Background/ Aim: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known up-to-date candidate biomarkers for several diseases. In addition obtaining miRNA from different body fluids such as serum, plasma, saliva, and urine is relatively easy to handle. Herein we aimed to detect miRNAs as biomarkers for early stage prostate cancer (PC). For this purpose, we used urine and serum samples to detect any significant differences in miRNA profiles between patients and healthy controls. Total ribonucleic acid (RNA) in urine and serum samples were isolated from eight untreated PC patients and thirty healthy individuals were screened for miRNA profile and candidate miRNAs were validated. Whole urinary and serum miRNA profile was analyzed using Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA 4.0 Arrays. Candidate miRNAs were investigated by stem-loop reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction. According to our results, when analyzed urinary samples of PC patients 49 miRNAs were detected up-regulated and 14 miRNAs were found down-regulated when compared with healthy controls. According to the serum samples 19 miRNAs were found up-regulated and 21 miRNAs were found down-regulated when compared with healthy individuals as well. Interestingly we detected overlapped only four miRNAs (MIR320A, MIR4535, MIR4706, MIR6750) that commonly increase or decrease in both serum and urine samples. Among them MIR320A was found down-regulated, and MIR4535, MIR4706, MIR6750 were found up-regulated fo urine samples. However only MIR6750 was up-regulated and the other three miRNAs were down-regulated for serum samples. Notably, the expression profile of MIR320A was significantly altered in urine specimens of prostate cancer patients. We considered that MIR320A has been evaluated as a valuable biomarker that can be used in the early diagnosis of the PC.

Background: Scoring systems (SS) are useful to inform the patients about the success and complication rates of the operation prior the surgery.Aims: We aimed to determine the applicability of the popular SS (Guy’s, S.T.O.N.E and CROES) by means of examining preoperative data of patients treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL).Study Design: Cross sectional.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed files of the patients who had undergone PNL in our center between 2011 and 2015. Excluded from the study were patients aged < 18 years, and those who were not assessed preoperatively with computed tomography (CT). Preoperative CT images of all patients were assessed by a single observer (MT), and patients were graded based on three SS. Demographic data were analyzed along with perioperative data (operation, fluoroscopy, length of hospital stay, changes in hematocrit values, location, and number of access sites, stone-free and complication rates).Results: A total of 298 patients who had been treated with 300 procedures were enrolled into the study. Mean age, stone burden, number of stones, and density were 48.1±12.9 years, 663.5±442.8mm2, 1.8±1.1 and 888.3±273 HU respectively. Scores of the cases based on Guy’s, S.T.O.N.E, and CROES SS were calculated as 2, 7.6, and 222,1 points respectively. 81.6% of the patients were stone-free. Complications were detected in 30 (9.9%) patients. Based on ROC curve analysis a positive correlation was detected between success rate and scoring systems, i.e., Guy’s (p:<0.001, r:-0.309), S.T.O.N.E. (p:<0.001, r:-0.295), and CROES (p:<0.001, r:0.426). The CROES scoring system had the highest predictive value. The sensitivity rates rates for Guy’s, Croes and Stone SS were as 78.78%, 80% and 82.34% respectively.Conclusion: Our results show that all of SS predicted correctly the success of the PNL procedures. The CROES scoring system had the highest predictive value.

Background/aim: To investigate the effect of antibiotic treatment on PSA when deciding on prostate biopsy. Materials and methods: A total of 206 patients with an elevated PSA level (2.5-30) were included. Mp-MRI could be done on 129 patients. Patients were given ciprofloxacin (500 mg, b.i.d. p.o.) for 4 weeks and PSA measurements were repeated. Systematic prostate biopsy was performed regardless of PSA changes on all patients. Additionally, cognitive biopsies were performed from PI-RADs III, IV, and V lesions. Results: Prostate cancer was detected in 36.4% of patients. 53.3% had Gleason score of 3+3, 46.7% had Gleason score ≥ 3+4. PSA values decreased in 56.3% and in 43.7% and remained the same or increased but cancer detection rates were not different: 34.5% vs. 38.9%, respectively (p = 0.514). PSA change in whole group was significant (6.38 ng/mL vs. 5.95 ng/mL, respectively (p = 0.01). No significant PSA decrease was observed in cancer patients (7.1 ng/mL vs. 7.05 ng/mL, p = 0.09), whereas PSA decrease was significant in patients with benign pathology (6.1 ng/mL vs. 5.5 ng/mL, p = 0.01). In patients with PI-RADs IV-V lesions, adenocarcinoma was present in 33.9% and 30.4% with or without PSA decrease, respectively (p = 0.209). Clinically significant cancer was higher in patients with after antibiotherapy PSA values >4 ng/mL regardless of PI-RADs grouping (p = 0.08). Addition of any PSA value to PI-RADs grouping did not have any significant effect on the detection of cancer. Conclusion: PSA change after antibiotic treatment has no effect in detecting cancer and should not delay performing a biopsy

Objective: Thesis preparation constitutes an essential component of urology residency training in Türkiye and serves as an indicator of academic productivity. However, the actual academic impact of these theses depends on their conversion into peer-reviewed scientific publications. This study aimed to evaluate the academic outcomes of urology residency theses in Türkiye, including publication rates, indexing characteristics, and subspecialty distribution. Materials and Methods: This retrospective bibliometric study analyzed all urology residency theses completed between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020, obtained from the National Thesis Center of the Council of Higher Education of Türkiye. Each thesis was screened for subsequent publication in PubMed, Scopus, and TR-Index databases using author names, thesis titles, and relevant keywords. For published theses, the indexing status of the journals—Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), or TR-Index—was recorded. These were also categorized according to subspecialty area. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: A total of 399 urology theses were identified. Of these, 233 (58.4%) were published in peer-reviewed journals, while 166 (41.6%) remained unpublished. Among the published theses, 145 (36.3%) appeared in SCIE-indexed journals, 57 (14.3%) in ESCI, and 31 (7.8%) in TR-Index. The most frequent subspecialty areas were uro-oncology (36.1%), endourology (20.8%), and andrology (19.0%). An increasing trend toward publication in internationally indexed (SCIE/ESCI) journals was observed between 2015 and 2020. Conclusion: More than half of the urology residency theses in Türkiye were published, and approximately one-third appeared in high-impact indexed journals. These findings reflect improvement in academic publication outcomes within urology residency training. Strengthening mentorship and structured research guidance could further enhance publication success.

Background: Prebiopsy multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) reported using the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI‐RADS) improves prostate cancer triage, yet false‐positive findings remain common and may drive unnecessary biopsy. Prostate‐specific antigen density (PSAD) is an inexpensive laboratory‐derived adjunct that may refine MRI‐based risk stratification. Methods: We retrospectively screened 713 transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)‐guided biopsy episodes from a single experienced urologist's practice at a tertiary referral hospital between October 2022 and August 2025 and included 375 men with prebiopsy mpMRI reported using PI‐RADS version 2.1 and complete data for prespecified predictors. All patients underwent systematic 12‐core TRUS‐guided biopsy. Clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) was defined as International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade group ≥ 2. We developed logistic regression models combining PSAD and PI‐RADS (parsimonious model) and adding age and digital rectal examination (DRE) (full model). Discrimination (AUC), calibration, and clinical utility (decision curve analysis) were assessed, and the incremental value of PSAD beyond PI‐RADS for csPCa was quantified using IDI and continuous NRI. Results: csPCa was present in 93/375 (24.8%) and any prostate cancer in 144/375 (38.4%). For csPCa prediction, AUC was 0.746 for PI‐RADS and 0.760 for PSAD; the combined PSAD+PI‐RADS model achieved AUC 0.798 and the full model AUC 0.794. Adding PSAD to PI‐RADS improved IDI (0.0528; p < 0.001) and total continuous NRI (0.3926; p < 0.001), driven mainly by improved down‐classification of non‐csPCa cases. Conclusions: Integrating PSAD with PI‐RADS improved csPCa risk stratification compared with PI‐RADS alone, with predominant benefit as a biopsy‐sparing, rule‐out adjunct. External validation is required for clinical implementation.