Comparative analysis of Bricker versus Wallace ureteroenteric anastomosis and identification of predictors for postoperative ureteroenteric stricture.

PURPOSE: Ureteroenteric anastomosis after cystectomy is usually performed using the Bricker or Wallace technique. Deterioration of renal function is the most common long-term complication of urinary diversion (UD). To improve surgical care and optimize long-term renal function, we compared the Bricker and Wallace anastomotic techniques and identified risk factors for ureteroenteric strictures (UES) in patients after cystectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective, monocentric analysis of 135 patients who underwent cystectomy with urinary diversion at the University Hospital Essen between January 2015 and June 2019. Pre- and postoperative renal function, relevant comorbidities, prior chemo- or radiotherapy, pathological findings, urinary diversion, postoperative complications, and ureteroenteric strictures (UES) were analyzed. RESULTS: Of all 135 patients, 69 (51.1%) underwent Bricker anastomosis and 66 (48.9%) Wallace anastomosis. Bricker and Wallace groups included 134 and 132 renal units, respectively. At a median follow-up of 14 (6-58) months, 21 (15.5%) patients and 30 (11.27%) renal units developed UES. We observed 22 (16.6%) affected renal units in Wallace versus 8 (5.9%) in Bricker group (p < 0.001). A bilateral stricture was most common in Wallace group (69.2%) (p < 0.001). Previous chemotherapy and 90-day Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III complications were independently associated with stricture formation, respectively (OR 9.74, 95% CI 2-46.2, p = 0.004; OR 4.01, 95% CI 1.36-11.82, p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show no significant difference in ureteroenteric anastomotic techniques with respect to UES development regarding individual patients but suggest a higher risk of bilateral UES formation in patients undergoing Wallace anastomosis. This is reflected in the increased UES rate under consideration of the individual renal units.

The value of an additional scrotal suture during orchidopexy.

INTRODUCTION: Undescended testes present in 3-5% of male infants at birth. Orchidopexy is indicated to improve fertility and reduce the risk of testicular tumors. Guidelines recommend orchidopexy as early as six months of age, treatment should be finished within the age of 18 months. So far, no unequivocal proof demonstrated the superiority of one of the different surgical techniques. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of an additional scrotal suture between the tunica albuginea and the dartos fascia during orchidopexy in an outpatient setting. It is yet unclear, whether the suture influences the incidence of secondary cryptorchidism or recurrence. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study. Between 2010 and 2018 two experienced surgeons performed 561 inguinal orchidopexy-procedures in an open technique (375 boys). In group 1 (2010-2014) they managed 234 IOP (156 boys) without an additional scrotal suture. Since 2014, in group 2 an additional suture has been performed in 327 IOP (219 boys). Statistically, we compared both groups over a period of consecutive 4 years after the model of a life table analysis (Logrank). RESULTS: The numbers of boys with complete follow-up were 118 of 156 in group 1 and 154 of 219 in group 2, demonstrating 7 (5.9%) and 7 (4.5%) recurrences, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in recurrences between group 1 and group 2 (Logrank-Test, p = 0.97). Orchidopexie failure was detected between 0.9 and 23.1 months after the IOP in group 1 and between 3.2 and 17.7 months in group 2. Mean age in months at the operation in both groups was significantly higher than the recommended 6-18 months in the EAU/AUA-guidelines. Both groups showed similar rates of postoperative complications. DISCUSSION: Orchidopexy is a safe procedure in an outpatient setting. So far there is no evidence that performing an additional scrotal suture decreases the operative failure rate in inguinal standard orchidopexy procedures.

STIP1 Tissue Expression Is Associated with Survival in Chemotherapy-Treated Bladder Cancer Patients.

To optimize treatment decisions in advanced bladder cancer (BC), we aimed to assess the therapy predictive value of STIP1 with regard to cisplatin therapy. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy represents the standard first-line systemic treatment of advanced bladder cancer. Since novel immunooncologic agents are already available for cisplatin-resistant or ineligible patients, biological markers are needed for the prediction of cisplatin resistance. STIP1 expression was analyzed in paraffin-embedded bladder cancer tissue samples of 98 patients who underwent adjuvant or salvage cisplatin-based chemotherapy by using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, pre-chemotherapy serum STIP1 concentrations were determined in 48 BC patients by ELISA. Results were correlated with the clinicopathological and follow-up data. Stronger STIP1 nuclear staining was associated with worse OS in both the whole patient group (p = 0.034) and the subgroup of patients who received at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy (p = 0.043). These correlations remained significant also in the multivariable analyses (p = 0.035 and p = 0.040). Stronger STIP1 cytoplasmatic immunostaining correlated with shorter PFS both in the whole cohort (p = 0.045) and in the subgroup of patients who received at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy (p = 0.026). Elevated STIP1 serum levels were associated with older patient's age, but we found no correlation between STIP1 serum levels and patients' outcome. Our results suggest that tissue STIP1 analysis might be used for the prediction of cisplatin-resistance in BC. In contrast, pretreatment STIP1 serum levels showed no predictive value for chemotherapy response and survival.

Renal duplication with ureter duplex not following Meyer-Weigert-Rule with development of a megaureter of the lower ureteral segment due to distal stenosis - A case report.

Meyer-Weigert-Rule predicts the draining pattern of duplex ureters in bipolar renal duplications. The upper pole is normally seen as ectopic and therefore dysplastic due to obstruction, whereas the lower pole is related to vesicoureteral reflux. In our case, this rule is violated with uncrossed ureter duplex and a dysplastic lower pole in connection with obstruction.

Fast and simple procedure for the detection of cell culture mycoplasmas using a single monoclonal antibody.

The detection of mycoplasmas in cell cultures is still a problem, especially in those laboratories in which the detection and identification of microorganisms is not established as a routine procedure. In our laboratory, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been prepared to Acholeplasma laidlawii, Mycoplasma hyorhinis, Mycoplasma orale, Mycoplasma arginini and Mycoplasma salivarium. 30 mAbs were obtained and one of these, designated CCM-2, was shown to bind to all five mycoplasma species. It also bound to Mycoplasma fermentans, Mycoplasma hominis and to all wild types (n = 54), isolated from cell cultures submitted to our laboratory. The mAb was used in a immunofluorescent assay (IF) and the method correlated with the microbiological assay. Using this mAb immunofluorescent staining of cells is a fast and simple procedure for mycoplasma detection in cell cultures.