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Simple Summary: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in metastatic form is a lethal pathology difficult to treat; therefore, the research of new therapeutic options for the treatment of metastatic patients is crucial to improve quality of life and overall survival. Recently, new signaling pathways and biological processes involved in cancer development and progression by scientific research community have been identified. These components including factors affecting angiogenesis, cell migration and invasion, autophagy and ferroptosis that are dysregulated in kidney cancer represent novel possible target molecules. In this work, we discuss current and new therapies for kidney cancer treatment; in particular, agents targeting new molecules involved in renal carcinogenesis that in future might become more powerful drugs for the cure of metastatic RCC. Patients suffering from metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) show an overall survival rate of lower than 10% after 5 years from diagnosis. Currently, the first-line treatment for mRCC patients is based on antiangiogenic drugs that are able to inhibit tyrosine kinase receptors (TKI) in combination with immuno-oncology (IO) therapy or IO-IO treatments. Second-line therapy involves the use of other TKIs, immunotherapeutic drugs, and mTOR inhibitors. Nevertheless, many patients treated with mTOR and TK inhibitors acquire drug resistance, making the therapy ineffective. Therefore, the research of new therapeutic targets is crucial for improving the overall survival and quality of life of mRCC patients. The investigation of the molecular basis of RCC, especially in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), has led to the identification of different signaling pathways that are involved in renal carcinogenesis. Most of ccRCCs are associated with mutation in VHL gene, which mediates the degradation of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), that, in turn, regulate the pathways related to tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis and invasion. Renal tumorigenesis is also associated with the activation of tyrosine kinases that modulate the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway, promoting cell proliferation and survival. In ccRCC, the abnormal activity of mTOR activates the MDM2 protein, which leads to the degradation of tumor suppressor p53 via proteasome machinery. In addition, p53 may be degraded by autophagy in a mechanism involving the enzyme transglutaminase 2 (TG2). Suppression of wild-type p53 promotes cell growth, invasion, and drug resistance. Finally, the activation of ferroptosis appears to inhibit cancer progression in RCC. In conclusion, these pathways might represent new therapeutic targets for mRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Lucio. Dell'Atti, Roberto. Galeotti Pseudoaneurysms associated with the internal pudendal artery is rare and may occur as a complication of prostatic surgery or or pelvic trauma. We present images [...]

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the safety and feasibility of the transperitoneal laparoscopic approach during nephron sparing surgery in patients with previous abdominal surgery. Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing transperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for renal masses. All patients had received a diagnosis of cT1a renal exophytic mass (⩽5 cm). Patients were divided into two groups, those with and without previous abdominal surgery. Patients with solitary kidney or major previous abdominal surgery were excluded in this study. The operative time, estimated blood loss, length of stay, surgical complications, and positive surgical margins were recorded to compare outcomes among two groups. Results: Of the 157 patients who were included in our study, 71 (45.3%) had a history of abdominal surgery (Group 1), while the remaining 86 (54.7%) had not (Group 2). Cholecystectomy was the most common previous surgery performed near the renal fossa. Patients with previous abdominal surgery experienced increased operative time (111.5 vs 83.2 min; p = 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was found in estimated blood loss (122.1 vs 114.4 mL; p = 0.363), length of stay (4.1 vs 3.8 days; p = 0.465), rate of conversion to open surgery (2.8% vs 2.3%; p = 0.234), and rate of complications (p = 0.121). However, operative time (p = 0.003) and length of stay (p < 0.001) were greater in patients with versus those without previous open cholecystectomy. Conclusion: Our results suggest that laparoscopic partial nephrectomy after minor previous abdominal surgery is safe and feasible in selected patients affected by renal masses with low nephrometry score. However, previous cholecystectomy results in an increased risk of conversion to open surgery and longer hospital stay in patients undergoing right laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This collection includes some unusual cases and how they were diagnosed and treated. Case 1: A case of a patient with primary hyperthyroidism presenting with a submucosal ureteral stone after endoscopic lithotripsy was described. After multiple endoscopic treatment, the stone was successfully removed by open ureterolithotomy recovering ureteral patency and normal renal function. Case 2: A case of burned-out testicular cancer with atypical lymphatic spread (stage II A) was presented. After right orchiectomy and complete remission of tumor markers, due to atypical metastases location and uncertain histology, the patient was treated with systemic therapy based on bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (PEB). At re-staging after chemotherapy computed tomography showed reduction of all node metastases and an observation protocol was proposed. Case 3: A patient was readmitted to hospital after 12 days from an uneventful Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer due to lower abdominal pain plus abdominal distension, nausea and constipation not responsive to medical therapy. Computed Tomography showed colon and small bowel dilatation without any evidence of anatomical or mechanical obstruction. Laparoscopic abdominal exploration confirmed bowel distension without evidence of obstructing lesions. Ogilvie’s Syndrome or acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) was diagnosed. The patient fully recovered and was discharged six days after the procedure. Case 4: A case of recurrent Acute Idiopathic Scrotal Edema (AISE) was diagnosed on clinical signs together with the decisive help of pathognomonic ultrasound findings as the “fountain sign”. Case 5: Small bilateral testicular nodules were diagnosed in a 30-years old patient undergoing scrotal ultrasound in follow up of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Ultrasound guided testis sparing surgery was performed demonstrating Leydig cell tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We wished to present the clinical applications and to evaluate the benefits of the use of a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser versus the conventional procedure for circumcision in adults, in terms of duration of surgery, surgical techniques, complications, pain and cosmetic appearance. Patients and Methods: The medical records of 482 patients who had been circumcised were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups: 168 patients (Group A) were circumcised with traditional techniques; and 314 patients (Group B) were circumcised using a CO2 laser. All the patients were circumcised under local anesthesia. Pain was evaluated using a verbal numerical rating scale for pain assessment. Postoperative wound swelling, bleeding, infection and pain were assessed at 4 hours, 24 hours and 7 days after surgery. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of bleeding and infections. The difference in operating times between the groups was significant (p< 0.001). Wound disruptions occurred in one patient in Group A at 3 days and two patients in Group B at 1 week. Pain scores were low and there was less pain in Group B than in Group A during the first 4 hours (1.8 vs 3.7; p< 0.002). Compared with the conventional method, the CO2 laser technique was associated with much less pain at both 1 day (p< 0.002) and 7 days (p< 0.001) postoperatively. The cosmetic results were superior in Group B; a linear surgical scar developed in 94.9% of patients in Group B versus 61.3% in Group A (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Our results show that the use of a CO2 laser was associated with a shorter operative time, less wound irritation and better cosmetic appearance compared with standard surgical techniques for circumcision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]