The epidemiology and outcomes of adult in-hospital cardiac arrest in a high-income developing country.

Aim: In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (IHCA) is a significant burden on healthcare worldwide. Outcomes of IHCA are worse in developing countries compared with developed ones. We aimed to study the epidemiology and factors determining outcomes in adult IHCA in a high income developing country. Methods: We abstracted prospectively collected data of adult patients admitted to our institution over a three-year period who suffered a cardiac arrest. We analysed patient demographics, arrest characteristics, including response time, initial rhythm and code duration. Pre-arrest vital signs, primary diagnoses, discharge and functional status, were obtained from the patients' electronic medical records. Results: A total of 447 patients were studied. The IHCA rate was 8.6/1000 hospital admissions. Forty percent (40%) achieved ROSC with an overall survival to discharge rate of 10.8%, of which 59% had a good functional outcome, with a cerebral performance category score of 1 or 2. Fifty-four percent (54%) of patients had IHCA attributed to causes other than cardiac or respiratory. Admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), shockable rhythm and short code duration were significantly associated with survival (p < 0.001). Conclusion: A combination of patient and system-related factors, such as the underlying cause of cardiac arrest and a lack of DNAR policy, may explain the reduced survival rate in our setting compared with developed countries.

Noninvasive ventilation with nursing perspective: Impacts on patient tolerance, short-term adverse effects, and nursing workload.

BACKGROUND: The success of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) treatment is closely related to high levels of clinical support. AIMS: In this study, we sought to analyze patient mask compliance and minor side effects and to evaluate additional nursing workload needed for the NIV care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective and observational. The data were collected from an intensive care unit. Clinical and physiological data, patient tolerance and adverse effects, subjects' complaints about their experience, and additional nursing workload associated with NIV treatment were assessed. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were obtained in arterial blood gas analysis, respiratory rate, and heart rate during treatment. In the first 2 h, 65% of subjects had poor mask compliance, patients' comfort scores were poor, and incompliance was associated with discomfort. The ratio of skin problems was 15% in the first 24 h and reached 60% at 48 h. The pain rate due to mask ties was 80% and then increased to 90% at 48 h. There was a significant relationship between the problems detected by the nurses and problems described by the subjects. Additional nursing workload was found as 110 min for 0-6 h. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that the mask compliance and comfort levels of the subjects were poor. Skin breakdowns increased depending on the duration of treatment. Treatment would require continuous nursing support in seven areas. NIV treatment generated a significant amount of workload for nurses. Additional nursing workforce planning is required for NIV units for successful NIV treatment.

Fabrication and characterization of large numerical aperture, high-resolution optical fiber bundles based on high-contrast pairs of soft glasses for fluorescence imaging.

Fabrication and characterization of flexible optical fiber bundles (FBs) with in-house synthesized high-index and low-index thermally matched glasses are presented. The FBs composed of around 15000 single-core fibers with pixel sizes between 1.1 and 10 µm are fabricated using the stack-and-draw technique from sets of thermally matched zirconium-silicate ZR3, borosilicate SK222, sodium-silicate K209, and F2 glasses. With high refractive index contrast pair of glasses ZR3/SK222 and K209/F2, FBs with numerical apertures (NAs) of 0.53 and 0.59 are obtained, respectively. Among the studied glass materials, ZR3, SK222, and K209 are in-house synthesized, while F2 is commercially acquired. Seven different FBs with varying pixel sizes and bundle diameters are characterized. Brightfield imaging of a micro-ruler and a Convallaria majalis sample and fluorescence imaging of a dye-stained paper tissue and a cirrhotic mice liver tissue are demonstrated using these FBs, demonstrating their good potential for microendoscopic imaging. Brightfield and fluorescence imaging performance of the studied FBs are compared. For both sets of glass compositions, good imaging performance is observed for FBs, with core diameter and core-to-core distance values larger than 1.6 µm and 2.3 µm, respectively. FBs fabricated with K209/F2 glass pairs revealed better performance in fluorescence imaging due to their higher NA of 0.59.

L-carnitine counteracts prepubertal exposure to cisplatin induced impaired sperm in adult rats by preventing germ cell apoptosis.

We investigated the possible protective effects of L-carnitine on cisplatin induced prepubertal gonadotoxicity and on adult sperm. Prepubertal 30-day-old male rats were divided randomly into three groups: control (n = 12), cisplatin exposed (n = 16) and carnitine treated after cisplatin exposure (n = 16). Rats in the experimental groups were injected with a single dose of cisplatin. L-carnitine was injected 1 h before cisplatin administration and for the following 3 days for the cisplatin + carnitine group. The rats were sacrificed at 31 or 90 days old and their testes were harvested for morphometric and histopathological analysis. Testes of 31-day-old prepubertal rats were examined for germ cell apoptosis using the TUNEL method and for proliferation using PCNA immunostaining. The morphology, motility, quantity and vitality of sperm in epididymal fluid samples of adult 90-day-old rats also were evaluated. L-carnitine treatment reduced testicular damage and the number of TUNEL positive cells significantly, while the number of PCNA positive cells in the cisplatin + carnitine group increased compared to the cisplatin group. During the adult period, epididymal sperm count and viability were improved in rats treated with L-carnitine before prepubertal cisplatin injection. L-carnitine may reduce late testicular and spermatic damage caused by cisplatin administration to prepubertal rats by inducing germ cell proliferation and preventing apoptosis.

Effect of sildenafil on platelet function and platelet cGMP of patients with erectile dysfunction.

To investigate the effect of sildenafil on platelet function and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in patients with erectile dysfunction, we evaluated the association between erectile function and platelet responses after administration of 100 mg sildenafil. Erectile responses were monitored after 8 daily doses of the drug. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen-induced platelet aggregation and simultaneous adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release and cGMP levels were determined before and after sildenafil therapy. Basal levels for platelet aggregation, ATP release and cGMP were compared with age-matched controls. There was no difference among basal levels of platelet responses between patients and controls, except for ADP-induced platelet aggregation (P = 0.04). It was significantly higher in the patient group. Analysis of the responses to sildenafil revealed that for the patients who showed a positive erectile response, there was a significant increase in platelet cGMP (P = 0.028) and a decrease in ADP-induced platelet aggregation (P = 0.04). However, for those who showed a negative or poor erectile response, there was no change in platelet cGMP levels and platelet functions. Sildenafil did not affect collagen-induced platelet responses although cGMP levels of the responders increased. It is concluded that sildenafil increases platelet cGMP in the patients with positive erectile response. Therefore, it has been speculated that platelet cGMP may be used as an index for erectile response.

Prevalence of male pelvic dysfunction: results from the Turkish society of andrology male sexual health study group.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of male pelvic dysfunction (MPD) and its correlation in men ≥40 years of age in a population-based study. This study was designed as a non-interventional, observational, cross-sectional field survey. Participating males of ≥40 years were randomly selected from 19 provinces of Turkey. All participants were asked to complete a survey including data regarding demographics, socio-economic status, socio-cultural factors, medical and sexual history, current medications, comorbidities and three validated questionnaires assessing lower urinary tract symptoms (International Prostate Symptom Score), erectile dysfunction (International Index of Erectile Function) and ejaculatory behaviour (Male Sexual Health Questionnaire-4). MPD was defined by combining abnormal scores calculated from all three questionnaires. All data were analysed statistically and p < 0.05 was accepted as significant. A total of 2730 males of ≥40 years (mean, 54.2 ± 10.6 years) were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of MPD was calculated as 24.4% among all participants. The prevalence of MPD was lowest at age between 40 and 49 years (9.1%) and highest at ≥70 years (76.6%), exhibiting correlation with age. Each decade of increase in age was associated with a 3.4-fold increase in presence of MPD. At logistic regression analyses; age, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, obesity and lower income were found to be independent predictors for increased prevalence of MPD. This study reports prevalence of MPD as 24.4% in males of ≥40 years. Furthermore, age was found to be the main independent predictor of having MPD.

Comparison of international index of erectile function with nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity testing in evaluation of erectile dysfunction.

We tried to compare the parameters of nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) testing with erectile function (EF) domain score of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), which is used in diagnosis and determining the severity of erectile dysfunction (ED), and to assess the sufficiency of IIEF in the diagnosis of ED. A total of 90 men, mean age 46 years (24-75), presenting with ED to our clinic between January 2001 and March 2003 were included in the trial. All the men answered the standard IIEF (15 questions) forms and was divided into four groups as mild ED, moderate ED, severe ED and no ED according to the EF domain score that is obtained from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 15th questions. Then NPTR testing with the RigiScan Plus monitoring device was performed for two consecutive nights on those men. The distribution of the six parameters of NPTR testing (number of erections, duration of erections, TAU base, RAU base, TAU tip, RAU tip) among the four groups and the correlation with IIEF-EF domain score were evaluated. Additionally, the distribution of the risk factors (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atherosclerotic heart disease, dyslipidemia and smoking) was analyzed both among the four groups and in each group. According to IIEF-EF domain scores of 90 patients, 16 (18%) had severe ED, 21 (23%) moderate ED, 41 (46%) mild ED and 12 (13%) no ED. There was no statistically significant difference between the risk factors among the men in these groups (P > 0.05). When the IIEF-EF domain scores were compared with parameters of NPTR testing, no statistically significant difference was obtained among ED groups (mild, moderate, severe) (P > 0.05). However, we observed a statistically significant difference between three ED groups and no ED group (P < 0.05). If NPTR testing is considered as a gold standard test, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of IIEF-EF domain score in ED diagnosis are 100, 17.9, 29.4 and 100% respectively. In conclusion, we did not observe a clinical correlation between IIEF-EF domain scores and NPTR parameters in the whole population; however, we observed that if IIEF-EF domain scores were normal, NPTR parameters were also normal. In other words, we can say that if the initial IIEF-EF domain scores are normal, then we do not have to perform NPTR testing. This could be helpful to make a cost-effective diagnosis.

Effect of penile size on nocturnal erections: evaluation with NPTR testing with men having micropenis.

There has been conflicting opinions in the literature regarding sexual function in hypogonadal men with micropenis. In this study we aimed to evaluate erectile function in hypogonadal men with micropenis by nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity testing (NPTR) and compared the results with young potent normal penile sized men. A total of 15 men (ages 17-30 y) defined having a micropenis with a stretched penile length of less than 9.3 cm were constituted the study group. Mean stretched penile length was 6.8+/-1.6 cm (range 3.6-7.8 cm). Karyotype analysis showed 46XY in all cases. Control group included 22 potent and normal penile sized men (23-29 y). All subjects completed three sessions of consecutive nights using the RigiScan Plus device. Comparison of the results of NPTR of control group with study group revealed that number and duration of erectile episodes (P < 0.001), duration of tip rigidity > 60% (P < 0.01), TAU tip and TAU base (P = 0.001), and RAU base (P = 0.01) were found to be significantly lower in men with micropenis. In conclusion, our study showed that men with micropenis are associated with decreased nocturnal erectile activity.

Behçet's disease presenting as deep venous thrombosis and priapism.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multi-system inflammatory disorder which may involve the vascular system. Currently, it is general practice to use the International Study Group (ISG) criteria for the diagnosis of BD. However, even though vascular involvement may be seen in one-fourth to one-half of BD patients, and occasionally is the presenting and only manifestation of BD, large vessel disease is not included among the ISG criteria. In this report we describe a patient who had deep venous thrombosis and priapism, but who does not fulfill ISG criteria for the diagnosis of BD.

Effect of aging on quality of nocturnal erections: evaluation with NPTR testing.

Nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity testing (NPTR) has traditionally been performed to distinguish psychogenic from organic impotence. However, considerable lack of uniformly accepted normative data for NPTR readings makes the reproducibility of the method questionable. In this study, we try to evaluate the impact of aging as independent criteria for quality of erectile episodes. A total of 455 patients (ages 20-71 y) whose initial complaints were erectile dysfunction underwent two nights NPTR measurement with Rigiscan device. After analyzing the data, 353 men out of 455 were regarded as having normal NPTR recordings. The number of normal erectile episodes (erectile episode of penile tip rigidity greater than 60% more than 10 min duration), RAU Tip, RAU Base, TAU Tip, TAU Base, Average event rigidity of Tip (%), Average event rigidity of Base (%) and Duration of erectile episodes > or =60% minute were re-evaluated with regard to five age groups (group I: <30 y; group II: 30-39 y; group III: 40-49 y; group IV: 50-59 y; group V: > or =60 y). The mean values of erectile episodes in the age groups were as follows: group I, 2.46; group II, 2.28; group III, 2.40; group IV, 1.58; group V, 1.27. When we analyzed the groups between themselves, we observed statistically significant difference after the age of 50 y. The mean erectile episodes in patients younger than 50 y were 2.37 (s.d.: 1.50), whereas 1.49 (s.d.: 1.15) in patients older than 50 y (P<0.001). We also observed statistically significant difference at all of the above-mentioned NPTR parameters with regard to age. The results of our study showed that aging negatively influence quality of nocturnal erections especially after 50 y and we suggest that age needs to be taken into account in the diagnostic interpretation of NPTR testing.

Effect of sildenafil on nocturnal erections of potent men.

We try to evaluate the effect of sildenafil on nocturnal penile erections of potent men. We recruited 22 potent men (eight medical students and 14 urology residents) 23-29 years old into the study. A disorder-free medical and sexual history and normal erectile functions were the only inclusion criteria. All subjects completed three sessions of consecutive nights using the RigiScan Plus device. After a first night of adaptation, night 2 recordings were their baseline values whereas they received sildenafil 100 mg on night 3. We observed statistically significant improvement with regard to those NPT parameters at the nights with sildenafil: number of erectile episodes; duration of tip rigidity >60%, RAU tip, RAU base and TAU tip (P<0.005). Although the duration of erectile episodes (min) and TAU base were greater during the sildenafil night, these did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, our study showed that sildenafil can improve nocturnal erectile quality not only in patients with erectile dysfunction as previously published but also in potent males.

Effect of glycemia status on endocrinological parameters of impotent and infertile patients.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effects of glycemia status on hormone levels, we evaluated the effects of hypo and hyperglycemia on endocrinological parameters of patients with erectile dysfunction, infertility, varicocele and compared the results with control subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with erectile dysfunction, 20 infertile patients with oligo-azoospermia, 20 patients with normozoospermic left varicocele and 15 healthy control subjects constitute our study population. Plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and prolactin (PRL) levels were measured both in patients in hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia status. Statistical analysis were done by Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: All endocrinological parameters did not show any statistically significant difference between the hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia status. Also, no abnormalities in the endocrinological parameters were observed. CONCLUSION: We showed that the glycemia status of the patient (either hypo or hyperglycemia) did not effect the results of endocrine profile. Also, endocrine evaluation is unnecessary in impotence and infertility.

Effect of experimental hypercholesterolemia on cavernosal structures.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of experimental hypercholesterolemia on the ultrastructure of cavernosal smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, elastic fibers, and collagen content, which are the key structures fundamental for erection. METHODS: Forty-two New Zealand white rabbits were divided into a control group (group 1, n = 7, fed a standard diet), a hypercholesterolemia group (group 2, n = 20, fed a diet containing 1% cholesterol for 8 weeks), and a reversibility group (group 3, n = 15, fed a 1% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks, then switched to a standard diet for 4 weeks). Blood samples were obtained for lipid determination before and after the study. The cavernosal tissues were obtained at the end of 8 weeks for groups 1 and 2 and at the end of 12 weeks for group 3 and immunohistochemical examinations of these cells were performed. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that hypercholesterolemia produces marked and reversible decreases in the cavernosal content of smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and elastic fibers and increases the content of collagen 3 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that hypercholesterolemia in this animal model affects the percentage of staining for smooth muscle actin, endothelial cells, elastin, and collagen 3 and 4. However, since this effect is temporary depending on the blood cholesterol levels, it might not alter the erectile function.

Effect of microsurgical subinguinal varicocele ligation to treat pain.

OBJECTIVES: The traditional treatment for a painful varicocele consists of conservative measures followed by varicocelectomy. We report our results with microsurgical subinguinal varicocele ligation to treat pain. METHODS: From 1996 to 1999, a total of 119 men underwent subinguinal microsurgical varicocele ligation for painful varicocele. The diagnosis of varicocele was based on the findings of both physical examination and color Doppler ultrasound. Patients described pain with testicular discomfort as scrotal heaviness or a dull ache. While waiting for the operation (range 3 to 5 weeks), all the patients underwent a preoperative trial of conservative management for pain. RESULTS: Of 119 men, 82 (69 %) were available for follow-up 3 months postoperatively. Of those 82 patients, 72 (88%) reported complete resolution of pain, 4 patients (5%) partial resolution, 5 patients (6%) no change, and 1 patient (1%) epididymal discomfort that resolved with conservative measures. Of the 9 patients with partial or no change, 2 patients had reflux recurrence as seen on color Doppler ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: Subinguinal microsurgical varicocele ligation is an effective treatment for painful varicocele when performed in selected patients.

Penile epithelioid sarcoma.

Epithelioid sarcoma is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm. We had the opportunity to report a case of epithelioid sarcoma of the penis.

The prognostic value of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in patients with bladder carcinoma treated using neoadjuvant M-VEC chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prognostic value of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in patients with bladder cancer who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with a histological diagnosis of invasive bladder transitional cell carcinoma and 30 age-matched controls with no evidence of cancer and immunological disorders were evaluated. Peripheral blood samples were assessed in both groups using monoclonal antibodies. Patients with bladder cancer who achieved complete or partial responses and those who had progression of the disease after systemic chemotherapy with methotrexate, vinblastine, epirubicin and cisplatin were compared according to the pretreatment values of the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in B lymphocyte levels between the groups. In patients with bladder cancer, the percentages of T lymphocytes (P<0.01), natural killer (NK) cells (P<0.05) and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio (P<0.05) were significantly lower than in the control group. In patients who responded to the chemotherapy regimen, the pretreatment values of T lymphocytes (P<0.001), the CD4+/CD8+ ratio (P<0.01) and NK cell levels (P<0.01) were significantly higher than in the patients who did not. CONCLUSION: In patients with invasive bladder carcinoma, cell-mediated immunity may have a role in the resistance to this malignancy and in these patients the pretreatment levels of T lymphocyte subsets may be an indicator of the potential response to chemotherapy.

Transmurally absorbed intravesical chemotherapy with dimethylsulfoxide in an animal model.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the hypothesis that dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) enhances the absorbtion of the intravesical chemotherapeutics. METHODS: Fifty male Wistar rats received 1.5 mg N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) intravesically every other week (weeks 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8) for a total of five doses. After week 14, rats underwent intravesical installation of either epirubicin (1 mg) or epirubicin + DMSO (50%) every other week (weeks 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22). The absorbtion of epirubicin was estimated histologically by observing its fluorescence in the bladder. RESULTS: We observed papiller and/or hyperplastic formations in rat bladders (10/50 rats) due to installation of MNU. Epirubicin fluorescence was observed in the entire bladder wall of normal or hyperplastic regions in rats that were given DMSO prior to epirubicin. However, epirubicin was observed only in normal-appearing mucosa or in superficial layers of hyperplastic regions. CONCLUSIONS: The concomittant addition of DMSO with intravesical epirubicin enhances the absorbtion of epirubicin to the entire bladder wall. In this way, epirubicin cytotoxicity and antitumor activity can be potentiated. This can be useful for both the treatment of superficial bladder cancer (especially in local recurrence and progression) and invasive bladder cancer (especially in regional chemotherapy).

Spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage attributable to schwannoma of the cauda equina.

BACKGROUND: Cauda equina syndrome occurring as a result of spontaneous spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from a spinal tumor is reported to be rare. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 28-year-old woman presented at our clinic with a history of severe back pain for 10 days, progressive paraparesis, and urinary retention. Her physical examination revealed a mass located intradurally at the level of L1-2 and a massive SAH. An L1-L2, laminectomy and a hemilaminectomy from D9 to D12 were performed and the SAH was evacuated and the cord was decompressed. CONCLUSION: At the first year follow-up, her restricted dorsal and plantar flexion continued. Post-gadolinium magnetic resonance imaging revealed no mass.

Analysis of the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in patients with bladder carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the immune system of patients with bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) by using peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and to further compare the relationship between these subsets with respect to tumor stage and grade (superficial versus invasive and low versus high grade). METHODS: Thirty patients with superficial TCC of the bladder, 30 patients with invasive TCC of the bladder, and 30 age- and sex-matched control subjects without any malignancy or immunologic abnormality were included in this study. The peripheral blood lymphocyte subset analysis was performed in all patients before any treatment was performed. RESULTS: All lymphocyte subset values of patients with invasive bladder cancer, except B cell value, were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than the values of the control group. There were no significant differences between the lymphocyte subset values of patients with superficial bladder cancer and those of control subjects. The comparison of the lymphocyte subset values of the patients with superficial versus invasive bladder carcinoma revealed that in patients with invasive bladder carcinoma, the numbers of T and natural killer (NK) cells were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of patients with superficial bladder carcinoma. Patients with high-grade tumors had significantly fewer (P < 0.05) T and NK cells than patients with low-grade tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that analysis of mean NK and T cell values and the mean ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells in peripheral blood might be a useful adjunct for the clinical evaluation of patients with bladder cancer.

Significance of serum FSH levels and testicular morphology in infertile males.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between plasma levels of FSH and testicular spermatogenic patterns. METHODS: Testicular biopsies were obtained from 99 infertile men. Biopsies were performed either in order to distinguish the type of azoospermia (obstructive/non-obstructive) or because of severely subnormal semen variables. Serum FSH was measured by immunoassay (normal range is less than 7 mIU/ml). RESULTS: Statistically significant difference was detected between patients with Sertoli cell only syndrome and normal spermatogenesis, hypospermatogenesis and maturation arrest (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). No statistically significant differences were found between normal spermatogenesis, hypospermatogenesis and maturation arrest. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that elevation of serum FSH correlates only with the appearance of Sertoli cell only syndrome. We think that azoospermic or severely oligoasthenoteratozoospermic patients with highly elevated plasma FSH levels (three times the normal) could be excluded from separate testicular biopsy, because these patients are not suitable for conventional treatments. If he is willing to undergo an IVF program the sperm will often be present, no matter what the testicular histology is to be used for assisted reproductive techniques, particularly ICSI.