Intravesical Treatment Modalities in Bladder Cancer: Current and Future Perspectives

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers encompass the pathological stages of Ta, T1, and carcinoma in situ. To prevent recurrence, intravesical therapy, which is performed after complete transurethral resection, is the current standard therapy for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers. In patients with low-risk non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer, post-transurethral resection (TUR) management is a single immediate intravesical instillation of chemotherapy alone. For an intermediate-risk patient, a 6-week course of induction intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy can be adapted. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine is still the gold standard of immunomodulating intravesical treatment used to reduce recurrence and progression. Nanotechnology is being developed for the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The newly developed technology will be able to change intravesical therapy success in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Y-doped Pyramidal ZnO Powders

The present study focuses on the structural changes in ZnO powder induced by doping of a rare earth metal of Y. For this aim, we synthesized four ZnO samples with different Y-content using the combustion reaction method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) technique and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results confirm that the as-investigated structural parameters and morphology of the ZnO structure were affected directly by the concentration of Y dopant. For each Y-doped sample, randomly-oriented pyramidal morphology and the formation of a minority phase of Y2O3 were observed. A gradual increase in both lattice parameters and unit cell volume was detected with increasing Y content. All samples were found to be thermally stable in the temperature interval of 25-950 °C

Safety and efficacy of PNL vs RIRS in the management of stones located in horseshoe kidneys: A critical comparative evaluation

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of two different techniques (Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) vs Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS)) in the management of stones in patients with horseshoe kidneys (HSK). Patients and methods: Departmental files of 88 cases with radiopaque kidney stones in horseshoe kidneys undergoing two different approaches (PNL vs RIRS) were evaluated with respect to the success and complication rates of in a retrospective manner. In addition to the factors related with the procedures (success and complication rates, additional procedures), patient and stone characteristics were all well evaluated. Findings obtained in both groups were evaluated in a comparative manner with respect to the statistical significance. Results: Stone free rates were comparable in both groups after 1-week period (81.6% PNL vs 80% RIRS). As well as 3 months evaluation (84.2% PNL and 82.0% RIRS). The percentage of the cases with residual fragments (> 4 mm) were similar in both groups and while all PNL procedures were completed in one session, mean number of RIRS sessions was higher (1.22 ± 0.05). Mean duration of the procedure was slightly higher in RIRS group and based on Clavien scoring system, despite a higher risk of Hb drop noted in patients treated with PNL, all complication rates were found to be similar in both groups. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that of the available minimally invasive treatment alternatives, both PNL and RIRS could be safe and effective alternatives for renal stone removal in patients with HSK