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.

Contact Geometry-Dependent Excitonic Emission in Mixed-Dimensional van der Waals Heterostructures.

Manipulation of excitonic emission in two-dimensional (2D) materials via the assembly of van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures unlocks numerous opportunities for engineering their photonic and optoelectronic properties. In this work, we introduce a category of mixed-dimensional vdW heterostructures, integrating 2D materials with one-dimensional (1D) semiconductor nanowires composed of vdW layers. This configuration induces spatially distinct localized excitonic emissions through a tailored interfacial heterolayer atomic arrangement. By precisely adjusting both the axial and sidewall facet orientations of bottom-up grown PbI2 vdW nanowires and by transferring them onto 1L WSe2 flakes, we establish vdW heterointerfaces with either perpendicular or parallel interatomic arrangements. The edge-standing heterojunction, featuring perpendicular PbI2 layers atop WSe2, promotes efficient charge transfer through the edges and coupled localized states, leading to an enhanced redshifted excitonic emission. Conversely, the layer-by-layer heterointerface, where PbI2 layers are in parallel contact with WSe2, exhibits substantial quenching due to deep midgap states in a type-II alignment, as evidenced by power-dependent measurements and first-principle calculations. Our results introduce a method for actively manipulating excitonic emissions in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) through edge engineering, highlighting their potential in the development of various quantum devices.

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.

Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticle Synthesis by Cell-Surface-Engineered Recombinant Escherichia coli and Potential Application for Anticancer Treatment.

Cell surface display engineering facilitated the development of a cobalt-binding hybrid Escherichia coli. OmpC served as the molecular anchor for showcasing the cobalt-binding peptides (CBPs), creating the structural model of the hybrid OmpC-CBPs (OmpC-CP, OmpC-CF). Subsequently, the recombinant peptide's cobalt adsorption and retrieval effectiveness were evaluated at various concentrations. When subjected to a pH of 7 and a concentration of 2 mM, OmpC-CF exhibited a significantly higher cobalt recovery rate (2183.87 mol/g DCW) than OmpC-CP. The strain with bioadsorbed cobalt underwent thermal treatment at varying temperatures (400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C, and 700 °C) and morphological characterization of the thermally decomposed cobalt nanoparticle oxides using diverse spectroscopy techniques. The analysis showed that nanoparticles confined themselves to metal ions, and EDS mapping detected the presence of cobalt on the cell surface. Finally, the nanoparticles' anticancer potential was assessed by subjecting them to heating at 500 °C in a furnace; they demonstrated noteworthy cytotoxicity, as evidenced by IC50 values of 59 µg/mL. These findings suggest that these nanoparticles hold promise as potential anticancer agents. Overall, this study successfully engineered a recombinant E. coli capable of efficiently binding to cobalt, producing nanoparticles with anticancer properties. The results of this investigation could have significant implications for advancing novel cancer therapies.

Highly Permeable Mixed Matrix Membranes for Gas Separation via Dual Defect-Engineered Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8.

Defect engineering of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is a promising strategy for tailoring the interfacial characteristics between MOFs and polymers, aiming to create high-performance mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). This study introduces a new approach using dual defective alkylamine (AA)-modulated zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (DAZIF-8), to develop high-flux MMMs. Tributylamine (TBA) and triethylamine (TEA) monodentate ligands coordinate with zinc ions in varying compositions. A mixture of Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O:2-methylimidazole (Mim):AA in a 1:1.75:5 molar ratio facilitates high-yield coordination between Zn and multiple organic ligands, including Zn-Mim, Zn-TEA, and Zn-TBA (>80%). Remarkably, DAZIF-8 containing 3 mol% TBA and 2 mol% TEA exhibits exceptional characteristics, such as a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of 1745 m2 g-1 and enhanced framework rigidity. Furthermore, dual Zn-AA coordination sites on the framework's outer surface enhance compatibility with the polyimide (PI) matrix through electron donor-acceptor interactions, enabling the fabrication of high-loading MMMs with excellent mechanical durability. Importantly, the PI/DAZIF-8 (60/40 w/w) MMM demonstrates an unprecedented 759% enhancement in ethylene (C2H4) permeability (281 Barrer) with a moderate ethylene/ethane (C2H4/C2H6) selectivity of 2.95 compared to the PI, surpassing the polymeric upper limit for C2H4/C2H6 separation.

Preoperative smoking and robot-assisted radical cystectomy outcomes & complications in multicenter KORARC database.

To investigate the influence of preoperative smoking history on the survival outcomes and complications in a cohort from a large multicenter database. Many patients who undergo radical cystectomy (RC) have a history of smoking; however, the direct association between preoperative smoking history and survival outcomes and complications in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who undergo robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) remains unexplored. We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from 749 patients in the Korean Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy Study Group (KORARC) database, with an average follow-up duration of 30.8 months. The cohort was divided into two groups: smokers (n = 351) and non-smokers (n = 398). Propensity score matching was employed to address differences in sample size and baseline demographics between the two groups (n = 274, each). Comparative analyses included assessments of oncological outcomes and complications. After matching, smoking did not significantly affect the overall complication rate (p = 0.121). Preoperative smoking did not significantly increase the occurrence of complications based on complication type (p = 0.322), nor did it increase the readmission rate (p = 0.076). There were no perioperative death in either group. Furthermore, preoperative smoking history showed no significant impact on overall survival (OS) [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.87, interquartile range (IQR): 0.54-1.42; p = 0.589] and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR = 1.12, IQR: 0.83-1.53; p = 0.458) following RARC for MIBC. The extent of preoperative smoking (≤ 10, 10-30, and ≥ 30 pack-years) had no significant influence on OS and RFS in any of the categories (all p > 0.05). Preoperative smoking history did not significantly affect OS, RFS, or complications in patients with MIBC undergoing RARC.

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.

Over-expression of Long Non-coding RNA Urothelial Cancer-associated 1 as a Predictive Marker for Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To determine the expression of long non-coding RNA urothelial cancer-associated 1 (UCA1) by performing array-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and to identify the clinicopathological significance of UCA1 expression in prostate cancer using in situ hybridization (ISH) of surgically resected specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Array-based quantitative PCR was performed using 10 pairs of fresh malignant (prostate cancer) and normal tissue samples to determine UCA1 expression. Single-color RNA ISH of surgically resected prostate cancer specimens was performed using 70 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens to examine the clinicopathological significance of UCA1. RESULTS: Prostate cancer tissues exhibited higher levels of UCA1 expression than paired benign tissues. Furthermore, a correlation between high UCA1 expression and unfavourable clinicopathological characteristics, including advanced pathologic T stage, extraprostatic extension, presence of Gleason pattern 5, and involvement of the resection margins was observed. Notably, increased UCA1 expression significantly correlated with high- or very-high-risk patients, as defined by the 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. CONCLUSION: UCA1 could be used as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for establishing an effective treatment protocol for prostate cancer.

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.

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.].

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.

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.

Modified apical dissection improves early continence in robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: Comparative study between modified apical dissection and anterior suspension stitch.

PURPOSE: Recently, the modified apical dissection (MAD) technique in robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) has shown excellent functional outcomes but has never been rigorously validated at various institutions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of MAD on early continence and potency compared with the anterior suspension stitch (SS) technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients who underwent RARP with SS and 100 who underwent RARP with MAD by a single surgeon were propensity score matched and retrospectively compared for continence and potency recovery at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. RESULTS: Continence was reached in 20.6%, 33.3%, 67.2%, 74.1%, 81.1%, and 83.0% of patients in the SS group, compared with 49.2%, 73.3%, 86.8%, 96.6%, 100.0%, and 100.0% in the MAD group at postoperative 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively. In the SS group, potency rates were 0.0%, 20.0%, 50.0%, 66.7%, 75.0%, and 83.3%; in the MAD group, the rates were 50.0%, 90.0%, 88.9%, 100.0%, 100.0%, and 100.0%. Recovery of continence was higher in the MAD group within the first 6 months (p=0.005, <0.010, 0.041, 0.016 at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months). There were no significant differences in potency recovery rates between the two groups (all p≥0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The MAD technique results in earlier recovery of continence compared with the SS technique.

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.

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.

The effect of metabolic risk factors on urinary stone composition: An observational study.

To investigate how the risk factors of metabolic diseases affect urinary stone composition, particularly uric acid (UA) stones. Overall, 583 patients with data on urinary stone composition were retrospectively analyzed and classified into UA and nonUA stone formers according to the presence of the UA component. Various factors were compared between both groups. Participants were categorized according to age, glucose level, HbA1c level, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) into subgroups, and the incidence of UA stone was compared. Overall, 137 UA stone formers (23.5%) and 446 nonUA stone formers (76.5%) were included. Mean age and male-to-female ratio were higher in the UA group than in the nonUA group. The rates of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and coronary artery disease, all of which were associated with differences in urinary stone composition, were higher in the UA group than in the nonUA group. The UA group exhibited lower mean eGFR and higher glucose and HbA1c levels. Similarly, the UA group had higher mean UA levels and predictably lower urinary pH. In subgroup analysis, higher age, glucose level, HbA1c level, and lower eGFR were associated with an increased risk of UA stone formation. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the UA group showed a significantly higher age (P < .001), DM frequency (P = .049), and HbA1c level (P = .032), but significantly lower eGFR than the nonUA group (P < .001). Age and DM were independent risk factors for UA urolithiasis, implying a relationship between urinary stone composition and metabolic diseases. Additionally, renal function and HbA1c level were risk factors for UA stones.

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.

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.