Search

The electronic nose is able to provide useful information through the analysis of the volatile organic compounds in body fluids, such as exhaled breath, urine and blood. This paper focuses on the review of electronic nose studies and applications in the specific field of medical diagnostics based on the analysis of the gaseous headspace of human urine, in order to provide a broad overview of the state of the art and thus enhance future developments in this field. The research in this field is rather recent and still in progress, and there are several aspects that need to be investigated more into depth, not only to develop and improve specific electronic noses for different diseases, but also with the aim to discover and analyse the connections between specific diseases and the body fluids odour. Further research is needed to improve the results obtained up to now; the development of new sensors and data processing methods should lead to greater diagnostic accuracy thus making the electronic nose an effective tool for early detection of different kinds of diseases, ranging from infections to tumours or exposure to toxic agents., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Nonbacterial prostatitis, together with chronic pelvic pain syndrome, accounts for 90-95 % of prostatitis cases. Anti-inflammatory medications are commonly used to reduce storage/inflammatory symptoms that can deteriorate quality of life. The purpose of this study was to observe the efficacy and safety of beclomethasone dipropionate rectal suppositories (Topster®) in inflammations of the lower urinary tract in men., Methods: Patients underwent diagnostic and therapeutic protocols according to current evidence-based practice. Efficacy assessments: voiding parameters, perineal pain, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), digital rectal examination (DRE). Adverse events and patient compliance were recorded throughout the study., Results: One hundred eighty patients were enrolled, mean age 52 ± 14.97. Most frequent diagnosis: nonbacterial prostatitis (85 %). All patients completed visits 1 and 2. All patients were treated with beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) suppositories, 136/180 also with Serenoa repens (SR) extract. Antibiotics were rarely required. 162/180 patients presented clinically significant improvements and terminated treatment. Mean change vs. baseline in voiding frequency: -3.55 ± 2.70 n/day in patients taking only BDP and -3.68 ± 2.81 n/day in those taking both BDP and SR (P<.0001 in both groups). Uroflowmetry improved significantly; change from baseline 3.26 ± 5.35 ml/s in BDP only group and 5.61 ± 7.32 ml/s in BDP + SR group (P = 0.0002 for BDP, P<.0001 for BDP + SR). Urine stream normal in 35 % of patients at visit 1 and 57.22 % of patients at visit 2. Mean change in perineal pain, on 0-10 VAS, -0.66 ± 2.24 for BDP only group (P = 0.0699) and -1.37 ± 2.40 for BDP + SR group (P<.0001). IPSS increased at visit 2. No adverse events were reported. For all parameters, none of the comparisons between groups was found to be statistically significant., Conclusion: This study confirmed the drug's good safety profile. We also observed an improvement in the main storage symptoms and clinical findings associated with lower urinary tract inflammation in patients treated with beclomethasone dipropionate suppositories.

Purpose: To investigate prostate cancer (PC) detection rate, employing endorectal multiparametric 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) driving subsequent cognitive systematic prostatic biopsy (CSPB) versus a homogenous group of patients who did not undergo endorectal MRI., Materials and Methods: A series of patients with a first negative biopsy were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups: Group A: patients underwent MRI and subsequent CSPB; Group B: patients that did not undergo MRI. Each patient underwent a 13-core sampling. Patients from Group A had four cores more for each MRI suspected lesion. The cancer detection rate was calculated for each group with regard to possible matches or mismatches between MRI evidence and pathological reports., Results: Two hundred consecutive patients were investigated. Fifty out of 200 (25 %) patients had a diagnosis of PC, 24 in Group A and 26 in Group B. In Group A, 67 patients (67 %) were positive for suspected lesions at the MRI. The mismatch between MRI findings and the CSPB outcome was 61 % with an MRI-driven detection rate of 15 %. Group B detection rate was 26 % with no significant differences versus Group A (P = NS). Patient discomfort was higher in Group A (82 %). The accuracy of CSPB was 41 % with a positive predictive value of 22.3 %. This rate is lower in high-grade cancers (11.9 %). The cost-effectiveness was higher in Group A., Conclusions: Prostate cancer detection rate does not improve by CSPB. The accuracy of CSPB was lower in high-grade PC, and a higher cost was found with CSPB.

Living bacteria or yeast cells are frequently used as bioreporters for the detection of specific chemical analytes or conditions of sample toxicity. In particular, bacteria or yeast equipped with synthetic gene circuitry that allows the production of a reliable non-cognate signal (e.g., fluorescent protein or bioluminescence) in response to a defined target make robust and flexible analytical platforms. We report here how bacterial cells expressing a fluorescence reporter ("bactosensors"), which are mostly used for batch sample analysis, can be deployed for automated semi-continuous target analysis in a single concise biochip. Escherichia coli-based bactosensor cells were continuously grown in a 13 or 50 nanoliter-volume reactor on a two-layered polydimethylsiloxane-on-glass microfluidic chip. Physiologically active cells were directed from the nl-reactor to a dedicated sample exposure area, where they were concentrated and reacted in 40 minutes with the target chemical by localized emission of the fluorescent reporter signal. We demonstrate the functioning of the bactosensor-chip by the automated detection of 50 μgarsenite-As l(-1) in water on consecutive days and after a one-week constant operation. Best induction of the bactosensors of 6-9-fold to 50 μg l(-1) was found at an apparent dilution rate of 0.12 h(-1) in the 50 nl microreactor. The bactosensor chip principle could be widely applicable to construct automated monitoring devices for a variety of targets in different environments.

Background: Current guidelines recommend local tumour ablation (LTA) over partial nephrectomy (PN) in nonsurgical candidates; however, objective definitions of these candidates are lacking., Objective: To identify specific patients who would benefit from LTA more than PN., Design, Setting, and Participants: A population-based assessment was performed of 2476 patients in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare database who had cT1a kidney cancer treated with either LTA or PN, between 2000 and 2009., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: The outcome of the study was the relevant perioperative complications rate. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to predict the risk of complications after PN. Model-derived coefficients were used to calculate the risk of complication in case of PN among patients treated with LTA. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing method was used to plot the observed complication rate against the predicted risk of complication in case of PN., Results and Limitations: At multivariable logistic regression, age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04; p<0.001), Charlson comorbidity index (OR: 1.14; p<0.001), acute kidney injury (OR: 1.91; p=0.04), or chronic kidney disease (OR: 2.16; p=0.002), tumour size (OR: 1.02; p=0.01), and minimally invasive approach (OR: 0.77; p<0.03) emerged as significant predictors of complications. When LTA was chosen over PN, the reduction in the risk of complications was greatest in high-risk patients, intermediate in intermediate-risk patients, and least in low-risk patients., Conclusions: When postoperative complications are evaluated, the benefit of choosing LTA is not the same in all patients diagnosed with T1a kidney cancer. Specifically, patients at high risk of complications in case of PN may benefit the most from LTA and represent ideal LTA candidates., Patient Summary: Elderly patients at high risk of complications in case of surgical treatment with partial nephrectomy for kidney cancer should be instructed that local tumour ablation might decrease their perioperative morbidity., (Copyright © 2015 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To describe our "en bloc" technique for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), assess the quality of resection, and report the midterm oncological outcome., Materials and Methods: This is an observational prospective longitudinal study, from June 2010 to February 2014, enrolling patients with clinically NMIBC, having tumors of ≤3 cm and ≤4 lesions who underwent electrical en bloc bladder resection. The primary study end point was recurrence-free survival. Secondary outcomes were feasibility, safety, the presence of detrusor muscle, and the recurrence rate at the first follow-up cystoscopy (3 months). Statistical analysis was complemented with multivariable analysis., Results: Of 87 enrolled patients, 2 showed a nonurothelial carcinoma and 11 showed muscle invasive bladder carcinoma at the definitive pathology. The study cohort consisted of 74 transitional cell carcinoma NMIBC cases, mean age 71 years ± 8, presenting with a mean tumor diameter of 1.98 ± 0.59 cm and a median number of resected tumors per patients of 1 (range 1-4). The 2-year recurrence-free survival was 85.59%. All the en bloc resection of bladder tumor samples showed the presence of detrusor muscle and the recurrence rate at the first follow-up cystoscopy (3 months) was 5.4% (4/74). An extraperitoneal bladder perforation occurred in only one patient. At multivariable analysis, only gender and the presence of carcinoma in situ were independent predictors of recurrence. The midterm follow-up and the absence of a control group are the main limitations., Conclusion: Our findings confirmed the feasibility and safety of en bloc resection of bladder tumor, with a recurrence-free survival of 85% after 2 years., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Although the pathophysiology of acute chronic cystitis and other 'sensory' disorders, i.e. painful bladder syndrome (PBS) or interstitial cystitis (IC), often remains multifactorial, there is a wide consensus that such clinical conditions may arise from a primary defective urothelium lining or from damaged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). A 'cascade' of events starting from GAG injury, which fails to heal, may lead to chronic bladder epithelial damage and neurogenic inflammation. To restore the GAG layer is becoming the main aim of new therapies for the treatment of chronic cystitis and PBS/IC. Preliminary experiences with GAG replenishment for different pathological conditions involving the lower urinary tract have been reported. There is a range of commercially available intravesical formulations of these components, alone or in combination. Literature evidence shows that exogenous intravesical hyaluronic acid markedly reduces recurrences of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Patients treated with exogenous GAGs have fewer UTI recurrences, a longer time to recurrence and a greater improvement in quality of life. Exogenous intravesical GAGs have been used for the treatment of PBS/IC. Despite the limitations of most of the studies, findings confirmed the role of combination therapy with hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate as a safe and effective option for the treatment of PBS/IC. To prevent and/or treat radiotherapy and chemotherapy induced cystitis, GAG replenishment therapy has been used showing preliminary encouraging results. The safety profile of exogenous GAGs has been reported to be very favourable, without adverse events of particular significance.

Objective: To determine the role of penile Doppler ultrasound (PDU) compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in preoperative diagnostic evaluation of patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma., Materials and Methods: A prospective analysis on patients presenting with clinical diagnosis of penile squamous cell carcinoma from 6 different European hospitals between 2012 and 2014 was carried out. Each patient who had planned an organ sparing approach underwent an MRI and PDU both with an artificial erection with prostaglandin E 1. Age, evidence of MRI or PDU corpora cavernosa infiltration, frozen section examination report, definitive pathological report, and surgical approach used per patient were recorded. Accuracy, precision, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. Outcomes were statistically evaluated., Results: Two hundred patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the patients was 67.35 ± 15.45 (range 51-82). All of the patients were treated surgically. Of the 200 patients, 135 (67.5%) underwent a corpora sparing approach, whereas 65 had a partial penectomy because of the frozen section outcome. About corpora cavernosa infiltration, the definitive outcome confirmed the frozen section examination. PDU vs MRI accuracy was 96.5% vs 90.5%; precision was 92.6% vs 96%; sensitivity was 96.9% vs 73.8%, specificity was 96.2% vs 98.5%. Despite sensitivity (P <.05) no statistical evidence was found between ultrasound and MRI., Conclusion: PDU has a statistical similar outcome on detecting infiltration of corpora cavernosa and could be used as a less expensive tool to drive surgical strategy in patient with a diagnosis of penile squamous cell carcinoma., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Local tumor ablation (LTA) and partial nephrectomy (PN) represent treatment alternatives for patients diagnosed with small renal mass and both may result in renal function detriments. The aim of the study was to compare renal function detriments after LTA or PN., Methods: A Surveillance epidemiology and End Results-Medicare-linked retrospective cohort of 2850 T1 kidney cancer patients who underwent LTA or PN was abstracted. Short-term outcomes consisted of 30-day acute kidney injury (AKI) and 30-day dialysis rates. Long-term outcomes consisted of episodes of AKI, mild and moderate-severe chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease, hemodialysis and anemia in CKD. Analyses consisted of propensity score matching, logistic and Cox regression., Results: After propensity score matching, 1122 patients remained. The 30-day incidence of AKI was 4.6 % after LTA and 9.4 % after PN. In multivariable analyses (MVAs), LTA was associated with a lower AKI rate (OR 0.42; p = 0.001). The 30-day incidence of any dialysis was <2 % after either LTA or PN. In MVA, LTA was not associated with a lower rate of any dialysis (OR 0.43; p = 0.2). At long-term assessment, both the unadjusted and adjusted rates of all six examined end points were not different between LTA and PN (all p > 0.5)., Conclusions: LTA offers short-term protective effect from AKI. The short-term rates of any dialysis treatment are similar after either LTA or PN. At long-term assessment, LTA and PN renal function detriment rates are not different. Concern for long-term functional outcomes should not be a barrier for PN.

Objectives: Recent studies showed that robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) represents an oncologically safe procedure in patients with prostate cancer (PCa), where the rate of positive surgical margins (PSMs) might be lower in patients treated with RARP as compared with that of those undergoing the open approach (open RP [ORP]). The aim of this study is to analyze the rate of PSMs according to preoperative risk groups in a large cohort of patients treated with RARP and ORP in a single institution with standardized surgical technique and pathological examination., Materials and Methods: We evaluated 6,194 consecutive patients with PCa undergoing either ORP (71.1%) or RARP (28.9%) between 1992 and 2014. Logistic regression analyses were used to test the association between type of surgery and PSMs in each preoperative risk group (low vs. intermediate vs. high) after adjusting for confounders., Results: Overall, 21.6% patients had PSMs. RARP was associated with a lower rate of PSMs in low-risk (11.5 vs. 15.4%, P = 0.01), intermediate-risk (18.9 vs. 23.5%, P = 0.008), and high-risk patients (19.7 vs. 30.1%, P<0.001). In multivariable analyses, after stratification according to risk group categories, no difference in PSMs between RARP and ORP was observed for low-risk (odds ratio [OR] = 0.87, P = 0.46) and intermediate-risk patients (OR = 0.84, P = 0.19). Conversely, RARP was associated with lower odds of PSMs in high-risk patients (OR = 0.69, P = 0.04). Similar results were observed when our analyses were repeated after accounting for pathological characteristics, in patients treated between 2006 and 2014 and in a cohort of men treated by high-volume surgeons (all P≤ 0.03)., Conclusions: The introduction of RARP at our institution led to a significant reduction in the risk of PSMs in patients with PCa with high-risk disease., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) represents the leading application of robotic surgery in the urologic field and it has become the main treatment option for localized prostate cancer (PCa) in the USA In the present review we summarized and critically analyzed the literature of the past five years about this widely used robotic procedure. RARP has continuously evolved in terms of technical modifications and procedural steps. Long-term data are now available, suggesting comparable oncological outcomes to those of open and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Good functional outcomes have also been demonstrated. Technological innovations and the introduction of more advanced robotic platforms featuring novel arm-integrated equipment, together with a mature clinical experience with the robotic approach, are likely to lead towards optimal outcomes. Despite the expanding clinical implementation of RARP in the management of prostate cancer, some issues related to this procedure remain matter of debate, such as costs, comparative outcomes versus other approaches, and its role in high risk disease.

Purpose: Prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer in men in Europe. A major focus in urology is the identification of new biomarkers with improved accuracy in patients with low-risk prostate cancer. Here, we evaluated two-dimensional neovascular complexity in prostate tumor and nontumor biopsy cores by use of a computer-aided image analysis system and assessed the correlations between the results and selected clinical and pathological parameters of prostate carcinoma., Materials and Methods: A total of 280 prostate biopsy sections from a homogeneous series of 70 patients with low-risk prostate cancer (Gleason score 3+3, prostate-specific antigen [PSA]<10 ng/mL, and clinical stage T1c) who underwent systematic biopsy sampling and subsequent radical prostatectomy were analyzed. For each biopsy, 2-µm sections were treated with CD34 antibodies and were digitized by using an image analysis system that automatically estimates the surface fractal dimension., Results: Our results showed that biopsy sections without cancer were significantly more vascularized than were tumors. No correlations were found between the vascular surface fractal dimension and patient's age, PSA and free-to-total PSA ratios, pathological stage, Gleason score, tumor volume, vascular invasion, capsular penetration, surgical margins, and biochemical recurrence., Conclusions: The value of angiogenesis in prostate cancer is still controversial. Our findings suggest that low-risk prostate cancer tissues are less vascularized than are nontumor tissues. Further studies are necessary to understand whether angiogenesis is a hallmark of intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer.

Objectives: To test serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) isoform [-2]proPSA (p2PSA), p2PSA/free PSA (%p2PSA) and Prostate Health Index (PHI) accuracy in predicting prostate cancer in obese men and to test whether PHI is more accurate than PSA in predicting prostate cancer in obese patients., Patients and Methods: The analysis consisted of a nested case-control study from the pro-PSA Multicentric European Study (PROMEtheuS) project. The study is registered at http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN04707454. The primary outcome was to test sensitivity, specificity and accuracy (clinical validity) of serum p2PSA, %p2PSA and PHI, in determining prostate cancer at prostate biopsy in obese men [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m(2) ], compared with total PSA (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA) and fPSA/tPSA ratio (%fPSA). The number of avoidable prostate biopsies (clinical utility) was also assessed. Multivariable logistic regression models were complemented by predictive accuracy analysis and decision-curve analysis., Results: Of the 965 patients, 383 (39.7%) were normal weight (BMI <25 kg/m(2) ), 440 (45.6%) were overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2) ) and 142 (14.7%) were obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m(2) ). Among obese patients, prostate cancer was found in 65 patients (45.8%), with a higher percentage of Gleason score ≥7 diseases (67.7%). PSA, p2PSA, %p2PSA and PHI were significantly higher, and %fPSA significantly lower in patients with prostate cancer (P < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression models, PHI significantly increased accuracy of the base multivariable model by 8.8% (P = 0.007). At a PHI threshold of 35.7, 46 (32.4%) biopsies could have been avoided., Conclusion: In obese patients, PHI is significantly more accurate than current tests in predicting prostate cancer., (© 2014 The Authors. BJU International © 2014 BJU International.)

Purpose: To compare long-term cancer outcomes after radical cystectomy (RC) alone or RC with pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) according to different age and comorbidities categories., Methods: Using the SEER-Medicare dataset, 3314 patients diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder and treated with RC alone or RC with PLND were identified. After propensity score matching to reduce potential selection bias, all cause mortality (ACM)-free and cancer specific mortality (CSM)-free survival rates were estimated. Multivariable regression models (MVA) addressed the effect of PLND on ACM and CSM. Subgroups analyses according to age and comorbidities were performed., Results: After matching, 688 and 688 patients treated with RC alone or RC with PLND remained. The 5-year ACM-free survival rate was 36 after RC alone and 45% after RC with PLND (p < 0001). In MVA, PLND exerted a protective effect on ACM (HR 0.77, p < 0.001). The 5-year CSM-free survival rate was 54 after RC alone and 65% after RC with PLND (p < 0.001). In MVA, PLND exerted a protective effect on CSM (HR 0.71, p < 0.001). Similar results were observed in younger (age ≤75) and healthier (CCI = 0) patients, where PLND exerted a protective effect on ACM (HR 0.64, p = 0.001) and CSM (HR 0.65, p = 0.01). Conversely, in older (age >75) and sicker (CCI ≥1) patients, PLND was not associated with ACM (HR 0.98, p = 0.8) or CSM (HR 1.01, p = 0.9)., Conclusions: RC with PLND is associated with improved all cause and cancer specific survival in younger and healthier RC candidates but not in older and sicker patients., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Data regarding long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic renal cryoablation (LRC) as first treatment for small renal masses (SRMs) are lacking. We hypothesized that LRC might provide an effective long-term cancer control in patients with a single cT1a SRM without a previous history of renal cell carcinoma (RCC)., Materials and Methods: The study design was a retrospective analysis of 174 consecutive patients who received LRC as first treatment for a single computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging contrast-enhancing cT1a SRM between 2000 and 2013. Patients with a previous history of RCC were excluded. Treatment failure was evaluated 1 day after surgery. Local recurrence, metachronous SRM, systemic progression, disease relapse, cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality were evaluated 10 years after surgery. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to depict outcome-free survival rate., Results: Median patient age was 66 years. Median tumor size was 20mm. Median follow-up was 48 months. Among patients with biopsy-proven RCC (63%, n = 109), the treatment failure-free rate was 98%. The 10-year recurrence-free survival rate was 95% and the 10-year metachronous SRM-free survival rate was 87%. The 10-year systemic progression-free survival rate was 100% and the 10-year disease relapse-free survival rate was 81%. The cancer-specific mortality-free survival rate was 100%, and the all-cause mortality-free survival rate was 61%., Conclusions: LRC provides safe long-term cancer control in patients newly diagnosed with a single cT1a SRM. Treatment failure and local recurrence are uncommon. Systemic progression-free survival and cancer-specific-free survival are optimal., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is recognized as an organ-specific marker with low specificity and sensitivity in discriminating prostate cancer (PCa) from other benign conditions, such as prostatic hyperplasia or chronic prostatitis. Thus, in the case of clinical suspicion, a PCa diagnosis cannot be made without a prostate biopsy. [-2]proPSA (p2PSA), a precursor of PSA, has been investigated as a new marker to accurately detect PCa. The aim of this systematic review was to discuss the available literature regarding the clinical validity and utility of p2PSA and its derivatives, p2PSA/fPSA (%p2PSA) and the Prostate Health Index (PHI). A systematic search of the PubMed and Scopus electronic databases was performed in accordance with the PRISMA statement (http://www.prisma-statement.org), considering the time period from January 1990 to January 2014 and using the following search terms: proprostate specific antigen, proenzyme PSA, proPSA, [-2]proPSA, p2PSA, Prostate Health Index, and PHI. To date, 115 studies have been published, but only 35 were considered for the qualitative analysis. These studies suggested that p2PSA is the most cancer-specific form of PSA, being preferentially expressed in PCa tissue and being significantly elevated in the serum of men with PCa. It is now evident that p2PSA, %p2PSA, and PHI measurements improve the specificity of the available tests (PSA and derivatives) in detecting PCa. Moreover, increasing PHI values seem to correlate with more aggressive disease. Some studies have compared p2PSA and its derivatives with other new biomarkers and found p2PSA to be significantly more accurate. Indeed, the implementation of these tests in clinical practice has the potential to significantly increase the physician's ability to detect PCa and avoid unnecessary biopsies, while also having an effective impact on costs. Further studies in large, multicenter, prospective trials are required to confirm these encouraging results on the clinical utility of these new biomarkers.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum [-2]proPSA (p2PSA) and derivatives with chronic histologic prostatic inflammation (CHPI) in men undergoing prostate biopsy for suspected prostate cancer (PCa)., Methods: This nested case-control study resulted from an observational prospective trial for the definition of sensibility, specificity, and accuracy of p2PSA, %p2PSA, and Beckman Coulter Prostate Health Index (PHI), in men undergoing prostate biopsy, with a total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of 4-10 ng/mL and normal digital rectal examination. CHPI was the outcome of interest and defined as the presence of moderate to large infiltration of lymphomononuclear cells with interstitial and/or glandular disruption in absence of PCa. p2PSA, %p2PSA, and PHI were considered the index tests and compared with the established biomarker reference standard tests: tPSA, fPSA, %fPSA., Results: Of 267 patients subjected to prostate biopsy, 73 (27.3%) patients were diagnosed with CHPI. Comparing CHPI with PCa patients, %p2PSA and PHI were found to be significantly lower, whereas fPSA and %fPSA were significantly higher. %p2PSA and PHI were the most accurate predictors of CHPI at biopsy, significantly outperforming tPSA, fPSA, and %fPSA. On the contrary, no significant differences were found in PSA, p2PSA, and derivatives between CHPI and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients., Conclusion: Our findings showed that p2PSA, %p2PSA, and PHI values might discriminate PCa from CHPI or BPH, but not CHPI from BPH, in men with a total PSA 4-10 ng/mL and normal digital rectal examination. p2PSA isoform and its derivatives could be useful in clinical decision making to avoid unnecessary biopsies in patients with CHPI and elevated tPSA value., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Context: Over the last two decades, minimally invasive treatment options for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) have been developed and popularized., Objective: To critically analyze the current status of laparoscopic and robotic repair of UPJO., Evidence Acquisition: A systematic literature review was performed in November 2012 using PubMed. Article selection proceeded according to the search strategy based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses criteria., Evidence Synthesis: Multiple series of laparoscopic pyeloplasty have demonstrated high success rates and low perioperative morbidity in pediatric and adult populations, with both the transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches. Data on pediatric robot-assisted pyeloplasty are increasingly becoming available. A larger number of cases have also been reported for adult patients, confirming that robotic pyeloplasty represents a viable option for either primary or secondary repair. Robot-assisted redo pyeloplasty has been mostly described in the pediatric population. Different technical variations have been implemented with the aim of tailoring the procedure to each specific case. The type of stenting, retrograde versus antegrade, continues to be debated. Internal-external stenting as well as a stentless approach have been used, especially in the pediatric population. Comparative studies demonstrate similar success and complication rates between minimally invasive and open pyeloplasty in both the adult and pediatric setting. A clear advantage in terms of hospital stay for minimally invasive over open pyeloplasty was observed only in the adult population., Conclusions: Laparoscopy represents an efficient and effective less invasive alternative to open pyeloplasty. Robotic pyeloplasty is likely to emerge as the new minimally invasive standard of care whenever robotic technology is available because its precise suturing and shorter learning curve represent unique attractive features. For both laparoscopy and robotics, the technique can be tailored to the specific case according to intraoperative findings and personal surgical experience., (Copyright © 2013 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We present a compact portable biosensor to measure arsenic As(III) concentrations in water using Escherichia coli bioreporter cells. Escherichia coli expresses green fluorescent protein in a linearly dependent manner as a function of the arsenic concentration (between 0 and 100 μg/L). The device accommodates a small polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic chip that holds the agarose-encapsulated bacteria, and a complete optical illumination/collection/detection system for automated quantitative fluorescence measurements. The device is capable of sampling water autonomously, controlling the whole measurement, storing and transmitting data over GSM networks. We demonstrate highly reproducible measurements of arsenic in drinking water at 10 and 50 μg/L within 100 and 80 min, respectively.

Current treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) include watchful waiting, medical therapy, and interventional procedures. The post-surgical complication profile and the early discontinuation of medical therapy are significant drawbacks of the established approach and stimulate the search for less-invasive approaches. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive review all available literature on prostatic urethral lift (PUL), presenting an overview of safety, indications, surgical technique and results of the procedure, and to evaluate the potential role it could play in the treatment of BPH. A comprehensive search was conduct on PubMed and Scopus database to identify original articles in English dealing with PUL without any limit to publication date. Keywords used were prostatic urethral lift, urethral lifting, Urolift, benign prostatic hyperplasia and minimally invasive therapy. The PUL seems to offer a better IPSS improvement when compared to medical therapy, but the result is inferior when compared to surgical therapy. Published studies report an absence of degradation of erectile or ejaculatory function after treatment, which appears a noteworthy benefit of PUL. Additional advantages of the PUL are a better complication profile in comparison to other surgical therapies and the use of a local anesthesia, sometimes without postoperative catheterization. The PUL, a novel, minimally invasive treatment option for men affected by BPH, presents a promising potential although it is clear that PUL is not a substitute for traditional ablative surgical approach, as this procedure requires a scrupulous selection of the patient.

Background: The ventral oral mucosal onlay graft is suggested in proximal bulbar strictures where the thick spongiosum provides excellent support to the graft. Some technical steps used in this technique are currently under debate in the literature., Objective: To describe the surgical steps of this urethroplasty and investigate predictive factors of success using a multivariable logistic regression analysis., Design, Setting, and Participants: This is a descriptive observational retrospective study of 214 patients who underwent urethroplasty for bulbar urethral strictures between May 1999 and November 2010 in a single high-volume center. Study inclusion criteria were patients presenting nontraumatic bulbar urethral strictures ranging from 1.3 cm to 6.8 cm in length. Exclusion criteria were traumatic strictures, panurethral strictures, lichen sclerosus, and failed hypospadias repair., Surgical Procedure: The oral graft was placed on the ventral bulbar urethral surface and pushed as proximally as possible using dedicated instruments and surgical techniques., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: The primary outcome measure was the objective result, defined as the absence of stricture recurrence at follow-up. The objective outcome was considered a failure when any postoperative instrumentation was needed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was developed. All tests were two sided with a significance level set at 0.05., Results and Limitations: Median follow-up was 54 mo. Of the 214 patients, 183 (85.5%) were successful and 31 (14.5%) were failures. The preoperative maximum flow rate (Qmax) was a significant predictor of surgical outcome (odds ratio: 1.352; p = 0.001). Age, length, and type of stenosis, and previous treatment were not significant predictors of surgical outcome (all p > 0.05). The limitation of our survey is the absence of a subjective evaluation or the use of specific tools, such as a questionnaire., Conclusions: Ventral oral graft urethroplasty represents a valid option in nontraumatic bulbar strictures. Preoperative Qmax may be predictive of urethroplasty failure., (Copyright © 2013 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The International Task Force on Prostate Cancer defines focal therapy (FT) for prostate cancer (PCa) as the therapy that "selectively ablates known disease and preserves existing functions, with the overall objective of minimizing lifetime morbidity without compromising life expectancy". FT for the treatment of PCa has been called the "male lumpectomy", an analogue to women's breast lumpectomy for the treatment of breast cancer. Radical prostatectomy continues to be the most frequently performed treatment for localized PCa, as anatomic knowledge and several technical advances, i.e. the introduction of robotic assisted surgery, have led to successful oncological outcome and lower rates of post-treatment morbidity. However, a proportion of patients still experiences a no negligible sexual, urinary, and bowel morbidity. Although the rationale of active surveillance for low-risk PCa (PSA <10 ng/mL, Gleason grade 6 or less, and clinical stage T1c-T2a) is sound, only few of newly diagnosed patients elect this approach. Thus, in the recent years the concept of a "subtotal therapy" gained the interest of some urological schools. The aim of this paper is to review the existing literature in order to provide the status of art on FT for PCa. The manuscript will focus on the characteristics of the target population, on the pre-operative evaluation to localise disease, as well as on perioperative, functional, and disease-control following focal therapy.

Objectives: To test the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of serum prostate-specific antigen isoform [-2]proPSA (p2PSA), %p2PSA and the prostate health index (PHI), in men with a family history of prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing prostate biopsy for suspected PCa. To evaluate the potential reduction in unnecessary biopsies and the characteristics of potentially missed cases of PCa that would result from using serum p2PSA, %p2PSA and PHI., Patients and Methods: The analysis consisted of a nested case-control study from the PRO-PSA Multicentric European Study, the PROMEtheuS project. All patients had a first-degree relative (father, brother, son) with PCa. Multivariable logistic regression models were complemented by predictive accuracy analysis and decision-curve analysis., Results: Of the 1026 patients included in the PROMEtheuS cohort, 158 (15.4%) had a first-degree relative with PCa. p2PSA, %p2PSA and PHI values were significantly higher (P < 0.001), and free/total PSA (%fPSA) values significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the 71 patients with PCa (44.9%) than in patients without PCa. Univariable accuracy analysis showed %p2PSA (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve [AUC]: 0.733) and PHI (AUC: 0.733) to be the most accurate predictors of PCa at biopsy, significantly outperforming total PSA ([tPSA] AUC: 0.549), free PSA ([fPSA] AUC: 0.489) and %fPSA (AUC: 0.600) (P ≤ 0.001). For %p2PSA a threshold of 1.66 was found to have the best balance between sensitivity and specificity (70.4 and 70.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 58.4-80.7 and 59.4-79.5 respectively). A PHI threshold of 40 was found to have the best balance between sensitivity and specificity (64.8 and 71.3%, respectively; 95% CI 52.5-75.8 and 60.6-80.5). At 90% sensitivity, the thresholds for %p2PSA and PHI were 1.20 and 25.5, with a specificity of 37.9 and 25.5%, respectively. At a %p2PSA threshold of 1.20, a total of 39 (24.8%) biopsies could have been avoided, but two cancers with a Gleason score (GS) of 7 would have been missed. At a PHI threshold of 25.5 a total of 27 (17.2%) biopsies could have been avoided and two (3.8%) cancers with a GS of 7 would have been missed. In multivariable logistic regression models, %p2PSA and PHI achieved independent predictor status and significantly increased the accuracy of multivariable models including PSA and prostate volume by 8.7 and 10%, respectively (P ≤ 0.001). p2PSA, %p2PSA and PHI were directly correlated with Gleason score (ρ: 0.247, P = 0.038; ρ: 0.366, P = 0.002; ρ: 0.464, P < 0.001, respectively)., Conclusions: %p2PSA and PHI are more accurate than tPSA, fPSA and %fPSA in predicting PCa in men with a family history of PCa. Consideration of %p2PSA and PHI results in the avoidance of several unnecessary biopsies. p2PSA, %p2PSA and PHI correlate with cancer aggressiveness., (© 2013 BJU International.)

A wide variety of whole cell bioreporter and biosensor assays for arsenic detection has been developed over the past decade. The assays permit flexible detection instrumentation while maintaining excellent method of detection limits in the environmentally relevant range of 10-50 μg arsenite per L and below. New emerging trends focus on genetic rewiring of reporter cells and/or integration into microdevices for more optimal detection. A number of case studies have shown realistic field applicability of bioreporter assays., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: To date, only a few studies have addressed the long-term oncological outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) in patients with pathological Gleason score ≥ 8 prostate cancer. According to these reports, some individuals with pathological Gleason score ≥ 8 may benefit from RP, with cancer-control outcomes comparable with those of patients with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The presence of pathological Gleason score 8-10 represents a poor prognostic factor in the outcome of men with prostate cancer. However, in patients with specimen-confined disease, RP and bilateral PLND provided long-term cancer-control outcomes similar to those of patients with more favourable disease characteristics., Objectives: To evaluate the outcomes of patients with pathological Gleason score 8-10 prostate cancer subjected to radical prostatectomy (RP). To determine the prognostic factors associated with cancer-specific survival (CSS) in this subset of patients., Patients and Methods: The study included 580 consecutive patients with pathological Gleason sum 8-10 prostate cancer treated with RP and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) at a single European institution between July 1988 and April 2010. All patients had detailed pathological and follow-up data. Pathological Gleason score was determined by a single expert genitourinary pathologist. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was defined PSA concentration of ≥ 0.2 ng/mL and rising. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to graphically explore BCR-free survival as well as CSS and overall survival (OS) rates. Moreover, univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were fitted to test the predictors of CSS., Results: The mean (median, range) age at surgery was 66.1 (66.4, 41-85) years. The mean (median, range) total PSA concentration was 29.6 (11.1, 0.5-1710) ng/mL. Pathological Gleason score was 8 in 238 (41.0%), 9 in 330 (56.9%) and 10 in 12 (2.1%) patients. Overall, 119 (20.5%), 124 (21.4%), 281 (48.4%) and 56 (9.7%) patients had pT2, pT3a, pT3b and pT4 prostate cancer, respectively. Overall, 275 (47.4%) had LN invasion, while 150 (25.1%) patients had specimen-confined disease (defined as pT2cR0 pN0 or pT3aR0 pN0 prostate cancer). The mean (median, range) follow-up was 53 (47, 1-226) months. At 5 and 10 years after RP, BCR-free survival was 76.7% and 49.6%, respectively. Similarly, the 5- and 10-year CSS rates were 87.3% and 69.5%, respectively. Patients with specimen-confined disease (P < 0.001) and patients with negative LNs (P = 0.012) had significantly better CSS rates than their counterparts with less favourable pathological characteristics. In multivariable Cox regression models, only the presence of specimen-confined disease achieved independent predictor status (P = 0.001)., Conclusion: Presence of high Gleason score at RP represents a poor prognostic factor in the outcome of patients with prostate cancer. However, RP provides excellent long-term cancer control outcomes in the subset of patients with specimen-confined disease., (© 2012 The Authors. BJU International © 2012 BJU International.)

Backgrounds: Limited data are available for the use of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in tumors >4 cm. The objectives of this study were to report the perioperative outcomes of a series of patients who underwent RAPN for suspicious >4 cm renal tumors and to compare these results with those observed in a group of patients with ≤4 cm tumors., Methods: We analyzed retrospectively the clinical records of 49 patients who underwent RAPN for suspicious of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) >4 cm in size at four centers from September 2008 to September 2010. All patients underwent da Vinci RAPN. The results were compared with those observed in a group of patients undergoing RAPN for ≤4 cm renal tumors., Results: The median warm ischemia time (WIT) was 22 min (Interquartile range [IQR] 18-28). The median console time was 145 min (median IQR 112-177). The median blood loss was 120 mL (IQR 62-237). In two cases, we observed intraoperative renal vein injury (4 %). Postoperative complications were reported in 13 (26.5 %) patients. Major complications were observed in 4 (8.2 %) cases. Patients with large tumors showed perioperative outcomes worse than those received the RAPN for ≤4 cm tumors. Conversely, no significant difference was observed in positive surgical margin (PSM) rates., Conclusions: These outcomes support the use of RAPN as possible alternative to open PN for the treatment for patients with suspicious renal masses >4 cm. Positive surgical margin rates demonstrated RAPN is an oncologically safe procedure for tumors >4 cm.

Purpose: We tested the hypothesis that serum isoform [-2]proPSA derivatives %p2PSA and Prostate Health Index are accurate predictors of prostate cancer in men scheduled for repeat biopsy., Materials and Methods: The study was an observational prospective evaluation of a clinical cohort of men with 1 or 2 previous negative prostate biopsies, with persistent suspicion of prostate cancer. They were enrolled in the study to determine the diagnostic accuracy of %p2PSA using the formula, (p2PSA pg/ml)/(free prostate specific antigen ng/ml × 1,000)]× 100, and Beckman-Coulter Prostate Health Index using the formula, (p2PSA/free prostate specific antigen) × √total prostate specific antigen), and to compare it with the accuracy of established prostate cancer serum tests (total prostate specific antigen, free prostate specific antigen and percent free prostate specific antigen). Multivariable logistic regression models were complemented by predictive accuracy analysis and decision curve analysis., Results: Prostate cancer was found in 71 of 222 (31.9%) subjects. %p2PSA and Prostate Health Index were the most accurate predictors of disease. %p2PSA significantly outperformed total prostate specific antigen, free prostate specific antigen, percent free prostate specific antigen and p2PSA in the prediction of prostate cancer (p ≤0.01), but not Prostate Health Index (p = 0.094). Prostate Health Index significantly outperformed total prostate specific antigen and p2PSA (p ≤0.001) but not free prostate specific antigen (p = 0.109) and free/total prostate specific antigen (p = 0.136). In multivariable logistic regression models %p2PSA and Prostate Health Index achieved independent predictor status, and significantly increased the accuracy of multivariable models including prostate specific antigen and prostate volume with or without percent free prostate specific antigen and prostate specific antigen density by 8% to 11% (p ≤0.034). At a %p2PSA cutoff of 1.23, 153 (68.9%) biopsies could have been avoided, missing prostate cancer in 6 patients. At a Prostate Health Index cutoff of 28.8, 116 (52.25%) biopsies could have been avoided, missing prostate cancer in 6 patients., Conclusions: Serum %p2PSA and Prostate Health Index are more accurate than standard reference tests in predicting repeat prostate biopsy outcome, and could avoid unnecessary repeat biopsies., (Copyright © 2012 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Warm ischemia time (WIT) and complication rates are two important parameters for evaluating the perioperative results of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). Few data are available about the clinical predictors of WIT and overall complications., Objective: To identify clinical predictors of WIT and perioperative complications., Design, Setting, and Participants: This is a retrospective study including 347 patients who underwent RAPN for suspicious renal cell carcinoma (RCC) at four referral centers from September 2008 to September 2010., Intervention: All patients underwent RAPN using the da Vinci S Surgical System with hilar clamping., Measurements: WIT >20 min and overall complication rates were the main outcomes. Postoperative complications were classified according to the Clavien/Dindo system. Moreover, the following perioperative variables were considered: clinical tumor size, anatomical tumor characteristics according to Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical (PADUA) classification score, surgeon experience, console time, blood loss, and upper collecting system (UCS) repair., Results and Limitations: WIT >20 min was reported in 125 (36%) cases. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were observed in 10 (2.9%) and 41 (11.8%) cases, respectively. Surgeon experience (odds ratio [OR]: 6.381; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.687-11.042; p<0.001), clinical tumor size (OR: 1.022; 95% CI, 1.002-1.044; p=0.03), the other anatomic characteristics determined by the PADUA classification score (OR: 1.294; 95% CI, 1.080-1.549; p=0.005), and the UCS repair (OR: 2.987; 95% CI, 1.728-5.165; p<0.001) turned out to be independent predictors of WIT >20 min. Similarly, surgeon experience (OR: 3.937; 95% CI, 2.011-7.705; p<0.001), clinical tumor size (OR: 1.033; 95% CI, 1.009-1.058; p=0.007), and the other anatomical characteristics determined by the PADUA classification score (OR: 1.427; 95% CI, 1.149-1.773; p<0.001) turned out to be independent predictors of overall complication rates. The retrospective design is the main limitation of this multicenter, international study. Therefore, some patient characteristics and comorbidities were not recorded., Conclusions: Anatomic tumor characteristics as determined by the PADUA classification score were independent predictors of WIT and overall complications, once adjusted for the effects of surgeon experience and clinical tumor size., (Copyright © 2011 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although the incidence of iatrogenic ureteral strictures is low, the treatment remains challenging., Objective: To report our technique of robot-assisted uretero-ureterostomy (RAUU) for adults with iatrogenic lumbar and iliac stricture., Design, Setting, and Participants: A descriptive study was performed by our department. Since April 2009, five patients underwent RAUU: Two patients had developed a lumbar or iliac ureteral stricture following a ureterorenoscopy, one had ureteral catheter positioning, one had colon surgery, and one had resection of retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma. Preoperative evaluation includes history, computed tomography (CT) scan, and mercaptoacetyltriglycine-3 (MAG3) diuretic renal scan., Surgical Procedure: A flank position was used for all patients with lumbar stenosis. A supine position with the bed turned 30° was required for iliac stricture. The optical port, two 8-mm robotic ports, and one 5-mm assistant port were used. A precise definition of the site and extension of the stricture was done using the flexible ureterorenoscope. After the stricture resection, the anastomosis was performed with two running sutures on a ureteral double-J stent., Measurements: Success was defined as no postoperative symptoms and evidence of no obstruction at the CT/urography and at the MAG3 scan at 6-mo follow-up., Results and Limitations: RAUU was technically feasible in all five patients. Average operating time was 135min, and median hospital stay was 3 d. No significant complications occurred. Absence of stricture recurrence and no reduction of kidney function were confirmed by CT/urography and MAG3 scans. At a mean follow-up of 8 mo, all patients were asymptomatic. The main limitations were the short follow-up and the small sample size., Conclusions: RAUU is feasible and safe for repairing iatrogenic lumbar and iliac ureteral strictures. The flexible ureterorenoscopy is useful to localise the obstruction and to correctly define its site and extension to spare as much ureter as possible., (Copyright © 2011 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Combining bacterial bioreporters with microfluidics systems holds great promise for in-field detection of chemical or toxicity targets. Recently we showed how Escherichia coli cells engineered to produce a variant of green fluorescent protein after contact to arsenite and arsenate can be encapsulated in agarose beads and incorporated into a microfluidic chip to create a device for in-field detection of arsenic, a contaminant of well known toxicity and carcinogenicity in potable water both in industrialized and developing countries. Cell-beads stored in the microfluidics chip at -20°C retained inducibility up to one month and we were able to reproducibly discriminate concentrations of 10 and 50 μg arsenite per L (the drinking water standards for European countries and the United States, and for the developing countries, respectively) from the blank in less than 200 minutes. We discuss here the reasons for decreasing bioreporter signal development upon increased storage of cell beads but also show how this decrease can be reduced, leading to a faster detection and a longer lifetime of the device.

Contamination with arsenic is a recurring problem in both industrialized and developing countries. Drinking water supplies for large populations can have concentrations much higher than the permissible levels (for most European countries and the United States, 10 μg As per L; elsewhere, 50 μg As per L). Arsenic analysis requires high-end instruments, which are largely unavailable in developing countries. Bioassays based on genetically engineered bacteria have been proposed as suitable alternatives but such tests would profit from better standardization and direct incorporation into sensing devices. The goal of this work was to develop and test microfluidic devices in which bacterial bioreporters could be embedded, exposed and reporter signals detected, as a further step towards a complete miniaturized bacterial biosensor. The signal element in the biosensor is a nonpathogenic laboratory strain of Escherichia coli, which produces a variant of the green fluorescent protein after contact to arsenite and arsenate. E. coli bioreporter cells were encapsulated in agarose beads and incorporated into a microfluidic device where they were captured in 500 × 500 μm(2) cages and exposed to aqueous samples containing arsenic. Cell-beads frozen at -20 °C in the microfluidic chip retained inducibility for up to a month and arsenic samples with 10 or 50 μg L(-1) could be reproducibly discriminated from the blank. In the 0-50 μg L(-1) range and with an exposure time of 200 minutes, the rate of signal increase was linearly proportional to the arsenic concentration. The time needed to reliably and reproducibly detect a concentration of 50 μg L(-1) was 75-120 minutes, and 120-180 minutes for a concentration of 10 μg L(-1).

Objectives: To review the oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic renal cryoablation (LRC) for small renal masses (SRMs) <4 cm., Methods: The present study was an observational, retrospective analysis of LRC in 123 patients. The indications for LRC were solid SRMs of the kidney <4 cm in diameter diagnosed on preoperative computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging as an enhancing mass. Follow-up was determined using magnetic resonance imaging. Local recurrence after LRC was defined as an enlarging or persistently enhancing treatment site on follow-up imaging., Results: A total of 131 SRMs in 123 patients (91 men and 32 women) were treated from September 2000 to June 2008. The mean tumor size was 2.14 ± 0.86 cm (range 0.5-4). Biopsy cores from the 123 patients revealed clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in 69 patients (56.1%), papillary RCC in 8 (6.53%), chromophobe RCC in 3 (2.4%), mucinous, tubular, and spindle RCC in 1 (0.8%), oncocytoma in 27 (21.9%), angiomyolipoma in 5 (4.1%), and xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in 1 patient (0.8%). The biopsy findings were nondiagnostic (fibrotic/necrotic tissue) in 9 cases (7.3%). The mean follow-up was 46.04 ± 25.75 months (median 41, range 12-96). In 44 patients with RCC and a mean follow-up of 61.3 ± 13.76 months, the cancer-specific survival rate was 100% and the overall survival rate was 93.2%. None of the 53 patients (RCC plus those with nonmalignant lesions) who had follow-up >5 years developed radiographic recurrence., Conclusions: Our findings have confirmed that LRC can be considered a safe and intermediate-term effective method to treat SRMs., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate whether posterior and anterior fixation of the vesicourethral anastomosis during robotic radical prostatectomy (RRP) helps to establish continence earlier., Material and Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients undergoing RRP were randomized into two groups. The first group received a typical Van Velthoven vesicourethral anastomosis and the second group a modified anastomosis with posterior and anterior fixation. In this group the posterior fibrous tissues of the sphincter were sutured to the residual Denonvilliers' fascia. The anastomosis with two running sutures started at the 6 o'clock position on the bladder neck and continued upwards. Two-step stitching was done on the upper half of the anastomosis to ensure good stabilization of the bladder: a small portion of urethral stump followed by a deep haemostatic stitch on the plexus. Continence, as measured by patient self-reporting of the number of pads used per 24 h, was assessed 7 weeks after catheter removal, by telephone interview. The use of no pads or one pad was defined as "continent", two pads as "moderate incontinence" and more than two pads as "severe incontinence"., Results: At catheter removal, more patients in the fixation group were continent than in the Van Velthoven group [9/23 (39%) vs 3/24 (12.5%), p = 0.036]. At 7 weeks, continence was even better in the fixation group [15/23 (65%) vs 8/24 (33%), p = 0. 029]. The mean pad usage was less in the fixation group (1.43 vs 2.25, p = 0.032)., Conclusions: The posterior and anterior fixation of the vesicourethral anastomosis during RRP results in an intact sphincteric mechanism, because no stretch is applied to the urethra, resulting in earlier continence.

The objective of this study is to describe our technique and results of the enucleoresection technique in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. The patient is positioned in full flank position. Three robotic arms of a da Vinci system and an assistant's port are used. The renal hilus is freed, the kidney mobilized and the site of the partial excision prepared. The vessels are clamped with a bulldog. The capsula of the kidney is incised circular about 5 mm around the tumor. A pseudocapsula of compressed healthy tissue around the tumor is found and mainly blunt dissection is done with the cold scissors. At the base of the dissection, the resection is completed sharply. Possible calyceal defects and major vessels are stitched. Fibrinogen coagulation enhancer and cellulose coagulation sponge are used to lessen the gap and the renal defect is closed with absorbable suture. The kidney is re-perfused and observed for bleeding. We have performed 17 cases with warm ischemia time 16-35 min (mean 24 min) and tumor size 2.2-5.3 cm (mean 3.8 cm). All surgical margins were tumor free. No postoperative complications were identified except one clot retention. Robot-assisted enucleoresection of kidney tumors is a feasible and very promising technique that needs to be further evaluated for results.

Background and Purpose: Creation of an optimal retroperitoneal space is of pivotal importance in laparoscopic retroperitoneal surgery. The aim of this study was to examine the balloon dissecting technique developed at our institution, comparing the costs of our device with that of a commercially available balloon retroperitoneal expander., Patients and Methods: Twenty patients scheduled to undergo retroperitoneoscopic surgery were randomly divided in two groups. In group 1, retroperitoneal dilation was performed with the commercially available balloon expander. In group 2, we employed our balloon dilator created with two middle finger of No. 8 powder-free surgical gloves tied to a nondisposable 11-mm trocar and filled with 600 mL of saline employing two 60-mL syringes simultaneously. Subjective evaluation of the created space was performed blindly in both groups. Economic evaluation included the costs of the disposable materials and of the time required for dilation., Results: In all cases, the dilation was considered good. In group 1, the median time required to dilate the retroperitoneal space was 3.15 minutes, whereas in group 2, the median time required was 1.16 minutes, and the time required to dissect the retroperitoneal space was 4.41 minutes (total 5.57 minutes). Considering the costs of the disposable material, the overall costs of creating the retroperitoneal space was 141.95 euro in group 1 and 60.27 euro in group 2 (P < 0.005)., Conclusion: The original dissecting balloon employed at our institution is easy and fast and offers a valid option for the proper dissection of the retroperitoneal space. Moreover, it was revealed to be cost-effective compared with the commercially available device.

Objective: Optimal retroperitoneal space creation is of pivotal importance in laparoscopic retroperitoneal surgery. The aim of this study is to report the balloon dissecting technique developed at our institution, comparing the costs of such device with that of the commercially available balloon retroperitoneal expanders. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients, scheduled to undergo retroperitoneoscopic surgery, were randomly divided into two groups. In group 1, retroperitoneal dilatation was performed with the commercially available balloon expander. In group 2, we employed the original balloon dilator created with two middle fingers of a #8 powder-free surgical glove tied to a nondisposable 11 mm trocar and filled with 600 mL of saline, employing simultaneously two 50 mL syringes. Subjective evaluation of the created space was performed by a surgeon blinded in both groups. Economical evaluation included the costs of the disposable materials and of the time in the operative room required to create the dilation. Results: In all the cases, the created dilatation was considered good. In group 1, the time required to dilate the retroperitoneal space was medially 3.15 minutes, whereas in group 2, the time required to prepare the dissecting balloon was medially 1.16 minutes and the time required to dissect the retroperitoneal space was 4.41 minutes (total 5.57 minutes). Considering the costs of the disposable material, the overall costs to create the retroperitoneal space resulted to be 141.95€ in group 1 and 60.27€ in group 2 ( p  < 0.005). Conclusion: The original dissecting balloon employed at our institution revealed to be easy and of fast manner and offers a valid option for the proper retroperitoneal dissection. Moreover, it revealed to be cost-effective compared with the commercially available supply.