Translational Health Reports

Abstract Background: Renal peripelvic (parapelvic) cysts cause hydronephrosis, pain, and obstruction when exceeding 4-5 cm due to hilar compression, with elevated IL-6, TNF-α, and creatinine reflecting inflammation and impaired function.​
Objective: This narrative review synthesizes evidence on pathophysiology, diagnosis, and minimally invasive management, emphasizing retroperitoneoscopic decortication versus ureteroscopic drainage outcomes.​
Methods: Literature from 2011-2025 (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) was reviewed, prioritizing comparative studies, case series (n≥20), and biomarker data; a key 100-patient cohort provided head-to-head analysis.​
Results: Retroperitoneoscopic decortication shows superior outcomes versus ureteroscopy: shorter operative time (78±18 vs 112±24 min), less blood loss (25±15 vs 55±30 mL), faster recovery (hospital stay 2.8±0.9 vs 5.1±1.4 days), lower complications (8% vs 18%), and greater IL-6/TNF-α decline; recurrence rates similar (8-10%).​
Conclusion: Retroperitoneoscopic decortication is optimal for symptomatic peripelvic cysts, balancing efficacy, safety, and biomarker recovery over ureteroscopy

Abstract Background: Pediatric kidney transplantation is the optimal therapy for end-stage kidney disease in children, yet long-term allograft survival remains inferior to adults due to heightened immunological reactivity, subclinical inflammation, and progressive fibrosis. Conventional monitoring with serum creatinine and protocol biopsies is limited by poor sensitivity and invasiveness.
Methods: This comprehensive narrative review synthesizes evidence on native T1-mapping MRI—a non-contrast technique quantifying renal parenchymal microstructure via elevated cortical T1 and reduced corticomedullary differentiation, reflecting inflammation, oedema, and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IFTA)—and its mechanistic interplay with serum cytokine/chemokine profiles capturing alloimmune response phenotypes.
Results: Emerging data show strong pathophysiological/statistical correlations between pro-inflammatory cytokines (especially IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL10) and T1 prolongation, as cytokine-driven inflammation alters tissue relaxation properties detectable by MRI. Native T1-mapping demonstrates high diagnostic performance for IFTA (sensitivity 81-89%, specificity 78-85%), predicts graft dysfunction (HR 3.8 per 100 ms T1 increase), and tracks treatment response. Combined with cytokines, it identifies subclinical rejection with 94% specificity, outperforming eGFR/creatinine.
Conclusions: Native T1-mapping offers robust prognostic value in pediatric renal allografts. Integrated with targeted cytokine panels, it enables biopsy-sparing monitoring, early injury detection, and personalized strategies to improve outcomes. Multicenter trials with standardized protocols are needed.

Abstract Urosepsis is a severe, life-threatening condition caused by the rapid dissemination of urinary-tract pathogens into the bloodstream and an uncontrolled host inflammatory response. The emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms and the variability of immune activation in critically ill patients have made its management increasingly complex. Targeted antimicrobial therapy (TAT)—defined as the selection of antibiotics based on microbiological identification and susceptibility testing—embodies the principles of precision medicine, aiming to optimize treatment effectiveness while minimizing broad-spectrum exposure and the spread of resistance.

This review synthesizes the current evidence regarding the role of TAT in urosepsis, highlighting its effects on systemic inflammation, organ function, and clinical outcomes. Special attention is given to novel biomarkers such as Presepsin, neutrophil CD64 index, and Copeptin, examined alongside classical inflammatory mediators including tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Collectively, these markers provide valuable insights into the interplay between pathogen control and immune modulation. The review also discusses diagnostic and operational barriers to implementing TAT, the variability of antimicrobial stewardship across institutions, and future research directions aimed at integrating biomarker-guided targeted therapy into individualized sepsis management.