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Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programmes have led to a decreased duration of hospital stay in several surgical fields, but have not been fully tested in patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) for obesity. This study aimed to investigate an ERAS programme versus standard care in these patients. Methods: Between January 2013 and July 2014, patients undergoing LRYGB were randomized to ERAS or conventional care. The primary outcome was functional hospital stay, defined as the time between end of surgery and when predefined discharge criteria (pain adequately controlled, fever and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) absent, full liquid diet tolerated, mobilized and feeling fit for discharge) were met. Secondary outcomes were total length of hospital stay, 30‐day complication and mortality rates, duration of surgery, time spent on the recovery ward and health‐related quality of life. Results: A total 220 patients were randomized to ERAS (110 patients) or conventional (110) care. Patients in the ERAS group had shorter functional hospital stay (17·4 versus 20·5 h; P < 0·001), quicker pain control, tolerated liquid diet earlier, had earlier control of PONV, mobilized sooner and were comfortable with discharge sooner than those receiving conventional care. Total length of hospital stay, duration of surgery, time spent on the recovery ward, health‐related quality of life, complication and readmission rates did not differ between the study groups. There were no deaths. Conclusion: Patients under ERAS care recovered faster after LRYGB surgery than those receiving conventional care, with no increase in readmission and postoperative morbidity rates. Registration number: NTR3853 (http://www.trialregister.nl/). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steady-state operation with low error and the fast dynamic response in transient of the DC-DC converter circuits depend on the controller design. The performance of the controller used in DC-DC converters, which vary the level of DC voltage depends on the controller coefficients. Although classical methods are often used to determine these coefficients in controller design, various modern optimization methods have been recently used. In this study, the DC-DC buck converter control simulation is performed with FOPID, PID and TID controllers. Aquila Optimizer, African Vultures Optimization Algorithm and Hunger Games Search optimization algorithms are used to determine the coefficients of these controllers in the literature. However, Fitness-Distance Balance Based Runge Kutta is employed first time for PID controller in buck converter in this study. The performance indices integral absolute error, integral square error, integral time absolute error, and integral time squared error are employed to assess the outcomes. When the results obtained are examined, the FOPID controller gives the best results in the control of the buck converter. These results are obtained by using the coefficients determined by the Fitness-Distance Balance Based Runge Kutta (FDBRUN) optimization algorithm. It has better performance than the other algorithms.

Türkiye gibi gelişmekte olan ülkelerde hanehalkı tasarrufları, ülke ekonomileri ve refahı için belirleyici niteliktedir. Bu çalışmada TÜİK tarafından yayımlanan 2002-2016 yılları arasında Hanehalkı Bütçe Anketi mikro veri setleri kullanılarak, Türkiye’de hanehalkı tasarrufları üzerinde etkili olan temel faktörler belirlenmiş ve yıllara göre hanehalkının tasarruflarındaki değişim gözlemlenmeye çalışılmıştır. İki durumlu probit regresyon modeli sonuçları, hanehalkının oturduğu konuta mülkiyet durumunun, konutun ısıtma sisteminin, ikinci konut ve müstakil konut sahipliğinin, sahip olunan otomobil adedinin, eşdeğer fert başına hanehalkı büyüklüğünün, hanehalkı reisinin yaşının, sağlık sigortasının varlığının, eğitim durumunun, mesleğinin ve eşinin çalışma durumunun hanehalkının tasarruflarını belirleyen en önemli faktörler olduğunu göstermiştir.

Sizing of PV panel, wind turbine and storage batteries in hybrid energy systems is the most important research topic for a system design. There are many studies in the literature, using different approaches about sizing of hybrid renewable energy systems. In this study, experimental and simulation performance differences of the installed hybrid system are presented. The system that is installed in Yildiz Technical University, has 600 W wind turbine, 2x320 W photovoltaic (PV) panel group and 4x210 Ah batteries. A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller, a hybrid controller and an inverter are utilized to control the panels, wind turbine and power flow. A weather station is used to measure the weather conditions such as wind speed, temperature, radiation, and electrical quantities are recorded by a data logger. The system is modelled depending on the datasheets of the components, and the modelling results are compared with experimental results.

Hibrit enerji sistem tasarımında fotovoltaik panel, rüzgar türbini ve akülerin boyutlandırılması en önemli araştırma konusudur. Literatürde hybrid yenilenebilir enerji sistemlerinin boyutlandırılmasında farklı yaklaşımlar kullanan çok sayıda çalışma bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, kurulan bir hibrit sistemin deneysel ve simülasyon sonuçları arasındaki farklılıklar ortaya konmuştur Yıldız Teknik Üniversite’sinde kurulan sistem 600 W rüzgar türbini, 2x320 W fotovoltaik panel ve 4x210 Ah akü içermektedir. Maksimum güç noktası takip kontrol cihazı, hibrit kontrolcü ve inverter sırasıyla panel, türbin ve çıkış gücü kontrolü için kullanılmıştır. Hava istasyonu rüzgar hızı, sıcaklık, ışınım gibi hava verilerini kaydetmek için ve veri kaydedici de elektriksel büyüklükleri kayıt altına almak için kullanılmıştır. Sistem kullanılan bileşenlerin katalog bilgilerine göre modellenmiştir ve modelleme sonuçları ile uygulama sonuçları karşılaştırılmıştır.

Objective:To investigate the results of a modified open partial nephrectomy technique by using cyanoacrylate glue after the parenchymal restoration sutures without performing tissue reapproximation and to compare complications between risk groups according to the preoperative aspects and dimensions used for an anatomical (PADUA) classification in 50 patients.Metarials and Methods:We performed open partial nephrectomy by using cyanoacrylate glue in 50 patients with a localized tumor and normal contralateral kidney between 2005 and 2012 with a mean follow-up of 40 months. All patients were evaluated by routine biochemical analyses and imaging modalities such as abdominal tomography and magnetic resonance when needed. PADUA scores were assessed according to the computed tomography images.Results:The mean blood loss was higher and the duration of surgery and ischemia was longer in high-risk group than in low-risk group. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.001, p=0.004, and p=0.0009, respectively. Intraoperative collecting system restoration was performed in 3 (9.9%) low-risk and 10 (50%) high-risk patients. Collecting system fistulization or chronic renal failure was not observed in any patient.Conclusion:Application of cyanoacrylate adhesive in nephron-sparing surgery is safe and effective in patients with a low PADUA risk score. Further randomized and controlled studies in a large series of patients will provide more conclusive results.

Abstract In this paper, a new three-phase grid-connected inverter system is proposed. The proposed system includes two inverters. The main inverter, which operates at a low switching frequency, transfers active power to the grid. The auxiliary inverter processes a very low power to compensate for the grid current ripple. Thus, no active power is processed by the auxiliary inverter. The goal is to produce a grid current with a low total harmonic distortion (THD) and to obtain the highest efficiency from the inverter system. The main inverter is controlled via a space-vector pulse-width modulation owing to its optimum switching pattern, and the auxiliary inverter is controlled via a hysteresis current-control technique owing to the technique’s fast dynamic response. The proposed system is analyzed in terms of different DC-link voltage, switching frequency, and filter inductance values. The optimum system parameters are selected that provide a THD value of less than 5%. A prototype inverter system at a 10-kW output power has been implemented. The main inverter operates at a 3-kHz switching frequency, and the auxiliary inverter compensates for the grid-current ripple. In total, a THD of 4.33% and an efficiency of 97.86% are obtained using the proposed inverter system prototype.

Foreign direct investment flows may affect domestic investment in different dimensions. The interests related to the impact of FDI on domestic investment focus on whether FDI is a complement or a substitute for domestic investment. The aim of this paper is to research for the effects of FDI on domestic investment for Turkey, Brazil, Russia, South Africa and Mexico by using time series analyses. For this purpose, we utilize GMM (Generalized Method of Moments) methodology. The sample period is 1990:1-2012:3 for Turkey and Mexico; 1995:1-2012:3 for Brazil; 1995:1-2012:2 for Russia and 1990:1-2011:4 for South Africa. The empirical results put forth an evidence of crowding out effect for Turkey and South Africa. On the other hand, it is found that FDI creates crowding in effects for Russia. One other finding of the study is statistically insignificant coefficients for Brazil and Mexico. Doğrudan yabancı sermaye yatırımları yurtiçi yatırımları çeşitli şekillerde etkileyebilmektedir. Bu türdeki sermaye akımlarının yurtiçi yatırımlar üzerindeki etkisine yönelik ilgi, DYSY'nın etkisinin tamamlayıcı mı yoksa ikame edici mi olduğu üzerine odaklanmıştır. Çalışmanın amacı zaman serileri analizini kullanarak Türkiye, Brezilya, Rusya, Güney Afrika ve Meksika için doğrudan yabancı yatırımların yurtiçi yatırımlar üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmaktır. Bu amaç için GMM yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Örneklem dönemi Türkiye ve Meksika için 1990:1- 2012:3, Brezilya için 1995:1-2012:3, Rusya için 1995:1-2012:2 ve Güney Afrika için 1990:1- 2011:4 olarak belirlenmiştir. Analiz sonuçları Türkiye ve Güney Afrika için dışlama etkisinin geçerli olduğunu göstermektedir. Diğer taraftan Rusya için doğrudan yabancı yatırımların artırma etkisi yarattığı bulunmuştur. Çalışmanın diğer bir bulgusu, Brezilya ve Meksika için istatistiksel olarak anlamsız katsayı tahminlerinin elde edilmesidir.

Context: The extravasation of the chemotherapeutic agents is not an unusual phenomenon. Necrosis of the skin and underlying structures has been reported, depending on the cytotoxicity of the extravasating drug. Despite the presence of some antidotes, such wounds tend to enlarge with time and are likely to resist the treatment. Aims: The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on extravasation ulcers. Settings and Design: Animals were separated into two groups; conventional dressing group and NPWT group. Materials and Methods: Extravasation necrosis was established by intradermal doxorubicin injection. Following the debridement of the necrotic areas, one group of animals was treated with the conventional dressing while NPWT was applied to the other group. The wound areas were measured, and then biopsies were taken on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after the debridement. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS 11.5 for Windows was used. Two-way ANOVA test was used to compare wound areas between groups. Willcoxon sign test with Bonferroni correction was used to compare histological scores between groups. Chi-square test with Bonferroni correction was used to compare histological scores within the group between the days. Results: There is no significant difference in terms of inflammatory cell count, neovascularisation, granulation tissue formation between the groups. Contrary to these results wound areas at the end of the treatment were smaller in the NPWT group compared with the dressing group. Conclusion: There is the superiority of NPWT over conventional dressing in chemotherapeutic extravasation wounds as well as the wound area is concerned, but it is not proven histologically.

Objectives: Evaluate whether regular follow-up of oral leukoplakia (OL) resulted in early detection of malignant transformation (MT)., Method: Two hundred and twenty-two consecutive patients with OL (147 females, 75 males); median follow-up period of 64 months (range: 12-300). Three groups were distinguished: group A (n = 92) follow-up at the hospital; group B (n = 84) follow-up by their dentist; group C (n = 46) lost to follow-up., Results: OLs in group B compared to group A, were smaller in size (<2 cm; p < 0.001), showed more hyperkeratosis (p < 0.001) and less moderate/severe dysplasia (p < 0.001). MT occurred in 45 (20%) patients: 32 (35%) in group A, five (6%) in group B and eight (17%) in group C. There was no significant difference in clinical tumour size between group A (median: 15 mm, range: 1-40) and group B (median: 10 mm, range: 3-25; p = 0.496). Tumour size was smaller for patients in groups A and B (median: 10 mm, range 1-40) compared to group C (median: 33 mm, range: 3-100; p = 0.003). There was a positive correlation between tumour size and interval between the last visit in all patients (p = 0.022)., Conclusion: Regular follow-up of OL resulted in early detection of MT. If properly selected, follow-up of OL performed by the dentist seems feasible., (© 2023 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: Oral leukoplakia is the most common oral potentially malignant disorder. Malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia occurs at an annual rate of 1%-7%. WHO-defined classic epithelial dysplasia is an important predictor of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia, but we have previously shown in a proof of concept study that prediction improves by incorporation of an architectural pattern of dysplasia, also coined as differentiated dysplasia. We aimed to analyze this finding in a larger cohort of patients., Method: For this retrospective study 176 oral leukoplakia patients were included. Biopsies for all patients were assessed for the presence of dysplasia and analyzed for cytokeratin 13 and 17 expression. Moreover, the inter-observer agreement for the diagnosis of differentiated dysplasia was determined., Results: In total, 33 of 176 patients developed oral squamous cell carcinoma during follow-up. Presence of classic epithelial dysplasia increased cancer risk two-fold (HR = 2.18, p = 0.026). Lesions without classic epithelial dysplasia could be further risk-stratified by the presence of differentiated dysplasia (HR = 7.36, p < 0.001). Combined classic epithelial and differentiated dysplasia imparted a seven-fold increased risk of malignant transformation (7.34, p = 0.001). Inter-observer agreement for the diagnosis of dysplasia, including differentiated dysplasia, was moderate (κ = 0.56, p < 0.001)., Discussion: This study emphasizes the importance of the recognition of the architectural pattern of differentiated dysplasia as a separate entity for risk prediction of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia. Presence of any pattern of dysplasia results in accurate prediction of malignant transformation risk of oral leukoplakia., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: A classification and staging system for oral leukoplakia (OL) was introduced to promote uniform reporting. In this system, size and the histopathologic diagnosis are assessed and combined in a staging system. The various stages could be predictive for malignant transformation of OL. Differentiated dysplasia (DD) was recently recognized as an important architectural pattern of dysplasia and is highly associated with malignant transformation (MT) of OL. In the present study, DD was incorporated in the OL-system. The aim of the present study was to test the adapted system on a cohort of patients with OL., Patient and Methods: The group consisted of 140 patients. The size, absence or presence and degree of classic dysplasia (CD) and DD were incorporated into the OL-system., Results: In 31/140 patients, MT occurred. Size was not statistically significant with MT (p = 0.422). The presence of dysplasia was predictive for MT (p = 0.003), whereby severe CD and DD were highly statistically significant for MT (p = 0.008). Stage IV was statistically significant for MT (p = 0.011)., Conclusions: The present study emphasizes the value of the slightly modified OL-system with incorporation of DD in uniform reporting of OL and the value in predicting MT., (© 2022 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: As the number of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is increasing, but there are not enough living donors, it is necessary to broaden the criteria for candidates who can undergo donor nephrectomy. Thanks to surgeons' increasing experience with laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LND), multiple renal artery grafts, previously considered a relative contraindication to donor nephrectomy, have become candidates for LDN. We aimed to compare the outcomes of donors and recipients with single artery and with multiple arteries in LDN., Methods: A total of 214 patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the number of donor arteries: donors with one artery (group 1) and donors with multiple arteries (group 2). The number of donor arteries, operative time, warm ischemia time (WIT), cold ischemia time (CIT), arterial anastomosis time, venous anastomosis time, the extent of bleeding, and preoperative complications were recorded to evaluate the preoperative data., Results: The mean operation time in group 1 was 90.3 ± 11.8 min, while in group 2, it was 102.1 ± 5.5 min (p = 0.000). WIT group 1 was 90.9 ± 4.3 s and group 2 100.6 ± 2.1 s (p = 0.000). Arterial anastomosis time was 12.25 ± 3.8 in group 1 and 22.5 ± 4.5 in group 2 (p = 0.000). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in other parameters., Conlusion: Increasing the number of donor arteries in renal transplantation (RT) operations prolonged the operation time on both the donor and recipient sides. Still, it had no negative impact on complications or graft function in the postoperative period., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.)

Background: To compare the models obtained with classical statistical methods and machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict postoperative infective complications (PICs) after retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS)., Material and Methods: Patients who underwent RIRS between January 2014 and December 2020 were retrospectively screened. Patients who did not develop PICs were classified as Group 1 and patients who developed as Group 2., Results: Three-hundred and twenty-two patients were included in the study; 279 patients (86.6%) who did not develop PICs were classified as Group 1, and 43 patients (13.3%) who developed PICs were classified as Group 2. In multivariate analysis, the presence of diabetes mellitus, preoperative nephrostomy, and stone density were determined to be factors that significantly predicted the development of PICs. The area under the curve (AUC) of the model obtained by classical Cox regression analysis was 0.785, and the sensitivity and specificity were 74% and 67%, respectively. With the Random Forest, K- Nearest Neighbour, and Logistic Regression methods, the AUC was calculated as 0.956, 0.903, and 0.849, respectively. RF's sensitivity and specificity were calculated as 87% and 92%, respectively., Conclusion: With ML, more reliable and predictive models can be created than with classical statistical methods.

Objectives: To identify possible associations between patients' demographics and habits and the clinical aspects and histopathological characteristics of oral leukoplakia (OL) at patients' first visit., Method: A total of 140 consecutive patients with OL at a single institute between 1997 and 2019. All biopsies were microscopically examined for classic dysplasia (CD) (WHO definition oral epithelial dysplasia) and differentiated dysplasia (DD) known from differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Clinical characteristics were correlated to histopathological diagnosis and odds ratios (OR) were calculated., Results: A total of 96 females and 44 males, mean age 58 years, were presented. OLs were found mainly on the tongue (41%) and floor of mouth (FOM) (18%). Homogeneous OLs (58%) were associated with smoking, FOM and size <2cm and non-homogeneous OLs (42%) with non-smokers. No dysplasia was present in 40% and any dysplasia (AD) in 60%. Tongue OLs were correlated with AD (OR:6.0) and CD (OR:5.7). FOM OLs were correlated with CD (OR:4.5). DD was correlated with non-homogeneous OLs (OR:2.6)., Conclusions: CD was most frequently observed in tongue and FOM OLs, while DD was associated with non-homogeneous OLs. In this series of patients, there was no consistent reliable association between the clinical and histopathological features and clinical characteristics can therefore not substitute microscopic examination of biopsies., (© 2021 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Purpose: Oral leukoplakia is the most common oral potentially malignant disorder with an annual malignant transformation rate of 1% to 5%. Consequently, oral leukoplakia patients have a 30% to 50% lifetime risk to develop oral squamous cell carcinoma. Although risk factors for malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia have been investigated, no definitive risk stratification model has been proposed. Next-generation sequencing can elucidate the genetic landscape of oral leukoplakia, which may be used to predict the risk for malignant transformation., Experimental Design: We investigated a retrospective cohort of 89 oral leukoplakia patients, and analyzed their oral leukoplakia lesions for the presence of genomic copy-number alterations and mutations in genes associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma., Results: In 25 of 89 (28%) patients, oral squamous cell carcinoma developed during follow-up. Seventy-nine of 89 (89%) oral leukoplakias harbored at least one genetic event. Copy-number alterations were present in 61 of 89 (69%) oral leukoplakias, most commonly gains of chromosome regions 8q24 (46%) and 20p11 (20%) and loss of 13q12 (19%). Mutations were present in 59 of 89 (66%) oral leukoplakias, most commonly in TP53 (28%), FAT1 (20%), and NOTCH1 (13%). Genetic data were combined with the presence of dysplasia to generate a prediction model, identifying three groups with a distinct risk for malignant transformation., Conclusions: We provide an extensive description of genetic alterations in oral leukoplakia and its relation to malignant transformation. On the basis of our data we provide a model for the prediction of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia using dysplasia and genetic markers., (©2022 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) develop in genetically altered epithelium in the mucosal lining, also coined as fields, which are mostly not visible but occasionally present as white oral leukoplakia (OL) lesions. We developed a noninvasive genetic assay using next-generation sequencing (NGS) on brushed cells to detect the presence of genetically altered fields, including those that are not macroscopically visible. The assay demonstrated high accuracy in OL patients when brush samples were compared with biopsies as gold standard. In a cohort of Fanconi anemia patients, detection of mutations in prospectively collected oral brushes predicted oral cancer also when visible abnormalities were absent. We further provide insight in the molecular landscape of OL with frequent changes of TP53, FAT1 and NOTCH1. NGS analysis of noninvasively collected samples offers a highly accurate method to detect genetically altered fields in the oral cavity, and predicts development of OSCC in high-risk individuals. Noninvasive genetic screening can be employed to screen high-risk populations for cancer and precancer, map the extension of OL lesions beyond what is visible, map the oral cavity for precancerous changes even when visible abnormalities are absent, test accuracy of promising imaging modalities, monitor interventions and determine genetic progression as well as the natural history of the disease in the human patient., (© 2022 The Authors. International Journal of Cancer published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of UICC.)

Purpose: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) is the most commonly used method for kidney removal in kidney transplantation and, various incisions are used for kidney extraction. In this study, we aimed to compare the results of LDN operations using iliac fossa incision and Pfannenstiel incision., Material and Method: LDN cases performed in our institute between June 2016 and February 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with previous abdominal surgery, bleeding coagulation disorders, ectopic kidneys, and patients who were converted to perioperative open surgery were excluded. Demographic data of the patients, operation times, warm ischemia times, complications were recorded and the patients were divided into two groups according to incision types., Results: After the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 203 patients were included in the study. Iliac fossa incision was used in 65% of the patients and the Pfannenstiel incision was used in 35% of the patients to remove the donor's kidney. There were no difference in age, body mass index, gender, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores between the two groups. Operation time and warm ischemia time were significantly longer in the Pfannenstiel group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.016 respectively). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of bleeding amount, length of hospital stay, need for narcotic analgesic, visual analog scale scores, and postoperative complications., Conclusion: Both types of incisions can be used successfully and safely for the extraction of the kidney in LDN. Although WIT and operation time has been observed to be longer when a Pfannenstiel incision is made, complications and analgesic use are not different between Pfannenstiel incisions and iliac fossa incisions.

Purpose: To compare the models developed with a classical statistics method and a machine learning model to predict the possibility of orchiectomy using preoperative parameters in patients who were admitted with testicular torsion., Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent scrotal exploration due to testicular torsion between the years 2000 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, features of admission time, and other preoperative clinical findings were recorded. Cox Regression Analysis as a classical statistics method and Random Forest as a Machine Learning algorithm was used to create a prediction model., Results: Among patients, 215 (71.6%) were performed orchidopexy and 85 (28.3%) were performed orchiectomy. The multivariate analysis revealed that monocyte count, symptom duration, and the number of previous Doppler ultrasonography were predictive of orchiectomy. Classical Cox regression analysis had an area under the curve (AUC) 0.937 with a sensitivity and specificity of 88 and 87%. The AUC for the Random Forest model was 0.95 with a sensitivity and specificity of 92 and 89%., Conclusion: The ML model outperformed the conventional statistical regression model in the prediction of orchiectomy. The ML methods are cheap, and their powers increase with increasing data input; we believe that their clinical use will increase over time., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The gold standard treatment method for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is renal transplantation (RT). RT can be done with open or minimally invasive surgical methods. We aimed to compare the outcomes between patients who underwent robot-assisted renal transplantation (RART) and open renal transplantation (ORT)., Methods: Data of the patients who underwent ORT or RART in two institutions between June 2015 and February 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent live donor RT were included, and all donor nephrectomy procedures were performed by the laparoscopic technique. Demographic data, ischemia times, anastomosis times, operation times, and postoperative complications were recorded., Results: 98 patients were included in the ORT group, while 91 patients were included in the RART group. There was a significant difference between the two groups regarding mean patient age. While total ischemia time was 86.9 ± 7 minutes in the RART group, it was calculated as 71.2 ± 3.3 minutes in the ORT group, with a significant difference. The anastomosis time was significantly shorter in the ORT group than in the RART group. The incision length and duration of hospital stay were significantly shorter, visual analogue scores were significantly lower, and estimated blood loss was less in the RART group than in the ORT group., Conclusion: Both ORT and RART are effective and safe methods for treating ESRD. According to our study, RART is associated with relatively longer ischemia times but lower complication rates and higher patient comfort., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Serdar Karadag et al.)

Introduction: Giggle incontinence is a type of urinary incontinence (GI) that occurs with laughing due to the urinary bladder's involuntary contraction leading to complete emptying. There are studies in the literature that biofeedback therapy or methylphenidate can be effective in the treatment of this condition., Objective: This study aimed to compare the efficacies of biofeedback therapy and methylphenidate treatment in patients with GI., Study Design: In this non-randomized observational study, children aged 5-18 years who were diagnosed with GI between January 2014 and December 2019 were included in the study. Patients who were treated by biofeedback were assigned to Group 1, while patients who were given methylphenidate treatment were placed in Group 2. Patients in Group 1 were treated with biofeedback, which was planned once a week for four weeks and once a month for the following two months. They continued their pelvic floor strengthening exercises at home for the following nine months. Patients in Group 2 were prescribed 5 mg oral methylphenidate qid for three months. Patients in both groups were followed up with 3-month intervals within a year. The results were classified as complete response, partial response or no response as per The International Children's Continence Society (ICCS) recommendations., Results: The study population consisted of 38 patients with GI. Mean age of the patients was 7.7 (5-11). Among these patients, 31 (81.5%) were female, while 7 (18.4%) were male. Two groups were similar regarding mean patient age and gender distribution. There was no difference between the two groups regarding treatment responses evaluated during the 1st, 3rd, and 6th-month outpatient clinic encounters (p > 0.05). However, treatment responses assessed during the 12th-month outpatient clinic encounter revealed 15 (94.1%) patients with complete response in Group 1, while there were 10 (55.6%) patients who showed complete response in Group 2, with a significant difference (p = 0.03)., Discussion: Our study showed that treatment responses were reduced after discontinuation of methylphenidate. We achieved high complete response rates in the first, third, sixth, and twelfth-month assessments by biofeedback treatment., Conclusions: Significantly more favorable treatment outcomes were achieved with biofeedback therapy than methylphenidate treatment after completion of 1-year. Multi-center, randomized studies are needed to evaluate efficacy and safety., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest No conflict of interest was declared by the authors., (Copyright © 2021 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To develop a model for predicting biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with long follow-up periods using clinical parameters and the machine learning (ML) methods., Materials Method: Patients who underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy between January 2014 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who did not have BCR were assigned to Group 1, while those diagnosed with BCR were assigned to Group 2. The patient's demographic data, preoperative and postoperative parameters were all recorded in the database. Three different ML algorithms were employed: random forest, K-nearest neighbour, and logistic regression., Results: Three hundred and sixty-eight patients were included in this study. Among these patients, 295 (80.1%) did not have BCR (Group 1), while 73 (19.8%) had BCR (Group 2). The mean duration of follow-up and duration until the diagnosis of BCR was calculated as 35.2 ± 16.7 and 11.5 ± 11.3 months, respectively. The multivariate analysis revealed that NLR, PSAd, risk classification, PIRADS score, T stage, presence or absence of positive surgical margin, and seminal vesicle invasion were predictive for BCR. Classic Cox regression analysis had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.915 with a sensitivity and specificity of 90.6% and 79.8%. The AUCs for receiver-operating characteristic curves for random forest, K nearest neighbour, and logistic regression were 0.95, 0.93, and 0.93, respectively. All ML models outperformed the conventional statistical regression model in the prediction of BCR after prostatectomy., Conclusion: The construction of more reliable and potent models will provide the clinicians and patients with advantages such as more accurate risk classification, prognosis estimation, early intervention, avoidance of unnecessary treatments, relatively lower morbidity and mortality. The ML methods are cheap, and their powers increase with increasing data input; we believe that their clinical use will increase over time., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Purpose: Purpose of this study is to investigate the quality of life (QoL) in patients with end-stage renal disease who underwent open or robot-assisted kidney transplantation (OKT and RAKT)., Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent OKT and RAKT at Bakirkoy Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital between June 2016 and December 2018 constituted the target population of this study. The patient group was divided into two groups as per the surgical technique (ie, open vs. robot-assisted). Demographic data, preoperative and postoperative data of all patients were collected prospectively. The QoL of the patients was assessed preoperatively and on the postoperative 30th day., Results: Sixty-seven patients who underwent OKT and 60 patients who underwent RAKT were included. The mean patient age and BMI were calculated as 40.9 ± 11.6 years and 24.4 ± 2.9 kg/m 2 , respectively. Patients in the RAKT group were significantly younger than the patients in the OKT group (P = .002). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender, BMI, ASA and the ratio of premptive patients. The mean preoperative hemoglobin level was significantly higher in the OKT group than the RAKT group (P = .003). While mean total ischemia time was shorter in the "open" group, intraoperative blood loss and incision length were shorter in the RAKT group. Duration of surgical drainage and hospital stay was shorter in the "robot-assisted" group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of SF-36 subparameters preoperatively. The physical component scores of the QoL questionnaire revealed that postoperative impairment of quality of life in the early postoperative period was more significant in the OKT than the RAKT., Conclusion: Patients who underwent RAKT have a higher QoL than the patients who were treated with OKT as per their self-reported QoL scores in the early postoperative period., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Oral leukoplakia is the most common potentially malignant disorder of the oral mucosa with a rate of malignant transformation into oral squamous cell carcinoma of 1-2% annually. The presence or absence of dysplasia as defined by the WHO is an important histological marker for malignant transformation risk assessment, but is not sufficiently accurate for patient stratification. We investigated whether identifying differentiated dysplasia contributes to oral leukoplakia malignant transformation risk assessment. We investigated whether classic or differentiated dysplasia were present in 84 oral leukoplakias. In 25 of these patients a squamous cell carcinoma developed during follow-up. Risk of malignant progression of oral leukoplakia increased from 3.3 (HR, p = 0.002) when only classic dysplasia was considered to 7.4 (HR, p = 0.001) when both classic and differentiated dysplasia were combined. This study demonstrates that identifying differentiated dysplasia as a separate type of dysplasia is important for the prognosis and stratification of patients with oral leukoplakia.

Background: Average long-term outcome after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is 25% total weight loss. The risk of short-term complications (leakage and bleeding), acute internal herniation, and mortality are 4.0%, 2.5%, and .2%, respectively. There is a paucity of evidence on what patients expect in terms of weight loss and to what extent surgical risks are tolerated., Objective: To examine the patient's weight loss expectations and acceptance of the morbidity and mortality risk after primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass., Setting: Teaching hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Methods: Two-hundred patients participated in a standardized survey after completion of an extensive multidisciplinary screening, before surgery. Weight loss expectations, naive assessment, and acceptation of risks of morbidity and mortality were addressed with standard gamble methods., Results: The 200 participants (156 female, 78%) had a mean age of 45.1 years and a mean body mass index of 42.3 kg/m 2 . Weight loss was overestimated by 151 patients (75.5%), and 79 participants (39.5%) were disappointed with the predicted weight loss. Median accepted risks on short-term complications, acute internal herniation, and mortality were 35.8% (interquartile range, 21.0%-58.0%), 25.1% (interquartile range, 15.9%-50.8%), and 4.5% (interquartile range, 1.0%-10.0%), respectively., Conclusion: Patients seeking bariatric surgery seem to have unrealistic weight loss objectives and are willing to accept substantial risks to achieve these goals., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Numerous clinical and histopathological characteristics have been associated with malignant transformation (MT) of oral leukoplakia (OL), including classic and differentiated epithelial dysplasia, but MT predictions remain suboptimal. The objective of this study was to determine the annual MT rate of OL and to identify clinicopathological risk factors associated with MT., Patients and Methods: 170 patients with OL were included in this retrospective cohort study, 117 females and 53 males. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 219 months (median 54). The analyzed variables included age, gender, smoking habits, clinical presentation, subsite, size and treatment. In a subgroup of 140 patients, histopathological diagnoses were reviewed with regard to the presence of dysplasia, discerning both classic dysplasia and differentiated dysplasia., Results: MT occurred in 23% of the patients, resulting in an annual MT rate of 4.9% (95% CI: 3.5 - 6.6) which remained consistent. High-risk subsite (tongue and floor of mouth) was the only clinical predictor for MT (Hazard Ratio = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.3 - 5.5, p = 0.007). In 140 patients, classic dysplasia (Hazard Ratio = 7.2, 95% CI: 1.6 - 33.1, p = 0.012) and differentiated dysplasia (Hazard Ratio = 6.6, 95% CI: 1.2 - 25.4, p = 0.026) were predictors for MT. Binary grading between dysplasia and no dysplasia was significant for predicting MT (Hazard Ratio = 6.4, 95% CI: 1.5 - 27.5, p = 0.013)., Conclusion: Since annual MT rate of OL remains stable during follow-up, regular long-term or even life-long follow-up is advocated. Specific oral subsites and epithelial dysplasia are predictors for MT of OL., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Oral leukoplakia is the most common oral potentially malignant disorder with a malignant transformation rate into oral squamous cell carcinoma of 1-3% annually. The presence and grade of World Health Organization defined dysplasia is an important histological marker to assess the risk for malignant transformation, but is not sufficiently accurate to personalize treatment and surveillance. Differentiated dysplasia, known from differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, is hitherto not used in oral dysplasia grading. We hypothesized that assessing differentiated dysplasia besides World Health Organization defined (classic) dysplasia will improve risk assessment of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia. We investigated a retrospective cohort consisting of 84 oral leukoplakia patients. Biopsies were assessed for dysplasia presence and grade, and the expression of keratins 13 (CK13) and 17, known to be dysregulated in dysplastic vulvar mucosa. In dysplastic oral lesions, differentiated dysplasia is as common as classic dysplasia. In 25 out of 84 (30%) patients, squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract developed during follow-up. Considering only classic dysplasia, 11 out of 56 (20%) patients with nondysplastic lesions progressed. With the incorporation of differentiated dysplasia, only 2 out of 30 (7%) patients with nondysplastic lesions progressed. The risk of progression increased from 3.26 (Hazard ratio, p = 0.002) when only classic dysplasia is considered to 7.43 (Hazard ratio, p = 0.001) when classic and differentiated dysplasia are combined. Loss of CK13, combined with presence of dysplasia, is associated with greater risk of malignant progression (p = 0.006). This study demonstrates that differentiated dysplasia should be recognized as a separate type of dysplasia in the oral mucosa and that its distinction from classic dysplasia is of pathological and clinical significance since it is a strong (co)prognostic histopathological marker for oral malignant transformation. In oral lesions without dysplasia and retained CK13 staining the risk for progression is very low.

Emphysematous urinary tract infections (UTI) are life-threatening conditions caused by gas-forming organisms. Emphysematous pyelitis (EP) is a rare, acute bacterial UTI characterized by gas formation only in the renal collecting system. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment was performed for 10-mm sized stone in the left renal pelvis in an 81-year-old female patient with no known comorbidities other than hypertension. In the 10th hour following ESWL treatment, the patient referred to the emergency department with fever and left flank pain. Gas was noticed in the left renal collecting system in non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT). A wide spectrum antibiotic was given to the patient due to EP diagnosis and a nephrostomy catheter was placed in the left renal pelvis. EP should be considered in the patient with fever and flank pain after ESWL and NCCT should be performed for further examination. Quick diagnosis, examination and treatment of these patients in the emergency department are important., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2020, Seker et al.)

Objectives: To assess the early functional and oncological outcomes of a large series of patients who underwent robot-assisted radical perineal prostatectomy (RPP)., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed the patients who underwent robot-assisted RPP for localized prostate cancer between November 2016 and September 2018. Patients who had locally advanced disease proven on biopsy or were suspected to have locally advanced disease on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and patients who had a contraindication for the exaggerated lithotomy position were not included in this study. Patient demographics, preoperative and postoperative variables, complications and follow-up times were recorded., Results: A total of 95 patients were included. Their mean ± sd age was 61.5 ± 6.5 years. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) preoperative prostate-specific antigen level was 6.1 (3.7) ng/mL, the median (IQR) operating time was 140 (25) min, and the mean ± sd blood loss was 67.4 ± 17 mL. Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) was performed for 12 patients (12.6%). The median (IQR) hospital stay was 1 (1) days. Positive surgical margins were present in eight patients (8.4%). After catheter removal, the immediate continence rate was 41%. Continence rates were 78%, 87% and 91%, respectively, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Potency rates were 49%, 69% and 77%, respectively, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery for patients who had adequate potency preoperatively. The median (IQR) follow-up time was 13 (3.1) months., Conclusion: We conclude that robot-assisted RPP is a reliable and effective surgical technique that can be employed in the treatment of localized prostate cancer regardless of prostate volume, especially in patients with a history of abdominal surgery. As an additional advantage, PLND can be performed through the same incision., (© 2020 The Authors BJU International © 2020 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Pilonidal disease is a common problem in primary health care which may require immediate surgical referral. Although various management options have been proposed, so far there is no gold standard treatment. The aim of the present study was to determine which of the following techniques was superior as regards postoperative complications and recurrence, midline unshifted adipofascial turn-over flap, midline shifted adipofascial turn-over flap or Karydakis flap., Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Department of General Surgery. Patients with non-complicated pilonidal sinus were enrolled in the study from April 2009 to January 2012. All patients were randomized the day of surgery at the coordinating center by means of a computer program. Patients were randomized to receive midline unshifted adipofascial turn-over flap, midline shifted adipofascial turn-over flap or Karydakis flap. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia and patients were discharged 6 h after surgery. Demographic characteristics, skin color, body hair type, family history, preoperative complaints and duration of symptoms, cyst size, intraoperative iatrogenic cyst rupture, the presence of a tuft of hairs in the cyst, surgical techniques, duration of drainage, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications and recurrence were evaluated., Results: One hundred and ninety-two patients with non-complicated pilonidal sinus were enrolled. Seventy-two patients were randomized to midline unshifted adipofascial turn-over flap, 67 patients to midline shifted adipofascial turn-over flap and 53 patients to Karydakis flap. The mean age was 25.66 ± 7.67 years. At 76-month follow-up, the overall complications and recurrence rates were not significantly different between groups (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: In cases of non-complicated pilonidal sinus, we recommend surgical management using local anesthesia, outpatient surgery and the surgical approach with which the surgeon is most familiar.

Objective: Parameters predictive of biochemical or clinical recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy (RP) were determined as pre-treatment PSA value, pathologic tumor stage, tumor grade and presence of Positive Surgical Margin (PSM), extracapsular extension and seminal vesicle invasion and the status of pelvic lymph nodes. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of additional features in patients undergoing RP in our clinic., Materials and Methods: We studied 556 RP operations performed between 2009 and 2016 for prostate cancer at this clinic. Preoperative and postoperative data of the patients were retrospectively reviewed. RP specimens were examined by two pathologists specialized in this subject. Of these patients, 78 (14.02%) patients with PSM were included in the study. The pathology slides of these patients were reassessed. The length of PSM (mm), localization (apex, basis and posterolateral) and Gleason pattern at this margin was determined and statistical correlations with BCR were calculated., Results: The mean follow-up after the RP of 41 patients included in the study was 37.4 ± 13.2 months. During the follow-up period of the patients, BCR was observed in 16 patients (39.02%). No statistically significant difference was observed in age and prostate volume between the groups with and without BCR development (p > 0.05). Preoperative PSA level was found to be statistically significantly higher in the group with BCR development compared to the group without recurrence (p = 0.004). In-group comparisons in each aforementioned Gleason score groups were performed in terms of BCR development and the preoperative Gleason score in the group with development of recurrence was found to be statistically significantly higher compared to the group without recurrence (p = 0.007). The length of the surgical margin was measured as 7.4 ± 4.4 mm in the BCR-developing group and 4.7 ± 3.8 mm in the no-BCR- developing group; it was statistically significantly higher in the group with development of recurrence (p = 0.03)., Conclusion: Length and location of the PSM and the Gleason score detected in the PSM region could not predict biochemical recurrence according to the results of this present study. However high preoperative PSA value is an independent prognostic factor for biochemical recurrence., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared., (Copyright® by the International Brazilian Journal of Urology.)

Objective: This article reports on patients with early stage prostate cancer treated with single plus one port robotic radical prostatectomy (SPORP)., Materials and Methods: Since January 2014, we performed SPORP in 8 patients with localized prostate cancer. Age of patients, clinical stage, operation time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, blood loss, histopathological evaluation, postoperative continence, serum level of PSA were evaluated., Results: Mean age of the 8 patients was 59.85 years. All operations were completed without conversion to standard robotic procedure or open surgery. No intra operative complications occurred. Mean operating time was 143 minutes; prostate excision 123 minutes and urethrovesical anastomosis 20 minutes. Mean blood loss was 45 ml. Preoperative Gleason scores were (3 + 4) in one patient and (3 + 3) in 7 patients. Postoperative Gleason scores were (3 + 4) in 2 patients, and (3 + 3) in 6 patients. All these 8 cases were in T1c clinical stage. Early postoperative complications were drain leakage (n = 1), atelectasis (n = 1), wound infection (n = 1) and fever (n = 1). There was no positive surgical margin. The serum level of PSA was less than 0.2 ng/ml and no other complications happened during the 4 to 12 months follow-up period. Postoperative continence and cosmetic results were excellent., Conclusions: It is relatively easy for urologists who are skilled in traditional laparoscopic and robotic surgeries to master SPORP. However long-term outcomes of this surgery need further investigations.

We report a case with gunshot to the pelvis. The injury site was the soft tissue between the rectum and urinary bladder. Several days later, the bullet was expulsed spontaneously during voiding. In the literature, only a few case reports have described spontaneous expulsion of an intravesical bullet. A 19-year-old male was wounded on the left hip by gunshot. Radiographic examinations showed a bullet in the pelvis, which was localized in the soft tissue between the rectum and urinary bladder, with no accompanying visceral injury on abdominopelvic computerized tomography. Macroscopic hematuria was noticed after urethral catheterization. Rectosigmoidoscopy and retrograde cystoscopic examinations were both negative. The patient was monitored closely and treated conservatively with no surgical intervention. The urinary catheter was removed on the fifth postoperative day, and the bullet was expulsed spontaneously via the urethra during normal voiding three hours after catheter removal. Thereafter, a retrograde urethrography was performed, which showed no evidence of urinary tract or bladder injury.