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OBJECTIVETo compare the last generation of 3-dimensional imaging (3D) vs standard 2-dimensional imaging (2D) laparoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODSA prospective observational study was conducted during the 4th Minimally Invasive Urological Surgical Week Course held in Braga (Portugal) in April 2013. The course participants and faculty were asked to perform standardized tasks in the dry laboratory setting and randomly assigned into 2 study groups; one starting with 3D, the other with 2D laparoscopy. The 5 tasks of the European Training in Basic Laparoscopic Urological Skills were performed. Time to complete each task and errors made were recorded and analyzed. An end-of-study questionnaire was filled by the participants. RESULTSTen laparoscopic experts and 23 laparoscopy-naïve residents were included. Overall, a significantly better performance was obtained using 3D in terms of time (1115 seconds, interquartile range [IQR] 596-1469 vs 1299 seconds, IQR 620-1723; P ¼ .027) and number of errors (2, IQR 1-3 vs 3, IQR 2-5.5; P ¼ .001). However, the experts were faster only in the "peg transfer" task when using the 3D, whereas naïves improved their performance in 3 of the 5 tasks. A linear correlation between level of experience and performance was found. Threedimensional imaging was perceived as "easier" by a third of the laparoscopy-naïve participants (P ¼ .027). L aparoscopy has been increasingly adopted in urology over the last 2 decades, and it is nowadays commonly used in the management of several urologic diseases. Traditionally, laparoscopy has been based on 2-dimensional (2D) imaging, which has represented a considerable challenge for those approaching this technique.1 Thus, 3-dimensional (3D) visualization technology for laparoscopy has been proposed, since the early 1990s, as a way to facilitate laparoscopic performance. However, early 3D laparoscopic technology was limited in terms of image quality, so that its use had not been implemented. 2More recently, industry has developed novel 3D systems where the imaging is similar to stereoscopic vision, in which the depth perception is achieved by different unique images received by each eye. Thus, more recent studies have suggested a possible advantage provided by these new 3D systems during laparoscopic performance.3-5 However, comparative assessments of new generation 3D vs 2D laparoscopy remain limited, especially in the urology field.

Pelvic plexus block under Doppler ultrasound guidance provides better analgesia than periprostatic nerve block during office based transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy.

Abbreviations & AcronymsAbstract: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of several metabolic abnormalities, its prevalence is increasing worldwide. To summarize the most recent evidence regarding the relationship between metabolic syndrome, its components and the oncological outcomes in bladder cancer patients, a National Center for Biotechnology Information PubMed search for relevant articles either published or e-published up to March 2014 was carried out by combining the following Patient population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome terms: metabolic syndrome, obesity, body mass index, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, bladder cancer, risk, mortality, cancer specific survival, disease recurrence and progression. Metabolic syndrome is a complex, highly prevalent disorder, and central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension are its main components. Published findings would suggest that metabolic syndrome per se might be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer in male patients, but it did not seem to confer a risk of worse prognosis. Considering the primary components of metabolic syndrome (hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia), available data are uncertain, and it is no possible to reach a conclusion yet on either a direct or an indirect association with bladder cancer risk and prognosis. Only with regard to type 2 diabetes mellitus, available data would suggest a potential negative correlation. However, as the evaluation of bladder cancer risk and prognosis in patients with metabolic disorders is certainly complex, further studies are urgently required to better assess the actual role of these metabolic disorders.

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Bladder epithelium is not only a simple defence against infections, but it is also a specialized tissue regulating complex bladder functions and playing an active role in the pathogenesis of many bladder diseases. There is strong evidence that different chronic inflammatory bladder diseases, such as recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), chemical or radiation cystitis and painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC), can be pathophysiologically linked in the first step of the disease to the loss of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) mucous layer independently of the original cause of the inflammatory process. The aim of this article is to review the current evidence on the clinic applications of GAGs in urology, with particular emphasis on the therapeutic use of hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulphate (CS). A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted in May 2011 using the Medline database. Three studies supported the decrease of the rate of recurrent UTIs by restoring the GAG layer, showing a significant reduction of UTI rates and a prolonged median time to recurrence after HA intravesical instillations in women with recurrent UTI. We provide higher level evidence by reporting a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the use of intravesical HA and CS in women with recurrent UTIs. A significant reduction of 77% in the UTI rate per patient per year versus placebo was observed at the end of the study. Nine studies were published between 2002 and 2011 on the use of HA and CS to treat PBS/IC. Three of them evaluated the use of GAGs bladder instillation to prolong the effects of bladder hydrodistension. In the other six studies the efficacy of HA bladder instillations to reduce symptoms score was assessed. Preliminary studies support data on the role of HACS in detrusor overactivity, nonbacterial cystitis and urological malignancies. Few data are available regarding the mode of action of HACS or its effectiveness in the management of bladder diseases. The major issue in interpreting the available evidence regarding HACS is that most of the reported studies are nonrandomized and without a control arm. HACS may be considered for further studies, including randomized, controlled trials with adequate power.

Introduction: We assess the effectiveness of intravesical instillation of hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulphate (CS) as a non-antibiotic treatment option for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in female patients. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study involving 7 European institutions. We included patients with recurrent UTIs who received intravesical instillations of Ialuril (IBSA International) (50 mL HA 1.6% and CS 2% solution) between January 2010 and March 2012. Medication schedule, length of follow-up, recurrence infection time, number of UTIs/patients/year, patient quality of life, subjective symptoms score, and treatment-emergent side effects were recorded and analyzed. Results: In total, 157 women (mean age: 54.2 ± 4.1 years) were included in the analysis. All patients had at least 12 months followup. After 4 weekly and 5 monthly HA-CS bladder instillations, UTI episodes decreased from 4.13 ± 1.14 to 0.44 ± 0.50 (p = 0.01) at 12 months, while recurrent UTI time prolonged from 94.8 ± 25.1 days to 178.4 ± 37.3 days (p = 0.01) at 12 months. An improvement in symptoms and quality of life was achieved. A medium-depth pain after medication instillation was the most reported side effect. Regression model analysis showed significant risk factors in developing new UTI episodes: being more than 50 years old and having more than 4 UTI episodes per year (OR 3.41; CI 95%; p = 0.003 and OR 3.31;; p = 0.003, respectively). Retrospective design and lack of a control group represent two main limitations of the study. Conclusions: Restoring glycosaminoglycans bladder layer therapy is a promising non-antibiotic therapy to prevent recurrent UTIs.

In a same cohort of patients eligible for AS, the addition of PHI and PCA3 to Epstein or PRIAS models improved their prognostic performance. PHI resulted in greater net benefit in predicting IPCa compared to PCA3.