Comparing the clinical outcomes and learning curves of prostatic urethral lift performed by experienced versus naïve urologists.

Purpose: To characterize the learning process by comparing the clinical outcomes and learning curves of prostatic urethral lift (PUL) performed by experienced versus naïve urologists.

Methods: Consecutive patients treated with PUL at a tertiary center by an experienced urologist with > 100 PUL cases or by naïve urologists with no prior PUL experience were included in this study. Perioperative parameters, functional outcomes, complications, and retreatment rates were compared.

SGLT2 inhibitor and urothelial carcinoma incidence in type 2 diabetes patients.

Aims: The association between sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and the risk of urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate this relationship in Asian populations where upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is prevalent.

Methods: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Database from 2016 to 2021, we conducted a nationwide cohort study comparing SGLT2 (n = 150,278) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor users (n = 363,178).

Optimizing Prostate Cancer Care: Clinical Utility of the Prostate Health Index.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies among men worldwide. Current diagnostic methods, such as digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), often lack specificity and lead to overdiagnosis. The Prostate Health Index (PHI), a composite of total PSA, free PSA, and [-2]proPSA, has emerged as a promising biomarker for improving PCa detection and risk stratification.

The Influence of Chronic Kidney Disease on the Management of Upper Urinary Tract Cancer Following Radical Nephroureterectomy: A Nationwide Multi-Institutional Study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on oncological outcomes in patients with upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) undergoing radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in Taiwan.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the Taiwan UTUC Collaboration database. 1590 patients who underwent RNU for UTUC were included in the analysis.

Chlorinated illudalane sequiterpenoids from Saxiglossum angustissimum.

Eight chlorinated illudalane sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the aerial parts of Saxiglossum angustissimum, including a pair of new pterosin enantiomers, (2R)-angupterosin (1) and (2S)-angupterosin (2), as well as a new pteroside, angupteroside (3). The structures of these compounds were determined through comprehensive analysis of HRESI-MS, NMR spectral data, ECD, and comparisons with previously reported literature. Remarkably, these chlorine-containing compounds (1-8) are rare and represent the first discovery of such metabolites within the family Pyrrosioideae.

Development and validation of a prediction model for early recurrence in upper tract urothelial carcinoma treated with radical nephroureterectomy.

Background: Most cases of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) exhibit recurrence within the first year following surgery. The time from surgery to recurrence significantly impacts cancer-specific survival. In this study, we analyzed patients with localized UTUC (pTis-3N0/xcM0) who experienced postoperative recurrence to identify an appropriate early recurrence time point and the associated risk factors.

Impact of liminality and rituals on professional identity formation in physician training.

Purpose: The transition from medical student to practicing physician affects the complex processes of professional identity formation and professionalism, which have a lasting effect on the physician's career development. This study explored two different transitional processes of medical students in Taiwan, the associated rituals during this transitional period (the 'liminal phase') and their effect on the formation of professional identity.

Method: Using snowball sampling, we recruited 13 medical students from two training systems: six from the traditional postgraduate year programme and seven from the accelerated postgraduate year (A-PGY) programme.

Prostate health index density aids the diagnosis of prostate cancer detected using magnetic resonance imaging targeted prostate biopsy in Taiwanese multicenter study.

Background: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) followed by MRI-targeted prostate biopsy is the current standard for diagnosing prostate cancer (PCa). However, studies evaluating the value of biomarkers, including prostate health index (PHI) and its derivatives using this method are limited. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of PHI density (PHID) in guiding MRI-targeted prostate biopsies to identify clinically significant PCas (csPCa).

Prognostic factors of intravesical recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate predictive factors of increasing intravesical recurrence (IVR) rate in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after receiving radical nephroureterectomy (RNUx) with bladder cuff excision (BCE).

Materials And Methods: A total of 2114 patients were included from the updated data of the Taiwan UTUC Collaboration Group. It was divided into two groups: IVR-free and IVR after RNUx, with 1527 and 587 patients, respectively.

Endoscopic management of upper tract urothelial cancer in a highly endemic area: A Taiwan nationwide collaborative study.

Background: Endoscopic management of upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) is an important treatment option for low risk UTUC. Although Taiwan is an endemic area for UTUC, endoscopic treatment outcomes in Taiwan are frequently under- reported.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the treatment outcomes of endoscopic management for clinically localized UTUC.

NKG2A and circulating extracellular vesicles are key regulators of natural killer cell activity in prostate cancer after prostatectomy.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are an important regulatory factor for natural killer cell activity (NKA) in the tumor microenvironment. The relationship between circulating EVs in the peripheral blood and natural killer (NK) cells in prostate cancer (PCa) is unclear. This study aimed at investigating the key regulators in the interaction between circulating EVs and NK cells in PCa patients before and after tumor removal.

Proliferative ability of circulating tumor cells is a prognostic factor in Early-Stage lung adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and their proliferative ability in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) were not well-investigated. We developed a protocol combining an efficient viable CTC isolation and in-vitro cultivation for the CTC enumeration and proliferation to evaluate their clinical significance.

Method: The peripheral blood of 124 treatment-naïve LUAD patients were processed by a CTC isolation microfluidics, DS platform, followed by in-vitro cultivation.

LMNB1, a potential marker for early prostate cancer progression.

Although prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer among men in the Western world, there are no good biomarkers that can reliably differentiate between potentially aggressive and indolent PC. This leads to overtreatment, even for patients who can be managed conservatively. Previous studies have suggested that nuclear lamin proteins-especially lamin B1 (LMNB1)-play important roles in PC progression.

Clinical Implications of Nadir Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels After Transurethral Enucleation of the Prostate.

Objective: Prostate-specific antigen levels after transurethral enucleation of the prostate may serve as indicators of residual cancer foci. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the post-transurethral enucleation of the prostate nadir prostate-specific antigen level and prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 428 men who underwent transurethral enucleation of the prostate between March 2015 and April 2021.

Propensity score matching analysis comparing radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy in locally advanced prostate cancer.

To compare clinical outcomes between the use of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RP) and radiotherapy (RT) with long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in locally advanced prostate cancer (PC), 315 patients with locally advanced PC (clinical T-stage 3/4) were considered for analysis retrospectively. Propensity score-matching at a 1:1 ratio was performed. The median follow-up period was 59.

The Value of Preoperative Local Symptoms in Prognosis of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma After Radical Nephroureterectomy: A Retrospective, Multicenter Cohort Study.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the impact of preoperative local symptoms on prognosis after radical nephroureterectomy in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods: This retrospective study consisted of 2,662 UTUC patients treated at 15 institutions in Taiwan from 1988 to 2019. Clinicopathological data were retrospectively collected for analysis by the Taiwan UTUC Collaboration Group.

Cigarette Smoke Containing Acrolein Contributes to Cisplatin Resistance in Human Bladder Cancers through the Regulation of HER2 Pathway or FGFR3 Pathway.

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the first-line therapy for bladder cancer. However, cisplatin resistance has been associated with the recurrence of bladder cancer. Previous studies have shown that activation of FGFR and HER2 signaling are involved in bladder cancer cell proliferation and drug resistance.

Prostate Health Index Density Outperforms Prostate Health Index in Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer Detection.

Background: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is considered neither sensitive nor specific for prostate cancer (PCa). We aimed to compare total PSA (tPSA), percentage of free PSA (%fPSA), the PSA density (PSAD), Prostate Health Index (PHI), and the PHI density (PHID) to see which one could best predict clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa): a potentially lethal disease.

Methods: A total of 412 men with PSA of 2-20 ng/mL were prospectively included.