Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT) is the leading cause of childhood chronic kidney failure and a significant cause of chronic kidney disease in adults. Genetic and environmental factors are known to influence CAKUT development, but the currently known disease mechanism remains incomplete. Our goal is to identify affected pathways and networks in CAKUT, and thereby aid in getting a better understanding of its pathophysiology. With this goal, the miRNome, peptidome, and proteome of over 30 amniotic fluid samples of patients with non-severe CAKUT was compared to patients with severe CAKUT. These omics data sets were made findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) to facilitate their integration with external data resources. Furthermore, we analysed and integrated the omics data sets using three different bioinformatics strategies: integrative analysis with mixOmics, joint dimensionality reduction and pathway analysis. The three bioinformatics analyses provided complementary features, but all pointed towards an important role for collagen in CAKUT development and the PI3K-AKT signalling pathway. Additionally, several key genes (CSF1, IGF2, ITGB1, and RAC1) and microRNAs were identified. We published the three analysis strategies as containerized workflows. These workflows can be applied to other FAIR data sets and help gaining knowledge on other rare diseases.

UNASSIGNED: Fungal balls in the urinary tract are rare but dangerous complications of candiduria. Here, we report a case of a urinary tract fungal ball in a single kidney after total nephroureterocystectomy.
UNASSIGNED: The patient was an 80-year-old male. He had a history of pyelonephritis, and his ureteral stent was regularly replaced. He was admitted to the hospital with a chief complaint of urinary tract obstruction, and a 50-mm-sized mass was found within the renal pelvis. Because the ureteral stent frequently became obstructed, the mass was removed percutaneously. Candida albicans was detected on the tissue culture results, and the mass was diagnosed as a fungal ball.
UNASSIGNED: Appropriate urinary drainage methods for fungal balls vary among patients, and it is important to select an appropriate method based on the accumulated number of cases.

The emergence and spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) pose significant challenges to the treatment and control of urinary tract infections, particularly among vulnerable populations, such as the elderly living in nursing care homes. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of ESBL genes in commensal E. coli isolated from urine samples of 118 elderly individuals residing in Ghanaian nursing care homes. A total of 195 ESBL genes were detected among 41 E. coli isolated from the study participants. All the isolates harboured at least one ESBL gene, and the majority of them (70.1%) carried at least four ESBL genes. Among the ESBL genes detected, CTXM825 was the predominant (14.1%). In antimicrobial susceptibility testing, 65.9% of the isolates showed resistance to cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin, while 56.1% showed resistance to cefotaxime, a third-generation cephalosporin. Additionally, 46.3% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant, indicating resistance to antibiotics from multiple classes. In summary, we observed relatively high rates of resistance to antibiotics as well as alarming rates of ESBL genes in the isolated pathogens. These findings emphasise the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship and infection control programmes to mitigate the spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens in nursing care homes.

This is the first case of urinary myiasis in the Morocco region caused by Clogmia albipunctata. Also known as Telmatoscopus albipunctata, is a fly species in the Psychodidae family. These flies thrive in unsanitary environments like bathrooms and sewers. Transmission occurs when flies lay eggs on moist surfaces such as urogenital discharge. The larvae hatch and can traverse the urethra, entering the bladder. Clogmia albipunctata larvae and adults decompose organic matter and pose health risks as vectors of pathogens and allergens. In our case, larvae were discharged through urine by a 46-year-old female cleaner from a low socioeconomic background who presented with intermittent emission of worms in her urine. She had mild hypogastric tenderness and a history of lower urinary tract symptoms without fever. Initially misdiagnosed with cystitis, her symptoms persisted, leading to the discovery of small, mobile vermiform organisms in her urine. Living in fly-infested conditions, she had no recent travel or medical history. Urine analysis confirmed the presence of Clogmia albipunctata larvae, diagnosing urinary myiasis. Treated with ivermectin and hydration, her symptoms resolved within a week. A follow-up cystoscopy showed no larvae, confirming a complete cure.

The emergence of carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-hvKp) is a growing concern due to its high mortality and limited treatment options. Although hypermucoviscosity is crucial for CR-hvKp infection, the role of changes in bacterial mucoviscosity in the host colonization and persistence of CR-hvKp is not clearly defined. Herein, we observed a phenotypic switch of CR-hvKp from a hypermucoviscous to a hypomucoviscous state in a patient with scrotal abscess and urinary tract infection (UTI). This switch was attributed to decreased expression of rmpADC, the regulator of mucoid phenotype, caused by deletion of the upstream insertion sequence ISKpn26. Postswitching, the hypomucoid variant showed a 9.0-fold decrease in mice sepsis mortality, a >170.0-fold reduction in the ability to evade macrophage phagocytosis in vitro, and an 11.2- to 40.9-fold drop in growth rate in normal mouse serum. Conversely, it exhibited an increased residence time in the mouse urinary tract (21 vs. 6 d), as well as a 216.4-fold boost in adhesion to bladder epithelial cells and a 48.7% enhancement in biofilm production. Notably, the CR-hvKp mucoid switch was reproduced in an antibiotic-free mouse UTI model. The in vivo generation of hypomucoid variants was primarily associated with defective or low expression of rmpADC or capsule synthesis gene wcaJ, mediated by ISKpn26 insertion/deletion or base-pair insertion. The spontaneous hypomucoid variants also outcompeted hypermucoid bacteria in the mouse urinary tract. Collectively, the ISKpn26-associated mucoid switch in CR-hvKp signifies the antibiotic-independent host adaptive evolution, providing insights into the role of mucoid switch in the persistence of CR-hvKp.

The storage and periodic voiding of urine in the lower urinary tract are regulated by a complex neural control system that includes the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral autonomic ganglia. Investigating the neuromodulation mechanisms of the lower urinary tract helps to deepen our understanding of urine storage and voiding processes, reveal the mechanisms underlying lower urinary tract dysfunction, and provide new strategies and insights for the treatment and management of related diseases. However, the current understanding of the neuromodulation mechanisms of the lower urinary tract is still limited, and further research methods are needed to elucidate its mechanisms and potential pathological mechanisms. This article provides an overview of the research progress in the functional study of the lower urinary tract system, as well as the key neural regulatory mechanisms during the micturition process. In addition, the commonly used research methods for studying the regulatory mechanisms of the lower urinary tract and the methods for evaluating lower urinary tract function in rodents are discussed. Finally, the latest advances and prospects of artificial intelligence in the research of neuromodulation mechanisms of the lower urinary tract are discussed. This includes the potential roles of machine learning in the diagnosis of lower urinary tract diseases and intelligent-assisted surgical systems, as well as the application of data mining and pattern recognition techniques in advancing lower urinary tract research. Our aim is to provide researchers with novel strategies and insights for the treatment and management of lower urinary tract dysfunction by conducting in-depth research and gaining a comprehensive understanding of the latest advancements in the neural regulation mechanisms of the lower urinary tract.

Kidney failures in infants are mostly caused by congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), which are among the most common congenital birth disorders worldwide when paired with cardiac abnormalities. People with CAKUT often have severe kidney failure as a result of a wide range of abnormalities that can occur alone or in conjunction with other syndromic disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern of CAKUT candidate genes alpha-8 integrin (ITGA8) and Van Gogh-like 2 (VANGL2) in fetal tissues of healthy and CAKUT-affected kidneys using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. We found that under CAKUT circumstances, the expressions of ITGA8 and VANGL2 are changed. Additionally, we showed that VANGL2 expression is constant during fetal aging, but ITGA8 expression varies. Moreover, compared to normal healthy kidneys (CTRL), ITGA8 is poorly expressed in duplex kidneys (DKs) and dysplastic kidneys (DYS), whereas VANGL2 is substantially expressed in dysplastic kidneys (DYS) and poorly expressed in hypoplastic kidneys (HYP). These results point to VANGL2 and ITGA8 as potential prognostic indicators for CAKUT malformations. Further research is necessary to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying this differential expression of ITGA8 and VANGL2.

The migration or translocation of an intrauterine device (IUD) in the urinary tract is a rare event. Here, we present the case of a 55-year-old woman who accidentally discovered the ectopic presence of an IUD following a radiological examination for pelvic pain caused by a lumbar discopathy. Over the years, the patient had several IUDs inserted without being able to specify which one had migrated. The removal of the IUD was performed laparoscopically with the minimum resection of the bladder wall and the subsequent cystorrhaphy. The evolution of the patient was favorable. To better analyze these events, we conducted an all-time extensive electronic search of the PubMed database and identified 94 eligible articles, with a total of 115 cases. The literature analysis on the IUD migrations shows either the simultaneous existence of the second IUD or of a maximum number of up to two IUD insertions during the life of patients. Thus, in the presented case, we identified five IUD insertions over time, which explained the chronic inflammatory process by forming an important mass of adherents that included the urinary bladder, uterus, omentum, sigmoid colon, and abdominal wall. Therapeutic management must be adapted to each case depending on the intra/extravesical location of the migrated IUD evaluated by imaging.

We present the draft genome for three Lactobacillus strains isolated from female urine specimens: Lactobacillus gasseri UMB1673, Lactobacillus jensenii UMB1855, and Lactobacillus jensenii UMB5069. Focusing on strains within the female urinary microbiome can provide a more well-rounded understanding of the microbial community and its influence on health and disease.

BACKGROUND: While the urogenital microbiota has recently been characterized in healthy male and female dogs, the influence of sex hormones on the urogenital microbiome of bitches is still unknown. A deeper understanding of the cyclic changes in urinary and vaginal microbiota would allow us to compare the bacterial populations in healthy dogs and assess the impact of the microbiome on various urogenital diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize and compare the urogenital microbiota during different phases of the estrous cycle in healthy female dogs. DNA extraction, 16 S rDNA library preparation, sequencing and informatic analysis were performed to determine the vaginal and urinary microbiota in 10 healthy beagle dogs at each phase of the estrous cycle.
RESULTS: There were no significant differences in alpha and beta diversity of the urinary microbiota across the different cycle phases. Similarly, alpha diversity, richness and evenness of vaginal bacterial populations were not significantly different across the cycle phases. However, there were significant differences in vaginal beta diversity between the different cycle phases, except for between anestrus and diestrus.
CONCLUSIONS: This study strongly suggests that estrogen influences the abundance of the vaginal microbiota in healthy female dogs, but does not appear to affect the urinary microbiome. Furthermore, our data facilitate a deeper understanding of the native urinary and vaginal microbiota in healthy female dogs.