Comparison of FGF-8, FGF-10, FGF-Receptor 2, Androgen Receptor, Estrogen Receptor-A and SS in Healthy and Hypospadiac Children.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the levels of Fibroblast Growth Factor-8 (FGF-8), FGF-10, FGF-Receptor-2 (FGFR-2), Androgen receptor (AR), Estrogen receptor alpha and beta (ER-α and ER-ß) in the foreskins of children with and without hypospadias. Methods: Samples from the foreskins of 20 children with hypospadias and 20 skin samples from children without hypospadias between the ages of 14 months and 12 years were taken during circumcision or hypospadias correction surgery for immunohistochemical (IHC) examination of these markers. In IHC examination, it was shown that ER-α, ER-ß and AR receptors were more involved in the foreskin of children with hypospadias than in the fore-skin of without hypospadias children, and FGF-8, FGF-10 and FGFR-2 were lower (p<0.05). ER and AR uptake were higher in hypospadias tissue samples and FGF-8, FGF-10, and FGFR-2 uptakes were lower compared to without hypospadias children's tissue samples, and these factors were supported by affecting each other in the development of hypospadias. The limited number of studies on this subject in the literature and the contradictory results of the findings indicate that more research should be done on this subject in the future.

What are the factors affecting glanular dehiscence after hypospadias surgery?

BACKGROUND: Glanular dehiscence (GD) is one of the main complications after hypospadias surgery. There is a limited number of publications regarding GD in the literature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work is to reveal the factors that affect GD after a literature review. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A literature search for relevant articles was performed in database using the search term glans dehiscence without setting date range limit or any other limits. All articles related to GD after hypospadias surgery were included in this study. After collecting the information from full text articles, 71 articles were included in this systematic review. In these studies, localization of hypospadic meatus, type of surgery, and other clinical data which were thought to behave as risk factors for GD were obtained. Chi-Square test was used to evaluate the differences between the parameters, where p < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. RESULTS: After evaluating the 71 articles that met the inclusion criteria, 309 cases (3.48%) of GD after 8858 hypospadias repairs were obtained in this review. GD rates were found significantly high for proximal hypospadias (5%), two-stage hypospadia repairs (5%) and re-do hypospadias repair (8.75%) (p = 0.002, 0.022, and 0.004, respectively). Glans width <14 mm, urethral plate (UP) width <7 mm, hypospadias surgeries performed before 6 months of age and after puberty, and caudal block anesthesia increased the rate of GD. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of GD increases after proximal, cripple and staged hypospadias surgeries, a glans width <15 mm and UP width <8 mm, postpubertal surgeries, and caudal anesthesia use during surgery.

Effect of tempol, a membrane-permeable radical scavenger, on mesenteric blood flow and organ injury in a murine cecal ligation and puncture model of septic shock.

BACKGROUND: Interventions that reduce the generation or the effects of reactive oxygen species exert beneficial effects in a variety of models of septic shock. We investigated the effect of tempol, a low-molecular-weight membrane-permeable radical scavenger, on mesenteric blood flow and organ injury in a murine cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of septic shock. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four Swiss albino mice were anesthetized with chloral hydrate (400 mg/kg, i.p.) and subjected to CLP (except for the sham-operated animals). The animals were divided randomly into 4 groups: the 1st group was sham operated (sham-operated group, n = 10); the 2nd group underwent CLP and was injected with saline (CLP + saline group, n = 12); the 3rd group was sham operated and treated with tempol (10 mg/kg, i.p., sham-treated + tempol group, n = 10); the 4th group underwent CLP and was treated with tempol (10 mg/kg, i.p., CLP + tempol group, n = 12). Mesenteric arterial blood flow (MABF) was measured by Doppler ultrasound. Poly(adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activity was examined in the liver, lung, and kidneys. RESULTS: In the CLP + saline group, the MABF was significantly lower than in the sham-operated group (p < 0.001). After tempol administration, MABF values significantly increased (p < 0.05). We observed significantly stronger PARP-positive staining in the lungs and kidney glomeruli in the CLP + saline group than in those of the sham-operated group (p(lung) = 0.0148, p(glomeruli) = 0.0025). A marked reduction in PARP activity was found in the lung and kidney glomeruli of the CLP + tempol group (p(lung) = 0.0026, p(glomeruli) = 0.0085). There was no significant effect of CLP on PARP activity in the liver and kidney tubuli (p(liver) > 0.05, p(tubuli) > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tempol improved MABF in a CLP-induced septic shock model. Although tempol could not prevent the activation of PARP in the liver and kidney tubuli, it did attenuate PARP activation in the lung and kidney glomeruli.

The efficacy of alfuzosin treatment in patients with prostatism.

OBJECTIVE: Alfuzosin, a quinazoline derivative, is a selective alpha-la adreneceptor antagonist with further selectivity for the alpha-1 adrenoceptors of the lower urinary tract and lesser affinity for vascular alpha-1 adrenoceptors. The present study evaluates the efficacy of alfuzosin in a group of the patients with prostatism. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with lower urinary tract symptoms aged from 55 to 76 years (mean age 62.36 +/- 6.4) were enrolled in the study. The patients were evaluated by blood pressure measurement, digital rectal examination, serum total and free prostate specific antigen (PSA) determinations by Tandem R-Assay with the reference range of 0.0 to 4.0 ng/ml, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), volume measurement by transrectal prostate ultrasound, blood biochemistry, uroflowmetry, postvoiding residual urine (PVRU) assessment. The patients treated with alfuzosin 2.5 mg three times a day for 3 months were re-evaluated by blood pressure measurement, IPSS, urine flow rate (UFR) and PVRU assessment in the 2nd week and in the 6th week, and by blood pressure measurement, IPSS, blood biochemistry, serum total and free PSA determinations, UFR and PVRU assessment in the 3rd month. Statistical analysis was performed using student-t test, and p value was considered significant when less than 0.05. RESULTS: Although IPSS significantly decreased in the 2nd week of the treatment compared to pre-treatment value, it reached a maximum decrease in the 6th week of the treatment. There were statistically significant difference between in the 2nd week IPSS value and the 6th week IPSS value. However, no difference was seen between the 6th week IPSS value and the 3rd month IPSS value. No significant difference was observed between pre-treatment values and the 2nd week values regarding UFR and PVRU. Peak flow rate and PVRU significantly changed in the 6th week of the treatment and they reached maximum change in the 3rd month. Difference was also significant between the values in the 6th week of the treatment and those in the 3rd month of the treatment. According to the blood biochemical analysis, total and free PSA levels before and after the treatment, there were no significantly difference. Additionally, alfuzosin had no effect on blood pressure. Before, during and after the treatment, blood pressure did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: Present study showed that symptomatic improvement with alfuzosin treatment began in the 2nd week, reaching the maximum level in the 6th week whereas urodynamic parameters began to improve in the 6th week and reached the maximum level in the 3rd month with no effect on blood pressure and blood biochemical test.

Beneficial effect of intranasal desmopressin for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia and nocturia: preliminary results.

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of intranasal desmopressin in the treatment of nocturnal polyuria in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Twelve men with BPH were treated with intranasal desmopressin at bedtime for nocturnal polyuria. All patients underwent video-urodynamic evaluation. The number of nocturia episodes was the dependent variable. Exclusion criteria included nephrolithiasis, active urinary tact infection, and history of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and angina. Ten of 12 patients improved with the intranasal desmopressin therapy. Nocturia episodes decreased from a median of 3.6 +/- 0.5 episodes/night before treatment to 1.8 +/- 1.1 episodes/night 3 months after therapy (p = .01). The American Urological Association symptom index decreased from 19 +/- 6 before treatment to 12 +/- 6 after therapy (p = .02). Hyponatremia did not occur. We conclude that intranasal desmopressin is a promising therapy for nocturnal polyuria in selected BPH patients.

Advantages and risks of ileovesicostomy for the management of neuropathic bladder.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and complications of ileovesicostomy in patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction. METHODS: Fifteen consecutive neurologically impaired patients (8 from multiple sclerosis, 4 from spinal cord injury, 3 from other causes) with complications of previous bladder management underwent ileovesicostomy. There were 10 women and 5 men. All patients were either poor candidates for or refused continent urinary diversion or bladder augmentation cystoplasty. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 23.2 months, 14 of 15 patients had low-pressure urine drainage through their ileovesicostomy. Four women with documented preoperative detrusor hyperreflexia had postoperative intermittent mild urge incontinence per native urethra. They did not require any further treatment, except for oral anticholinergic drugs (oxybutynin and tolterodine). Because of persistent severe urge incontinence, 1 woman required conversion of her ileovesicostomy to an ileal conduit with concurrent cystectomy. The ileovesicostomy of another myelodysplastic man who had four failed artificial urinary sphincters in the past was also converted to an ileal conduit because of persistent urethroperineal fistula despite perineal urethral closure. Renal function was preserved in all patients. Long-term complications were stomal stenosis in 2 patients, bladder and kidney stone formation in 5, and symptomatic urinary tract infections in 3. CONCLUSIONS: Ileovesicostomy can be safely performed in neurologically impaired women and men. Severe preoperative detrusor hyperreflexia with urge incontinence appears to be a risk factor for persistent urge incontinence postoperatively in women. Continued routine urologic surveillance for infection and stones is mandatory. Ileovesicostomy is a versatile procedure for neurologically impaired patients, because it can be converted to a conventional ileal conduit if necessary. In addition, in cases of neural recovery, the ileal "chimney" can be excised and the patient's original lower urinary tract would be preserved.

Pressure-flow studies: short-time repeatability.

The within and between examination variation in selected test parameters and test results in repeated pressure-flow studies was determined in a prospective study of consecutive pressure-flow examinations in 22 patients. The patients were pressure-flow tested twice within a month. Furthermore, it was evaluated whether there was a systematic change in the measured parameters during retesting. By using the Abrams-Griffiths nomogram, patients were classified as obstructed, equivocal, or unobstructed. Within and between examination variations in classification were evaluated. We found a systematic variation in P(det.Qmax) during testing, which in the absence of statistically significant systematic variations in P(det.Close) and Qmax, indicates a physiological effect of repeated pressure-flow studies, resulting in a less-obstructed second voiding. Supporting this, we found that all patients who changed group of classification of bladder outlet obstruction in the first examination shifted to a group of less obstruction, as did 66% of the patients who changed group of classification of bladder outlet obstruction in the second examination. Still, 80, respectively 85%, of the patients remained in the same group of classification of bladder outlet obstruction during retesting in the first and second examinations, respectively. Classifying the degree of bladder outlet obstruction by Qmax, P(det.Qmax), and P(det.Close) 85% of the patients reproduced their test results accurately in both examinations and taking only the first voiding in both examinations into account 95% reproduced their test results.

A case of hydatid disease with unusual localizations.

All organs in the human body may suffer from hydatid disease. Urinary tract involvement in hydatid disease is not common including only 2-4% of cases. The kidneys are the most commonly affected organs in the urinary tract, with other organs rarely affected alone. We report a case of hydatid disease presented with acute urinary retention due to retrovesical hydatid cyst, together with a communicating renal hydatid cyst and a cyst in the right gluteal muscle.

Comparative study between corpus cavernosum-electromyography findings and electron microscopy of cavernosal muscle biopsies in erectile dysfunction patients.

BACKGROUND: Biopsy and electrical activity recordings of the corpus cavernosum are 2 new diagnostic methods for the evaluation of impotent men. We evaluated the corpus cavernosum ultrastructure and electromyography (EMG) recordings from patients with erectile dysfunction. METHODS: Twenty erectile dysfunction patients with veno-occlusive dysfunction underwent a detailed history, physical examination, biochemical tests, hormonal analysis, injection of an intracavernous vasoactive agent (60 mg papaverine-HCl), color penile Doppler ultrasonography, cavernosometry/ cavernosography and corpus cavernosum electromyography (CC-EMG). Thirteen patients underwent total vein ligation and 7 had penile prosthesis implantations. Tissue samples were obtained during surgery from both corpora cavernosa and examined by transmission electron microscopy. Control corporal tissue samples were taken from 3 cadavers. RESULTS: In 15 patients, CC-EMG recordings were 15.6 +/- 0.65 microV in the flaccid state, which decreased in 13 patients after papaverine (5.61 +/- 0.25 microV; P < 0.001). Five patients with diabetes mellitus had low amplitudes in the flaccid state (5.26 +/- 0.45 microV), which did not vary significantly after a papaverine injection (4.99 +/- 0.75 microV). The pathology of the corpus cavernosum biopsy specimens revealed a smooth muscle cell thickened basal membrane, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, and increased numbers of fibroblasts, but ultrastructurally normal endothelial cells lining the sinusoids. There was no difference between samples from diabetic or nondiabetic patients, or from either side of the corpora cavernosa. The only pathologic change observed in the controls was mitochondrial swelling. CONCLUSION: CC-EMG is less invasive and a valuable method in patients with erectile dysfunction, whereas no specific findings were observed from penile biopsy specimens.

Eighteen-month follow-up of cystovaginoplasty: a new augmentation operation for repair of vesicovaginal fistulae.

We present an 18-month follow-up of a cystovaginoplasty case. Surgery was performed because of a large vesicovaginal fistula. A new technique using the vagina as a pouch was utilized.

A case of pure renal hydatid cyst without multiple organ involvement.

Hydatid disease of the urinary tract is very rare. We report a case of pure renal hydatid cyst, with its clinical presentation and management.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in patients under 30 years of age.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is rare in patients younger than 30 years. We report two cases of bladder cancer under the age of 30, regarding clinical picture, treatment and follow-up results.

Long-term effects of cigarette-smoke exposure on plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in male rats.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of long-term cigarette smoking on the levels of plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in male adult rats and to examine morphological and histological changes in the testes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cigarette smoke was generated by a smoking-machine and 12 rats were exposed to cigarette smoke diluted with 90% air for 60 days (2 h/day). Twelve rats were exposed to room air only under similar conditions as controls. The concentrations of plasma testosterone, LH and FSH were measured before and after exposure using a radio-immunoassay and the testes were examined histologically. RESULTS: In rats exposed to smoke, the mean plasma testosterone level decreased significantly but there were no significant changes in testosterone in the control rats. The mean plasma LH and FSH levels of the two groups did not change significantly after exposure. In rats exposed to smoke, histological examination of the testes showed fewer Leydig cells and degeneration of the remaining cells. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the decrease in plasma testosterone levels induced by exposure to smoke was not associated with changes in plasma gonadotrophin levels. The decrease in testosterone levels may be related to the toxic effects of smoke on Leydig cells.

The effect of age in the usage of alpha receptor blocker treatment in prostate patients.

Age was considered in the usage of alpha receptor blocker in the treatment of prostate patients. Ninety patients with prostatism were treated with alpha 1 receptor blockers (Doxazocin 4 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, the patients in two groups according to their age, above and below 60 years, were evaluated using International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). The patients younger than 60 years of age had more significant relief compared to those older than 60 years of age.

Prostatic specific antigen and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The aim of this study on patients (n = 51) with urodynamically proven obstruction was to search for correlations between serological levels of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) and age of patients, volume of prostate and prostatic morphology as evaluated on transurethral resection specimens. No correlations could be found between PSA levels and morphological parameters such as degree of inflammation and relative degree of stromal or epithelial hyperplasia. Significant correlations were demonstrated between PSA levels and age of patients and prostatic volume.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia. Does a correlation exist between prostatic morphology and irritative symptoms?

Fifty-two consecutive patients with prostatism who underwent a prostatectomy were investigated with regard to irritative symptom score, age, prostate volume, urine culture results, degree of detrusor instability, inflammation in the prostate, and stromal, glandular or mixed prostatic histopathology. We did not find any statistical correlations between irritative symptom score and the mentioned parameters. This indicates that irritative symptoms should rather be attributed to extraprostatic factors such as e.g. bladder reaction.

Phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy: a case report.

A twenty-eight years old patient with phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy is reported. In the second trimester, she was admitted to hospital for complaints of headache, fever, palpitation and weakness. A phaeochromocytoma was diagnosed. Alpha and beta blockers were given to regulate arterial blood pressure until foetal maturity was reached. Delivery was by caesarean section and the operation was continued with a right adrenalectomy. Pathological examination revealed a phaeochromocytoma.