Diagnostic Value of Plasma Pentraxin3- Level For Diagnosis of Erectile Dysfunction.

PURPOSE: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a sexual dysfunction described as the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis adequate for sexual intercourse, and its prevalence increases with age. Seen as a common sexual disorder worldwide, organic causes are the underlying reason for 80 percent of ED cases, with the most characteristic pathology responsible for organic ED being atherosclerosis. This study investigates the diagnostic value of plasma PTX-3 levels in arterial ED. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included a total of 45 patients who were admitted to the urology and cardiologyoutpatient clinics of the Medical Faculty of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University (COMU) and consented to participate in this study. Patients were categorized into three equal groups in number: (1) patients with ED diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) (15 patients in total); (2) patients with ED not having coronary artery disease or any other equivalent diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia) (15 patients in total);and (3) ordinary patients with no ED (15 patients in total). An interview was conducted at the andrology polyclinic with each patient in order to ascertain detailed information on their medical and sexual history and on demographic characteristics. All patients were also administered the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. RESULT: The findings from this study investigating the diagnostic value of plasma PTX-3 levels in ED were statistically significant for two comparisons: the differences between the peripheral blood and cavernous blood values of the patient groups (group 1 and 2) and the control group (group 3), and the differences between the peripheral blood and cavernous blood values of group 2 (patients with ED who do not have CAD) and the control group (group 3). CONCLUSION: As PTX-3 is more specific than the formerly recognized biochemical markers in endothelial dysfunction, it can be used in the diagnosis of vascular originated ED.

Nitric oxide and asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) levels in an experimental hydronephrotic kidney caused by unilateral partial ureteral obstruction.

AIM: Our aim is to measure asymmetric dimethyl arginine and nitric oxide levels in rats with induced unilateral acute ureteral obstruction to research the effects on the kidney. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 21 adolescent (average age 6 weeks) Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing between 240-290g divided at random into 3 groups. Group-1: Control group (n=6): underwent no procedures. Group-2: Sham group (n=6): underwent the same procedures as the experimental group without ureter and psoas muscle dissection. Group-3: Group with induced partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (n=9). All rats were sacrificed after 12 weeks. Superoxide dismutase enzyme activity and nitrite and nitrate salt levels were measured in renal tissue. Plasma nitrite-nitrate and ADMA levels were examined. RESULTS: In the experimental group histopathological changes observed included renal pelvis dilatation, flattened papillae, sclerotic glomerulus and fibrosis. In the experimental group tissue SOD and blood ADMA levels were higher than the control and sham groups (p<0.05) while tissue NO and plasma NO values were lower than in the sham and control groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress and disruption of NO synthesis play an important role in renal function and histopathological changes after obstructive renal disease. To prevent renal complications developing after obstructive nephropathy we believe that a new strategy may be research on reducing ADMA.

Nitric oxide and asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) levels in an experimental hydronephrotic kidney caused by unilateral partial ureteral obstruction

ABSTRACT Aim Our aim is to measure asymmetric dimethyl arginine and nitric oxide levels in rats with induced unilateral acute ureteral obstruction to research the effects on the kidney. Material and Methods The study included 21 adolescent (average age 6 weeks) Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing between 240-290g divided at random into 3 groups. Group-1: Control group (n=6): underwent no procedures. Group-2: Sham group (n=6): underwent the same procedures as the experimental group without ureter and psoas muscle dissection. Group-3: Group with induced partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (n=9). All rats were sacrificed after 12 weeks. Superoxide dismutase enzyme activity and nitrite and nitrate salt levels were measured in renal tissue. Plasma nitrite-nitrate and ADMA levels were examined. Results In the experimental group histopathological changes observed included renal pelvis dilatation, flattened papillae, sclerotic glomerulus and fibrosis. In the experimental group tissue SOD and blood ADMA levels were higher than the control and sham groups (p<0.05) while tissue NO and plasma NO values were lower than in the sham and control groups (p<0.05). Conclusion Oxidative stress and disruption of NO synthesis play an important role in renal function and histopathological changes after obstructive renal disease. To prevent renal complications developing after obstructive nephropathy we believe that a new strategy may be research on reducing ADMA.

Efficacy of Duloxetine in the Early Management of Urinary Continence after Radical Prostatectomy.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of early duloxetine therapy in stress urinary incontinence occurring after radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients that had RP were randomly divided into 2 groups following the removal of the urinary catheter. Group A patients (n = 28) had pelvic floor exercise and duloxetine therapy. Group B patients (n = 30) had only pelvic floor exercise. The incontinence status of the patients and number of pads were recorded and 1-hour pad test and Turkish validation of International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form test were applied to the patients at the follow-up. RESULTS: When the dry state of the patients was evaluated, 5, 17, 3, and 2 of 28 Group A patients stated that they were completely dry in the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th month respectively and pad use was stopped. There was no continence in 30 Group B in the first 3 months. Twelve, 6, and 8 patients stated that they were completely dry in the 6th, 9th and 12th month, respectively. But 3 of 4 patients in whom dryness could not be provided were using a mean of 7.6 pads in the first day and a mean of 1.3 pads after 1 year. When pad use of the patients was evaluated, the mean monthly number of pad use was determined to be 6.2 (4-8) in the initial evaluation, 2.7 (0-5) in the in 3rd month, 2 (0-3) in the 6th month and 1.6 (0-2) pad/d in the 9th month in the group taking medicine. The mean monthly number of pads used was determined to be 5.8 (4-8) in the initial evaluation, 4.3 (3-8) in the 3rd month, 3 (0-6) in the 6th month and 1.6 (0-6) pad/d in the 9th month in the group not taking medicine. CONCLUSION: According to the results, early duloxetine therapy in stress urinary incontinence that occurred after RP provided early continence.

Asymmetric dimethyl arginine levels in testicular tissue and blood of rats with induced experimental varicocele / Niveles de dimetilarginina asimétrica en la sangre y el tejido testicular de ratas con varicocele inducido

Introduction. Varicocele is one of the reasons for testicular dysfunction and is frequently known to accompany infertility. The basic pathology of varicocele is the development of endothelial dysfunction. The most important factors in development of endothelial dysfunction are impaired endothelial-linked vasodilatation, increase in free oxygen radicals, reduced synthesis and release of nitric oxide (NO), abnormal vasoconstriction and increased levels of dimethyl arginine. Our aim was to identify and illustrate the relationship between asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) and NO levels in testicular tissue and plasma of rats with induced experimental varicocele. Materials and methods. Twenty-one adolescent (average 6 weeks) male rats were included in the study and randomly divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (control, n = 6) did not undergo any procedure. Group 2 (sham, n = 6) had the left renal vein circled proximally but ligation was not performed. Group 3 (varicocele-induced, n = 9) had partial ligation of the proximal left renal vein to induce left varicocele. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity and levels of end-products of NO, nitrite and nitrate salts were investigated in testis tissue. Nitrite/nitrate and ADMA levels were investigated in plasma. Histopathological examination was completed with routine hematoxylin-eosine and TUNEL dyes. Results. Tissue SOD and plasma ADMA values were clearly increased in the varicocele group compared to the other groups; tissue and plasma nitrite/nitrate levels were clearly reduced in the varicocele group and this was observed to be statistically significant between the groups. Conclusion. We believe our study has opened an important window on the relationship between infertility observed in varicocele patients and ADMA. We believe that broad-series prospective studies to support this are required (AU)

Introducción. El varicocele es uno de los causantes de la disfunción testicular y comúnmente cursa con infertilidad. La patología de base del varicocele es el desarrollo de la disfunción endotelial. Los factores más importantes para el desarrollo de la disfunción endotelial son la vasodilatación dependiente del endotelio, el aumento de los radicales libres del oxígeno, la reducción en la síntesis y liberación de óxido nítrico (NO), la vasoconstricción anormal y los niveles altos de dimetilarginina. Nuestro objetivo fue identificar e ilustrar la relación existente entre la dimetilarginina asimétrica (ADMA) y los niveles de NO en el tejido testicular y el plasma de ratas con varicocele inducido en laboratorio. Material y métodos. En el estudio se incluyeron veintiuna ratas macho adolescentes (6 semanas de media), que se dividieron en 3 grupos al azar. El Grupo 1 (control, n = 6) no fue sometido a ninguna operación. Al Grupo 2 (grupo quirúrgico de referencia, n = 6) se le rodeó de manera proximal la vena renal izquierda, pero no se realizó la ligadura. En el Grupo 3 (varicocele inducido, n = 9) se realizó una ligadura parcial de la vena renal izquierda para inducir varicocele izquierdo. Se investigaron en el tejido testicular los niveles de actividad de la enzima superóxido dimutasa (SOD) y de productos finales del NO, sales de nitritos y nitratos. Se investigaron los niveles de nitrito/nitrato y de ADMA en el plasma. El análisis histopatológico se completó con tinciones hematoxilina-eosina y TUNEL rutinarias. Resultados. Los valores hísticos de SOD y plasmáticos de ADMA habían sufrido un aumento claro en el grupo de varicocele comparado con los otros grupos; los niveles hísticos y plasmáticos de nitrito/nitrato se habían visto claramente reducidos en el grupo de varicocele, lo cual se entendió como un valor estadístico significativo entre los grupos. Conclusión. Opinamos que nuestra investigación ha abierto una puerta importante a la relación entre la infertilidad en casos de pacientes con varicocele y la ADMA. Para respaldarla, deberían llevarse a cabo amplios estudios prospectivos (AU)