The aim of the study was to identify predictors of surgical complications of transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT). Material and methods: We prospectively recruited 983 consecutive patients undergoing TURBT within 7 months in six academic institutions. All patients were followed up from the surgery up to 30 days postoperatively with at least one telephone contact at the end of the observation. The primary study endpoint was any intra-or postoperative surgical complication. For the identification of predictors of complications, univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03029663). Registered 24 January 2017. Results: Surgical complications were noticed in 228 (23.2%) patients, including 83 (8.4%) patients with more than one complication and 33 cases of Clavien-Dindo grade 3 complications (3.3%). The most common in-hospital complications were bleeding (n = 139, 14.1%) and bladder perforation (n = 46, 4.7%). In a multivariate analysis, nicotine use, high ASA score, and the presence of high-grade tumour were the most significant predictors of high-grade complications. The stage of the disease was the strongest predictor of bleeding, while the presence of muscle in the specimen and resident surgeon were the strongest predictors for bladder perforation. Conclusions: TURBT poses a significant risk of surgical complications, the majority of which are of low grade.

To compare oncological and functional outcomes of high-intensity focused-ultrasound (HIFU) focal therapy (FT) versus laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) in patients treated for low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa), we retrospectively analyzed data of consecutive patients comprising 30 men, who underwent HIFU-FT, and 96 men who underwent LRP, in an academic center. Oncological outcomes were assessed based on the follow-up prostate-specific antigen values. We used the International Index of Erectile Function short form score to assess erectile function (EF). Urinary continence status was defined based on the number of pads used per day. Median follow-up was 12.5 and 19.1 months in the LRP and HIFU-FT groups, respectively. The effects were computed after propensity score matching and expressed as average treatment effect (ATE). Compared to LRP, HIFU-FT was associated with increased risk of treatment failure (ATE 0.103–0.164, depending on definition, p < 0.01) and lower risk of urinary incontinence (ATE −0.808 at 12 months, p < 0.01). Risk of erectile dysfunction was higher in the LRP group (ATE 5.092, p < 0.01). Our results demonstrate that HIFU-FT may be a reasonable treatment option in selected PCa patients, willing to preserve their EF and urinary continence yet accepting a higher risk of treatment failure.

Fetal aneuploidy is routinely diagnosed by karyotyping. The development of techniques for rapid aneuploidy detection based on the amplification reaction allows cheaper and rapid diagnosis. However, the currently available solutions have limitations. We tested a novel approach as a diagnostic tool in clinical practice. The objective of this study was to provide a clinical performance of the sensitivity and specificity of a novel chip-based digital PCR approach for fetal aneuploidy screening. The study was conducted in 505 pregnant women with increased risk for fetal aneuploidy undergoing invasive prenatal diagnostics. DNA extracted from amniotic fluid or CVS was analyzed for the copy number of chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y using a new chip-based solution. Performance was assessed by comparing results with findings from karyotyping. Aneuploidy was confirmed in 65/505 cases positive for trisomy 21, 30/505 cases positive for trisomy 18, 14/505 cases positive for trisomy 13 and 21/505 with SCAs. Moreover, 2 cases with triploidy and 2 cases with confirmed mosaicisms of 21 and X chromosomes were detected. Clinical sensitivity and specificity within this study was determined at 100% for T21 (95% CI, 99.26–100%), T18 (95% CI, 99.26–100%), and T13 (95% CI, 99.26–100%). Chip-based digital PCR provides equally high sensitivity and specificity in rapid aneuploidy screening and can be implemented into routine prenatal diagnostics.

Prenatal samples obtained by amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling are at risk of maternal cell contamination (MCC). In traditional prenatal analysis, MCC is recommended to be assayed by special tests, such as the short tandem repeat analysis and, if detected at a high level, may result in failed analysis report. The objective of this study was to test the ability of chip-based digital PCR to detect fetal aneuploidies in the presence of MCC. To determine the level of accuracy of MCC detection, an aneuploid male sample was subjected to serial dilution with an euploid female sample. DNA was extracted from prenatal samples and analyzed with QuantStudio 3D Digital PCR. Digital PCR analysis allowed the detection of trisomy 21, trisomy 18, and X monosomy accurately in samples with 90%, 85%, and 92% of MCC, respectively. Moreover, our results indicated that digital PCR was able to accurately confirm the presence of Y chromosome at up to 95% contamination. The amniotic fluid and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) received in our clinical laboratory was subjected to further analysis of MCC based on the aneuploidy assessment algorithm, resulting in the identification of 10 contaminated samples and four cases of true fetal mosaicism. We conclude that chip-based digital PCR analysis enables the detection of fetal aneuploidy with high levels of accuracy, even in cases of significant MCC. Importantly, the algorithm eliminates the need for maternal DNA and additional MCC tests, which reduces costs and simplifies the diagnostic procedure. The method is easy to set up and suitable for routine clinical practice.

Przyczyny i skutki wydatków na cele wojskowe pozostają jednym z kluczowych obszarów geopolityki i debaty publicznej. Często stwierdza się, że zwiększenie budżetu na obronność może pobudzić gospodarkę poprzez zwiększenie produkcji sprzętu wojskowego. To, co powinno wówczas wystąpić, to sprzężenie zwrotne pomiędzy wydatkami wojskowymi a stanem gospodarki. Zasadniczym celem artykułu jest zbadanie wskazanej odwrotnej relacji na poziomie krajów przy użyciu niezrównoważonego zestawu danych panelowych obejmującego 173 kraje w latach 1949–2020. Zaprezentowana analiza empiryczna wskazuje, że badana relacja sprzężenia zwrotnego między wydatkami wojskowymi a wzrostem gospodarczym jest albo całkowicie nieobecna, albo co najwyżej bardzo słaba.