Dear colleagues, I am honored to share with you the first issue of 2023 (volume 3, issue 1) of the Grand Journal of Urology (Grand J Urol) with the contributions of many respected researchers and authors. Grand Journal of Urology (GJU) aims to carry written and visual scientific urology studies to academic platforms and to make significant contributions to the science of urology. Our journal has been abstracted/indexed in EBSCOhost, J-Gate, Index Copernicus International, EuroPub, SciLit, ResearchGate, ScienceGate and Google Scholar international databases. As of these achievements, the Grand Journal of Urology (GJU) has taken its place among the journals indexed by international databases. In this issue of our journal, there are many valuable articles under the subheadings of Urological Oncology, Neurourology, Urolithiasis and General Urology. I hope that these carefully prepared articles will make important contributions to valuable readers, researchers and the urology literature. On this occasion, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our authors who have contributed to our journal with their articles, to our reviewers who have meticulously evaluate the articles. Respectfully yours January 2023 Assoc. Prof. Ekrem GUNER, MD Editor-in-Chief

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, and approximately 1.1 million new cases are diagnosed annually []. Prostate cancer in more than 90% of the patients is organconfined at the time of diagnosis []. Radical prostatectomy (RP) is the only definitive treatment alternative in localized disease, while it is performed as a part of multimodal therapy in locally advanced disease. In the 2020 EAU guidelines, there is a weak recommendation that none of the RP techniques (open, laparoscopic, robotic) is superior to each other in terms of functional and oncological results []. Over the years, thanks to the better definition of deep dorsal venous complex, puboprostatic ligaments, prostate shape and sphincter anatomy, RP techniques developed and contributed favorably to oncological and functional results [-]. In spite of the improvement in surgical techniques, urinary incontinence after RP remains an important complication that adversely affects patients" quality of life. In a meta-analysis including 51 articles, incontinence rates of patients who underwent RALP were evaluated. According to this meta-analysis, in the studies in which no pad use was accepted as full continence, the mean rate of incontinence at postoperative 12th months was shown as 16% (4-31%). In other studies which defined full continence as either no urine leakage or usage of security pads, this rate dropped to 9% (8-11%) []. Consequently, the preservation of urinary continence is an important target in patients undergoing RP. Anatomical and functional studies have shown that the length of the functional urethra is between 1.5-2.4 cm, and a significant part of it is located intraprostatically between the prostate apex and the colliculus seminalis [-]. In 2011, it was shown that the continence rate in patients who underwent open RP with the full functional-length urethral (FFLU) sphincter preservation technique defined by Schlomm et al. was significantly higher in the first week after catheter removal compared to patients who did not undergo this surgical technique. However, no significant difference was found between these two techniques in terms of continence rates at 12 months after catheter removal. Even if long-term continence results are comparable, earlyterm continence is an important desirable outcome for patients with incontinence anxiety. FFLU technique aims to preserve the functional urethral length in the patient by maintaining the integrity of the intraprostatic part of the urethra, including the colliculus seminalis []. The "collar technique" (CT) described by the Bianchi L et al. is the adaptation of the FFLU technique to RALP. Before the collar technique was described in the literature, we were performing the RALP procedure in our clinic by applying almost the same technique and planning to describe this technique. However, after this demonstrative new technical article published by Bianchi L et al., we have just aimed to compare our results with those of the standard technique [].

In developed countries, prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and is the second-most common cancer overall. Recent epidemiologic studies have found a correlation between obesity and a rise in the incidence of various cancers. Obesity is linked to aggressiveness of PCa, a poor response to treatment, and a high risk of cancer- specific mortality [,]. Increased periprostatic fat tissue contributes to the development and progression of PCa which may be due to the disruption of adipokines (such as adiponectin, leptin, CCL7, etc.) secreted from enlarged periprostatic fat tissue [,]. Furthermore, increased periprostatic fat thickness (PPFT) is related to a higher stage or grade of PCa [,]. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures PPFT and visceral fat at multiple levels of the body. As a result, we believe that the measurement of PPFT with MRI could be a useful diagnostic tool for PCa. However, few studies have been conducted on the utility of PPFT in detecting PCa or clinically significant PCa (Gleason score 3+4 or higher). In this study, we aim to investigate the relationship between PPFT on MRI and GS.

Testicular malignancy (TM) is the most common solid organ cancer in men aged 15-35 years and constitutes 1-1.5% of all male cancer cases []. Patient outcomes are very favorable with early diagnosis which increases the importance of diagnosis and treatment of testicular malignancies in their early-stages. The methods used in diagnosing TM are as follows: physical examination, imaging techniques, analysis of laboratory parameters, and tumor markers. In the literature, besides the studies showing the relationship between some hematological parameters with inflammation and tumorigenesis, the close relationship between the inflammatory response with tumorigenesis and invasion has also been demonstrated []. Inflammation plays a role in every step of carcinogenesis by various mechanisms []. Changes in the systemic inflammatory response can be evaluated using hematological parameters. Indeed, changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (NLRs) are indicators of systemic inflammatory response in many malignancies []. The association of high NLR value with poor prognosis in some urological cancers has been shown in previous studies []. NLR is not only a marker of systemic inflammatory manifestations, but also a valuable predictor in many malignancies []. There is an increasing interest in easy-to-obtain hematological parameters, such as NLR to predict cancer prognosis and inflammatory conditions. NLR, LMR, PLR, and MPV can be used as prognostic predictive factors in many clinical conditions []. In the current study, we retrospectively examined these parameters that can be easily evaluated in clinical practice in patients diagnosed with TM in comparison with a control group of similar age that underwent varicocelectomy. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of these hematological parameters on the prognosis of TM.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic young adult disease that shows its effect in the central nervous system (CNS) and manifests itself with attacks. It is an autoimmune and demyelinating disease. The disease mainly affects the brain and spinal cord, and is characterized by the accumulation of demyelinating plaques in the white and gray matter. In addition, atrophy and irreversible axonal degeneration can also be observed []. Demyelinated lesions and plaques eventually cause lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) during the progressive course of the disease, depending on their localization in the CNS. LUTD may present in 5-10% of MS patients as the first symptom, but neuro-urological symptoms occur in 80% of patients 10 years later during the course of the disease. Depending on the location of the lesion, detrusor overactivity (DO), detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD), or hypocontractility may occur during the course of the disease []. There are many medical and surgical treatment options for DO, but their therapeutic success is controversial. The firstline treatment of DO includes bladder training, pelvic floor muscle training, and anticholinergics. Since side effects of anticholinergic drugs which are among effective treatment options for DO such as dry mouth and constipation are common, only 20% of patients continue to take these drugs after 6 months [,]. Treatment options such as neuromodulation, intravesical botulinum toxin injection, bladder augmentation, detrusor myomectomy and urinary diversion are available for patients who discontinue the treatment due to its side effects, do not want to use drugs, or do not benefit from medical treatment. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) can be preferred as a safe and effective treatment option for the patients with DO symptoms who have not benefited from conservative and medical therapy or did not respond to treatment with at least two oral anticholinergic drugs [,-]. It has been reported that neuromodulation of the sacral nerve plexus (S2-4 roots) can be achieved by stimulating the posterior tibial nerve (PTN). The PTN contains mixed motorsensory fibers that originate from L5 through S3 in the spinal cord. It modulates the innervation to the bladder, urinary sphincter, and pelvic floor. The mechanism of PTNS in attenuating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), however, is not yet fully understood [,,]. The effectiveness of PTNS for LUTS in overactive bladder (OAB) has been demonstrated in several studies []. It has been also reported that interruption of PTNS treatment may result in the reappearance of OAB symptoms []. Therefore, the introduction of maintenance therapy for PTNS is important for the treatment plan. Our study aims to reveal the changes in LUTS after 24 months of maintenance PTNS therapy in MS patients.

Bladder cancer is the second most common cancer of the genitourinary system. It ranks 7th in the male population worldwide and 11th in both genders. The average age at diagnosis is 65 years. By this age, 75% of bladder cancers are localized, while 25% of them metastasize to lymph nodes or distant organs []. Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) consists of the majority of urothelial carcinomas, and it is the most expensive group receiving cancer treatment []. Cystoscopy is the gold standard diagnostic procedure used during diagnostic process and follow-up of these patients []. Urine cytology was expected to replace cystoscopy due to its low false-positive rates and high specificity, but it could not give the desired result due to its low sensitivity and its inability to recognize low-grade tumors [-]. Furthermore, NMIBCs are tumors with a high potential for progression and recurrence. Therefore, control and follow-up of the patients are essential. Various studies have been conducted on the factors affecting the recurrence and progression of bladder cancers []. However, any biomarker has not been used routinely in daily practice. An ideal tumor marker should be specific for the tumor being screened, should not yield positive results in other diseases or conditions, should demonstrate diagnostic sensitivity in the early stage of the disease and screening of small tumors, and should be able to identify all tumors in question. Since cystoscopy is the gold standard method for detecting bladder tumors the cystoscopic findings reported up to date in all studies have been evaluated and some sensitivity and specificity rates have been retrieved [,]. Considering that cystoscopy is practitionerdependent, using an additional diagnostic method and urologist"s prior knowledge about the NIMBC before application of the cystoscopy procedure may increase the detection rate of the tumor during cystoscopy []. As an actively used up-to-date parameter in the treatment and follow-up of many diseases, NLR suggestively predicts disease recurrence and progression in oncological patients []. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the predictive value of NLR in determining disease progression and recurrence in patients with NMIBC.

Bladder calculi occur most commonly as a result of either migration from the upper urinary tract or in the presence of predisposing conditions such as bladder outlet obstruction, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, intravesical foreign body, bladder augmentation, and urinary diversion []. Although stone formation around a foreign body in the bladder is common, the presence of a bladder stone around a foreign body with a bladder tumor is a very rare condition. We report the case of a patient who was admitted to our clinic with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), and a hanging bladder stone formed around a nonabsorbable suture material and concurrent bladder tumor.

Although spontaneous retroperitoneal hematomas have a low incidence, the morbidity and mortality of the condition is high. Acute abdominal pain is a common presenting complaint in patients visiting the Emergency Department (ED). Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma is mostly of renal origin (rupture of parenchymal lesions such as angiomyolipomas, cysts and kidney carcinomas) []. Acute adrenal hemorrhage is rare but may have devastating outcomes. Main causes of acute adrenal bleedings are trauma and ruptured neoplasms. Adrenal myelolipoma is a benign tumor that contains mature fat cells and relatively young hematopoietic elements. Rarely, spontaneous rupture leading to retroperitoneal hemorrhage develops in some large lesions. Herein, we report a patient with a giant adrenal myelolipoma that presented with retroperitoneal hemorrhage and underwent emergency surgery.