Pharmacotherapy and Stone Mineral Subtype Influence Long-term Recurrence Rates in Calcium Stone Formers.

BACKGROUND: Long-term recurrence data on kidney stones is limited. We investigated stone recurrence in calcium-oxalate (CaOx) and calcium-phosphate (CaP) stone formers over a 10-12-year follow-up period. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients from a surgical database with 1)CaOx or CaP stones, 2)post-surgical computed tomography imaging, and 3)at-least 10 years of clinical follow-up and imaging. Data on medical therapy (MT), defined as being on thiazide/thiazide-like diuretic, potassium citrate, and/or allopurinol, was collected. Patients' records were reviewed for stone recurrence over a 10-12-year period. Associations between stone type, medical therapy, and time to recurrence were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard models. Multivariate analysis was done using Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Of the 149 individuals who met inclusion criteria, 87 (58.3%) underwent baseline 24-hour urine testing, and 46 (30.8%) were prescribed MT in the form of thiazide (26/46; 57%), potassium citrate (25/46; 54%), allopurinol (5/46; 11%). Compared to non-MT, patients on MT were more likely to have diagnosis of hypertension(p=0.008) and be hypocitraturic at baseline(p=0.01). Over a mean of 10.6 years, patients on MT had significantly fewer stone events compared to those not on MT(21.3% vs 37.5%, p=0.04) with 8(17%) individuals discontinuing their MT over the study period. Patients with predominantly CaP mineral subtype had more stone events than CaOx (64% vs 36%, p=0.006), a phenomenon likely driven by higher baseline urine pH (>6,58.8% vs 33.9%, p=0.02). By survival analysis, the impact of stone subtype and MT became apparent at follow-up month 20 and 60, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In a population of calcium stone formers at high recurrence risk, patients with CaOx mineral subtype and on MT had the lowest stone event rate on long-term follow-up. These findings suggest that the beneficial effect of medical therapy may take up to 5 years to become evident clinically and by surveillance imaging.

Renal papillary tip biopsy in stone formers: a review of clinical safety and insights.

Alexander Randall first published renal papillary tip findings from stone formers in 1937, paving the way for endoscopic assessment to study stone pathogenesis. We performed a literature search to evaluate the safety of papillary tip biopsy and clinical insights gained from modern renal papillary investigations. A search on the topic of renal papillary biopsy provided an overview of Randall's plaques (RP), classification systems for renal papillary grading, and a summary of procedure type, complications, and outcomes. Within 26 identified manuscripts, 660 individuals underwent papillary tip biopsy percutaneously (n = 562), endoscopically (n = 37), or unspecified (n = 23). Post-operative hemoglobin changes were similar to controls. One individual (0.2%) reported fever > 38°, and long-term mean serum creatinine post-biopsy (n = 32) was unchanged. Biopsies during ureteroscopy or PCNL added ~20-30 min of procedure time. Compared to controls, papillary plaque-containing tissue had upregulation in pro-inflammatory genes, immune cells, and cellular apoptosis. Urinary calcium and papillary plaque coverage were found to differ between RP and non-RP stone formers, suggesting differing underlying pathophysiology for these groups. Two renal papillary scoring systems have been externally validated and are used to classify stone formers. Overall, this review shows that renal papillary biopsies have a low complication profile with high potential for further research. Systematic adaption of a papillary grading scale, newer tissue analysis techniques, and the development of animal models of Randall's plaque may allow further exploration of plaque pathogenesis and identify targets for prevention therapies in patients with nephrolithiasis.

Case Report: Management of Acanthamoeba Rhinosinusitis in a Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Infections caused by free-living amoebae pose a significant public health threat owing to growing populations of immunocompromised hosts combined with diagnostic delays, treatment difficulties, and high case fatality rates. Nasopharyngeal infections caused by Acanthamoeba are rare and the optimal treatment is not well established. We report a case of Acanthamoeba rhinosinusitis in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who presented with headaches and chronic rhinosinusitis refractory to multiple courses of antibiotics. A diagnosis of Acanthamoeba rhinosinusitis was established through broad-range polymerase chain reaction testing on sinus tissue. The patient had a favorable response to treatment, which included surgical debridement, cessation of immunosuppressants, and a three-drug regimen consisting of miltefosine, fluconazole, and sulfadiazine.

Can magnetic resonance imaging differentiate muscle invasion (T2) and lamina propria invasion (T1) urothelial carcinoma of the bladder? A systematic review and meta-analysis of Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System accuracy.

Background: Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) was developed as a structured reporting tool to anticipate the possibility of muscle invasion. This study is aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of VI-RADS for discriminating T2 from T1 bladder cancer. Materials and methods: Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase were searched on October 4, 2021, for studies with the following characteristics: (1) bladder cancer patient population, (2) VI-RADS as an index test, (3) retransurethral resection of bladder tumor/cystectomy as a reference, and (4) adequate VI-RADS score data for T1 and T2 lesions. The analyses were performed using the binary regression model of MIDAS in Stata. Results: Six studies with 624 magnetic resonance imaging reports were included. The receiver operating characteristics curve for differentiation of T2 from T1 bladder cancer showed an area under the curve of 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91-0.95) for a VI-RADS ≥3 and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.71-0.79) for a VI-RADS ≥4. A VI-RADS ≥3 showed high sensitivity of 93% (95% CI, 85%-97%), specificity of 61% (95% CI, 30%-86%), positive likelihood ratio of 2.4 (95% CI, 1.1-5.3), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.11 (95% CI, 0.05-0.24). A total of 10.4% of T2 lesions were scored as VI-RADS 2, while 10% of T1 lesions were scored as VI-RADS 4 or 5. Conclusions: The VI-RADS ≥3 has high accuracy and sensitivity for detecting muscle invasion in borderline populations of T1 or T2 bladder cancer. Thus, the VI-RADS could be a good non-invasive screening test for the detection of T2 urothelial lesions.

Predictors of readmission and impact of same-day discharge in holmium laser enucleation of the prostate.

Background: Holmium enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is becoming the gold standard for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Our objective was to identify predictors of 30-day readmission and the impact of same-day discharge after HoLEP. Methods: Using NSQIP data from 2011 to 2019, we identified men who underwent HoLEP for the treatment of BPH. We compared patients based on time of discharge and readmission status. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis (MLRA) to identify independent factors associated with 30-day readmission. Results: A total of 3,489 patients met inclusion criteria with 833 (23.88%) being discharged within 24 hours and 2,656 (76.12%) discharged after 24 hours. There were 158 (4.53%) 30-day readmissions, mostly due to hematuria and urinary tract infection. Patients being readmitted were older (72 vs. 70 years old, P = 0.001), were more likely to have preoperative anemia (36.7% vs. 23.1%; P < 0.001), chronic kidney disease (29.7% vs. 19.7%; P < 0.001), bleeding disorder (10.8% vs. 2.8%; P < 0.001), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores (≥3: 70.3% vs. 46.7%; P < 0.001) and a higher frailty burden (5-item modified frailty index [5i-mFI] ≥ 2: 36.1% vs. 19.1%; P < 0.001) compared to their counterparts. Factors independently associated with 30-day readmission were bleeding disorder (OR 2.89; 95% CI 1.63-5.11; P < 0.001), 5i-mFI ≥ 2 (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.03-2.71; P = 0.038) and an ASA score ≥3 (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.21-2.70; P = 0.004); however, same-day discharge was not found to be a significant predictor of 30-day readmissions. Conclusion: The overall readmission rate after HoLEP is low. Patients discharged within 24 hours have similar rates of readmission compared to patients discharged after 24 hours. We found bleeding disorder, frailty burden, and ASA score to be independent predictors of 30-day readmission.

Glomerular hyperfiltration is a predictor of adverse outcomes following major urologic oncology surgery.

PURPOSE: Glomerular hyperfiltration (GHF) has been associated with cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. We aimed to evaluate whether preoperative GHF is associated with 30-day complications following major urologic oncology procedures. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using subjects from the 2006 to 2019 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database who underwent prostatectomy, cystectomy, or nephrectomy. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the CKD-EPI equation. Patients were classified as having either low, normal, or high eGFR based on the 5th and 95th percentiles of age- and sex-specific quintiles for eGFR. Using multivariable logistic regression, we evaluated GHF as an independent predictor of postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 120,013 patients were eligible for analysis, of which 1706 (1.4%) were identified as having GHF, with a median eGFR of 105.37 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (IQR 94.84-116.77). Compared to patients with normal eGFR, patients with GHF were older (68 years, [IQR 60-71], p < 0.001), had a lower BMI (27.52 kg/m2 [IQR 23.71-31.95], p < 0.001), and greater 5-item modified frailty index scores (≥ 1, 70.6%, p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that GHF was associated with greater odds of any complication (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.08-1.40, p = 0.002), non-home discharge (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.50-2.30, p < 0.001), and prolonged LOS (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.18-1.51, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: GHF is associated with greater odds of 30-day complications following major urologic oncology surgery.

Outcomes Analysis of Textured Versus Smooth Tissue Expanders in Breast Reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Because of concerns related to the correlation of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) and textured implants, the use of smooth devices in breast reconstruction has been increasing. Currently, there is a paucity of literature evaluating the safety of smooth tissue expanders (STEs), which are now being used more frequently in first-stage breast reconstruction. This study sought to compare the safety and outcomes associated with STEs compared with textured tissue expanders in prosthesis-based breast reconstruction. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective review of 394 patients undergoing tissue expander-based breast reconstruction (147 smooth and 247 textured) between 2015 and 2019 was conducted. Patient demographics, comorbidities, treatment characteristics, complications, and surgical outcomes were evaluated. Data analysis was performed using Fisher exact and t tests. RESULTS: No significant difference in demographics or complication rates were identified, including rates of hematoma, seroma, wound dehiscence, delayed wound healing, infection, tissue expander malposition, nipple necrosis, mastectomy flap necrosis, reoperation, readmission, and explantation. Average follow-up was 19 and 22 months for the smooth and textured groups, respectively. No cases of BIA-ALCL were identified in either group. CONCLUSIONS: With equivocal safety profiles and no demonstrated risk in BIA-ALCL associated with STEs, this study supports the safety of using STEs compared with textured tissue expanders in prosthesis-based breast reconstruction with the advantage in preventing BIA-ALCL and concludes that there is no role for textured breast expanders.

Inter-reader reliability of the vesical imaging-reporting and data system (VI-RADS) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To evaluate the diagnostic agreement between readers in VI-RADS interpretation to detect muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) preoperatively, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available data. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were systematically searched up to November 13, 2021. Case reports, review articles, editorials, and studies with insufficient data were eliminated. The Quality Appraisal of the Diagnostic Reliability Checklist was used to assess the risk of bias. The degree of agreement was determined by Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ) for comparison of data. The heterogeneity of these studies was explored using subgroup analysis and meta-regression analysis. The level of confidence was set at 0.05. All analyses were conducted in STATA 16.0. Overall, 19 eligible studies, consisting of 2439 participants, were included in this meta-analysis. The inter-reader agreement for VI-RADS in MIBC detection ranged from κ of 0.45 to 0.96 among included studies. The pooled inter-reader reliability was calculated as 0.76 [95% CI 0.73-0.80; I2 = 92.13%, Q(50) = 635.08, p < 0.01]. Sources of heterogeneity included magnetic strength, T2WI slice thickness, number of readers, sample size, study design, number of centers, year of publication, proportion of male patients, and mean age. There is substantial reliability in VI-RADS interpretation for MIBC among radiologists with various levels of expertise. The high degree of inter-reader agreement for MIBC detection supports the implementation of VI-RADS in routine clinical practice for the staging paradigm of bladder cancer.

The Psychosocial and Clinical Well-Being of Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/AIDS.

This study examined factors impacting the psychological well-being of women living with human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS and the impact of depression on clinical outcomes. Nearly two-thirds of participants in this cross-sectional study reported significant depressive symptoms. Compared with women living with human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS without depressive symptoms, those with depression reported significantly poorer health outcomes. Health care providers should regularly screen these women for and adequately treat depression, and must collaborate with mental health providers and pastoral care counselors to address the mental health needs of women living with human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS to optimize their human immunodeficiency virus-related outcomes.