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Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) significantly contributes to the global mortality rate, often leading to heart failure (HF) due to left ventricular remodeling. Key factors in the pathomechanism of HF include nitrosative/oxidative stress, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Furthermore, while a high-fat diet (HFD) is known to exacerbate post-MI cardiac remodeling, its impact on these critical factors in the context of HF is not as well understood. Aims: This study aimed to assess the impact of post-MI HF and HFD on inflammation, nitro-oxidative stress, ER stress, and unfolded protein response (UPR). Methods: The study was performed on fragments of the left ventricle harvested from 30 male adult Sprague Dawley rats, which were divided into four groups based on diet (normal-fat vs. high-fat) and surgical procedure (sham operation vs. coronary artery ligation to induce MI). We assessed body weight, NT-proBNP levels, protein levels related to nitrosative/oxidative stress, ER stress, UPR, apoptosis, and nitric oxide synthases, through Western Blot and ELISA. Results: HFD and MI significantly influenced body weight and NT-proBNP concentrations. HFD elevated 3-nitrotyrosine and myeloperoxidase levels and altered nitric oxide synthase levels. HFD and MI significantly affected ER stress markers and activated or inhibited UPR pathways. Conclusions: The study demonstrates significant impacts of post-MI HF and dietary fat content on cardiac function and stress markers in a rat model. The interaction between HFD and MI on UPR activation suggests the importance of dietary management in post-MI recovery and HF prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the etiology of urethral stricture disease (USD) in a large series of patients undergoing urethroplasty. Material and methods The multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted at two reconstructive urology referral centers in years 2015–2022. Prior to the surgical intervention, all patients underwent diagnostic procedures including retrograde urethrography and voiding cystourethrography. We collected comprehensive demographic and medical data including the length and location of the stricture. We paid particular attention to identifying the underlying causes of USD in the medical records. Results The study included 949 patients meeting criteria, with a mean age of 53. The primary cause of USD was identified as iatrogenic (404 cases, 42.6%), followed by trauma (210, 22.1%), previous hypospadias repair (122, 12.9%), lichen sclerosus (32, 3.4%), and infections (12, 1.3%). Notably, 169 patients (17.8%) did not have a discernible cause for their USD and were thus classified as idiopathic. Furthermore, it was observed that 66% of idiopathic USD cases were localized in the bulbar urethra. The etiology of USD varied significantly based on its localization (p <0.01). The mean stricture length differed among different causes, with the longest in patients with USD due to lichen sclerosus (41 mm), followed by previous hypospadias repair (35 mm), and iatrogenic causes (29 mm), p <0.001. Conclusions Careful medical history-taking can identify the etiology of urethral stricture in over 80% of patients undergoing urethroplasty. The etiology of the USD impacts its location and length and thus can affect surgical treatment strategy and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of radical prostatectomy (RP) on bladder function with special interest in detrusor underactivity (DU) and to appraise clinical significance of DU in postprostatectomy patients. Material and Methods: This was a prospective, observational study conducted on male patients subjected to laparoscopic RP (LPR). Urodynamic studies were performed at the day before surgery (visit 1), 3−6 months postoperatively (visit 2) and more than 12 months after surgery (visit 3). Incidence of DU that occurred after LPR (de novo DU), incidence of persisting de novo DU after 12 months, clinical relevance of DU after LPR and predictive factors of de novo DU were assessed. Results: 99 of 100 patients underwent preoperative urodynamic study (visit 1) and those were included in further analysis. 84 and 76 patients were available for follow‐up at second and third visit respectively. De novo DU occurred after LPR in 25 (29.7%) patients at visit 2 (p < 0.001). Sixteen from 24 patients (66,7%) who developed de novo DU after RP (visit 2) continued to have DU 1 year after surgery (visit 3) (p = 0.04). On the multivariate analysis, urinary incontinence requiring more than 1 pad per day (odds ratio [OR] 5.11; confidence interval [CI] 1.69−17.19; p = 0.005) and preoperative IPSS storage sub‐score (OR 1.25; CI 1.03−1.63; p = 0.030) were significantly associated with de novo DU. Postprostatectomy patients with DU had significantly lower Urinary Assessment of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) total score (819 vs. 911, p = 0.02), EPIC Function domain score (300 vs. 357, p = 0.002) and EPIC Urinary incontinence domain (137 vs. 224, p = 0.002) when compared to their counterparts without DU. Conclusions: RP substantially influences bladder function, causing de novo DU, which persists in substantial number of patients 1 year postoperatively. Furthermore, significant correlation between DU and postprostatectomy urinary incontinence may play a role when anti‐incontinence surgery is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Prostate cancer is the second most common male cancer worldwide. Its rising incidence and high overtreatment rate drive the search for new prognostic factors. Histopathological variants, such as cribriform pattern (CP), are associated with poorer oncologic outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between CP in prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy (RP) and postoperative pathological features. Material and methods In this retrospective, single-centre study we analysed the reviewed medical records of 100 men who underwent minimally invasive RP in the years 2017-2019. RP histopathological examination was performed by a single expert pathologist, and preoperative biopsies were assessed by various professionals from different referral centres. Results 48% of men underwent endoscopic RP with limited lymphadenectomy, whereas 52% underwent laparoscopic RP with extended lymphadenectomy. CP in biopsy was present in 6 patients: 3 in each of both groups (6.3% and 5.8%, respectively). Lymph node metastases were present in 50% and 10% of patients with and without CP in biopsy, respectively (p = 0.028). Postoperative histopathological examination revealed CP in 65%. CP in RP was associated with higher International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) (p < 0.001), extraprostatic extension (EPE) (p = 0.001), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) (p = 0.001), and positive surgical margin (PSM) (p = 0.004). Thirteen (20%) of the patients with CP in the RP specimen had lymph node metastasis, and none of the patients without CP in the RP specimen had regional LN metastasis. Conclusions The presence of CP in a biopsy specimen and RP is associated with negative postoperative features. Therefore, efforts should be made to increase CP reporting in biopsies because its identification could trigger a more radical surgical approach with extended lymphadenectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to determine the role of central vasopressin 1 receptors ([V.sub.1]R) in the regulation of cardiovascular parameters in chronically stressed infarcted rats and sham-operated rats under resting conditions and during exposure to acute alarming stress. The experiments were performed on four groups of conscious sham-operated and four groups of infarcted rats subjected to intraventricular infusion of either vehicle or a [V.sub.1]R antagonist ([V.sub.1]RANT). Two groups of infarcted and two groups of sham-operated rats were subjected to mild chronic stressing. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR) were determined under resting conditions and alter exposure to acute stress (air jet). During vehicle infusion, MABP and HR increases in response to acute stress in the infarcted rats not subjected to chronic stress, and in the infarcted and sham-operated chronically stressed rats, were significantly greater than in the sham-operated rats not exposed to chronic stress. However, MABP and HR responses to acute stress in the chronically stressed infarcted rats and chronically stressed sham-operated rats did not differ. [V.sub.1]RANT abolished differences in cardiovascular responses to acute stress between the experimental groups. Resting cardiovascular parameters were not affected by any of the experimental treatments. It is concluded that chronic stressing enhances the pressor and tachycardic responses to acute stress in the sham-operated rats but does not further intensify these responses in infarcted rats. The results provide evidence that central [V.sub.1]Rs are involved in potentiation of cardiovascular responses to acute stress in chronically stressed rats, infarcted rats, and chronically stressed infarcted rats. vasopressin 1 receptor antagonist; heart failure; tachycardia; depression doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00543.2009

A minimally invasive approach to radical prostatectomy offers improved ambulation and discharge times. Postoperative pain control is one of the key factors that facilitates rapid recovery. With the aim to assure adequate analgesia and minimize the use of opioids, application of truncal nerve blocks has been proposed in a number of endoscopic procedures. The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy of bilateral posterior quadratus lumborum block (pQLB) in alleviating pain and reducing postoperative opioid demand in patients following endoscopic extraperitoneal and laparoscopic prostatectomy. We enrolled 50 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer and scheduled for prostatectomy. They were randomized to receive preoperative, ultrasound-guided pQLB with the use of either 30 ml of 0.375 % ropivacaine (ropivacaine group) or 30 ml of 0.9 % NaCl (placebo group). Our primary endpoint was opioid consumption in the first 24 hours after surgery. Secondary endpoints were pain intensity at predefined timepoints and the incidence of nausea and vomiting and pruritus. No differences were detected between the ropivacaine and placebo groups in intravenous oxycodone consumption during the first 24 hours after surgery. Similarly, there were no differences in pain intensity at any of the timepoints assessed. The rate of nausea and vomiting was equal in both groups and pruritus was not observed. Application of bilateral pQLB does not reduce opioid consumption after minimally invasive prostatectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Recently developed algorithm for prediction of side-specific extracapsular extension (ECE) of prostate cancer required validation before being recommended to use. The algorithm assumed that ECE on a particular side was not likely with same side maximum tumor diameter (MTD) <15 mm AND cancerous tissue in ipsilateral biopsy <15% AND PSA <20 ng/mL (both sides condition). The aim of the study was to validate this predictive tool in patients from another department. Material and methods Data of 154 consecutive patients (308 prostatic lateral lobes) were used for validation. Predictive factors chosen in the development set of patients were assessed together with other preoperative parameters using logistic regression to check for their significance. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values were calculated for bootstrapped risk-stratified validation dataset. Results Validation cohort did not differ significantly from development cohort regarding PSA, PSA density, Gleason score (GS), MTD, age, ECE and seminal vesicle invasion rate. In bootstrapped data set (n = 200 random sampling) algorithm revealed 70.2% sensitivity (95% confidence interval (CI) 58.8-83.0%), 49.9% specificity (95%CI: 42.0-57.7%), 83.9% negative predictive value (NPV; 95%CI: 76.1-91.4%) and 31.1% positive predictive value (PPV; 95%CI: 19.6-39.7%). When limiting analysis to high-risk patients (Gleason score >7) the algorithm improved its performance: sensitivity 91%, specificity 47%, PPV 53%, NPV 89%. Conclusions Analyzed algorithm is useful for identifying prostate lobes without ECE and deciding on ipsilateral nerve-sparing technique during radical prostatectomy, especially in patients with GS >7. Due to significant number of false positives in case of: MTD =15 mm OR cancer in biopsy =15% OR PSA =20 ng/mL additional evaluation is necessary to aid decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Urine concentration of human kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) is suggested to be increased in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, it has never been tested in patients with urothelial tumors, while preoperative differentiation between RCC and upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) plays an essential role in therapeutic decisions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of urinary KIM-1 expression in preoperative differentiation between RCC and urothelial carcinoma (UC). Material and methods Sixty-four participants were enrolled in the study, including 30 patients with RCC and 27 with UC (16 with UTUC and 11 with bladder tumor). Preoperative urinary KIM-1 levels were measured using a commercially available ELISA kit and normalized to urinary creatinine levels. Results The median concentration of urinary KIM-1 normalized to urinary creatinine was lower in patients with RCC compared to UC (1.35 vs 1.86 ng/mg creatinine, p = 0.04). The comparison between RCC and UTUC shows even more significant difference (1.33 vs 2.23 ng/mg creatinine, p = 0.02). Urinary KIM-1 concentration did not correlate with tumor stage nor grade in any of the groups. ROC analysis to identify UC revealed AUC of 0.657 with sensitivity 33.3% and specificity 96.7% at the cut-off value of 3.226 ng/mg creatinine. Among patients with eGFR =60 mL/min/1.73 m², ROC analysis to detect UC achieved AUC of 0.727 with sensitivity 69.5% and specificity 70.2%. Conclusions Urine KIM-1 can potentially differentiate UC from RCC. However, a wide range of observed results and limited sensitivity and specificity requires caution in making clinical decisions before confirmatory studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]