix]. / Laparoskopicheskaia appendéktomiia pri mutsinoznoi tsistadenome cherveobraznogo otrostka.

Treatment of acute and chronic appendicitis is still an actual problem. There are some rare courses of the disease besides well-known complications of appendicitis. Mucocele is one of the rarest forms of chronic appendicitis. Mucocele is not accompanied by clinical symptoms and diagnosed accidentally in more than 25% of cases. The most serious complication of mucocele of the appendix is malignization observed in up to 36% of cases. Ultrasound, CT and colonoscopy are the most effective methods of perioperative diagnosis. Unclear symptoms, delayed diagnosis and surgical treatment increase the risk of complications (i.e. cystadenocarcinoma).

[Aberrant expression of arrestin-1 and recoverin in kidney tumors].

INTRODUCTION: Early diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is extremely difficult, due to the late development of clinical manifestations. The study of the aberrant expression of tumor-associated antigens and a production of autoantibodies to these proteins seems promising and novel method for RCC diagnosis. AIM: To evaluate the possibility of using arrestin-1 (Arr-1), recoverin (Rec) and autoantibodies against arrestin-1 (AAA1) and recoverin (AAR) as a kidney tumor biomarker. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary kidney tumors and metastases of 62 patients were investigated. For immunohistochemical studies, tissues were incubated with polyclonal antibodies against Rec and Arr1 as the main antibodies. Detection of AAR and AAA-1 in the serum of patients was performed using Western Blot analysis according to a standard protocol. RESULTS: Among 62 tumors, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) constitutes 50 cases (86.4%), and oncocytoma was diagnosed in 12 patients (19.4%). In 11 (22%) cases of RCC, distant metastases were detected. Positive expression of Rec was observed in almost 71% of all types of kidney tumors. In 61.3% of patients with RCC, Arr-1 expression was seen. In the serum, AAR was found only in 1 patient (1.6%) with RCC. However, unlike AAR, AAA-1 in the serum of patients was observed much more often (75.8%). CONCLUSION: According to our data, the presence of AAA1 in the serum, unlike AAR, can be considered as an early kidney tumor biomarker. The high expression of recoverin and arrestin-1 in kidney tumors suggests the use of these proteins in future as a marker for the diagnosis or even as a potential target for immunotherapy.

[Multi-parametric MRI/US fusion guided biopsy for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. ur experience].

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. The gold standard for the detection of prostate cancer is ultrasound guided transrectal prostate biopsy. The detectability of cancer using this method is from 30 to 50%. As a result, many men undergo multiple repeat biopsies for suspected prostate cancer. The European Association of Urology does not give any recommendations on this matter. A revolutionary new method in the diagnosis of prostate cancer is a targeted prostate biopsy using a fusion of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At the R.M. Fronstein Clinic of Urology, 55 patients with suspected prostate cancer from September 2017 to January 2018 underwent fusion prostate biopsy. Of them, 21 patients had negative primary biopsies. Two patients had verified prostate cancer. 32 patients did not undergo primary biopsies. RESULTS: The findings of the study suggest that using MRI-ultrasound fusion for guidance of targeted prostate biopsy improves the quality of the histological material, allows patients to avoid unnecessary biopsy, reduces the number of punctures, thereby offering higher diagnostic performance in detecting prostate cancer. MRI-ultrasound fusion targeted biopsy has a high sensitivity in detecting clinically significant cancer and low for clinically insignificant cancers. CONCLUSION: The technique affords accurate detection of the location and extent of pathological lesions in the prostate thus allowing focal therapy for prostate cancer.

[Erectile dysfunction associated with radical prostatectomy: appropriateness and methods to preserve potency].

RELEVANCE: Erectile dysfunction (ED) associated with radical prostatectomy (RP) affects 25-75% of patients and has a significant negative impact on their quality of life AIM: To analyze the maintenance of erectile function after RP depending on the type of endoscopic access and nerve-sparing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study comprised 231 patients with localized prostate cancer, who underwent surgery between February 2015 and February 2016. Surgery was performed using one of three approaches: laparoscopic, extraperitoneoscopic or robot-assisted. Nerve-sparing surgery was chosen were based on the Briganti nomogram (low risk of extraprostatic extension), Partins table, and taking into account the patients desire to maintain EF. EF and the quality of life were evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire and the QoL (Quality of Life) scale. RESULTS: Nerve-sparing RP was performed in 153 patients. Nerve-sparing RP did not differ significantly from non-nerve sparing RP with regard to operative time (p=0.064) and blood loss (p=0.073). According to the pathomorphological study, the prostatic capsule was intact, and surgical margins were negative in all cases. The incidence of significant ED and complete loss of erectile function was greater in patients after non-nerve sparing RP compared with nerve sparing RP [(5.0 (0-10.0) vs. 6.5 (0.8-19,0) points according to the IIEF-5 scale, p=0.271)]; 96.2% versus 72.2% (p<0.001). Nerve-sparing RP had a statistically significant better effect on the quality of life: 1.63+/-1.16 points against 1.88+/-1.02 points (p=0.035). CONCLUSION: The best outcomes were observed in patients undergoing robot-assisted RP. Nerve-sparing RP resulted in a lower rate of ED. This advantage without compromising the completeness of resection allows us to consider nerve-sparing RP as an appropriate and validated modality of preventing erectile dysfunction in properly selected patients.