Stone formation in the urinary tract is a common phenomenon with associated morbidity. The exact physicochemical factors responsible for stone formation are not clearly known. Over the past decade considerable interest has been generated in defining the role of nanobacteria in urinary stone formation. A review of the available literature has been carried out to give insights into their nature and outline their role in stone formation. The two aspects of nanobacteria that need to be considered include its biological nature and the other merely as mineralo-protein complexes. Though the current literature favors the concept of mineralo-protein particles, further research is needed to clearly define their nature. Whether living or nonliving, these apatite forming nanoparticles appear to play role in kidney stone formation.

The full metallic double-J ureteral stent (MS) was introduced as a method for providing long-term drainage in malignant ureteral obstruction. Experimental evaluation of the MS revealed that its mechanical features allow efficient drainage in difficult cases, which could not be managed by the insertion of a standard polymeric double-J stent. Clinical experience with the MS showed controversial results. Careful patient selection results in efficient long-term management of malignant ureteral obstruction. The use of the MS should also be considered in selected benign cases. Major complications are uncommon and the minor complications should not hinder its use. Experience in pediatric patients is limited and warrants additional study. The cost-effectiveness of the MS seems to be appropriate for long-term treatment. Further investigation with comparative clinical trials would document the outcome more extensively and establish the indications as well as the selection criteria for the MS.

Animal models have contributed to a great extent to understanding and advancement in the field of sexual medicine. Many current medical and surgical therapies in sexual medicine have been tried based on these animal models. Extensive literature search revealed that the compiled information is limited. In this review, we describe various experimental models of erectile dysfunction (ED) encompassing their procedures, variables of assessment, advantages and disadvantages. The search strategy consisted of review of PubMed based articles. We included original research work and certain review articles available in PubMed database. The search terms used were "ED and experimental models," "ED and nervous stimulation," "ED and cavernous nerve stimulation," "ED and central stimulation," "ED and diabetes mellitus," "ED and ageing," "ED and hypercholesteremia," "ED and Peyronie's disease," "radiation induced ED," "telemetric recording," "ED and mating test" and "ED and non-contact erection test."

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) technology has been a significant, but expensive addition to the oncologist's armamentarium. The aim of this review was to determine the clinical utility of PET/CT in urological oncology, its impact on disease outcome and cost-effectiveness. We searched MedLine and peer reviewed journals for all relevant literature available online from the year 2000 until January 2014 regarding the use of PET/CT in the management of urological malignancies. ¹¹ C-choline PET/CT has emerged as a powerful tool for assessment of biochemical relapse in prostate cancer. Use of novel radiotracers like ¹²⁴ I-girentuximab has shown promise in the diagnosis of clear cell renal carcinoma. Fluorodeoxyglucose PET has a proven role in seminoma for the evaluation of postchemotherapy residual masses and has shown encouraging results when used for detection of metastasis in renal, bladder, and penile cancer. Introduction of novel radiotracers and advanced technology has led to a wider application of PET/CT in urological oncology. However, testicular seminoma aside, its impact on disease outcome and cost-effectiveness still needs to be established.

Purpose: Complete removal of all fragments is the goal of any intervention for urinary stones. This is more important in lower pole stones where gravity and spatial orientation of lower pole infundibulum may hinder spontaneous passage of fragments. Various adjuvant therapies (inversion, diuresis, percussion, oral citrate, etc.) are described to enhance stone-free rate but are not widely accepted. Focused ultrasound-guided relocation of fragments is a recently described technique aimed at improving results of intervention for stone disease. Purpose of this review is to discuss development of this technology and its potential clinical applications. Materials and Methods: Pubmed search was made using key words "Focused ultrasound" and "kidney stone." All English language articles were reviewed by title. Relevant studies describing development and application of focused ultrasound in renal stones were selected for review. Results: Focused ultrasound has proven its efficacy in successfully relocating up to 8 mm stone fragments in vitro and in pigs. Relocation is independent of stone composition. The latest model allows imaging and therapy with a single handheld probe facilitating its use by single operator. The acoustic energy delivered by the new prototype is even less than that used for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Therapeutic exposure has not caused thermal injury in pig kidneys. Conclusion: Focused ultrasound-guided relocation of stones is feasible. Though it is safe in application in pigs, technology is awaiting approval for clinical testing in human beings. This technology has many potential clinical applications in the management of stone disease.

Introduction: Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We evaluated the outcome of renal transplantation in the pediatric and adolescent age groups in the perspective of a developing country as compared with developed nations while highlighting the challenges we have faced in a pediatric transplant programme. Materials and Methods: Seventy live related pediatric and adolescent renal transplantations were reviewed retrospectively. Variables analyzed were etiology of ESRD, pre-transplant renal replacement modality, donor relationship, surgical complications, rejection episodes, immuno-suppression regimens, compliance to immunosuppression, graft survival and overall survival. Results: The cohort consisted of 13 (18%) female and 57 male (82%) recipients. The mean age was 14 ± 1.4 years. The etiology of ESRD was chronic glomerulonephritis (n = 43), chronic interstitial nephritis (n = 26) and Alport's syndrome (n = 1). Fifty-six (80%) children were on hemo-dialysis and 10 (14%) on peritoneal dialysis prior to transplantation. 80.5% and 61% patients were strictly compliant to immunosuppresant medications at 1 and 5 years. The 1, 3 and 5 year graft survival rates were 94.3%, 89.2% and 66.8%, respectively. The overall survival rates were 95.7%, 96.4% and 94.1% for 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Conclusions: The spectrum of etiology of ESRD differs in our patients from the west, with chronic glomerulonephritis being the most common etiology. Early graft survival is comparable, but the 5-year graft survival is clearly inferior as compared with developed countries.

Introduction: Optimal renal access is necessary for ensuring a successful and complication-free percutaneous nephrolithotomy. We describe a technique to determine the angle and depth of puncture for fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous renal access in the prone position. Materials and Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy from January 2014 had a fluoroscopy-guided access in the prone position. Using the bull's eye technique, the site of skin puncture and the angle of puncture were determined. These parameters were utilized to calculate, mathematically, the depth of the targeted calyx. These measurements were then utilized for puncture. The actual depth of puncture was then calculated. The number of attempts, time of fluoroscopy and difference between estimated and actual depth were noted and analyzed. Results and Limitations: There was a difference of 0-3 mm between the estimated and the actual depth at which puncture was made. Single-attempt puncture was possible in >95% cases. No complications related to access were observed. Conclusion: By estimating the angle and depth of puncture, the percutaneous renal access becomes technically less challenging.

Introduction: Our aim was to determine the correlation of platelet count with stage and grade of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to determine whether progression of disease was more likely in those with thrombocytosis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of patients with RCC from January 2004 to December 2011 was undertaken. Patients with no preoperative platelet count and those with multiple tumors were excluded. Disease progression was defined as appearance of local recurrence or distant metastasis on follow-up. Thrombocytosis was defined as a platelet count of >400,000/cumm. Standard tests of significance and multivariate analysis using logistic regression were performed. Results: A total of 322 cases were identified. The median follow-up was 7 months (range, 2-84 months). The platelet count correlated significantly with higher Fuhrmann grade, as well as increasing TNM stage at diagnosis. Patients with a platelet count of >400,000/cumm (n = 35) had a significantly higher mean tumor size and worse grade at diagnosis than those with a normal platelet count (n = 287). Patients with thrombocytosis also had a significantly worse stage at presentation. Progression of disease was seen more often in patients with thrombocytosis (28.6% vs 11.9%, P = 0.07). The median time to progression was significantly faster in patients with thrombocytosis (9 vs 18 months, P = 0.018). However, on multivariate analysis TNM stage was the only significant predictor of time to progression. Conclusion: Rising platelet count correlated significantly with advancing stage and grade of disease. Patients with thrombocytosis were significantly more likely to have advanced tumors at presentation, poorer histological features, and rapid disease progression.

Introduction: We report the early postoperative results of the first prospective, randomized comparison of two commercially available thulium lasers with different wavelengths for the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). Materials and Methods: From January to June 2013, 80 consecutive patients were randomized for Thulium VapoEnucleation of the prostate (ThuVEP) with a 2013 nm (RevoLix ^® ) (n = 39) or a 1940 nm (Vela ^® XL) (n = 41) thulium laser. Preoperative status, surgical details and the immediate outcome were recorded for each patient. The perioperative complications were assessed and classified according to the modified Clavien classification system. Results: Median operation time, resected tissue, percentage of resected tissue, catheter time, overall operation efficiency and Hb loss differed nonsignificantly between both devices (P > 0.05). At discharge, the median maximum urinary flow rate and postvoiding residual (PVR) urine improved significantly in both groups (P < 0.001). The PVR was lower in the 1940 nm ThuVEP group (P ≤ 0.034). Perioperative complications occurred in 18 (22.5%) patients (Clavien 1: 12.5%; Clavien 2: 5%, Clavien 3b: 2.5%, Clavien 4a: 2.5%), with no differences between the groups (P = 0.5). Conclusions: The 1940 nm and the 2013 nm thulium lasers are both safe and effective for the treatment of BPO with ThuVEP. Both lasers give equivalent and satisfactory immediate micturition improvement with low perioperative morbidity.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the long-term outcome of trimodality therapy consisting of transurethral resection of bladder tumor, external beam radiation therapy, and concurrent intra-arterial low dose cisplatin for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 37 consecutive patients (28 men and 9 women) who underwent trimodality therapy for T2-3N0M0 bladder cancer at our hospital between 1996 and 2011. A total of 60Gy of external beam radiation therapy was administered. A daily low dose of cisplatin was administered intra-arterially through a subcutaneously placed reservoir on the days of radiation therapy. Complete response was defined as no residual cancer in transurethral resection specimens and negative cytology. When a complete response could not be achieved, patients underwent additional intra-arterial chemotherapy. Results: Five-year cause specific, disease free, and overall survival rates were 86.4%, 69.7%, and 69.6%, respectively, with a mean follow-up period of 56.5 ± 6.1 months. Five-year cause specific survivals of the complete response group after the trimodality therapy, the complete response group after additional intra-arterial chemotherapy and the non-complete response group were 100% (n = 21), 85.9% (n = 9) and 0% (n = 7), respectively. Five-year overall survivals of the complete response group after the trimodality therapy, the complete response group after additional intra-arterial chemotherapy and the non-complete response group were 82.8%, 85.3% and 0%, respectively. Conclusions: This trimodality therapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer could achieve favorable survival rates with bladder preservation and minimal adverse events. This trimodality therapy can be one of the useful treatment options.

Introduction: The objective of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of zinc deficiency on spermatogenesis in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat. Materials and Methods: Three groups of eight adult male SD rats were maintained for 4 weeks on a normal diet as control, zinc deficient diet and zinc deficient diet with zinc supplementation of 28 mg zinc/kg body weight respectively. Using standard techniques, the following parameters were compared between the three groups of experimental animals at the end of 4 weeks: (a) Serum zinc, magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and cadmium (Cd), (b) serum sex hormones, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), (c) interleukin-4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 expression in the testes, (d) assessment of apoptosis of testicular cells using electron microscopy and (e) testicular volume and histology using the orchidometer and Johnsen score, respectively. Results: The zinc deficient group showed a reduction of testicular volume, serum concentrations of Zn, Cu, Se, Mg, SOD, GPX, IL-4, Bcl-2 and testosterone (P < 0.05), as well as increased levels of serum Cd, MDA and tissue TNF-α, Bax, caspase-3 and apoptosis of the germ cells (P < 0.05) compared with control and zinc supplementation groups. Conclusion: Zinc deficiency is associated with impaired spermatogenesis because of reduced testosterone production, increased oxidative stress and apoptosis. These findings suggest that zinc has a role in male reproduction.

Primary carcinoid tumors of the testis are very rare, and they seldom present with carcinoid syndrome. We report a hereto unreported instance, where a patient with a long-standing testicular mass presented with carcinoid heart disease, an uncommon form of carcinoid syndrome. He presented with symptoms of right heart failure, episodic facial flushing and was found to have severe right-sided valvular heart disease. His urinary 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid level was elevated. He underwent orchidectomy and the histopathology confirmed a testicular carcinoid tumor.

Inguinoscrotal pain (ISP) is a common complaint that affects almost all age groups. The etiology may be vascular, neurogenic, visceral, muscular or psychological. Most causes of ISP are benign, but Pott's spine as a cause of ISP, when missed, may lead to serious outcomes.

A 65-year-old man with stricture urethra underwent drainage of periurethral abscess and suprapubic cystostomy (SPC) placement. He presented to us 3 months later with a fungating ulcer at the site of perineal incision, the biopsy of which revealed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). He underwent a total penile amputation, wide local excision scrotum, radical urethrocystoprostatectomy, ileal conduit with the en-bloc excision of the SPC tract. Histopathological examination of the suprapubic tract also revealed SCC. This is the first documented case of SCC of a suprapubic tract in the presence of primary urethral SCC.

A 50-year-old woman presented with gross hematuria for 1 month. Clinical examinations, laboratory investigations, ultrasound and contrast computed tomography were normal, except anemia. Cystoscopy revealed bloody efflux from the right side. Retrograde pyelogram showed filling defect in the renal pelvis and biopsy was inconclusive. Renal angiogram was normal. She developed ecchymosis on the right thigh and arm with elevated activated partial thromboplastin time. The partial thromboplastin time correction study and Bethesda study confirmed the presence of acquired factor VIII inhibitor (acquired hemophilia). With flexible ureterorenoscopy, the mass in the renal pelvis was removed and its histopathology revealed clotted blood. The patient was subsequently managed with steroids and Factor eight inhibitor bypass activity.

A case of medullary type papillary necrosis diagnosed on nephrostogram is presented showing characteristic egg-in-cup appearance.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) had a tendency to extend into the renal vein and inferior vena cava, while extension into the gonadal vein has been rarely reported. Gonadal vein tumor thrombosis appears as an enhancing filling defect within the dilated gonadal vein anterior to the psoas muscle and shows an enhancement pattern identical to that of the original tumor. The possibility of gonadal vein thrombosis should be kept in mind when looking at an imaging study of patients with RCC