Trimetazidine has protective effects on spermatogenesis in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of trimetazidine (TMZ), as an antioxidant agent, on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. A total of 50 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly classified into five groups as follows: Group 1 (control), Group 2 (STZ-induced diabetic rats), Group 3 (STZ-induced diabetic rats treated orally with 1 cc/day isotonic saline), Group 4 (diabetic rats treated orally with 10 mg/kg/day TMZ) and Group 5 (diabetic rats treated orally with 20 mg/kg/day TMZ). After 8 weeks, orchiectomy was carried out. Histopathological and electron microscopic examinations were performed in all groups. In groups 1 and 5, the structural and ultra-structural findings of the testicular tissue and spermatogenesis were found normal. In groups 2, 3 and 4, similar results were obtained in terms of the impaired testicular architecture and degeneration of spermatogenesis. The administration of an optimal dose of TMZ protects against the harmful effects of diabetes mellitus on spermatogenesis in rats. TMZ therapy can be used to maintain normal spermatogenesis in diabetic rats.

Oncologic results, functional outcomes, and complication rates of robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: multicenter experience in Turkey including 1,499 patients.

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is a rising minimally invasive treatment of localized prostate cancer (PC). We present our multicenter experience of 1,499 consecutive cases with an analysis of complication rates, oncologic, and functional outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From March 2005 through December 2012, details of 1,499 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Transperitoneal approach using a da-Vinci robotic system was used to perform RARP. Perioperative characteristics and postoperative oncologic and functional outcomes are reported. RESULTS: The mean age was 61.3 years (37-77). Mean PSA level was 8.3 ng/ml. According to D'Amico classification, the percentage of patients with low-, intermediate-, and high-risk disease cases were 65.0, 30.1, and 4.8 %, respectively. Mean operative time was 181.9 min. Mean estimated blood loss was 225.4 cc (30-1,250). Positive surgical margin (PSM) was detected in 212 (14.1 %) patients. PSM rates in pT2, pT3, and pT4 stages were 6.1, 37.1, and 100 %, respectively. The overall complication rate due to modified Clavien classification was 6.1 %. Mean follow-up time was 26.7 months. Continence, potency, and biochemical recurrence rates were 88.7, 58.2, and 2.9 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses including high-volume centers, which is the first largest series in Turkey, show that RARP is a safe procedure, has low PSM rates, high continence, and potency rates for the treatment of localized PC at experienced centers.

Predictive value of cavernosal peak systolic velocity in the flaccid penis.

PURPOSE: The routine use of intracavernosal injection before Doppler investigation may cause time loss, side effects due to vasoactive agents used and incorrect evaluation in the diagnosis of arterial insufficiency because of psychological inhibition and anxiety. Doppler investigation without intracavernosal injection avoids these pronounced disadvantages. In our study we tried to evaluate whether PSV values prior to intracavernosal injection are predictive in the diagnosis of arterial insufficiency in diabetic and non-diabetic cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 120 male diabetic (type-2) and non-diabetic patients affected by erectile dysfunction (ED) were enrolled in this study. The Doppler parameters - PSV, end diastolic velocity (EDV) of both cavernosal arteries - were recorded before intracavernosal injection (ICI) (60 mg-2 ml-papaverine hydrochloride (HCl)) and 5, 10 and 30 minutes after ICI into corpus cavernosum. Based on our results we chose 2 cut-off values for the pre-ICI PSV-10 cm/sec and 15 cm/sec. A PSV value less than 25 cm/sec after ICI was used as the diagnostic criteria for arterial insufficiency. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of pre-ICI PSV in predicting arteriogenic impotence as diagnosed by post-ICI Doppler sonography. Only type 2 DM patients were included in our study. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in the PSV values before and after ICI, ICI response and EDV values after ICI in both cavernous arteries when diabetic and nondiabetic groups compared. CONCLUSIONS: Flow in the cavernosal arteries in the flaccid state could determine nondiabetic patients with vasculogenic impotence with a high accuracy rate.

Urological findings in inguinal hernias: a case report and review of the literature.

We report on a rare case of massive incarcerated inguinoscrotal bladder herniation in a direct hernia and present the review of the literature on urological findings in relation to the inguinal hernial sac. The English-based literature was searched using the words inguinal hernia, bladder, ureter, diverticule, and incarceration and discussed in relation to the present case. We found 190 cases of inguinal hernia associated with urological findings, such as herniation of the bladder, ureter, and diverticulum. We also found that 11.2% of these hernias were associated with urological malignancies and 23.5% of these were associated with a variety of complications. The high-risk patients, who are males, obese, older than 50 years and who have symptoms that indicate urological pathologies to a physician, are more likely to be in the high-risk group for bladder herniation.