The Open, Randomized, Positive Control Clinical Trial of Guluronic Acid (G2013) on SARS-CoV-2 Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, with a vast spectrum of clinical and paraclinical symptoms has been a major health concern worldwide. Therapeutical management of COVID-19 includes antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAIDs, as the second-line therapy, are often prescribed to relieve the symptoms of COVID-19. The α-L-guluronic acid (G2013) is a non-steroidal patented (PCT/EP2017/067920) agent with immunomodulatory properties. This study investigated the effect of G2013 on the outcome of COVID-19 in moderate to severe patients. METHODS: The disease's symptoms were followed up during hospitalization and for 4 weeks postdischarge in G2013 and control groups. Paraclinical indices were tested at the time of admission and discharge. Statistical analysis was performed on clinical and paraclinical parameters and ICU admission and death rate. RESULTS: The primary and secondary outcomes indicated the efficiency of G2013 on COVID-19 patients' management. There were significant differences in the duration of improvement of fever, coughing, fatigue/malaise. Also, a comparison of paraclinical indices at the time of admission and discharge showed significant change in prothrombin, D-dimer, and platelet. As the main findings of this study, G2013 significantly decreased the percentage of ICU admission (control:17 patients, G2013:1 patient) and death (control: 7 cases, G2013:0). CONCLUSION: These results conclude that G2013 has sufficient potential to be considered for moderate to severe COVID-19 patients, can significantly reduce the clinical and physical complications of this disease, has a positive effect on modulating the coagulopathy process, and aids in saving lives.

Results of Pediatric Kidney Transplants in an 8-Year Period: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Patient survival and quality of life is better after a kidney transplant compared with dialysis. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the results of pediatric kidney transplants in an 8-year period in our center. METHODS: We reviewed the files of 166 children and adolescents who had undergone kidney transplants between 2008 and 2015 in our center. All the patients were younger than 18 years old and had been followed up for at least 2 years. RESULTS: The transplanted kidneys were taken from live donors in 146 (88%) of the cases and from cadavers in 20 (12%) of the cases. They were procured from unrelated and related donors in 129 (90%) and 17 (10%) of the cases, respectively. Laparoscopic nephrectomy was done on 141 donors. The kidney vessels were anastomosed to the aorta, the common iliac, and the internal iliac in 3.6%, 56%, and 40.4% of cases, respectively. Preemptive kidney transplants were performed on 62 patients. The mean of patient survival was 124 ± 1.37 months. One- and five-year patient survival rates were 99% and 97%, respectively. The mean of graft survival was 118.29 ± 2.47 months. One- and five-year graft survival rates were 94% and 93%, respectively. Preemptive kidney transplants had a higher graft survival rate (P < .02). CONCLUSION: Kidney transplant is a safe and feasible procedure in children and adolescents based on patient and graft survival outcomes. In our center, surgery complications led to kidney loss in very few cases.

Terazosin or baclofen in young men with chronic orchialgia: A cohort study of 499 patients.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the comparative efficacy of terazosin and baclofen in young men with chronic orchialgia using National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index measurement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 499 young men with chronic orchialgia, 255 received a daily 2 mg terazosin at bedtime and 244 received 10 mg baclofen during a period of 3 months. A daily 10-min hot-tub hip-bath rest was administered for all patients. Moreover, all patients with grade 3 and 18 patients with grade 2 varicocele underwent varicocelectomy. The National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index score was assessed at baseline and 3 months later. RESULTS: Both terazosin and baclofen groups experienced a significant reduction in mean National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index score (24.78 and 24.81 at baseline to 19.68 and 19.60 after the treatment for terazosin and baclofen groups, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between the groups with regard to post-treatment National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index score after adjustment for the pre-treatment score (p = 0.987). A total of 85 patients (33.4%) in terazosin group and 74 patients (30.3%) in baclofen group underwent varicocelectomy. Addition of the varicocelectomy to the treatment as a multimodal approach had no further improvement in the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index score. CONCLUSION: Although a significant reduction was observed in mean National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index score for both terazosin and baclofen groups, there was no significant difference between the treatments. Moreover, addition of varicocelectomy to terazosin or baclofen could not significantly decrease National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index score; thus, varicocelectomy may not be appropriate for men who have some success with medical management. Further randomized studies are warranted.

Comparison Between Bipolar Lymphatic Vessels Cautery and Suture Ligature in Prevention of Postrenal Transplant Lymphocele Formation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: In this randomized controlled trial, our aim was to compare bipolar cautery of lymphatic vessels with standard silk-tie ligation in renal transplant procedures for prevention of lymphocele formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty end-stage renal disease patients were enrolled in a prospective randomized controlled trial. The mean age of recipients in the suture ligature group was 41.6 years (range, 6-65 years) and 40.9 years in the bipolar cautery group. Patients were assessed by symptoms; however, ultrasonography was also used as the primary diagnostic procedure in all patients to find lymphocele collection within 5 months. RESULTS: Of 60 patients, 25 received living-donor kidney transplant and 35 received deceased-donor kidney transplant. Fifty-threeprocedures were first-time kidney transplants, 6 were retransplants, and 1 was for a third-time transplant. No lymphocele collection (symptomatic or asymptomatic) was diagnosed by ultrasonography at the 5-month follow-up. Postoperative pain was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = .245). The time for ligation or cauterization of lymphatic vessels was similar between the 2 groups. Mean duration of operative field drainage was 5.6 days in the suture ligature group and 6.07 days in the bipolar cautery group (not significantly different; P = .547). CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar cautery of lymphatic vessels to prevent lymphocele formation in kidney transplant seems to be an effective, easy, and safe method.

Laparoscopic assisted percutaneous nephrolithotomy in ectopic pelvic kidneys.

Three patients underwent laparoscopic assisted percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL). A kidneys, ureter and bladder (KUB), and intravenous pyelogram (IVP) of the first patient showed a 3 cm calculus in a right side ectopic pelvic kidney overlying on the sacrum. The second patient had bilateral ectopic kidneys. The right kidney was located in the true pelvis without calculi and the left kidney was located in the iliac cavity with a 2.5 cm calculus in the renal pelvis. The third one had a 4 cm stone in the infundibulum of the upper calyx of the left pelvic ectopic kidney. All of them had a history of failed shock wave lithotripsy after two sessions. Then the patients were scheduled for laparoscopic assisted percutaneous removal of calculi. Under fluoroscopic control the best access route was located and the kidney was punctured. A 24F nephroscope was introduced and all calculi were disintegrated and removed. Operating time was 150, 120 and 110 min in cases 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Complete stone clearance was documented with a plain X-ray KUB film and ultrasonography. Finally the patients underwent IVP three months following the operation. They were all well and there were no early or late complications.

Acute dilatation of intramural ureter for ureteroscopy: railway technique.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and efficacy of acute dilatation of THE intramural ureter for ureteroscopy by the railway technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2004, 400 consecutive ureteroscopic procedures were performed, among which 15 male and 5 female patients (5%) with an average age of 40 years (range 25-65 years) underwent acute dilatation of the intramural ureter by the railway technique A guidewire is placed into the ureter, and a 3F ureteral catheter is passed through the working channel of the ureteroscope (8.5F-10F) for 3 to 5 cm into the ureter. The ureteroscope is rotated so that it lies between the guidewire (outside) and the ureteral catheter (inside) and advanced between the guidewire and the ureteral catheter like riding over a railway. Postoperatively, no double-J stent was used. The mean follow-up was 25 months (range 6-60 months). An intravenous urogram and voiding cyctourethrography were obtained at 3 months, and ultrasonography was performed every 6 months in the first year and every 2 years after ureteroscopy in all 20 patients. RESULTS: Ureteral access was achieved with the railway technique in all 20 patients. Perforation or intramural false passage of the ureter did not appear. Follow-up imaging showed no distal-ureteral stricture or vesicoureteral reflux. CONCLUSIONS: Acute dilatation of the intramural ureter by the railway technique is cost effective, safe, easy, rapid, and predictable. This time-saving technique often removes the need for balloon dilatation of the distal ureter.

En bloc kidney transplantation from pediatric cadaveric donors to adult recipients.

INTRODUCTION: The shortage of cadaveric donors for kidney transplantation has led to the expansion of the criteria used for donor selection, such as the use of pediatric cadaveric donors. In this study we reviewed our results of en bloc kidney transplantation of pediatric cadaveric donors to adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2001 to May 2005, 245 cadaveric kidney transplants have been performed in our hospitals. Seven of these were en bloc kidney transplantations in adult recipients from marginal pediatric donors (age < 5 years, donor weight < 15 kg, high creatinine clearance, or kidney length < 8 cm). We reviewed their records. Follow-up (range, 3 to 24 months) included ultrasonography, dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Serum levels of creatinine ranged between 0.8 m/dL to 1.9 mg/dL during the follow-up period. One patient died of myocardial infarction 3 months postoperatively. One-year graft and patient survivals were both 85.7%. Complications included acute tubular necrosis in 1 patient (managed by conservative therapy and dialysis for 2 weeks), renal vein thrombosis in 1 (treated by anticoagulation), and subcutaneous hematoma in 1. There were no urologic complications. Median size of the grafts was 7.2 cm preoperatively that reached 9.6 cm, 3 months postoperatively (P = .018). Twelve months following operation, the median size of the grafts reached 11 cm (P = .045). CONCLUSION: En bloc pediatric kidney transplantation is a safe and suitable alternative for adult recipients. One-year graft and patient survivals are acceptable and complication rate is low.

Totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy in selected patients.

PURPOSE: Significant early postoperative discomfort after percutaneous procedures is usually secondary to nephrostomy tubes and externalized ureteral catheters. We describe our modification of the traditional percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) approach that we name "totally tubeless PCNL." PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2000 and May 2001, 60 consecutive PCNLs were performed at our centers. At the end of the surgery, we omitted the nephrostomy tube and removed the externalized catheter in selected patients: no solitary kidney, stone size <3 cm, and without any obstructions or arterial bleeding. A total of 30 patients underwent totally tubeless PCNL (group 1). We compared their results with those of a control group of 30 patients who underwent standard PCNL (group 2). The incidence of complications, analgesic requirements, length of hospitalization, and time to return to normal activities were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: In both groups, PCNL was performed successfully without any significant complications. A 90% stone-free rate was achieved in both groups, and in the remaining patients, small residual stones (<4 mm) were detected. No urinoma was demonstrated by postoperative ultrasound scanning in group 1. The average length of hospitalization was 1.5 days for group 1 and 3 days for group 2. The average analgesic requirements were 30 mg of pentazosin in group 1 and 90 mg in group 2. No transfusion was needed. There were three complications: 2 patients (6.6%) had urinary tract infection in group 1 and 1 (3.3%) in group 2. All were managed medically. CONCLUSIONS: Omitting the percutaneous nephrostomy tube and removing ureteral catheter at the end of surgery in selected patients were safe and accompanied by significantly reduced postoperative discomfort, length of hospitalization, and analgesic requirements. Further studies are needed to determine the role of this technique.