A survey on preferences, attitudes, and perspectives of Italian urology trainees: implications of the novel national residency matching program

BACKGROUND

Since 2014, a new residency program selection process has been established with a national examination. The aim of this study was to assess characteristics, career goals, and practice preferences of current Italian urology residents.

METHODS

A web-based survey of 25 items performed from May 2021 to September 2021 was sent to 585 Italian urology residents. Descriptive analyses were conducted to describe the surveys' domains: demographics characteristics, studies, plans for fellowship training, interest in the urology field, and career expectations.

RESULTS

Four hundred and one residents completed the online survey (response rate 68.5%). Most residents were male (70.3%), with a median of 29 (IQR 28-31) years. Urology was the first chosen School in 325 (81.0%) cases, and 174 (43.4%) trainees have chosen to remain in the same University. Uro-oncology was the main field, and endourology the main subspeciality of interest, respectively. More than 40.0% of residents expressed a good level of satisfaction for the training urological course. 232 (57.2%) residents were strongly interested in seeking a hospital career, followed by private career (43.4%) and academic career (20%).

CONCLUSIONS

After the introduction of the novel national residency matching program the Italian Urology trainees showed a good satisfaction level. Further improvements of the Italian residency programs should be focused on the training network within and outside the main School of Urology.

Percutaneous Ablation vs Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy for Completely Endophytic Renal Masses: A Multicenter Trifecta Analysis with a Minimum 3-Year Follow-Up

Purpose: To compare outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and percutaneous tumor ablation (PTA) for completely endophytic renal masses. Methods: Data of patients who underwent RAPN or PTA for treatment of completely endophytic (three points for "E" domain of R.E.N.A.L. score) were collected from seven high-volume U.S. and European centers. PTA included cryoablation, radiofrequency, or microwave ablation. Baseline characteristics, clinical, surgical, and postoperative outcomes were compared. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was calculated with Kaplan-Meier analysis. Trifecta was used as arbitrary combined outcome parameter as proxy for treatment "quality." Multivariable logistic regression model assessed predictors of trifecta failure. Results: One hundred fifty-two patients (RAPN, n = 60; PTA, n = 92) were included in the analysis. RAPN group was younger (p < 0.001), had lower American Society of Anesthesiologists score (p = 0.002), and higher baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (p < 0.001). There was no difference in clinical tumor size, clinical T stage, and tumor complexity scores. PTA had significantly lower rate of overall (p < 0.001) and minor (p < 0.001) complications. ΔeGFR at 1 year was statistically higher for RAPN (-15.5 mL/min vs -3.1 mL/min; p = 0.005), no difference in ΔeGFR at last follow-up (p = 0.22) was observed. No difference in recurrences (RAPN, n = 2; PTA, n = 6) and RFS was found (p = 0.154). Trifecta achievement was higher for RAPN but not statistically different (65.3% vs 58.8%; p = 0.477). R.E.N.A.L. Nephrometry Score resulted predictive of trifecta failure (odds ratio = 1.47; confidence interval = 1.13-1.90; p = 0.004). Conclusions: PTA confirms to be an effective treatment for completely endophytic renal masses, offering low complications and good mid-term functional and oncologic outcomes. These outcomes compare favorably with those of RAPN, which seem to be the preferred option for younger and less comorbid patients.

Percutaneous thermal ablation for cT1 renal mass in solitary kidney: A multicenter trifecta comparative analysis versus robot-assisted partial nephrectomy

INTRODUCTION

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in solitary kidney (SK) represents a challenging scenario. We sought to compare outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) versus percutaneous thermal ablation (PTA) in SK patients with renal tumors cT1.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of SK patients treated for RCC. The PTA group included cryoablation or radiofrequency ablation. We collected baseline characteristics, intraoperative, pathological, and post-operative data. We applied an arbitrary composite "trifecta" to assess surgical, functional, and oncological outcomes, only for malignant histology. RFS analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of "trifecta" achievement.

RESULTS

We included 198 SK patients (RAPN, n = 50; PTA n = 119). Mean clinical tumor size was not significantly different while R.E.N.A.L. score was higher for RAPN (p < 0.001). No differences in intra and major post-procedural complications. Recurrence rate was higher in PTA group but not statistically significant (p < 0.328). No difference in metastasis rate was found (p = 0.435). RFS was 96.1% in RAPN and 86.8% in PTA cohort (p = 0.003) while no difference in PFS was detected (p = 0.1). Trifecta was achieved in 72.5% of RAPN vs 77.3% of PTA (p = 0.481). Multivariable analysis has not detected predictors for Trifecta achievement.

CONCLUSION

PTA offers good outcomes in the management of SK patients with RCC. Compared with RAPN, it might carry a higher risk of recurrence; on the other hand, re-treatment is possible. Overall, PTA can be safely offered to treat SK patients presenting RCC. In general, it should be preferred in more frail patients to minimize the risk of complications.

Renal Cell Carcinoma as a Metabolic Disease: An Update on Main Pathways, Potential Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Targets

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most frequent histological kidney cancer subtype. Over the last decade, significant progress has been made in identifying the genetic and metabolic alterations driving ccRCC development. In particular, an integrated approach using transcriptomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics has led to a better understanding of ccRCC as a metabolic disease. The metabolic profiling of this cancer could help define and predict its behavior in terms of aggressiveness, prognosis, and therapeutic responsiveness, and would be an innovative strategy for choosing the optimal therapy for a specific patient. This review article describes the current state-of-the-art in research on ccRCC metabolic pathways and potential therapeutic applications. In addition, the clinical implication of pharmacometabolomic intervention is analyzed, which represents a new field for novel stage-related and patient-tailored strategies according to the specific susceptibility to new classes of drugs.

Quality of Web-Based Patient Information on Robotic Radical Cystectomy Remains Poor: A Standardized Assessment

INTRODUCTION

Patients frequently use the Web to obtain health information. This trend increased during the COVID19 pandemic. We aimed to assess the quality of Web-based information on robot-assisted radical cystectomy.

METHODS

A Web search was conducted in November 2021 using the 3 most common engines (Google/Bing/Yahoo). Search terms were "robotic cystectomy," "robot-assisted cystectomy," and "robotic radical cystectomy." The top 25 results generated for each term by each search engine were included. Duplicate pages, pages advertised, and pages with paywall access were excluded. Selected websites were classified as academic, physician, commercial, and unspecified. The quality of site contents was evaluated using the DISCERN and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) assessment instruments, and HONcode (Health on the Net Foundation) seal and reference presence. Flesch Reading Ease Score was used for readability assessment.

RESULTS

Of the 225 sites examined only 34 were eligible for analysis, including 35.3% classified as "academic," 44.1% "physician," 11.8% "commercial," and 8.8% "unspecified." Average±SD DISCERN and JAMA scores were 45.5±15.7 and 1.9±1.1, respectively. Commercial websites had the highest DISCERN and JAMA scores with a mean±SD of 64.7±8.7 and 3.6±0.5, respectively. Physician websites had a significantly lower JAMA mean score than commercial ones (p <0.001). Six websites had HONcode seals and 10 reported references. Readability was difficult as it was at the level of college graduate.

CONCLUSIONS

As the role of robot-assisted radical cystectomy continues to grow worldwide, the overall quality of Web-based information related to this procedure remains poor. An effort should be made by health care providers to assure patients can have better access to reliable and readable informational material.

Current Management of Urachal Carcinoma: An Evidence-based Guide for Clinical Practice

Urachal carcinoma is a rare urological disease. The shortage of data about diagnosis and surgical treatment in literature makes it hard for clinicians to make a decision. Indeed, urachal carcinoma is an aggressive disease that requires prompt staging and treatment to ensure the best outcome for patients. We reviewed the last evidence about the management of urachal carcinoma to provide an easy-to-use guide for clinical practice.

Patient summary

Urachal carcinoma is a rare malignancy. The literature on this challenging disease remains limited. Herein, we provide a practical guide for its management from diagnosis to treatment, which in most cases requires surgical intervention or chemotherapy.

Erectile and sexual dysfunction in male and female patients with celiac disease: A cross-sectional observational study

INTRODUCTION

Sexual function is often impaired in patients with chronic illnesses. Several patients with chronic gastrointestinal and liver disorders have been shown to suffer from sexual dysfunction, and celiac disease (CD) is a highly prevalent gastroenterological disorder.

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the sexual function incidence and the risk factors for SD in both male and female CD patients.

METHODS

Two hundred and eighty-four patients (170 females, 114 males) participated in this cross-sectional, observational study in an anonymous manner. Female sexual function was assessed through the FSFI questionnaire. Male sexual function was assessed through the IIEF-5 questionnaire. Clinical-demographic variables were recorded. We investigated differences in the patient-reported outcomes among the different subgroups and whether there were clinic-demographic predictors of SD in our setting.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prevalence and assessment of sexual dysfunction in CD patients.

RESULTS

In the female group, 85 subjects (50%) had a total score compatible with sexual dysfunction: 43 (61.42 %) showed low desire, 79 (46.47 %) showed arousal disorder, 66 (38.82 %) lubrication disorder, 84 (49.41 %) inability of obtaining an orgasm. Also, a large proportion of our female patients, 161 (94.70 %), showed sexual discomfort during intercourse. In the male group, 79 patients (62.2%) showed scores compatible with normal erectile function, 8 (7.01%) had mild erectile dysfunction, 24 (21.05%) mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, and 3 (2.63%) presented severe erectile dysfunction. Altered BMI was significantly associated with SD both in male and female patients. Early age at diagnosis was a significant predictor of SD in male CD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of CD patients present SD. Early age at diagnosis and high BMI seem to predict SD in this clinical setting. Assessment of sexual function should be part of the initial evaluation of CD patients in order to establish a prompt diagnosis and early treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Metabolomic Approaches for Detection and Identification of Biomarkers and Altered Pathways in Bladder Cancer

Metabolomic analysis has proven to be a useful tool in biomarker discovery and the molecular classification of cancers. In order to find new biomarkers, and to better understand its pathological behavior, bladder cancer also has been studied using a metabolomics approach. In this article, we review the literature on metabolomic studies of bladder cancer, focusing on the different available samples (urine, blood, tissue samples) used to perform the studies and their relative findings. Moreover, the multi-omic approach in bladder cancer research has found novel insights into its metabolic behavior, providing excellent start-points for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Metabolomics data analysis can lead to the discovery of a “signature pathway” associated with the progression of bladder cancer; this aspect could be potentially valuable in predictions of clinical outcomes and the introduction of new treatments. However, further studies are needed to give stronger evidence and to make these tools feasible for use in clinical practice.

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Decline at 1 Year After Minimally Invasive Partial Nephrectomy: A Multimodel Comparison of Predictors

Background

Long-term renal function after partial nephrectomy (PN) is difficult to predict as it is influenced by several modifiable and nonmodifiable variables, often intertwined in complex relations.

Objective

To identify variables influencing long-term renal function after PN and to assess their relative weight.

Design, setting, and participants

A total of 457 patients who underwent either robotic (n = 412) or laparoscopic PN (n = 45) were identified from a multicenter international database.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

The 1-yr estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) percentage loss (1YPL), defined as the eGFR percentage change from baseline at 1 yr after surgery, was the outcome endpoint. Predictors evaluated included demographic data, tumor features, and operative and postoperative variables. Bayesian multimodel analysis of covariance was used to build all possible models and compare the fit of each model to the data via model Bayes factors. Bayesian model averaging was used to quantify the support for each predictor via the inclusion Bayes factor (BF_incl). High-dimensional undirected graph estimation was used for network analysis of conditional independence between predictors.

Results and limitations

Several models were found to be plausible for estimation of 1YPL. The best model, comprising postoperative eGFR percentage loss (PPL), sex, ischemia technique, and preoperative eGFR, was 207 times more likely than all the other models regarding relative predictive performance. Its components were part of the top 44 models and were the predictors with the highest BF_incl. The role of cold ischemia, solitary kidney status, surgeon experience, and type of renorraphy was not assessed.

Conclusions

Preoperative eGFR, sex, ischemia technique, and PPL are the best predictors of eGFR percentage loss at 1 yr after minimally invasive PN. Other predictors seem to be irrelevant, as their influence is insignificant or already nested in the effect of these four parameters.

Patient summary

Kidney function at 1 year after partial removal of a kidney depends on sex, the technique used to halt blood flow to the kidney during surgery, and kidney function at baseline and in the early postoperative period.

Novel Insights into Autophagy and Prostate Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

Autophagy is a complex process involved in several cell activities, including tissue growth, differentiation, metabolic modulation, and cancer development. In prostate cancer, autophagy has a pivotal role in the regulation of apoptosis and disease progression. Several molecular pathways are involved, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR. However, depending on the cellular context, autophagy may play either a detrimental or a protective role in prostate cancer. For this purpose, current evidence has investigated how autophagy interacts within these complex interactions. In this article, we discuss novel findings about autophagic machinery in order to better understand the therapeutic response and the chemotherapy resistance of prostate cancer. Autophagic-modulation drugs have been employed in clinical trials to regulate autophagy, aiming to improve the response to chemotherapy or to anti-cancer treatments. Furthermore, the genetic signature of autophagy has been found to have a potential means to stratify prostate cancer aggressiveness. Unfortunately, stronger evidence is needed to better understand this field, and the application of these findings in clinical practice still remains poorly feasible.

The impact of COVID 19 pandemic on urology literature: a bibliometric analysis

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused wide-reaching change to many aspects of life on a worldwide scale. The impact of these changes on peer-reviewed research journals, including those dedicated to urology, is still unknown.

Material and methods

The Web of Science database was queried to retrieve all COVID-19 urological articles written in English language and published between January 1^st, 2020 and December 10^th, 2021. Only original and review articles were considered. A bibliometric analysis of the total number of papers, citations, institutions and publishing journals was performed. Non-COVID-19 publications were also retrieved to compare the duration of publication stages.

Results

A total of 428 COVID-19 articles and 14,874 non-COVID-19 articles were collected. Significant differences in the duration of all the publication stages were found between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 articles (all p <0.001). The most productive countries were the USA (100 articles), Italy (59 articles) and the United Kingdom (55 articles). The published literature has focused on four topics: COVID-19 genitourinary manifestations, management of urological diseases during the pandemic, repercussions on quality of life and impact on healthcare providers.

Conclusions

A significant reduction in peer review time for COVID-19 articles might raise concerns regarding the quality of peer review itself. USA, Italy and UK published the highest number of COVID-19 related articles. Restrictive measures taken by governments to reduce the spread of infection had a strong impact on mental stress and anxiety of patients and healthcare professionals. A coerced deferral of diagnosis and treatment of emergencies and uro-oncological cases represented the most challenging task from a clinical standpoint.

Increased Body Mass Index Is a Risk Factor for Poor Clinical Outcomes after Radical Prostatectomy in Men with International Society of Urological Pathology Grade Group 1 Prostate Cancer Diagnosed with Systematic Biopsies

INTRODUCTION

The association between obesity and clinically significant prostate cancer (PCa) is still a matter of debate. In this study, we evaluated the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the prediction of pathological unfavorable disease (UD), positive surgical margins (PSMs), and biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with clinically localized (≤cT2c) International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade group 1 PCa at biopsy.

METHODS

427 patients with ISUP grade group 1 PCa who have undergone radical prostatectomy and BMI evaluation were included. The outcome of interest was the presence of UD (defined as ISUP grade group ≥3 and pT ≥3a), PSM, and BCR.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences resulted in comparing BMI with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and serum testosterone levels (both p < 0.0001). Patients with UD and PSM had higher BMI values (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.006, respectively). BCR-free survival was significantly decreased in patients with higher BMI values (p < 0.0001). BMI was an independent risk factor for BCR and PSM. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis testing PSA accuracy in different BMI groups, showed that PSA had a reduced predictive value (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.535; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.422-0.646), in obese men compared to overweight (AUC = 0.664; 95% CI = 0.598-0.725) and normal weight patients (AUC = 0.721; 95% CI = 0.660-0.777).

CONCLUSION

Our findings show that increased BMI is a significant predictor of UD and PSM at RP in patients with preoperative low-to intermediate-risk diseases, suggesting that BMI evaluation may be useful in a clinical setting to identify patients with favorable preoperative disease characteristics harboring high-risk PCa.

Integration of Lipidomics and Transcriptomics Reveals Reprogramming of the Lipid Metabolism and Composition in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is fundamentally a metabolic disease. Given the importance of lipids in many cellular processes, in this study we delineated a lipidomic profile of human ccRCC and integrated it with transcriptomic data to connect the variations in cancer lipid metabolism with gene expression changes. Untargeted lipidomic analysis was performed on 20 ccRCC and 20 paired normal tissues, using LC-MS and GC-MS. Different lipid classes were altered in cancer compared to normal tissue. Among the long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), significant accumulations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were found. Integrated lipidomic and transcriptomic analysis showed that fatty acid desaturation and elongation pathways were enriched in neoplastic tissue. Consistent with these findings, we observed increased expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase(SCD1) and FA elongase 2 and 5 in ccRCC. Primary renal cancer cells treated with a small molecule SCD1 inhibitor (A939572) proliferated at a slower rate than untreated cancer cells. In addition, after cisplatin treatment, the death rate of tumor cells treated with A939572 was significantly greater than that of untreated cancer cells. In conclusion, our findings delineate a ccRCC lipidomic signature and showed that SCD1 inhibition significantly reduced cancer cell proliferation and increased cisplatin sensitivity, suggesting that this pathway can be involved in ccRCC chemotherapy resistance.

Metabolomic insights into pathophysiological mechanisms and biomarker discovery in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a metabolic disease, of which the incidence rate is increasing worldwide. Renal carcinoma is characterized by mutations in target genes involved in metabolic pathways. Metabolic reprogramming covers different processes such as aerobic glycolysis, fatty acid metabolism, and the utilization of tryptophan, glutamine, and arginine. In the era of the multi-omics approach (with integrated transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics), discovering biomarkers for early diagnosis is gaining renewed importance. Areas covered: In this review, we discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying ccRCC metabolic reprogramming. In addition, we describe the emerging metabolomics-based biomarkers differentially expressed in ccRCC and the rationale for the recently developed drugs specifically targeting the ccRCC metabolome. Expert opinion: A number of metabolic pathways will be explored in future years, and many of these pathways are potential therapeutic targets and may serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of ccRCC.

Metabolomic profiling for the identification of novel diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets in prostate cancer: an update

INTRODUCTION

An altered metabolic regulation is involved in the development and progression of different cancer types. As well as this, many genes associated with tumors are shown to have an important role in control of the metabolism. The incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) is increased in men with metabolic disorders. In particular, obesity is an established risk factor for PCa. An increased body mass index correlates with aggressive disease, and a higher risk of biochemical recurrence and prostate cancer-specific mortality. Increased lipogenesis is also one of the most significant events in PCa metabolism reprogramming. Areas covered: In this article, we provide an updated review of the current understanding of the PCa metabolome and evaluate the possibility of unveiling novel therapeutic targets. Expert opinion: Obesity is an established risk factor for PCa, and an increased BMI correlates with aggressive disease, and a higher risk of biochemical recurrence and prostate cancer-specific mortality. PCa metabolome is characterized by the accumulation of metabolic intermediates and an increased expression of genes in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the induction of de novo lipogenesis and cholesterogenesis. PCa cells can induce different alterations in their microenvironment by modulating the crosstalk between cancer and stromal cells.