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Background Postoperative urology patients may require the insertion of a ureteral stent. However, the delayed removal or change of the ureteral stent may lead to serious consequences for some patients. This study primarily aimed to examine the risk factors and complications associated with forgotten double-J stents (DJSs). Methods In this retrospective study, postoperative patients who underwent DJS insertion were recruited. Based on the brand of DJS, the maximal stent life (MSL) was classified into 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month groups, and a forgotten DJS was defined as the one that had yet to be removed 2 weeks past its MSL. A total of 479 patients were analyzed. The reasons for the use of DJSs use and the time and method of their insertion were recorded, and the risk factors and possible complications associated with forgotten DJSs were analyzed. Results The primary reason for DJS insertion was urolithiasis (69.7%), and insertions performed using ureterorenoscopy were the most common (413/479, 86.2%). Eighteen patients (3.8%) had forgotten DJSs, with an average overdue period of 63.17 days (18-189 days). Multivariate analysis revealed that patients older than 60 years (odds ratio [OR] = 3.626, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.070-12.289; p = 0.039) and DJSs exchanged using fibrocystoscopy (OR = 5.437, 95% CI = 1.060-28.256; p = 0.042) were significantly associated with forgotten DJSs. Out of the 18 patients with forgotten DJS, three (16.67%) experienced symptomatic complications, with one developing acute pyelonephritis, and the remaining two experiencing stone encrustation. Conclusion Patients older than 60 years were 3.6 times more likely to have forgotten DJSs than patients aged 60 and below, and DJSs exchanged using fibrocystoscopy were 5.4 times more likely to be forgotten than those inserted using ureterorenoscopy. Greater attention with regards to tracking and recalling DJSs should be paid in high-risk patients to prevent forgotten DJSs and associated complications.

Penile calciphylaxis is a rare cause of penile gangrene that presents in patients with end-stage renal disease. The rates of comorbidity and mortality of penile calciphylaxis are extremely high. Unlike other penile gangrene, such as Fournier’s gangrene, the benefit of aggressive surgical therapy is controversial. Here we present a case of penile calciphylaxis in a 43-year-old man with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. He received total penectomy but died due to multisystem complications 2 weeks after surgery. We review the literature on the management options and outcomes in patients with penile calciphylaxis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the associations between preoperative treatment with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and the risks of blood transfusion during transurethral resection of the prostate and blood clot evacuation or emergency department visits for hematuria within 1 month after surgery. METHODS: We used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database in this population-based cohort study. A total of 3,126 patients who underwent first-time transurethral resection of the prostate from 2004 to 2013 were identified. Adjusted odds ratios estimated by multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the independent effects of the preoperative use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors on the risks of perioperative hemorrhagic events after adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-seven (9.4%) patients were treated with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors for 50 g were associated with significantly higher risks of blood transfusion than other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide study did not show that significant associations exist between 5-alpha reductase inhibitor use before transurethral resection of the prostate and the risks of blood transfusion and blood clot evacuation or emergency visits for hematuria.

Objective Over-expression of the aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) has been demonstrated in many human cancers. Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is reported to inhibit cervical cancer metastasis but little is known regarding its relationship with AKR1C3 in the development and progression of uterine cervical cancer. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of AKR1C3 and its relationship with LCN2 in cervical cancer. Methods The roles of AKR1C3 and LCN2 were investigated using the lentivirus shRNA system in SiHa and Caski cervical cancer cells. LCN2 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) promoters were constructed to demonstrate transcriptional regulation by shAKR1C3 and shLCN2, respectively. The influences of metastatic phenotypes were analyzed by wound healing, Boyden chamber, and immunofluorescence assays. The activity of MMP-2 was determined by zymography assay. The impacts of AKR1C3 and LCN2 on patient prognosis were evaluated using tissue microarrays by Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier models. Results Silencing of the AKR1C3 gene increased the expression of LCN2 and decreased the migratory and invasive abilities and changed the cytoskeleton of cervical cancer cells. When AKR1C3 was over-expressed, it decreased LCN2 promoter activity and LCN2 expression and increased cell migration. The mRNA level and enzyme activity of MMP-2 increased in silenced LCN2 cells. Positive AKR1C3 and negative LCN2 were correlated with higher recurrence and poorer survival of cervical cancer patients. Conclusions Silencing of AKR1C3 increases LCN2 expression and inhibits metastasis in cervical cancer. Both AKR1C3 and LCN2 serve as molecular targets for cancer therapy to improve the clinical outcome of cervical cancer patients.