Outcomes after precision prostatectomy: safety, efficacy and transference of skills.

PURPOSE: Precision Prostatectomy (PP) is a viable treatment option for men with unilateral dominant cancer who are interested in preserving functional outcomes. To date, the data published about the outcomes of this technique has come from a single center only (Henry Ford - HF). We present the surgical, functional, and oncological outcomes of the first series of patients to undergo PP outside of HF, to demonstrate the safety and reproducibility of the technique. METHODS: Between 2022 and 2023, PP was offered to select patients who were interested in preserving their functional status. Men who underwent PP were followed at 3 monthly intervals; information regarding their functional status was simultaneously obtained. Men who had biochemical recurrence were advised to undergo remnant biopsy. If residual cancer was detected, then remnant removal was performed. RESULTS: The median age and median PSA of the study group was 63 years and 6.89 ng/ml respectively. The median operative and console times were 196.5 and 154 minutes. No intra-operative complications were noted. Three patients had a total of three post-operative complications. Three patients had biochemical recurrence; cancer was not detected in any of these patients on postoperative biopsies of the prostatic remnant. At 12 months, 91% of patients reported using 0 pads/day and 90.9% of pre-operatively potent patients were potent at 12 months. CONCLUSION: PP is a safe and reproducible technique that can ensure cancer control and preservation of functional status in select patients. Further studies with large sample sizes and longer follow-up are required to ascertain the long-term outcomes of this surgical technique.

Pretransplant malignancy in pediatrics is not a risk factor for renal graft failure.

BACKGROUND: In adults, pretransplant malignancy (PTM) negatively impacts patient survival due to immunosuppression regimens influencing post-transplantation tumor growth. Few reports investigate the outcomes of pediatric kidney transplantation with PTM. We compare transplant outcomes for pediatric patients with PTM to matched controls, including cancer types extending beyond Wilms tumor. METHODS: The United Network of Organ Sharing Database was queried to identify pediatric transplant recipients with histories of PTM. All PTM patients were matched to non-PTM patients, at a 1:1 ratio, with 0.001 match tolerance. Matching variables included transplant year, recipient age, recipient gender, recipient race, donor type, and prior transplant. Death-censored graft and patient survival were analyzed. All statistics were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: After propensity matching, 285 PTM and 285 non-PTM patients were identified, with transplant dates from 1990 to 2020. Median Kidney Donor Profile Index values were comparable between cohorts, 17% and 12%, respectively (p = .065). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that PTM patients did not have a significantly different rate of death-censored graft failure, compared to the non-PTM group [HR 0.76; 95% CI (0.54-1.1)]. There was also no difference in the overall survival between the two groups of patients [HR 1.1; 95% CI (0.66-2.0)]. CONCLUSION: A history of pediatric malignancy has minimal independent effect on their post-transplant survival. Additionally, pediatric patients with PTM demonstrated equivalent rates of graft survival. Thus, in contrast to adults, renal failure in children with history of pediatric malignancies should not be considered a complicating factor for renal transplantation.

Racial Disparities in Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression Associated with Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze potential racial disparities in the diagnosis and management of depression associated with androgen deprivation therapy. METHODS: TriNetX health record network was queried for prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy from 2003-2023. Differences in rates of depression diagnosis and treatment were compared between White and Black patients. Means, odds ratios, and t tests were calculated in univariate analysis with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Data were queried from 93 health care organizations to yield 78,313 prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy. Patients on androgen deprivation therapy had 60% greater odds of developing depression vs other patients [9% vs 6%; odds ratio (OR) 1.6; 95% CI (1.5-1.7); P <.0001]. Of those with depression secondary to androgen deprivation therapy, only 35% were treated with antidepressants. After starting androgen deprivation therapy, White patients had 30% greater odds of being diagnosed with depression, compared to Black patients [10% vs 8%; OR 1.3; 95% CI (1.2-1.4); P <.001]. White patients also had higher odds of being treated with a first line antidepressant than Black patients [56% vs 48%; OR 1.4, 95% CI (1.2-1.6), P <.001]. CONCLUSION: This analysis confirms a significant association between androgen deprivation therapy and the development of clinical depression, and highlights its medical undertreatment. Importantly, our findings also indicate significant racial disparities in the identification and treatment of depression. Routine screening initiatives that account for social determinants of health may alleviate this disparity. Limitations of this study include retrospective design and lack of data describing severity of depression, which might correlate with need for medication.

Intraoperative Fluorescent Image Guidance for Nerve-Sparing Prostatectomy: A Review of Historical Context and Current Research.

Fluorescent probes in the near-infrared (NIR) range have immense potential to improve observation of positive margins, lymph nodes, and nerves in prostatectomy. Development of fluorescent dyes and mechanisms of cellular uptake paved the way for the current emerging technologies. However, intracellular transport of fluorophores proved to be logistically challenging with respect to intraoperative deployment. Peptide-based probes with high specificity for nerves enabled broader and more rapid labeling. Key features of the ideal probe include selectivity, minimal background noise, safety, and low cost. Human neuropeptide 401 (HNP401) and oxazine-based probes perform well in these categories. As for tumor-specific labeling, prostate specific membrane antigen is relatively selective for the prostate and can be conjugated to a fluorophore. NIR spectrum emission is an ideal range for clinical imaging use, as fluorescence occurs outside the field of visible light, and tissue optical properties diverge significantly at the visible-NIR transition. Indocyanine, carbocyanine, and fluorescein derivatives are common fluorophore conjugates for the probes. Finally, to harness the power of fluorescence intraoperatively, the surgeon must look through a specialized lens. Multiphoton microscopy, optical coherence tomography, and confocal laser endomicroscopy have emerged as frontrunners in this arena. As with any evolving technology, ongoing research is expanding the applications of fluorescent intraoperative imaging in prostate surgery. Innovations in camera technology, dye selection, and image processing are refining the technique's capabilities. A core challenge of these technologies translating into the operating room relates to size and the ability to view objects at vastly different magnifications. Dual modality zoom settings are promising solutions. Furthermore, interdisciplinary collaboration between surgeons, imaging specialists, and researchers continues to drive advancements. In conclusion, fluorescent intraoperative imaging has the potential to usher in a new era of precision and safety in prostate surgery.

Racial Disparity in Gender Affirming Surgery: A Comparative Study on Plastic Surgeon Social Media Use.

In the past 5 years, social media use among plastic surgeons has grown to become a common modality used to promote one's practice. However, surgeons lack the necessary ethical training to understand how their published content impacts patient opinions and behavior. Social media trends among plastic surgeons may contribute to the reduced rate of Black (non-White) patients accessing gender affirming surgery. Methods: In total, 250 gender affirming surgeons and 51,698 individual posts from social media platform, Instagram, were manually extracted and analyzed. Posts were assessed for inclusion and categorized by the subject's skin color (White versus non-White) using the Fitzpatrick scale. Results: Of the 3101 included posts, 375 (12.1%) portrayed non-White subjects. Of the 56 included surgeons, White surgeons were found to be 2.3 times less likely to include non-White subjects in their posts, compared with non-White surgeons. Regionally, surgeons practicing in the Northeast had the most racially diverse social media accounts, with over 20% of all posts including a non-White subject. Analyzing data over the past 5 years demonstrated no relative increase in the amount of non-White subjects being displayed on social media, while social media use by gender affirming surgeons had increased by over 200%. Conclusions: The low number of non-White individuals portrayed by surgeons on social media perpetuates the racial disparity seen in patients accessing gender affirming surgery. Surgeons must be conscious of the demographic they portray on social media, as a lack of representation may influence patients' self-identify and decision to utilize gender affirming surgical treatment.

Radical excision of inguinal condyloma acuminatum following 51 years of untreated growth, found to be squamous cell carcinoma.

Giant condyloma acuminatum, caused by herpes simplex virus infection, is a large cauliflower shaped lesion that has a propensity to infiltrate surrounding tissues with paradoxically benign microscopic/histological appearance. This lesion is often benign, though it does have the potential for malignant transformation. Here we present a case that demonstrates this potential and describes the pathological and histological findings in detail. The report concludes with the clinical reasoning for considering surgical resection in these patients.

The Impact of a Concierge Medicine Model on Door to Doctor Time and Patient Flow in an Urban Emergency Department.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency Department (ED) crowding negatively impacts patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, and patient safety. One solution involves introducing a Concierge Physician (CP) whose sole purpose is to provide a brief initial assessment (BIA) and aid patient navigation through the ED. The goal of this study was to quantify the impact of a CP on patient flow dynamics in an urban ED setting. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study in an urban academic ED over a 6-month period. Initially, the CP was present in the treatment area during weekdays; during the last half of the observation period, an additional CP was added to the waiting room on weekends. We identified four major milestones in the ED visit with regards to patient throughput. Adult patients presenting to the ED with a triage level of Urgent (ESI 3) were analyzed for this study. Data were stratified based on the patient's ultimate disposition (admitted or discharged) and presented as means with predictive analysis. RESULTS: Between August 2016 and January 2017, the ED evaluated 42,397 adult patients. Of those, 26,976 (64%) were triage level Urgent (3). Of the level 3 patients, 10,279 (38%) received a BIA from a CP. Patients evaluated by a CP were seen approximately 30 mins faster (40% reduction in Door to Doctor time), but stayed 30 mins longer in the ED on average, because the medical decision-making process took >1 hr longer when the patient was initially evaluated by a CP. CONCLUSION: Adapting a concierge medicine model to rapidly evaluate patients resulted in a dramatically reduced Door to Doctor time, but an increase in overall time spent in the ED. This discrepancy was a direct result of the delay in physician disposition.