Dear Colleagues,
This issue marks the beginning of the fourth year for UroToday International Journal, and we have continued successfully to achieve our primary goal to elevate access to urology science for professionals around the world. This could not have been achieved without the dedication of both our authors and reviewers.
The current issue contains a variety of articles, many of which should be of high interest to the professional community. Hajebrahimi et al. evaluated the effect of changes in voiding position on uroflowmetric findings of young, healthy male vounteers, and found no statistically significant differences between the standing, sitting, or squatting voiding positions for any of the measured urodynamic outcome parameters: peak flow rate (Qmax), average flow rate, time to peak flow, flow time, and voided volume. Bhat et al. studied the effects of the transurethral catheter comparing free uroflow versus pressure-flow on their outcome measures: maximum flow (Qmax), average flow rate, voiding time, time to Qmax, and flow acceleration. With a small sample size they were able to show an obstructive effect of an in situ 5 Fr urethral catheter during pressure-flow studies, a finding that needs to be confirmed by a randomized prospective investigation. Karami et al studied prospectively the prevalence of acquired renal cystic disease (ARCD) in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis, and they conclude that patients who are on long-term hemodialysis should be monitored for the development of ARCD. Ahmed Shelbaia evaluated the results of early endoscopic management of posttraumatic posterior urethral stricture by visual internal urethrotomy (VIU), and conclude that early endoscopic urethral realignment surgery is a safe procedure with few complications. Miyaoka et al. report the first-year follow-up results on the safety and efficacy of the Ophira Mini-Sling System, which uses a minimally invasive, midurethral low-tension tape that is anchored to the obturator internus muscles bilaterally at the level of the tendinous arc by a single vaginal incision. They conclude that the system appears to be an effective, minimally invasive option for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.
We are devoting a larger-than-normal portion of this issue to the publication of case reports. Such cases often provide insight into rare conditions, reminding us to be more vigilant during differential diagnosis or more open to alternative ways of managing a given disorder. de Leon et al. present the first known case of atraumatic bladder rupture in an adult with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The authors attribute the spontaneous rupture to a weakened bladder wall and caution against overextending the bladder during cystoscopic procedures with these types of patients. Bhat et al. describe a 24-year-old married, phenotypic female. She presented with an inability to conceive and no knowledge of having androgen insensitivity syndrome. The authors discuss the complex physical and psychological issues involved in the management of patients with this disorder. Khan et al. describe a 44-year-old patient with an appendicular mass that was discovered at the beginning of living-donor kidney transplant surgery. Traditionally, the transplant would be aborted and rescheduled following recovery from an appendectomy. However, the authors detail the sequence of events that enabled them to successfully perform both surgical procedures in the same session, and discuss the circumstances when this approach is unlikely to be feasible.
It is our primary goal to publish original studies, and we encourage you to submit the results of clinical or basic science research in all areas of urology. I personally thank the authors and reviewers for their valuable contributions to this journal issue.
Sincerely,
Karl-Erik Andersson
Editor-in-Chief
UIJ