Iatrogenic Obliteration of Ureter with Spontaneous Recanalization

We report an unusual case of spontaneous and complete healing of a severe iatrogenic midureteral injury. Following percutaneous nephrostomy and 3 months on our surgical waiting list, the injured ureter underwent complete spontaneous recanalization. The patient is clinically well with no evidence of recurrent obstruction after 2 years of followup. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spontaneous recanalization of an iatrogenically induced complete ureteral obliteration

Totally Tubeless Outpatient Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Initial Case Report

We report the first case of totally tubeless outpatient percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Our patient was discharged home safely less than 4 hours following uncomplicated PCNL with no nephrostomy tube, ureteral stent, or urethral catheter. Follow-up the next day in clinic confirmed that the procedure was successful, as the patient was clinically well and stone free. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of totally tubeless (no nephrostomy, no ureteral stent) PCNL performed on a truly outpatient basis

Techniques - Ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy: How we do it.

Ultrasonography has emerged as an alternative to fluoroscopy for image-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in many countries. Compared to fluoroscopy-guided PCNL (F-PCNL), ultrasound-guided PCNL (US-PCNL) is easier to learn and reduces radiation exposure to patients and providers. Despite these advantages, uptake of ultrasound-guided PCNL (US-PCNL) in Canada has been almost nonexistent, largely because it is not incorporated into urologists' training. In this article, we seek to familiarize Canadian urologists with this approach by describing our step-by-step technique for US-PCNL. Additionally, we provide keys to successful implementation of this technique

Comparative genomic and phylogenetic approaches to characterize the role of genetic recombination in mycobacterial evolution

The genus Mycobacterium encompasses over one hundred named species of environmental and pathogenic organisms, including the causative agents of devastating human diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy. The success of these human pathogens is due in part to their ability to rapidly adapt to their changing environment and host. Recombination is the fastest way for bacterial genomes to acquire genetic material, but conflicting results about the extent of recombination in the genus Mycobacterium have been reported. We examined a data set comprising 18 distinct strains from 13 named species for evidence of recombination. Genomic regions common to all strains (accounting for 10% to 22% of the full genomes of all examined species) were aligned and concatenated in the chromosomal order of one mycobacterial reference species. The concatenated sequence was screened for evidence of recombination using a variety of statistical methods, with each proposed event evaluated by comparing maximum-likelihood phylogenies of the recombinant section with the non-recombinant portion of the dataset. Incongruent phylogenies were identified by comparing the site-wise log-likelihoods of each tree using multiple tests. We also used a phylogenomic approach to identify genes that may have been acquired through horizontal transfer from non-mycobacterial sources. The most frequent associated lineages (and potential gene transfer partners) in the Mycobacterium lineage-restricted gene trees are other members of suborder Corynebacterinae, but more-distant partners were identified as well. In two examined cases of potentially frequent and habitat-directed transfer ( M. abscessus to Segniliparus and M. smegmatis to Streptomyces ), observed sequence distances were small and consistent with a hypothesis of transfer, while in a third case ( M. vanbaalenii to Streptomyces ) distances were larger. The analyses described here indicate that whereas evidence of recombination in core regions within the genus is relatively sparse, the acquisition of genes from non-mycobacterial lineages is a significant feature of mycobacterial evolution

Increased risk of new persistent opioid use in pediatric and young adult patients with kidney stones

IntroductionAdolescents and young adults are a vulnerable patient population for development of substance use disorder. However, the long-term impact of opioid prescribing in young adult patients with renal colic is not known. Our objective was to describe rates of opioid prescription and identify risk factors for persistent opioid use in patients age 25 years or younger with renal colic from kidney stones.MethodsUsing previously validated, linked administrative databases, we performed a population-based, retrospective cohort study of opioid-naive patients age 25 years or younger with renal colic between July 1, 2013 and September 30, 2017 in Ontario. All family practitioner, urgent care, and specialist visits in the province were captured. Our primary outcome was persistent opioid use, defined as filling a prescription for an opioid between 91 and 180 days after initial visit. Ontario uses a narcotic monitoring system, which captures all opioids dispensed in the province.ResultsOf the 6962 patients identified, 56% were prescribed an opioid at presentation and 34% of those were dispensed more than 200 oral morphine equivalents. There was persistent opioid use in 313 (8.1%) patients who filled an initial opioid prescription. In adjusted analysis, those prescribed an opioid initially had a significantly higher risk of persistent opioid use (odds ratio [OR] 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50-2.29) and opioid overdose (OR 3.45; 1.08-11.04). There was a dose-dependent increase in risk of persistent opioid use with escalating initial opioid dose. History of mental illness (OR 1.32; 1.02-1.71) and need for surgery (OR 1.71; 1.24-2.34) were also associated with persistent opioid use.ConclusionsAmong patients with kidney stones age 25 years or younger, filling an opioid prescription after presentation is associated with an increased risk of persistent opioid use 3-6 months later and a higher risk of serious long-term complications, such as opioid overdose