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Unresectable, metastatic, advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) is an aggressive disease and is treated with platinum-containing first-line chemotherapy, followed by immune checkpoint inhibitors and antibody–drug conjugates. Response to first-line chemotherapy is a vital priority in sequential treatment strategies because a better response to first-line chemotherapy is associated with a better response to subsequent therapies. Gemcitabine plus carboplatin chemotherapy is conventionally recommended for cisplatin-ineligible patients. This multicenter, single-arm prospective trial will investigate whether dose-dense methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and carboplatin (DD-MVACarbo) chemotherapy is superior to gemcitabine plus carboplatin chemotherapy in terms of efficacy in platinum-naïve, cisplatin-ineligible patients with aUC. After screening and registration, a total of 46 patients will be treated with this novel chemotherapy regimen. The primary endpoint is the objective response rate. The secondary endpoints include disease control rate, patient-reported outcomes, and adverse events. No evidence of this novel intervention is available as of July 2024. The results are expected to change the standard of care and improve the management of patients with aUC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Photodynamic diagnosis‐assisted transurethral resection of bladder tumors (PDD‐TURBT) enhances detection of elusive lesions compared to standard white light‐transurethral resection of bladder tumors (WL‐TURBT). If minimal light exposure during PDD‐TURBT induces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), potentially resulting in phototoxicity in small lesions, apoptosis may be triggered in residual small tumors, allowing them to escape resection. We investigated the hypothesis of a potential photodynamic therapeutic effect during PDD‐TURBT. Methods and Materials. Our study, conducted between January 2016 and December 2020 at Nara Medical University Hospital, focused on a specific emphasis on ROS production. Immunohistochemical analysis for thymidine glycol and Nε‐hexanoyl‐lysine was performed on 69 patients who underwent 5‐aminolevulinic acid‐mediated PDD‐TURBT and 28 patients who underwent WL‐TURBT. Additionally, we incrementally applied the minimal irradiation energy to T24 and UM‐UC‐3 cells treated with 5‐aminolevulinic acid using instruments similar to those used in PDD‐TURBT and evaluated intracellular ROS production and phototoxicity. Results. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significant increase in production of thymidine glycol and Nε‐hexanoyl‐lysine within the PDD‐TURBT group. In T24 and UM‐UC‐3 cells treated with 5‐aminolevulinic acid and light exposure, immunofluorescent staining demonstrated a dose‐dependent increase in intracellular ROS production. In addition, higher irradiation energy levels were associated with a greater increase in ROS production and phototoxicity, as well as more significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Conclusion. Although the irradiation energy used in PDD‐TURBT did not reach the levels commonly used in photodynamic therapy, our findings support the presence of a potential cytotoxic effect on bladder lesions during PDD‐TURBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Many congenital hydronephroses spontaneously resolve. This study evaluated a long‐term follow‐up of more than 4 years of patients with congenital hydronephrosis at a single center. Methods: In total, 215 patients (286 kidneys) with congenital hydronephrosis were included. Hydronephrosis outcomes (resolution, improvement, and persistence) and time‐to‐outcome were evaluated. Results: Fourteen patients underwent early surgical intervention until the age of 2 years. A total of 189 congenital hydronephrosis cases (66%) showed resolution at a median of 16 months (interquartile range: 7–21 months) and 169 (80%) of 210 kidneys with grade I to II hydronephrosis showed resolution at a median of 14 months (interquartile range: 6–23 months). Of 76 kidneys with grade III to IV hydronephrosis, 24 (32%) showed resolution at a median of 29 months (interquartile range: 24–41 months), and 56 (74%) showed improvement to grade II or less at a median of 12 months (interquartile range: 5–23 months). Of the 76 kidneys with grade III to IV hydronephrosis, five required delayed pyeloplasty at a median of 66 months (interquartile range: 42–89 months). One patient was asymptomatic, with a marked worsening of hydronephrosis and decreased renal function 6 years after the resolution of hydronephrosis. Conclusions: None of the patients with grade I to II hydronephrosis required surgical treatment, and a shorter follow‐up may be sufficient. Grade III to IV severe hydronephrosis should be considered for a longer and more careful follow‐up, given the possibility of asymptomatic exacerbation of hydronephrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate quality of life (QOL) after non‐nerve‐sparing, robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and factors associated with worsened QOL. Methods: Patients who underwent non–nerve‐sparing RARP (n = 115) were enrolled. The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite and 8‐item Short Form Health Survey were used to evaluate QOL at baseline and postoperative 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Preoperative factors were evaluated by multivariate analysis for worsened QOL. Results: Postoperative 24‐month urinary QOL worsened in 68 of 115 (59%) patients. In multivariate analysis, membranous urethral length ≥10.8 mm [odds ratio (OR):.26, 95% confidence interval (CI):.07–.96] and intravesical prostatic protrusion ≥12 mm (OR:.14, 95% CI.06–.35) were significantly associated with maintaining postoperative 24‐month urinary QOL. Significantly more patients with intravesical prostatic protrusion ≥12 mm than < 12 mm had improved urinary QOL. At postoperative 24 months, 43 of 115 (38%) patients had worsened sexual QOL. In multivariate analysis, higher Sexual Health Inventory for Men score (OR: 8.39, 95% CI 2.28–30.9), sexual activity (OR: 6.94, 95% CI: 2.27–21.2), and intercourse activity (OR: 6.81, 95% CI: 1.64–28.3) preoperatively were significantly associated with worsened postoperative 24‐month sexual QOL. More patients with high preoperative intercourse activity (12/23,53%) had significantly worsened (p =.009) QOL regarding sexual bother than those who had no preoperative intercourse activity (21/92, 23%). Conclusion: After non‐nerve‐sparing RARP, patients with long membranous urethral length and/or intravesical prostatic protrusion maintain urinary QOL. Patients with high intercourse activity presented with impairment of sexual QOL after non‐nerve‐sparing RARP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cryptorchidism (CO) diagnosis by palpation is challenging. Patients with suspected CO are primarily referred to pediatric urologists by general pediatricians and urologists. Currently, surgical treatment for CO is recommended earlier than in previous guidelines. In this study, we evaluated factors that lead to diagnosis discordance and delayed orchidopexy in patients referred with suspected CO in addition to timing of initial screening. Methods: In total, 731 patients (1052 testes) with suspected CO were included. Risk factors for diagnostic discrepancy in CO diagnosis by pediatric urologists and risk of delayed orchiopexy were evaluated. Results: Herein, 659 (90%) patients were diagnosed during routine public health checkups for infants and young children, and 419 (57%) patients were referred by pediatric practitioners. Of 1052 testes, 374 (36%) were diagnosed with CO by pediatric urologists. In multivariate analysis, risk factors of diagnostic discrepancy for CO diagnosis by pediatric urologists were bilateral testis (odds ratio [OR] = 9.17, p < 0.0001), >6 months old at initial diagnosis (OR = 1.036, p < 0.0001), and pediatric referral (OR = 4.60, p < 0.0001). In total, 296 patients underwent orchiopexy for CO. In multivariate analysis, risk factors for delayed orchiopexy were presence of comorbidities (OR = 3.43, p = 0.003) and >10 months old at referral (OR = 12.62, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Pediatric referral is a risk factor for discordant CO diagnostics, and late age at referral brings a risk of delayed orchiopexy. It is necessary to enlighten pediatricians, who are mainly responsible for routine health checkups, in teaching CO diagnostic techniques to ensure early referral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]