Risk factors for malignancy in systemic sclerosis patients.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease with multisystem involvement. An increased incidence of cancer in SSc patients compared with the general population has been reported in several reports. Our aims in this study were to determine the most common malignancies and to investigate the possible risk factors for the development of malignancy in patients with SSc. Three hundred forty SSc patients from 13 centers were included to the study. Data of the patients were obtained by evaluating their medical records retrospectively. A total of 340 patients with SSc were evaluated. Twenty-five of the patients had 19 different types of malignancy. Bladder cancer was the most common type of cancer with four patients and was followed by breast cancer with three patients, and cervix cancer and ovarian cancer with two patients each. Other types of cancers such as squamous cell skin cancer, adenocancer with an unknown origin, multiple myeloma, chronic myeloid leukemia, papillary thyroid cancer, larynx cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, follicular type non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), endometrium cancer, colon cancer, uterus cancer, neuroendocrine tumor, glioblastoma multiforme, and soft tissue sarcoma were diagnosed in one patient each. The only cancer type that showed an association with cyclophosphamide dose was bladder carcinoma. Other malignancies did not show a correlation with age, sex, smoking, type and duration of the disease, autoantibodies, organ involvement, and dose and duration of cyclophosphamide therapy. Cancer may develop in any organ in patients with SSc. Continuous screening of the patients during a follow-up period is necessary for the early detection of the tumor development.

Hand measurements in the follow-up of acromegaly.

Acromegaly is a chronic progressive disease that originates from the increased secretion of the insulin-like growth-hormone (IGF-1) secondary to the hypersecretion of the growth hormone (GH). The enlargement of the minor hand and foot bones represents an early finding in this disease. Kleinberg et al. used the sesamoid index (SI) values for diagnosing the disease. The present trial was designed to investigate whether there was a difference between the control patients and the treated acromegalic patients in the SI, the terminal tuft width, the joint space and the metacarpal thickness. 34 patients were diagnosed and treated for acromegaly at the Rheumatology and Endocrinology Outpatient Clinics and 26 control patients presenting to the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, who were not detected to have an inflammatory rheumatologic pathology were enrolled. The hand radiographs of the patients that followed up for acromegaly and the control group were retrospectively evaluated. The SI, the tuft width, the joint space and the metacarpal thickness were measured. There was a statistically significant difference in the other parameters between the acromegalic patients and the control patients except the mean metacarpal thickness.

¿Evita la antibioterapia biopsias de próstata en pacientes con valores elevados de PSA? / Does Antibiotherapy Prevent Unnecessary Prostate Biopsies in Patients With High PSA Values?

Introducción: Investigamos si la antibioterapia tiene algún papel en el PSA total (tPSA), PSA libre (fPSA) y fPSA/tPSA en pacientes con PSA superior a 2,5ng/ml. También si tiene alguna relación con la tasa de diagnóstico de cáncer de próstata. Material y métodos: Un total de 108 pacientes mayores de 50 años con síntomas del tracto urinario inferior y PSA>2,5ng/ml fueron incluidos en este estudio. Se dio antibioterapia a todos los casos durante tres semanas. Luego se tomó biopsias con guía ultrasonográfica a todos los pacientes. Antes y después de la antibioterapia se les aplicó los cuestionarios International Prostate Sypmtom Score (IPSS) y National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) y se comparó los valores de tPSA, fPSA y fPSA/tPSA en sangre. Resultados: Las variaciones de tPSA, fPSA y fPSA/tPSA antes y después de la antibioterapia no mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p>0,05). Cuando excluimos el adenocarcinoma de próstata se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las puntuaciones del IPSS y NIH-CPSI en todos los casos. Conclusiones: La administración de antibioterapia a pacientes con niveles de PSA superiores a los valores de corte no produjo un cambio significativo en la decisión de realizar biopsias de próstata con aguja. Se debería considerar realizar biopsias de próstata sin antibioterapia previa en los pacientes con PSA elevado cuando no exista una sospecha de prostatitis (AU)

Introduction: We investigated if antibiotherapy has any role on total PSA (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA) and fPSA/tPSA ratio in patients with tPSA higher than 2.5 ng/ml. We also analyzed if it has any relation with prostate cancer diagnosis rate. Material and Methods: A total 108 patients older than 50 years of age with lower urinary system sypmtoms and tPSA >2.5ng/ml were included in this study. Antibiotherapy was given to all the cases for three weeks. After that, transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies were taken from all the patients. Before and after antibiotherapy, "The International Prostate Symptom Score" (IPSS) and "National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index" (NIH-CPSI) questinories are performed and serum tPSA, fPSA and fPSA/tPSA values were obtained. Results: TPSA, fPSA and fPSA/tPSA ratio alterations prior to and after antibiotherapy did not show any statistically significant difference (p>0.05). When prostate adenocarcinoma was excluded, an statistically significant decrease was found in IPSS and NIH-CPSI scores for all cases. Conclusions: Antibiotherapy given to patients with PSA levels higher than threshold value has not led to significant change in prostate needle biopsy decision. Prostate biopsy should be considered without trying antibiotherapy in patients with high PSA values if a suspicion of prostatitis does not exist (AU)

[Does antibiotherapy prevent unnecessary prostate biopsies in patients with high PSA values?]. / ¿Evita la antibioterapia biopsias de próstata en pacientes con valores elevados de PSA?

INTRODUCTION: We investigated if antibiotherapy has any role on total PSA (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA) and fPSA/tPSA ratio in patients with tPSA higher than 2.5ng/ml. We also analyzed if it has any relation with prostate cancer diagnosis rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total 108 patients older than 50 years of age with lower urinary system sypmtoms and tPSA >2.5ng/ml were included in this study. Antibiotherapy was given to all the cases for three weeks. After that, transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies were taken from all the patients. Before and after antibiotherapy, "The International Prostate Symptom Score" (IPSS) and "National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index" (NIH-CPSI) questinories are performed and serum tPSA, fPSA and fPSA/tPSA values were obtained. RESULTS: TPSA, fPSA and fPSA/tPSA ratio alterations prior to and after antibiotherapy did not show any statistically significant difference (p>0.05). When prostate adenocarcinoma was excluded, an statistically significant decrease was found in IPSS and NIH-CPSI scores for all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotherapy given to patients with PSA levels higher than threshold value has not led to significant change in prostate needle biopsy decision. Prostate biopsy should be considered without trying antibiotherapy in patients with high PSA values if a suspicion of prostatitis does not exist.

Premature ejaculation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

We aimed to evaluate the premature ejaculation (PE) among ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Fifty male patients with AS who were diagnosed according to the modified New York criteria and fifty normal healthy controls (NHC) were included in this study. The details of patient age, disease duration, morning stiffness, laboratory activity, disease severity and medication use were obtained by reviewing the medical record. The Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI) was used to measure the functional status of the patients with AS. By taking a careful medical and sexual history, patients were classified as lifelong, natural variable, acquired PE or premature ejaculatory dysfunction. In addition to medical and sexual history, self-estimated intravaginal ejaculatory latency times (IELT) of patients were used in the classification of patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study of frequency of PE in men with AS. The prevalence rates of PE in patient and healthy controls were 32 and 30%, respectively (p = 0.331). The prevalence of PE was not significantly different between AS patients and NHC groups as regards the four PE syndromes. Average estimated IELT was 10,009 ± 51.9 sec in the PE group and 145.26 ± 43.01 sec in the non-PE group (p = 0.000). Patients with lifelong PE had a significantly lower mean estimated IELT than the other group (p = 0.000). Patients with premature-like ejaculatory dysfunction had the highest estimated IELT (p = 0.000). There was a significant association between self-estimated IELT and distribution of the patients according to the four PE syndromes (p = 0.01). Both AS patients and NHC groups have the same results. The present study demonstrates that PE in men with AS is as prevalent as it is in the general population. Although this study is restricted in terms of the number of patients, it is the first study ever conducted. For more meaningful results, multi centred studies with more patients are required.

Do ureteral catheterisation procedures affect sexual functions? A controlled prospective study.

The use of ureteral stents is a common procedure in urology practice. We investigated whether the use of double-J stent had an effect on sexual functions or not. One hundred and seventy-seven cases were included in the study. Unilateral double-J stent was placed during ureteral stone treatment in one hundred and eight of these cases. Sixty-nine cases were included as the control group. 'International Index of Erectile Function' (IIEF) and 'Female Sexual Function Index' (FSFI) questionaries were assessed before and 4 weeks after the intervention in all patients. When total IIEF and subdomains of IIEF scores of men and total FSFI and subdomains of FSFI scores of women whom double-J stent was placed were evaluated before and after the procedure, there was statistically significant reduction in patient's scores. In the control group, any statistically significant alteration in patient's score was not observed in men and women. Sexual functions are negatively affected in both women and men whom ureteral stents are placed. To reduce these problems specific to urinary system owing to stents, new treatment strategies and new studies that lead to improvements in the material and design of stents are required.

The effectiveness of sildenafil citrate in patients with erectile dysfunction and lower urinary system symptoms and the significance of asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.

We evaluated the effectiveness of sildenafil citrate on lower urinary system symptoms (LUTS) by using symptom score scales. We also evaluated whether or not the presence of asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis had an effect on the alteration in the symptom scores. A total of 36 male patients were included in the study. For all the cases, 'International Prostate Symptom Score' (IPSS), 'National Health Institute Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index' (NIH-CPSI) and 'International Index of Erectile Function' (IIEF-5) were investigated and the scores were calculated in the first visit. Sildenafil citrate was given for 30 days and at the second visit IPSS, NIH-CPSI and IIEF-5 scores were once more analyzed. Afterwards, the alterations of the scores between visits were statistically compared. Mean age of the 36 cases included in the study was 59.03±1.35. When the alterations in parameters of first visit and second visit were evaluated, we found a statistically significant increase in IIEF-5 and a statistically significant decrease in IPSS, IPSS-QOL (Quality of Life). In addition, when the cases were divided into two groups with and without asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, in the cases with asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, sildenafil citrate caused improvement only in ED, but had no effect on LUTS. Sildenafil citrate use in cases with LUTS and ED has an improving effect on LUTS as well as ED. However, in cases with asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, sildenafil citrate did not lead to an improvement in LUTS.

Effects of unilateral testicular torsion on the blood flow of contralateral testis--an experimental study on dogs.

The effects of unilateral testicular torsion on the blood flow of the contralateral testis were investigated. Fourteen adult male dogs were recruited. Seven dogs underwent unilateral testicular torsion of 4 h duration, and the other seven dogs had a control operation. Testicular blood flow was determined by colour Doppler ultrasonography before and after the testicular torsion. Bilateral orchidectomy was performed at the end of the study and histopathological changes were evaluated. Values of peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and resistive index were not statistically significant between ipsilateral and contralateral testes in the study group (p > 0.05). On comparison with the control group, blood flow in the contralateral testes showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Oedema and congestion were seen on ipsilateral testes in the study group. No histopathological changes were noted on the contralateral testes. Minimal oedema and congestion secondary to manipulation were found in the control operation testes. We conclude that unilateral testicular torsion does not decrease contralateral testicular blood flow as shown by colour Doppler ultrasonography.

Cavernous oxygen tension in the patients with erectile dysfunction.

We designed a study consisting of 27 consecutive patients with erectile dysfunction in order to evaluate the role of cavernous oxygen tension. Patients were completely evaluated by history, physical examination, multiple blood analyses, serum testosterone level measurements, papaverine test, color duplex sonography and dynamic infusion cavernosometry-cavernosography. Blood gas samples were obtained from femoral artery and corpus cavernosum before drug injection and also from corpus cavernosum at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 min following drug injection. Aetiologic classification of erectile dysfunction in our patients was as follows: psychogenic in 8, cavernosal failure in 14 and arterial disease in 5 cases. At flaccidity, no significant differences were found in the mean pO2, sO2, pCO2 and pH values of patient groups. After injection of intracavernous papaverine, results of the cavernous pO2 (P < 0.05), sO2 (P < 0.05) levels were found to be statistically significantly different between patients with vascular and psychogenic erectile dysfunction. Analysis of maximal cavernosal oxygen tension and PSV revealed statistically significant correlation (r = 0.66, P < 0.001). The results of this study suggest that changes in arterial and cavernosal pO2 and sO2 values may be contributing factors or co-factors in erectile failure.

Effect of intracavernosal sodium nitroprusside in impotence.

Recent studies have shown an important role for nitric oxide (NO) in cavernous smooth muscle relaxation. In this study the intracavernosal effects of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were investigated in 32 patients with erectile dysfunction. Erectile response and penile blood flow were investigated following intracavernosal administration of 360 micrograms SNP and 60 mg papaverine for diagnostic purposes. In all of 32 patients the erectile response to SNP was not better than that to papaverine. Haemodynamic evaluation of the deep penile arteries was carried out by colour duplex Doppler sonography after administration of SNP and papaverine. No differences in peak flow velocities were measured, but the increases in diameter and end-diastolic velocities were higher after SNP than after papaverine. Our data suggest that the NO donor SNP is not a new alternative agent for diagnosis and treatment of impotence.

An enigma: contralateral effects of experimental unilateral testicular torsion.

To investigate the effects of unilateral testicular torsion on both testes, we studied 4 groups of adult male New Zealand rabbits using sham operation, torsion and detorsion after one or eight hours and permanent torsion. Bilateral orchiectomy was performed 9 weeks after the operation, and testicular weights, Johnsen scores, quantitative analyses, tubular diameters were calculated and histopathologic diagnosis was determined. Testicular weights, Johnsen scores, spermatid counts and tubular diameters were all decreased in torsioned testes depending on the duration of torsion. The contralateral testes showed no significant change in any of the study groups when compared with the control group.

Oxytocin-induced contractions of the rabbit corpus cavernosum.

The contractile effect of oxytocin on isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum strips was investigated. Concentration-response curves to oxytocin and phenylephrine were obtained. Oxytocin repetitively induced concentration-dependent contractions in the corpus cavernosum strips. The maximal contractile response to oxytocin was in amplitude 39.4 +/- 9.1% of that to phenylephrine. The slopes of the concentration-response curves, the amplitude of the maximal contractile effects, and the pD2 values of oxytocin obtained in endothelium-denuded strips were not significantly different from those of intact preparations. The results of this study demonstrated that oxytocin contracts the rabbit corpus cavernosum, but the endothelium does not contribute to this effect. Since oxytocin is less efficacious than phenylephrine, it seems unlikely that this hormone can serve as an alternative in the treatment of prolonged penile erections.

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder in an adult.

Primary bladder rhabdomyosarcoma is very rare in adults. We report a 76-year-old man who underwent partial cystectomy with postoperative radiotherapy and had a recurrence 6 months after the operation.

[A case of a schistosomal bladder polyp]. / Bir sistozomal mesane polibi olgusu.

A 67 year old patient who had transürethral resection because of previous diagnosis of bladder tumor and schistosomal polyp was detected on the histopathologic and the microbiologic examinations were presented.