Renal pelvis urine Gram stain as a traditional, but new marker in predicting postoperative fever and stone culture positivity in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: an observational, prospective, non-randomized cohort study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of renal pelvis urine Gram staining (RPUGS) in predicting postoperative fever and renal stone culture (RSC) positivity in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). METHODS: Totally 141 consecutive patients undergoing PCNL for renal stone were included between January 2018 and December 2019. The RPUGS and renal pelvis urine culture (RPUC) were performed using urine sample from renal collecting system, while RSC was performed using stone fragments. Patients were divided into two groups as Group 1 (n = 119) without postoperative fever (< 38 °C) and Group 2 (n = 22) with postoperative fever (≥ 38 °C). Stone culture and Gram staining models were created for predicting postoperative fever using constant covariates of the presence of residual stone, hydronephrosis, and stone burden. RESULTS: A significantly higher number of patients in Group 2 had RPUGS, RSC, and RPUC positivity (p < 0.001, for each). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of RPUGS in predicting postoperative fever were 72.7%, 89.9%, 57.1%, and 94.7%, respectively. It was observed that both models had similar predictive values and diagnostic performances. Although RSC and RPUGS had a similar diagnostic value in predicting postoperative fever in univariable analysis, both were found to be independent predictors in multivariable analysis (OR: 10.6, 95% CI 4.07-27.9, p < 0.001 and OR: 15.0, 95% CI 5.4-41.2, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, RPUGS is as effective as RSC in predicting fever after PCNL. We recommend RPUGS during PCNL to manage post-PCNL infectious complications.

Higher Serum Endothelial-Specific Molecule-1 (ESM-1/Endocan) Levels are Associated with Poor Pathological Outcomes in Primary Bladder Cancer: A Non-randomized, Prospective, Case-Control Study.

AIM: To compare serum endothelial-specific molecule-1 (ESM-1 or endocan) levels between individuals with primary bladder cancer (BC) who have various pathological features of BC and healthy volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 154 consecutive patients with primary BC (Group-1) and 52 healthy volunteers (Group-2) were accepted into this prospective, non-randomized, observational research between January 2017 and December 2018. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from each participant to measure serum ESM-1/endocan levels. Group-1 was further divided into subgroups as Group-1A (pTa), Group-1B (pT1) and Group-1C (pT2) based on the transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) histopathological results. In addition Group-1 was divided into other subgroups based on pathological features of BC including tumor grade, tumor volume and muscle-invasive status. Groups were compared statistically regarding ESM-1/endocan levels. RESULTS: Median age of the individuals was 63 (22) years in Group-1 and 66 (11) years in Group-2 (p = 0.051). There were 140 (90.9%) males and 14 (9.1%) females in Group-1 and 30 (57.7%) males and 22 (42.3%) females in Group-2 (p < 0.001). The serum ESM-1/endocan measurements were lower in Group-2 than in Group-1 (p = 0.018). Of the patients in Group-1, 62 (40.3%) had low-grade tumors and 92 (59.7%) had high-grade tumors. When Group-1 was further divided into other subgroups according to different pathological features of BC such as tumor stage, grade, muscle-invasive status and tumor volume it was detected that there was a statistically meaningful difference between all subgroups of Group-1 and Group-2 in terms of serum ESM-1/endocan levels (p < 0.05 for each). The serum ESM-1/endocan cut-off value (3.472 ng/mL) had a specificity of 57.7%, sensitivity of 59.1%, NPV (negative predictive value) of 32.3% and PPV (positive predictive value) of 80.5% for predicting the presence of BC with an AUC (Area Under the Curve) of 0.609 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.524-0.694; p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: The serum ESM-1/endocan levels can be considered a potentially useful predictor for BC. Higher serum ESM-1/endocan levels are related with poor pathological outcomes in BC.

Evaluation of the Sexual Functioning of Individuals Living in Turkey During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Internet-Based Nationwide Survey Study.

INTRODUCTION: Although many countries in the world prioritize self-isolation measures during the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period, the effects of this process on sexual functioning are not yet known. AIM: To evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual functioning of individuals who declared no medical history of the COVID-19 disease. METHODS: A total of 1,356 participants filled out an Internet-based survey between June 1 and June 20, 2020. The data from these participants were analyzed to determine sexual functioning in terms of sexual intercourse frequency and sexual desire during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subgroups analyses were also performed, wherein the subgroups were developed according to the population density of the cities in which the participants lived to examine whether population density has any effect on the sexual functions of the participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The study outcomes were obtained using a study-specific questionnaire to assess the changes in people's sexual functioning. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 33.16 ± 8.31 years. There was a statistically significant difference between the participants according to the decrease in the number of weekly sexual intercourses when they were compared in terms of smoking status, alcohol consumption, marital and parental status, being a health-care worker, having a regular sexual partner, and the working status during the COVID-19 pandemic (P < .05, for each). In the subgroup analyses, it was observed that there was a statistically significant difference between the groups for change in the number of sexual intercourses, the number of masturbations, and sexual desire during the COVID-19 pandemic (P < .05, for each). CONCLUSION: A decline in sexual functioning was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Living in a metropolitan area was associated with a decline in both sexual intercourse frequency and sexual desire during the COVID-19 pandemic. Karsiyakali N, Sahin Y, Ates HA, et al. Evaluation of the Sexual Functioning of Individuals Living in Turkey During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Internet-Based Nationwide Survey Study. Sex Med 2021;9:100279.

Higher Serum Endothelial-Specific Molecule-1 (ESM-1/Endocan) Levels are Associated with Poor Pathological Outcomes in Primary Bladder Cancer: A Non-randomized, Prospective, Case-Control Study

Aim: To compare serum endothelial-specific molecule-1 (ESM-1 or endocan) levels between individuals with primary bladder cancer (BC) who have various pathological features of BC and healthy volunteers. Materials and Methods: 154 consecutive patients with primary BC (Group-1) and 52 healthy volunteers (Group-2) were accepted into this prospective, non-randomized, observational research between January 2017 and December 2018. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from each participant to measure serum ESM-1/endocan levels. Group-1 was further divided into subgroups as Group-1A (pTa), Group-1B (pT1) and Group-1C (pT2) based on the transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) histopathological results. In addition Group-1 was divided into other subgroups based on pathological features of BC including tumor grade, tumor volume and muscle-invasive status. Groups were compared statistically regarding ESM-1/endocan levels. Results: Median age of the individuals was 63 (22) years in Group-1 and 66 (11) years in Group-2 (p = 0.051). There were 140 (90.9%) males and 14 (9.1%) females in Group-1 and 30 (57.7%) males and 22 (42.3%) females in Group-2 (p < 0.001). The serum ESM-1/endocan measurements were lower in Group-2 than in Group-1 (p = 0.018). Of the patients in Group-1, 62 (40.3%) had low-grade tumors and 92 (59.7%) had high-grade tumors. When Group-1 was further divided into other subgroups according to different pathological features of BC such as tumor stage, grade, muscle-invasive status and tumor volume it was detected that there was a statistically meaningful difference between all subgroups of Group-1 and Group-2 in terms of serum ESM-1/endocan levels (p < 0.05 for each) (AU)