Prognosis and Treatment for Active and Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Renal Transplant Recipients; Single Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic factors and treatment alternatives of antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) in renal transplant patients. METHODS: Three thousand renal transplant patients were included in the study. The patients were first divided into 2 groups. Group 1: ABMR [-] recipients (n = 2871), Group 2: ABMR (+) recipients (n = 129). ABMR patients were compared among themselves by dividing them into 3 subgroups (early-active, late-active, chronic-active). The study was performed retrospectively. Different combinations of methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), rituximab, plasmapheresis (PP), anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) were used in the treatment and the results were compared. RESULTS: Graft survival and functions were worse and the rates of CAD, delayed graft function, BK virus, and cytomegalovirus higher in patients with ABMR. Also, graft survival was lower in patients with serum creatinine ≥3 (P = 0.001), GFR <30 (P <0.001), and spot urine protein to creatinine ratio ≥1 (P = 0.042) at the time of diagnosis. High interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy scores in chronic ABMR cases and high intimal arteritis scores in active ABMR cases were poor prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that ABMR has a poor prognosis in terms of clinical parameters, and treatment should be individualized according to pathologic findings and graft functions at the time of diagnosis. Pulse methylprednisolone and IVIG should be used in the treatment of all ABMR patients, but PP, rituximab, and ATG should be used in selected cases. ABMR has a poor prognosis and treatment should be individualized.

Prone versus Barts "flank-free" modified supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a match-pair analysis

Background/aim: In this study, we aimed to compare the results of prone and Barts "flank-free" modified supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) operations in our clinic. Materials and methods: The data from patients that underwent Barts "flank-free" modified supine PCNL (BS-PCNL) (n = 52) between June 2018 and July 2020 and prone PCNL (P-PCNL) (n = 286) between April 2014 and June 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Of those 286 patients, 104 patients whose sex, age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiology score, stone localization, stone size, and hydronephrosis matched the BS-PCNL group in a 1:2 ratio were included in the study. The groups were compared in terms of intraoperative outcome, complication rates, and stone-free rates. Results: The mean age of all patients (58 females, 98 males) included in the study was 41.8 ± 15.2 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.7 ± 2.9 kg/m2. The mean operation time was significantly shorter in the BS-PCNL group than in the P-PCNL group (80.2 ± 15.1 min vs. 92.4 ± 22.7 min and p = 0.01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of fluoroscopy time, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, and stone-free rates. Conclusion: Our study shows that BS-PCNL is an effective and safe method that significantly reduces the operation time and should be considered as one of the primary treatment options for patients scheduled for PCNL.

Does the renal parenchymal thickness affect the efficacy of the retrograde intrarenal surgery? A prospective cohort study.

Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) is one of the minimally invasive main treatment modalities in renal stone disease. There are many factors which affect stone-free rate (SFR). Our study was based on the hypothesis that higher renal parenchymal thickness (RPT) which may include higher average number of nephrons provides better diuresis. We investigated the efficacy of RPT on success of RIRS. This study is a single-centered prospective surgical cohort study. A total of 383 patients were analyzed. Regularly followed 304 patients with unilateral kidney stone at single pole or renal pelvis and who underwent single-session RIRS were included in the final analysis, and the patients' preoperative and postoperative 1st and 3rd months' data were evaluated. RPT was measured on the non-contrast computed tomography (CT) images. ROC analysis was performed to estimate the cutoff value of RPT for SFR. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to model the relationship between RPT and SFR after RIRS. ROC analysis revealed the best cutoff value of the RPT for predicting residual stone as 19 mm for both the 1st and 3rd month visits with Youden indexes of 0.397 and 0.406, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study which evaluated the effect of RPT on the efficacy of RIRS. RPT measurement is a cost-effective method that can be easily performed on routinely applied non-contrast CT and may have predictive value for the surgical success in patients with nephrolithiasis.

Distribution of psychogenic and vascular impotence in a tertiary health-care center's cohort: a retrospective study using penile Doppler imaging / Distribución de la impotencia psicógena y vascular en la cohorte de un centro sanitario de tercer nivel: estudio retrospectivo con imágenes Doppler peneanas

PURPOSE: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the penile color Doppler ultrasound (PCDU) scans of the patients who had admitted to our clinic with erectile dysfunction and aimed to evaluate the contribution of penile Doppler scan results to the clinical decisions. MATERIAL-METHOD: The data of patients admitted to our outpatient clinic with complaints of erectile dysfunction (IIEF-5 score<22 or IIEF-EF score<26) between January 2005 and January 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients whose testosterone level is lower than 280ng/ml or who had undergone radical prostatectomy were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: Three thousand ninety patients were included in the study. The mean age of our patients was 55.05±13.05 years. In total, 2139 (69%) patients had normal PCDU findings, 351 (11%) patients had arterial insufficiency, 531 (17%) patients had venous insufficiency, and 69 (2%) patients had arterial insufficiency with concurrent venous leakage. When the patients were divided into 2 groups ≤40 years (Group 1) old and >40 years (Group 2) old; normal PCDU findings were found in 432 patients (84%) of the Group 1 patients and normal PCDU findings in 1707 (66%) patients of the Group 2 patients (p < 0.0001). There were arterial insufficiency findings in 24 (4.7%) and 327 (12.7%) patients of the Group 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The etiology is psychogenic in the majority of patients who present with ED complaints to the urology clinic. With age, the prevalence of psychogenic ED is decreasing but still more than organic

OBJETIVO: En este estudio, revisamos retrospectivamente las ecografías Doppler a color del pene (PCDU) de los pacientes que ingresaron en nuestra clínica con disfunción erectile, el objetivo era evaluar la contribución de los resultados de la ecografía Doppler peneana a las decisiones clínicas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Los datos de los pacientes ingresados en nuestra clínica ambulatoria con quejas de disfunción eréctil (puntuación IIEF-5<22 o puntuación IIEF-EF<26) entre enero de 2005 y enero de 2018 se evaluaron retrospectivamente. Los pacientes cuyo nivel de testosterona fuera inferior a 280ng/ml o a los cuales se les hubiera realizado una prostatectomía radical se excluyeron del análisis. RESULTADOS: En el estudio se incluyó a 3.090 pacientes. La media de edad de nuestros pacientes fue de 55,05±13,05 años. En total, en 2.139 pacientes (69%) hubo hallazgos normales en la PCDU; en 351 (11%) se observó insuficiencia arterial; en 531 (17%) insuficiencia venosa y en 69 (2%) insuficiencia arterial con reflujo venoso simultáneo. Cuando los pacientes se dividieron en 2 grupos, ≤40 años (grupo 1) y >40 años (grupo 2), se encontraron hallazgos normales de la PCDU en 432 pacientes (84%) de los pacientes del grupo 1 y hallazgos normales de PCDU en 1.707 pacientes (66%) del grupo 2 (p < 0,0001). Hubo hallazgos de insuficiencia arterial en 24 (4,7%) y 327 (12,7%) pacientes de los grupos 1 y 2, respectivamente (p = 0,002). CONCLUSIÓN: La etiología es psicógena en la mayoría de los pacientes que presentan quejas de en la clínica de urología. Con la edad, la prevalencia de la DE psicógena va disminuyendo, pero todavía es más psicógena que orgánica

The change in Thiol-Disulphide Homeostasis levels as an oxidative stress marker after varicocelectomy: Is there a relationship with sperm parameters?

One of the most important causes of varicocele-related infertility is oxidative stress (OS). One of the markers considered as an indicator of OS is thiol-disulphide homeostasis (TDH). Based on the hypothesis that OS should decrease after varicocelectomy in the light of this information, in our current study, we investigated the relationship between TDH levels and sperm parameters. The data of 56 infertile varicocele men were prospectively analysed. The post-operative total and native thiol levels were significantly higher than those pre-operative total and native thiol levels (477.7 & 436.7 nmol/L, 417.6 & 372.1 nmol/L). Positive correlation was found between total thiol change and change in semen volume (ρ: .277, p: .039), ratio of spermatozoa with normal morphology (ρ: .342, p: .01), progressive (ρ: .334, p: .012) and nonprogressive motility (ρ: .385, p: .003). Positive correlation was also found between native thiol change and semen volume (ρ: .349, p: .008), ratio of spermatozoa with normal morphology (ρ: .362, p: .006), progressive (ρ: .297, p: .026) and nonprogressive motility (ρ: .368, p: .005). Change in the level of TDH was found as positively correlated with progressive and nonprogressive motility change. According to these results, OS decreases with varicocelectomy in infertile patients and TDH can be used as a useful method for measuring OS.

Distribution of psychogenic and vascular impotence in a tertiary health-care center's cohort: A retrospective study using penile Doppler imaging.

PURPOSE: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the penile color Doppler ultrasound (PCDU) scans of the patients who had admitted to our clinic with erectile dysfunction and aimed to evaluate the contribution of penile Doppler scan results to the clinical decisions. MATERIAL-METHOD: The data of patients admitted to our outpatient clinic with complaints of erectile dysfunction (IIEF-5 score<22 or IIEF-EF score<26) between January 2005 and January 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients whose testosterone level is lower than 280ng/ml or who had undergone radical prostatectomy were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: Three thousand ninety patients were included in the study. The mean age of our patients was 55.05±13.05 years. In total, 2139 (69%) patients had normal PCDU findings, 351 (11%) patients had arterial insufficiency, 531 (17%) patients had venous insufficiency, and 69 (2%) patients had arterial insufficiency with concurrent venous leakage. When the patients were divided into 2 groups ≤40 years (Group 1) old and >40 years (Group 2) old; normal PCDU findings were found in 432 patients (84%) of the Group 1 patients and normal PCDU findings in 1707 (66%) patients of the Group 2 patients (p<0.0001). There were arterial insufficiency findings in 24 (4.7%) and 327 (12.7%) patients of the Group 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: The etiology is psychogenic in the majority of patients who present with ED complaints to the urology clinic. With age, the prevalence of psychogenic ED is decreasing but still more than organic.

Testis-sparing surgery: Experience in 13 patients with oncological and functional outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: We present oncological and functional outcomes of patients who underwent testis-sparing surgery (TSS). METHODS: Overall, 13 patients were included. Mean patient age was 29.9±12.5 years. In five patients, TSS was performed for sequential bilateral testicular tumours. One patient underwent concurrent left radical orchiectomy and right TSS. In eight patients with normal contralateral testis, seven underwent left and one underwent right TSS. RESULTS: Mean pathological tumour size was 14.6±12.5 mm. Intraoperative frozen section evaluation of the mass was performed in eight patients that revealed benign lesions. No intraoperative tumour bed biopsies were taken in this patient group. Regarding the remaining five patients, intraoperative tumour bed biopsies were taken and testicular intraepithelial neoplasia (TIN) was reported in two (40%) patients; no local testicular radiotherapy was given postoperatively. Tumour pathology was malignant in all but one lesion, including Leydig cell tumour (n=1), seminoma(n=2), embryonal carcinoma (n=1), and adenomatoid tumour (n=1). During 47.2±22.5 months of followup, local recurrence was detected in one patient who underwent radical orchiectomy. No additional local recurrence or systemic metastasis was identified in other patients with malignant lesions. For patients with malignant tumours, of the three patients with a normal preoperative testosterone levels, testosterone level was normal in one patient (with no erectile dysfunction [ED]) and was decreased in two patients (with ED) following TSS. No ED was reported in the nine patients with benign lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In carefully selected cases, TSS appears to be a safe, feasible procedure with adequate cancer control that could preserve sexual function.

Does anterior prostatic fat tissue removed during robotic radical prostatectomy contain any lymph nodes?

INTRODUCTION: We investigated whether anterior periprostatic fat (APPF) tissue removed during robotic radical prostatectomy (RARP) contains any lymph nodes (LNs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: APPF tissues removed during RARP in 129 patients were evaluated histopathologically. Correlation with postoperative pathologic stage was made. Patients with a history of previous prostate or bladder surgery and radiation therapy were excluded. RESULTS: Mean patient age, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), prostate weight and body mass index (BMI) were 62.2 ±5.5 (range 45-74), 9.3 ±6.3 ng/dl (range 0.26-30.3), 60.3 ±27.2 grams (range 11.0-180) and 26.6 ±1.9 kg/m(2) (range 20.0-30.3), respectively. Overall, LNs in APPF tissues were detected in 14 (10.9%) patients with a mean LN yield of 1.1 ±0.7 LNs (range, 1-3). Among those found, no metastatic LN was detected. Of the patients with pT2a (n = 22), pT2b (n = 15), pT2c (n = 62) and pT3a (n = 21) disease, LNs in APPF tissues were detected in 1 (4.6%), 1 (6.7%), 11 (17.7%) and 1 (4.8%) patient in each group, respectively. Among the patients, LNs in APPF tissues were detected in 0 (0%), 5 (35.7%), 8 (57.1%) and 1 (7.1%) patients of underweight, optimal weight, overweight and obese patients due to body mass index, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, LNs were detected in around 10% of the patients. Therefore, this fat should, not be pushed back during RARP but should be removed and sent for pathologic evaluation. Although no metastatic LN was detected in our series, the presence of metastatic LNs might have an impact on the oncologic outcomes of the patients and warrants further research.