This study aims to prospectively evaluate the ability of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to forecast recurrence in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). This is a continuation of our two previous retrospective studies that indicated the NLR > 2.5 criterion as a predictor of recurrence in patients with NMIBC. Since December 2013, all patients admitted to our department for TUR-BT and agreed to participate, had a blood drawn for cell count and differential 24 h prior to surgery. Patients with pathological NMIBC were followed prospectively for disease recurrence. The end-point of the follow up was either a cancer recurrence or the termination of the study. Univariate and multivariate Cox regressions were performed to assess the NLR > 2.5 predictive capability for recurrence, versus and in conjunction to the pathologically based EORTC score, among additional statistical analyses. The study cohort included 96 men and 17 women with a median age of 72 years. Sixty-four patients (56.6%) have had a recurrence during the study occurring at the median time of 9 months (IQR 6, 13), while the median follow-up time for patients without recurrence was 18 months (IQR 10, 29). Univariate Cox regressions for recurrence demonstrated significance for NLR > 2.5 for the whole cohort (p = 0.011, HR 2.015, CI 1.175–3.454) and for the BCG sub-group (p = 0.023, HR 3.7, CI 1.2–11.9), while the EORTC score demonstrated significance for the ‘No Treatment’ subgroup (p = 0.024, HR 1.278, CI 1.03–1.58). When analyzed together as a multivariate Cox model, the NLR > 2.5 and EORTC score retained their significance for the aforementioned groups, while also improving the EORTC score significance for the whole cohort. NLR > 2.5 was found to be a significant predictor of disease recurrence and demonstrated high hazard ratio and worse recurrence-free survival in patients with NMIBC, especially in those treated with BCG. Additionally, our data demonstrated statistical evidence that NLR > 2.5 might have an improving effect on the EORTC score’s prediction when analyzed together.

Introduction: Ureteral strictures could be a chronic illness that leads to severe side effects and poor quality of life. A treatment with an Allium ureteral stent (URS), a self-expanding, large-caliber URS, was implemented in our department for ureteral stricture. Our study aim was to report the long-term results, including success rate, complications, and adverse effects. Methods: We retrospectively collected data on all patients who were treated with an Allium URS in our department between January 2017 and January 2021. Demographic, clinical, radiological, and perioperative parameters were retrieved and analyzed. The primary outcome was stricture resolution rates following stent removal. Results: Our cohort included 17 patients, 9 men and 8 women. The etiology of ureteral strictures was urolithiasis in 76.5% and pelvic procedure injury in 17.6%. The overall success rate was 35.29% in an average follow-up of 10.42 ± 2.39 months after stent removal. A higher failure rate was observed in the urolithiasis etiology group (90% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.38). The mean indwelling time of the Allium stent was 14.29 ± 1.29 months. Conclusions: Although an Allium URS could be considered as a feasible and attractive treatment of ureteral strictures, due to its minimal invasiveness, the success rate of this treatment is relatively low. Therefore, this option should be carefully considered and should be discouraged in young and fit patients and reserved for older unfit patients who are unwilling to undergo surgical repair of ureteral strictures.

Aim: Owing to the limited efficacy and significant toxicity of most topical intravesical agents for the management of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), a search for new therapeutic modalities continues. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of a relatively new modality, combined intravesical chemotherapy and hyperthermia, using the intravesical chemohyperthermia system. Methods: The data summarize our 10 years of experience in the Department of Urology at Bnai Zion Medical Center, Israel. Ninety two patients with NMIBC (88 evaluable) were treated according to the adjuvant (66 patients) and the neoadjuvant (26 patients) protocols, with up to 7 years follow-up. Results: Over the follow-up period, 56 out of 64 patients (72%) treated according to the adjuvant protocol remained free from recurrences. The progression rate was 4.7% (three out of 64 patients). An initial complete response was documented in 19 out of 24 patients (79%) treated according to the neoadjuvant protocol. During the follow...

With new advances in infectious disease, antifouling surfaces, and environmental microbiology research comes the need to understand and control the accumulation and attachment of bacterial cells on a surface. Thus, we employ intrinsic phase-shift reflectometric interference spectroscopic measurements of silicon diffraction gratings to non-destructively observe the interactions between bacterial cells and abiotic, microstructured surfaces in a label-free and real-time manner. We conclude that the combination of specific material characteristics (i.e., substrate surface charge and topology) and characteristics of the bacterial cells (i.e., motility, cell charge, biofilm formation, and physiology) drive bacteria to adhere to a particular surface, often leading to a biofilm formation. Such knowledge can be exploited to predict antibiotic efficacy and biofilm formation, and enhance surface-based biosensor development, as well as the design of anti-biofouling strategies.