Retzius-sparing robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) can significantly improve the immediate urinary continence without increasing the positive rate of surgical margin.However, the learning curve is long, and fewer than 10% of the surgeons can master it.Therefore,we have optimized the procedures of RS-RARP, applying radical prostatectomy with retrograde release of neurovascular bundle to preserve it to the maximum extent.Urethral anastomosis can be performed with only one suture, which eliminates the need for Hem-o-lok and reduces subsequent complications.Our team routinely carries out this operation, and conlcudes that this surgical method can achieve good tumor control, good urinary continence, fast recovery of sexual function, few complications, and strong operability.This article details the key steps and operation experience of this technique.

Plain combined with three-phase contrast-enhanced CT is the most commonly used imaging technique for the diagnosis of renal masses, and it also plays an important role in predicting the malignancy and aggressiveness of renal tumors. The pathological findings of renal tumors are important in determining treatment options as well as prognosis. This article reviews current research and summarizes common CT variables for renal tumors, including tumor diameter, growth rate, enhancement characteristics, tumor margins, the proportion of cystic components, and variables related to the R. E.N.A.L. score. This paper aims to analyze the role of these variables in predicting the pathological malignancy and aggressiveness of the renal tumor.

Objective:Based on multi-parametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and related clinical indicators, a nomogram model for patients with PI-RADS ≥3 and PSA 4-20ng/ml was developed and validated, and the predictive value of the model in diagnosing clinically significant prostate cancer was evaluated.Methods:The clinical and pathological data of 865 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided transperineal prostate biopsy for the first time at the Department of Urology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2020 to August 2023, with PI-RADS scores ≥3 and PSA levels between 4-20 ng/ml were retrospectively analyzed. These 865 patients were included in Cohort A, and from them, 437 patients with PHI were selected in Cohort B. In Cohort A, the median age was 68(64, 73); the median f/tPSA was 14.36 (10.63, 19.74); the median PSAD was 0.17(0.11, 0.25); 375 cases (43.35%) with PV≤50 ml and 490 cases (56.65%) with PV>50 ml; PSA fluctuation <-50% 84 cases (9.71%), -50%--20% in 206 cases (23.82%), and >-20% in 575 cases (66.47%); PI-RADS v2.1 3 scores 546 cases (63.12%), 4 in 230 cases (23.59%), and 5 in 89 cases (10.29%); localization of suspicious lesions on mpMRI in the peripheral zone in 619 cases (71.56%), transitional zone in 181 cases (20.92%), others in 42 cases (4.86%), and both peripheral and transitional zones in 23 cases (2.66%). In Cohort B, the median PSAD was 0.17 (0.12, 0.25); the median D-dimer was 310.00 (230.00, 411.48); the median PHI was 49.75 (35.90, 73.27); with 198 cases (45.31%) with PV≤50 ml and 239 cases (54.69%) with PV>50 ml; PSA fluctuation<-50% was in 40 cases (9.15%), -50%--20% in 107 cases (24.49%), and>-20% in 290 cases (66.39%); PI-RADS v2.1 scores 3 was in 289 cases (66.13%), 4 in 103 cases (23.57%), and 5 in 45 cases (10.30%).Patients in cohorts A and B were randomly assigned to the training set and validation set using R language with " 123" as the random number seed, at a ratio of 7∶3.There was no statistically significant difference between the clinical data of the training and validation sets for both groups ( P>0.05).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for CsPCa, and a nomogram model was constructed using R. The diagnostic performance of the prediction model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis(DCA).External validation of the model was conducted in the validation set. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy, and missed diagnosis rate analyses were performed on nomogram models A and B, as well as PSAD and PHI, under different thresholds. Results:Cohort A training set has 608 cases, and the validation set has 257 cases.The results of multivariate backward regression analysis in the training set show that age( OR=1.06, P=0.001), f/tPSA( OR=0.96, P=0.008), prostate volume (PV)>50ml( OR=0.36, P<0.01), prostate-specific antigen density(PSAD)( OR=145.19, P<0.01), PSA fluctuation(-50%--20%: OR=1.97, P=0.234; >-20%: OR=6.81, P<0.01), PI-RADS v2.1 score(4: OR=10.65, P<0.01; 5: OR=21.20, P<0.01), and localization of suspicious lesions on mpMRI(TZ: OR=0.57, P=0.074; Others: OR=0.26, P=0.022) were all risk factors for CsPCa. Nomogram A was developed based on these risk factors and had an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.905 (95% CI 0.881-0.928) for the training set and 0.893 (95% CI 0.854-0.931) for the validation set. Cohort B training set developed based on age( OR=1.05, P=0.053), PV>50ml( OR=0.18, P<0.01), PSAD( OR=54.14, P=0.021), PSA fluctuation(-50%--20%: OR=4.78, P=0.100; >-20%: OR=20.37, P=0.001), PHI( OR=1.02, P=0.002), D-Dimer( OR=1.00, P=0.031), and PI-RADS scores(4: OR=11.35, P<0.01; 5: OR=57.61, P<0.01) as risk factors for CsPCa. Nomogram B had an AUC of 0.933(95% CI 0.906-0.959) for the training set and 0.908 (95% CI 0.859-0.958) for the validation set.The two nomogram models mentioned above both have excellent discrimination, and the calibration curves also indicated that the calibration of the two models were good.Moreover, both nomogram A and nomogram B demonstrate good clinical net benefits in the DCA curves of the training and validation sets, especially when applying nomogram B to predict CsPCa, with an accuracy rate of up to 85.82%. Conclusions:The two nomogram models developed in study, based on mpMRI and related clinical indicators, both have excellent predictive value for the diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer prior to prostate biopsy in patients with PI-RADS≥3 and PSA 4-20ng/ml.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of retzius-sparing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with retrograde release of the neurovascular bundle.Methods:From January 2021 to January 2022, the clinical data of 113 patients with retzius-sparing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) was retrospectively analyzed. The ages of the optimized group and the standard group were (67.5±6.4) years and (67.7±6.1) years, and the body mass index (BMI) was (25.0±3.2) kg/m 2 and (24.9±3.1) kg/m 2, respectively. The prostate volume was (42.8±15.4) ml and (41.0±17.9) ml, the preoperative PSA was (13.5±13.1) ng/ml and (11.9±16.0) ng/ml, and the preoperative IIEF-5 score was (15.0±4.0) and (14.8±4.2) points, respectively. Gleason scores were (7.2±0.8) points and (7.1±0.9) points, respectively, with no statistical significance ( P>0.05). The clinical stages of cT 2 and cT 3 were 35 and 40 cases in the optimized group and 16 and 22 cases in the standard group, respectively. There were 5 and 11 cases of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy, respectively, with no statistical significance ( P>0.05). The optimized RS-RARP is the blunt dissection of the denonvilliers fascia and forward to the apex of prostate, and retrograde release of the NVB. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage tube retention time, days of hospital stay, positive rate of pathological margin and incidence of complications were compared. The recovery of urinary continence was evaluated at 2 weeks after the catheter was removed, and the postoperative IIEF-5 score and PSA were followed up at 1 month after the surgery. Immediate urinary continence was defined as the use of 1 pad on the day of radical prostatectomy. Follow-up intervals were no more than 3 months. The log-rank test compared urinary incontinence rates between the two modalities. Results:All 113 cases of surgery were completed, and median follow-up was 16 months. The operation time was (79.7±26.6) min and (149.8±40.1) min, and the intraoperative blood loss was (54.9±24.7) ml and (110.0±83.2) ml, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). The retention time of postoperative drainage tube was (5.3±2.1) d and (5.5±2.1) d in the optimal group and the standard group, and the days of hospital stay was (7.6±2.1) d and (8.5±2.3) d, respectively. The positive rate of postoperative pathological margin was 19.6% (10/51) and 24.2% (15/62), respectively. There was no significant difference ( P>0.05). immediate urinary continence was 86.3% (44/51) and 69.4% (43/62) in the optimized group and the standard group, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.033). Postoperative IIEF-5 scores were (13.2±3.3) and (11.0±4.3), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.012). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the risk of urinary incontinence was lower in the optimized group ( P=0.02). Conclusions:The optimized RS-RARP might shorten the operation time, reduce intraoperative bleeding, and help the recovery of urinary continence and sexual function to a great extent.

Objective:To investigate whether it is by regulating interleukin 1β ( IL-1β) gene expression that androgen receptor (AR) in macrophages affects hyperphosphate-induced vascular smooth muscle cell calcification. Methods:The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiment was used to determine whether AR was bound to the androgen receptor element (ARE) sequence of IL-1β promoter in THP-1 cells. Whether the AR regulated IL-1β gene expression was detected by luciferase assay experiments. AR of THP-1 cells was silenced and transfected by lentivirus with vector or shRNA. Flow cytometry was used to select positive transfected cells THP-1ARsc (control) and THP-1ARsi (AR silencing) with fluorescent markers. Western blotting was used to detect AR protein levels of THP-1ARsc (control) and THP-1ARsi cells (AR silencing in monocytes). Macrophages MФARsc (control) or MФARsi (AR silencing) were induced by 50 ng/ml phorbol ester. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect IL-1β expression levels of MФARsc or MФARsi conditioned medium. The human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) were cultured in MФARsc or MФARsi conditioned medium with phosphate (2.5 mmol/L final concentration of sodium dihydrogen phosphate), and Alizarin red S staining was used to analyze HASMC calcification degree. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of RUNX2 (osteoblast marker) and SM22α (HASMC marker), and neutralization assay was performed to test IL-1β-mediating effect of macrophages AR on HASMC calcification. Results:AR was bound to ARE sequence of IL-1β promoter and regulated IL-1β gene expression. The expression level of IL-1β protein in conditioned medium of MФARsi cells decreased significantly compared to MФARsc cells ( P<0.001). Compared with MФARsc conditioned medium group, HASMC calcium deposition in MФARsi conditioned medium group decreased significantly, RUNX2 protein decreased and SM22α protein increased (all P<0.05). The degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsi conditioned medium+IgG antibody group decreased than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IgG antibody group significantly, and the degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group decreased significantly than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IgG antibody group; while the degree of HASMC calcification in the MФARsi conditioned medium+IgG antibody group and MФARsi conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group decreased than that in the MФARsc conditioned medium+IL-1β antibody group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Macrophage AR regulates IL-1β expression by binding to ARE sequence within IL-1β promoter, and IL-1β mediates the effect of macrophage AR on hyperphosphate-induced HASMC calcification.

Random systematic biopsy is the standard method for diagnosing prostate cancer. As the improvement of multi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and its corresponding scoring system, magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)-targeted target biopsy has been an effective alternative to traditional systemic puncture. Prostate imaging reporting and data system(PI-RADS) is the most commonly used MRI-scoring system. The negative rate of prostate cancer in the patient with PI-RADS scores of 1 and 2 was 90.8%(95% CI, 88.1%~93.1%), and the diagnosis rates of clinically meaningful prostate cancer in the patient with PI-RADS scores of 3, 4, and 5 was 20.9%, 58.3% and 80.7%, respectively. That means that MRI targeted prostate biopsy can more effectively detect clinically meaningful prostate cancer on the basis of reducing unnecessary punctures. There are three effective MRI guided target biopsy method for prostate biopsy, including MRI guided target biopsy(MRI-TB), MRI-TRUS fusion target biopsy(FUS-TB) and cognitive fusion target biopsy(COG-TB). Considering the false negative rate and discrepant image quality, MRI-targeted target biopsy still cannot completely replace the traditional systemic puncture. However, it can be seen that the targeted combined system puncture is the future development trend.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant chemo-hormonal therapy(NCHT)followed by radical prostatectomy(RP) plus extended pelvic lymphadenectomy for very-high-risk locally advanced prostate cancer.Methods:The data of 327 cases of very-high-risk locally advanced prostate cancer treated in Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, and The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from December 2014 to July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to treatment regimens: the RP group (direct RP + extended pelvic lymphadenectomy 4-6 weeks after the biopsy of prostate) and the NCHT group (4-6 cycles of NCHT prior to RP). There were 171 cases in RP group and 156 cases in NCHT group, respectively. In the RP group, the median age was 67 (ranging 44-83)years. The median PSA at diagnosis was 27.24 (ranging 4.55-207.00) ng/ml. Patients’numbers of clinical T 2, T 3a, T 3b, T 4 stage were 13, 85, 57, 16, respectively, and clinical N 1, N 0 stage were 33 and 138, respectively. Patients’numbers of ISUP grade groups of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 were 5, 35, 41, 51, 39, respectively. In the NCHT group, The median age was 67 years, ranging 46-78 years. The median PSA at diagnosis was 72.09(ranging 4.08-722.95)ng/ml. Patients’ numbers of clinical T 2, T 3a, T 3b, T 4 stage were 11, 47, 58, 40, respectively, and clinical N 1, N 0stage were 76 and 80, respectively. Patients’numbers of ISUP grade groups of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 were 1, 11, 33, 43, 68, respectively. At baseline, the NCHT group showed higher PSA, higher ISUP grade, and more advanced clinical stage at diagnosis( P<0.05). The PSA, pathological down-staging rate, and positive surgical margin rate as well as the biochemical recurrence free survival(bRFS)were compared between the two groups. Results:After radical prostatectomy, compared with the RP group, the NCHT group had a higher proportion of patients achieving PSA<0.2 ng/ml at 6-week postoperative follow-up ( P<0.001), a higher pathologic tumor stage down-staging rate ( P<0.001), a higher ISUP down-grading rate ( P<0.001), and a lower positive surgical margins rate ( P<0.001). In addition, 10.9% of the NCHT group achieved pT 0 or minimal residual disease in postoperative pathology exams. Eighty-three patients (48.5%) in the RP group and 125 patients (80.1%) in the NCHT group achieved undetectable PSA after surgery and entered further analysis for bRFS, which showed NCHT group had significantly longer bRFS (19.46 months vs. 6.35 months). NCHT significantly reduced the risk for biochemical recurrence in locally advanced prostate cancer patients( HR=0.278, 95% CI 0.198-0.390, P<0.001). Such a reduce in risk for biochemical recurrence was seen in all subgroups( P<0.001). Conclusions:NCHT might improve surgical outcomes as well as bRFS in very-high-risk locally advanced prostate cancer patients.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between YES-related protein 1(YAP1)and prostate-specific antigen(PSA)in human castration-resistant prostate cancer(CRPC), and explore the regulation mechanism of YAP1 on PSA.Methods:The luciferase reporter gene was used to detect the activity change of the PSA gene promoter region after the over expression of YAP1 in LNCaP and C4-2 cells.The effect of over expression of YAP1 gene on PSA protein in different prostate cancer cell lines was detected by Western blot(WB)method, and the effect of YAP1 silencing on PSA protein in C4-2 cells was observed.The Q-PCR method was used to further verify the expression change of PSA mRNA affected by YAP1 gene over expressed in C4-2 cells.Meanwhile, WB was used to explore the effect of YAP1 on androgen receptor(AR)in C4-2 cells.Results:After over expression YAP1 in CRPC, the luciferase experiment showed that the average C4-2 cell ratio of experimental group to control group was 3.17815892(>2 times, P<0.001). After Q-PCR detection of all over-expressed YAP1 gene fragments, the measured PSA mRNA values in the experimental groups were 2.306667, 1.553333333, 2.613333333, and 2.673333333, respectively, which were higher than those in the control group(1 time, P<0.001), indicating that the PSA expression was significantly increased.WB analysis showed that after C4-2 cells over expressed YAP1, the AR band was significantly enhanced in the experimental group compared with the control group, suggesting that the AR protein expression in the nucleus was significantly increased in the YAP1 over expression group. Conclusions:YAP1 might positively regulate the PSA expression in CRPC and have an ability to promote AR translocation into the nucleus.

Objective:To explore the pathogenesis and treatment of severe hematuria after sexual activity in men.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 10 patients with severe hematuria after sexual activity who were admitted from January 2017 to January 2020, including 4 cases from Peking University People’s Hospital, 3 cases from Donghua Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, 2 cases from Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, and 1 case from Tianjin Jinnan Hospital. The average age of the patients was (33.5±7.6) years old. All 10 cases had severe hematuria and blood clots within 1 hour after sexual activity. The blood routine examination revealed that there were different degrees of hemorrhagic anemia after 24 hours of admission, and the average hemoglobin was(95.8±8.9)g/L. Ten patients underwent transurethral cystoscopy electrosurgical resection and / or electrocoagulation under subarachnoid anesthesia or epidural anesthesia. All patients were confirmed to be bleeding from posterior urethral lesions, including 4 cases located in the distal seminal caruncle, 5 cases in the prostate, and 1 case in proximal seminal caruncle. Three cases whose bleeding from varicose veins in the prostate urethra were treated with electrocoagulation in order to stop the bleeding, and lesions were removed in the other 7 cases for pathological examination. The F16 urinary catheter was indwelt after the operation.Results:All 10 operations in this group were successfully completed. Six cases of posterior urethral hemangioma rupture and 1 case of posterior urethral polyp were confirmed by the pathological examination in 7 cases. The urinary catheter was successfully removed 1 week after operation. Abstinence was required for 1 month after operation. There was no recurrence of hematuria after resuming sexual activity, and no complications such as dysuria or urinary incontinence.Conclusion:Severe hematuria after sexual activity is mostly caused by rupture or bleeding of abnormal blood vessels in the posterior urethra. Transurethral resection and/or electrocoagulation are the first choice for treatment. The effect is reliable and the prognosis is satisfactory.

Primary ureteral plasmacytoid carcinomas is a rare tumor with high grade and poor diagnosis. Pathological and immunohistochemical staining play an extremely key role in diagnosis since there is no specific clinical and radiological evidence. The surgical removement is the first line treatment. Herein, we report a case of ureteral plasmacytoid carcinoma that was well controlled with multimodal therapy.