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Purpose of Review: Urinary pH is an important factor related to renal stone disease, and it plays an essential role in stone prevention. Monitoring of urinary pH by patients at home provides information that can help to assess the treatment needed by each patient. We conducted a systematic review is to assess the available evidence concerning urinary pH monitoring methods along with their accuracy, cost, and usefulness by patients with urolithiasis., Recent Findings: A total of 9 articles were included (1886 urinary pH measurements). They reported information about urinary dipsticks, portable electronic pH meters and electronic strip readers, amongst other methods. Accuracy was compared with a laboratory pH meter (gold standard). Urinary dipsticks were found to be not accurate enough to guide clinical decision making and portable electronic pH meters showed promising results. Urinary dipsticks are neither precise nor accurate enough. Portable electronic pH meters seem to be more accurate, easy to use, and cost-effective. They are a reliable source for patients to use at home in order to prevent future episodes of nephrolithiasis., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction and Objectives: The incidence of upper urinary tract tumors is currently unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the real incidence of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in Spain., Material and Methods: A descriptive, prospective and multicenter epidemiological study was conducted in 31 Spanish facilities by means of the Platform for Multicenter Studies of the Spanish Association of Urology. Recruitment was opened from May 1 st , 2017 to April 30 th , 2018. The original database was exported directly from the electronic Data Collection Logbook on December 15 th , 2018, with a total of 404 cases registered (402 valid cases after depuration). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS software v 23 and EPIDAT v 3.4., Results: The incidence adjusted to Spanish population from raw data was 3.27 cases per 100.000 inhabitants per year (2.93 - 3.61 95% CI) and 3,3 cases per 100.000 inhabitants per year (2.96-3.66 95%CI) when adjusted to European population by age. The mean age at diagnosis was 70 years, and 77% of patients were male. Thirty-four percent of patients had an incidental diagnosis. Tumors were most commonly located in the pyelocalyceal system (54%), followed by the distal ureter (22%). Prior ureteroscopy was performed in 114 patients: this technique modified the subsequent treatment indication in 58% of cases. Radical nephroureterectomy was performed in 311 patients. Kidney-sparing surgery was the elected treatment in 76 patients (20%). Complications were found in 69% of cases, most of them classified as Clavien 1 and 2 (86% of all complications). Postoperative mortality rate was 1.7%., Conclusions: UTUC adjusted incidence rate in Spain is 3.27 and 3.3 in Europe. Prior URS modified the treatment indication in 18% of patients. We found a 69% complication rate and a 1.7% mortality rate., (Copyright © 2020 AEU. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim was to assess a new biodegradable and antireflux intraureteral stent (BraidStent ® ) design in a swine model after ureteral laparoscopic operation. Materials and Methods: A total of 24 female pigs underwent initial endoscopic, nephrosonographic, and contrast fluoroscopy assessment of the urinary tract. Afterward, unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction was performed by laparoscopic approach. Six weeks later, the animals underwent laparoscopic Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty, and were randomly assigned to Group-I, in which a double-pigtail ureteral stent was inserted for 6 weeks, or Group-II, in which a BraidStent ® , a biodegradable intraureteral stent design, was placed. Follow-up assessments were performed at 3 and 6 weeks and 5 months. Results: In terms of therapeutic success, complete resolution was observed in 91.6% of Group-I animals and 88.8% in Group-II. No evidence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was observed in Group-II animals and statistical significance in VUR and ureteral orifice damage were observed between groups. BraidStent ® degradation occurred in a controlled manner between 3 and 6 weeks, without obstructive fragments. Distal ureteral peristalsis was maintained in 66.6% and 83.3% in Group-II at 3 and 6 weeks of follow-up, respectively. In Group-II, the positive bacteriuria rate was 41.6% and the migration rate 25%. Pathological assessment showed a significant improvement in ureteral healing in Group-II vs Group-I. Conclusions: The results of this comparative study in a porcine model indicate that the intraureteral BraidStent performed similarly to conventional ureteral stents. It avoids complete ureteral length intubation, the adverse effects associated with conventional ureteral stents, and maintains a high level of distal ureteral peristalsis. Moreover, the BraidStent ® exhibited a predictable and controlled degradation rate and did not cause any obstructive fragments. However, further studies are needed to improve the anchoring system and reduce the risk of bacterial colonization.

Background: Urinary stones disease is becoming more common not only in adults but also in children. Most cases are resolved with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, but miniaturization of endoscopes has increased the use of ureteroscopy in resolving ureteral stones, most notably in children., Case Presentation: This presentation focuses on two cases of microureteroscopy. In both cases, the presence of lithiasis in the pelvic ureter was suspected to be the cause of ureter hydronephrosis, and a microureteroscopy was performed for treatment purposes. MicroPerc set 4.85F sheath was used to explore the pelvic ureter, thus avoiding the need to dilate the ureteral meatus or having to use the safety guide. Patients did not require a postoperative stent and were discharged within 24 hours of the procedure., Conclusion: Use of microureteroscopy proved satisfactory in the two cases of children and it allows diagnosis and treatment of ureteral pathology in pediatric patients.