The efficacy of RIRS is acceptable and, emphasizing its high safety, it should be considered as a valuable alternative option for management of renal pelvic stones more than 2 cm in diameter.

Introduction The association between novel blood-based inflammatory indices and patient survival has been reported with reference to various cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with nephrectomy. Material and methods From 2003 to 2012, 455 patients who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy for RCC were enrolled in the study. The study endpoints were overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results The median follow-up was 70 months. Groups of patients with high levels of PLR, NLR and dNLR and a low level of LMR more often underwent radical nephrectomy, had a higher cancer stage in the TNM classification, and were more frequently diagnosed with tumor necrosis in histopathological examination. Both cancer-specific mortality and overall mortality were significantly higher in patients with high PLR, NLR and dNLR and low LMR. Multivariate analysis of CSS, adjusted for standard clinicopathological factors, identified only dNLR ( p = 0.006) as an independent prognostic factor. PLR ( p = 0.0002), dNLR ( p = 0.0003) and NLR ( p = 0.002), but not LMR ( p = 0.1), achieved prognostic significance in multivariable analysis regarding OS. Conclusions Only dNLR was an independent prognostic factor for CSS and OS. Nevertheless, our study indicates that all examined complete blood count-based biomarkers may be useful tools in managing RCC patients treated with a surgical approach.

The combined use of semirigid ureteroscopy and an UAS further develops the endoscopic treatment of kidney stones. This is the first series of this kind that confirms high SFRs by CT. The approach has significant advantages: Superior irrigation and outflow enhance both vision and stone clearance, and multiple ureteral passages without putting the ureter at injury risk. These encouraging results make this modality an appealing alternative to percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Background. The etiology of nocturnal enuresis (NE) is multifactorial and has not been fully explained yet. New ways of treatment are constantly being investigated, including the rapid maxillary expansion (RME). Methods. A total of 41 patients diagnosed with NE were divided into two experimental groups: A and B. Group A included 16 children who have been treated with RME. Group B comprised 25 children who have not undertaken orthodontic treatment. Children from both groups have been monitored in monthly intervals, during a 12-month period, towards the intensification of NE. The comparative analysis of both groups has been conducted after 3 years of observation. Results. Statistical analysis has shown a 4.5 times increase of the probability of reduction of NE in the case of the treated group in comparison with the group of children who have not undergone orthodontic treatment. Unfortunately, the chance of obtaining total dryness diminished proportionally to the higher degree of intensification of enuresis at the beginning of the test. Conclusion. RME can constitute an alternative method of NE treatment in children, irrespective of the occurrence of upper jaw narrowing.

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