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To provide the information needed for a detailed monitoring of crop types across the European Union (EU), we present an advanced 10-metre resolution map for the EU and Ukraine with 19 crop types for 2022, updating the 2018 version. Using Earth Observation (EO) and in-situ data from Eurostat’s Land Use and Coverage Area Frame Survey (LUCAS) 2022, the methodology included 134,684 LUCAS Copernicus polygons, Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, land surface temperature and a digital elevation model. Based on this data, two classification layers were developed using a Random Forest machine learning approach: a primary map and a gap-filling map to address cloud-covered gaps. The combined maps, covering 27 EU countries, show an overall accuracy of 79.3% for seven major land cover classes and 70.6% for all 19 crop types. The trained model was used to derive the 2022 map for Ukraine, demonstrating its robustness even in regions without labelled samples for model training.

Plant-pathogen interaction is an inexhaustible source of information on how to sustainably control diseases that negatively affect agricultural production. is a root-knot nematode (RKN), representing a pest for many crops, including tomato ( ). RKNs are a global threat to agriculture, especially under climate change, and RNA technologies offer a potential alternative to chemical nematicides. While endogenous microRNAs have been identified in both and , and their roles have been related to the regulation of developmental changes, no study has investigated the miRNAs cross-kingdom transfer during this interaction. Here, we propose a bioinformatics pipeline to highlight potential miRNA-dependent cross-kingdom interactions between tomato and . The obtained data show that nematode miRNAs putatively targeting tomato genes are mostly related to detrimental effects on plant development and defense. Similarly, tomato miRNAs putatively targeting biological processes have negative effects on digestion, mobility, and reproduction. To experimentally test this hypothesis, an feeding assay was carried out using sly-miRNAs selected from the bioinformatics approach. The results show that two tomato miRNAs (sly-miRNA156a, sly-miR169f) soaked by juvenile larvae (J2s) affected their ability to infect plant roots and form galls. This was also coupled with a significant downregulation of predicted target genes ( ), as revealed by a qRT-PCR analysis. Therefore, the current study expands the knowledge related to the cross-kingdom miRNAs involvement in host-parasite interactions and could pave the way for the application of exogenous plant miRNAs as tools to control nematode infection.

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) represents approximately 70-75% of newly diagnosed bladder cancers and is characterized by high recurrence rates despite guideline-based management. Chronic urinary retention and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) have been proposed as under-recognized modifiers of NMIBC outcomes through prolonged exposure to urinary carcinogens, inflammation, and altered intravesical pharmacokinetics. This narrative review qualitatively synthesizes biological and clinical evidence linking BOO-related dysfunction with NMIBC behavior and explores the emerging, but preliminary, role of Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) as a functional adjunct in selected patients. A narrative review was conducted according to SANRA guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus were searched (January 2000-October 2025) using predefined terms for NMIBC, BOO, urinary retention, and HoLEP. Two reviewers independently screened records, with disagreements resolved by consensus. Sixty-one studies met inclusion criteria. Elevated postvoid residual (PVR) (>80-100 mL) and moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were consistently associated with higher NMIBC recurrence rates, independent of tumor stage and grade, in heterogeneous cohorts. Retention correlated with reduced efficacy of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and mitomycin C, likely via uneven drug distribution and a chronically inflamed urothelium. Mechanistic data support a plausible link between BOO-related inflammation, barrier dysfunction, and tumor biology, although direct biomarker correlations with PVR or pharmacokinetic studies are lacking. HoLEP provides durable relief of BOO, reduces PVR, and improves LUTS. Limited retrospective data suggest an association between HoLEP and lower recurrence, but these observations are confounded and should be viewed as hypothesis-generating. Chronic urinary retention and BOO appear to be modifiable functional factors that may influence NMIBC recurrence and intravesical therapy performance. HoLEP is a promising option to optimize bladder emptying in carefully selected patients, but its oncologic impact remains unproven and should be considered hypothesis-generating pending prospective, risk-adjusted studies.

Background: Pelvic lymphnode dissection (PLND) is an integral part of surgical treatment for localized intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer. The most common complication of PLND is lymphocele formation. In the majority of cases the development of lymphoceles is clinically asymptomatic but in case of symptomatic/infected lymphocele an active treatment is required. The aim of this article is to analyse the current evidence on the treatment of symptomatic/infected lymphocele trough robotic approach. Materials and Methods: The search was applied to PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases with following terms: “lymphocele”, “symptomatic”, “infected”, “robot-assisted AND radical prostatectomy”, “robot-assisted”, “treatment”. Results: The search identified three series focusing on the treatment by robot-assisted approach of symptomatic and/or infected lymphocele. The main and most frequent reason for performing the robotic treatment was an infected lymphocele, the median time from robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and PLND to robotic treatment of lymphocele was 118 days (range 30-240). Robot-assisted treatment was successful in all reports. Conclusions: The drainage of lymphocele with the robot-assisted approach appeared safe, feasible, and with satisfactory outcomes for the definitive treatment of symptomatic/infected lymphocele.

Objective: To evaluate the perioperative outcomes, functional impact, and oncologic efficacy of off-clamp robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in patients with renal masses across multiple high-volume centers. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study including 563 patients (group 1) who underwent clampless RAPN between January 2018 and December 2024. Patients with solitary kidneys, tumors >7 cm, or prior renal surgery were excluded. The standardized surgical technique involved tumor resection without clamping of the renal artery, followed by the use of hemostatic agents and standard/selective suturing of the resection bed on demand. Patients in group 1 were compared to 244 consecutive patients treated in the same centres and treated with RAPN with an on-clamp procedure (group 2). Primary outcomes included operative time, blood loss, and complications, while secondary outcomes assessed renal function preservation and oncologic control at an at least 12-month follow-up. Results: The median operative time was 118 min (IQR: 100–140 min), and median estimated blood loss was 150 mL (range: 50–400 mL). The overall complication rate was 9.2%, with most classified as Clavien–Dindo Grade I–II. No intraoperative conversions to open surgery were recorded. Renal function was well preserved, with a median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline of 4.1% at three months (p > 0.05), and no cases of acute kidney injury. Oncologic outcomes were favorable, with a positive surgical margin rate (PSM) of 2.4% and two cases of tumor recurrences (0.36%) documented at a 12-month follow-up. Conclusions: The off-clamp RAPN is a safe and effective nephron-sparing approach, offering significant renal function preservation while maintaining oncologic efficacy. This technique minimizes ischemia–reperfusion injury and post-surgical fibrosis, providing a viable alternative to on-clamp RAPN. Further prospective trials are warranted to confirm long-term benefits and refine patient selection criteria.

MicroRNAs, highly-conserved small RNAs, act as key regulators of many biological functions in both plants and animals by post-transcriptionally regulating gene expression through interactions with their target mRNAs. The microRNA research is a dynamic field, in which new and unconventional aspects are emerging alongside well-established roles in development and stress adaptation. A recent hypothesis states that miRNAs can be transferred from one species to another and potentially target genes across distant species. Here, we propose to look into the -kingdom potential of miRNAs as a tool to bridge conserved pathways between plant and human cells. To this aim, a novel multi-faceted bioinformatic analysis pipeline was developed, enabling the investigation of common biological processes and genes targeted in plant and human transcriptome by a set of publicly available miRNAs. Multiple datasets, including miRNA, gene, transcript and protein sequences, expression profiles and genetic interactions, were used. Three different strategies were employed, namely a network-based pipeline, an alignment-based pipeline, and a network reconstruction approach, to study functional modules and to evaluate gene/protein similarities among miRNA targets. The results were compared in order to find common features, e.g., microRNAs targeting similar processes. Biological processes like exocytosis and response to viruses were common denominators in the investigated species. Since the involvement of miRNAs in the regulation of DNA damage response (DDR)-associated pathways is barely explored, especially in the plant kingdom, a special attention is given to this aspect. Hereby, miRNAs predicted to target genes involved in DNA repair, recombination and replication, chromatin remodeling, cell cycle and cell death were identified in both plants and humans, paving the way for future interdisciplinary advancements.

Introduction and Objectives: Local recurrence (LR) in patients treated with surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains a significant clinical challenge that requires thorough investigation. Our study aimed to identify the relative risk factors and explore the optimal clinical management of LR. Materials and Methods: We conducted a non-randomized, observational, retrospective multicentric registry involving multiple Italian urological centers. We included patients treated with surgery (either nephron-sparing or radical nephrectomy) who later developed LR, defined as recurrence in the ipsilateral kidney or renal fossa. Patients with hereditary syndromes or metastatic disease at the time of LR diagnosis were excluded. Results: We reported 135 cases of LR with the following characteristics: most primary lesions were monofocal (85.7%), with a median size of 42 mm (23–53), the median R.E.N.A.L. score was 7 (6–8), and the median Padua score was 7 (6–9). Patients were treated with robot-assisted techniques in 59% of cases, laparoscopic surgery in 32.4%, and open surgery in 8.6%. Nephron-sparing surgery was performed in 75.2% of cases. Ischemia occurred in 61% of the cases, with a median ischemia time of 21 min (15.5–24). Intraoperative complications occurred in 3.8% of cases, while postoperative complications were reported in 13.8%, all of which were grade ≤3 according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. The primary tumors were pT1a in 43.5% of cases, pT1b in 26.3%, pT2 in 14.7% and pT3 in 15.5%. Histologically, 84% of cases were clear cell, 11.3% papillary type 1 or 2, and 3.7% chromophobe. Sarcomatoid/rhabdoid variants were present in 10.5% of cases. The median rate of LR was 1.3% (range 0.2–3.6), while the median time to LR was 18 months (12–39). LR occurred in the ipsilateral kidney in 70.5% of cases and in the ipsilateral renal fossa in 29.5%. The median rate of PSM in LR cases at initial surgery was 2.4% (range 0–4.3), while the median rate of negative surgical margin (NSM) in LR cases at initial surgery was 0.1 (0–0.3). Following LR diagnosis, most patients (49.2%) underwent surgery, 29.1% received cryoablation or radiotherapy, 17.1% received systemic treatment alone, and 4.6% followed a watchful waiting/active surveillance approach. At a median follow-up of 62 months, the highest oncological control in terms of 5-year cancer-specific survival and overall survival rates was achieved in surgically treated patients. The PSM, the histological variant, and their combination were found to be independent variables correlated with the occurrence of LR, with relative risks of 3.62, 2.71, and 8.12, respectively. Conclusions: LR after nephron-sparing or radical nephrectomy represents a significant clinical dilemma. Known risk factors are not always sufficient to predict recurrence, emphasizing the necessity of consistent radiological follow-up per guideline recommendations. Early detection of recurrence and a multidisciplinary approach involving expert centers are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate perioperative outcomes, renal function preservation, and short-term oncologic results of off-clamp, sutureless, or selectively sutured robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in patients with renal tumors treated at multiple high-volume centers. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 250 patients who underwent off-clamp, sutureless/selectively sutured RAPN between January 2018 and December 2024. Patients with solitary kidneys, tumors > 7 cm, or prior renal surgery were excluded. All procedures were performed without renal artery clamping, using hemostatic agents and selective suturing when necessary. Perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes were compared with 313 patients who underwent standard RAPN with parenchymal suturing. Results: The median operative time was 110 min (IQR 100–140), and the median estimated blood loss was 180 mL (IQR 100–250). The overall complication rate was 8.4%, predominantly Clavien–Dindo grade I–II, with no conversions to open surgery. The median decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at three months was 5.5% (IQR 3.5–8.9; p = 0.56), and no cases of acute kidney injury were recorded. The positive surgical margin rate was 3.7%, and no tumor recurrences were observed during the 12-month follow-up period. Conclusions: Off-clamp, sutureless or selectively sutured robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) was not associated with increased perioperative risk, renal functional decline, or compromised short-term oncologic control compared with conventional sutured RAPN. These findings indicate that the technique is feasible and safe in appropriately selected patients, although prospective studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm long-term outcomes and refine patient selection criteria.

A new Python package, pyjeo, that deals with the analysis of geospatial data has been created by the Joint Research Centre (JRC). Adopting the principles of open science, the JRC strives for transparency and reproducibility of results. In this view, it has been decided to release pyjeo as free and open software. This paper describes the design of pyjeo and how its underlying C/C++ library was ported to Python. Strengths and limitations of the design choices are discussed. In particular, the data model that allows the generation of on-the-fly data cubes is of importance. Two uses cases illustrate how pyjeo can contribute to open science. The first is an example of large-scale processing, where pyjeo was used to create a global composite of Sentinel-2 data. The second shows how pyjeo can be imported within an interactive platform for image analysis and visualization. Using an innovative mechanism that interprets Python code within a C++ library on-the-fly, users can benefit from all functions in the pyjeo package. Images are processed in deferred mode, which is ideal for prototyping new algorithms on geospatial data, and assess the suitability of the results created on the fly at any scale and location.

Objective To assess the frequency and severity of bleeding complications during and after Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) in patients with prostate cancer, and compare outcomes to a control group of patients without prostate cancer but with similar baseline characteristics. Methods This multicentre retrospective study included 175 consecutive patients undergoing HoLEP across 3 referral centres with a diagnosis of prostate cancer—128 with known cancer prior to surgery and 47 with incidental findings on postoperative histology. These patients were compared to 500 consecutive control patients without prostate cancer but matched for prostate volume, age, presence of indwelling catheter, comorbidities and anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy status. Bleeding‐related events analysed included intraoperative estimated blood loss, need for transfusion, clot retention, postoperative irrigation, reoperation for haemorrhage and hospital readmission within 30 days. Results The PCa group experienced significantly higher rates of intraoperative bleeding requiring intensified coagulation (18.3% vs 8.6%, p < 0.01), transfusion (6.3% vs 2.0%, p = 0.02) and clot retention (4.0% vs 1.4%, p = 0.04) compared to controls. Among patients with known PCa, 25.0% experienced bleeding‐related complications, while the rate was 14.9% among those with incidental PCa. Patients with a known diagnosis showed higher bleeding risk than incidental cases. In multivariate analysis, both prostate cancer and anticoagulant therapy were independently associated with increased risk of bleeding complications. Antithrombotic/antiplatelet therapy significantly raised the likelihood of bleeding events (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.6–4.7; p < 0.001), as did the presence of prostate cancer (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.6; p = 0.004). Patients with both risk factors experienced the highest rate of bleeding (29.4%), compared to 8.1% in those without either factor (p < 0.001), indicating a synergistic effect. No significant differences were found in catheter removal time or hospital stay. Conclusions Prostate cancer—particularly when known preoperatively—is associated with a significantly increased risk of bleeding during and after HoLEP, even when controlling for baseline characteristics. Surgeons should anticipate increased vascularity and plan perioperative management accordingly to mitigate haemorrhagic complications.