Impact of antiangiogenic treatment on the erectile function in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

We longitudinally assessed erectile function as well as the willingness to use pro-erectile treatment in a cohort on AAT for advanced RCC. Thirty-seven patients with advanced RCC completed the five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and other interview items before (T0) and 12 weeks into therapy (T12) with AAT. Patients were further asked if they were willing to use and pay out-of-pocket for on-demand treatment with phosphodiesterase-5-inhibitors (PDE-5i). Statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric hypothesis testing. The IIEF-5 score at T12 was significantly decreased compared with T0 (p < .001). Subjective patient satisfaction regarding their sexual lives was associated with higher IIEF-5 scores at both time points (p = .006 and p = .03, respectively). At T12, subjective sexual contentment showed a nonsignificant trend towards decline (p = .074). Patients who opted for medical treatment of ED showed significantly better IIEF-5 scores at both time points compared with the rest of the cohort (p < .001 and p = .005, respectively). In summary, AAT seems to have a negative effect on erectile function in RCC patients, however, the role of psychosocial issues warrants further elucidation. Affected patients may benefit from a proactive approach promoting medical treatment of erectile dysfunction during AAT.     

Surgical extrusion: A dental technique

This article describes a technique for surgically extruding severely compromised roots needing prosthetic rehabilitation. Unlike previously described approaches, the technique does not require advanced clinical skills or equipment, may reduce the risk of tooth or bone fracture during the luxation maneuvers, and does not seem to interfere with the alveolar socket healing process.     

Patients’ Perspective on Digital Technologies in Advanced Genitourinary Cancers

IntroductionDigital technologies allow for the remote monitoring of cancer patients and thereby close an important care gap. Despite a variety of upcoming digital health-tech solutions, there is little knowledge on uro-oncologic patients’ perception of digital technologies in clinical care and cancer trials.Patients and MethodsA questionnaire was developed to evaluate patients’ current use, preferences, and expectations of digital health technology. Patients receiving systemic treatment for urothelial, prostate, and renal-cell carcinoma were included during outpatient visits.ResultsNinety-seven patients undergoing systemic therapy for metastatic renal-cell, urothelial, or prostate cancer were included in the final analysis. Internet, smartphone, and wearable user rates were significantly higher in younger patients (100% user rate in age group 40-49 years vs. 38% in age group 80-89 years). Patients were more likely to use wearables in clinical trials when they received the generated data (2.9/5) than when they did not (2.3/5, P < .0001). Interest in activity data (3.7/5) was higher than sleeping data (2.7/5, P < .0001), but desire for sleeping data increases with advancement of treatment lines (3.9, P = .008). Patients prefer a digital follow-up every 2.6 days; younger patients and those receiving advanced therapy lines prefer less frequent follow-up (respectively, every 3.3 days, P = .050, and every 4.0 days, P = .0001). Patients allow a maximum of an average of 2.2 minutes daily for digital follow-up.ConclusionWe observed high engagement in digital technologies and interest in the data generated by digital devices. However, for the development of future health care applications, aspects such as patient age, gender, and therapy line need to be considered in uro-oncologic patients.     

UGT2B7 c.-161C>T Polymorphism Frequency in Croatian Population

Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase-2B7 (UGT2B7), enzyme responsible for the elimination of a number of xenobiotics through glucuronidation, is expressed in the gut, kidneys, intestines, and brain. However, data on the frequency of UGT2B7 polymorphisms in the Croatian population are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of the UGT2B7 c.-161C>T (rs7668258) polymorphism in the Croatian population and to compare it with reported frequencies in other populations. This polymorphism is in complete linkage disequilibrium with the UGT2B7 c.802C>T (UGT2B7*2, rs7439366) variant, which is important in clinical medicine. The study reports data of 501 participants from University Hospital Centre Zagreb. All data were collected and analysed retrospectively. Genotyping was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the TaqMan_® Drug Metabolism Genotyping Assay for UGT2B7 c.-161C>T (rs7668258). We found that 120 (23.95 %) participants were carriers of the UGT2B7 c.-161CC genotype and 255 (50.9 %) were heterozygous carriers (UGT2B7 c.-161CT), while 126 (25.15 %) were homozygous carriers of the variant allele (UGT2B7 c.-161TT). The frequency of the variant UGT2B7 c.-161C>T allele in this study was T=0.506. The frequency of the UGT2B7 c.-161C>T allelic variants and genotypes in the Croatian population is similar to other European populations.Key words: allelic variants, genotyping, glucuronidation, pharmacogenetics, uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase-2B7     

An mHealth voice messaging intervention to improve infant and young child feeding practices in Senegal

Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have the potential to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices; however, gaps in the literature remain regarding their design, implementation, and effectiveness. The aims of this study were to design an mHealth voice messaging intervention delivered to mothers and fathers targeting IYCF practices and examine its implementation and impact in households with children 6–23 months in three rural villages in Senegal. We conducted focus groups (n = 6) to inform the intervention development. We then conducted a pilot study (n = 47 households) to examine the impact of the intervention on IYCF practices of children 6–23 months. Voice messages were sent to the children's mothers and fathers over a period of 4 weeks (two messages per week; eight messages in total), and 24‐hr dietary recalls and food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) were conducted before and immediately after the implementation of the mHealth intervention to examine its impact on IYCF practices. Overall, three of the eight behaviours increased and one decreased. There was a significant increase in the number of children that consumed fish (60% vs. 94%; p = .008) as measured by the 24‐hr recall after the completion of the intervention. We also found significantly higher frequency of egg (p = .026), fish (p = .004), and thick porridge (p = .002) consumption in the previous 7 days measured by the FFQ. Our findings suggest that voice messaging IYCF interventions in Senegal have the potential to improve IYCF behaviours among young children in the short term. Future research should entail scaling‐up the intervention and examining its sustainability over the long‐term.     

Surface Functionalisation of Dental Implants with a Composite Coating of Alendronate and Hydrolysed Collagen: DFT and EIS Studies

The success of the osseointegration process depends on the surface characteristics and chemical composition of dental implants. Therefore, the titanium dental implant was functionalised with a composite coating of alendronate and hydrolysed collagen, which are molecules with a positive influence on the bone formation. The results of the quantum chemical calculations at the density functional theory level confirm a spontaneous formation of the composite coating on the titanium implant, ∆G*_INT = −8.25 kcal mol⁻¹. The combination of the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations reveals the structure of the coating. The alendronate molecules dominate in the outer part, while collagen tripeptides prevail in the inner part of the coating. The electrochemical stability and resistivity of the implant modified with the composite coating in a contact with the saliva depend on the chemical nature of alendronate and collagen molecules, as well as their inter- and intramolecular interactions. The formed composite coating provides a 98% protection to the implant after the 7-day immersion in the artificial saliva. From an application point of view, the composite coating could effectively promote osseointegration and improve the implant’s resistivity in contact with an aggressive environment such as saliva.     

Genomic alterations as predictors of survival among patients within a combined cohort with clear cell renal cell carcinoma undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy

Purpose

To establish prognostic genomic biomarkers for patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Surgical High-risk Patients With ASA ≥ 3 Undergoing Radical Cystectomy: Morbidity,Mortality, and Predictors for Major Complications in a High-volume Tertiary Center

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate major complications and risk factors for adverse clinical outcome in surgical high-risk (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] 3-4) patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) in a high-volume setting.