A google trends™ analysis of bladder cancer: determining awareness campaign success, and patients’ needs in clinical management

Objective: We aimed to determine the interest and changing trends over time in the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer and its awareness campaign by examining the Google Trends application as an indicator of people’s interest globally. Methods: Using the Google Trends application, we determined the yearly and country-based relative search volumes of the term “bladder tumor” and of the methods used in the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer in the period from January 2004 to December 2019. We compared the median relative search volumes found in the period 2004-2011 (Period 1) with those found in the period 2012-2019 (Period 2). Results: We found that the median relative search volume for bladder cancer decreased in period 2 and this was parallel to the decrease in the incidence rates in North America and Australia (p0.05). We found that the median relative search volumes of diagnostic cystoscopy and cytology were higher than those of molecular markers and imaging methods in line with guidelines (p<0.001). Also, TURBT was the most sought-term among treatment methods with increasing popularity in the second period (p<0.001). Conclusion: People use the internet intensively to search for information about bladder cancer. We think that several types of web-based applications such as “Google Trends” can help determine the behavioural patterns and tendencies of bladder cancer patients and affect the clinical decision-making processes, as well as readily determining the impact of cancer awareness campaigns to bring about an increased awareness in the society for the recognition of the importance of an early diagnosis

The effect of using tadalafil 5 mg/day on neutrophil-lymphocyte and platelet-lymphocyte ratios in mild-medium and severe erectile dysfunction patients; and comparison of clinical response

To examine the relation between NLR (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio) and PLR (platelet-lymphocyte ratio) rates and the severity of ED (erectile dysfunction) and the effect of tadalafil 5 mg/day on these, a total of 143 patients were retrospectively evaluated. Sixty-three patients with ED who came for follow-up examinations in the 1st month of the treatment were included as the study group, and 80 men who were not diagnosed with ED were as the control group. The age and Charlson Comorbidity Indexes (CCI) of the study and control groups were compared with the IIEF 5, NLR and PLR values before and after the treatment. The mean age and median CCI were higher in the severe ED group (p < 0.05). The mean NLR and PLR values were lower in the control group (p < 0.001). In the study group, the NLR and PLR values decreased with the increase in the IIEF 5 scores (p < 0.001). The ROC curve was significant for the NLR and PLR scores (AUC = 0.779, [95% CI: 0.698-0.860]; AUC = 0.754, [95% CI: 0.670-0.838] p < 0.001). Although more prospective and randomized studies are needed, the systemic inflammation decreases and the clinical symptoms improve in patients who use tadalafil 5 mg/day

Comparación de perfil hormonal e inflamación sistémica en pacientes con disfunción sexual: ¿por qué es importante

*Demirci, Aykut ( Aksaray, Yazar ) *Tuncer, Sibel Çiğdem ( Aksaray, Yazar )Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve or maintain erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. Although the definition is well known, there are controversial issues about the effects of hormones and inflammation on ED. Objectives: We aimed to compare the clinical value of the hormonal and inflammation parameters in sexual dysfunction. Materials and methods: A total of 152 patients diagnosed with erectile dysfunction between September 2018 and March 2019 and 101 healthy males were included in this prospective study as case group and control group, respectively. The 152 patients were divided into three groups based on their total International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores: (I) severe ED, (II) mild-moderate ED and (III) mild ED. All groups were compared in terms of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and total testosterone (TT), estradiol, prolactin, testosterone-to-estradiol ratio and 25 (OH) vitamin D. Results: Patient and control groups differed significantly in term of NLR, PLR, prolactin and vitamin D (p < 0.001, p = 0.004, p = 0.002, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). NLR was more significant in determining the severity of ED (p < 0.001). It was observed that libido score (the total score of IIEF items #11 and #12) was negatively associated with prolactin and NLR (p < 0.001, p = 0.023, respectively), was positively associated with vitamin D and TT (p < 0.001, p = 0.02, respectively), and was lower in severe ED patients. Conclusions: Although more clinical studies are needed, we think that our findings may be useful on these controversial issues of ED

A Rare Entity of Benign Recurring Mesenchymal Tumor of the Female Urethra

This is a case report of a 51-year-old female patient with benign mesenchymal tumors of paraurethral region which caused lower urinary tract symptoms. The pathological examination of the lesion was reported as angiomyxoma which is a distinct soft tissue tumor characterized by the presence of prominent myxoid matrix and numerous thin-walled blood vessels. This tumor has a predilection for the trunk, head and neck, extremities, and genitalia. It is a benign tumor, and total excision is curative. Recurrence is rare except for aggressive angiomyxomas

Ureteral Stricture after Laparoscopic Tubal Ligation due to Suturing of the Serosa

Strictures secondary to traumas of the ureter are some of the complications of urogynecologic surgery. We present a 43-year-old female who had a history of laparoscopic tubal ligation a year ago and was admitted to our department with recurrent flank and inguinal pain. It was soon understood that a suture has pulled the ureter from the lateral serosa of the upper part to the lateral serosa of the lower part causing dilatation of the proximal and midureter because of the previous surgery while there was no damage on the ureteral lumen. Consequently successful reconstruction was performed with open ureteroureterostomy

A narrowing range of bone scan in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients: A retrospective comparative study

Objectives: The objective of the following study is to clarify a suitable group whereby a bone scan could be spared at the initial staging of prostate cancer, we wished to identify the possible relationship between bone metastasis and clinical and pathological parameters including serum total prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), biopsy Gleason Score (GS), and percentage of pathological cores. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the results of 220 bone scintigraphies, which were done between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2013 in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. These parameters were evaluated together with standard clinicopathological data to determine the prediction ability of the bone scan by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Bone metastases were seen in 44 patients of all 220 patients (20%, 95% confidence interval, 17-24%). In univariate analysis, PSA and biopsy GS were useful in predicting the bone scan result, but ALP and percentage of pathological cores was not. In multivariate analysis, the single most useful parameter in predicting the bone scan result was PSA (P < 0.001). Conclusions: A bone scan seems to be impractical in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients with serum PSA level <20 ng/ml and GS up to seven and pre-treatment PSA is the best predictor of the need for the bone scan according to results of this study