Dear Colleagues,
UroToday International Journal offers open access with the objective to accelerate the timely and widespread dissemination of new urological relevant research findings and, ultimately, to have a more immediate impact on clinical practice than traditional publishing methods. The editorial team is pleased to publish both clinical and basic research, in addition to review articles, case studies, and other articles representing clinical practice. This combination of clinical and basic research is reflected in the present issue.
The article by Hammouda et al in (Post-Tubularized Incised Plate Urethroplasty Healing: An Experimental Randomized Study in 40 Dogs) is an example of research in a dog model. The authors studied the mechanism of urethral healing after tubularized incised plate urethroplasty and describe some aspects of wound development following hypospadia repair. A clinical study on the same theme is found in the article by Hussein (Reoperative Hypospadias Repair According to Urethral Plate Status). He found the tubularized incised plate urethroplasty to be effective and safe when the urethral plate is healthy.
The topical review article in this issue, written by Evans et al, discusses the diagnosis and treatment of interstitial cystitis. The authors describe the etiology of the disorder, diagnostic tests, and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments presented in the literature to date.
In this issue, the focus on clinical practice includes an article by Salem (Medical Treatment for Small Stones in the Lower Ureter) comparing the efficacy of the α-adrenergic blocker tamsulosin and the calcium channel blocker nifedipine, two commonly prescribed drugs used in medical expulsive therapy for distal ureteric stones. Patients taking tamsulosin experienced significant benefits. Another study by Salem et al provides longitudinal results of a surgical approach for correction of penile curvature, including a tabled review of comparable literature. Falahatkar et al authored 3 articles in this issue. Perhaps the timeliest was a study comparing the use of stents with no stents after uncomplicated ureteroscopic lithotripsy for small (< 10 mm) middle and distal ureteral stones. Their results helped to build support for elimination of indwelling stents in these circumstances.
Readers will undoubtedly find several other articles of interest in this issue. Gamal et al report on the feasibility and outcomes of the N-shaped pouch with an afferent tubular isoperistaltic segment as a new technique for creating a capacious, low pressure bladder substitute following radical cystectomy; Ahmadnia et al discuss pathophysiology and treatment of the rare disorder, idiopathic scrotal calcinosis, and Fitouri et al report the safety and efficacy of ofloxacin on BCG-induced toxicity in patients with superficial bladder cancer. Finally, Banakhar and Mosli, and Botelho et al present interesting and relevant case reports.
We thank the authors for their submissions and the reviewers for providing timely responses in the peer review process for publication. We look forward to hearing your views on the articles that are presented here in post-publication discourse and we look forward to your future submissions.
Kind regards,
K-E Andersson
Editor-In-Chief
UIJ