An experimental study on effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate on ischemia-reperfusion injury in testis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the histopathological and biochemical effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, an antioxidant and inhibitor of NF-kß, on ischemiareperfusion injury in rats. METHODS: A total of 21 male Wistar-Albino rats were randomly distributed into three groups as sham group (Group 1), ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group (Group 2) and I/R with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) group (Group 3). Left testicles of rats in Groups 2 and 3 underwent testicular torsion of 720° for four hours and 100 mg/kg of PDTC was administered intraperitoneally prior to detorsion in Group 3. An hour after detorsion process, left orchiectomies were performed and 5 ml of intracardiac blood samples were drawn from rats in all three groups. Histopathological examination of testis tissues performed and measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in blood samples were taken. RESULTS: Elevated levels of MDA and decreased SOD activity, together with decreased Johnson tubular biopsy scores consistent with I/R injury were observed in Group 2 (p<0.05). Group 1 and Group 3 were similar in terms of MDA levels, SOD activity, and Johnson scores (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that PDTC may have beneficial effects for alleviation of I/R injury in testicular tissue in rats. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and exploration of its diagnostic and therapeutic potential requires further randomized, controlled trials on a larger scale.

Factors Influencing the Duration of Urine Leakage following Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

Purpose. The duration of urine leakage following the removal of the nephrostomy tube after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) shows significant variations depending on the techniques used. We aimed to assess the factors likely to influence the duration of urine leakage. Material and Methods. In total, 103 patients who underwent PCNL were reviewed retrospectively. DUL was evaluated regarding patient characteristics, thickness of the access line, presence of hydronephrosis, and residual stones. Results. DUL was significantly prolonged in accordance with a decrease in the thickness of parenchyma tissue (R = -0.716, P < 0.001). DUL was prolonged as the degree of hydronephrosis (R = 0.526, P < 0.001) and the number of patients with residual stones (R = 0.273, P = 0.005) increased. Median DUL was significantly longer in patients with residual stones than those without residual stones (P = 0.002). In the receiving operating curve analysis, the optimum cut-off value of parenchymal thickness for hospitalization ≤12 h was 17.2 mm (sensitivity, 90.2%; specificity, 69.4%; P = 0.001). Conclusions. We found that parenchymal thickness of the access line, hydronephrosis, and residual stones were the most influential factors determining DUL following PCNL, respectively.

The obesity prevalence among students between the ages of 5 and 19 in Kutahya.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of obesity among students between the ages of 5 and 19 in Kutahya, and to determine the factors associated with obesity prevalence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The population in the survey was formed of students between the ages of 5 and 19 in the schools of Kutahya. Within the scope of this survey, obesity was evaluated in accordance with the percentile values indicated in a study on the body weight and height, head circumference, and body mass index reference values of Turkish children that was published in 2008. RESULTS: It was determined that 6.5% of the students were obese, 7.8% of them were overweight, and 7.8% of them were underweight. When the variables of age, sex, and school district were controlled, it was seen that obesity prevalence among students studying at private schools was 2.03 times higher than among students studying at public schools (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: It is seen that, in the efforts to reduce childhood obesity, private schools should be considered as a risk factor and the obesity prevalence at private schools should be analyzed in further studies.

Routine flexible nephroscopy for percutaneous nephrolithotomy for renal stones with low density: a prospective, randomized study.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of routine flexible nephroscopy during percutaneous nephrolithotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with kidney stones who were scheduled to undergo percutaneous nephrolithotomy between March 2011 and July 2012 were randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 underwent standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy using rigid nephroscopy. Group 2 underwent flexible nephroscopy, in addition to standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy and laser lithotripsy or basket catheter stone extraction, as needed. Surgery was performed subcostally and with minimal percutaneous access in group 2 to use the advantages of flexible nephroscopy. We compared the 2 groups in terms of preoperative stone characteristics and postoperative success criteria, including the stone-free rate, bleeding, number of access sites, etc. RESULTS: The study included 61 males (76.3%) and 19 females (23.8%) with a mean ± SD age of 43.75 ± 12.4 years (range 19 to 74). There was no significant difference in stone size, HU density or stone location between the 2 groups. Comparison of perioperative and postoperative parameters revealed a higher stone-free rate (92.5% vs 70%), fewer access sites and a lower hematocrit decrease in group 2. The stone-free rate was higher in patients with stones with a density of less than 677.5 HU (100% in group 2 vs 64.7% in group 1). CONCLUSIONS: Routine flexible nephroscopy during percutaneous nephrolithotomy was associated with a higher stone-free rate, fewer interventions and less bleeding, especially in patients with low HU density stones.

Does the Hounsfield unit value determined by computed tomography predict the outcome of percutaneous nephrolithotomy?

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate whether the Hounsfield unit (HU) value predicts outcome in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy-nine patients who had undergone PCNL in our clinics in the last 4 years were included. Demographic and clinical data of the patients and complications, if any, were recorded. The mean age of the patients was 45.3 ± 14.3 years (range 5-82 y), and 111 of them were males (62%). The mean stone size and HU values were found to be 693.1 ± 628.0 (95-4200) mm(2) and 706.3 ± 245.0 (214-1325), respectively. RESULTS: In logistic regression analysis, the size of the stone, the opacity of the stone, and the HU values were found to be independent predictors of the failure of the procedure (P<0.05). A cutoff value of 677.5 was used for the HU in the receiver operating characteristics analysis. Having a HU value under the cutoff value increased the likelihood of procedure failure by 2.65 times, whereas stones residing in the staghorn localization increased failure by 5.68. It was also observed that if the stone's size was 485 mm(2) or more, the chance of failure increased by 1.9, whereas when the stone was nonopaque, failure increased by 6.04 times (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between hematocrit decrease and a decrease in HU values (P<0.05), but no correlation was observed between the HU values and duration of surgery or fluoroscopy (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: In addition to the size and location of the stones, the HU value determined in the unenhanced CT scan may be one of the parameters affecting PCNL outcomes. PCNL is a more efficient method in stones with higher HU values. Therefore, the HU values may be a useful tool for the selection of the treatment modality in patients with renal stones.