Emre Can Polat

Atorvastatin Prevents Gentamicin-Induced Renal Damage in Rats through the Inhibition of p38-MAPK and NF-kB Pathways

Background and aims. Gentamicin (GM) is still considered to be an important antibiotic against life-threatening, gram-negative bacterial infections despite its known nephrotoxic effects. We aimed to evaluate the potential protective effect of atorvastatin (ATO) against GM-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Materials and methods. The rats were randomly divided into five groups of six animals each: control, GM (100 mg/kg/day), ATO (10 mg/kg/day), GM + ATO, and GM + Vehicle. Kidney function tests, tissue oxidative stress parameters, and histopathological and immunohistochemical studies clarified GM nephrotoxicity. Results. GM caused a marked reduction in renal functions and increased oxidative stress parameters. Histopathological examination revealed tubular necrosis especially in the renal cortex in GM rats. On immunohistochemical evaluation, GM rat showed more intense expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐kB), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) compared with control. Kidney function tests and tissue oxidative stress parameters were normalized in the GM + ATO group. Histopathological and immunohistochemical pictures were also greatly ameliorated. Conclusions. ATO acts in the kidney as a potent scavenger of free radicals to prevent the toxic effects of GM via the inhibition of MAPK and NF-kB signaling pathways and iNOS expression.

Possible association of the 5-HTTLPR serotonin transporter promoter gene polymorphism with premature ejaculation in a Turkish population

We evaluated the genotypes of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) in patients with premature ejaculation (PE) to determine the role of genetic factors in the etiopathogenesis of PE and possibly to identify the patient subgroups. A total of 70 PE patients and 70 controls were included in this study. All men were heterosexual, had no other disorders and were either married or in a stable relationship. PE was defined as ejaculation that occurred within 1 min of vaginal intromission. Genomic DNA from patients and controls was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction, and allelic variations of the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) were determined. The 5-HTTLPR (serotonin transporter promoter gene) genotypes in PE patients vs. controls were distributed as follows: L/L 16% vs. 17%, L/S 30% vs. 53% and S/S 54% vs. 28%. We examined the haplotype analysis for three polymorphisms of the 5-HTTLPR gene: LL, LS and SS. The appropriateness of the allele frequencies in the 5-HTTLPR gene was analyzed by the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium using the chi2-test. The short (S) allele of the 5-HTTLPR gene was significantly more frequent in PE patients than in controls (P<0.05). We suggest that the 5-HTTLPR gene plays a role in the pathophysiology of all primary PE cases. Further studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism and patient subgroup (such as primary and secondary PE) responses to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as well as ethnic differences.

Protective Effect of Montelukast Which Is Cysteinyl-Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist on Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Oxidative Damage in Rat Kidney

Nephrotoxicity is a major complication of gentamicin (GEN). We aimed to evaluate the potential protective effect of montelukast (MK) against GEN-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups, each consisting of eight animals as follows: (1) the rats were control; (2) intraperitoneally injected with GEN 14 consecutive days (100 mg/kg/day); (3) treated with GEN plus distilled water via nasogastric gavage for 14 days; and (4) treated with GEN plus MK (10 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. After 15 days, rats were killed and their kidneys were taken and blood analysis was performed. Twenty-four hours urine collections were obtained in standard metabolic cages a day before the rats were killed. Tubular necrosis and interstitial fibrosis scoring were determined histopathologically in a part of kidneys; nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were determined in the other part of kidneys. Statistical analyses were made by the chi-square test and analysis of variance. Serum urea and creatinine levels were significantly higher in rats treated with GEN alone, than the rats in control and GEN + MK groups.The GSH levels in renal tissue of only GEN-treated rats were significantly lower than those in control group, and administration of MK to GEN-treated rats significantly increased the level of GSH. The group that was given GEN and MK had significantly lower MDA and NO levels in kidney cortex tissue than those that was given GEN alone. In rats treated with GEN + MK, despite the presence of mild tubular degeneration and tubular necrosis are less severe, and glomeruli maintained a better morphology when compared with GEN group. We can say that MK prevents kidney damage with antioxidant effect, independently of NO.

Pomegranate extract attenuates gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats by reducing oxidative stress.

Nephrotoxicity is a major complication of gentamicin (GEN), which is widely used in the treatment of severe Gram-negative infections. Reactive oxygen species are important mediators of GEN-induced nephrotoxicity. Because of the strong antioxidant properties of pomegranate extract (PE), we evaluated the protective effect of PE against GEN-induced nephrotoxicity. Thirty-two adult male rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: (1) controls; (2) treated with GEN for 14 consecutive days (100 mg/kg/day); (3) treated with GEN plus distilled water; and (4) treated with GEN plus PE (100 μL). After 15 days, the rats were killed and their kidneys were taken, and blood analysis was performed. Tubular necrosis and interstitial fibrosis scores were determined histopathologically; and biochemically, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in kidneys were determined. Urea, creatinine, Na+, and K+ levels were investigated in the blood analysis. Statistical analyses were made by the chi-square test and analysis of variance. Serum urea and creatinine levels were significantly higher in rats treated with GEN alone than rats in the control and the GEN + PE-treated groups. The GSH level in renal tissue of only GEN-treated rats was significantly lower than those in the control group, and administration of PE to GEN-treated rats significantly increased the level of GSH. The group that was given GEN and PE had significantly lower MDA levels in kidney cortex tissue than those given GEN alone. There was no significant difference of NO levels between the groups. In rats treated with GEN + PE, despite the presence of mild tubular degeneration and tubular necrosis is less severe, and glomeruli maintained a better morphology when compared with the GEN-treated group. We think that PE prevents kidney damage by decreasing oxidative stress in kidney.

Impact of the transobturator tape procedure on sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a serious problem in women who have delivered vaginally, and causes some sexual dysfunction. The transobturator tape (TOT) procedure is one of the most common methods for the treatment of SUI. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the TOT procedure on sexual function in women.

Renal cell carcinoma is more aggressive in Turkish patients with the metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial disease characterized by impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes, obesity, high triglyceride levels, low HDL levels, and hypertension. In this study we evaluate the relationship between tumor size and grade, and presence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between 2007-2013, radical nephrectomy was performed for 310 patients with renal tumors in our clinic and those with pathology reported renal cell carcinoma were enrolled and divided into two groups, with and without metabolic syndrome diagnosed on the basis of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. The relationship between tumor size and grade of the two groups (Fuhrman nuclear degree) was evaluated statistically. RESULTS The metabolic syndrome was found in 70 patients, with a mean age of 65.5 (40-87), as compared to 58.8 (31-84) years in the non-metabolic syndrome group. Tumor size over 7 cm was found in 54% and 33%, respectively, and tumor grade over Fuhrman 3 in 56% and 32% of patients. Patients with metabolic syndrome had significantly higher tumor size and grade (p<0.05). In the presence of hypertension, diabetes and high triglyceride levels, significant assocations were again observed (p<0.05). Tumor size and degree also increased with increasing body mass index but this was not statistically significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Renal cancer is more aggressive in patients with metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle and risk factors were revealed to be significant influences in renal cancer patients.

Effect of Metabolic Syndrome on Sexual Function in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women

Female sexual dysfunction is a prevalent and multidimensional disorder related to many biological, psychological, and social determinants. The authors assessed the effect of one of the many factors affect sexual function—metabolic syndrome—on female sexual function. They equally divided 400 women participants among 4 groups: (a) premenopausal with metabolic syndrome, (b) premenopausal without metabolic syndrome, (c) postmenopausal with metabolic syndrome, and (d) postmenopausal without metabolic syndrome. The authors used the Female Sexual Function Index to assess womens sexual function. Female sexual dysfunction was found more often in both pre- and postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome (p =.001). Overall Female Sexual Function Index score and satisfaction, pain, and desire domain scores independently of the menopause status showed statistically significant differences across women with metabolic syndrome in comparison with participants with no metabolic syndrome (p <.05). The authors also evaluated the associations among 5 components of metabolic syndrome and Female Sexual Function Index scores. Higher fasting glucose levels were significantly associated with the Female Sexual Function Index score (p <.05). This study shows that sexual dysfunction is more prevalent in pre- and postmenopausal women with the metabolic syndrome.

Standardized uptake values highly correlate with tumor size and Fuhrman grade in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND We investigated the correlation between standardized uptake value (SUVmax), tumor size and Fuhrman grade in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RC). MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the data of 54 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma histopathologically diagnosed who underwent fluorine-18 fluoro-2 deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18 FDG PET/CT) between January 2005 and March 2014. RESULTS Avarage tumor sizes were 5.64±1.85, 6.85±2.24 and 7.98±2.45 in low, medium and high SUVmax groups, respectively. The Spearmans correlation coefficient between the tumor size and SUVmax was 0.385 (p=0.004) and between the Fuhrman grade and SUVmax was 0.578 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS SUVmax appears highly correlated with tumor size and Fuhrman grade in patients with histopathologically confirmed clear cell RC. Multicenter studies are needed to provide larger series for more accurate results.

Urolithiasis is associated with low serum testosterone levels in men

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship among urolithiasis, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and serum testosterone (T) level in men. MATERIAL AND METHODS 513 men older than 18 years were enrolled in this study: 313 of the subjects had a history of stones (group 1) and 200 had no history of stones (controls, group 2). Early morning T levels were recorded and anthropometric measurements were investigated to evaluate MetS. Analyses were completed using chi-square tests. RESULT Serum T level was lower in stone forming patients than control subjects and 161 (%51.4) men in group 1 and 92 (%46) men in group 2 were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. T level was found lower limit (< 285 ng/dl) in the MetS and urolithiasis group (p 0.002, OR 2.71). CONCLUSIONS We found low testosterone levels in the patients with stone disease and prevalence of the MetS in men with urolithiasis was higher than in men without stone disease. Our findings show that levels of testosterone had no effect on stone formation, but the factors that cause stone formation can have an effect on the level of testosterone.

Genetic polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region and response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors in patients with premature ejaculation

OBJECTIVES: Serotonin plays a central role in ejaculation and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been successfully used to treat premature ejaculation. Here, we evaluated the relationship between a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and the response of patients with premature ejaculation to SSRI medication. METHODS: Sixty-nine premature ejaculation patients were treated with 20 mg/d paroxetine for three months. The Intravaginal Ejaculatory Latency Time and International Index of Erectile Function scores were compared with baseline values. The patients were scored as having responded to therapy when a 2-fold or greater increase was observed in Intravaginal Ejaculatory Latency Time compared with baseline values after three months. Three genotypes of 5-HTTLPR were studied: LL, LS and SS. The appropriateness of the allele frequencies in 5-HTTLPR were analyzed according to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium using the χ2-test. RESULTS: The short (S) allele of 5-HTTLPR was significantly more frequent in responders than in nonresponders (p<0.05). Out of the 69 total PE patients, 41 patients (59%) responded to therapy. There was no significant difference in the International Index of Erectile Function score at the end of therapy between the responder and nonresponder groups. The frequencies of the L allele and S allele were 20% and 39%, respectively, in the responder group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that premature ejaculation patients with the SS genotype respond well to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor therapy. Further studies with large patient groups are necessary to confirm this conclusion.