Search Results (709)

Background/Objectives: Pediatric infectious-disease admissions are common but heterogeneous. We characterized clinical, microbiological, and therapeutic patterns and identified high-risk subgroups relevant to antimicrobial stewardship. Methods: In an observational cohort of 136 children stratified by age, we recorded symptoms, diagnoses, culture results, pathogens, antibiotic therapy, and outcomes. A composite risk score integrating age and clinical/microbiological parameters was assessed. Results: Outcomes were generally favorable: intensive care unit (ICU) transfer 8.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.6–15.1), mortality 0.7% (95% CI: 0.1–3.9), and median length of stay (LOS) 10 days (interquartile range [IQR] 8–12). Pneumonia was the leading diagnosis (44.9%; 95% CI: 36.3–53.6). Among isolates, Escherichia coli (47.1%) and Klebsiella species (spp.) (27.9%) predominated. Pneumonia correlated with prolonged LOS (p = 0.006), and gastroenteritis with ICU transfer (p = 0.038) and longer LOS (p = 0.018). Mixed E. coli + Klebsiella infections were linked to prolonged stay (p = 0.021). The composite score identified a high-risk stratum with higher ICU transfer (p = 0.004) and prolonged stay (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Although overall outcomes were favorable, risk was not uniform. An age-stratified, multifactorial assessment—integrating clinical presentation, microbiology, and a composite score—identified pediatric subgroups with worse prognoses, supporting targeted monitoring and stewardship-aligned, age-aware empiric therapy. External validation is warranted. Full article

Background/Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency contributes to pathological vertebral fragility (path-VF), including fragility fractures and early pedicle screw loosening after posterior instrumented spinal fusion (PISF). Supplementation practices remain inconsistent. This retrospective study evaluated whether patients with path-VF receive appropriate vitamin D3 (Vit.D3) supplementation and assessed the dose–response relationship between daily intake and path-VF risk, particularly in older adults. Methods: A total of 210 patients treated with kyphoplasty or PISF (2022–2023) were classified into a path-VF or control group. Daily oral Vit.D3 intake was categorised as Zero- (0 IU), Low- (<2000 IU), or High-Dose (≥2000 IU). Statistical analyses were performed for each dosage group, including subgroup analyses for patients aged ≥67.5 years. Vertebral BMD was estimated using mean Hounsfield Units (HU) from T11–L5. Results: Patients in the path-VF group received significantly lower Vit.D3 doses than controls (1431.4 ± 1055.7 vs. 2366.7 ± 1186.7 IU/day, p < 0.001). Low-dose supplementation was associated with a markedly increased risk of path-VF compared with high-dose in the overall cohort (OR = 6.5, p = 0.003) and in patients aged ≥67.5 years (OR = 8.6, p = 0.008). Logistic regression identified a threshold of 1900 IU/day (AUC = 0.805). Mean vertebral HU values were significantly lower in the path-VF group than in controls (71.9 ± 29.1 vs. 133.5 ± 52.6, p < 0.001), and no consistent HU gains were observed with increasing Vit.D3 dosage. Conclusions: Low-dose Vit.D3 supplementation was associated with increased path-VF risk, especially in patients aged >67.5 years. Patients without path-VF had received significantly higher doses, suggesting broader benefits of adequate Vit.D3 beyond bone density. A daily intake above 1900 IU may serve as a practical threshold for at-risk elderly patients. Full article

Background: China’s rapidly aging population has led to a growing burden of dementia, marked by cognitive decline and heavy social and economic costs. Dietary patterns have been identified as a critical means for prevention. Methods: This study drew on data from the China Longitudinal Health and Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Three logistic regression models were applied to examine the association between the Chinese version of the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (cMIND) diet and dementia. To test the stability of the results, we conducted two sensitivity analyses. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to assess the potential for a nonlinear relationship. Subgroup and interaction analyses were conducted to explore heterogeneity across covariates and main effects. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed as a secondary analysis to minimize the influence of confounding factors. Results: The study included 9142 participants, with a dementia prevalence of 10.7% among Chinese older adults. After adjusting for all covariates, each one-unit increase in the cMIND diet score was associated with an 11% lower prevalence of dementia (OR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.84–0.93). After full adjustment, the RCS model confirmed a significant and linear dose–response association between adherence to the cMIND diet and dementia. Comparable associations were observed across most subgroups. Conclusions: Adherence to the cMIND diet was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of dementia in Chinese older adults, with evidence of a clear dose–response effect. These findings highlight the potential of the cMIND diet as a preventive strategy against dementia in this population. Full article

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the publication of numerous primary studies and meta-analyses; however, conclusive evidence on whether HIV infection influences COVID-19 outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV) is still lacking. This research uses a novel technique, the exit meta-analysis, to conclusively update the evidence of HIV’s impact on COVID-19-related mortality, hospitalization, and need for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission in severe disease. Methods: A search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Reviews (CDSR), SCOPUS, CINAHL reviews and Google Scholar databases was conducted up to the 18 January 2024 for meta-analyses and observational studies that reported adjusted associations for the effect of HIV on COVID-19 related mortality, hospitalization, and ICU admission. Evidence from existing meta-analyses was summarized narratively, and an updated meta-analysis was carried out using a bias-adjusted inverse variance heterogeneity model. Subgroup analysis was carried out for age groups and geographical regions. Results: Of 3153 records identified, 20 meta-analyses and 56 primary studies, with a total of 27,936,428 participants, including 655,882 PLHIV, were included. A review of the meta-analyses showed conflicting results for all outcomes. In the updated synthesis, HIV was associated with higher odds of mortality (aOR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.01–1.86, I² = 90.7%) and ICU admission (aOR 1.49, 95% CI: 0.67–2.30, I² = 88.8%), but not hospitalization (aOR 1.11, 95% CI: 0.78–1.48, I² = 97.5%). The results for both ICU admission and hospitalization include the null value, leading to lower certainty. The exit meta-analysis suggested conclusive results for mortality (DAts score = −0.012) and hospitalization (DAts score = −0.014), but not for ICU admission. Conclusions: This exit meta-analysis provides conclusive evidence that HIV increases mortality in people with COVID-19; however, more studies may be required to address ICU admission and hospitalization. Full article

Space technology, a frontier of global scientific innovation, is crucial for competitive edges and national tech innovation. Amid intensified international competition and rapid technological change, scientifically evaluating a country’s Scientific and Technological Strength in Space Technology (STSST) is vital. A model is innovatively proposed in this study called “Analytic Hierarchy Process-Maximum Entropy-Induced Ordered Weighted Average (AHP-ME-IOWA)” for the assessment of STSST. First, an STSST assessment indicator system is developed with four sub-dimensions: scientific research, industrial operation, innovation output, and policy resources. Second, the AHP model is used to convert experts’ qualitative judgments on indicator importance into initial individual weight vectors. Subsequently, the IOWA operator is employed to aggregate these individual weight vectors, thereby mitigating the impact of outliers and enhancing the robustness of the weights. Specifically, the weights are reordered using the cosine similarity between each expert’s weight vector and the temporary group mean as the induced value. Position weights are then determined via the ME method, and consensus weights are derived through re-aggregation. A systematic evaluation of the United States’ STSST was conducted using this method. The results show that the United States achieved a comprehensive STSST score of 8.73 (out of 10), which is in line with the actual situation, thereby providing empirical validation for the proposed method. Full article

Objectives: Previous studies have suggested the potential for semitendinosus (ST) tendon regeneration following harvesting for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. This retrospective cross-sectional (observational) study aims to evaluate ST tendon regeneration using high-resolution ultrasound (US), with special reference to morphological and structural changes in the muscle–tendon unit. Methods: Twenty-four patients who had undergone ST tendon harvesting at least 24 months prior were evaluated. Ultrasound assessment included neotendon (NT) detection, thickness, echotexture, insertion site, dynamic gliding, myotendinous junction (MTJ) shifting, and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), compared with the healthy contralateral side. Results: ST tendon regeneration was detected in 19/24 patients (79%). In regenerated tendons, NT thickness was significantly greater than the native tendon (3.40 ± 1.38 mm vs. 2.40 ± 0.27 mm; mean difference 0.98 mm; p = 0.005. Subgroup analysis revealed that fibrillar-like NTs were associated with a smaller MTJ shift (3.91 ± 1.14 cm vs. 7.75 ± 2.43 cm; p = 0.001) and higher muscle CSA preservation (0.85 ± 0.10 vs. 0.55 ± 0.09; p < 0.001). A strong inverse correlation was found between MTJ displacement and muscle CSA (ρ = −0.96; p < 0.001). Patients without NT regeneration (n = 5) exhibited more pronounced MTJ retraction (11.0 ± 1.0 cm) and muscle hypotrophy (CSA ratio 0.41 ± 0.07), although these results were descriptive. Conclusions: High-resolution US is an effective, non-invasive method for assessing ST tendon regeneration from a qualitative and quantitative perspective. Our findings indicate possible changes in the architecture and position of the regenerated tendon, the MTJ, and the muscle belly, which may reflect structural remodeling of the muscle–tendon unit. Full article

Prepubescent children and young adolescents (ages 7–14) are in a critical developmental stage for establishing the foundations of healthy sexual behavior. Increasing rates of precocious puberty, combined with limited access to accurate and age-appropriate sexual health education, heighten the vulnerability of this age group to sexual health risks. These risks include early and often coerced sexual initiation, exposure to sexual abuse, and consequent outcomes such as sexually transmitted infections and early pregnancies. However, comprehensive cross-regional analyses and evidence-based interventions addressing the sexual health needs of this age group remain limited. Addressing this gap promotes mutual learning, context-specific adaptation, and global alignment of sexual health support efforts, crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target of universal access to sexual and reproductive health care. This scoping review aims to map the available evidence on the scope and characteristics of sexual health interventions for prepubescents and young adolescents in the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa. The proposed scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Arksey and O’Malley framework and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping review. A systematic search of English-language articles published from 2010–2025 will be conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, and African Index Medicus. Five reviewers will screen the articles in Covidence and independently assess full-text articles using a standardized data extraction form. Discrepancies will be resolved through discussion and with a sixth reviewer. The review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Data will be summarized and synthesized to identify patterns in interventions, delivery methods, outcomes, and implications for practice, research, and policy. Comparative and gap analyses will highlight similarities, differences, and priorities for future research and interventions. An adolescent sexual health expert will help validate and contextualize findings. Results can guide strategies to address shared challenges and advance universal access to sexual health support for prepubescents and young adolescents. Full article

(1) Background: Hand and Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities (HABIT-ILE) is a high-dose evidence-based neurorehabilitation. This study aims to develop and validate a protocol using three inertial measurement units (IMUs) to objectively document upper and lower extremities’ (UE; LE) motor activity during a HABIT-ILE intervention in chronic stroke adults. (2) Method: Thirteen adults (57.1 y ± 11.3) who completed 65 h of HABIT-ILE (2 weeks, 6.5 h/d) were included. Daily motor activity was recorded with IMUs placed on both wrists and one thigh with nine IMU-derived variables extracted to evaluate motor activity and posture. Each variable was correlated with baseline abilities and day-to-day patterns were observed with subgroup analyses based on baseline dexterity and walking endurance. Day-to-day patterns were highlighted based on mean values and effect size analyses. (3) Results: Only the Magnitude and Use ratios showed high correlations with baseline abilities, with a day-to-day specific pattern highlighted for participants with moderate to good dexterity at baseline. (4) Conclusions: All participants reported a high level of engagement during HABIT-ILE independently of their baseline abilities. Although we could not detect a global trend to document the content of a HABIT-ILE intervention, these exploratory results suggest IMU monitoring to be relevant to characterize therapeutic content. Full article

Background: While TSH suppression is essential in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) to reduce the risk of recurrence, it has also been linked to side effects, particularly a reduction in bone mineral density that may contribute to osteoporosis. However, previous studies investigating this association have yielded inconsistent results. This study aimed to evaluate bone density using Hounsfield units from PET/CT scans in a longitudinal analysis including both sexes. Methods: Patients with DTC under continuous TSH suppression who underwent two PET/CT scans were included. Hounsfield units were measured for each lumbar vertebra (L1–L5) in the CT by placing an elliptical region of interest (ROI) in the center of the vertebra, avoiding hyperdense edges. Laboratory parameters were also collected. Results: A total of 50 patients were included in the study (25 male, 25 female), with a mean age of 57.2 (±15.3) years at the time of the first scan. The mean duration of TSH suppression before the first scan was 3.7 ± 3.9 years, and the mean interval between both scans was 4.4 ± 4.0 years. At the follow-up scan, bone density was significantly lower compared with baseline for all lumbar vertebrae (L1–L5 combined and individually) (all p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant decline in women at L1, L2, L4, and L5 and for overall lumbar bone density, while men showed nonsignificant trends. Conclusions: Our study suggests a sustained reduction in vertebral bone density during TSH suppression. The results support routine monitoring in both sexes, risk stratification by age and duration of suppression, and, when oncologically appropriate, consideration of lower suppression intensity or initiation of bone-protective therapy in high-risk patients. Full article

Background: Despite percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for revascularization, patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) still face residual risks of adverse outcomes. Insulin resistance (IR) and renal impairment are independent predictors of poor prognosis in these patients, yet their interaction and underlying mechanisms linked to post-PCI outcomes remain incompletely elucidated. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving patients with ACS who underwent PCI at the Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu from July 2018 to December 2020. Insulin resistance (IR) was quantified using the triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index, and renal function was evaluated via the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and unplanned revascularization. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression and mediation analyses were applied to explore the associations of TyG index and eGFR with patient prognosis, and to quantify the mediating effect of eGFR on the relationship between TyG index and prognosis. Results: A total of 1340 patients with ACS were included in the final analysis. Over a median follow-up duration of 31.02 (interquartile range [IQR]: 27.34–35.03) months, 124 patients (9.25%) experienced MACEs. After adjusting for potential confounders, both the TyG index and eGFR were identified as significant independent predictors of MACEs in the overall population and across predefined subgroups. Specifically, each one-unit increase in the TyG index was associated with a 73.8% higher risk of MACEs (HR 1.738; 95% CI 1.273–2.372), whereas each ten-unit decrease in eGFR was linked to a 12.7% increased MACEs risk (HR 1.127; 95% CI 1.032–1.232). Importantly, after further adjustment for confounders, eGFR significantly mediated 9.63% of the total effect of the TyG index on MACEs risk. Conclusions: Renal impairment partially mediates the association between IR and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in ACS patients undergoing PCI. This finding underscores the clinical importance of the metabolic–cardiorenal axis in this population, suggesting that a comprehensive assessment targeting both IR and renal function-related pathways may enhance risk-stratification accuracy and optimize therapeutic strategies for ACS patients. Full article

Background and Objectives: Quantifying nasal proportions is central to facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, yet manual measurements are time-consuming and variable. We sought to develop a simple, reproducible deep learning pipeline that localizes the nose in a single frontal photograph and automatically computes the two-dimensional, photograph-derived apparent nasal index (aNI)—width/height × 100—enabling classification into five standard anthropometric categories. Materials and Methods: From CelebA we curated 29,998 high-quality near-frontal images (training 20,998; validation 5999; test 3001). Nose masks were manually annotated with the VGG Image Annotator and rasterized to binary masks. Ground-truth aNI was computed from the mask’s axis-aligned bounding box. A lightweight one-class YOLOv8n detector was trained to localize the nose; predicted aNI was computed from the detected bounding box. Performance was assessed on the held-out test set using detection coverage and mAP, agreement metrics between detector- and mask-based aNI (MAE, RMSE, R²; Bland–Altman), and five-class classification metrics (accuracy, macro-F1). Results: The detector returned at least one accepted nose box in 3000/3001 test images (99.97% coverage). Agreement with ground truth was strong: MAE 3.04 nasal index units (95% CI 2.95–3.14), RMSE 4.05, and R² 0.819. Bland–Altman analysis showed a small negative bias (−0.40, 95% CI −0.54 to −0.26) with limits of agreement −8.30 to 7.50 (95% CIs −8.54 to −8.05 and 7.25 to 7.74). After excluding out-of-range cases (<40.0), five-class classification on n = 2976 images achieved macro-F1 0.705 (95% CI 0.608–0.772) and 80.7% accuracy; errors were predominantly adjacent-class swaps, consistent with the small aNI error. Additional analyses confirmed strong ordinal agreement (weighted κ = 0.71 linear, 0.78 quadratic; Spearman ρ = 0.76) and near-perfect adjacent-class accuracy (0.999); performance remained stable when thresholds were shifted ±2 NI units and across sex and age subgroups. Conclusions: A compact detector can deliver near-universal nose localization and accurate automatic estimation of the nasal index from a single photograph, enabling reliable five-class categorization without manual measurements. The approach is fast, reproducible, and promising as a calibrated decision-support adjunct for surgical planning, outcomes tracking, and large-scale morphometric research. Full article

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) index for screening gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at 24–28 weeks of gestation, to determine its optimal diagnostic threshold, and to compare its predictive performance with conventional lipid ratios (LDL/HDL, TG/HDL, and TC/HDL). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 440 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies who underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) between January and July 2025. The TyG index and lipid ratios were calculated, and their associations with GDM were evaluated. Subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the efficacy of the TyG index in predicting GDM, using logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis along with restricted cubic spline modeling to evaluate diagnostic performance and determine the optimal cutoff value. Results: The overall prevalence of GDM, as defined by the IADPSG (International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups) criteria, was 22.7%. The median TyG index was significantly higher in the GDM group compared with the non-GDM group (9.1 vs. 8.9, p = 0.001). The TyG index was a significant predictor of GDM (p < 0.05), with each one-unit increase associated with significantly higher odds of GDM (OR = 12.29), after adjusting for covariates. ROC analysis demonstrated an AUC of 0.716 (95% CI: 0.627–0.793, p < 0.001) for the TyG index, and the optimal cut-off value was identified as 9.35, yielding a sensitivity of 38.5% and a specificity of 96.5% and a negative predictive value of 83.7%. Subgroup analyses indicated that the TyG index had limited discriminative ability for predicting GDM in both the post-load and insulin-requiring groups. Among conventional lipid ratios, TG/HDL demonstrated the highest predictive performance (AUC = 0.587), while LDL/HDL (AUC = 0.483) and TC/HDL (AUC = 0.509) demonstrated low predictive accuracy. Compared with conventional lipid ratios, the TyG index demonstrated superior predictive performance. Conclusions: A higher TyG index was positively associated with the development of GDM and showed better predictive ability than conventional lipid ratios. However, its low sensitivity limits its use as a standalone diagnostic tool, suggesting it may be most useful when combined with other clinical parameters. Full article

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a global public health concern, especially in developing countries. Although previous studies have suggested a link between urbanization and CKD, the existing evidence remains limited and inconsistent. We selected a sub-cohort of 5298 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). All participants had normal renal function at baseline (2011) and were followed up in 2015, with renal biomarkers measured twice. Urbanization was assessed at the city level using the average nighttime light index (ANLI), derived from calibrated long-term satellite remote sensing data. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between urbanization and CKD. Our results showed that a 0.1-unit increase in ANLI was associated with a 7.3% increase in the relative risk of CKD in the fully adjusted model (OR: 1.073, 95% CI: 1.045, 1.101). Subgroup analyses indicated that females (OR: 1.106, 95% CI: 1.068, 1.145) and urban residents (OR: 1.101, 95% CI: 1.060, 1.143) were at higher risk. We also found the synergistic amplification effects of heavier air pollution (PM_2.5 and NO₂) and elevated temperatures on this association. Our findings provide robust evidence of a positive association between urbanization and CKD among middle-aged and elderly adults in China. More scientific and specific health investment is needed with urbanization process simultaneously. Full article

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic auto-immune neuroinflammatory disorder presenting as a range of systemic and neurological symptoms, including cognitive impairment. Emerging evidence suggests that diets targeting brain health—such as the Mediterranean (MED) and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets—may improve cognitive function; however, studies examining their role in people living with MS are limited. Methods: We examined cross-sectional associations between diet and cognition data from 967 participants in the United Kingdom Multiple Sclerosis Register (UKMSR). Dietary pattern scores (alternate Mediterranean; aMED, and MIND) were derived from the 130-item EPIC-Norfolk food frequency questionnaire. Cognition was assessed using the MS-specific Cognitron-MS (C-MS) battery (13 tasks) and summarised as overall cognition (global G factor) and four domains (object memory, problem solving, information processing speed [IPS], and words memory). Cognitive outcomes were expressed as Deviation-from-Expected (DfE) scores standardised to demographic and device characteristics using external regression-based norms. Linear models were adjusted for total energy intake, MS phenotype, disease duration since diagnosis, and current disease-modifying therapy (DMT) use. Interactions tested moderation by MS phenotype (relapsing vs. progressive MS) and current DMT use (yes vs. no). Sensitivity analyses included within-domain multiple-comparison control, rank-based inverse-normal transformation, and winsorisation. Results: Greater alignment with aMED and MIND dietary patterns were associated with higher scores in specific cognitive domains but not in overall cognition. Higher aMED scores were associated most consistently with better IPS, while higher MIND scores were additionally associated with better words memory. In categorical models, participants with the middle or highest tertiles of aMED or MIND scores performed up to ~0.4 SD better on tasks of Verbal Analogies, Word Definitions, Simple Reaction Time, Words Memory Immediate, or Words Memory Delays compared with those in the lowest tertile. These findings were robust across sensitivity analyses. Stratified analyses showed differential cognitive performance and diet-cognition associations by MS phenotype and DMT use. Conclusions: Mediterranean and MIND dietary patterns showed modest cross-sectional associations with specific cognition domains, with differential cognitive performance in different subgroups according to MS phenotype and DMT use. Although causal inference is not possible, our findings indicate future MS-related dietary studies (longitudinal and/or randomised controlled trials) examining cognitive function domains across different MS subgroups are warranted. Full article

Background/Objectives: Malignant ureteric obstruction is an increasingly common problem; however, its treatment remains challenging due to associated poor survival and quality of life outcomes. There is a lack of consensus on how to best manage these patients. We provide a description of the survival outcomes, renal function outcomes, complications, and prognostic factors associated with the treatment of malignant ureteric obstruction in a cohort of patients at our tertiary Urology unit. Methods: A retrospective review of prospectively identified patients treated for malignant ureteric obstruction at our tertiary Urology unit was performed. Obstruction was relieved with either retrograde insertion of a ureteric stent or percutaneous nephrostomy between the 1st of January 2018, and 31st of December 2023. Renal function, complications, and survival data were recorded. Subgroup analysis and survival analysis were performed to determine prognostic factors. Results: Eighty-four patients underwent treatment for malignant ureteric obstruction with a median survival of 197 days (3–1549 days). A total of 51% percent of patients had a stent-related complication requiring hospitalisation, resulting in a total of 966 additional days in hospital. A total of 78% of patients had improved renal function at 12 months. Factors associated with worse survival included emergency treatment of malignant ureteric obstruction, having no further oncological treatment, receiving no oncological-specific treatment for malignancy, bilateral obstruction, female gender, and poor Primary site, Laterality, serum Creatinine level, and Treatment for primary site (PLaCT) prognosis group (p =< 0.01). Conclusions: Patients with malignant ureteric obstruction have a poor prognosis despite intervention. Treatment is often futile and associated with a significant burden of complications related to ureteric stents and percutaneous nephrostomies. Full article