Summary
Recent studies have shown that ED is an early symptom of atherosclerosis. Fetuin‐A, a glycoprotein secreted by the liver, kidneys and choroid plexus, has been linked to systemic fibrosis and ...calcification in human and rat studies. Deficiency of this compound may play a role in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease progression. The aim of the study was to examine whether serum fetuin‐A level is related to erectile function or severity of ED. Sixty ED patients without cardiovascular disease were assigned to one of the three groups (mild, moderate or severe ED) depending on ED severity. Twenty healthy volunteers were included as the control group. The International Index of Erectile Function‐5 questionnaire was used to measure erection quality in all four groups. Mean age, body mass index, total testosterone, low‐ and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels did not significantly differ between the three erectile dysfunction and control groups (P > 0.05). The group with severe ED had a significantly lower mean fetuin‐A level than the mild ED and control groups. For both mild and moderate ED groups, the mean serum fetuin‐A level was significantly lower in comparison with the control group (P < 0.001). Serum fetuin‐A level may be used as a supplemental biochemical parameter in preliminary evaluation of ED.
Summary
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common male sexual problem worldwide. The association between ED and components of metabolic syndrome (MtS) is well established. This study examined neck ...circumference (NC) as a possible indicator of MtS and also of ED. Ninety‐two patients were included and divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 47 patients with ED and Group 2 consisted of 45 healthy volunteers. Questionnaires, differences in anthropometric and laboratory measurements between patients with ED and the control group, and a cut‐off value for NC were investigated. The mean NC in ED patients was higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P = 0.001), and Group 1 also demonstrated more MtS criteria than Group 2 (P < 0.001). The cut‐off point of NC was defined as 34.75 cm for ED and MtS. The cut‐off values of waist circumference for ED and MtS were 105.5 and 102.5 cm respectively. In the light of these findings, NC may be a new component of MtS in ED patients. Additionally, NC may be a novel indicator of central obesity and ED. We suggest that NC values of 35 cm and over may predict ED in patients with MtS.
Background: Testicular torsion is a urological emergency that requires immediate surgical intervention to prevent testicular damage. The aim of the study was to investigate the preventive effects of ...thiopental and propofol as anesthetics on testicular ischemia‐reperfusion injury.
Methods: Forty male Wistar Albino rats were randomly assigned to four groups of 10 rats each. During 5 h, anesthesia was induced and maintained with thiopental in groups 1 and 2 and with propofol in groups 3 and 4. Groups 2 and 4 received left testicular ischemia (torsion) during 1 h and reperfusion (detorsion) during 4 h. Groups 1 and 3 (control groups) had no testicular torsion and detorsion. At the end of 5 h, animals were killed and both ipsilateral and contralateral testes were removed for histopathologic examination and measurement of tissue MDA (malondialdehyde) and NO (nitric oxide) levels.
Results: In the contralateral testes of all the groups, MDA and NO measurements were not different from ipsilateral testes of the control groups. Between the groups 1 and 3, there were no differences in MDA and NO levels. Although torsion/detorsion of testes in group 4 caused significantly increased levels of tissue MDA and NO values compared with group 3, ischemia‐reperfusion in group 2 caused a further increase in these levels compared with group 4. The ipsilateral testes in the control groups did not show any morphological changes. Testicular torsion/detorsion in rats with thiopental anesthesia (group 2) caused significantly greater histopathologic injury levels than rats with propofol anesthesia (group 4).
Conclusion: Our results suggest that propofol as an anesthetic agent may prevent testicular damage by scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in an animal model of testicular torsion and detorsion.
To evaluate the effects of consistency in preoperative and postoperative Gleason scores to the operation outcomes in patients who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.
204 of 347 patients ...were included the study. 143 patients whose preoperative prostate biopsies were evaluated in the other Institute were not included into the study. The preoperative data of patients and operation outcomes were investigated from institute's files of patients. Patients were divided to three groups by using consistence of pre and postoperative Gleason scores. The tumor, node and metastasis classification were used for staging prostate cancer.
Mean age was 63 and the mean PSA level was 11 ng/dl overall. In statistical analysis PSA levels, Gleason score and rate of positive score were significantly low in Group I (p < 0.05). As in operative data, nerve sparing surgical technique was performed statistical significance higher in Group 1 than other Groups. External bleeding rate of Group II was significantly lower than the other Groups. In univariate and multivariate analysis, postoperative pathologic stage was statistical significant for consistency of pre and postoperative Gleason scores.
The modified Gleason scoring system is safe and usable for evaluating prostate biopsies and operative specimens. The consistency in pre and postoperative Gleason score effect the operation technique and also operation outcomes. Working with an experienced uro-pathologist provides to inform patients more accurate and better.
Ectopic intrathoracic kidney is an extremely rare congenital anomaly and it is often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally on chest radiography. Although congenital thoracic kidney is mostly seen ...in infants, it can be diagnosed in neonatal age and adults as well. Herein, we present a 72-year-old woman who had a right-sided Bochdalek hernia with intrathoracic ectopic kidney. In contrast to the usually young patients with thoracic hernia, the presented case was the oldest female patient having thoracic kidney accompanied with Bochdalek hernia with clinical symptoms among those reported in the literature.
Background: In the pathogenesis of urethral stricture, fibrosis is associated with an excessive collagen increase. After the recognition that topical application of Mitomycin‐C (MMC) inhibits ...fibroblast proliferation and is effective in preventing scar formation, many studies have been carried out on this subject outside the scope of urology. The aim of the present study is to observe the intraurethral impact of the employment of low doses of MMC on scar formation and fibrosis in experimental rat model.
Methods: Urethral injuries were made by internal urethrotomy knife. The study was carried out with 35 adult male Wistar albino rats. Five rats were allocated to the control group (group 1), 10 to a group that was administered 2 mg/L MMC (group 2) and 20 to a group that was administered 10 mg/L MMC (group 3). Mitomycin‐C was administered to the injured urethra in the form of irrigation for 5 min. The rats were sacrificed 14 days later in order to evaluate chronic inflammation and fibrosis and their penises were histopathologically examined under light microscopy with hematoxilen eosin and trichrom stains.
Results: When group 2 was compared with control group, the differences in hemosiderin‐laden macrophages (HLM), mononuclear cell infiltration (MCI) and fibrosis were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.005, respectively). When group 3 was compared with control group, the differences in HLM, MCI and fibrosis were also found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.005, respectively). In the comparison of group 2 with group 3, no statistically significant differences were found in terms of the these parameters.
Conclusions: Although MMC is toxic at high doses, the antifibrotic effect of the intraurethral low dose MMC may be useful in combination therapy for internal urethrotomy.
Aim: In our randomized prospective study, we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of plasmakinetic resection of prostate (PKRP) by comparing the preoperative and postoperative results of the ...transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and PKRP techniques which we administered in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in our clinic.
Methods: Of 57 patients for whom we thought an operative intervention was necessary, 30 cases in the first group had a TURP and 24 cases in the second group had a PKRP. International prostate symptom scores (I‐PSS), uroflowmetry, measurement of residual urine amount and ultrasonography were performed for each patient both preoperatively and postoperatively (first month and first year). Operation times, urethral catheterization times, preoperative and postoperative Hb, Htc and serum Na values of the patients were compared and the complications of the groups were also compared.
Results: On first month and first year follow up between the groups, there was no significant statistical difference in I‐PSS, maximum flow rate, average flow, residual urine and size of the prostate. The decrease in serum Na level was found to be significantly higher in the TURP group (P < 0.05). The operation times were not significantly different between the groups. While the postoperative catheterization time was 75.7 h in TURP group, it was found to be 42 h in PKRP group and it was clear that catheterization time was significantly shorter (P < 0001).
Conclusion: It is obvious that PKRP is as efficient as TURP and it has a similar morbidity. In our opinion, PKRP makes a promising treatment for BPH with its advantages, such as early removal of postoperative urethral catheter, a shorter hospital stay and the absence of TUR syndrome risk.
In this prospective observational study, we investigated the efficacy of Stoller afferent nerve stimulation (SANS) in subjects with overactive bladder who failed anticholinergic treatment.
...Thirty-five subjects with overactive bladder who failed therapy with oxybutynin participated in this study. Treatment (n = 35) was given once a week for 30 minutes for overall 10 weeks. In treatment, SANS device (Urosurge) was used. Subjects were assessed with 3-day voiding diary, SEAPI quality of life questionnaires and cystometry before therapy after completion of therapy and at one-year follow-up.
In 54% (n = 19) of subjects complete recovery was obtained after treatment. Urgency and SEAPI were reduced significantly whereas urine volume increased significantly (p < 0.01). Complete recovery was maintained in eight of the 19 subjects at one year.
SANS treatment has a short-term positive effect in patients with resistant overactive bladder. However, it was also established that efficacy was maintained at 1 year in only 23% of subjects.
