Prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis is primarily based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and prostate tissue biopsies. However, PSA testing has relatively low specificity, while tissue biopsies ...are highly invasive and have relatively low sensitivity at early stages of PCa. As an alternative, we developed a technique of liquid biopsy, based on isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from seminal fluid (SF). The recovery of PCa cells from SF was demonstrated using PCa cell lines, achieving an efficiency and throughput as high as 89% (±3.8%) and 1.7 mL min−1, respectively, while 99% (±0.7%) of sperm cells were disposed of. The introduced approach was further tested in a clinical setting by collecting and processing SF samples of PCa patients. The yield of isolated CTCs measured as high as 613 cells per SF sample in comparison with that of 6 cells from SF of healthy donors, holding significant promise for PCa diagnosis. The correlation analysis of the isolated CTC numbers with the standard prognostic parameters such as Gleason score and PSA serum level showed correlation coefficient values at 0.40 and 0.73, respectively. Taken together, our results show promise in the developed liquid biopsy technique to augment the existing diagnosis and prognosis of PCa.
We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) with SuperPulsed Thulium-fiber laser (SP TFL) using different frequency settings. 125 patients ...with solitary kidney calculi of up to 55 mm in the maximum diameter underwent mini-PCNL with the SP TFL. Stone-free rate, laser-on time, ablation efficacy, energy consumption, ablation speed and complications were all analyzed. Negative low-dose computed tomography scan or asymptomatic patients with stone fragments < 2 mm were the criteria for assessing the stone-free status. In 36 patients (28.8%) low frequency regimens were used (LF: 3–19 Hz—0.5–6 J), in 75 patients (60%) high frequency regimens were chosen (HF: 20–49 Hz—0.2–2 J) and in 14 (11.2%) patients higher frequency (HRF: 50–200 Hz—0.1–0.5 J) regimens were preferred. The mean age was 52 ± 1.8 years. Median stone diameter and median stone volume were larger at low frequency regimens compared to high frequency regimens. Ablation efficacy (J/mm
3
) was lower at low rather than at high frequency regimens. Ablation speed (mm
3
/sec) was higher at low compared to high frequency regimens. Surgeons reported minimal and absent retropulsion at higher frequency regimens. The best visibility was observed at high frequency regimens. The overall stone free rate (SFR) at 3 months was 85%. The majority of the postoperative complications were classified between Clavien grades I–II. SP TFL is an effective and safe tool for performing mini-PCNL regardless of the laser settings.
Objectives
To estimate the efficacy and safety of SuperPulsed thulium‐fiber laser ureteral lithotripsy and to identify optimal laser settings.
Methods
Patients with solitary stones were prospectively ...included. Lithotripsy was performed with a SuperPulsed thulium‐fiber laser (NTO IRE‐Polus, Fryazino, Russia) using a rigid ureteroscope 7.5 Ch (Richard Wolf, Knittlingen, Germany). We analyzed the efficacy of lithotripsy by measuring total energy required for stone disintegration, "laser‐on" time, ablation speed, ablation efficacy, and energy consumption. Stone retropulsion and visibility were assessed using a three‐point Likert scale. Complications were assessed using the Clavien–Dindo classification system.
Results
A total of 149 patients were included. The mean stone density was 985 ± 360 Hounsfield units, the median (interquartile range) stone volume was 179 (94–357) mm3. The median (interquartile range) total energy was 1 (0.4–2) kJ, and laser‐on time 1.2 (0.5–2.7) min. The median (interquartile range) stone ablation speed was 140 (80–279) mm3/min, energy for ablation of 1 mm3 was 5.6 (3–9.9) J/mm3 and energy consumption was 0.9 (0.6–1) J/min. A correlation was found between retropulsion and the energy used (r = 0.5, P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed energy to be a predictor of increased retropulsion (odds ratio 65.7, 95% confidence interval 1.6–2774.1; P = 0.028). No predictors for worse visibility were identified.
Conclusion
The SuperPulsed thulium‐fiber laser provides effective and safe lithotripsy during ureteroscopy regardless of stone density. Fiber diameter and laser frequency do not influence visibility or safety. Optimal laser settings are 0.5 J × 30 Hz for fragmentation and 0.15 J × 100 Hz for dusting.
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•Systematic approach realizes common features between related and unrelated diseases.•Neural network can use both meaningful and unassigned mass spectrometry-based data.•Convolutional ...neural network discriminates closely related phenotypes.•Neural network suggests comorbidity between schizophrenia and oncophenotypes.
The association between cancer risk and schizophrenia is widely debated. Despite many epidemiological studies, there is still no strong evidence regarding the molecular basis for the comorbidity between these two pathological conditions. The vast majority of assays have been performed using clinical records of schizophrenic patients or those undergoing cancer treatment and monitored for sufficient time to find shared features between the considered conditions. We performed mass spectrometry-based proteomic and metabolomic investigations of patients with different cancer phenotypes (breast, ovarian, renal, and prostate) and patients with schizophrenia. The resulting vast quantity of proteomic and metabolomic data were then processed using systems biology and one-dimensional (1D) convolutional neural network (1DCNN) machine learning approaches. Traditional systematic approaches permit the segregation of schizophrenia and cancer phenotypes on the level of biological processes, while 1DCNN recognized “signatures” that could segregate distinct cancer phenotypes and schizophrenia at the comorbidity level. The designed network efficiently discriminated unrelated pathologies with a model accuracy of 0.90 and different subtypes of oncophenotypes with an accuracy of 0.94. The proposed strategy integrates systematic analysis of identified compounds and application of 1DCNN model for unidentified ones to reveal the similarity between distinct phenotypes.
The purpose of the review is to summarize the recent data on circulating tumor cells (CTC) use in clinical practice. We performed a systematic literature search using two databases (Medline and ...Scopus) over the past five years and the following terms: (CTC OR “circulating tumor cells” OR “liquid biopsy”) AND prostate. The primary outcome was CTC predictive value for prostate cancer (PC) progression and survival. The secondary outcomes were the CTC predictive value for therapy response and the results of CTC detection depending on the assessment method. In metastatic PC, the CTC count showed itself to be a prognostic marker in terms of clinically important features, namely survival rates and response to treatment. CTC concentration was significantly associated with the overall survival and progression-free survival rates. A strong association between the overall survival or progression-free survival rate and CTC concentration could be observed. Variant-7 androgen receptors-positive (AR-V7-positive) patients showed a poor response to androgen receptor signaling (ARS) inhibitors, but this did not compromise their response to taxanes. In localized PC, only positive Cluster of Differentiantion 82 protein (CD82+) correlated with a higher survival rate. CTC count and AR-V7 expression showed itself to be a valuable biomarker for survival in metastatic PC and response to ARS-inhibitors. CTC diagnostic performance for localized PC or for screening and early detection is not high enough to show additional value over the other biomarkers.
The individual clinical significance of a positive surgical margin (PSM) after radical prostatectomy has remained controversial. Studies have suggested that the Gleason grade (GG) at the PSM could ...improve predictive accuracy and decision making. Our objective was to systematically review the reported data to determine the effect of the GG at the PSM on the prognosis after radical prostatectomy. A systematic review was conducted by searching MEDLINE/PubMed for studies reported by June 2019 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review statement. The keywords used included prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy, positive surgical margin, Gleason score, and/or Gleason grade. After a systematic literature review, 10 studies were included, comprising 14,108 patients, of whom 2454 (17.4%) had a PSM and 428 (14%) eventually experienced biochemical recurrence (BCR) within a median follow-up of 18 to 156 months. Data on neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy were not estimable. In a meta-analysis, GG4 at PSM was significantly associated with BCR compared with GG3 (pooled hazard ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.53-2.28; z = 6.16). The Cochrane Q test (χ2 = 5.88; P = .318) and I2 test (I2 = 15.0%) showed that no significant heterogeneity was present. GG4 at a PSM is a feature of biologically and clinically aggressive prostate cancer that is associated with a significant increase risk of BCR. GG at PSM should be recorded in each pathological report. Given this adverse prognostic value patients with GG4 at the PSM should be considered for multimodal therapy such as radiotherapy.
Objective
To compare the efficacy and safety of a novel thulium fiber laser for endoscopic enucleation of the prostate with monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate in patients with smaller ...glands (<80 cc).
Methods
A total of 51 patients underwent thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate, and 52 patients underwent monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate. All patients were assessed preoperatively, and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively (International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum urine flow rate, International Prostate Symptom Score‐quality of life). Preoperative prostate volumes and prostate‐specific antigen levels were comparable (P = 0.543 and P = 0.078, respectively). The complications were graded according to the Clavien classification.
Results
Mean surgery time was longer in the thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate group (46.6 ± 10.2 vs 39.9 ± 8.6 min, P < 0.001), while catheterization and hospital stay were greater in the transurethral resection of the prostate group (P < 0.001). At 12 months, there were no differences in functional outcomes (International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum urine flow rate). Despite comparable prostate volumes at 12 months (P = 0.864), the prostate‐specific antigen level in the thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate group (0.5 ± 0.5 ng/mL) was lower than in the transurethral resection of the prostate group (1.1 ± 1.0 ng/mL; P < 0.001). Hemoglobin and serum sodium decrease was lower in the thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate group (1.01 ± 0.4 g/dL and 1.1 ± 1.1 mmol/L) than in the transurethral resection of the prostate group (1.8 ± 0.8 g/dL and 4.1 ± 1.1 mmol/L; P < 0.001). Urinary incontinence rates at 12 months were comparable (P = 0.316).
Conclusions
Thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate with novel thulium fiber laser in patients with smaller prostate glands (<80 cc) is comparable to transurethral resection of the prostate in voiding parameters improvement and complication rates. At the same time, the technique allows for a more substantial prostate‐specific antigen decrease, indicating more complete removal of adenoma.
Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the major causes of death among elderly men. PC is often diagnosed later in progression due to asymptomatic early stages. Early detection of PC is thus crucial for ...effective PC treatment. The aim of this study is the simultaneous highly sensitive detection of a palette of PC-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) in human plasma samples. With this aim, a nanoribbon biosensor system based on “silicon-on-insulator” structures (SOI-NR biosensor) has been employed. In order to provide biospecific detection of the target miRNAs, the surface of individual nanoribbons has been sensitized with DNA oligonucleotide probes (oDNA probes) complementary to the target miRNAs. The lowest concentration of nucleic acids, detectable with our biosensor, has been found to be 1.1 × 10−17 M. The successful detection of target miRNAs, isolated from real plasma samples of PC patients, has also been demonstrated. We believe that the development of highly sensitive nanotechnology-based biosensors for the detection of PC markers is a step towards personalized medicine.
The goal of this study was to assess the ablation, coagulation, and carbonization characteristics of the holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) laser and thulium fiber lasers (TFL). The Ho:YAG laser (100 W av.power), ...the quasi-continuous (QCW) TFL (120 W av.power), and the SuperPulsed (SP) TFL (50 W av.power) were compared on a non-frozen porcine kidney. To control the cutting speed (2 or 5 mm/s), an
XY
translation stage was used. The Ho:YAG was tested using
E
= 1.5 J and
P
av
= 40 W or
P
av
= 70 W settings. The TFL was tested using
E
= 1.5 J and
P
av
= 30 W or
P
av
= 60 W settings. After ex vivo incision, histological analysis was performed in order to estimate thermal damage. At 40 W, the Ho:YAG displayed a shallower cutting at 2 and 5 mm/s (1.1 ± 0.2 mm and 0.5 ± 0.2 mm, respectively) with virtually zero coagulation. While at 70 W, the minimal coagulation depth measured 0.1 ± 0.1 mm. The incisions demonstrated zero carbonization. Both the QCW and SP TFL did show effective cutting at all speeds (2.1 ± 0.2 mm and 1.3 ± 0.2 mm, respectively, at 30 W) with prominent coagulation (0.6 ± 0.1 mm and 0.4 ± 0.1 mm, respectively, at 70 W) and carbonization. Our study introduced the TFL as a novel efficient alternative for soft tissue surgery to the Ho:YAG laser. The SP TFL offers a Ho:YAG-like incision, while QCW TFL allows for fast, deep, and precise cutting with increased carbonization.
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