Investigating miR-6880-5p in extracellular vesicle from plasma as a prognostic biomarker in endocrine therapy-treated castration-resistant prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Advancements in the diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) have progressed considerably, but a new biomarker that combines existing clinical and pathological data could be useful for a more precise diagnosis and prognosis. Some investigations have found that extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived miRNAs play crucial roles in various types of malignant tumors. The objective of this study was to explore EV miRNA and identify its biologic function as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of CRPC. METHODS: Plasma samples were collected from five healthy donors (Control, CT) and 17 CRPC patients, categorizing into two groups based on their endocrine treatment response: partial response (PR; n = 10) and progressive disease (PD; n = 7). Candidate extracellular vesicle (EV) miRNAs were identified using miRNA microarray and RT-qPCR. The biological functions of the selected miRNAs were evaluated using the MTT assay, wound healing assay, trans-well assay, and RNA sequencing in CRPC cells after transient miRNA expression. RESULTS: Microarray analysis revealed a significant downregulation of EV-miR-6880-5p in the PD samples compared to both CT and PR samples (p < 0.01). The expression of EV-miR-6880-5p in CRPC patients was decreased compared with that CT group (p = 0.0336) using RT-qPCR. In the PR group, EV-miR-6880-5p was increased at follow-up compared with the baseline (p = 0.2803), while in the PD group, it decreased at follow-up compared with the baseline samples (p = 0.4356). Furthermore, overexpression of miR-6880-5p hampered cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, downregulated pathways associated with tumor progression, and simultaneously upregulated pathways associated with cell growth and apoptosis in CRPC cells. CONCLUSIONS: EV-miR-6880-5p shows promise as a prognostic biomarker in patients with CRPC. Further, prospective validations are necessary to evaluate the potential of these candidate miRNAs.

Efficacy of pelvic floor muscle exercise or therapy with or without duloxetine: a systematic review and network Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Postprostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPUI) is a serious complication despite surgical advances. Treatment options for PPUI include conservative care like Pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME), which is a physiotherapy performed by the patients themselves; Pelvic floor muscle therapy (PFMT), a physiotherapy performed under the guidance of a therapist, and duloxetine treatment; and surgical interventions. In this study, network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed for direct comparison of these treatment options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The NMA pooled the odds ratios and 95% credible intervals using the number of patients achieving urinary continence and the total number of patients in an intention-to-treat population. The treatments were ranked based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) probabilities and the rankograms. RESULTS: The pooled overall ORs of patients achieving urinary continence compared with no treatment was 1.73 (95% CrI: 0.657, 4.71) in PFME, 2.62 (95% CrI: 0.553, 13.5) in PFME plus Duloxetine, and 4.05 (95% CrI: 1.70, 10.2) in PFMT. The SUCRA values of ranking probabilities for each treatment showed high rates of continence in the order of PFMT, PFME plus Duloxetine, and PFME. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that patients with PPUI should undergo PFMT and consider duloxetine as an additional treatment option.

Toggling Technique Allows Retrograde Early Release to Facilitate Neurovascular Bundle Sparing During Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Propensity Score-Matching Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to present the surgical facilitation of neurovascular bundle (NVB) sparing using the toggling technique (30° lens down/up switching) and to evaluate erectile dysfunction (ED) recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). METHODS: We assessed 144 patients (group with toggling, n = 72; group without toggling, n = 72) who underwent RARP with bilateral NVB sparing using propensity score matching. Inclusion criteria were ≥ 1 year follow-up and preoperative potency as per the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire (≥ 17 points). Recovery of ED after RARP was defined as return to baseline sexual function or self-assessment regarding successful intercourse. The subjective surgeon's nerve sparing (SNS) score and tunneling success rates were used to evaluate surgical facilitation. The recovery rate of ED between the groups was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: A better ED recovery trend was confirmed according to the SNS score (R² = 0.142, P = 0.004). In the analysis of NVB sparing ease, the toggling group showed higher SNS scores (on right/left side: P = 0.011 and < 0.001, respectively) and overall tunneling success rates (87% vs. 74%, P = 0.001) than the group without toggling. Overall, ED recovery rates were 82% (59/72) and 75% (54/72) in the groups with and without toggling, respectively, at the 1-year follow-up (P = 0.047), and the toggling group showed a faster ED recovery rate at 3 months (47% vs. 35%, P = 0.013). In a specific analysis of the potent cohort (< 60 years, bilateral full NVB spared, SHIM score ≥ 22), the ED recovery rate reached 87% (14/16) in the toggling group. CONCLUSION: The retrograde early release with the toggling technique improves the facilitation of NVB sparing, leading to improved ED recovery.

Effects of ß3-adrenoceptor agonist on acute urinary retention in a rat model.

PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effect of mirabegron on bladder dysfunction in an acute urinary retention rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six 16-week Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to the mirabegron and normal saline (N/S) groups. Each group of eighteen was divided into sub-groups of 6 for 30 min, 2 h, and 24 h. They were administered mirabegron (10 mg/kg) and N/S daily for 4 weeks, respectively. Mirabegron and N/S groups were divided into sub-groups of 6 rats for 30 min, 2 h, and 24 h. The changes in bladder blood flow were measured using laser Doppler (moorVMS-LDF2). Histopathological examination of the bladder and nitric oxide (NO) measurement were performed. RESULT: During the urinary retention phase in the mirabegron group, it showed higher and rapider recovery of blood flow; the lowest at 19.5% ± 3.68% at 3 min, a significant recovery from the lowest value as 23.7 ± 3.4% at 10 min, than that in the N/S group; 15.1 ± 1.84% at 5 min, 23.7 ± 3.4% at 20 min, respectively (P < 0.05). At 30 min, 120 min, and 24 h after reperfusion, the recovery of blood flow in the mirabegron group was significantly higher than that in the N/S group (mirabegron: 41.1 ± 1.7%, 59.9 ± 7.2%, and 89.7 ± 4.4%, N/S: 31.3 ± 2.1%, 47.3 ± 4.5%, 83.9 ± 3.6%, respectively (P < 0.05)). NO levels tended to be higher in the mirabegron group; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Histological examination revealed that the mirabegron group showed recovery close to normal tissue after 24 h. CONCLUSIONS: In an acute urinary retention rat model, mirabegron maintained and restored higher bladder blood flow, resulting in protective and recovery effect after acute urinary retention.

Association of meteorological factors and ambient air pollution on medical care utilization for urolithiasis: a population-based time-series study.

BACKGROUND: To identify the association of meteorological factors/ambient air pollutants with medical care utilization for urolithiasis and estimate the effect size/time lags. METHODS: This is a population-based time-series analysis of 300,000 urolithiasis cases from eight large metropolitan areas in Korea. Seventeen meteorological factors and ambient air pollutants were measured daily during 2002-2017 for each metropolis. Data on daily medical utilization owing to urolithiasis were collected. A generalized additive model was used while factoring in the nonlinear relationship between meteorological factors/ambient air pollutants and urolithiasis and a time lag of ≤10 days. A multivariate analysis was performed. Backward elimination with an Akaike information criterion was used for fitting the multivariate model. RESULTS: Urolithiasis was significantly associated with average temperature, diurnal temperature range, sunshine duration, particulate matter (PM) ≤2.5 µm, and carbon monoxide (CO) levels. The incidence of ureteral stones was positively correlated with average temperature, PM ≤2.5 µm level, and CO level (time lags 0-9, 2-4, and 0-9 days, respectively). The incidence of renal stones was positively correlated with PM ≤2.5 µm and CO levels (time lags 2-4 and 0-9 days, respectively). PM ≤2.5 µm (0.05 and 0.07% per 10 µg/m3) and CO (2.05 and 2.25% per 0.1 ppm) conferred the highest excess risk on ureteral and renal stones. CONCLUSIONS: Urolithiasis is affected by various meteorological factors and ambient air pollutants, PM ≤2.5 µm, and CO levels may be novel potential risk factors for this condition.

Secondary Cancer after Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Prostate Cancer: A Nationwide Study.

PURPOSE: Androgen signaling is associated with various secondary cancer, which could be promising for potential treatment using androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). This study investigated whether ADT use was associated with secondary cancers other than prostate cancer in a nationwide population-based cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total, 278,434 men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2017 were identified. After applying the exclusion criteria, 170,416 men were enrolled. The study cohort was divided into ADT and non-ADT groups by individual matching followed by propensity score matching (PSM). Study outcomes were incidence of all male cancers. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of events. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 4.5 years, a total of 11,059 deaths (6,329 in the ADT group and 4,730 in the non-ADT group) after PSM were found. After PSM, the overall all-cause of secondary cancer incidence risk of the ADT group was higher than that of the non-ADT group (HR: 1.312, 95% CI: 1.23-1.36; adjusted HR: 1.344, 95% CI: 1.29-1.40). The ADT group showed higher risk of overall brain and other central nervous system (CNS) cancer-specific incidence than the non-ADT group (adjusted HR: 1.648, 95% CI: 1.21-2.24). The ADT group showed lower risks of overall cancer-specific incidence for stomach, colon/rectum, liver/inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gall bladder/extrahepatic bile duct, lung, bladder, and kidney cancers than the non-ADT group. When the duration of ADT was more than 2 years of ADT, the ADT group showed higher risk of cancer-specific incidence for brain and other CNS cancers but lower risk of cancer-specific incidence for liver/IBD and lung cancers than the non-ADT group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that ADT could affect cancer-specific incidence for various cancers.

Modified apical dissection during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) has improved patient recovery, but achieving optimal functional outcomes remains a challenge, especially early urinary continence. The Modified Apical Dissection (MAD) technique has been suggested to improve early continence compared to conventional RALP. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases was conducted to identify studies on MAD from inception to March 2024. The risk of bias was evaluated using the ROBINS-I tool. Primary outcomes assessed included urinary continence, positive surgical margin rate, biochemical recurrence rates, and complication rates. Out of 789 studies screened initially, we selected 8 studies that met our inclusion criteria. Our analysis showed that patients who underwent the MAD technique had a significantly higher likelihood of achieving early urinary continence compared to those undergoing conventional RALP at the initial follow-up (Odds Ratio [OR] = 4.0, 95% CI = 1.87-8.57). This advantage continued at 1 month (OR = 5.44, 95% CI = 2.98-9.92), 3 months (OR = 5.36, 95% CI = 2.26-12.71), and 6 months (OR = 5.18, 95% CI = 1.51-17.75), though no significant difference was noted at 12 months. There were no significant differences in positive surgical margin rate or biochemical recurrence rate between MAD and conventional RALP. The overall complication rate was 10.9% (95% CI = 8.10-14.06), with most complications being classified as minor (Clavien-Dindo I-II). In summary, our meta-analysis suggests that the MAD technique may lead to earlier recovery of urinary continence without compromising oncologic outcomes in patients undergoing RALP. While there are published studies on the outcomes of MAD, only a few have the appropriate design with a comparison group needed for meta-analysis and discussing various endpoints. More randomized controlled trials are necessary, but the current literature still lacks retrospective studies with comparison groups.

Explainable artificial intelligence-driven prostate cancer screening using exosomal multi-marker based dual-gate FET biosensor.

Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score, a reporting system of prostate MRI cases, has become a standard prostate cancer (PCa) screening method due to exceptional diagnosis performance. However, PI-RADS 3 lesions are an unmet medical need because PI-RADS provides diagnosis accuracy of only 30-40% at most, accompanied by a high false-positive rate. Here, we propose an explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) based PCa screening system integrating a highly sensitive dual-gate field-effect transistor (DGFET) based multi-marker biosensor for ambiguous lesions identification. This system produces interpretable results by analyzing sensing patterns of three urinary exosomal biomarkers, providing a possibility of an evidence-based prediction from clinicians. In our results, XAI-based PCa screening system showed a high accuracy with an AUC of 0.93 using 102 blinded samples with the non-invasive method. Remarkably, the PCa diagnosis accuracy of patients with PI-RADS 3 was more than twice that of conventional PI-RADS scoring. Our system also provided a reasonable explanation of its decision that TMEM256 biomarker is the leading factor for screening those with PI-RADS 3. Our study implies that XAI can facilitate informed decisions, guided by insights into the significance of visualized multi-biomarkers and clinical factors. The XAI-based sensor system can assist healthcare professionals in providing practical and evidence-based PCa diagnoses.

The association between the severity of erectile dysfunction and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with and without cardiovascular disease.

PURPOSE: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is considered a microvascular disorder and serves as an indicator for the potential development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) reflects early myocardial damage caused by microvascular disorders, the association between ED and LVDD remains poorly elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 123 patients with ED. They underwent RigiScan, and conventional echocardiography, and attempted International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. ED severity was evaluated by measuring changes in the penile base circumference and duration of penile rigidity (≥70%) during erection. The early diastolic velocity of mitral inflow (E) and early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (e') were measured using echocardiography. The patients were grouped based on the presence of CVD. RESULTS: Among 123 patients, 29 had CVD and 94 did not. Patients with CVD exhibited more pronounced ED and more severe LVDD. Associations between increased penile circumference with echocardiographic parameters were more prominent in patients with CVD than in those without CVD (ΔTtop and e' wave, r=0.508 and r=0.282, respectively, p for interaction=0.033; ΔTbase and E/e' ratio, r=-0.338 and r=-0.293, respectively, p for interaction <0.001). In the multivariate linear regression, the increase of penile base circumference was an independent risk factor for LVDD (e', B=0.503; E/e' ratio, B=-1.416, respectively, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ED severity correlated well with LV diastolic dysfunction, particularly in the presence of CVD. This study highlighted the potential role of ED assessment as early indicator of CVD development.

Diagnostic performance of transperineal prostate targeted biopsy alone according to the PI-RADS score based on bi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performance of transperineal targeted biopsy (TB) or systematic biopsy (SB) alone based on combined TB+SB and radical prostatectomy (RP) specimen for detecting prostate cancer (PCa) according to the prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) score. Materials and methods: This study included 1077 men who underwent transperineal bi-parametric (bp) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-ultrasound (US) fusion TB+SB (bpMRI-US FTSB) between April 2019 and March 2022. To compare the performance of each modality (TB, SB, and combined TB+SB) with the RP specimen (as the standard) for detecting PCa and clinically significant PCa (csPCa), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted. Results: PCa was detected in 581 of 1077 men (53.9%) using bpMRI-US FTSB. CsPCa was detected in 383 of 1077 men (35.6%), 17 of 285 (6.0%) with PI-RADS 0 to 2, 35 of 277 (12.6%) with PI-RADS 3, 134 of 274 (48.9%) with PI-RADS 4, and 197 of 241 (81.7%) with PI-RADS 5, respectively. The additional diagnostic value of TB vs. SB compared to combined TB+SB for diagnosing csPCa were 4.3% vs. 3.2% (p=0.844), 20.4% vs 5.1% (p<0.001), and 20.3% vs. 0.7% (p<0.001) with PI-RADS 3, 4, and 5, respectively. TB alone showed no significant difference in diagnostic performance for csPCa with combined TB+SB based on RP specimens in patients with PI-RADS 5 (p=0.732). Conclusion: A need for addition of SB to TB in patients with PI-RADS 3 and 4 lesions, however, TB alone may be performed without affecting the management of patients with PI-RADS 5.

A comparison between asymptomatic and symptomatic ureteral stones.

To investigate the characteristics and impact of asymptomatic (silent) ureteral stones on renal function and compare them with those of symptomatic stones. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 677 patients who underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy or laparoscopic ureterolithotomy for ureteral stones between 2016 and 2020. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of recognizable symptoms. We investigated the characteristics and impact of silent stones on post-treatment renal function recovery and compared them with those of symptomatic stones. Among the 677 patients, 43 (6.4%) had asymptomatic ureteral stones, and 634 (93.6%) had symptomatic ureteral stones. Compared to symptomatic stones, asymptomatic stones were larger (11.4 mm vs. 9.6 mm, p = 0.003), more commonly present in the upper ureter (62.7% vs. 48.0%, p = 0.04), and more commonly associated with high-grade hydronephrosis (32.8% vs. 12.3%, p < 0.001); however, no difference in metabolite composition was observed between the two group of stone. In the asymptomatic stone group, the mean preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 77.37 ± 23.54 mL/min/1.73 m2, and the mean postoperative eGFR indicated no significant improvement at 1 day, 7 days, 3 months, and 12 months (76.66 ± 21.45, 77.89 ± 20.87, 77.29 ± 22.22, and 76.71 ± 24.21 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively; p = 0.567, p = 0.613, p = 0.924, and p = 0.202, respectively). In the symptomatic stone group, the mean preoperative eGFR was 78.17 ± 28.25 mL/min/1.73 m2; the mean postoperative eGFRs at 1 day, 7 days, 3 months, and 12 months were 81.24 ± 26.38, 86.16 ± 25.61, 89.11 ± 25.43, and 89.50 ± 26.01 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively and demonstrated significant improvement (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Silent stones irreversibly impaired renal function, even after proper management. Therefore, active treatment strategies are required for all patients who are hesitant to receive treatment for silent stones because of their asymptomatic status to prevent permanent renal impairment.

Corrigendum: The learning curve for robot-assisted radical cystectomy with total intracorporeal urinary diversion based on radical cystectomy pentafecta.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.975444.].

Association of 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Prescription With Bladder Cancer Progression in Males in South Korea.

Importance: The antiandrogenic effect of the 5α-reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) has been investigated for its role in preventing male-predominant cancers. Although 5-ARI has been widely associated with prostate cancer, its association with urothelial bladder cancer (BC), another cancer experienced predominantly by males, has been less explored. Objective: To assess the association between 5-ARI prescription prior to BC diagnosis and reduced risk of BC progression. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study analyzed patient claims data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. The nationwide cohort included all male patients with BC diagnosis in this database from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2019. Propensity score matching was conducted to balance the covariates between 2 treatment groups: α-blocker only group and 5-ARI plus α-blocker group. Data were analyzed from April 2021 to March 2023. Exposure: Newly dispensed prescriptions of 5-ARIs at least 12 months prior to cohort entry (BC diagnosis), with a minimum of 2 prescriptions filled. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were the risks of bladder instillation and radical cystectomy, and the secondary outcome was all-cause mortality. To compare the risk of outcomes, the hazard ratio (HR) was estimated using a Cox proportional hazards regression model and difference in restricted mean survival time analysis. Results: The study cohort initially included 22 845 males with BC. After propensity score matching, 5300 patients each were assigned to the α-blocker only group (mean [SD] age, 68.3 [8.8] years) and 5-ARI plus α-blocker group (mean [SD] age, 67.8 [8.6] years). Compared with the α-blocker only group, the 5-ARI plus α-blocker group had a lower risk of mortality (adjusted HR [AHR], 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.91), bladder instillation (crude HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77-0.92), and radical cystectomy (AHR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62-0.88). The differences in restricted mean survival time were 92.6 (95% CI, 25.7-159.4) days for all-cause mortality, 88.1 (95% CI, 25.2-150.9) days for bladder instillation, and 68.0 (95% CI, 31.6-104.3) days for radical cystectomy. The incidence rates per 1000 person-years were 85.59 (95% CI, 80.53-90.88) for bladder instillation and 19.57 (95% CI, 17.41-21.91) for radical cystectomy in the α-blocker only group and 66.43 (95% CI, 62.22-70.84) for bladder instillation and 13.56 (95% CI, 11.86-15.45) for radical cystectomy in the 5-ARI plus α-blocker group. Conclusions and relevance: Results of this study suggest an association between prediagnostic prescription of 5-ARI and reduced risk of BC progression.

Comparison between biparametric and multiparametric MRI in predicting muscle invasion by bladder cancer based on the VI-RADS.

This study aimed to compare the diagnostic validity of biparametric magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI) with that of multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) based on the Vesicle Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) in predicting muscle invasion by bladder cancer (BCa). We retrospectively examined 357 patients with an initial diagnosis of BCa who underwent preoperative MRI; 257 and 100 patients underwent mpMRI and bpMRI, respectively. Two urogenital radiologists evaluated all bpMRI and mpMRI scans using VI-RADS, and the diagnostic validity of VI-RADS for predicting muscle invasion by BCa was analyzed based on histopathology of the first and/or second transurethral resection of bladder tumors and radical cystectomy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted with the calculation of area under the curves (AUCs), and the level of significance was P < 0.05. Both groups showed optimal performance with a VI-RADS score ≥ 3. BpMRI showed comparable diagnostic performance to mpMRI (reader 1: AUC, 0.903 [0.827-0.954] vs. 0.935 [0.884-0.968], p = 0.510; and reader 2: AUC, 0.901 [0.814-0.945] vs. 0.915 [0.874-0.946]; p = 0.655). The inter-reader agreement between both readers was excellent (Cohen's kappa value = 0.942 and 0.905 for bpMRI and mpMRI, respectively). This comparative study suggests that bpMRI has comparable diagnostic performance to mpMRI and may be an alternative option to predict muscle invasion by BCa.

Efficacy of Tadalafil in Penile Rehabilitation Started Before Nerve-Sparing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Double-Blind Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread practice of nerve-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (nsRARP) for the treatment of localized prostate cancer (PCa), erectile dysfunction remains a significant sequela of radical prostatectomy. AIM: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of tadalafil 5 mg once daily for erectile function recovery in patients who underwent nsRARP according to the timing of rehabilitation initiation. METHODS: In this double-blind, prospective pilot study, a total of 41 patients who underwent nsRARP were randomly assigned into 2 groups according to the timing of rehabilitation initiation. In the preRARP group (n = 20), tadalafil was started 2 weeks before nsRARP, and in the postRARP group (n = 21), it was started 4 weeks after nsRARP. Erectile function recovery after nsRARP was defined as an International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score of ≥17. OUTCOMES: The measures of EF recovery were the changes in IIEF-5 score. RESULTS: The rate of erectile function recovery at 12-month follow-up was 80.0% and 71.4% in the preRARP and postRARP groups, respectively. The mean differences between baseline and postoperative IIEF-5 scores at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up were -11.7 ± 3.2, -7.4 ± 3.2, -5.6 ± 1.5, and -4.1 ± 1.1 in the preRARP group and -14.7 ± 4.7, -12.0 ± 5.0, -9.7 ± 3.9, and -6.0 ± 3.1 in the postRARP group, respectively (1-month, P = .259; 3-months, P = .077; 6-months, P = .014; 12-months, P = .007). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Preoperative tadalafil 5 mg once a day could be used effectively and safely as a strategy for penile rehabilitation after nsRARP. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This study is the first prospective trial of penile rehabilitation with tadalafil 5 mg once a day prior to nsRARP. This is a pilot study with the limitations of a small sample; further and large-scale studies with multiple cohorts, such as an untreated control group and an early immediate rehabilitation group for EF recovery, are needed. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that preoperative penile rehabilitation using tadalafil may lead to better erectile function recovery than postoperative penile rehabilitation using tadalafil. Noh T, Shim JS, Kang SG, et al. Efficacy of Tadalafil in Penile Rehabilitation Started Before Nerve-Sparing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Double-Blind Pilot Study. Sex Med 2022;10:100508.

Concordance between biparametric MRI, transperineal targeted plus systematic MRI-ultrasound fusion prostate biopsy, and radical prostatectomy pathology.

We aimed to confirm the reliability of the results of bi-parametric magnetic resolution imaging-ultrasound fusion targeted and systematic biopsies (bpMRI-US transperineal FTSB) compared to prostatectomy specimens. We retrospectively analyzed the records of 80 men who underwent bpMRI-US transperineal FTSB with region of interest (ROI) and subsequent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Changes in the grade group determined by MRI and biopsy versus surgical specimens were analyzed. Thirty-five patients with insignificant prostate cancer and 45 with significant cancer were diagnosed using bpMRI-US transperineal FTSB. Among those with insignificant PCa, 25 (71.4%) were upgraded to significant PCa in prostatectomy specimens: 9/12 (75.0%) with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 3, 12/16 (75.0%) with PI-RADS 4, and 4/7 (57.1%) with PI-RADS 5. In the PI-RADS 3 group, the upgraded group showed higher prostate specific antigen (PSA) and PSA density (PSAD) than the concordance group; PSA 8.34(2.73) vs. 5.31(2.46) (p = 0.035) and PSAD 0.29(0.11) vs. 0.18(0.09) (p = 0.025). The results of prostate biopsy and prostatectomy specimens were inconsistent and underestimated in patients with MRI-visible lesions. Therefore, for precise and individualized treatment strategies for PCa with MRI-visible lesions, careful interpretation of biopsy result is required.

Initial experience of single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: A single surgeon's experience with technique description.

Background: With the implementation of da Vinci SP robot platform (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA), we described our initial experience with the da Vinci SP robot platform (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) for single-port robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (SP-RARP). Methods: This retrospective review included 30 consecutive patients with prostate biopsy-confirmed prostate cancer who underwent SP-RARP by a single surgeon between June and November 2020. SP-RARP was performed with a single-incision plus one method, in which the multichannel guide port was inserted directly with an additional assist port. We report our initial experience of perioperative and early functional outcomes. Results: The mean operative time (SD), console time (SD), and blood loss were 142.8 (15.1) min, 109.9 (15.7) min, and 133.0 (72.9) mL, respectively. No intraoperative complications or blood transfusions were reported. Of the 30 patients, 21 (70.0%), 7 (23.3%) and 2 (6.7%) had stage pT2, pT3a and pT3b disease, respectively. Positive surgical margins were reported in 5 of the 30 (16.7%) patients in the final pathology report, including 2 of 21 (9.5%) with stage pT2 and 3 of 9 (33.3%) with ≥ pT3. At 12 weeks after SP-RARP, 80.0% of patients had achieved continence and the potency was 46.7%; 8 of 11 (72.7%) had sexual health inventory for men (SHIM) scores ≥ 17 and 6 of 19 (31.6%) had SHIM scores < 17. Conclusions: The SP platform for radical prostatectomy was technically safe and feasible. After overcoming the technical learning curve, this platform may provide high-quality outcomes comparable to those of multi-port platforms.

The learning curve for robot-assisted radical cystectomy with total intracorporeal urinary diversion based on radical cystectomy pentafecta.

Objective: To analyze the learning curve for robot- assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with total intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD) in terms of both time efficiency and quality of surgery based on radical cystectomy (RC)-pentafecta. Patients and methods: We identified 203 consecutive patients who underwent RARC with ICUD of the ileal conduit (IC, 85) and orthotopic neobladder (ONB, 118) performed by a single surgeon between 2011 and 2021. We grouped ten consecutive patients into time-associated blocks according to the operation order. Process efficiency and operation quality were measured based on the surgeon's console time and attainment/score sum of RC-pentafecta. The overcoming point of the learning curve was defined graphically and statistically. Results: The mean follow-up period was 44.5 ± 30.7 months. Of the 203 patients, 109 (53.7%) attained the five criteria of RC-pentafecta (ONB vs IC, 50.6% vs. 55.9%, p = 0.35). The attainment rate and sum of the RC-pentafecta score of the third group were not significantly different from those of all patients (40.0% vs. 53.7%, p = 0.369, 4.00 ± 1.05 vs. 4.41 ± 0.75, p = 0.137, respectively), and the proficiency in operation quality was satisfactory in the third group. The console times continually improved and stabilized after the 140th case (IC, 60; ONB, 80), and the attainment rate and sum of the RC-pentafecta were significantly different between before and after the 140th case (p<0.001). Conclusion: A single surgeon's learning curve for RARC with ICUD and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) showed an acceptable level of proficiency after 30 consecutive cases in terms of the operation quality. However, for an expert surgeon, 140 cases were required to reach a plateau in time efficiency and second leap with the RC-pentafecta. RARC with ICUD and PLND can be performed safely without compromising functional outcomes and complications through sharing and transmission of standardized techniques.

Single-Port vs Multiport Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Propensity Score Matching Comparative Study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the perioperative outcomes of patients who underwent single-port (SP) robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) (SP-RARP) with those who underwent multiport (MP) RARP (MP-RARP). Methods: Data on 40 consecutive patients who underwent SP-RARP between June 2020 and February 2021 and 129 who underwent MP-RARP between June 2019 and February 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Using logistic regression, 31 patients who underwent SP-RARP were matched to 31 patients who underwent MP-RARP (1:1) based on propensity scores. The available perioperative parameters and outcomes were analyzed. Results: Compared with MP-RARP, SP-RARP showed no significant differences in perioperative parameters, including the console time (111.0 ± 15.7 vs 102.6 ± 18.8 minutes, p = 0.569), operation time (151.3 ± 15.1 vs 158.7 ± 20.3 minutes, p = 0.863), estimated blood loss (121.1 ± 64.7 vs 140.5 ± 90.5 mL, p = 0.638), positive surgical margins (19.4% in both groups), and 3-month continence (77.4% vs 83.9%, p = 0.563) and potency (45.2% vs 48.4%, p = 0.891) rates. Patients who underwent SP-RARP had lower proportions of complete nerve sparing than those who underwent MP-RARP (SP-RARP vs MP-RARP in subjective scores: 4.0 ± 0.8 vs 4.4 ± 0.9, p = 0.046; SP-RARP vs MP-RARP in pathologic score of 5, 35.5% vs 64.5%, p = 0.049; score of 4, 41.9% vs 19.4%, p = 0.038; score of 3, 19.4% vs 9.7%, p = 0.398; score of 2, 3.2% vs 0.0%, p = 0.365; and score of 1, 3.2% vs 3.2%, p = 0.932, respectively). Conclusions: SP-RARP showed lower nerve-sparing scores than MP-RARP. The present study suggests that SP-RARP is safe and feasible with short-term functional outcomes comparable to those of MP-RARP.

Frozen section utilization to omit systematic biopsy in diagnosing high risk prostate cancer.

The current guidelines for targeted prostate biopsy recommend an additional systematic biopsy regardless of clinical risk assessment. To evaluate frozen section biopsy utilization in targeted prostate biopsy to omit systematic biopsies in cases of positive frozen section results of patients with clinical features suggestive of high-risk prostate cancer. In this prospective, single-center study, we enrolled patients with a Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 5 lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with clinical evidence suggestive of high-risk prostate cancer (either an extracapsular extension or prostate-specific antigen level > 20 ng/ml). All patients underwent 2-4 core targeted biopsies utilizing frozen section biopsy with immediate results, allowing patients with a positive result to omit a systematic biopsy. In case of a negative result, additional systematic biopsies were performed. The primary endpoint was the detection rate of targeted biopsy. Patient demographics, clinical variables were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Sixty-six patients were enrolled in this study. Among them, 63 patients were diagnosed with cancer without the need for an additional systematic biopsy. Three patients were non-diagnostic with target biopsy alone. Hence an additional systematic biopsy was performed. Two of these patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer and one tested negative for cancer. In this report we looked into the necessity of taking a routine systematic biopsy in patients with high risk features of prostate cancer. We found that utilizing frozen section biopsy for targeted biopsy reduces unneccessary systematic biopsy in 97% of cases and still provides a means for systematic biopsy when targeted biopsy alone fails to make the diagnosis.