Upper urinary tract stones are a common condition in urology clinics. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is an effective procedure frequently used for the treatment of stones larger than 2 cm. MAP scoring is used to predict oncological outcomes and intraoperative complications after partial nephrectomy by using the thickness and adhesion of perinephric adipose tissue. We examined the relationship between MAP score and clinical and demographic findings of the patients, especially postoperative Hgb drop and postoperative complications. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Those with MAP score < 3 and ≥ 3. The impact of the MAP score on the demographic, clinical, and surgical parameters of the groups was assessed and analyzed. The relationship between MAP score and complications based on Clavien Dindo classification was also examined. The study investigated factors affecting the development of complications, the amount of bleeding, and the influence of MAP scores on these outcomes. The Hgb drop was 2.56 ± 1.00 in the group with a MAP score ≥ 3 which was statistically significantly higher than the group with a MAP score < 3 (1.43 ± 1.21) (p < 0.001). The stone-free rate was 81.7% in the group with a MAP score < 3, which was statistically significantly higher than the group with a MAP score ≥ 3 (59.6%) (p = 0.012). As the MAP score of patients scheduled for standard PNL operation increased, there was a corresponding rise in Hgb drop, a decline in stone-free rates and an uptick in postoperative urinary complications of postoperative urinary infections.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is the preferred surgical procedure for treating renal stones larger than 2 cm. Patients may experience significant pain in the postoperative period due to factors such as the catheter entry site and tension in the renal capsule. Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) block provides perioperative muscle relaxation and reduces analgesic use. In this study, we investigated the effect of ESP block on postoperative pain scale and quality of recovery in patients undergoing PNL. The study was conducted with a total of 96 patients, with 45 patients receiving the ESP block and 51 patients not receiving the ESP block. Following the surgery, the visual pain scale (VAS) was completed at 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h, and the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) scale along with the willingness scale were completed at the 24-hour mark. The normal distribution of data was evaluated with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, histogram, and skewness-kurtosis coefficients. For comparing paired groups, the Student’s T-test was used for normally distributed variables, while the Mann-Whitney U test was used for parameters that did not have a normal distribution. The comparison of postoperative pain, as measured by VAS scores between the groups, revealed statistically significantly lower scores in the ESP block group at 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.008, p = 0.010, respectively). Our study results indicated that patients who received the ESP block experienced reduced pain levels and had higher QoR-15 scores compared to those who did not receive the ESP block.

Fibromyalgia is a prevalent rheumatologic condition affecting adults. It is observed in ∼2.7% of the whole population. Sexual health is a complex and multifaceted condition that, like general health, cannot be explained solely by the absence of negative aspects. Considering the complex nature of sexual health, fibromyalgia patients are at higher risk of sexual dysfunction. The study included female patients aged 25-60 who had been married for at least two years. Participants were divided into two groups: the case group, which consisted of patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia and receiving treatment at the physical therapy outpatient clinic, and the control group, which included women attending the urology outpatient clinic for reasons unrelated to fibromyalgia or any other comorbid conditions. A total of 140 female patients participated in the study, with 75 diagnosed with fibromyalgia and 65 without fibromyalgia. When comparing the GRISS total and subscale scores between the two groups, the fibromyalgia group had significantly higher scores across all subscales, including anorgasmia, vaginismus, non-communication, infrequency, avoidance, non-sensuality and dissatisfaction (p < 0.001 for all). Sexual dysfunction is significantly more prevalent in patients with fibromyalgia compared to those in the control group.

Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx) is the gold standard diagnostic method for prostate cancer. In people with low health literacy, accurate and early diagnosis rates decrease, making it difficult to maintain health and compliance with treatment. In our study, we investigated how health literacy and sociocultural parameters affected compliance and awareness in patients with suspected prostate cancer, for whom TRUS-Bx was planned. In the study, 98 male patients aged 50–80 years, recommended for TRUS-Bx, were included in our study. The data including age, prostate-specific antigen, prostate volume, digital rectal examination findings, education leveland area of residence of the patients included in the study were recorded. Health Literacy Survey-Turkey- Questionnaire 47 and Turkish Health Literacy Scale-32 forms were completed by the patients who agreed to participate in the study, and their scores were recorded. Patients scheduled for TRUS-Bx were divided into two groups: those who attended their appointments and underwent the biopsy, and those who did not attend their scheduled appointments. The effect of health literacy and other parameters on the TRUS-Bx requirement was examined between the two groups. Furthermore, 52 patients who underwent TRUS-Bx were divided into two groups as malignancy (malignant) detected and not-detected (benign) patients according to the pathology results, and the parameters were analyzed separately for these groups. The education level of the patients who underwent the TRUS-Bx procedure was found to be statistically higher (p = 0.026). Health Literacy Survey-Turkey- Questionnaire 47 and Turkish Health Literacy Scale-32 scores were statistically significantly higher in the TRUS-Bx group (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). In the logistic regression analysis, education level, Health Literacy Survey-Turkey- Questionnaire 47 and Turkish Health Literacy Scale-32 were found to be important predictors for awareness of the requirement for TRUS-Bx. The study’s findings indicate that patients with higher health literacy and education levels were more likely to receive an early diagnosis and promptly proceed with the recommended TRUS-Bx after visiting a urologist.