Search

Interactions between the tumor cells and bone marrow (BM) microenvironment promote survival, growth, and chemoresistance of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The mTOR pathway plays a key role in mediating the AML‐BM microenvironment interactions. Here, we report the anti‐AML activity of a natural monomer extracted from the Chinese medicinal herb Evodia rutaecarpa, dihydroevocarpine. Our results showed that dihydroevocarpine‐induced cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and G0/G1 arrest in AML cells, and inhibited the tumor growth in an AML xenograft model. Importantly, our study revealed that the dihydroevocarpine treatment inhibited the mTOR pathway via suppressing the mTORC1/2 activity, and thus overcame the protective effect of the BM microenvironment on AML cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that dihydroevocarpine could be used as a potential anti‐AML agent alone or a therapeutic adjunct in AML therapy, particularly in the presence of the BM microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) exerts an essential role in the pathological processes of many diseases. Our previous study found that lncRNA ATB was highly expressed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8), 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine (EdU), and migration‐related assays were conducted to access the regulatory effects of lncRNA ATB on proliferative and migratory capacities of RCC cells. Flow cytometry was carried out to determine cell cycle and apoptosis influenced by lncRNA ATB. The interaction among lncRNA ATB, DNMT1, and p53 was evaluated through RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and western blot analyses. The results showed that lncRNA ATB knockdown in RCC cell line ACHN inhibited proliferative and migratory capacities and promoted apoptosis. Meanwhile, overexpression of lncRNA ATB in RCC cell line A‐498 promoted proliferative and migratory capacities but inhibited apoptosis. RIP and ChIP assays confirmed that lncRNA ATB can bind to DNMT1 and stabilize its expression; meanwhile, it can promote the binding of DNMT1 to p53. Overexpression of p53 partially reversed the proliferative and migratory changes caused by lncRNA ATB. To sum up, our study revealed that high expression of lncRNA ATB could accelerate the proliferative and migratory rates of RCC cells and inhibit cell apoptosis through downregulating p53 via binding to DNMT1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNA (circRNA) play important roles in the pathological processes of many diseases. By analyzing the results of the GSE100186 chip, we found that the expression of circRNA ZNF609 (circ‐ZNF609) was significantly increased in renal cell carcinoma. Recently, there are studies showing that circ‐ZNF609 can regulate cell proliferation and invasion ability of various cells. In this study, we investigated whether circ‐ZNF609 may affect cell invasion and proliferation in renal carcinoma. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the expression of circ‐ZNF609 in renal carcinoma cell lines and renal epithelial cells. The direct interaction between microRNA‐138‐5p (miR‐138‐5p) and forkhead box P4 (FOXP4) or circ‐ZNF609 was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. We use Cell Counting Kit‐8, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine, and Matrigel assays to assess the effect of miR‐138‐5p or circ‐ZNF609 on cell proliferation or invasion ability. And we found that circ‐ZNF609 is significantly increased in renal carcinoma cell lines. In addition, the high expression of circ‐ZNF609 promotes cell proliferation and invasion ability. In short, our current study reveals the role of the circ‐ZNF609/miR‐138‐5p/FOXP4 regulatory network in renal carcinoma and provides a new perspective for the pathogenesis of renal carcinoma. Our research indicates that circRNA ZNF609 (circ‐ZNF609) functions as a competitive endogenous RNA to regulate forkhead box P4 expression by sponging microRNA‐138‐5p has great significance in the pathogenesis of renal carcinoma. Therefore, further study of circRNA may have clinical implications for future diagnosis and treatment of renal carcinoma and other diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and functional outcome of flexible ureteroscopy (f URS) for renal stones in patients with a solitary kidney. Patients and Methods From February 2011 to February 2015, 60 patients with a solitary kidney underwent f URS for the treatment of renal stones. Factors, such as operation duration, complications and stone-free rate ( SFR), were analysed. Changes in the renal function were evaluated by comparing preoperative and postoperative glomerular filtration rates ( GFR) and serum creatinine. The stage of chronic kidney disease ( CKD) was measured to evaluate the influence of f URS on renal function. Results The total SFR were 76.67 per cent and 93.33 per cent after the first and final procedures, respectively. Postoperative minor complications, classified as Clavien grade II, were recorded in 4.2 per cent (2/48) and 25 per cent (3/12) of patients with renal stones < 2 cm and > 2 cm, respectively. Serious complications, classified as Clavien grade III, occurred in 8.3 per cent (1/12) with renal stones > 2 cm. For patients with renal stones < 2 cm, the preoperative and postoperative mean GFR, as well as serum creatinine, had statistical difference ( P < 0.05). For patients with a solitary kidney with stage 5 CKD, fURS did not improve the renal function regardless of the stone size. Conclusion fURS is a more effective and safer procedure, with a higher SFR and a lower rate of complications in treating stones < 2 cm in a solitary kidney than those > 2 cm. For patients with a solitary kidney with stage 5 CKD, fURS did not improve the renal function regardless of the stone size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxalate-induced damage to renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) is an essential factor in the incident kidney stone, but the specific mechanism is unclear. Recent research has pinpointed interacting areas within the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, called mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs). These studies have linked endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and oxidative imbalance to kidney disease development. The sigma-1 receptor (S1R), a specific protein found in MAMs, is involved in various physiological processes, but its role in oxalate-induced kidney stone formation remains unclear. In this study, we established cellular and rat models of oxalate-induced kidney stone formation to elucidate the S1R's effects against ERS and apoptosis and its mechanism in oxalate-induced RTEC injury. We found that oxalate downregulated S1R expression in RTECs and escalated oxidative stress and ERS, culminating in increased apoptosis. The S1R agonist dimemorfan up-regulated S1R expression and mitigated ERS and oxidative stress, thereby reducing apoptosis. This protective effect was mediated through S1R inhibition of the CHOP pathway. Animal experiments demonstrated that S1R's activation attenuated oxalate-induced kidney injury and alleviated kidney stone formation. This is the first study to establish the connection between S1R and kidney stones, suggesting S1R's protective role in inhibiting ERS-mediated apoptosis to ameliorate kidney stone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CRISPR‐Cas system, initially for DNA‐level gene editing and transcription regulation, has expanded to RNA targeting with the Cas13d family, notably the RfxCas13d. This advancement allows for mRNA targeting with high specificity, particularly after catalytic inactivation, broadening the exploration of translation regulation. This study introduces a CRISPR‐dCas13d‐eIF4G fusion module, combining dCas13d with the eIF4G translation regulatory element, enhancing target mRNA translation levels. This module, using specially designed sgRNAs, selectively boosts protein translation in targeted tissue cells without altering transcription, leading to notable protein expression upregulation. This system is applied to a kidney stone disease model, focusing on ferroptosis‐linked GPX4 gene regulation. By targeting GPX4 with sgRNAs, its protein expression is upregulated in human renal cells and mouse kidney tissue, countering ferroptosis and resisting calcium oxalate‐induced cell damage, hence mitigating stone formation. This study evidences the CRISPR‐dCas13d‐eIF4G system's efficacy in eukaryotic cells, presenting a novel protein translation research approach and potential kidney stone disease treatment advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: In nature, fishes have evolved functional skins with effective hydrodynamic performance and anti‐fouling, facilitating predation and escaping from predators. Although a large number of fish scale‐inspired structured surfaces have been explored, the incorporation of mucus on the structured surfaces has been largely ignored. Inspired by the skin of Osteichthyes fishes, a Janus hydrogel coating (JHC) is successfully prepared by a two‐step UV light irradiation at room temperature. The bottom side of JHC (STH) achieves a shear adhesive strength of 103.3 ± 17.5 kPa and can strongly adhere to a large variety of surfaces, including metals, ceramic and polymers. The top surface of JHC (SLH) replicates the structure of cycloid scales, while the nature of hydrogel mimics the mucus on fish skin. SLH possesses prominent mechanical, anti‐swelling, anti‐fouling and drag reduction properties. The design strategy for JHC has potential applications in numerous fields, like, pipeline transportation, bioengineering, and shipping industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high incidence, recurrence and treatment costs of urolithiasis have a serious impact on patients and society. For a long time, countless scholars have been working tirelessly on studies related to the etiology of urolithiasis. A comprehensive understanding of the current status will be beneficial to the development of this field. We collected all literature about the etiology of urolithiasis from 1990 to 2022 using the Web of Science (WoS) database. VOSviewer, Bibliometrix and CiteSpace software were used to quantitatively analyze and visualize the data as well. The query identified 3177 articles for final analysis, of which related to the etiology of urolithiasis. The annual number of publications related to urolithiasis research has steadily increased during the latest decade. United States (1106) and China (449) contributed the most publications. University of Chicago (92) and Indiana University (86) have the highest number of publications. Urolithiasis and Journal of Urology have published the most articles in the field. Coe FL is the most productive author (63 articles), whose articles have obtained the most citations in all (4141 times). The keyword, such as hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, citrate, oxidative stress, inflammation, Randall’s plaque, are the most attractive targets for the researchers. Our review provides a global landscape of studies related to the etiology of urolithiasis, which can serve as a reference for future studies in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Holmium (Ho:YAG) laser is presently the most extensively employed in laser lithotripsy for the management of kidney stones. Despite its adoption as the gold standard for laser lithotripsy, Ho:YAG laser lithotripsy poses three significant challenges, namely thermal effect, insufficient stone fragmentation, and stone displacement, which have garnered increased attention from urologic surgeons. Nowadays, the femtosecond laser is regarded as a potential alternative to the Ho:YAG laser due to its capacity to ablate diverse materials with minimal thermal effect. In our ex vivo investigation, we assessed the dimensions of ablation pits, the efficacy of ablation, the degree of stone fragmentation, the alterations in water temperature surrounding stones, and the degree of tissue damage associated with Femtosecond laser lithotripsy utilizing adjustable power settings (1–50 W). Our findings indicate that the ablation pits generated by the Femtosecond laser exhibited uniform geometries, and the effectiveness of ablation and fragmentation for Femtosecond laser lithotripsy were significantly and positively correlated with laser power. When the laser power remained constant, the Femtosecond laser with higher pulse energy demonstrated superior efficiency in stone ablation, but inferior performance in stone fragmentation. Conversely, the Femtosecond laser with higher pulse frequency exhibited the opposite behavior. Furthermore, the thermal effect increased proportionally with laser power, leading to a tentative recommendation of 10W laser power for future investigations. Our in vitro findings suggest that the Femtosecond laser holds promise as a safe and effective alternative to holmium lasers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical crushing of stones alone has not addressed the increasing prevalence of kidney stones. A promising strategy is to tackle the kidney damage and crystal aggregation inherent in kidney stones with the appropriate therapeutic target. FKBP prolyl isomerase 5 (FKBP5) is a potential predictor of kidney injury, but its status in calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stones is not clear. This study attempted to elucidate the role and mechanism of FKBP5 in CaOx kidney stones. Lentivirus and adeno-associated virus were used to control FKBP5 expression in a CaOx kidney stone model. Transcriptomic sequencing and immunological assays were used to analyze the mechanism of FKBP5 deficiency in CaOx kidney stones. The results showed that FKBP5 deficiency reduced renal tubular epithelial cells (RTEC) apoptosis and promoted cell proliferation by downregulating BOK expression. It also attenuated cell–crystal adhesion by downregulating the expression of CDH4. In addition, it inhibited M1 polarization and chemotaxis of macrophages by suppressing CXCL10 expression in RTEC. Moreover, the above therapeutic effects were exerted by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signaling. Finally, in vivo experiments showed that FKBP5 deficiency attenuated stone aggregation and kidney injury in mice. In conclusion, this study reveals that FKBP5 deficiency attenuates cell–crystal adhesion, reduces apoptosis, promotes cell proliferation, and inhibits macrophage M1 polarization and chemotaxis by inhibiting NF-κB signaling. This provides a potential therapeutic target for CaOx kidney stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteogenesis of renal tubular epithelial cells (RTEC) is an important trigger for calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stone formation, but whether macrophages are involved in RTEC osteogenesis is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of macrophages in CaOx kidney stones on RTEC osteogenesis. Oxalate or ethylene glycol was used to construct in vitro and in vivo CaOx kidney stone models, respectively. Macrophage-derived conditioned medium was used to induce osteogenesis in HK-2 cells, and genetic controls and pharmacological interventions were used to investigate the underlying mechanism. The results demonstrated that macrophage-conditioned medium under oxalate intervention facilitated the increase of alkaline phosphatase and calcium salts as well as the upregulation of osteogenic marker genes (BMP2 and RUNX2) expression in HK-2 cells. On the one hand, the knockdown of the JAK2 gene in HK-2 cells reverses the role of macrophage-derived conditioned medium in promoting osteogenesis in HK-2 cells. On the other hand, inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) generation in macrophages reverses osteogenesis in HK-2 cells. Moreover, inhibition of PGE2 generation would cure ethylene glycol-induced renal injury and calcium salt deposition, as well as osteogenesis of RTEC. This study illustrates that in the presence of oxalate, macrophages secret PGE2 to activate JAK2/STAT3 signaling in RTEC, which could trigger osteogenesis. It provides new insights into the mechanism of CaOx kidney stone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correction notice for the article "Femtosecond laser lithotripsy: a novel alternative for kidney stone treatment?" in the journal Urolithiasis addresses the missing funding information, which should have included support from three projects: Central guide local science and technology development project, Hubei Provincial Health Commission surface project, and Natural Science Foundation of China. The correction was authored by Sixing Yang, Caitao Dong, Chao Song, Wenbiao Liao, Ziqi He, Shengming Jiang, Chang Sun, Yunhan Wang, and Yunhe Xiong. The original article can be accessed online for further details. [Extracted from the article]

Bioinspired surfaces with special wettabilities attract increasing attention due to their extensive applications in many fields. However, the characterizations of surface wettability by contact angle (CA) and sliding angle (SA) have clear drawbacks. Here, by using an array of triangular micropillars (ATM) prepared by soft lithography, the merits of measuring the friction force of a water droplet on ATM over measurements of CA and SA in characterizing the surface wettability are demonstrated. The CA and SA measurements show ignorable differences in the wettabilities of ATM in opposite directions (1.13%) and that with different periodic parameters under the elongation ranging from 0 to 70%. In contrast, the friction measurement reveals a difference of > 10% in opposite directions. Moreover, the friction force shows a strong dependence on the periodic parameters which is regulated by mechanical stretching. Increasing the elongation from 0 to 50% increases the static and kinetic friction force up to 23.0% and 22.9%, respectively. Moreover, the stick-slip pattern during kinetic friction can reveal the periodic features of the measured surface. The friction force measurement is a sensitive technique that could find applications in the characterization of surface wettabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer (BC) is the 9th most frequent diagnosed tumor and the 2nd most common urology tumor worldwide. Despite the considerable advancement that BC treatment has made recently, the five-year survival rate of BC remains unsatisfactory. Novel therapeutic strategies for BC clinical intervention are therefore urgently needed now more than ever. circRHOT1 is a newly identified circRNA that plays a crucial role in multiple types of tumorigeneses. However, it remains unclear whether circRHOT1 plays a functional role in BC progression. Our findings suggest that circRHOT1 was highly expressed in BC tumor tissues and cell lines. The results from CCK-8, EDU, Transwell migration, and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity detection assays suggested that circRHOT1 knockdown could markedly suppress BC cell proliferation and migration level and could aggravate the sensitivity of BC cells to NK cells. Subsequently, we conducted bioinformatics analysis followed by RNA pull-down, ChIP, and luciferase reporter assays, from which we found that circRHOT1 expression in BC cells could be regulated by ZNF652, and circRHOT1 could promote SMAD5 expression to regulate BC cell cellular progression by sponging miR-3666. These results may provide a new direction for developing novel diagnostic or therapeutic targets for BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injury to the renal tubular epithelium has emerged as a leading factor underlying the formation of kidney stones. Indeed, epithelial cell damage contributes to the adherence and aggregation of crystals, thereby accelerating the formation of renal stones. Meanwhile, exosomes play an instrumental role in cellular communication, including DNA, RNA, mRNA, etc. In this study, homogenous cells were treated with exosomes derived from damaged cells in an attempt to establish "positive feedback" of cell damage, and the desired results were achieved. To begin, a serum-free medium and supersaturated concentrations of oxalate were added to the HK-2 cell line, and then exosomes were isolated from the two groups for analysis and comparison, and the autophagy-related gene Ambra1 (autophagy and beclin-1 regulator 1) was detected. Subsequently, normal HK-2 cells were treated with exosomes, and the related indexes of autophagy, ferroptosis and mitophagy were determined. Thereafter, Ambra1 was knocked down in exosome-derived HK-2 cells, resulting in the down-regulation of Ambra1 expression in exosomes produced by HK-2 cells following oxalate intervention. Thereafter, the ability of exosomes to stimulate autophagy, mitophagy and ferroptosis was re-evaluated in HK-2 cells after Ambra1 knockdown. The results corroborated that exosomes secreted by oxalate-treated HK-2 can directly elevate autophagy, ferroptosis and mitophagy levels in normal cells, and this effect was significantly mitigated following Ambra1 knockdown within exosomes. Meanwhile, exosomes-induced autophagy and ferroptosis were alleviated after knockdown of beclin-1 in recipient HK-2 cells. These results further suggest that beclin-1 plays a critical role in the process of exosome-induced autophagy-ferroptosis. • Exosomes secreted by HK-2 cells damaged by supersaturated oxalate can be ingested by normal cells and cause damage to them. • Normal cell damage is caused by excessive mitophagy, autophagy and ferroptosis. • Ambra1 is the key gene in this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correction notice is for an article titled "Femtosecond laser lithotripsy: a novel alternative for kidney stone treatment? Evaluating the safety and effectiveness in an ex vivo study" published in the journal Urolithiasis. The correction states that the original version of the article was missing the funding information, which should have included three projects: Central guide local science and technology development project (ZYYD2020000158), Hubei Provincial Health Commission surface project (WJ2021M254), and Natural Science Foundation of China (82270797). The correction notice also mentions that Springer Nature, the publisher, remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. The authors of the article are listed as Sixing Yang, Caitao Dong, Chao Song, Wenbiao Liao, Ziqi He, Shengming Jiang, Chang Sun, Yunhan Wang, and Yunhe Xiong. [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] • Oxidative stress and inflammation are predominately involved in kidney stone formation. • Schizandrin B exerts anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties against oxalate-induced injury of RTECs. • Schizandrin B inhibits Erastin-induced ferroptosis of RTECs. • Schizandrin B alleviates Ethylene Glycol-induced kidney injury and crystal depositions. • Schizandrin B suppresses oxidative stress-mediated ferroptosis via regulating GSK3β/Nrf2. Schizandrin B (SchB) protects against oxidative, inflammatory, and ferroptotic injury. Oxidative stress and inflammation are indispensably involved in nephrolithiasis and ferroptosis also plays an important role in stone formation. It is unclear whether SchB can ameliorate nephrolithiasis; its underlying mechanism is also unknown. First, we employed bioinformatics to investigate the mechanisms of nephrolithiasis. To evaluate the efficacy of SchB, HK-2 cell models of oxalate-induced damage, Erastin-induced ferroptosis, and the Sprague Dawley rat model of Ethylene Glycol-induced nephrolithiasis were established. Then, Nrf2 siRNA and GSK3β overexpression plasmids were transfected into HK-2 cells to elucidate the role of SchB in regulating oxidative stress-mediated ferroptosis. In our study, oxidative stress and inflammation were strongly associated with nephrolithiasis. Administration of SchB attenuated the cell viability, dysfunctional mitochondria, oxidative stress and inflammatory response in vitro and alleviated renal injury and crystal deposition in vivo. SchB treatment also reduced the levels of cellular Fe2+ accumulation, lipid peroxidation and MDA, and regulated ferroptosis-related proteins, including XCT, GPX4, FTH1 and CD71, in Erastin-induced or oxalate-induced HK-2 cells. Mechanistically, SchB facilitated Nrf2 nuclear translocation, and silencing Nrf2 or overexpressing GSK3β worsened oxalate-induced oxidative injury and abolished the beneficial effect of SchB against ferroptosis in vitro. To summarize, SchB could alleviate nephrolithiasis by positively regulating GSK3β/Nrf2 signaling-mediated ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to construct antimicrobial peptide LL-37 expressed lentiviral vector and explore the expression of LL-37 in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from dog periphery mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The methodology on obtaining EPCs from dog PBMCs was explored and infection approach about the expression of LL-37 in EPCs was optimized. LL-37 was amplified, digested by Age I and constructed into pGC-FU vector. Meanwhile, EPCs were generated from PBMCs using endothelial growth medium. Markers including acetylated low density lipoproteins (Dilac-LDL), Ulex lectin (UEA-1), von Willebrand factor (vWF), VE-cadherin, CD34 and CD133 were used to identify EPCs. Then, LL-37 was introduced into EPCs using lentivirus infection with green fluorescent protein (GFP) as the biomarker. Finally, we used western-blot to examine the expression of LL-37 in EPCs. The pGC-FU-LL-37-GFP was successfully constructed. Viral particles existed in 10 μL group with titer of 2 × 10 TU/mL. Both early (round-shaped morphology) and late (pebble-shaped appearance) EPCs were observed. And these EPCs were confirmed by Dil-acLDL uptake and FITC-UEA-1 binding. An approximate 50 % of infection efficacy was confirmed by immunofluorescence. Furthermore, we successfully observed LL-37 expression in EPCs via western blot analysis. In conclusions, LL-37 expressed in the EPCs was successfully achieved. However, the anti-infection and angiogenesis of LL-37 expressed EPCs need further research in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of the present study was to review our 5-year experience and compare the outcomes of flexible ureteroscopy ( fURS) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy ( PCNL) for treating 10-20-mm renal stones. Patients and Methods In this retrospective study, we compared 310 patients with renal stones of 10-20-mm size treated with PCNL ( n = 164) or fURS ( n = 175) between March 2008 and March 2013. The parameters of patients included age, body mass index and sex, as well as the size, location, and previous stone treatments. Factors, such as operation duration, hospitalization time, drop in haemoglobin level, complications, stone-free rate ( SFR) and necessitating blood transfusion were analysed. Results The two groups had comparable demographic data, such as age, sex, stone size and localization. The mean operation duration for PCNL was 52.6 min, and for fURS, 81.3 min ( P < 0.001). The mean hospitalization time for PCNL was 7.5 days, and for fURS, 4.3 days ( P < 0.001). The mean drop in haemoglobin level and necessitating blood transfusion for fURS was less than that for PCNL ( P < 0.001). Postoperative complications, such as fever and urine leakage after PCNL, were significantly higher than that after fURS, but the incidence of sepsis in both groups had no difference ( P > 0.05). The SFR was 82.3 per cent after fURS and 91.4 per cent after PCNL at the first day, postoperatively ( P > 0.05). Four weeks after the staged procedure, the SFR was 96.4 per cent after fURS and 97.7 per cent after PCNL ( P > 0.05). After the second-stage procedure, the SFR was significantly higher than that at the first day, postoperatively, in the fURS group (82.3 per cent vs 96.4 per cent, P < 0.05). Conclusion Both PCNL and fURS are effective for renal stones that are 10-20 mm in size. Although accompanied by higher rate of second-stage procedures and longer operation duration, compared with PCNL, fURS has the advantages of reduced hospital stay, reduced blood transfusion requirements and decreased postoperative complications. fURS is a good alternative for renal stones that are 10-20 mm in size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study investigates the efficacy of ureteral reconstruction using a spiral bladder muscle flap with vascular pedicles (ie, the superior vesical arteries) to repair full-length ureteral defects and explores a surgical approach for repairing long ureteral defects (>20 cm) using a bladder muscle flap. Technical Considerations: The characteristics of the ureteral reconstruction surgery include the following: (1) Surgeons fully expose the bladder in the retroperitoneal space. (2) While dissecting the superior vesical arteries, the integrities of the blood vessel trunk and the primary branches are maintained as much as possible. (3) While preparing the bladder muscle flap, the surgeons make an S-shaped cut along the route of the superior vesical arteries along the bladder. In general, the basal width of the muscle flap is approximately 2-3 cm in length, and the total length is approximately 1-2 cm longer than the defective ureter. (4) During the surgery, kidney descent and fixation and psoas hitch are performed to reduce end-to-end anastomotic tension. (5) The addition of a submucosal tunnel to prevent postoperative ureteral reflux is unnecessary. (6) A pedicled greater omentum graft is transferred to cover the reconstructed ureter to enhance blood supply when necessary. Conclusion: Ureteroplasty using a spiral bladder muscle flap with vascular pedicles (ie, the superior vesical arteries) is an ideal treatment to repair full-length ureteral defects. Moreover, this technique is particularly useful for ureteral defects longer than 20 cm. This procedure should be strongly promoted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Clinically, using ileal conduit for urinary diversion often caused many serious complications. Tissue engineering technology may offer an alternative method for urinary diversion after radical cystectomy. In this study, we aimed to make a tissue-engineered tubular graft (TETG) using bladder epithelial cells and bladder acellular matrix (BAM) for urinary diversion in rabbits. Methods: Bladder epithelial cells of rabbit were cultivated and expanded in vitro, which were then seeded on BAM and cultured for 7 d. Then, cell-seeded grafts of 4 cm length and 0.8 cm diameter were used to make TETGs and transferred into the omentum for 2 wk before urinary diversion. In the experimental group, bladders of the rabbits were removed. The proximal ends of TETGs were anastomosed with ureters, and the distal ends were anastomosed with the abdominal stomas. In the control group, TETGs were constructed using unseeded BAM. Newly formed tissue structures were functionally and microscopically evaluated using urography and immunohistochemistry at 1, 2, 4, and 8 wk after operation, respectively. Histologic examination with hematoxylin and eosin staining was conducted to assess tissue regeneration. Immunohistochemistry was performed with AE1/AE3, uroplakin Ⅲa, and zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) antibodies. Results: All animals were alive in the experimental group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed epithelial coverage in TETG. Immunohistochemistry showed positive stain with AE1/AE3, uroplakin Ⅲa, and ZO-1, which indicated mature and functional epithelial cells on the lumen of TETG. Intravenous urography showed that there were no obstructions in TETGs. In the control group, four rabbits were dead within 2 wk, and scar formation, atresia, and severe hydronephrosis were found. Conclusions: It was feasible that TETG constructed using bladder epithelial cells and BAM for urinary diversion after radical cystectomy in rabbits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]