Determination of anti-Müllerian hormone levels in blood and urine in fertile cats.

In recent years, blood anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels have been investigated in female animals to diagnose many conditions, such as the presence of ovarian tissue, follicle reserve, and granulosa cell tumors. Since blood collection is an invasive method, diagnosis with a non-invasive method is important in terms of practicality and animal welfare. This study aimed to investigate the presence of AMH in cat urine and determine whether a correlation exists between blood and urine AMH levels. In addition, it was aimed at revealing whether there was a change in blood and urine AMH levels according to ovarian follicle distribution. Twenty-seven healthy, fertile female cats in the follicular phase were included. Following blood and urine sample collection, a routine ovariohysterectomy was performed. Histological analysis of the removed ovarian tissue was used to determine ovarian follicle types. While both AMH and estrogen levels were determined in blood samples, only AMH levels were investigated in urine samples. Blood AMH levels averaged 10.61 ± 0.75 ng/mL (range: 5-16 ng/mL), while urine AMH levels averaged 5.67 ± 0.91 ng/mL (range: 0.2-13 ng/mL). While urinary AMH level was <1 ng/mL in 7 cats, urinary AMH was >1 ng/mL in all remaining cats. While the study demonstrated AMH excretion in urine, no correlation was found between blood and urine AMH values. However, a significant positive correlation was observed between blood AMH levels and serum estrogen levels (P < 0.001). These findings suggest that urinary AMH may be a product of proteolytic degradation, potentially leading to inaccurate estimations of ovarian activity based solely on urine AMH levels.

Endoscopic Resection of Nasal Septal Chondroma.

Chondromas are benign cartilaginous tumors and rarely develop in the nasal septum. Although it causes different symptoms depending on the location and size of the tumor, the most common complaints are nasal obstruction and epistaxis. A submucosal mass narrowing the nasal passage can be seen in the septum by an endoscope. Computed tomography gives information about the localization and size of the mass. A definitive diagnosis is made by histopathologic examination. Treatment is surgical excision. Endoscopic surgery provides a less invasive and successful treatment. This case series aims to share that 2 cases with a diagnosis of nasal septal chondroma were successfully treated with endoscopic surgery.

Hydrogen-rich water supplementation improves metabolic profile during peripartum period in Gurcu goats and enhances the health and survival of kids.

In this study, the effect of intaking hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on the metabolic profile of Gurcu goats during the peripartum period and the survival/growth performance of kids were evaluated. Twenty-three pregnant goats were divided into two groups 21-23 days before the due date. Group 1 (G1, n = 10) was given HRW from day 21 before delivery until day 21 after delivery. Group 2 (G2, n = 13) served as the control. Blood samples were weekly taken from 21 days before delivery until 21 days after delivery. Hydrogen-rich water increased serum glucose concentration on the delivery day more than in G2 (P = 0.016). Hydrogen-rich water decreased serum total cholesterol (P = 0.02) and creatinine (P = 0.05) concentration at delivery. Group effect and time effect were significant in triglyceride (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, respectively) and albumin (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively) concentration. Aspartate transaminase decreased towards the delivery day in G1 (P < 0.05). Serum non-esterified fatty acids concentration was lower in G1 than in G2, but there was no significant differences (P > 0.05). Beta-hydroxybutyric acid concentration an increased in both groups during the prepartum period, although there was no significance (P > 0.05). Hydrogen-rich water did not affect the birth weight and growth performance of the kids (P > 0.05), but it increased their survival rates and overall health, although there was no significance (P > 0.05). In conclusion, HRW may have an impact on the metabolic profiles during the peripartum period and have a positive effect on lipid profiles. Additionally, intaking HRW to goats during the peripartum period may improve the health and survival of kids and reduce their mortality.

Uroprotective effects of berberine and curcumin in cyclophosphamide-induced interstitial cystitis.

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of berberine (BER) and curcumin (CUR) in the experimental model of cystitis induced by cyclophosphamide (CYP). A total of 36 Wistar-Albino female rats were used in the study. Rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6). Normal control group, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, CYP group (75 mg/kg), CYP + BER (75 mg/kg CYP and 50 mg/kg BER), CYP + CUR group (75 mg/kg CYP and 50 mg/kg CUR), CYP + BER + CUR group (75 mg/kg CYP and 50 mg/kg BER and 50 mg/kg CUR). Severe edema, hyperemia, hemorrhage, necrosis, and thinning of the epithelial layer were observed in the CYP group. BER and CUR treatment significantly reduced these pathologies. Masson-Trichrome staining was severe in the CYP group and moderate in the CYP + BER, CYP + CUR, and CYP + BER + CUR groups. In the CYP group, there was a severe expression of caspase-3, TNF-α and IL-6, and mild expression of IL-10. BER and CUR treatment decreased the expression of caspase-3, TNF-α, and IL-6 and increased the expression of IL-10. The findings of the study reveal that BER and CUR treatments may reduce CYP-induced bladder damage by reducing apoptosis and inflammation and ameliorating histopathological changes.

Analysis of Paparella Type 1 tympanostomy tubes in pediatric patients: A single-center retrospective review.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the demographic characteristics, indications for surgery, clinical follow-up results and complication rates of pediatric patients who have received a Paparella Type 1 tympanostomy tube (TT) insertion. METHODS: Retropective review of 816 ears of 442 pediatric patients who received Paparella type 1 tympanostomy tube insertions was performed. The patients' age, indication for surgery, middle ear effusion, time to extrusion and postoperative complications were analyzed retrospectively. Ears operated for chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) and recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) were included in the study. Ears that underwent tympanostomy tube insertion for middle ear atelectasis and suppurative complications of acute otitis media were excluded from the study. Ears with middle ear effusion mucoid and serous were included. Ears without middle ear effusion or with purulent effusion were excluded from the study. Patients with a cleft palate, Down syndrome, craniofacial anomalies and those without regular follow-up until their tubes were extruded, were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The mean age of surgery was 5.11 years. 54.3 % of the patients were male and 45.7 % were female. 734 (90 %) tube insertions were performed for patients with COME and 82 (10 %) for those with RAOM. Mucoid middle ear effusion was observed in 86.9 % and serous in 13.1 %. The mean extrusion time of the tubes was 7.16 months. 93.1 % of the tubes were extruded spontaneously within 1 year and 99.9 % within 2 years. Postoperative complications of patients that were included were 8.7 % with otorrhea, 7.7 % premature extrusion, 8.2 % tube occlusion, 0.2 % displacement into the middle ear, 8.2 % tympanic membrane changes (5.4 % sclerosis, 2.3 % retraction and 0.5 % atrophy), 1.2 % permanent perforation, 0.1 % cholesteatoma and 0.1 % retained their tube. Premature extrusion was found to be significantly higher in the RAOM group compared with the COME group (p = 0.042). Tube extrusion time did not affect tympanic membrane changes (p = 0.061). CONCLUSIONS: Complication rates after Paparella Type 1 tube insertion are low. The incidence of complications such as otorrhea and tube occlusion were not significantly different between the indication and middle ear effusion groups. Compared to COME group, premature extrusion were found more frequently in the RAOM group. Complications of displacement into the middle ear, permanent perforation, cholesteatoma and retained tube were much rarer.

Management of Priapism: Results of a Nationwide Survey and Comparison with International Guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate current urologic practice regarding the management of priapism in Turkey and compare with international guidelines. METHODS: Urologists and urology residents were invited to an online survey consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions on priapism-related clinical practices that were consid- ered most important and relevant to practices by using Google Forms. RESULTS: Total number of responses was 340. Respondents reported that they recorded a detailed patient's medical history and physical examination findings (n = 340, 100%) and laboratory testing, which includes corporal blood gas analysis (n=323, 95%). Participants announced that they performed Doppler ultrasound for 1/4 cases (n = 106, 31%), but 22% of the participants (n=75) replied that they performed in >75% of cases. Participants (n=311, 91%) responded that the first-line treatment of ischemic priapism is decompression of the corpus cavernosum. Moreover, most respondents (n = 320, 94%) stated that sympathomimetic injection drugs should be applied as the second step. About three-quarters of respondents (n = 247, 73%) indicated adrenaline as their drug of choice. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors seems to be the most pre- ferred drug for stuttering priapism (n=141, 41%). Participants (n=284, 84%) replied that corpora-glanular shunts should be preferred as the first. A large number of par- ticipants (n = 239, 70%) declared that magnetic resonance imaging can be performed in cases with delayed (>24 hours) priapism to diagnose corporal necrosis. Most of the participants (84%) responded that penile prosthesis should be preferred to shunts in cases with delayed (>48 hours) priapism. CONCLUSION: It would be appropriate to improve the training offered by professional associations and to give more training time to the management of priapism during residency.

Spatial assessment of sediment risk with integrated entropy-based WASPAS and fuzzy clustering methods in Turkey: impact of forestry activities and meteorological factors.

The sediment formed during erosion processes is acknowledged as one of the important contributors to environmental damage. In forest areas, sediment production occurs as a result of meteorological factors and wood harvesting, as well as forest road construction activities carried out for the continuity of forests. In this context, the aim of the study is to reveal the sediment risk in forest areas at the provincial level in Turkey by using entropy-based weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) and fuzzy clustering methods. The results establish that the weights of the factors affecting the sediment risk are the forest road construction rate (0.3721), the wood harvesting rate (0.3463), the average precipitation (0.2227), and the average temperature (0.0587). Seven provinces were found in the highest risk class of the cluster in terms of sediment risk. Two of those (Yalova and Kocaeli) are located in the Marmara Region, while the others (Bartin, Düzce, Giresun, Ordu, and Zonguldak) are located in the Black Sea Region. Four of the provinces in the lowest risk class of the cluster (Bingöl, Bitlis, Erzincan, and Malatya) are located in the Eastern Anatolia Region, while a fifth (Siirt) is located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region. As is seen in the study, multi-criteria decision-making methods make it possible to evaluate different scenarios for sedimentation estimation and control and to select the most effective solutions. In conclusion, the use of WASPAS, entropy, and fuzzy clustering methods can provide a comprehensive and effective approach for assessing the sediment risk.

The relationship between microRNAs and bladder cancer: are microRNAs useful to predict bladder cancer in suspicious patients?

PURPOSE: Recent studies indicate that circulating micro RNAs (miRNAs) are novel class of non-invasive biomarkers with diagnostic and prognostic information. We evaluated the miRNA expressions in bladder cancer (BC) and their associations with disease diagnosis. METHODS: We profiled the expressions of 379 miRNAs in the plasma samples from patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) (n = 34) and non-malignant urological diseases as a control group (n = 32). Patients were evaluated regarding with age, miRNA expressions, by using descriptive statistics. miRNA expression in extracted RNA was quantified using the NanoString nCounter Digital Analyzer. RESULTS: The analysis of plasma miRNA levels in the marker identification cohort indicated that plasma (miR-1260a, let-7a-3p miR-196b-5p, miR-196a-5p, miR-99a-5p, miR-615-5p, miR-4301, miR-28-3p, miR-4538, miR-1233-3p, miR-4732-5p, miR-1913, miR-1280) levels were increased in NMIBC patients compared to control subjects. There were no significant differences other parameters studied between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of serum plasma miRNA (miR-1260a, let-7a-3p miR-196b-5p, miR-196a-5p, miR-99a-5p, miR-615-5p, miR-4301, miR-28-3p, miR-4538, miR-1233-3p, miR-4732-5p, miR-1913, miR-1280) levels could be useful plasma biomarkers for BC.

Radiological Evidence of Testicular Damage in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: A Sonoelastography's Potential Role.

ABSTRACT: This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the possible damage to the male reproductive system that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus causes by quantitatively measuring and comparing the tissue stiffness of the testis and epididymis with acoustic radiation force impulse sonoelastography in patients who have COVID-19 with a healthy control group. This prospective study was conducted between February and July 2021 with 65 cases. We used sonoelastography to evaluate male patients 18 years or older, who had applied to the urology clinic with nontesticular complaints, and were found to not have any underlying testicular pathology after a clinical-laboratory evaluation. The clinical-laboratory imaging findings and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test results of all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were reviewed from the hospital database. We measured the shear wave velocity values of the epididymis and the testes of 31 proven severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 patients and 34 healthy subjects and compared them with an independent t test. For the patient and control group subjects, the mean age was 37.55 ± 13.08 (23-71) and 40.5 ± 16.25 (18-81) years, respectively. The mean shear wave velocity values of the left-right and bilateral testes and epididymis of the patient group were statistically substantially higher ( P ˂ 0.05) than in the control group. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, when the cutoff values for the bilateral testes and epididymis were determined as 1.39 and 1.64 m/s, respectively, the AUC was 77% to 73.4%, the sensitivity was 87% to 74%, and the specificity was 65% to 62%. Our findings show that testicular and epididymal tissue stiffness increased in patients with COVID-19. We recommend adding sonoelastography to urogenital examinations of male reproductive system in patients who are recovering from COVID-19.

Determination of miRNA expression profile in patients with prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: It is a known fact that the role of microRNAs (miRNA) has a very important place in cancer development and progression. miRNAs target a significant part of pathways as well as genes. This study aimed to compare the differential expression profiles of miRNAs in prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia patients. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tissue samples were collected from prostate cancer (PCa) (n: 20) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (n: 20) patients. Total RNA isolation was performed. As a result of the RNA concentration and purity measurement, each patient group was pooled, and the miRNAs profiles comparison was performed with the Affymetrix Microarray System. RESULTS: In tissue samples, 37 different expressed miRNAs were identified in PCa patients compared to BPH patients. In PBMCs samples, 27 different expressed miRNAs were identified in PCa patients compared to benign prostatic hyperplasia patients. As a result of the comparison of tissue and PBMCs samples, it was determined that down regülated hsa-miR-494-3p, hsa-miR-3128, hsa-miR-8084 were common miRNAs. 3 (HIF1A, NHS,INSL4) targets identified for hsa-miR-494-3p, 2 (HIF1A, AVRP1A) for hsa-miR-3128, 3 (AVRP1A, NHS, INSL4) for hsa-miR-8084. DISCUSSION: Our results suggested that determined common hsa-miR-494-3p, hsa-miR-3128, hsa-miR-8084 and their target HIF1A, AVRP1A, NHS, INSL4 may play a crucial role in therapeutic and early diagnostic strategies for prostate cancer. The present study may represent the first in-depth analysis of PBMCs and tissue samples miRNA profiles.

Effects of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells and/or sildenafil citrate in experimental colon anastomosis model.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the healing effects of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSC) and sildenafil citrate alone or in combination of colon anastomosis experimental model. METHODS: A total of 40 female Wistar rats were randomly distributed to four groups: Control (without any intervention post-anas-tomosis), stem cell (AT-MSC injection on the anastomosis site), SIL (oral gavage of 10 mg/kg sildenafil citrate), and stem cell + SIL (AT-MSC injection and oral administration of sildenafil citrate) groups. Rats were euthanized 5 days post-anastomosis. Intra-abdominal adhesion status and anastomotic burst pressure were measured to assess anastomotic healing. Hydroxyproline and TNF-α level, neu-trophil leukocyte infiltration, epithelial regeneration, and necrosis in the anastomosis tissue were examined. RESULTS: Anastomosis leakage and anastomosis burst pressure were not different among the groups. Treatment with sildenafil, stem cell, and stem cell + SIL reduced the degree of perianastomotic adhesions compared to control (p<0.05). A significant increase was noted in hydroxyproline in the stem cell and stem cell + SIL groups (p=0.001). AT-MSC injection alone or in combination with sildenafil citrate reduced the TNF-α concentration at the anastomosis site (p=0.001). Histopathological examination revealed that all treatments enhanced the clearance of the necrotic debris, reduced leukocytes infiltration, and accelerated the retraction of anastomo-sed ends except control (p=0.001). Epithelial regeneration was more pronounced in the stem cell group than other groups (p=0.001). Macrophage density was lower in groups treated with the SIL or stem cell groups than the control and stem cell + SIL groups (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Sildenafil citrate and/or AT-MSC in the anastomosed rats promoted the anastomosis healing that was more pro-nounced in groups receiving stem cell injections.

Nebivolol protects erectile functions compared to Metoprolol in hypertensive men with atherogenic, venogenic, psychogenic erectile dysfunction: A prospective, randomized, cross-over, clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Both hypertension and ß-blocker drugs used for treating hypertension (HT) can cause erectile dysfunction (ED). Nebivolol, unlike other ß-blockers, may not cause impotence since it increases the release of Nitric Oxide (NO), which is the main mediator of erection. This study investigated the effect of Nebivolol and Metoprolol on erectile functions in hypertensive men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Married men whose blood pressure were >140/90 mmHg were included in the study. All patients were assessed for ED, and the cause of ED was then investigated. Nebivolol or Metoprolol was started for one month in all patients. After one-month drugless period, the ß-blockers were switched. Blood pressures, pulses and sexual function tests were evaluated, and plasma NO levels were measured at the end of the treatments and during the drugless period. RESULTS: There was no difference in antihypertensive efficacy between the two drugs (p = 0.828;0.194 for systolic and diastolic BP). Metoprolol caused a significant decrease in IIEF-5 score, whereas Nebivolol did not cause a decrease in IIEF-5 score on patients with psychogenic, arteriogenic, and venous failure related ED (respectively, p<0.001,0.004,0.005 for Metoprolol; p = 0.201,0.598,0.088 for Nebivolol). In the non-ED group, both drugs decreased the IIEF-5 score, but the decrease for Metoprolol (p = 0.001) was more than that for Nebivolol (p = 0.012). Plasma NO levels did not change with Metoprolol (p = 0.268) but increased with Nebivolol (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between plasma NO values and IIEF-5 score used for the assessment of sexual functions (r = 0.284, p = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Nebivolol may be advantageous in terms of preserving sexual functions because of increasing NO in eligible hypertensive male patients.

An innovative approach to lifelong delayed ejaculation: does attachment style play a role?

PURPOSE: To examine whether there is a correlation between attachment styles, which is a developmental psychology theory, and lifelong DE. METHODS: The research was planned as prospective, multi-centric and cross-sectional study. Thirty patients who were consecutively admitted to the urology outpatient clinic and diagnosed with lifelong DE and 30 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. All participants gave a detailed medical history and underwent a complete physical examination, and their laboratory and endocrine (prolactin and testosterone) results were evaluated. Additionally, all patients had to fill out socio-demographic information form, the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) Questionnaire, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: The mean age of the DE patients was 33.5 ± 7.5 years. In the DE group, insecure attachment (both anxious and avoidant attachment), anxiety and depression scores were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.001, effect size medium or large) than the control group. Ejaculation times (both for vaginal intercourse and masturbation) were correlated with both insecure (anxious and avoidant) attachment types, as well as their anxiety and depression scores (p < 0.001). The ASEX satisfaction, ejaculation and total scores were found to be higher in DE patients (higher scores indicating greater sexual dysfunction) than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The large and significant relationships found between lifelong DE and attachment insecurities point to childhood developmental processes. The findings may help us better understand lifelong DE. There is a need for further extensive research on this subject.

Effect of combined use of tolterodine and continuous positive airway pressure vs continuous positive airway pressure only treatment on overactive bladder symptoms in women with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with urological symptoms, including overactive bladder (OAB). This study aims to determine whether combined tolterodine and CPAP therapies are more effective for patients with OSAS than CPAP treatment only. METHODS: Women who underwent polysomnography test and were diagnosed with moderate-to-severe OSAS with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) were included in the study. Data were collected on AHI, OAB awareness-8-item tool (OAB-V8), incontinence questionnaire-urinary incontinence short form (ICIQ-UI-SF), total daily urine volume (DUV), and the Benefit, satisfaction with treatment and willingness (BSW) tool. Eligible patients were randomized to receive either CPAP treatment only or combined CPAP and tolterodine treatment for 3 months. RESULTS: Among 103 participants, a total of 60 were included. Patients in both treatment arms showed significant improvements in OAB-V8, ICIQ-UI-SF, and total DUV compared to their baseline. The mean OAB-V8 was 15.7 at baseline and 5.6 at 3 months for the combined treatment arm and 16.6 and 7.6 at 3 months for the CPAP group only (mean baseline-adjusted between-group difference -1.1 [95% CI, -12.3 to -7.4]; p < 0.001). The improvement in the mean ICIQ-UI-SF was also statistically more significant in the combined therapy group than in the CPAP only arm (mean baseline-adjusted between-group difference -3.27 [95% CI, -4.6 to -1.59]; p < 0.001). No statistical significance was found in the improvement of total DUV between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, combined use of tolterodine with CPAP provides beneficial effects to CPAP treatment only regarding OAB symptoms. Further research is required to confirm these findings in a large cohort.

COVID-19 diagnosis on CT images with Bayes optimization-based deep neural networks and machine learning algorithms.

Early diagnosis of COVID-19, the new coronavirus disease, is considered important for the treatment and control of this disease. The diagnosis of COVID-19 is based on two basic approaches of laboratory and chest radiography, and there has been a significant increase in studies performed in recent months by using chest computed tomography (CT) scans and artificial intelligence techniques. Classification of patient CT scans results in a serious loss of radiology professionals' valuable time. Considering the rapid increase in COVID-19 infections, in order to automate the analysis of CT scans and minimize this loss of time, in this paper a new method is proposed using BO (BO)-based MobilNetv2, ResNet-50 models, SVM and kNN machine learning algorithms. In this method, an accuracy of 99.37% was achieved with an average precision of 99.38%, 99.36% recall and 99.37% F-score on datasets containing COVID and non-COVID classes. When we examine the performance results of the proposed method, it is predicted that it can be used as a decision support mechanism with high classification success for the diagnosis of COVID-19 with CT scans.

Does Tamsulosin use before Ureteroscopy Increase the Success of the Operation?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of preoperative tamsulosin use on the success and complications rates of ureteroscopy for ureteral stone removal. STUDY DESIGN: A randomised clinical trial. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Urology, Dursun Odabas Medical Center, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Turkey, from December 2020 to June 2021. METHODOLOGY: Patients were scheduled for ureteroscopy due to ureteral stones, and were randomly divided into two groups; 67 patients preoperatively were given 0.4 mg tamsulosin for 7 days and 70 patients were not given tamsulosin. Each patient's intraoperative surgical complications, preoperative and postoperative pain, postoperative fever, need for analgesia, stone-free rate, and double J ureteral stent (DJ) insertion rates were recorded and evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 137 patients, 103 (75.1%) males, and 34 (24.8%) females, were included. In 70 (51.1%) of these patients, the stone was on the right side, while in 67 (48.9%) the stone was on the left side. The stone was in the distal ureter in 47 (34.3%) patients, in the middle in 38 (27.7%) patients, and the proximal in 52 (37.9%) patients. The patients who were given tamsulosin had lower preoperative visual analog scale (p=0.02), operation time (p=0.003), post-ureteroscopic lesion scale (p=0.01), postoperative 24th-hour visual analog scale (p=0.03), fever (p=0.02), and analgesic need (p=0.04), while their rate of accessing the stone (p=0.02); and their stone-free rates (p=0.02) was higher. CONCLUSION: Preoperative tamsulosin use increases the success of the operation and reduces complications. Key Words: Tamsulosin, Ureteral calculi, Ureteroscopy.

Sinapic acid ameliorates cisplatin-induced disruptions in testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis by modulating androgen receptor, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and apoptosis in male rats.

The chemotherapeutic cisplatin, which is widely used in many cancer types, causes testicular toxicity. Sinapic acid has many therapeutic effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycaemic. This study aimed to investigate the improving effects of sinapic acid in cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity. Twenty-eight rats were distributed into 4 groups. Control group: saline was applied intraperitoneal. Cisplatin group: A single dose of 7 mg/kg of cisplatin was injected into rats. Cisplatin +Sinapic acid group: 3 days after a single dose of 7 mg/kg cisplatin was injected, 25 mg/kg of sinapic acid was given for 7 days. Sinapic acid group: rats were received 25 mg/kg/day of sinapic acid. Numerical density of spermatogonium, Leydig and volume density of germinal epithelial were calculated. Caspase-3, Bcl-2, AR and PCNA expressions in testis were evaluated and testosterone and LH levels were measured. Cisplatin application decreased the numerical density of spermatogonium and Leydig, volume density of germinal, epididymal sperm count, testosterone, LH and the expressions of Bcl-2, AR and PCNA in testis. However, sinapic acid treatment significantly restored the parameters of our study. The results of the present study revealed that cisplatin can cause male reproductive toxicity and sinapic acid can have improving effects against cisplatin-induced male reproductive toxicity.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)-Related Acute Kidney Injury.

Some herbal products were reported to cause nephrotoxicity through different mechanisms. This case report defines an acute kidney injury (AKI) in a patient who used Hypericum perforatum tea as a sleep disorder remedy. The patient developed AKI after ingestion of tea prepared from Hypericum perforatum and underwent hemodialysis because of acute kidney failure. After 1 week, the kidney recovered, and she was discharged with normal kidney function. This is the first case reported having acute kidney failure caused by ingestion of Hypericum perforatum.

Determination of natural antibodies, beta-hydroxybutyric acid, and non-esterified fatty acid levels in the serum of peripartum Tuj and Hemsin sheep.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Many metabolic and immunological changes occur during the transition period. Innate immunity plays an important role against to infections and natural antibodies (NAb) are important in immunity. This study aims to determine a connection between serum NAb titers, beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations in Tuj and Hemsin sheep during the peripartum period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum NAb, BHBA, and NEFA levels were determined from the blood samples collected from Tuj and Hemsin sheep on days 30 and 15 before birth, on the day of birth (day 0), and on days 15 and 30 after birth. RESULTS: NAb titers were found to be higher in Tuj than in Hemsin sheep (p<0.001). No statistically significant difference was found in serum BHBA concentrations of both breeds on all sampling days (p>0.05). The serum NEFA level was lower in Tuj sheep in the last 15 days of pregnancy compared to Hemsin sheep (p<0.05), while no difference was found in samples collected at the other time points. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that serum NAb titers significantly changed in Tuj and Hemsin sheep during the transition period. Serum BHBA and NEFA concentrations increased during the last stages of pregnancy and decreased after birth. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the immunological status could vary by the breed of sheep or various factors that affect the sheep's metabolic state.

The relationship between overactive bladder and attachment: A preliminary study.

AIM: There are strong relationships between overactive bladder (OAB) and psychological factors. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between OAB and attachment. METHODS: Patients who presented with OAB symptoms and were first diagnosed with OAB were included in the study. Patient and control groups were matched in terms of age and gender. A urological and psychiatric examination was performed on each participant. The severity of patients' OAB symptoms was assessed using the Overactive Bladder-V8 Questionnaire (OAB-v8). The characteristics of attachment patterns were evaluated using The Close Relationships Scale Revised. RESULTS: The OAB and control groups included 41 and 43 participants, respectively. No significant difference was found between the two groups with regard to alcohol abuse, daily cigarette consumption, marital status, and gender. The prevalence of anxious attachment was significantly higher in the OAB group than in the control group (p < 0.001), whereas no significant difference was found with regard to avoidant attachment (p = 0.18). A significant relationship was found between the OAB-v8 score and anxious attachment in OAB patients (r = 0.50; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that insecure attachment, especially anxious attachment is associated with OAB and the severity of OAB symptoms. More extensive and longitudinal studies can better show the relationship between attachment and OAB. Future research may focus on the possibility of causality between attachment and OAB.