Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia with Suppressed Epigenetic Regulator HOXB13 Shows a Lower Incidence of Prostate Cancer Development.

Our objective was to identify variations in gene expression that could help elucidate the pathways for the development of prostate cancer (PCa) in men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). We included 98 men with BPH, a positive prostate MRI (Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System; PIRADS ≥ 4), and a negative biopsy from November 2014 to January 2018. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed on tissue cores from the MRI lesion and a geographically distant region (two regions per patient). All patients were followed for at least three years to identify who went on to develop PCa. We compared the gene expressions of those who did not develop PCa ("BPH-only") vs. those who did ("BPH/PCa"). Then, we identified the subset of men with BPH who had the highest American Urological Association (AUA) symptom scores ("symptomatic BPH") and compared their gene expression to the BPH/PCa group. At a median follow-up of 47.5 months, 15 men had developed PCa while 83 did not. We compared gene expressions of 14 men with symptomatic BPH (AUAss ≥ 18) vs. 15 with BPH/PCa. We found two clusters of genes, suggesting the two groups had distinctive molecular features. Differential analysis revealed genes that were upregulated in BPH-only and downregulated in BPH/PCa, and vice versa. Symptomatic BPH men had upregulation of T-cell activation markers (TCR, CD3, ZAP70, IL-2 and IFN-γ and chemokine receptors, CXCL9/10) expression. In contrast, men with BPH/PCa had upregulation of NKX3-1 and HOXB13 transcription factors associated with luminal epithelial progenitors but depleted of immune cells, suggesting a cell-autonomous role in immune evasion. Symptomatic BPH with immune-enriched landscapes may support anti-tumor immunity. RNA sequencing of benign prostate biopsy tissue showing upregulation of NKX3-1 and HOXB13 with the absence of T-cells might help in identifying men at higher risk of future PCa development, which may be useful in determining ongoing PCa screening.

Pharmaceutical versus Over-the-Counter Potassium Citrate: A Benchtop Comparison.

INTRODUCTION: Potassium citrate has been shown to significantly reduce kidney stone recurrence by alkalinizing urine and increasing citrate excretion. However, the cost of potassium citrate can be prohibitive. Thus, over-the-counter use of potassium citrate supplements has gained interest from patients and providers due to reported decreased cost. Prior studies show that fluids such as orange juice, Crystal Light and certain sodas are reasonable sources of alkali citrate; however, the true alkali citrate content among leading over-the-counter supplements is unknown. We investigate popular supplements and compare them to pharmaceutical potassium citrate. METHODS: The top 6 potassium citrate supplements were purchased from Amazon.com in October 2020 and April 2021. These supplements and Urocit®-K were dissolved in deionized water and diluted before measurement with a colorimetric citrate assay kit. A pH electrode was used to measure the pH of each sample and the alkali citrate content of each supplement was calculated. RESULTS: Urocit-K and Thorne® had the highest percentage of alkali citrate per gram. NOW® supplements and Nutricost® offered the cheapest alkali citrate at less than 1 cent per mEq. CONCLUSIONS: Citrate supplements vary widely in their cost and citrate content. Patients and providers may find this information useful depending on their individual preferences for cost and pill size. Pharmaceutical Urocit-K was not the most cost-effective option; however, it may be the more convenient option as it requires fewer pills.

Same Day Discharge is a Successful Approach for the Majority of Patients Undergoing Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate.

BACKGROUND: Limited research has focused on success with hospital discharge on the same day of surgery after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). OBJECTIVE: To determine the success of same-day discharge in our HoLEP cohort and factors associated with this approach. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective review of our prospectively maintained HoLEP database demonstrated that 473 adult males underwent HoLEP from July 2018 to December 2019 at a tertiary referral center and high-volume HoLEP hospital. Patients were divided into groups according to planned inpatient admission (PIA), successful same-day discharge (SDD), or unplanned admission (UA). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The PIA, SDD, and UA groups were assessed for differences in preoperative demographic data, perioperative surgical data, and postoperative follow-up data. SDD and UA were then compared to determine if any specific factors predicted UA, including univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Age (p = 0.0049), use of anticoagulation (p = 0.037), American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3-4 (p = 0.0017), and enucleation time (p=0.0178) were significantly higher in the PIA group. Morcellation time (p = 0.0059) and the rate of bedside catheter irrigation (p = 0.04) were higher in the UA group. The SDD group had the highest rate of successful voiding trial (p = 0.0001). Among the three groups, there was no difference in the rate of postoperative complications (p = 0.141). In a comparison of the SDD and UA groups, morcellation time (p = 0.041), the rate of bedside clot evacuation (p = 0.004), and successful voiding trial (p = 0.003) all favored SDD. There was no difference in 90-d complications (p = 0.536). A limitation is the retrospective nature of this study. CONCLUSIONS: HoLEP can be successfully performed as day surgery without an increase in postoperative complications. HoLEP as day surgery is possible for any patient who does not require admission for medical comorbidities. PATIENT SUMMARY: Same-day discharge (SDD) after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is possible and is successful in 87.4% of patients. Patients with longer morcellation times and with post-procedure hematuria with clots are more likely to have an unplanned admission. Use of a 120-W modulated-pulse laser resulted in a higher rate of SDD success. The culture change to day surgery is time-intensive owing to education of the postsurgical care units and clinic staff, and in our experience took approximately 9 mo to seamlessly integrate SDD as our HoLEP standard of care.

Comparison of cost-effectiveness and postoperative outcomes following integration of a stiff shaft glidewire into percutaneous nephrolithotripsy.

AIMS: To analyze the cost effectiveness of integrating a stiff shaft glidewire (SSGW) in percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) relative to standard technique (ST). This is prudent because healthcare providers are experiencing increased pressure to improve procedure-related cost containment. METHODS: ST for PCNL at our institution involves a hydrophilic glidewire during initial percutaneous access and then two new stiff shaft wires. The SSGW is a hydrophilic wire used for initial access and the remainder of the procedure. We collected operating room (OR) costs for all primary, unilateral PCNL cases over a 5-month period during which ST for PCNL was used at a single institution with a single surgeon and compared with a 6-month period during which a SSGW was used. Mean costs for each period were then compared along with stone-free rates and complications. RESULTS: We included 17 total cases in the ST group and 22 in the SSGW group. The average operating room supply cost for the ST group was $1937.32 and $1559.39 in the SSGW group. The net difference of $377.93 represents a nearly 20% decrease in cost. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.031). There was no difference in postoperative stone-free rates (82.4% versus 86.4%, p = 1.0, respectively) or complications (23.5% versus 13.6%, p = 0.677, respectively) between ST and SSGW groups. CONCLUSION: Transitioning to a SSGW has reduced OR supply cost by reducing the number of supplies required. The change in wire did not affect stone-free rates or complications.

Comparison of Newly Optimized Moses Technology vs Standard Holmium:YAG for Endoscopic Laser Enucleation of the Prostate.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to describe our initial experience of using a newly optimized Moses technology that is part of the second-generation Moses platform specifically designed for holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (M2-HoLEP) and compare it with patients undergoing HoLEP using standard holmium:YAG technology (S-HoLEP). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected data on patients who underwent M2-HoLEP and compared it with the last 50 patients in whom we performed S-HoLEP. Specifically, we compared preoperative symptom scores for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED), preoperative objective voiding metrics, as well as intraoperative characteristics, perioperative characteristics, postoperative complications, postoperative symptom scores for LUTS and ED, and postoperative objective voiding metrics. Additionally, we evaluated the ability for same-day discharge following surgery in the M2-HoLEP group. Results: We included 104 total patients for analysis. We compared the first 54 patients undergoing M2-HoLEP with 50 patients undergoing S-HoLEP. Both groups had similar age, body mass index, use of anticoagulation medication, LUTS and ED scores, and objective voiding metrics. Operations performed with M2-HoLEP had faster mean hemostasis time (8.7 vs 10.6 ± 6 minutes, p = 0.03) as well as hemostasis rate (0.13 vs 0.30 min/g, p = 0.01). Same-day discharge was achieved in 69.4% of patients in the M2-HoLEP group. Postoperatively, both groups also had similar and low rates of urinary retention and complications. At follow-up, both groups had similar symptom scores for LUTS and ED, as well as similar objective voiding metrics. Conclusions: The newly optimized Moses pulse modulation technology is safe and efficient for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia. Such technologic improvements in the laser have greatly enhanced the feasibility of same-day discharge of patients undergoing HoLEP.

Next generation sequencing in patients with nephrolithiasis: how does it perform compared with standard urine and stone cultures?

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to compare microorganism detection between standard culture (Ctx) and next generation sequencing (NGS) in patients undergoing surgery for nephrolithiasis; we prospectively compared both urine and stone culture results using these two techniques. METHODS: We prospectively compared microorganism detection of urine and stone cultures using Ctx versus NGS in patients undergoing surgery for nephrolithiasis. We analyzed preoperative voided urine (Voided) using both Ctx and NGS. Intraoperatively, renal stone (Stone) cultures were analyzed with Ctx and NGS. The primary outcome was concordance in microorganism detection between Voided Ctx and Stone NGS, as well as between Stone Ctx and Stone NGS. RESULTS: We prospectively evaluated 84 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of Voided Ctx predicting Stone Ctx were 66.7%, 73.7%, 54.5%, and 82.4%, respectively. Concordance of Voided Ctx microorganisms to Stone microorganisms decreased when NGS was used for the Stone compared with Ctx. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of Voided NGS to predict Stone Ctx microorganisms were 85.2%, 24.6%, 34.8%, and 77.8%, respectively. The concordance of Voided NGS to Stone microorganisms improved when the Stone was analyzed via NGS compared with Ctx. CONCLUSION: NGS has a higher detection rate of microorganisms than standard culture for both preoperative urine and stone cultures. Voided NGS was the most sensitive in predicting a positive Stone sample, but the specificity and PPV were, overall, low. Further correlation of NGS microorganism detection with patient outcomes will determine which clinical situations may benefit most from NGS versus standard culture in patients with urinary-tract stones.

Clinical and Metabolic Correlates of Pure Stone Subtypes.

Background: There are multiple stone types, with each forming under different urinary conditions. We compared clinical and metabolic findings in pure stone formers (SFs) to understand whether there are consistent factors that differentiate these groups in terms of underlying etiology and potential for empiric treatment. Materials and Methods: Pure SFs based on infrared spectroscopic analysis of stones obtained at our institution between January 2002 and July 2018 with a corresponding 24-hour urinalysis were retrospectively evaluated. Results: One hundred twenty-one apatite (AP), 54 brushite (BRU), 50 calcium oxalate (CaOx) dihydrate, 104 CaOx monohydrate, and 82 uric acid (UA) patients were analyzed. AP, BRU, and CaOx dihydrate patients were younger than CaOx monohydrate and UA patients. The UA patients had the highest male predominance (76.8%), whereas AP patients were predominantly female (80.2%). UA was most associated with diabetes mellitus (45.3%), and CaOx monohydrate with cardiovascular disease (27.2%) and malabsorptive gastrointestinal conditions (19.2%). BRU patients had the highest prevalence of primary hyperparathyroidism (17%). AP, BRU, and CaOx dihydrate patients demonstrated high rates of hypercalciuria (66.1%, 79.6%, 82%). AP and BRU patients had the highest urinary pH. AP patients exhibited the highest rate of hypocitraturia, whereas CaOx dihydrate patients exhibited the lowest (55.4%, 30%). CaOx monohydrate patients had the highest rate of hyperoxaluria (51.9%). UA patients had the lowest urinary pH. There were no observable differences in the rates of hyperuricosuria or hypernatriuria. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that pure stone composition correlates with certain urinary and clinical characteristics. These data can help guide empiric clinical decision making.

Real-World Experience of Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate with Patients on Anticoagulation Therapy.

Background: Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is a highly effective procedure for benign prostatic hyperplasia that is size independent and has been recommended for patients necessitating antiplatelet (AP) and anticoagulant (AC) medications. Although HoLEP is feasible in AP/AC patients, there is a lack of published results on real-world outcomes of patients on AP/AC therapy undergoing HoLEP. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of our institutional HoLEP database of demographics, perioperative and postoperative data, and outcomes of patients on AP and AC therapy compared with none. We also further stratified patients on warfarin compared with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Results: Of 472 patients who underwent HoLEP at our institution from July 2018 to December 2019 with data on AP/AC drugs, 30 (6.3%) were on AP and 65 (17.2%) were on AC. One patient continued AP (3.3%), six patients (9.2%) were bridged on AC, and one patient (1.5%) continued AC through the time of HoLEP at the discretion of the prescribing provider. Preoperatively, only age was significantly different among the three groups (p < 0.001). There were no intraoperative differences. Postoperatively, there was a higher 90-day complication rate in AP and AC groups (p = 0.035), but not an increase in emergency department (ED) visits (p = 0.557) or Clavien ≥3 complications (p = 0.16). In comparison of patients on warfarin with DOAC, there was a lower rate of successful voiding trial (p = 0.009), higher 90-day complications (p = 0.003), and more ED visits (p = 0.003) in the warfarin group. Conclusions: HoLEP is safe and effective for patients who require AP or AC therapy. There is no increase in serious complications or worsened postoperative voiding parameters. Of patients on AC, those on DOAC have better outcomes compared with warfarin.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis: a comparison of open and minimally-invasive surgical approaches.

To compare perioperative outcomes between patients undergoing minimally-invasive (MIS) and open surgical approaches for the treatment of Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis (XGP). Between 2007 and 2017 we retrospectively identified 40 patients undergoing nephrectomy at our institution for pathologically confirmed XGP. Patients whose operations were ultimately completed with open technique were analyzed with the open cohort, whereas patients whose operations were completed in entirety using any laparoscopic approach were analyzed with the MIS group. Twenty-three patients were analyzed in the open cohort, compared to seventeen in the MIS group. Three patients in the open cohort were converted intraoperatively from MIS to open approach. Compared to the open group, the MIS group less often had an abscess on preoperative CT (11.8% vs 54.5%; p = 0.006). The MIS group also had lower intraoperative blood loss (100 vs 400 mL; p < 0.001), lower rate of blood transfusion (0% vs 45.5%; p = 0.002), lower postoperative intensive care admission (0% vs 34.8%; p = 0.013), and shorter hospital stay (4 vs 7 days; p = 0.013). However, there was no significant difference in high-grade complications between these groups (5.9% vs 34.8%; p = 0.054). Preoperative CT scan may be an important factor when considering operative approach for treatment of XGP. Patients who are able to undergo MIS approach have less blood loss, shorter hospitalization, and are less likely to require intensive care admission, which may be related to the disease process, the surgical technique, or both.

Catheter Removal on the Same Day of Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: Outcomes of a Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if same day catheter removal is feasible in a select population after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). METHODS: We performed an analysis of patients undergoing HoLEP at our institution who underwent same-day catheter removal after HoLEP. All HoLEPs were performed with Moses 2.0 Optimized for BPH. Patients were dismissed from postoperative recovery unit to the clinic for catheter removal and voiding trial. RESULTS: To date, 30 patients have undergone same day catheter removal. Median age is 68.6 years (interquartile range [IQR] 61.8-73.3) and preoperative prostate volume 81 mL (IQR 53-114.8). Median enucleation time was 39.5 minutes (IQR 30.5-53), morcellation time was 5 minutes (IQR 4-12 minutes), and enucleated specimen weight was 52.5 g (IQR 33-81). Twenty-seven (90%) patients successfully voided on the same day without requiring catheter replacement. All patients were catheter free by POD1. For patients who successfully passed their voiding trial, the median time from the end of the procedure to hospital discharge was 2.6 hours (IQR [2.1-2.9]) and from the end of the HoLEP to catheter removal was 4.9 hours (IQR [3.5-6.0]). CONCLUSION: We present for the first time that same day catheter removal is a feasible option in a select population of patients undergoing HoLEP. With more study, this has the potential for transforming the management of BPH, especially larger glands.

Correlating Patient Anxiety with Urinary Symptoms Before and After Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate.

Introduction and Objective: Preoperative anxiety has been shown to correlate with certain urinary symptoms in patients with certain types of voiding dysfunction, particularly overactive bladder. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if patient-reported anxiety correlates with pathologic characteristics, voiding symptoms, and objective metrics of bladder emptying in male patients undergoing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). Patients and Methods: We began collecting patient-reported anxiety scores (generalized anxiety disorder 7-item or GAD-7) in addition to patient-reported scores of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) starting in November 2018 for men with LUTS due to benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between preoperative GAD-7 score with preoperative age, body mass index (BMI), preoperative urine flow metrics, preoperative postvoid residual (PVR), and preoperative symptom scores for LUTS (American Urological Association, BPH impact index [BII], and Michigan incontinence symptom index [MISI]) and ED (sexual health inventory for men and male sexual health questionnaire for ejaculatory dysfunction [MSHQ-EjD]). We then compared preoperative GAD-7 score with enucleated prostate weight, postoperative GAD-7 scores, postoperative urine flow metrics, postoperative PVR, and postoperative symptom scores for LUTS and ED. Results: We included 139 patients for analysis. The preoperative GAD-7 score positively correlated with preoperative BII scores (rs = 0.202, p = 0.019), MISI total (rs = 0.260, p = 0.002), and MISI bother (rs = 0.345, p < 0.001) scores. Preoperative GAD-7 negatively correlated with preoperative MSHQ-EjD (rs = -0.191, p = 0.031). Following HoLEP, all four of these correlations disappear. The GAD-7 score did not correlate with age, BMI, preoperative urine flow metrics, preoperative PVR, or other preoperative LUTS and ED symptom scores. In addition, preoperative GAD-7 score showed no correlation with enucleated prostate weight, postoperative urine flow metrics, postoperative PVR, and postoperative LUTS and ED symptom scores. Conclusions: Higher preoperative anxiety correlated with more severe preoperative urinary LUTS, particularly incontinence symptoms, in patients undergoing HoLEP. Following HoLEP, these symptoms improve regardless of patient anxiety level.

Critical Assessment of Single-Use Ureteroscopes in an In Vivo Porcine Model.

METHODS: A female pig was placed under general anesthesia and positioned supine, and retrograde access to the renal collecting system was obtained. The LithoVue (Boston Scientific) and Uscope (Pusen Medical) were evaluated by three experienced surgeons, and each surgeon started with a new scope. The following parameters were compared between each ureteroscope: time for navigation to upper and lower pole calyces with and without implements (1.9 F basket, 200 µm laser fiber, and 365 µm laser fiber for upper only) in the working channel and subjective evaluations of maneuverability, irrigant flow through the scope, lever force, ergonomics, and scope optics. RESULTS: Navigation to the lower pole calyx was significantly faster with LithoVue compared to Uscope when the working channel was empty (24.3 vs. 49.4 seconds, p < 0.01) and with a 200 µm fiber (63.6 vs. 94.4 seconds, p=0.04), but not with the 1.9 F basket. Navigation to the upper pole calyx was similar for all categories except faster with LithoVue containing the 365 µm fiber (67.1 vs. 99.7 seconds, p=0.02). Subjective assessments of scope maneuverability to upper and lower pole calyces when the scope was empty and with implements favored LithoVue in all categories, as did assessments of irrigant flow, illumination, image quality, and field of view. Both scopes had similar scores of lever force and ergonomics. CONCLUSIONS: In an in vivo porcine model, the type of single-use ureteroscope employed affected the navigation times and subjective assessments of maneuverability and visualization. In all cases, LithoVue provided either equivalent or superior metrics than Uscope. Further clinical studies are necessary to determine the implications of these findings.

A Comparison of Perioperative Stone-Free Rates and Complications Following Unilateral, Single-Access Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy by Access Location in 767 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare perioperative outcomes between lower, mid, and upper pole access locations for patients undergoing single-access, unilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). METHODS: We queried our institutional PCNL database to include patients who had unilateral, single access procedures. We excluded patients who had a contralateral procedure during the same admission or multiaccess procedures. Patients were grouped by the site of PCNL access (lower, mid, or upper pole). Among groups, we compared postoperative day 1 (POD1) stone-free rates as measured by abdominal CT scan or plain-film X-ray and consequent need for a secondary procedure. We further compared postoperative complication rates. RESULTS: We included 767 patients for analysis, with the majority of access locations being in the lower pole (80.2%). Patients across groups had similar age, body mass index, and stone laterality. Patients with horseshoe kidneys more commonly had mid or upper pole access compared to lower pole. The percentage of patients with no residual stone fragments seen on POD 1 imaging was similar for lower, mid, and upper pole groups (57.7% vs 65.0% vs 61.6%, respectively; P = .526). Additionally, we observed no difference in the percentage of patients requiring a secondary procedure among the above groups (33.5% vs 22.5% vs 31.3%, respectively; P = .337). Patients experienced no difference in complications among groups. CONCLUSION: When performing unilateral PCNL using a single site of access, we observed no difference in stone-free rates or complications between lower, mid, and upper pole locations. Appropriate selection of access location in PCNL should be individualized to patient factors and surgeon experience.

Comparison of laser fiber degradation and perioperative outcomes following holmium laser enucleation of the prostate using 550 and 1000 µm fiber diameters.

OBJECTIVE: To compare perioperative and post-operative outcomes for holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) between cases performed with a 550 µm or 1000 µm fiber. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the most recent 50 patients undergoing HoLEP with a 550 µm fiber and the most recent 50 patients with a 1000 µm fiber. The length of exposed laser fiber after stripping was measured pre- and post-enucleation, with the difference being our primary outcome of degradation length. We compared operative and clinical characteristics between patients undergoing HoLEP using 550 and 1000 µm laser fibers. RESULTS: All 100 patients met inclusion for analysis. Overall, the 550 µm fiber experienced more degradation than the 1000 µm fiber (2.9 vs 1.9 cm, respectively; p = 0.01). The 1000 µm fiber utilized significantly less energy compared to the 500 µm fiber (81 vs 109 kJ, respectively; p < 0.01). In addition, operations performed with the 1000 versus the 500 µm fiber were overall shorter (79 vs 88 min, respectively; p = 0.03), although both groups had statistically similar times for enucleation (45 vs 51 min, respectively; p = 0.42) and morcellation (10 vs 9 min, respectively; p = 0.50). These findings occurred in the context of statistically similar prostate weight enucleated and bladder stones treated between groups. Post-operatively patients experienced no difference in blood loss or dysuria. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the 1000 µm fiber resulted in significantly less fiber degradation, energy requirement, and total operative time during HoLEP, in spite of similar prostate size and time required for enucleation and morcellation. Different fiber diameters do not appear to affect post-operative blood loss or dysuria.

Variability in stone composition and metabolic correlation between kidneys in patients with bilateral nephrolithiasis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical significance of discordant stone analyses in patients undergoing bilateral ureteroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients undergoing stone extraction with bilateral ureteroscopy at our institution in an aim to identify patients who had bilateral stone analysis and 24-h urine chemistry data available. Stones were then classified based upon the dominant present (> 50%). Twenty-four hour urinalysis results were reviewed and statistical analysis performed comparing discordant and concordant patient populations, assessing significant differences that would potentially influence clinical management. RESULTS: We identified 79 patients (158 renal units) who had bilateral stones removed at the time of ureteroscopy. The majority of stones were classified as calcium oxalate (CaOx) (60.1%) followed by calcium phosphate (CaP) (27.8%), brushite (5.1%), uric acid (UA) (4.4%), and cystine (2.5%). Discrepancies in stone classifications were present 24% of the time. Evaluation of 24-h urinalysis results demonstrated that patients with CaOx:CaP stone discordance compared to CaOx:CaOx concordant stone formers were more likely to have an elevated pH (p = 0.02) and lower uric acid supersaturation (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies in stone mineral content are common in patients with bilateral stone disease. A single stone analysis from one side in the setting of bilateral stone disease is insufficient for management of patients with bilateral renal stones, and may lead to mismanagement when this misrepresented information is utilized in addition to 24-h urinalysis results. At least one stone analysis should be performed from both sides during a bilateral stone extraction procedure.

Initial Clinical Experience with Swiss LithoClast Trilogy During Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

Introduction and Objective: Current available lithotrites have clinical stone clearance rates averaging 24 to 32 mm2/minute. The objective of this study was to critically evaluate the initial experience with the Swiss LithoClast® Trilogy lithotrite during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with a minimum of 15 mm of stone in axial diameter at three locations (Indiana University, University of California Davis, and University of California San Diego) scheduled to undergo PCNL for nephrolithiasis over a 60-day trial period. We assessed objective measures of stone clearance time, stone clearance rate, device malfunction, stone-free rate, and complications. Each surgeon also evaluated subjective parameters from each case related to the use of Trilogy on a 1 to 10 scale (10 = extremely effective), and compared it with their usual lithotrite on a 1 to 5 scale (5 = much better). Results: We included 43 patients and had 7 bilateral (16.3%) cases, for a total of 50 renal units. One case was a mini-PCNL. Two cases experienced device malfunctions requiring troubleshooting but no transition to another lithotrite. The mean stone clearance rate was 68.9 mm2/minute. The stone-free rate on postoperative imaging was 67.6% (25 of 37 patients with available imaging). The lowest subjective rating was the ergonomic score of 6.7, and the highest subjective rating was the ease of managing settings score of 9.2. The surgeon impressions of ultrasound (7.3), ballistics (8.1), combination of ultrasound and ballistics (8.7), and suction (8.4) were high. One patient experienced an intraoperative renal pelvis perforation, one patient required a blood transfusion, one patient had a pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement, and one patient had a renal artery pseudoaneurysm requiring endovascular embolization. Conclusions: This multi-institutional study evaluated a new and efficient combination lithotrite that was perceived by surgeons to be highly satisfactory, with an excellent safety and durability profile.

Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate in Jehovah's Witness patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate if HoLEP is a viable option for male patients with medication-refractory urinary symptoms due to an enlarged prostate who are surgical candidates, but do not accept blood product transfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 2008 and March 2019, nine Jehovah's Witness patients were undergoing HoLEP for relief of lower urinary tract symptoms and urinary retention. We described change in hemoglobin, change in PSA, enucleated prostate weight, enucleation and morcellation times, length of stay, and postoperative retention rate. RESULTS: The average age was 71.4 years (range 53-87). Urinary retention requiring catheterization was present in seven patients (78%). Two patients had a known diagnosis of prostate cancer preoperatively. The mean preoperative PSA on average was 21.6 ng/dL. Patients had a wide range of gland sizes, with a mean enucleated weight of 141 g (range 18-344 g). Mean reduction in hemoglobin was 16.9% following HoLEP. All patients managed to void postoperatively. All but one patient went home on postoperative day 1, and this patient went home on postoperative day 2. No patients required blood product transfusion or return to the operating room for clot irrigation postoperatively. CONCLUSION: HoLEP is a reasonable option for Jehovah's Witness and other patients with contraindications to blood product transfusion requiring surgical management of urinary symptoms due to enlarged prostate.

Impact of Statin Intake on Kidney Stone Formation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether statin intake affects nephrolithiasis risk, and whether higher lipid levels correlate with stone risk. Dyslipidemia is a known independent risk factor for urolithiasis, and emerging evidence suggests common biological pathways. Previous work has suggested that statins protect against new stone formation, but these findings have not been verified by other investigators. METHODS: We queried our Institution's Electronic Data Warehouse for all patients who were newly diagnosed with hyperlipidemia between 2009 and 2011, and had never taken a statin drug. These patients' clinical outcomes were followed until 2015, to assess whether they had been newly prescribed statins and whether they had developed symptomatic urolithiasis. Patient demographics, stone risk factors, prescription data, and serum lipid values were collected. RESULTS: A total of 101,259 patients met inclusion criteria, 47.8% of whom received a statin prescription during the study period. Patients prescribed statins were significantly older, had a greater likelihood of osteoporosis, hemiplegia, immobility, and more likely to take a thiazide diuretic. Patients without a history of urolithiasis who were started on statin therapy were significantly less likely to develop new stones than patients not taking statins. This protective effect was even greater in patients with a history of stone disease. Lipid parameters (low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, cholesterol) were lower in the statin-treated group, suggesting overall compliance with these medications. CONCLUSION: Our data confirm previous work that statins protect against urinary stone formation; however, the underlying mechanism seems to be distinct from statins' lipid-lowering effect.

No Effect of Music on Anxiety and Pain During Transrectal Prostate Biopsies: A Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ambient music on anxiety and pain in men undergoing prostate biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2015 and June 2016, men undergoing office transrectal prostate biopsy at our institution were randomly assigned to music (n = 85) or control (n = 97) groups. We examined clinical characteristics, pathologic variables, and baseline anxiety using the Trait Instrument of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Primary outcomes included anxiety assessed by State Instrument of STAI (STAI-S) and pain using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the music and control groups, including median age, prostate-specific antigen, use of magnetic resonance imaging-guided biopsies, or Trait Instrument of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The majority (93%) of patients indicated they desired music in their prebiopsy survey. There were no significant differences in STAI-S (33.7 ± 8.9 vs 34.4 ± 9.9, P = .6), pain score (2.3 ± 2.1 vs 2.0 ± 2.1, P = .3), or vital signs between the music and control groups, respectively. There were also no differences in STAI-S, visual analog scale, or vital signs between groups when stratified by age, prostate-specific antigen, or number of previous biopsies. Men who received music were more likely to request music for future prostate biopsy, compared to men who did not (93% vs 83%, P = .07, respectively). CONCLUSION: This randomized study showed no difference in anxiety or pain scores for patients who had ambient music during transrectal prostate biopsy. Future studies are needed to discern the influence of details including method of music delivery, music type, and utilization of adjunct relaxation tools.