Serdar Yanik

Does smoking change expression patterns of the tumor suppressor and DNA repair genes in the prostate gland

OBJECTIVES Somatic mutations can be present in clonally expanded cell populations in nonmalignant tissues, which are detectable at tissue-level resolution. Some of the mutational changes may arise due to smoking. We aimed to find out changes in carcinogenic gene expressions related to smoking in nonmalignant prostate gland epithelia. MATERIALS AND METHODS The patients who came to the Department of Urology at Abant Izzet Baysal University Medical Faculty from December 2006 to December 2009 for prostate biopsy were questioned for cigarette smoking. The patients were divided into 2 groups, namely, smokers and nonsmokers. Paraffin sections were stained immunohistochemically with p53, PTEN, p16INK4a, MSH2, CHK2, RB, and E-cadherin. RESULTS Smoking was the main independent factor that had an effect on the immunohistochemical expressions for p53, p16, and PTEN (P = 0.007, P = 0.036, P = 0.015, respectively). Age and inflammation had no statistically significant effects on gene expressions. No difference was found between smokers and nonsmokers for immunohistochemical expressions of E-cadherin, MSH2, RB, and CHK2. CONCLUSIONS Smoking-related carcinogens can alter the expressions of some suppressor genes in a prostate tissue, and these alterations can be determined immunohistochemically. Alterations in these genes in prostate gland epithelia could possibly increase the risk for prostate carcinoma.

Testicular fibrous hamartoma: A case report

Fibrous hamartoma (FH) of childhood is uncommon benign tumor. They are generally seen in the head and neck region, gastrointestinal system and lung. As in the case we report, they may also occur in other unusual sites such as groin and testis. The clinical presentation is almost always a mass or swelling. We hereby report a case with FH in atrophic testis which is unusual location and clinical presentation.

Penile lymphangioma circumscriptum in advanced age: a rare case

Lymphangioma circumscriptum is a lymphatic malformation that is observed at early ages. It affects mostly the skin and subcutaneous tissues, but may affect all of the body organs and extend to the muscles. A 67-year-old male was referred to our department complaining of vesicular and erythematous lesions on the glans penis and an edematous skin lesion on the penile shaft that had recurred over the last 6 months. The patient had no history of allergy, trauma, drug use, or insect bites. An excisional biopsy taken from the penile skin was diagnosed as lymphangioma circumscriptum. The patient refused surgical excision or other treatment options for the penile lesion. Lymphangioma circumscriptum is predominantly observed at early ages, but it may arise at advanced ages and be confused with other penile lesions. Here, we report a case of penile lymphangioma circumscriptum that was observed at an advanced age to alert physicians to this rare condition and to prevent unnecessary therapy.