KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA mutation frequency of radical prostatectomy samples and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: The molecular basis of prostate cancer is highly heterogeneous. Our study aimed to perform the mutation analysis of KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, and immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluation of EGFR, HER2, p16, and PTEN to demonstrate new areas for targeted therapies. METHODS: A total of 24 prostatectomy samples diagnosed with adenocarcinoma were analyzed by microarray hybridization. Also, these samples were IHC stained for EGFR, HER2, P16, and PTEN. The cases were divided into two groups based on low and high Gleason scores. All findings were compared with the clinicopathological parameters of the patients. RESULTS: While KRAS mutation was in 3/24 (12.5%) of our cases, BRAF and PIK3CA mutations were not detected. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of KRAS mutation frequency. HER2 was immunohistochemically negative in all samples. There was no correlation between EGFR, P16 immunopositivity, and clinicopathological features. CONCLUSION: KRAS mutation frequency is similar to those in Asian populations. BRAF and PIK3CA mutation frequencies have been reported in the literature in the range of 0-15% and 0-10.4%, respectively, consistent with our study findings. HER2 immunoexpression is a controversial issue in the literature. EGFR and p16 expressions may not correlate with the stage.

Relationship between plasma melatonin levels and the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors treatment on premature ejaculation.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between premature ejaculation and plasma melatonin levels, and assess the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in treating premature ejaculation. METHODS: A total of 60 men with lifelong premature ejaculation and 40 healthy male controls were included in the present study. For each participant, a medical history was obtained, a physical examination was carried out, and intravaginal ejaculation latency time and melatonin levels were measured. Premature ejaculation patients were randomly categorized into three treatment groups: group 1 received fluoxetine (20 mg/day), group 2 received paroxetine (20 mg/day) and group 3 received sertraline (50 mg/day). RESULTS: The mean baseline plasma melatonin levels in men with premature ejaculation were significantly lower than in the healthy controls (5.34 vs 14.84 pg/mL). After 4 weeks of treatment, the mean intravaginal ejaculation latency time scores for all of the premature ejaculation treatment groups showed a significant improvement from the baseline values. The plasma melatonin levels were also significantly increased (P < 0.05) from baseline (5.34 pg/mL) to 9.50 pg/mL, 10.24 pg/mL or 13.30 pg/mL for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that premature ejaculation is associated with decreased plasma melatonin levels. After treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, an increased plasma melatonin level can retard ejaculation, presumably by both central and peripheral mechanisms. This is the first study to evaluate the possible role of serotoninergic interactions on the melatoninergic system in premature ejaculation.

Effect of constipation on acute urinary retention following transrectal prostate biopsy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possible effect of constipation on the acute urinary retention (AUR) after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS PB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,167 patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >4 ng/mL and/or abnormal digital rectal examination underwent a standard 12 core transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate needle biopsy in our hospital and the findings were examined prospectively. Chronic constipation (CC) was defined according to the Rome IV criteria. All cases were well evaluated with respect to clinical-histopathological factors; International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prostate volume, post-void residue, age, body mass index, histopathological inflammation, and AUR. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 64.63±8.31 years, the PSA level was 11.60±16.83 ng/mL, and the prostate volume was 54.66±25.44 mL. In 265 cases (22.7%), CC anamnesis was present and AUR developed in 28 (2.4%) of the cases. In the multivariate analysis for the risk of developing urinary retention, prostate volume, pre-operative IPSS, and presence of CC requiring manual maneuvers to facilitate defecation were found to be risk factors (p=0.023, 0.010, and 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that CC may be a critical factor in the prediction of AUR formation following TRUS PB.

Early versus delayed removal of indwelling catheters in patients after elective cesarean section: a prospective randomized trial.

Purpose: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial to compare postoperative urinary catheter removal 2 versus 12 h after elective cesarean section in terms of irritative symptoms, first void time, incidence of urinary tract infection, postoperative mobilization time, and hospitalization time.Methods: A total of 134 women admitted to Duzce University Hospital for primary or recurrent elective cesarean section were randomized into two groups. A total of 62 women were enrolled in the early group, with indwelling catheter removal 2 h after cesarean section; 74 women were enrolled in the delayed group, with catheter removal 12 h after the cesarean section. The groups were prospectively compared in terms of irritative urinary symptoms, bacteriuria, hematuria, length of hospital stay, and mobilization time.Results: Urinary frequency (p = .04), microscopic hematuria incidence (p = .04), postoperative mobilization time (p = .01), and length of hospital stay (p = .009) were significantly lower in the early group than in the delayed group. There were no significant differences in terms of bacteruria, urinary retention, dysuria, and first postoperative voiding time.Conclusions: Early removal of urinary catheters after elective cesarean section is associated with reduced mobilization time and hospital stay.

The role of N-acetylcysteine in preventing hepatic injury associated with systemic oxidative stress after extracorporeal shock wave treatment.

BACKGROUND: Systemic oxidative stress may cause detrimental consequences for the liver, leading to hepatic fibrogenesis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate histopathological changes in liver tissues due to the increased systemic oxidative stress associated with rat extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) model and to document the consequences of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this experimental SWL model, 18 Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups. The control group (group I) had no intervention. Group II underwent SWL treatment with intraperitoneal saline injection. Group III also had SWL with intraperitoneal NAC and was divided into short-term (group III-14 days) and long-term (group III-28 days) subgroup. Hepatectomy was performed for histopathological examinations. Histopathological alterations were evaluated with light microscopy. Immunohistological staining for p53 and myeloperoxidase was also performed. RESULTS: Blood samples revealed a significant increase in plasma oxidative stress index (OSI) after plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) had been measured. It was shown that this increased systemic oxidative stress adversely affected liver tissues. Predominantly, sinusoidal dilatation was remarkably observed in rats with significantly high OSI values (p = 0.043). Similarly, periportal necrosis significantly increased in rats with high OSI values (p = 0.033). p53 positivity was also remarkable in rats with systemic oxidative stress (p = 0.049). N-acetylcysteine administration provided a significant decrease in OSI. N-acetylcysteine also improved all these alterations, including p53 staining. Particularly, sinusoidal dilatation was significantly protected in the long-term NAC group (group III-28 days). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that SWL-induced systemic oxidative stress causes histological alterations in liver tissues. Increased p53 and myeloperoxidase staining as markers of oxidative damage were also detected. N-acetylcysteine may protect from these histological and ultra-structural alterations related to oxidative stress.

Post-prostatic massage examination for prediction of asymptomatic prostatitis in needle biopsies: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: Although asymptomatic prostatitis is the most common noncancer diagnosis as demonstrated histologically by biopsies, screening and identification before biopsy remain unclear. In this study we prospectively evaluate the efficacy of examination of post-prostatic massage urine for prediction of asymptomatic prostatitis in biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 161 consecutive men 50 to 80 years old with serum prostate specific antigen 4.1 to 10.0 ng/ml, normal digital rectal examination, no evidence of clinical prostatitis or urinary tract infection, who underwent 8 or 10-core prostate biopsies under transrectal ultrasonography guidance were included in the study. Immediate pre-biopsy leukocyte count in post-prostatic massage urine was determined per high power field (400 x). We selected 5, 7 and 10 leukocytes per high power field as cutoffs, and urine was examined for prediction of histological prostatitis. RESULTS: Histological diagnosis was prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer in 66 (41.0%), 63 (39.1%) and 32 (19.9%) patients, respectively. The mean number of leukocytes and percentage of positive post-prostatic massage urine microscopy for all cutoffs were significantly higher in subjects with prostatitis than in those without prostatitis (p <0.0001). Histological prostatitis was predicted most accurately by the 5 leukocyte cutoff (sensitivity 68.2%, specificity 82.1% and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: In asymptomatic men with mild increases of prostate specific antigen histological evidence of prostatic inflammation is common. The leukocyte count in post-prostatic massage urine appears to be useful for screening of this condition before biopsy. Our data suggest that 10 leukocytes per high power field in post-prostatic massage urine, the usually applied cutoff, may be too high for the definition of prostatic inflammation.