According to a recent study, the utilization of tamsulosin therapy and semirigid ureteroscopy for dilation prior to flexible ureteroscopy enhanced the success of primary flexible ureteroscopy advancement to the renal collecting system. This study's findings were published in the World journal of urology.

This prospective study included 170 patients who were randomly divided into two groups who had renal stones < 2 cm and underwent retrograde flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy. Group A (n=85), was administered a placebo for a duration of one week before the flexible ureteroscopy. On the other hand, group B (n=85), received a daily dosage of 0.4 mg tamsulosin for one week prior to the surgery. Additionally, they underwent active dilatation using semirigid ureteroscopy before the flexible ureteroscopy procedure. The ability of the flexible ureteroscope to reach the collecting system in both groups was evaluated during the same operative session. The operative outcomes and complications for both groups were also collected and analyzed.

The flexible ureteroscope demonstrated successful access to the kidney in 61 patients within group B, while in group A, it was only successful in 28 cases (71.4% vs 32.9%). Within group A, 33 patients (38.8%) reported lower urinary tract symptoms, while only 17 patients (20.2%) in group B experienced the same.

It can be concluded that using tamsulosin therapy and semirigid ureteroscopy as dilatation methods prior to flexible ureteroscopy may improve the success of primary flexible ureteroscopy in advancing to the renal collecting system.

According to a recent study, a propensity score analysis indicated an overall survival benefit for tebentafusp compared to nivolumab plus ipilimumab (N+I) in patients with untreated metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM). This study’s findings were published in the journal, Annals of oncology.

In this study, the overall survival (OS) of patients with untreated mUM were compared between those treated with tebentafusp or pembrolizumab (IMCgp100-202) and those treated with N+I (GEM1402) using propensity scoring methods. The analyses were adjusted using propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), balancing age, baseline lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), sex, baseline alkaline phosphatase, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status, disease location, and time from primary diagnosis to metastasis. The OS was evaluated using Cox proportional hazard models and IPT-weighted Kaplan-Meier.

In the primary IPTW analysis, a total of 240 patients out of 252 who were assigned to receive tebentafusp from IMCgp100-202 were included, and 45 out of the 52 patients who underwent N+I treatment from GEM-1402 were also considered. After adjusting for IPTW, tebentafusp showed a favorable OS, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.52. The one-year OS for tebentafusp was 73%, while it was 50% for the N+I group. Sensitivity analyses consistently demonstrated a superior OS for tebentafusp, with all IPTW HRs ≤0.61.

Based on the above results, a propensity score analysis determined that tebentafusp provided  a similar  OS benefit compared to N+I in patients with untreated mUM. 

A recent study demonstrated that the ileal bile acid transporter inhibitor maralixibat improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with Alagille syndrome. This study was published in The Journal of Pediatrics.

The ICONIC trial was a phase 2 study, having a 4-week double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized drug withdrawal period. The study included 27 children having Alagille syndrome with moderate-to-severe pruritus. From baseline to week 48, the treatment response to maralixibat was noted using Itch-Reported Outcome (Observer) score. The HRQoL was assessed based on the certain scale scores that included Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core, Family Impact, and Multidimensional Fatigue scale scores.

At week 48, twenty patients attained an Itch-Reported Outcome (Observer) treatment score response. The mean (SD) change in Multidimensional Fatigue score was higher was higher for responders over non-responders. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core and Multidimensional Fatigue scores showed smaller and non-statistically significant point estimates.

Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that maralixibat shows significant improvement in pruritis, thereby enhancing the quality of life in the affected children.