Evaluation of a Voltametric E-Tongue Combined with Data Preprocessing for Fast and Effective Machine Learning-Based Classification of Tomato Purées by Cultivar.

The potential of a voltametric E-tongue coupled with a custom data pre-processing stage to improve the performance of machine learning techniques for rapid discrimination of tomato purées between cultivars of different economic value has been investigated. To this aim, a sensor array with screen-printed carbon electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles (GNP), copper nanoparticles (CNP) and bulk gold subsequently modified with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), was developed to acquire data to be transformed by a custom pre-processing pipeline and then processed by a set of commonly used classifiers. The GNP and CNP-modified electrodes, selected based on their sensitivity to soluble monosaccharides, demonstrated good ability in discriminating samples of different cultivars. Among the different data analysis methods tested, Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) proved to be particularly suitable, obtaining an average F1 score of 99.26%. The pre-processing stage was beneficial in reducing the number of input features, decreasing the computational cost, i.e., the number of computing operations to be performed, of the entire method and aiding future cost-efficient hardware implementation. These findings proved that coupling the multi-sensing platform featuring properly modified sensors with the custom pre-processing method developed and LDA provided an optimal tradeoff between analytical problem solving and reliable chemical information, as well as accuracy and computational complexity. These results can be preliminary to the design of hardware solutions that could be embedded into low-cost portable devices.

Open-top multisample dual-view light-sheet microscope for live imaging of large multicellular systems.

Multicellular systems grow over the course of weeks from single cells to tissues or even full organisms, making live imaging challenging. To bridge spatiotemporal scales, we present an open-top dual-view and dual-illumination light-sheet microscope dedicated to live imaging of large specimens at single-cell resolution. The configuration of objectives together with a customizable multiwell mounting system combines dual view with high-throughput multiposition imaging. We use this microscope to image a wide variety of samples and highlight its capabilities to gain quantitative single-cell information in large specimens such as mature intestinal organoids and gastruloids.

Acute uropathogen-related cowperitis with sepsis: case report and literature review.

Acute cowperitis, which was previously known as a common complication of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), is now commonly associated with bacterial urinary tract infections, particularly Escherichia coli. Patients often have a history of STIs, and the symptoms resemble other male accessory gland infections (MAGIs). Recent cases associated with sepsis have been managed with percutaneous drainage and/or surgery. We present a case of acute cowperitis with sepsis and an abscess in the right small gland. The diagnosis was made using transperineal ultrasound, and the patient was successfully treated only with a long-term antibiotic therapy.

Urologic latency time during uroflow stop test with electromyography: an incontinence detector in rehabilitation after robotic radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (UI) is the most common presentation following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), but a postoperative non-invasive and objective test is still lacking. To assess pelvic floor integrity after RARP, we recently proposed Uroflow Stop Test (UST) with surface electromyography (EMG). AIM: Here we provide two new clinical parameters: the neurologic latency time (NLT) and the urologic latency time (ULT) derived from UST-EMG Test. Principal outcome was to evaluate their variation during one year follow-up and ULT ability to predict post-RARP UI. DESIGN: Observational and longitudinal study. SETTING: Interdivisional Urology Clinic (Perugia-Terni, Italy). POPULATION: Patients with prostate cancer treated with a full nerve-sparing RARP who underwent postoperative pelvic floor muscles training (PFMT): a diurnal functional home program and a weekly hospital program with the use of biofeedback, between 1 and 3 months postoperatively. METHODS: All patients consecutively performed a UST-EMG test at one, three, six, and twelve months after surgery. At each follow-up visit we collected NLT values, ULT values, 5-item 26-Expanded Prostate Cancer Index (EPIC), Incontinence Developed on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ-UI) Short Form and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). We analysed statistically significant differences in NLT and ULT between continent and incontinent patients and we evaluate the diagnostic ability of 1-month post-surgery ULT value to diagnose the presence of postoperative UI. RESULTS: Sixty patients were enrolled. The mean time to PFMT was 31.08 (range: 30-35) days. Overall IPSS, NLT and ULT had similar trends: progressive decrease until the six months after surgery (1-month vs. 3 months vs. 6 months, P<0.05) to plateau thereafter. When considering the two group of patients, IPSS and NLT were significantly higher in the incontinent group only one month after surgery, while ULT became similar between the two groups at 6 months after surgery. The best cut-off of 1-month ULT values that maximized the Youden function at 12-months resulted 3.13 second. CONCLUSIONS: NLT and ULT may respectively account for the nerve and the urethral closure system integrity post-RARP. In the first month after RARP, both NLT and ULT differs between incontinent vs. continent patients. NLT become similar between two group after one month, confirming the recovery from neuropraxia, but ULT remains statistically significant different until 3 months postoperatively. The value of 1-month ULT resulted a valid tool to predict incontinence status at 12 months. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: ULT and NLT may be also useful tools to monitor the continence progressive recovery after RARP and they may help rehabilitation specialists to evaluate the ongoing results during postoperative follow-up.

Multiscale light-sheet organoid imaging framework.

Organoids provide an accessible in vitro system to mimic the dynamics of tissue regeneration and development. However, long-term live-imaging of organoids remains challenging. Here we present an experimental and image-processing framework capable of turning long-term light-sheet imaging of intestinal organoids into digital organoids. The framework combines specific imaging optimization combined with data processing via deep learning techniques to segment single organoids, their lumen, cells and nuclei in 3D over long periods of time. By linking lineage trees with corresponding 3D segmentation meshes for each organoid, the extracted information is visualized using a web-based "Digital Organoid Viewer" tool allowing combined understanding of the multivariate and multiscale data. We also show backtracking of cells of interest, providing detailed information about their history within entire organoid contexts. Furthermore, we show cytokinesis failure of regenerative cells and that these cells never reside in the intestinal crypt, hinting at a tissue scale control on cellular fidelity.

Smart Immunosensors for Point-of-Care Serological Tests Aimed at Assessing Natural or Vaccine-Induced SARS-CoV-2 Immunity.

Innovative and highly performing smart voltammetric immunosensors for rapid and effective serological tests aimed at the determination of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were developed and validated in human serum matrix. Two immunosensors were developed for the determination of immunoglobulins directed against either the nucleocapsid or the spike viral antigen proteins. The immunosensors were realized using disposable screen-printed electrodes modified with nanostructured materials for the immobilization of the antigens. Fast quantitative detection was achieved, with analysis duration being around 1 h. Signal readout was carried out through a smart, compact and battery-powered potentiostat, based on a Wi-Fi protocol and devised for the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm. This device is used for the acquisition, storage and sharing of clinical data. Outstanding immunosensors' sensitivity, specificity and accuracy (100%) were assessed, according to the diagnostic guidelines for epidemiological data. The overall performance of the sensing devices, combined with the portability of the IoT-based device, enables their suitability as a high-throughput diagnostic tool. Both of the immunosensors were validated using clinical human serum specimens from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, provided by IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele.

Rapid Quantification of SARS-Cov-2 Spike Protein Enhanced with a Machine Learning Technique Integrated in a Smart and Portable Immunosensor.

An IoT-WiFi smart and portable electrochemical immunosensor for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was developed with integrated machine learning features. The immunoenzymatic sensor is based on the immobilization of monoclonal antibodies directed at the SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit on Screen-Printed Electrodes functionalized with gold nanoparticles. The analytical protocol involves a single-step sample incubation. Immunosensor performance was validated in a viral transfer medium which is commonly used for the desorption of nasopharyngeal swabs. Remarkable specificity of the response was demonstrated by testing H1N1 Hemagglutinin from swine-origin influenza A virus and Spike Protein S1 from Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Machine learning was successfully used for data processing and analysis. Different support vector machine classifiers were evaluated, proving that algorithms affect the classifier accuracy. The test accuracy of the best classification model in terms of true positive/true negative sample classification was 97.3%. In addition, the ML algorithm can be easily integrated into cloud-based portable Wi-Fi devices. Finally, the immunosensor was successfully tested using a third generation replicating incompetent lentiviral vector pseudotyped with SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, thus proving the applicability of the immunosensor to whole virus detection.

Correlation between FA and ADC, number and length of the periprostatic neurovascular fibers.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to explore the relation between FA and ADC, number and length of the periprostatic neurovascular fibers (PNF) by means of 1.5 T Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) imaging through a multivariate linear regression analysis model. METHODS: For this retrospective study, 56 patients (mean age 63.5 years), who underwent 1.5-T prostate MRI, including DTI, were enrolled between October 2014 and December 2018. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to evaluate the statistically significant correlation between FA values (dependent variable) and ADC, the number and the length of PNF (independent variables), if p-value <0.05. A value of 0.5 indicated poor agreement; 0.5-0.75, moderate agreement; 0.75-0.9, good agreement; 0.61-0.80, good agreement; and 0.9-1.00, excellent agreement. RESULTS: The overall fit of the multivariate regression model was excellent, with R2 value of 0.9445 (R2 adjusted 0.9412; p < 0.0001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05) for all the three independent variables. The r partial value was -0.9612 for ADC values (p < 0.0001), suggesting a strong negative correlation, 0.4317 for the number of fiber tracts (p < 0.001), suggesting a moderate positive correlation, and -0.306 for the length of the fiber tracts (p < 0.05), suggesting a weak negative correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Our multivariate linear regression model has demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between FA values of PNF with other DTI parameters, in particular with ADC.

Capturing Cardiogenesis in Gastruloids.

Organoids are powerful models for studying tissue development, physiology, and disease. However, current culture systems disrupt the inductive tissue-tissue interactions needed for the complex morphogenetic processes of native organogenesis. Here, we show that mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) can be coaxed to robustly undergo fundamental steps of early heart organogenesis with an in-vivo-like spatiotemporal fidelity. These axially patterned embryonic organoids (gastruloids) mimic embryonic development and support the generation of cardiovascular progenitors, including first and second heart fields. The cardiac progenitors self-organize into an anterior domain reminiscent of a cardiac crescent before forming a beating cardiac tissue near a putative primitive gut-like tube, from which it is separated by an endocardial-like layer. These findings unveil the surprising morphogenetic potential of mESCs to execute key aspects of organogenesis through the coordinated development of multiple tissues. This platform could be an excellent tool for studying heart development in unprecedented detail and throughput.

Endoscopic Combined Intrarenal Surgery for Stone Formation After Previous Laparoscopic and Open Renal Surgery.

Background: Nonabsorbable sutures used during renal surgery represent a known substratum for stone growth. We hereby describe two cases of nephrolithiasis secondary to permanent suture material, originally placed during conservative renal surgical procedures and afterward migrated into the caliceal system, managed with endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS) with subsequent complete renal clearance. Case Presentation: Case 1. A 54-year-old male, with history of laparoscopic excision of a left parapelvic cyst, presenting with left inferior caliceal stone. Case 2. A 79-year-old female, who underwent open enucleation of a left renal pelvis tumor 15 years before. She presented with bilateral lithiasis, including a staghorn stone in the left renal pelvis. Both patients underwent left ECIRS by two surgeons, revealing the presence of suture devices, which were completely removed. Abdominal CT at 1 month after surgery did not show residual lithiasic fragments in both cases. Conclusion: To prevent the risk of stone formation, it is mandatory to use nonabsorbable suture agents sparingly during conservative renal surgery and furthermore to remove all foreign material from the collecting system because they have the potential for calculi growth. In this sense, ECIRS technique may also avoid further open or minimally invasive surgery and the use of suture instruments.

Surgical wound closure by staples or sutures?: Systematic review.

AIM: To compare the effects of sutures and staples for skin closure of surgical wounds. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included published and unpublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster-randomized trials comparing staples with sutures. Patients were adults (aged 18 years or over) who had undergone any type of surgery. The primary outcomes were risk of overall and severe wound infection. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay, readmission rate, adverse events, patient satisfaction with cosmetic results, postoperative pain. RESULTS: Forty-two very low to low quality RCTs with a total of 11,067 patients were included. Sutures resulted in slightly fewer overall wound infections (4.90%) compared to staples (6.75%) but it is uncertain whether there is a difference between the groups (risk ratio [RR] 1.20, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.80-1.79; patients = 9864; studies = 34; I = 70%). The evidence was also insufficient to state a difference in terms of severe wound infection (staples 1.4% vs sutures 1.3%; RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.61-1.89; patients = 3036; studies = 17; I = 0%), grade of satisfaction (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.91-1.07; patients = 3243; studies = 14; I = 67%) and hospital stay. Staples may increase the risk of adverse events (7.3% for staples vs 3.5% for sutures; RR 2.00, 95% CI 1.44-2.79; patients = 6246; studies = 21; I = 33%), readmission rate (RR 1.28, 95% CI 0.18-9.05; patients = 2466; studies = 5; I = 66%) and postoperative pain (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.41,95%CI -0.35 to 1.16; I = 88%, patients = 390 patients, studies = 5). CONCLUSIONS: Due to the lack of high quality evidence, we could not state if sutures are better than staples in terms of wound infection, readmission rate, adverse events, and postoperative pain. With a low quality of evidence, sutures reduce postoperative pain and improve grade of satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome.

A Self-Calibrating IoT Portable Electrochemical Immunosensor for Serum Human Epididymis Protein 4 as a Tumor Biomarker for Ovarian Cancer.

Nowadays, analytical techniques are moving towards the development of smart biosensing strategies for the point-of-care accurate screening of disease biomarkers, such as human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), a recently discovered serum marker for early ovarian cancer diagnosis. In this context, the present work represents the first implementation of a competitive enzyme-labelled magneto-immunoassay exploiting a homemade IoT Wi-Fi cloud-based portable potentiostat for differential pulse voltammetry readout. The electrochemical device was specifically designed to be capable of autonomous calibration and data processing, switching between calibration, and measurement modes: in particular, firstly, a baseline estimation algorithm is applied for correct peak computation, then calibration function is built by interpolating data with a four-parameter logistic function. The calibration function parameters are stored on the cloud for inverse prediction to determine the concentration of unknown samples. Interpolation function calibration and concentration evaluation are performed directly on-board, thus reducing the power consumption. The analytical device was validated in human serum, demonstrating good sensing performance for analysis of HE4 with detection and quantitation limits in human serum of 3.5 and 29.2 pM, respectively, reaching the sensitivity that is required for diagnostic purposes, with high potential for applications as portable and smart diagnostic tool for point-of-care testing.

Renal Artery Embolization Before Radical Nephrectomy for Complex Renal Tumour: Which are the True Advantages?

INTRODUCTION: Renal artery embolization is performed before radical nephrectomy (RN) for renal mass in order to induce preoperative infarction and to facilitate surgical intervention through decrease of intraoperative bleeding. Moreover, in metastatic renal cancer it seems to stimulate tumour-specific antibodies, even if no established benefits in clinical response or survival have been reported. The role of preoperative renal artery embolization (PRAE) in management of renal masses has been often debated and its real benefits are still unclear. Nevertheless, in huge and complex renal masses, which are often characterized by a high and anarchic blood supply and rapid local invasion, radical nephrectomy can be challenging even for skilled surgeons. The aim of this prospective randomized study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of PRAE in complex masses by comparing perioperative outcomes of RN with and without PRAE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December 2015 to May 2018 we enrolled prospectively 64 patients who underwent RN for localized (T2a-b) or locally advanced (T3 and T4) or advanced (N+, M+) renal cancers. Patients were divided in two groups. The first group included 30 patients who underwent PRAE; in the second group we enrolled 34 patients who did not undergo RN without PRAE. Perioperative outcomes in terms of operative time, blood loss, transfusion rate and length of hospitalization were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 6.0 software. RESULTS: Median blood loss was 250 ml (50-500) and 400 ml (50-1000) in the first and second group, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (p=0.0066). Median surgical time was 200 min (90-390) and 240 min (130-390) in PRAE and No-PRAE group (p=0.06), respectively. No major complications occurred after embolization. Overall complication rate in Group 1 and 2 was 46.7% (14/30) and 50% (17/34), respectively (p=0.34). No major complications occurred in both groups. The mean follow up was 21,5 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our results prove PRAE to be a safe procedure with low complications rate. To our experience, PRAE seems to be a useful tool in surgical management of a large mass and advanced disease.

Evaluation of Surgical Site Infection in Mini-invasive Urological Surgery.

Surgical Site Infection (SSI) is the most frequent source of infection in surgical patients and the second most frequent cause of hospital-acquired infection. The primary aim of this prospective study was to compare SSI occurrences between minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and open urological surgery. Secondly, perioperative outcomes were evaluated in two different approaches. A consecutive group of 60 patients undergoing urological surgery were prospectively enrolled in a single high-volume center between May and October 2018. We included procedures that were performed by minimally invasive or traditional techniques. We evaluated and compared the incidence of SSI and perioperative outcomes in terms of intraoperative bleeding, post-operative complications, postoperative pain, patient satisfaction with the analgesic treatment, time to flatus, time of oral intake and mobilization, and length of hospital stay. The two groups were homogeneous with regard to demographic data. Superficial incisional SSIs were diagnosed in 10% of cases (3/30) in the second group and 0% in the first (p<0.05); space/organ SSIs developed in 4 patients, which were diagnosed by ultrasound scan and confirmed by abdominal CT: 1 patient (3.3%) in group 1 showed an infected lymphocele, whereas 1 case of infected lymphocele and 2 cases of pelvic abscess were detected in group 2 (10%, p<0.05). All the perioperative outcomes as well as were overall complication rate favored MIS (p<0.05). The use of minimally invasive techniques in urological surgery reduced the risk of SSI by comparison with a traditional approach. In addition, MIS was associated with better perioperative outcomes and a lower overall complication rate.

Primary Angiosarcoma of the Kidney: Case Report and Comprehensive Literature Review.

PURPOSE: Angiosarcoma (AS) is an aggressive malignant tumour of endothelial origin, most frequently compelling the skin. The kidney is a rare site of primary occurrence of AS with a quite challenging diagnosis and poor prognosis, mainly due to its raw metastasising power. We described our first case of AS treatment. A comprehensive literature review in this field is also carried out. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report the case of a 56-years-old man with radiological appearance of an 11 cm poor vascularised left renal mass. The pre-operative imaging ruled out distant metastases and inferior vena cava thrombosis. Thus, after radioembolization, we performed a transperitoneal open radical nephrectomy with regional lymphadenectomy with the removal of the middle portion of the ileo-psoas muscle, followed by two lines of adjuvant chemotherapy. We analysed all the papers concerning primary kidney AS until December 2018. RESULTS: Estimated intraoperative blood loss was 200 mL with an operative time of 100 minutes. No postoperative complications were recorded, with the patient discharge in the 8th postoperative day. The pathological assessment showed a pT3a N0, M0 tumour compatible with AS of the kidney. An immune-histochemical study showed a vascular positive for CD31, CD34, Fli-1 with a Ki-67/Mib 1 of 50%. One month after surgery the patient began adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine. After 45 days from surgery, a Computed Tomography scan showed lung and liver metastases with disease relapse in the left kidney lodge. The response to the first-line treatment was excellent, unlike the second-line, encountering a chemo-refractory disease. The cancer-specific survival was of 15 months. We included 66 cases in our review. CONCLUSION: This is the first case of treatment of kidney AS performed at our Institute. Our findings added new information about the unclear biology and progression of this subset of tumours, demonstrating an abysmal prognosis.

Robotic treatment of giant adrenal myelolipoma: A case report and review of the literature.

Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare mesenchymal tumour with benign biological behaviour that is mainly composed of mature adipose and myeloid tissue. Both sexes are equally affected, most commonly between the fifth and seventh decades of life. The diagnosis of adrenal myelolipoma is mostly incidental. Although it may occasionally be associated with necrosis, rupture and haemorrhage, causing abdominal pain, this tumour is usually asymptomatic. Consequently, management is conservative, while surgical treatment is reserved for symptomatic cases, or for masses growing quickly or to a size >6 cm. Giant myelolipomas (sized >10 cm) are rare. Open radical adrenalectomy is the standard treatment for giant myelolipomas, while the minimally invasive approach has been used in only few cases. We herein report the case of a patient with a giant adrenal myelolipoma who underwent robotic partial adrenalectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest giant adrenal myelolipoma treated with robotic surgery reported in the literature to date. A 55-year-old male patient underwent an abdominal computed tomography scan during follow-up after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer Gleason Score 6 (ISUP 1) due to biochemical recurrence. The examination revealed a right hypodense adrenal mass, sized 16×13 cm. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of characteristics suggestive of a myelolipoma. The patient did not report any symptoms. Due to the benign characteristics of the mass, robotic partial adrenalectomy and enucleation of the mass were performed. The operative time and estimated blood loss were 205 min and 100 ml, respectively. No intra- or postoperative complications occurred. The patient was mobilized on the first postoperative day and the time to flatus was 36 h; the length of hospitalization was 4 days. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of adrenal myelolipoma, sized 18×11.5×6 cm. No tumour recurrence occurred over a follow-up period of 12 months. In conclusion, robotic surgery allows performing partial adrenalectomy with a lower risk of bleeding and with preservation of healthy adrenal tissue, which is of paramount importance for the patient as it reduces recovery time and the need for medical substitution therapy.

Self-organization and symmetry breaking in intestinal organoid development.

Intestinal organoids are complex three-dimensional structures that mimic the cell-type composition and tissue organization of the intestine by recapitulating the self-organizing ability of cell populations derived from a single intestinal stem cell. Crucial in this process is a first symmetry-breaking event, in which only a fraction of identical cells in a symmetrical sphere differentiate into Paneth cells, which generate the stem-cell niche and lead to asymmetric structures such as the crypts and villi. Here we combine single-cell quantitative genomic and imaging approaches to characterize the development of intestinal organoids from single cells. We show that their development follows a regeneration process that is driven by transient activation of the transcriptional regulator YAP1. Cell-to-cell variability in YAP1, emerging in symmetrical spheres, initiates Notch and DLL1 activation, and drives the symmetry-breaking event and formation of the first Paneth cell. Our findings reveal how single cells exposed to a uniform growth-promoting environment have the intrinsic ability to generate emergent, self-organized behaviour that results in the formation of complex multicellular asymmetric structures.

Uroflow stop test with electromyography: a novel index of urinary continence recovery after RARP.

PURPOSE: Urinary incontinence (UI) is one of the most bothersome surgical side effects after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Alteration of both smooth and striate urethral sphincter occurs after RARP. Since the contraction of perineal muscles is involved in the complex mechanism of urinary continence, the uroflow stop test (UST) seems to predict early continence recovery after RARP. The UST was added of perineal surface electromyography (EMG) evaluation to evaluate the latency time (LT) between muscular contraction and the complete stop of urine flow. Our aim was to present UST-EMG as a new tool in the investigation of UI, implying pelvic floor integrity, and to evaluate whether an early return (≤ 3 months) to preoperative LT could be associated with early recovery of UC (≤ 3 months). METHODS: After prospectively enrolling 137 patients who underwent RARP with a minimum follow-up of 6 months, we identified two groups: Group 1 (93 patients) with early (≤ 3 months) pre-surgical LT recovery and Group 2 (44 patients) with late > 3 months or not able to reach pre-surgical LT recovery. RESULTS: Between the two groups, there were significant differences in terms of different surgical technique (nerve-sparing versus non-nerve-sparing) and pads use at 3 and 6 months after RARP (p < 0.05). No differences were recorded neither in postoperative maximum flow-rate, nor in postoperative symptoms score. CONCLUSIONS: UST with EMG can be considered as a noninvasive, reproducible and easily performable tool. LT is applicable in the clinical evaluation to predict urinary continence recovery after RARP.

Primed Track, high-fidelity lineage tracing in mouse pre-implantation embryos using primed conversion of photoconvertible proteins.

Accurate lineage reconstruction of mammalian pre-implantation development is essential for inferring the earliest cell fate decisions. Lineage tracing using global fluorescence labeling techniques is complicated by increasing cell density and rapid embryo rotation, which hampers automatic alignment and accurate cell tracking of obtained four-dimensional imaging data sets. Here, we exploit the advantageous properties of primed convertible fluorescent proteins (pr-pcFPs) to simultaneously visualize the global green and the photoconverted red population in order to minimize tracking uncertainties over prolonged time windows. Confined primed conversion of H2B-pr-mEosFP-labeled nuclei combined with light-sheet imaging greatly facilitates segmentation, classification, and tracking of individual nuclei from the 4-cell stage up to the blastocyst. Using green and red labels as fiducial markers, we computationally correct for rotational and translational drift, reduce overall data size, and accomplish high-fidelity lineage tracing even for increased imaging time intervals - addressing major concerns in the field of volumetric embryo imaging.

Fournier's Gangrene and Intravenous Drug Abuse: an Unusual Case Report and Review of The Literature.

Fournier's gangrene is a potentially fatal emergency condition characterized by necrotizing fasciitis and supported by an infection of the external genital, perineal and perianal region, with a rapid and progressive spread from subcutaneous fat tissue to fascial planes. In this case report, a 52-year-old man, with a history of hepatitis C-virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease and cocaine use disorder for which he was receiving methadone maintenance therapy, was admitted to the Emergency Department with necrotic tissue involving the external genitalia. Fournier's gangrene is usually due to compromised host immunity, without a precise cause of bacterial infection; here it is linked to a loco-regional intravenous injection of cocaine. A multimodal approach, including a wide surgical debridement and a postponed skin graft, was needed. Here we report this case, with a narrative review of the literature.