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Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the miRNA-371a-3p for the primary diagnosis of germ cell tumors (GCT) and to investigate its relationship with pathological factors and clinical stage in the Turkish population. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, a total of 60 patients with GCTs, and 40 healthy male controls were examined for serum levels of miRNA-371a-3p before orchiectomy and again two weeks after surgery. The miRNA-371a-3p, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (bHCG) levels in the preoperative and postoperative periods were compared at different clinical stages. Receiver operating characteristics curve analyses were performed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of miRNA-371a-3p. Clinical and pathological factors such as clinical stage (CS), tumor size, histology, rete testis invasion, and lymphovascular invasion, potentially impacting miRNA-371a-3p expression levels (relative quantity, RQ), were evaluated statistically. Results: The sensitivity of miR-371a-3p in GCT patients was 98.3%, and the specificity was 95% (AUC = 0.997 [95%Cl:0.99–1], p < .001). miR-371a-3p expression was not detected in two patients with teratoma. The median miR-371a-3p RQ was 489 times in GCT and 2.2 times in the Control group (p < .001). In the postoperative period, there was a significant decrease in AFP and bHCG levels in all CS-1 (p = .01) and 30% of the other CS (p = .3). Throughout this time there was a decrease of 19 times at the miR-371a-3p RQ in CS-1(p < .001) and 1.6 times in the other CS (p < .001). The miR-371a-3p RQs were correlated with tumor size and CS. Conclusion: The miR-371a-3p seems to have higher diagnostic accuracy than classical serum tumor markers in GCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the cyberchondria levels of patients who applied to the urology outpatient clinic. The second goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cyberchondria severity and health anxiety in these patients. The present prospective observational study was conducted at the urology outpatient clinic of two tertiary centers in our city between September and December 2021. Eligible patients were the adult patients (>18 and ≤60 years) who used the Internet for health purposes and had no self-reported psychological or mental disease. The patients were divided into following groups according to their complaints: general urology, uro-oncology, andrology, functional urology, and endourology (stone disease). The level of cyberchondria and health anxiety was evaluated for these patients by using the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) and a short-form version of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12). This study enrolled 578 patients (190 female, 388 male). The mean age of patients was 43.4 ± 13.3 years (18–60 years). The mean CSS-12 was 28.1 ± 12.1, and the mean value of SHAI was 18.9 ± 13.6. The patients had andrological symptoms, is uniquely related to higher CSS and health anxiety, and followed by uro-oncological diseases. However, the least relationship was observed in patients with functional urological diseases (analysis of variance [ANOVA], p < 0.001 for CSS-12; p < 0.001 for SHAI). In addition, a positive correlation was observed between the CSS and SHAI (Pearson's correlation = 0.782). The increased level of cyberchondria causes increased health anxiety and an increased disease burden in these patients. Therefore, physicians should consider this increased treatment burden during the treatment of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectivity of pain palliation with intrarectal local anesthesia (IRLA), periprostatic nerve block (PPNB), apex nerve block (ANB), or their combination during transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) prostate biopsy. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 patients who underwent TRUS biopsy were included in this prospective study. Patients were divided into three groups randomly: IRLA group (group 1, n=40), PPNB + IRLA group (group 2, n=60), and ANB + PPNB + IRLA group (group 3, n=60). Visual analog scale (VAS) was used at three separate times during prostate biopsy: on insertion of the probe through the anal canal, during the administration of anesthesia, and during needle biopsy. The pain palliation of each method was compared among the groups. Results: No significant difference was observed in demographic features among the groups. However, biopsy-related pain was the highest in group 1 for each core, followed by group 2 and group 3 (p<0.05 for all core scores). The pain level felt with local anesthesia administration was higher in group 3 than in group 2 and the lowest in group 1 (p<0.05). In addition, VAS scores were significantly higher in patients with large prostate, especially in apical cores. Conclusion: In prostate biopsy, ANB was more effective in reducing pain. ANB in patients with large prostate is considered to increase patient satisfaction by decreasing pain scores, especially in apical cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual activity is important role in life of men. Decreased sexual function has a negative impact on the quality of life of the patients and their partners. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship of erectile dysfunction (ED) with self‐esteem, symptom severity and depression. The 80 patients were evaluated prospectively. Group 1 (cases group) included 40 patients who with ED an age range of up to 18–70 years. Group 2 (healthy control group) included 40 patients who apply to the urology clinic for various reasons without ED. All patients were filled international index of erectile function‐5 (IIEF‐5), Beck Depression questionnaire (BDI‐2) and Rosenberg self‐esteem questionnaires (RESQ). Demographic characteristics and inventory results of the patients were compared between the two groups. Significant differences were found between the two groups in IIEF‐5, RESQ and BDI‐2 scores. In Group 1, IIEF‐5 score was low, RESQ, BDI‐2 scores were significantly higher (All scores p < 0.001). As a result people significantly reflect their sexual satisfaction in their social life. The patients with mild ED are not entirely satisfied in spite of normal sexual frequency. This situation causes significantly low the self‐esteem of men. Prevention of ED will contribute to increased self‐esteem and happy lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]