<b><i>Objective:</i></b> The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of diagnostic ureterorenoscopy (URS) prior to radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) on intravesical recurrence (IVR), in patients with primary upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Retrospective analysis of 354 patients, who underwent RNU for UTUC from 10 urology centers between 2005 and 2019, was performed. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of IVR after RNU. Patients were divided into URS prior to RNU (Group 1) and no URS prior to RNU (Group 2). Rates of IVR after RNU were compared, and a Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate potential predictors of IVR. <b><i>Results:</i></b> After exclusion, a total of 194 patients were analyzed: Group 1 <i>n</i> = 95 (49.0%) and Group 2 <i>n</i> = 99 (51.0%). In Group 1, a tumor biopsy and histopathological confirmation during URS were performed in 58 (61.1%). The mean follow-up was 39.17 ± 39.3 (range 12–250) months. In 54 (27.8%) patients, IVR was recorded after RNU, and the median recurrence time within the bladder was 10.0 (3–144) months. IVR rate was 38.9% in Group 1 versus 17.2% in Group 2 (<i>p</i> = 0.001). In Group 1, IVR rate was 43.1% in those undergoing intraoperative biopsy versus 32.4% of patients without biopsy during diagnostic URS (<i>p</i><b> =</b>0.29). Intravesical recurrence-free survival (IRFS) was longer in Group 2 compared to Group 1 (median IRFS was 111 vs. 60 months in Groups 2 and 1, respectively (<i>p</i><b></b>&#x3c; 0.001)). Univariate analysis revealed that IRFS was significantly associated with URS prior to RNU (HR: 2.9, 95% CI 1.65–5.41; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). In multivariate analysis, URS prior to RNU (HR: 3.5, 95% CI 1.74–7.16; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) was found to be an independent prognostic factor for IRFS. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Diagnostic URS was associated with the poor IRFS following RNU for primary UTUC. The decision for a diagnostic URS with or without tumor biopsy should be reserved for cases where this information might influence further treatment decisions.

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> We aimed to demonstrate the efficacy, safety, and convenient use of fosfomycin trometamol in the preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) of transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate (TRUSBP) in this prospective, randomized study.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> Between May 2014 and May 2015, a total of 300 patients who underwent TRUSBP were examined prospectively. Patients were randomized into two groups: group 1 consisted of 150 patients who were administered a single dose of 3 g oral fosfomycin as a PAP the night before the procedure; group 2 consisted of 150 patients who were administered 500 mg oral ciprofloxacin 60 min before the procedure as a PAP. Post-procedural febrile and afebrile infectious complications and pathological characteristics of the two groups were compared prospectively.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The mean age of the patients was 63.5±0.6 years in group 1 and 62.9±0.6 years in group 2. A total of two patients (1.3%) in group 1 and nine patients (6.0%) in group 2 experienced afebrile urinary tract infection (UTI). Afebrile UTI rate was significantly higher in group 2 (1.3% s. 6.0%, p=0,032). Febrile UTI was detected in two patients in group 2 and one patient in group 1. Urine cultures revealed 35.7% fluoroquinolone resistance. As a limitation, although the sample size was appropriate due to the power calculation, we believe that comprehensive studies including larger patient cohorts are needed to support our findings.</p><p><strong> Conclusions:</strong> Due to its ease-of-use with only a single dose and lower rates of infectious complications (resistant and febrile UTIs), fosfomycin trometamol is a strong alternative for antibiotic prophylaxis in TRUSBP.</p>

Introduction: In this prospective randomized controlled study, we investigated the efficacy of obturator nerve block (ONB) on adductor muscle spasm and related short-term outcomes and complications in patients who underwent transurethral resection of lateral wall-located bladder tumours (TURBT). Methods: Between July 2014 and February 2015, 70 patients scheduled to undergo TUR of lateral bladder wall tumours were enrolled in the study. All patients were preoperatively evaluated by cystoscopy and imaging tools and selected according to localized tumours on the lateral bladder wall. Patients were randomly allocated to Group SA (35 patients who underwent only spinal anesthesia) and Group ONB (35 patients who underwent spinal anesthesia combined with ONB by the nerve stimulator). An independent observer, blinded to the approach, evaluated the obturator signs, including adductor muscle contraction, bladder perforation, and completeness of the resection during the TURBT procedure. Results: The differences between groups regarding mean operation time, tumour size, and number were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Adductor muscle contraction was detected in 40% of patients in Group SA and 11.4% in Group ONB. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.021). Complete bladder perforation was detected in 2 patients in Group SA, whereas no perforation was observed in Group ONB. There was no case of severe bleeding in both groups. Conclusions: We found that ONB performed after spinal anesthesia was effective in preventing intraoperative complications due to adductor muscle spasm while performing TURBT. Our study limitations include its small sample size, since we only enrolled patients with primary lateral wall-localized bladder tumour. Also, we excluded patients who underwent bipolar TURBT.

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Objective: We investigated the prognostic value of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on germ cell testicular tumors (GCT). Material and methods:The data of 53 patients who underwent inguinal orchiectomy were analyzed retrospectively. NLR was calculated from the preoperative complete blood cell counts. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to find the threshold values for NLR. Correlations between cancer-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) and NLR were evaluated. Results:The mean follow-up time was 23.55±18.06 months. The mean level of NLR was 3.08±1.81. Optimal threshold values of NLR was calculated as 3.55 for PFS (area under curve, AUC: 0.55) and 3.0 for CSS (AUC: 0.66). For patients with a NLR of <3.55 and NLR of ≥3.55, mean times-to-progression were 55.71 months (95% CI, 51.27-60.14) and 51.95 months (95% CI, 38.02-65.87, p= 0.152), respectively. As well as, for patients with a NLR of <3.0 and NLR of ≥3.0, mean times -to-cancer specific death were 54.72 months (95% CI, 49.05-60.38) and 49.43 months (95% CI, 37.64-61.22, p= 0.119), respectively. Conclusion:Preoperative NLR is not a useful tool to predict the prognosis of patients with GCT.