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The term “aristolochic acid nephropathy” (AAN) is used to include any form of toxic interstitial nephropathy that is caused either by ingestion of plants containing aristolochic acids (AA) or by the environmental contaminants in food such as in Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). Aristolochic acid (AA) intoxication is strongly associated with the development of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC); however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be defined. MicroRNAs (miRNA) regulate several biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism, acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. A unique miRNA expression profile suggested that miRNAs could function as regulators in UTUC developmental processes.

Introduction/Objective. Active treatment options for localized prostate cancer (LPCa) include surgery and radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in selected cases, but all options have side effects, mainly addressed to urinary, sexual, and bowel function. Our study aimed to assess and compare patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after open retropubic radical prostatectomy (ORRP) or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Methods. Between June 2019 and May 2021, a total of 120 patients, with LPCa had undergone active treatment, as follow: ORRP – 60 patients and EBRT – 60 patients. A validated questionnaire, the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite Short Form (EPIC-26) instrument was used to assess PROM, through the following domains: urinary, sexual and bowel. Patients completed a questionnaire at baseline and six, 12, and 24 months after primary treatment. Results. All urinary scores had statistically significant interaction between time and group. After six, 12, and 24 months, all urinary scores were statistically significantly lower in the ORRP group. After 12 and 24 months, bowel score values were statistically significantly lower in patients in the ERBT group. Sexual scores change statistically significant during the follow-up period, without difference between the groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Both ORRP and EBRT are associated with decline of sexual scores. ORRP showed significant variations in all urinary scores, with more pronounced negative impact on urinary symptoms compared to EBRT during the entire follow-up period. Bowel scores are lower in EBRT.

The mining industry has faced intense challenges and disruptions from global trends. The mining industry needs to perform a transformation to survive. The important thing for mining companies in technological adoption is digital transformation. XYZ is a holding company with many subsidiaries with primary businesses in the coal mining sector spread throughout Indonesia. As part of digital transformation, one of the company's initiatives is to centralize IT resources into one organization, with the objective can share its utilization with all subsidiaries. IT's centralization and shared services caused problems, such as human resources in different company ownership, budget allocation among companies, and the structure of financing and utilization of IT resources for use. The problem was solved by mapping all the components' IT roles at the company based on the framework created by Applegate, Austin, and Soule. Mapping the role of IT in this company can be used as a guideline to make organizational change. Organizational changes that need to be done base on analysis is to change the structure of the organization of IT into a bimodal model, its combination between the Functional-Lean model and Matrix-Agile model. The Functional-Lean model provides organizations as a function to keep lean but can deliver high standard services and keep it stable. The Matrix-Agile model can provide agility for the organization to develop new and run projects. IT Governance at XYZ will use the Federal model.

The Great Financial Crisis of 2008 exposed certain weaknesses in the field of investment banking and the necessity to adapt certain innovative solutions to the newly created economic and financial environment. The process of securitization is a financial innovation, which some financial analysts consider one of the causes of the Great Financial Crisis. Although it is often linked to the emergence of the Great Financial Crisis, the advantages of the securitization model, together with a level of adaptability and enhanced process control throughout all procedural levels, significantly outweigh its perceived shortcomings.

Introduction/Objective. This 10-year prospective study’s primary objective was to evaluate the incidence of complications of radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). The secondary objective was to analyze how RRP affects lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and quality of life (QoL) by using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Methods. We analyzed 254 patients who underwent RRP in the period 2009–2018. All complications were graded according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. To assess urinary symptoms and the QoL, all the examinees filled out the IPSS and the International Prostate Symptom Score for QoL (IPSS QoL) questionnaires during preoperative preparation and three, six, and 12 months after surgery. Results. The incidence of complications Clavien–Dindo grade ≤ II and grade ≥ III were 26.4% and 16.5%, respectively. The mean overall IPSS for the entire group of patients after 12 months of follow-up was significantly different from the preoperative baseline value (p < 0.001). Patients with preoperative moderate (IPSS 8–19) and severe urinary symptoms (IPSS 20+) had a statistically significant reduction of urinary symptoms after RRP (p < 0.001). After 12 months, IPSS QoL was statistically significantly lower than the preoperative one (p < 0.05). Conclusion. For patients with clinically localized prostate cancer, RRP is a safe and effective treatment option. It is associated with a higher rate of complications from the Clavien–Dindo grade ≤ II group. RRP has clinically beneficial effects on LUTS in patients with moderate and severe urinary symptoms and the QoL related to LUTS.

Introduction. Simultaneous ipsilateral coexistence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) rarely occurs. Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is a chronic degenerative tubulointerstitial renal disease, strongly associated with UTUC. Case outline. А 60-year-old man from the region of BEN was referred to our clinic due to right flank pain, fever, and purulent discharge from the cutaneous fistulous opening in the right lumbar area. Multislice computed tomography urography scan showed right-side pyonephrosis and nephrocutaneous fistulous tract between the kidney and the skin in the right lumbar region. Cystoscopy detected a papillary tumor protruding from the right ureteric orifice. Right-side nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision was performed. Histopathological examination revealed rhabdoid RCC of the kidney and multifocal urothelial carcinoma of the ureter. Conclusion. Our case report and literature review indicate that due to rising incidence of multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMNs), when treating patients with RCC or UTUC, and especially those from the region of BEN, one should keep in mind the likelihood of synchronous or metachronous occurrence of these tumors.

David Basic,1 Elizabeth Huynh,2 Rinaldo Gonzales,1 Chris Shanley3 1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Aged Care Research Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia; 2Department of Geriatric Medicine, Aged Care Research Unit, Liverpool Hospital, University of NSW, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia; 3Department of Geriatric Medicine, Centre for Applied Nursing Research, Western Sydney University and Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Aged Care Research Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia Purpose: Ineffective interdisciplinary communication is linked to many adverse consequences of hospitalization. This study evaluated the effect of SIBR, a model of care that encourages interdisciplinary communication and patient and family participations, on in-hospital deaths and new nursing home (NH) placements.Materials and methods: This before-after study included 3,673 consecutive inpatients of mean age 83.8 years, of whom 93.2% were admitted through the emergency department. After each twice-weekly SIBR session, an interdisciplinary care plan was implemented and recorded on a datasheet attached to the bedside record. Staff unable to participate in SIBR were asked to view the datasheet and to follow the care plan. Logistic regression models were computed for in-hospital deaths and new NH placements.Results: Although SIBR implementation had no effect on in-hospital deaths (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.77–1.29), SIBR increased NH placements among those who survived the hospitalization (n=3,346) in both unadjusted (14.6% vs 9.1%; P

David Basic,1 Tabitha J Hartwell2 1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 2Department of Geriatric Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital, Nowra, NSW, Australia Purpose: To examine the association between falls in hospital and new placement in a nursing home among older people hospitalized with acute illness.Materials and methods: This prospective cohort study of 2,945 consecutive patients discharged alive from an acute geriatric medicine service used multivariate logistic regression to model the association between one or more falls and nursing home placement (primary analysis). Secondary analyses stratified falls by injury and occurrence of multiple falls. Demographic, medical, and frailty measures were considered in adjusted models.Results: The mean age of all patients was 82.8±7.6 years and 94% were admitted through the emergency department. During a median length of stay (LOS) of 11 days, 257 (8.7%) patients had a fall. Of these, 66 (25.7%) sustained an injury and 53 (20.6%) had two or more falls. Compared with nonfallers, fallers were more likely to be placed in a nursing home (odds ratio [OR]: 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37–3.00), after adjustment for age, sex, frailty, and selected medical variables (including dementia and delirium). Patients without injury (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.17–2.85) and those with injury (OR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.15–4.77) were also more likely to be placed. Patients who fell had a longer LOS (median 19 days vs 10 days; P

Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most frequent malignancies. Better biomarkers are constantly wanted, such as those which can help with the prediction of cancer behavior. What is also needed is a marker which may serve as a possible therapeutic target. Oxidative stress (OS), which is a hallmark of cancer, is included in the pathogenesis and progression of PC. We have conducted the present study to determine whether xanthine oxidase/dehydrogenase activity is the source of OS in prostate tissue. We have also determined the concentration of TBA-reactive substances (TBARS) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), as well as the activity of catalase. Xanthine oxidase (XO) activity is significantly higher ( p < 0.001) in tumor tissue when compared to the control healthy tissue. The concentration of TBARS ( p < 0.001) and AOPP ( p < 0.05) are also higher in tumor tissue. Catalase has raised its activity ( p < 0.05) versus the control. There is also a strong correlation between XO activity and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the serum. These results indicate a significant role of XO activity in OS in prostate carcinogenesis, and it could be a possible theranostic biomarker, which can be important for a better understanding of the disease, its evolution, and prognosis. A promising treatment may be using XO inhibitors such as allopurinol as adjuvant therapy.

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) represents a chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy which is followed by the progression of kidney fibrosis to end-stage kidney failure. The critical involvement of poisons in food (aristolochic acid (AA), ochratoxin, and heavy metals) and selenium deficiency are among nutritive factors which contribute to the pathogenesis of BEN, due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) liberation and/or decreased antioxidative defence system. The aim of the study is to distinguish a possible systemic and local origin of ROS through the measurement of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in urine and plasma, along with the determination of the oxidative changes in lipids and proteins. The study included 50 patients with BEN and 38 control healthy subjects. We noted increased levels of both thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) in the plasma of patients with BEN, compared to the control group ( p < 0.001). The urinary levels of AOPPs were higher in patients with BEN in comparison to the control ( p < 0.001). The specific activity of XO was significantly lower in plasma and urine in BEN samples, compared to controls ( p < 0.005). Based on these results, we hypothesize that XO might not be considered a direct systemic or local contributor to ROS production in BEN, most probably because of the diminished kidney functional tissue mass and/or AA-induced changes in purine nucleotide conformation. The increased AOPP and TBARS level in both plasma and urine in BEN may predict ROS systemic liberation with toxic local effects., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Andrej Veljković et al.)

Background/aim: Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) repre sents a chronic pathological process characterized by fibro sis which entraps and compresses the ureters and the grea blood vessels in the retroperitoneal space. A specific form of RPF is idiopathic RPF, an uncommon collagen vasculaj disease of unclear etiology. The series of 15 patients whicl underwent open surgical repair due to idiopathic RPF is presented herein., Methods: From 1989 to 2012, 11 male and 4 female patients underwent surgery due to primar RPF. The ureters were entrapped unilaterally (7 patients), or bilaterally (8 patients). Major symptoms included low bacl pain due to hydronephrosis (9 patients), uremia (4 patients) and urinary tract infection (2 patients). The diagnosis was based on intravenous urography (IVU), retrograde uretero pyelography and computed tomography (CT)., Results: Surgical procedures included intraperitoneal ureteral dis placement (8 patients) and ureteral wrapping with omental flap (6 patients). One patient underwent bilateral uretera stenotic segments resection and oblique ureterography, followed by wrapping with omental flap. Pathological examination confirmed primary RPF in all patients. The meat operative time was 3.5 h (range 2.5-4.5 h). The average in trahospital stay was 21 days (range 16-26 days). The meat follow up was 32 months (6-46 months). During the follow up, 12 patients had improvement on IVU., Conclusion: Early recognition of signs and symptoms of RPF is of the utmost importance for the outcome. Surgical procedures including ureteral wrapping with omental flap, or intraperi toneal ureteral displacement, usually represent definitive treatment.

Introduction: lItrogenic ureteral injuries can occur during various abdominopelvic and retroperitoneal surgical procedures including gynecological, urological, colorectal and vascular., Objective: The aim of our study was to examine the incidence and types of iatrogenic ureteral injuries occurred over the period of 16 years, as well as to evaluate the values of applied diagnostic and therapeutic procedures., Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data (medical records and operative reports) of 55 patients (11 male and 44 female; mean age 54.5 years) with verified iatrogenic ureteral injury from 1998 to 2014, was performed., Results: latrogenic ureteral injuries occurred during gynecological procedures in 55%, urological in 25%, colorectal in 15% and vascular in 5% of cases. Mechanisms of injury were incomplete transection (n=23), complete transection (n=1), ligation (n=7), partial perforation (mucosal abrasion) (n=1 3) and total perforation (n=1). The most frequent diagnostic procedures for postoperative identification of ureteral injuries were abdominal ultrasonography, excretory urography, antegrade pyeloureterography and retrograde ureteropyelography. Early therapeutic procedures were applied in 35 (64%), while delayed in 20 cases (36%). Early (<30 days) or late (>30 days) postoperative complications were verified in 14 cases (25%)., Conclusion: Among different surgeries that may lead to the development of iatrogenic ureteral injury, gynecological procedures represent the most common cause. Rapid diagnosis enables immediate ureteral repair and is associated with low morbidity rates, representing a major factor contributing to the treatment success and ultimately preserving the renal function.