Abdullah Demirtas

Antioxidative Effect of Royal Jelly in Cisplatin-induced Testes Damage

OBJECTIVES To investigate the antioxidative effect of royal jelly on cisplatin (CP)-induced spermiotoxicity using quantitative, biochemical, and histopathologic approaches. METHODS CP was administered to rats at a single dose of 7 mg/kg i.p. Royal jelly was administered by gavage daily for 10 days at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. Traits of reproductive organs, such as sperm characteristics, testicular histologic findings, plasma testosterone levels, and testicular tissue oxidative stress status were determined. RESULTS Royal jelly ameliorated the CP-induced reductions in weights of testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, and prostate along with epididymal sperm concentration and motility. An increase in testes malondialdehyde concentrations (P <.05) were detected, while significant decreases in superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-peroxidase levels were noted in CP-alone group compared with control group. The administration of royal jelly to CP-treated rats decreased the malondialdehyde level and increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-peroxidase activities in the samples. CONCLUSIONS The CP-induced changes in histopathologic findings of testis were partially reversed by treatment with royal jelly. The results provide further insight into the mechanisms of CP-induced sperm toxicity and confirm the antioxidant potential of royal jelly.

The effects of three phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors on ejaculation latency time in lifelong premature ejaculators: a double-blind laboratory setting study

Study Type – Therapy (RCT)
Level of Evidence 1b

Big bladder stones around an intravesical migrated intrauterine device

Spontaneous migration of the intrauterinedevices into the bladder and secondary stoneformation are rare complications. A 33-year-old women in whom a copper T intrauterinedevice had been placed two years previously, presented complaining of irritative lowerurinary tract symptoms. Intravesical migrationof intrauterine device and big stones around itwere confirmed by radiography and cystoscopy.The stones were fragmented by usingelectrohydraulic lithotriptor. And then allfragments of the stones and IUD werecystoscopically removed by a grasping forcepswithout any complication.

Can Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Lymph Node Density Be Used as Prognostic Factors in Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy?

Objective. To assessment the role of preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and postoperative lymph node density in predicting prognosis in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Material and Methods. Preoperatively, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts as well as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios were recorded in 201 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Patients with an infection were excluded. Based on the pathology reports, the number of positive lymph nodes was divided by the total number of lymph nodes to calculate lymph node density. Results. The mean follow-up duration was 37.22 ± 35.922 months in patients without lymph node involvement and 27.75 ± 31.501 months in those with lymph node involvement (P = 0.015). Median lymph node density was 17% (4–80) in patients with lymph node involvement. There was no difference according to lymph node density lower than 17% and greater than 17% (P = 0.336). There was no significant difference between patients with an NLR below or above 2.5 in terms of overall survival (P = 0.702). Pathological T stage was associated with survival (P = 0.004). Conclusion. In patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer, lymph node density and preoperative NLR were not found to be independent predictors of prognosis.

What Is the Role of Percutaneous Needle Core Biopsy in Diagnosis of Renal Masses

OBJECTIVE To define the accuracy and acceptability of ultrasonography-guided percutaneous needle core biopsy in diagnosis of renal masses. METHODS The data of 42 consecutive patients on whom needle biopsies were performed and were surgically treated for suspicious renal masses in our clinic between January 2001 and April 2008 were evaluated. In all patients, needle biopsies were done percutaneously with an 18-gauge needle under local anesthesia in prone position with ultrasonography guidance. Two cores were taken from each tumor. The pathology results of biopsy and surgical specimens were compared. RESULTS The mean age was 56.1 years (range, 21-77 years). The mean follow-up period was calculated as 44.8 months (range, 10-85 months). The abdominal computed tomography imaging showed that the mean mass size was 63.9 mm (range, 25-140 mm). Of 42 patients, 39 were diagnosed (92.8%) after the first biopsy. The accuracy of percutaneous needle biopsy in differentiating between malignant and benign masses was calculated as 90% (36/40).The accuracy of histopathological diagnostic typing as against the postsurgical pathologic examination results was 77.5% (31/40) and the accuracy in the Fuhrman grade was 51.5% (17/33). The sensitivity was calculated as 91.4% and specificity as 60%. Its negative predictive value was 50% and positive predictive value was 94.1%. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, percutaneous renal needle core biopsy has an acceptable sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of renal masses. The major limitation of percutaneous core biopsy is the technical failure that leads to insufficient material for accurate diagnosis.

Association between Body Mass Index, Lipid Profiles, and Types of Urinary Stones

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in body mass index (BMI), levels of cholesterol, and levels of triglycerides (TGs) among urolithiasis patients with different stone compositions. Materials and methods: Forty-nine patients who had a diagnosis of nephrolithiasis and had undergone open surgery or percutaneous surgery were included, and patients without urolithiasis were randomly selected as controls. Urinary stones were collected and analyzed using infrared spectroscopy. Data relating to patient’s age, BMI at diagnosis, serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were collected. The stone groups including calcium oxalate monohydrate-calcium oxalate dihydrate (COM-COD), COM, and uric acid were compared with one another and with the control group. In addition, the stone formers group (COM-COD, COM, uric acid, calcium phosphate, and mixed-type stones) was compared to the control group. Results: BMI, TC, and TG levels were significantly higher in stone formers compared with the control group; this association of BMI and TC with stone formation was more prominent in uric acid and COM-COD stone formers, but there was no such prominence for COM stones. LDL-C levels in COM-COD stone formers were significantly higher when compared with COM stone formers. Conclusion: Elevated BMI, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperlipidemia, which are leading components of metabolic syndrome, may be associated with different types of urinary stone formation.

Association of left varicocoele with height, body mass index and sperm counts in infertile men

The aim of this study was to evaluate interrelation of left varicocoele with height, body mass index (BMI) and sperm counts. We retrospectively evaluated the data of all patients who consulted for infertility at a tertiary academic referral centre from 2000 to 2010. Patients height, weight, BMI, semen analysis, presence or absence of varicocoele and varicocoele side and grade were evaluated. In statistical evaluations chi‐square, students t, Mann–Whitney U, anova and logistic regression analyses were performed. In anova analyses, Bonferroni post hoc test was performed when needed. The data of 1842 among 2780 men, presenting for infertility, were included in the study. There were 587 men (31.9%) with left varicocoele and 1255 (68.1%) men without varicocoele. Two hundred and seventy‐two men (14.8%) had grade I or II, and 315 men (17.1%) had grade III varicocoeles. Mean height was 174.3 ± 6.7 and 172.5 ± 7.0 cm in men with and without varicocoele respectively (p < 0.001). The mean BMI of cases without varicocoeles (25.8 kg/m2) was greater than varicocoele group (24.9 kg/m2) (p < 0.001). Percentage of varicocoele was the highest in moderately oligozoospermic males and significantly higher than the men with normal sperm count. As the height increased, the probability of having varicocoele increased, and the inverse is true for BMI. If varicocoeles are a progressive lesion, perhaps taller men with varicocoeles should be followed more closely to evaluate their fertility and androgenic status.

Rigorous Bicycling Does Not Increase Serum Levels of Total and Free Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA), the Free/Total PSA Ratio, Gonadotropin Levels, or Uroflowmetric Parameters

OBJECTIVES To determine whether cycling has an effect on serum PSA, gonadotropins, and uroflowmetric parameters. METHODS A total of 34 healthy male athletes from the National Cycling Team and 24 healthy male student volunteers from University and medical staff were prospectively enrolled in the study. Blood samples for serum total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA, fPSA/tPSA, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone determinations were obtained before and after cyclists completed 300 km bicycle ride and with each cyclist seated without changing posture and with minimal movement for 10 minutes before blood collection. The cyclists also performed uroflowmetric and postvoid residual urine volume analysis before, and 1 hour after cycling course. Blood samples from the control group were drawn for serum hormones. They also underwent uroflowmetric and postvoid residual analysis. RESULTS The athletes and the control group were well matched by age. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of serum tPSA, fPSA, f/t PSA values, FSH, LH, and testosterone levels and uroflowmetric parameters (P >.05). The differences between pre- and postcycling values for tPSA, fPSA, f/t PSA, FSH, LH, and uroflowmetric parameters were not statistically significant. The postcycling serum testosterone level was significantly lower than precycling levels (mean, 603.6 ng/dL [range, 300-949] vs 424.8 ng/dL [range, 193-723], P = .001]. There was no correlation between body mass index values, postcycling serum FSH, LH levels, age, and testosterone levels. CONCLUSIONS There is no effect of professional bicycle riding on serum total and fPSA levels and uroflowmetric parameters.

The effects of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors on penile rigidity variables during a period with no sexual stimulation: a laboratory setting double‐blind study

Study Type – Therapy (RCT)
Level of Evidence 1b

Comparison of Infection and Urosepsis Rates of Ciprofloxacin and Ceftriaxone Prophylaxis before Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Prospective and Randomised Study

This study aimed at determining the choice and administration duration of ideal antibiotic prophylaxis before percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) operation, a treatment modality for nephrolithiasis. The study included 90 patients who had no internal problem, yet had a negative urine culture and underwent a PNL operation. We compared infection rates between ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone groups and their subgroups. The results showed no statistical difference between ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone groups in terms of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (CIPP = 0.306,  CTX P = 0.334. As a result of this study no statistical difference was observed between ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone in terms of SIRS. It seems, however, reasonable to choose ceftriaxone, considering antibiotic sensitivity of microorganisms and detection of three cases accepted as urosepsis in the ciprofloxacin group. As there is no difference between short, and long-term prophylactic use of these antibiotics, preference of short-term prophylaxis for patients with no risk of infection will be important to avoid inappropriate antibiotic usage.