A comparison of the da Vinci Xi vs. da Vinci Si surgical systems for radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: To compare the perioperative and short-term efficacy and cost of the da Vinci Xi and da Vinci Si surgical systems for radical prostatectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 175 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy with the da Vinci Si or Xi surgical systems in our hospital from June 2019 to June 2020. Of the 175 patients, 82 underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with the da Vinci Xi surgery system, and 93 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with the da Vinci Si surgical system. The perioperative outcomes, short-term efficacy and costs were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The anesthesia time, operation time, docking time, indwelling catheter time and postoperative bed rest time in the Xi group were shorter than those in the Si group (respectively, 268.8 min vs. 219.3 min, P = 0.001; 228.2 min vs. 259.6 min, P < 0.001; 7.4 min vs. 12.7 min, P < 0.001; 8.6 d vs. 9.7 d, P = 0.036; 2.2 d vs. 2.6 d, P = 0.002). However, the total cost of hospitalization and the cost of intraoperative consumables in the Xi group were higher than those in the Si group (84,740.7 vs. 76,739.1 ¥, P = 0.003; 13,199.4 vs. 10,823.0 ¥, P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Although the cost of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy is higher, compared with the Si system, the Xi system has better perioperative outcomes and can provide similar short-term efficacy and oncology outcomes.

Laparoscopic versus open surgery for pheochromocytoma: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection is the main treatment for pheochromocytoma (PHEO). Although open surgery (OS) has been shown to be safe and feasible, the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery (LS) for PHEO remain controversial due to the uncertain effects of pneumoperitoneum on haemodynamics and the complexity of the tumour itself. This study was performed to compare the treatment outcomes of OS with those of LS for patients with PHEO. METHODS: A systematic search through November 11, 2019, was conducted. All studies comparing outcomes of LS and OS for PHEO were included according to eligibility criteria. This meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager Software, version 5.3, and STATA software, version 12.0. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RESULTS: Fourteen studies involving 626 patients were included in this meta-analysis. LS was associated with lower rates of intraoperative haemodynamic instability (IHD) [odds ratio (OR) = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.37 to 1.00, P = 0.05], less intraoperative blood loss [weighted mean difference (WMD) = - 115.27 ml, 95% confidence interval (CI): - 128.54 to - 101.99, P < 0.00001], lower blood transfusion rates [OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.52, P < 0.00001], earlier ambulation (WMD = - 1.57 d, 95% CI: - 1.97 to - 1.16, P < 0.00001) and food intake (WMD = - 0.98 d, 95% CI: - 1.36 to - 0.59, P < 0.00001), shorter drainage tube indwelling time (WMD = - 0.51 d, 95% CI: - 0.96 to - 0.07, P = 0.02) and postoperative stay (WMD = - 3.17 d, 95% CI: - 4.76 to - 1.58, P < 0.0001), and lower overall complication rates (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.88, P = 0.01). However, no significant differences in operative time, postoperative blood pressure control, rates of severe complications, postoperative hypotension or cardiovascular disease (CVD) were found between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: LS is safe and effective for PHEO resection. Compared with OS, LS caused less IHD, providing an equal chance to cure hypertension while also yielding a faster and better postoperative recovery.

Comparison of robot-assisted retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy versus retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large pheochromocytoma: a single-centre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (RARLA) for large pheochromocytomas (PHEOs; size≥6 cm) compared with retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (RLA). METHODS: Fifty-one patients who underwent adrenalectomy for large PHEOs between March 2016 and January 2019 were enrolled and divided into two groups, including 32 RLA cases and 19 RARLA cases. We compared the perioperative efficacy and long-term follow-up results between the two groups. RESULTS: Preoperative data, including demographics, comorbidities and tumour characteristics, were similar between the groups. Intraoperatively, the RARLA group had a lower incidence of haemodynamic instability (26.3% vs. 56.2%, P = 0.038) and less intraoperative blood loss (100 ml vs. Two hundred milliliter, P = 0.042) than the RLA group. The groups showed no significant differences in operative time or transfusion rates. Postoperatively, the time to diet resumption, time to ambulation, time to drainage removal and postoperative hospital stay were shorter in the RARLA group than in the RLA group (1 d vs. 2 d, P = 0.027; 1 d vs. 2 d, P = 0.034; 3 d vs. 5 d, P = 0.002; 5 d vs. 6 d, P = 0.02, respectively). The groups exhibited no significant differences in the duration of anaesthetic use, complications, or long-term follow-up results for the blood pressure (BP) improvement rate. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with RLA, RARLA is a safe, feasible and even optimized procedure for large PHEOs.

Astaxanthin alleviates chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome by increasing colonization of Akkermansia muciniphila in the intestine.

BACKGROUND: Astaxanthin (AST) is a natural compound with anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory properties that has been found to have probiotic properties. However, the role and mechanism of AST in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) are still not fully understood. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of AST on CP/CPPS and elucidate the mediating role of the gut microbiota. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) mouse model was utilized to test the potential role of AST on CP/CPPS. Antibiotic cocktail (ABX) treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) were used to elucidate the gut microbiota-mediated effects on AST. In addition, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and qRT-PCR analyses were used to analyze changes in the gut microbiota of EAP mice and CP/CPPS patients. Finally, the mechanism by which AST exerts a protective effect on CP/CPPS was explored by untargeted metabolomics and gut barrier function assays. RESULTS: Oral administration of AST reduced prostate inflammation scores, alleviated tactile sensitization of the pelvic region in EAP mice, reduced CD4+ T cell and CD68+ macrophage infiltration in the prostatic interstitium, and inhibited the up-regulation of systemic and localized pain/pro-inflammatory mediators in the prostate. After ABX, the protective effect of AST against CP/CPPS was attenuated, whereas colonization with fecal bacteria from AST-treated EAP mice alleviated CP/CPPS. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and qRT-PCR analyses showed that Akkermansia muciniphila in the feces of EAP mice and CP/CPPS patients showed a trend toward a decrease, which was associated with poor progression of CP/CPPS. In contrast, oral administration of AST increased the relative abundance of A. muciniphila, and oral supplementation with A. muciniphila also alleviated inflammation and pain in EAP mice. Finally, we demonstrated that both AST and A. muciniphila interventions increased serum levels of SCFAs acetate, up-regulated expression of colonic tight junction markers, and decreased serum lipopolysaccharide levels in EAP mice. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that AST improved CP/CPPS by up-regulating A. muciniphila, which provides new potentially effective strategies and ideas for CP/CPPS management.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapy for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma: A narrative review.

The prognosis for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is not satisfactory, even though its treatment has evolved rapidly over the past 20 years. Systemic ccRCC treatment options mainly involve antiangiogenic therapy, immune checkpoint blockade, or a combination of these therapies, and as more clinical evidence becomes available, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly dominant. Conventional ICIs lead to the restoration of T-cell activation and a reduction in T-cell depletion by specifically blocking programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) or cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), ultimately enhancing the antitumor immune response. There is no doubt that these therapies have achieved some clinical efficacy in the overall ccRCC population, but response rates and durability remain a great challenge. Therefore, novel immune checkpoints or new combination therapeutic strategies based on ICIs continue to be sought and developed. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of ICI-based therapeutic strategies in advanced ccRCC, including their mechanisms of action and the latest clinical evidence.

Progress in Clinical Research on Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor Antagonists for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor agonists are still the most commonly used androgen deprivation treatment (ADT) drugs for prostate cancer in clinical practice. Currently, the GnRH receptor antagonists used for endocrine therapy for prostate cancer primarily include degarelix and relugolix (TAK-385). The former is administered by subcutaneous injection, while the latter is an oral drug. Compared to GnRH agonists, GnRH antagonists reduce serum testosterone levels more rapidly without an initial testosterone surge or subsequent microsurges. This review focuses on the mechanism of action of GnRH antagonists and agonists, the developmental history of GnRH antagonists, and emerging data from clinical studies of the two antagonists used as endocrine therapy for prostate cancer.

Development of prognostic signature based on RNA binding proteins related genes analysis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

RNA binding proteins (RBPs) play significant roles in the development of tumors. However, a comprehensive analysis of the biological functions of RBPs in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has not been performed. Our study aimed to construct an RBP-related risk model for prognosis prediction in ccRCC patients. First, RNA sequencing data of ccRCC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Three RBP genes (EIF4A1, CARS, and RPL22L1) were validated as prognosis-related hub genes by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and were integrated into a prognostic model by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis. According to this model, patients with high risk scores displayed significantly worse overall survival (OS) than those with low risk scores. Moreover, the multivariate Cox analysis results indicated that risk score, tumor grade, and tumor stage were significantly correlated with patient OS. A nomogram was constructed based on the three RBP genes and showed a good ability to predict outcomes in ccRCC patients. In conclusion, this study identified a three-RBP gene risk model for predicting the prognosis of patients, which is conducive to the identification of novel diagnostic and prognostic molecular markers.