Endovascular treatment of traumatic penile arteriospongious fistula in a patient with erectile dysfunction: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: An arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal communication between an artery and a vein. Traumatic penile arteriospongious fistula is a rare complication and has been described as a cause of erectile dysfunction. Clinical evaluation of patients with erectile dysfunction after penile trauma includes a thorough history, physical examination, vascular assessment, and other complementary exams. Treatment consists of endovascular embolization, surgical ligation, or a combination of both techniques. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old man presented with erectile dysfunction that had persisted since suffering blunt trauma a few months ago. He reported problems with short duration of erection and insufficient penile tumescence. Due to high suspicion of an arteriovenous fistula, he was referred to angiography, which confirmed the diagnosis of an abnormal connection between the pudendal vessels. The patient was treated with the coil embolization technique and the symptoms were successfully resolved after endovascular treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The appearance of a post-traumatic arteriospongious fistula is a rare complication with almost non-existent literature reported. Rapid development in endovascular techniques, in which we use embolic agents to block anomalous blood flow, has allowed safe, effective and less invasive alternative to surgery. Our case demonstrates that endovascular approach is a successful treatment for post-traumatic arteriospongious fistula since the symptoms were resolved, and normal erectile function was regained after the intervention.

Potential of Personalized Dendritic Cell-Based Immunohybridoma Vaccines to Treat Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of death due to cancer. About 30% of patients with PCa who have been castrated develop a castration-resistant form of the disease (CRPC), which is incurable. In the last decade, new treatments that control the disease have emerged, slowing progression and spread and prolonging survival while maintaining the quality of life. These include immunotherapies; however, we do not yet know the optimal combination and sequence of these therapies with the standard ones. All therapies are not always suitable for every patient due to co-morbidities or adverse effects of therapies or both, so there is an urgent need for further work on new therapeutic options. Advances in cancer immunotherapy with an immune checkpoint inhibition mechanism (e.g., ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 inhibitor) have not shown a survival benefit in patients with CRPC. Other immunological approaches have also not given clear results, which has indirectly prevented breakthrough for this type of therapeutic strategy into clinical use. Currently, the only approved form of immunotherapy for patients with CRPC is a cell-based medicine, but it is only available to patients in some parts of the world. Based on what was gained from recently completed clinical research on immunotherapy with dendritic cell-based immunohybridomas, the aHyC dendritic cell vaccine for patients with CRPC, we highlight the current status and possible alternatives that should be considered in the future.

Does tumor rupture during robot-assisted partial nephrectomy have an impact on mid-term tumor recurrences?

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative kidney tumor rupture (TR) can occur during robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in daily clinical practice, but there are no solid guidelines on the management and implications of it. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of TR on tumor recurrences, what a surgeon should do if this adverse event occurs, and how to avoid it. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the first 100 patients who underwent RAPN at University Medical Centre Ljubljana, between 2018 and 2021. Patients were stratified into 2 groups (TR and no-TR) and were compared according to patient, tumor, pathologic, perioperative and postoperative characteristics and tumor recurrences, using the Mann-Whitney U test and chi-squared test. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients, 14 had TR (14%); this occurred in tumors with higher RENAL nephrometry scores (P = 0.028) and mostly with papillary renal cell carcinomas (P = 0.043). Median warm ischemia time was longer for the TR group (22 vs. 15 min, P = 0.026). In terms of studied outcomes, there were no cases of local or distant recurrence after a median observation time of 39 months (interquartile range, 31-47 months) in both groups. We observed positive surgical margins on the final oncologic report in one case in the no-TR group. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor rupture during RAPN seems to be of no mid-term oncologic importance. According to presented results, we would recommend surgeons to proceed with tumor resection if this event occurs and abstain from conversion to radical nephrectomy or open partial nephrectomy. However, more similar cases should be studied to make more solid conclusions.

Transmission of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by a single multiorgan donor to two kidney transplant recipients: A case report.

We present two cases of transmission of a pancreatic adenocarcinoma from a single donor to two kidney transplant recipients. Autopsy of the donor revealed a pancreatic adenocarcinoma that had already spread locally to the regional lymph nodes and had not been detected at the time of organ procurement. Both recipients were carefully monitored, as neither consented to graft nephrectomy. In one patient, the tumor was discovered on surveillance biopsy of the graft approximately 14 months after transplantation, and in the second patient, ultrasound-guided aspiration needle biopsy of a growing formation in the lower pole of the graft revealed poorly differentiated metastatic adenocarcinoma. Both patients were successfully treated with graft nephrectomy and complete discontinuation of immunosuppression. None of the follow-up imaging showed persistent or recurrent malignancy, and both patients were candidates for re-transplantation. These exceptional cases of donor-derived pancreatic adenocarcinoma suggest that removal of the donor organ and restoration of immunity may lead to complete recovery.

Use of absorbable hemostat bolster for prevention of donor renal artery kinking in kidney transplant.

Transplant renal artery stenosis due to mechanical kinking is a rare but significant complication in kidney transplantation that can lead to graft dysfunction due to graft hypoperfusion, delayed graft function, or even global kidney infarction. When detected during surgery, re-anastomosis is usually performed after re-clamping, which inevitably prolongs the warm ischemia time, and increases the possibility of primary graft non-function. In this report, we describe a novel, noninvasive surgical technique whereby the donor renal artery is padded with absorbable hemostatic material (i.e., Surgicel) bolster, placed below the middle third of the renal artery in recipients who were found to have mechanical kinking during the implantation procedure. The bolster technique was used in 12 kidney transplant recipients who were found to have kinking of the donor artery during the primary surgery. After pillowing the renal artery with absorbable hemostatic bolster, no residual kinking was observed intra-operatively, and good allograft perfusion was confirmed with no Doppler ultrasound evidence of renal artery stenosis confirmed at 1 week, 1 month, and 1 year after transplantation.

Dendritic cell-based vaccine prolongs survival and time to next therapy independently of the vaccine cell number.

In 2009, new EU legislation regulating advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), consisting of gene therapy, tissue engineering and cell-based medicines, was introduced. Although less than 20 ATMPs were authorized since that time, the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2018 revived interest in developing new cancer immunotherapies involving significant manipulation of the patient's own immune cells, including lymphocytes and dendritic cells. The lymphocytes are mainly thought to directly affect tumour cells, dendritic cells are involved in indirect mechanisms by antigen presentation to other leukocytes orchestrating the immune response. It is the latter cells that are the focus of this brief review. Based on the recent results of our study treating patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with an immunohybridoma cell construct (termed aHyC), produced by electrofusion of autologous tumour and dendritic cells, we compare their effectiveness with a matched documented control group of patients. The results revealed that cancer-specific survival and the time to next in-line therapy (TTNT) were both significantly prolonged versus controls. When patients were observed for longer periods since the time of diagnosis of CRPC, 20% of patients had not yet progressed to the next in-line therapy even though the time under observation was ~ 80 months. Interestingly, analysis of survival of patients revealed that the effectiveness of treatment was independent of the number of cells in the vaccine used for treatment. It is concluded that autologous dendritic cell-based immunotherapy is a new possibility to treat not only CRPC but also other solid tumours.

Simultaneous robotic resection of pheochromocytoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumour in an adult neurofibromatosis type 1 patient: A single-docking procedure using da Vinci XI platform.

The risk of tumours, including pheochromocytoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumour is higher in patients with neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). The co-occurrence of these two tumours is rare, and most patients are symptomatic. In this case report we describe the case of an asymptomatic 42-year-old female patient with left adrenal mass and concurrent lesion in the jejunum, just distal to the ligament of Treitz. Both tumours were successfully simultaneously removed by totally robotic transperitoneal technique using da Vinci Robotic Surgical System Xi.

THE BEGINNINGS OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION IN SOUTH-EAST EUROPE.

Organ transplantation is one of the most important medical achievements of the 20th century. Kidney transplantation is the most efficient method of renal replacement therapy. The first successful kidney transplantation in human was performed in 1954 in Boston, USA. In former Yugoslavia, the first kidney transplantation was performed on April 16, 1970 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and second one on January 30, 1971 in Rijeka, Croatia. In both cases, the mother donated kidney to the son. In the article, we describe the prerequisite conditions for this operation, the characteristics of first patients, and the impact of transplantation program on the development of the hospitals and medical schools.

Intra-Abdominal Testicular Torsion as a Cause of Acute Abdominal Pain in Patient with Silver-Russell Syndrome: First Case of Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgical Exploration with Orchidectomy.

Introduction and Background: Silver-Russell syndrome is a rare genetic disorder, occurring in ∼1/50,000 to 1/100,000 births. Anomalies of the urogenital tract such as hypospadias and cryptorchidism can be present. Testicular torsion is a urologic emergency that is most common in prepubertal boys. In patients with cryptorchidism, it can present with abdominal pain and nonspecific symptoms and can mimic other intra-abdominal emergency conditions. Case presentation: A 21-year-old man presented in emergency room at our hospital with acute right lower abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasonography excluded acute appendicitis, atypical mass on the right side of the bladder was identified. Later, he reported history of inguinal exploration caused by undescended right testis in infancy where testis was not found, and Silver-Russell syndrome. Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scan revealed an atypical mass on the right side of the bladder, suspicious for torsion of undescended testis, or tumor. Tumor markers for testicular cancer were negative. The patient underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic orchidectomy for torsion of undescended intra-abdominal testis. Histopathologic examination excluded malignancy. Conclusion: Testicular torsion should be considered as the cause of acute abdominal pain in patients with undescended testis and rare genetic disorders. Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgical exploration has the advantage of better exposure and visibility and should be considered in such cases.

Cowper's Syringocele in Adolescent Male: Case Report.

Background: Cowper's syringocele is a rare condition, uncommon in the adult population. It is more common in the pediatric population. Patients could be asymptomatic or present with irritative and/or obstructive symptoms. Ultrasonography (US) of perineal region, pelvis MRI, or urethrography are the most often used diagnostic modalities. Surgical treatment is indicated in all symptomatic patients. Endoscopic approach is preferred over open surgery. Unroofing of syringocele with cold knife or holmium yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) laser is effective treatment. Case Presentation: A 17-year-old Caucasian male presented at our emergency department with irritative symptoms. US of perineal region showed cystic formation near urethra. Pelvis MRI showed Cowper's gland syringocele. Endoscopic unroofing with holmium YAG laser was performed. Six months postoperatively the patient was asymptomatic and satisfied with the treatment. Conclusion: Cowper's syringocele is a rare condition. Urologist should consider this condition in pediatric and adolescent patients with irritative and/or obstructive symptoms. Pelvis MRI and perineum US are the main diagnostic tools. Surgical treatment is effective. Endoscopic approach is preferred. Open surgery is indicated in complicated cases and in cases when endoscopic treatment fails.

Cardiovascular effects induced by polymeric 3-alkylpyridinium salts from the marine sponge Reniera sarai.

Water-soluble polymeric 3-alkylpyridinum salts (poly-APS), isolated from the marine sponge Reniera sarai, are natural products with promising biomedical applications. However, their ability to form non-specific cell membrane pores raises safety issues. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the direct toxic effects of poly-APS on the cardiovascular system. To study the impact of poly-APS toxicodynamics on vascular function, the relaxation and contraction responses of isolated rat thoracic aortas incubated in poly-APS solutions (0.01-10 µM) were tested. In addition, cardiac toxicity was studied by measuring coronary flow, lactate dehydrogenase release rate, left ventricular pressure, heart rate, and the duration of arrhythmias in isolated rat hearts perfused with poly-APS (0.001-1 µM). Poly-APS diminished endothelium-dependent relaxation and contraction in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Endothelial function was affected earlier and to a greater extent than contractile responses. Likewise, in isolated hearts the most evident cardiotoxic effects were observed after perfusion with the highest concentration (1 µM) of poly-APS: compared to the control group the coronary flow and heart rate were diminished by 2.2- and 1.8-fold, while lactate dehydrogenase release rate and left ventricular pressure were increased by 7.8- and 2.2-fold (all P < 0.001). Further, poly-APS had evident proarrhythmogenic activity in a concentration-dependent manner. However, in the low concentration range (1-10 nM) poly-APS showed only minor toxicity. Our results confirmed the direct toxic effects of poly-APS on the rat cardiovascular system. Therefore, it seems reasonable to conclude that the use of poly-APS as therapeutic adjuvants has limited safety margins.