Platelet distribution width in young patients with chronic venous insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: Platelet distribution width (PDW) has been reported in a wide range of pathological settings. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between PDW and lower extremity chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) by comparing the levels of PDW and other parameters derived from complete blood count (CBC) tests in young individuals with or without lower extremity CVI. METHODS: This prospective clinical study was conducted between January 2020 and December 2020. A total of 108 patients, 72 patients with lower extremity CVI (study group) and 36 healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled from the Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Education Research Hospital and the Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Training and Research Hospital. The age range of the participants was between 18 and 50 years old. Participants' baseline clinical features and CBC parameters including PDW, white blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width, neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet count, mean platelet volume, plateletcrit, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The groups were statistically similar in terms of baseline clinical features. The median PDW value was significantly higher for the CVI patients relative to the control group (17.6 vs 16.8; p < 0.001). In terms of other CBC parameters, there were no significant differences between the groups. According to ROC analysis, area under the curve of PDW was 0.749 (95% confidence interval: 0.653-0.846 and p < 0.001). If the value of PDW was accepted as 17, it could predict CVI with 76% sensitivity and 59% specificity, whereas a PDW value of 17.5 could predict CVI with 51% sensitivity and 81% specificity. CONCLUSION: Platelet distribution width might be a useful marker to determine an increased inflammatory response and thrombotic status in young patients with CVI.

Primary pulmonary arterial hypertension with preserved right ventricular function leads to lower extremity venous insufficiency.

Objectives Pulmonary hypertension with heart failure is related to venous insufficiency. However, there is no clear data whether pulmonary arterial hypertension with preserved right ventricular function cause venous insufficiency. In this study, we aim to investigate the relation between pulmonary arterial pressure with venous insufficiency in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with preserved right ventricular function. Methods Between January 2012 and October 2014, 38 patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension and 47 control group patients were included. Venous disability score and venous segmental disease score of both groups were calculated in order to measure venous insufficiency. The relationship between venous disability score and venous segmental disease scores and mean pulmonary arterial pressure and World Heart Organization functional capacity was examined. Results Total venous segmental disease score (5 ± 3.9 vs. 2 ± 1.8 p < 0.001), right venous segmental disease score (2.6 ± 2.2 vs. 1 ± 0.9 p < 0.001), left venous segmental disease score (2.4 ± 2.2 vs. 1 ± 0.9 p < 0.001), and venous disability scores (2.2 ±1 vs. 1.6 ± 0.7 p < 0.001) of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension were higher than the control group. While the total venous segmental disease score was highly related to mean pulmonary arterial pressure (r = 0.829, p < 0.001), the venous disability score was only weakly related (r = 0.343, p = 0.037). Total venous segmental disease score (r = 0.606, p < 0.001) and venous disability scores (r = 0.601, p < 0.001) were moderately related with World Health Organization functional capacity intensity. Conclusions The degree of venous insufficiency increase in accordance with the mean pulmonary arterial pressure even in patients with preserved right ventricular function.

Investigation of the effect of crocin pretreatment on renal injury induced by infrarenal aortic occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: Ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury is an important complication of abdominal aortic surgery, and it mainly affects the lower extremities and remote organs. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of crocin in IR-mediated kidney damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 24 adult male Wistar-Albino rats were equally and randomly separated into three groups as follows: sham laparotomy, IR, and IR + crocin. Infrarenal aortic occlusion and reperfusion was applied for 1 and 2 h, respectively. Tissue samples were removed and collected. Biochemical and histopathologic analyses were performed. RESULTS: Urea, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, renal tissue tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18, interferon gamma, IL-1ß, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress index levels were significantly higher in IR group, when compared with other groups. These improvements were also demonstrated with some parameters including total score of histopathologic damage, Tunel, Bax, and Caspase-3 expression levels, and these parameters were prominently higher in the IR group, when compared with the other groups. Nevertheless, Bcl2 expression degree was prominently lower in the IR group than those in the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Data established from the present study suggest that crocin can preclude renal damage in infrarenal aortic occlusion models.

Does Deficiency of Vitamin D Increase New Onset Atrial Fibrillation after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery?

BACKGROUND: Deficiency of vitamin D is known to be effective in the development of hypertension, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Deficiency of vitamin D was also shown to be associated with new onset atrial fibrillation (AF) by activating the renin-angiotensin system. This study investigated whether or not levels of vitamin D are effective in the development of AF after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. METHODS: A total of 283 patients undergoing CABG were included in this study. Clinical information, history of medication use, serum 25 hydroxy(OH) vitamin D, and calcium levels of all patients were evaluated preoperatively. RESULTS: AF developed postoperatively in 72 (25%) of patients. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels of patients in whom AF developed after CABG were significantly lower than patients in whom AF did not occur (15.6 ± 7.4 versus 19.1 ± 9.1; P = .004). Independent variables which were predictors of AF development in multivariate logistic regression analysis were ejection fraction (odds ratio [OR]: 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-0.97; P = .003), left atrial dimensions (OR: 1.47; 95% CI 1.26-1.71; P < .001), and serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels (OR: 0.95; 95% CI 0.91-0.99; P = .035). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that deficiency of vitamin D is associated with new onset AF post-CABG surgery.

Multi-inflammatory index as a novel predictor of new-onset atrial fibrillation after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, a possible predictive relationship of the multi-inflammatory index (MII) with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has not yet been studied in the literature. AIMS: We aimed to investigate whether the MII is a novel group of hematological markers for predicting postoperative new-onset AF in patients undergoing off-pump CABG. METHODS: A total of 427 patients undergoing isolated off-pump CABG between October 2021 and December 2023 were enrolled in this retrospective observational cohort study and allocated to two groups: the AF group (n = 108) and the non-AF group (n = 319). The groups were compared in terms of baseline clinical patient characteristics, laboratory parameters, and operative and postoperative data. RESULTS: The median values of age, length of hospital stay, platelet and neutrophil count, C-reactive protein level, systemic immune-inflammation index, MII-1, MII-2, and MII-3 were significantly greater in the AF group compared to the non-AF group in univariate analyses. In multiple explanatory variable logistic regression analysis, MII-1, MII-2, and MII-3 were determined to be significant hematological variables, and thereby these indices were considered the independent predictors of postoperative new-onset AF. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses showed that to predict postoperative new-onset AF, MII-1 of 22.47 constituted the cut-off value with 62.0% sensitivity and 57.0% specificity, MII-2 of 141.77 constituted the cut-off value with 43.5% sensitivity and 76.8% specificity, and MII-3 of 5669 constituted the cut-off value with 63.8% sensitivity and 58.3% specificity. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated for the first time that all MIIs predicted new-onset AF after off-pump CABG.

Evaluation of the dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with chronic venous insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: There is no study in the literature evaluating the dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. Thus, we designed this study to evaluate the dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis as a novel indicator of oxidative stress in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. METHODS: This was a prospective case-control study performed at the department of cardiovascular surgery of a tertiary referral hospital in Turkey. A total of 80 (CEAP C3-C6) patients with lower extremity chronic venous insufficiency (as the study group) and 80 healthy subjects (as the control group) were enrolled to the study. The participants' basic demographic and clinical characteristics as well as serum levels of some laboratory parameters including albumin, ferroxidase, myeloperoxidase, native thiol, total thiol, disulphide, native thiol/total thiol, disulphide/native thiol, and disulphide/total thiol were determined, and then compared between the groups. RESULTS: In terms of basic demographic and clinical characteristics, both groups were statistically similar, and there were no significant differences between the groups. When the laboratory parameters were considered, serum ferroxidase and myeloperoxidase levels were detected to be significantly higher, whereas albumin, native thiol, total thiol, and disulphide levels were detected to be significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis could be considered as an indicator reflecting the oxidative stress status in patients with chronic venous insufficiency.

Penile revascularization in vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED): long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the overall long-term success of penile revascularization surgery in the treatment of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) and also to investigate the effect of risk factors on the results of a modified Furlow-Fisher technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1999 and 2010, 125 men with a mean (sd, range) age of 43.2 (11.3, 23-69) years underwent penile revascularization surgery. In all, 110 men completed the long-term follow-up with a mean follow-up of 73.2 months. Diagnostic evaluations, penile colour Doppler ultrasonography, corpus cavernosum electromyography, and cavernosometry, were performed in all the men before surgery. The efficacy of the surgery was assessed as improvement or failure according to the change in the five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). A ≥5 point increase in the IIEF-5 score during the latest patient visit after surgery compared with that before surgery was regarded as improvement (surgical success). RESULTS: The mean (SD) IIEF-5 score was 7.3 (3.2) before surgery and at the end of the follow-up period it was 16.8 (3.1). The success rates were 81.8% at 3 months, 77.2% at 1 year, 70% at 2 years, 66.3% at 3 years and 63.6% at 5 years after surgery in the men who achieved a no-ED threshold score of >26 in the IIEF-15. The success rate was the highest in the men with no risk factors (92.8%). Seven patients (6.36%) showed signs of glans hypervascularization as a major complication. CONCLUSIONS: Penile revascularization surgery has not been widely used by urologists probably due to the technical difficulties and the use of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. However, with reported high rates of noncompliance or failure of oral pharmacotherapy it seems likely that this surgery will become more popular in the near future.

Multiple giant prostatic urethral stones with an ureteral stone in a young patient.

Giant prostatic urethral stones have been reported as a very rare entity, and the etiology of these stones is not clear. We report a case of a 40-year-old man with giant multiple prostatic urethral stones whereby the entire gland was replaced, and a big ureteral stone presented with voiding difficulty and recurrent urinary tract infections. In the literature, to our knowledge, this is the youngest case wherein giant prostatic urethral stones coexisted with a big ureteral stone. Many different-sized stones were observed endoscopically, some protruding into the urethra, and some filling different cavities on the prostate. Following cystoscopy, multiple giant prostatic stones weighing a total of 151 g were removed by the open retropubic route. We treated the big ureteral stone endoscopically.

A wandering spleen presenting as an acute abdomen: case report.

BACKGROUND: A wandering spleen, defined as a spleen without peritoneal attachments, is a rare entity characterized by splenic hypermobility due to laxity or maldevelopment of the supporting splenic ligaments. Patients with a wandering spleen may be asymptomatic, or may present with a palpable mass in the abdomen, or with acute, chronic, or intermittent symptoms due to torsion of the wandering spleen. Because early clinical diagnosis is difficult, imaging modalities play an important role in the diagnosis. Treatment should be planned according to the vitality of the spleen. CASE REPORT: A 22-year-old woman presented with an acute abdomen that was found to be due to a wandering spleen with 720° anti-clockwise torsion around the pedicle. CONCLUSIONS: Splenectomy is advocated in the presence of torsion, splenic vein thrombosis, or splenic infarction. Conversely, when a viable wandering spleen is found at laparotomy, detorsion with splenopexy is preferred.

Rectal bleeding due to leech bite: a case report.

We present herein a case with a four-day history of fresh rectal bleeding due to leech bite. The cause was found to be a leech in the rectum by anoscope. This pathological condition is extremely rare in urban areas. Leech endoparasitism, although rare, may cause serious, even lethal, complications. Suspicion of leech infestation should be kept in mind when faced with intermittent or severe rectal bleeding in humans, and should be investigated surgically as with all other foreign bodies. In the current study, we present a patient who admitted with rectal bleeding due to leech bite. The leech was removed by hand examination (by forceps) without requiring any surgical attempt.

Association of Inflammatory Markers with Multisite Artery Disease in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic inflammation plays a considerable role in atherosclerosis and may occur simultaneously in different arteries. This condition is referred to as multisite arterial disease (MSAD). We aimed to investigate the association between inflammatory markers and MSAD. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study we included 526 patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Patients with PAD were evaluated by conventional or computed tomography angiography for the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and those with at least 30% stenosis were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: either MSAD+(PAD and CAD), Group 1) or MSAD- (only PAD without CAD, Group 2). Inflammatory markers were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Among all patients, 293 had MSAD while 233 had only PAD. The MSAD+group had higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-neutrophil ratio (PLR) (5.08±0.19, 4.67±0.51, and 207.1±6.23, 169.3±10.8, respectively, p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, HT [odds ratio (OR): 2.40 (1.61-3.59)); p<0.002], male gender [OR: 2.03 (1.29-3.17); p=0.002], DM [OR:1.56 (1.03-2.36); P=0.035], NLR [OR: 1,08 (1.02-1.16); p=0.021, and PLR [OR:1.05 (1.03-1.08); p<0.001] were found to be associated with MSAD. CONCLUSION: NLR and PLR are correlated with MSAD and may indicate the extent of atherosclerosis.

The combination of vein grafting and two different types of corporeal plication in complex curvature due to Peyronie's disease.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the surgical results of incision and vein grafting combined with two types of plication sutures, including Essed-Schroeder and longitudinal imbrication, to correct the cavernous sacculation in complex curvature resulting from Peyronie's disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2004 and 2008, 15 patients with complex curvature resulting from Peyronie's disease were surgically treated. Essed-Schroeder plication and venous grafting were performed in 10 patients. Five of the 15 patients had cavernous sacculation, which was defined as albugineal elongation, except for the normally morphological cavernosal structure, which caused some degree of penile torsion beside the angulation. Surgery was used to establish sufficient cosmetic results by performing longitudinal imbrication on the cavernous sacculation on the same side as that of the Essed-Schroeder plication combined with venous grafting in these five patients. RESULTS: Complete penile straightening was achieved in all the patients. Two patients (13.3%) reported penile shortening without showing dissatisfaction about it. One patient complained of anesthesia on part of the skin of the penile shaft. All the patients were satisfied with the final surgical results. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of the surgical methods might be necessary to correct the complex deformities due to Peyronie's disease. Further studies with larger patient populations are needed to standardize these procedures.

Snakebites in adults from the Diyarbakir region in southeast Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Snake venom poisoning is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. Bites from poisonous Turkish snakes can lead to local tissue damage and systemic symptoms. The Vipera ammodytes species accounts for the majority of envenomation in southeast Turkey. METHODS: The demographic and epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome of 79 consecutive victims of V. ammodytes poisoning admitted to our hospital from 2003 to 2005 were reviewed and analyzed prospectively. RESULTS: The most common symptoms and signs included fang marks (100%), pain (100%), swelling (83.5%), ecchymosis (92.4%), tachycardia (24.1%), fainting or dizziness (14.5%), fever (19.0%), enlargement of regional lymph nodes (43.0%), nausea (70.9%), hypotension (21.5%), vomiting (36.7%), and dyspnea (3.2%). The main complications were thrombophlebitis, reduced range of motion, local hemorrhagic blister formation, bleeding from skin, rhabdomyolysis, reduced sensation, acute renal failure, necrosis with tissue loss, digit amputation, carpal tunnel syndrome, and compartment syndrome. CONCLUSION: A V. Ammodytes bite is a potentially serious event that requires immediate hospital care. Nevertheless, the majority of victims can be treated successfully with conservative methods. No deaths occurred in our series.

Assessment of the relationship between death and CHA2DS2-VASc score in peripheral artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, previous stroke, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, female gender) score is used to estimate thromboembolic risk in atrial fibrillation (AF). Current studies have shown that CHA2DS2-VASc score can predict adverse clinical outcomes in coronary artery disease, stroke, and many diseases irrespective of the presence of AF. The usefulness of CHA2DS2-VASc score in predicting mortality of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients is unknown. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the CHA2DS2-VASc score for mortality of PAD patients. METHODS: A total of 396 patients diagnosed with PAD for the first time in our clinic between January 2010-July 2016 were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups as deceased (group 1, N.=153) and living (group 2, N.=243). A ROC analysis was performed to determine if CHA2DS2VASc score could predict the death events among PAD patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate the timing of death events in the two groups. RESULTS: The mean ages of group 1 and group 2 were 76.6±0.81 and 66.5±0.83 (P=0.007), respectively. The CHA2DS2VASc scores of group-1 (4.37±0.1) and group 2 (2.96±0.9) were significantly different (P<0.001). A significant correlation between CHA2DS2VASc score and death was determined in Spearman correlation (R:0.454, P<0.001). According to multivariate cox regression analysis, CHA2DS2-VASc score [odds ratio (OR): 1.81 (95% CI: 1.42-2.30); P<0.001], Stroke [OR: 0.43 (95% CI: 0.21-0.85); P=0.016] and CRP [OR: 1.04 (95% CI: 1.01-1.06); P=0.002] were independent predictors of death. CONCLUSIONS: The CHA2DS2VASc score is directly related with mortality in PAD patients. The CHA2DS2VASc score may be a useful and practical scoring method to identify high-risk patients, and further future studies are needed to assess the role of CHA2DS2VASc score in PAD.

The effects of genetic polymorphisms and diabetes mellitus on the development of peripheral artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition caused by the narrowing of limb arteries due to atherosclerosis. In recent years, polymorphisms in a number of genes have been shown to contribute to the risk of PAD development. However, whether the contribution of these inheritable factors is independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors remains unclear. This study was an investigation of the effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) and genetic background, examined singly and together, on the pathogenesis of PAD. METHODS: The effects of the factor V Leiden (G1691A), factor V H1299R, prothrombin G20210A, factor XIII V34L, B-fibrinogen -455 G>A, PAI-1 4G/5G, HPA1, MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C, ACE I/D, APO B R3500Q, and APOE polymorphisms were evaluated using a cardiovascular disease strip assay (CVD StripAssay). Two groups were created: 100 patients with PAD (50 with DM, 50 without DM) and 60 controls without PAD (30 with DM, 30 without DM). RESULTS: There was a significantly greater presence of the MTHFR A1298C and PAI 4G/5G homozygous polymorphisms in the PAD patients compared with the control group (p=0.035, p=0.004, respectively). There were no significant associations between the other genotypes and polymorphism frequencies. In the presence of DM, the PAI-1 4G/5G homozygous polymorphism was linked to the formation of PAD (p=0.021). Regression analysis indicated that the PAI-1 4G/5G gene homozygous polymorphism demonstrated a 17.1 times greater risk for DM with PAD [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.113-138.660; p=0.008] and the MTHFR A1298C homozygous polymorphism demonstrated a 316.6 times greater risk (95% CI: 10.763-9315.342; p<0.001) for the possibility of DM with PAD. CONCLUSION: The MTHFR A1298C and PAI 4G/5G homozygous polymorphisms may be associated with the development of PAD. The presence of the PAI 4G/5G homozygous polymorphism with DM was a powerful predictor for the development of PAD.

Role of testosterone/estradiol ratio in predicting the efficacy of tamoxifen citrate treatment in idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men.

AIM: It was the aim of this study to investigate the effect of a low testosterone/estradiol (T/E2) ratio and the normalization of this ratio by an aromatase inhibitor, anastrozole, on the treatment results of tamoxifen citrate (TAM) in idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermic patients with a normal T/E2 ratio. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 127 normogonadotropic men were included in this study. TAM (10 mg twice daily) was applied to 103 of the patients (group 1). The control group consisted of 25 patients who did not receive any treatment (group 2). After 3 months, TAM therapy was continued in 42 of the patients with a normal T/E2 ratio (group 1A). Of the remaining 61 patients with low ratios, 30 continued with TAM (group 1BTAM), while the remaining 31 patients underwent additional anastrozole therapy (1 mg/day) to TAM (group 1BANA). RESULTS: In the 3rd month of the study, while the sperm concentration and motility were found significantly improved in group 1 (p < 0.05), they were significantly lower in groups 1BTAM and 1BANA than in group 1A (p < 0.01). In the 6th month of the study, the mean T/E2 ratio was normal in group 1A and group 1BANA, but was lower than normal ranges in group 1BTAM. The sperm concentration and motility significantly increased in groups 1A and 1BANA (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A significant decrease in the T/E2 ratio was seen in the majority of the patients during TAM treatment. Normalization of this ratio by addition of anastrozole to the treatment regimen improved the treatment outcomes. However, a placebo-controlled study is needed to confirm our results.

[Mortality factors in flame and scalds burns: our experience in 816 patients]. / Alev ve haslanma yaniklarinda mortalitede etkili faktörler: 816 hastada deneyimlerimiz.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to evaluate the effective factors on mortality in flame and scald burns in the Diyarbakir region. METHODS: The data of 816 patients who applied to the Dicle University Emergency Department between January 2001 and May 2005 with flame and scald burns were investigated retrospectively. The patients were separated into two groups as alive or deceased. Gender, age, burns shapes, burn degrees and rates, burn regions, admission periods, hospitalization times, complications, and the treatments were analyzed. RESULTS: 43.5% of the patients were female and 57.5% were male. Six hundred fifty-eight patients were under 6 years old. 70.5% of burns occurred as a result of negligence; 76.5% occurred due to scald and 23.5% due to flame. In cases of death, 39 patients were under 10 years old. The mean age was 9.32 years. The average hospitalization period was 10.37 days. The most common complication was wound infection. The mortality rate was 6.1%. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate was higher among patients who were hospitalized longer than 15 days (p = 0.030); whose burns were due to suicide attempt (p = 0.002); who used shoe paint on the burn wounds instead of treatment (p = 0.000); who had more than 40% second-degree burns (p = 0.000) or more than 20% third-degree burns (p = 0.000); and among those with acute respiratory failure, compartment syndrome, hypoalbuminemia, and sepsis (p = 0.000).

Relationship between oxidative stress and detrussor overactivity: a case control study.

PURPOSE: We analyzed the role of oxidative stress in detrusor overactivity (DO) by measuring serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), binding capacity of exogenous cobalt to human albumin (IMA), serum advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), paraoxonase (PON), and arylesterase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 38 female patients diagnosed with DO and 29 healthy female subjects forming the control group. Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), binding capacity of exogenous cobalt to human albumin (IMA), serum advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), paraoxonase (PON), and arylesterase were analyzed. The results of serum TAC, TOS, IMA, AOPP, PON, and arylesterase of the subjects in both groups were compared. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups in terms of age. When compared to the control group, serum TAC and IMA levels were statisticaly lower (P  < 0,001)  and higher (P = 0,003), respectively. However, TOS, AOPP, PON, arylesterase levels were similar in both groups ( p > 0.05 ). CONCLUSION: There seems to be an association between DO and oxidative damage according to our results, this can be measured by analyzing TAC and IMA in this patient group.

Non-traumatic splenic rupture: report of seven cases and review of the literature.

AIM: To evaluate seven patients with non-traumatic splenic rupture (NSR). NSR is an uncommon dramatic abdominal emergency that requires immediate diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment to ensure the patient's survival. METHODS: Within 11 years, seven cases were evaluated for patient characteristics, anamnesis and symptoms, method of diagnosis, findings of laparotomy, and etiology of NSR. RESULTS: There were six (86%) male and one female (14%) patient, whose mean age was 36 +/- 12.8 (17-56) years. We report here four cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria (cases I-IV), one case of hemodialysis (case V), one case of spontaneous splenic rupture (case VI), and one case of hairy cell leukemia (case VII). Splenectomy was performed in all patients. All of them made an uneventful recovery and were discharged in stable condition. CONCLUSION: NSR is a rare entity that needs a high index of suspicion for diagnosis. Using ultrasonography or computer tomography, and peritoneal aspiration of fresh blood may assist in the diagnosis of NSR. Increased awareness of NSR can enhance early diagnosis and effective treatment.

Results of varicocelectomy in patients with isolated teratozoospermia.

INTRODUCTION: Isolated teratozoospermia is rarely encountered in patients with clinically palpable varicocele, and the consequences of varicocelectomy remain unclear in these cases. In the current study, we assessed the effect of varicocelectomy on sperm morphology in a series of patients with infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data obtained from 52 primary subfertile men with isolated teratozoospermia and clinical palpable varicocele were reviewed retrospectively. Varicocelectomy was performed on 29 patients, and the remaining 23 patients did not undergo any treatment (control group). The differences in sperm morphology assessed by using Kruger's strict criteria 3 months before and 12 months after varicocelectomy were taken into consideration for statistical analysis. RESULTS: One patient who underwent varicocelectomy was excluded from the study due to varicocele recurrence. Thus, data obtained from the remaining 28 patients were evaluated. Following varicocelectomy, significant improvement was detected in the ratio of normal sperm forms (p < 0.001). While there was significant improvement in the ratio of sperm cells with head defects, tail defects and immature forms (p < 0.001), the ratio of sperm with acrosome and mid-piece defects was not changed (p > 0.05). While an overall spontaneous pregnancy was achieved in 5 of the 28 (17.8%) couples in the varicocelectomy group within 12 months after operation, neither improvement in sperm morphology nor pregnancy in the patients' partners was detected in the control group. CONCLUSION: Varicocelectomy caused a significant improvement in sperm morphology, particularly in immature forms and forms with head and tail defects evaluated by Kruger's classification.