Mean platelet (PLT) activation has an important role in the development of vascular diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the PLT volume in patients with vasculogenic and nonvasculogenic ...erectile dysfunction (ED) and compare it with the control group. Mean PLT volume (MPV) levels were measured in 50 patients with vasculogenic ED, in 30 patients who developed ED after radical prostatectomy (nonvasculogenic) and in 40 healthy controls. Ages were similar between the three groups. The diagnosis of ED was based on detailed sexual history, physical examination, laboratory assessment and color Doppler ultrasonography and is defined as the inability to attain or maintain a penile erection that is sufficient for successful vaginal intercourse. The results are given as mean ± s.d. of the mean. The mean age of the patients with vasculogenic ED, of patients with ED after radical prostatectomy and of the control group were 53.70 ± 12.39 (range 24-77), 54.60 ± 11.40 (range 43-61) and 53.85 ± 9.5 (range 30-73), respectively (P = 0.853). The MPV and PLT values were significantly higher in patients with vasculogenic ED than in patients with ED after radical prostatectomy and in control groups: 7.49 ± 1.4, 6.43 ± 1.19 and 6.85 ± 1.2 for MPV and 262.97 ± 68, 251.77 ± 78 and 252.89 ± 82 for PLT values, respectively (P = 0.033). The MPV and PLT values were not statistically significant in postprostatectomy ED patients and in control groups (P = 0.663). There was no significant difference among the three groups in terms of white blood cells and hemoglobin levels. PLT count and mean PLT volume were detected to be increased in patients with vasculogenic ED. This finding may suggest a role for PLT volume in the pathogenesis of vasculogenic ED.
Summary
Paraoxonase and arylesterase enzymes are corner stones of antioxidant defence. We aimed to compare azoospermic infertile men and normozoospermic individuals with respect to total antioxidant ...status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), paraoxonase and arylesterase levels in the blood and seminal plasma. Two‐hundred consecutive infertility patients and voluntarily participated were included. In the normozoospermic group, TAS, PON, arylesterase values were statistically significantly higher when compared with those in the azoospermic group, while lower TOS and OSI levels were observed in the blood and seminal plasma of azoospermic group. In the semen analyses of normozoospermic group, the correlation between semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility and morphology and TAS, TOS, OSI, PON and arylesterase values was examined. A negative correlation was determined between semen volume and OSI. Levels of serum oxidative parameters were higher in the azoospermic group relative to normozoospermic group, but antioxidant parameters were lower than those of the normozoospermic group. Oxidative stress performs an essential role in the aetiology of male infertility by negatively influencing sperm quality and function. Assessment of blood and seminal plasma oxidative profiles might be an important tool to better evaluation of sperm reproductive capacity and functional competence.
This study is concerned with the mathematical modelling of the vibration response characteristic of a special dissimilar composite beam based on experimental modal analysis. Here, experimental modal ...analyses of three different dissimilar polyamide 6 composite beams, which are connected to each other by hot plate welding are performed. The measured natural frequencies are compared with finite element predictions for verification purposes. Modal information obtained by experiments is used to construct a mathematical model representing vibration response characteristic of beams by applying multi degree of freedom curve fitting method. The model showing modal characteristics of dissimilar beams is now ready to be used in different kinds of excitations to predict the frequency response of vibration.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the sexual functions and quality of life of women who have undergone tubal sterilization after tubal surgery. In all, 90 active premenopausal women, who had ...undergone tubal sterilization at least 1 year ago and been admitted to four different hospitals, were included in the study group. A total of 100 women at a similar age range, admitted to the same four hospitals for routine health controls, were included in the control group. To obtain sexual function assessments, the patients were asked to fill out Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. The participants were also asked to fill out Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire. All values were found to be lower in the tubal sterilization (TS) group and the differences between groups were statistically significant in domain except for pain and lubrication. Similarly, in the analysis of SF-36 scores, there were differences in comparison with the TS group in all domains. In the evaluation of the relationship of FSFI with educational level in the TS group, it was found that, while the educational level increased, all domain scores also increased, and this increase was statistically significant in all domains except pain. The termination of fertility, which is one of the important abilities of women, with tubal sterilization, may be a risk factor for female sexual dysfunction in people with low educational levels.
Summary
The presence of more than two testes confirmed by histology is called polyorchidism. Polyorchidism is an extremely rare congenital anomaly with a few more than 100 cases reported in the ...literature. The majority of reported cases are asymptomatic patients, others present with cryptorchidism, hydrocele, varicocele, epididymitis, infertility, testicular malignancy and testicular torsion. Over a 2‐year period, we encountered three patients who were found to have polyorchidism; two men presented with cryptorchidism and one with chronic scrotal pain. Physical examination of the first and the third patient revealed normal testes in the scrotal sac, the other scrotal sac was empty and small solid mass (atrophic left testes) was palpated in the inguinal canal. Ultrasonographic examination of the scrotum and inguinal region confirmed the findings of the physical examination. Ultrasonographic examination of the second patient revealed supernumerary testes within the scrotum. Orchiectomy was made on the first and third patients’ supernumerary testes and ipsilateral inguinal high ligation was applied for herniorrhaphy. A conservative approach was preferred for the second patient, maybe preserving a potentially functional supernumerary testis to improve the capacity for spermatogenesis. The risk of malignancy justifies the removal of an atrophic and ectopic testis in polyorchidism. However, it would appear safe to preserve a viable intrascrotal supernumerary testis found incidentally at surgery, provided that the patient is followed‐up in the long term.
Paraoxonase (PON1) is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated enzyme that protects low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL from peroxidation. In this study, PON1 activities were determined in ...patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) to investigate the relationship between ED and atherosclerosis. Forty patients, who had been diagnosed with ED by the medical and sexual anamnesis and routine laboratory tests, were included in the study. Thirty healthy, sexually active, married and age-matched men were selected as the control group. The patients and controls who underwent surgical or medical treatment in 1-week time and had a systemic disease such as malignancy, liver and renal insufficiency, and active infection and who smoked cigarettes were excluded. PON1 activities were measured spectrophotometrically. Unpaired samples t-test, correlation analyses and multiple linear regression analyses were used for statistical analyses. The results are given as mean+/-standard deviation of mean. The mean ages of the patient and the control groups were 31.05+/-6.90 (range 22-51) and 29.40+/-6.26 (range 19-46), respectively (P=0.307). Serum PON1 levels of the patient and the control groups were found to be 119.05+/-62.11 and 185.04+/-55.64, respectively. The difference between the groups was quite significant (P=0.001). Epidemiological and experimental studies indicate that PON1 activation was lower in individuals who had a tendency to develop atherosclerosis due to comorbidities such as diabetes, familial hypercholesterolemia and kidney disease. In this study, PON1 activity level was found to be significantly lower in ED patients than in control group. The decrease of PON1 activity may have a role in the ethiopathogenesis of ED, and the atherosclerosis development may be faster in the patients due to decreased activity of PON1, which is an antiatherogenic enzyme.
The aim of the study is to determine and to compare the oxidative and antioxidative status of penile corpus cavernosum and peripheral venous blood. A total of 28 adult healthy males were included in ...the study. Whole blood was simultaneously withdrawn from penile corpus cavernosum and the cubital vein and their plasma separated. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), vitamin C, total protein, albumin, uric acid, bilirubin and total peroxide (TP) levels of both plasma samples were measured and compared. While TAC, total protein, albumin, bilirubin and uric acid levels were higher, vitamin C levels were lower in cavernosal blood than that of peripheral blood. On the other hand, TP level was found to be higher in penile blood samples than that of peripheral blood. We thought that the normal erectile process of the penile cavernosal body leads to increased production of oxidants as in the mechanism of ischaemia-reperfusion; however, the increase of TAC can prevent development of oxidative injury.
Prolidase is a cytosolic exopeptidase that cleaves iminodipeptides with carboxy‐terminal proline or hydroxyproline and plays a major role in collagen turnover. Collagen is the essential content in ...atherosclerotic plaque, playing a key role in the stability/instability and progression of endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED). Consequently, in this study we sought to determine serum prolidase activity and markers of oxidative stress, such as lipid hydroperoxide and total free sulfhydryl, in vasculogenic ED. We evaluated 92 patients with vasculogenic ED and 50 control subjects by clinical and laboratory investigations. We measured serum prolidase activity and serum total free sulfhydryl levels spectrophotometrically. Serum lipid hydroperoxide levels were determined with ferrous ion oxidation‐xylenol orange method. We assessed the association of serum prolidase activity with the presence and severity of vasculogenic ED and clinical characteristics, as well as laboratory parameters. We also assessed the association of serum prolidase activity with the variables according to the vascular status of patients with vasculogenic ED. The comparison included 92 vasculogenic ED patients grouped into 3 categories according to the vascular status of patients with ED—arterial insufficiency (n = 26), veno‐occlusive dysfunction (n = 37), and mixed‐type impotence (n = 29)—and 50 controls. Receiver‐operator characteristics (ROCs) were analyzed to find a cutoff value with the best sensitivity and lowest false‐positive rate. Serum prolidase activity (53.5 ± 5.5 U/L vs 45.7 ± 4.9 U/L, respectively; P < .001) and serum lipid hydroperoxide levels were significantly increased in patients with vasculogenic ED compared with controls, whereas serum total free sulfhydryl levels were significantly decreased in patients with vasculogenic ED compared with controls (P < .001). The lowest and highest mean serum prolidase activities were detected in control participants and in patients with arterial insufficiency, respectively (analysis of variance P < .001). The overall findings of this study support the predictive accuracy of the serum prolidase activity in our cohort, with a statistically significant ROC value of 0.78. Findings of this study have shown that serum prolidase activity is significantly associated with the presence and severity of vasculogenic ED, and elevated serum prolidase activity might be an independent predictor of ED.
This study was conducted on 336 patients that had undergone ureteroscopic pneumolithotripsy for ureteric stones between August 2005 and June 2008. Patient data were analyzed with respect to stone ...localization, size and impaction. All ureterorenoscopic procedures were performed under general anesthesia using a 9.5F rigid ureteroscope. A plain film of the kidney ureter bladder was performed on the first postoperative day and week 4 to evaluate treatment efficacy. Patient age was 42, 63+/-15 (14-77) yr. Mean stone size for all groups was 9.77+/-4mm (5-20 mm). A total of 336 patients were treated with ureteroscopic pneumolithotripsy, 129 female and 207 male. The overall initial success rate was 85.71%. The success rate of ureteroscopic pneumolithotripsy, proximal, middle and distal ureter, for Stone location, 76.54%, 85.48%, 90.74%, for Stone size (>10 mm) 54%, 77%, 88 % and for Stone impaction; 50%, 75,6%, 85,4% respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between stone free rates with respect to the proximal ureter stone, increasing stone size (>10 mm) and stone impaction (p<0.05) and a positive correlation with the operative complication rate. It is concluded that it is possible to achieve high success and low complication rates in pneumolithotripsy for distal ureteric stones. Nevertheless, the success rate decreases and complication rate increases with stone locations close to the proximal ureter. Complication rate increases with increasing stone size and/or impacted ureteral stones.
El clima es un atributo del destino capaz de influir en el comportamiento turístico, especialmente en aquellos segmentos motivados por el ocio y la recreación al aire libre. En turismo náutico, el ...clima es esencial, porque condiciona la realización de la actividad náutica. Frente a la escasez de investigaciones que estudien la relación entre clima y comportamiento náutico, este artículo propone un modelo de regresión logística ordinal, que permite medir el impacto del clima en la cantidad de actividades náuticas, el número de visitas al destino y la satisfacción global del turista, y compararlo con el efecto del resto de atributos. Como resultado de encuestar a 201 turistas náuticos, nacionales y extranjeros, de visita en la Ruta del Sol (Ecuador) en el 2015, se ha podido comprobar que la satisfacción climática del practicante náutico es esencial para garantizar su satisfacción con el destino. El estudio también pone de relieve el efecto dominante que ejerce el clima sobre el comportamiento náutico y la fidelidad del turista extranjero, lo que demuestra la importancia de trabajar en el diseño de productos y servicios con información climático-meteorológica, para la gestión del turismo náutico internacional en este destino. Sin embargo, en aras de elevar la fidelidad y estimular el consumo náutico del mercado nacional, se requiere trabajar en otros aspectos, que se descubren a lo largo de este trabajo.
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