The protective effects of melatonin and vitamin E against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were shown to contribute to the cellular damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the efficiency of melatonin and vitamin E in the reduction of injury induced by ROS in a rat model of renal ischemia-reperfusion. Twenty-four Wistar-albino rats were divided into four groups. Rats in the Sham group were given saline 1 mL/kg, intraperitoneally (ip) 72 h, 48 h, 24 h, and 30 min before the sham operation. Rats in ischemia-reperfusion (IR), IR+Melatonin, and IR+Vitamin E groups were given saline (1 mL/kg), melatonin (10 mg/kg), and vitamin E (100 mg/kg) ip, respectively, 72 h, 48 h, 24 h, and 30 min before the ischemia for 60 min, followed by reperfusion for 60 min. The blood samples and kidney tissues of the rats were taken under anesthesia. Ischemia-reperfusion significantly increased urea, creatinine, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Histopathological findings of the IR group confirmed that there was renal impairment by cast formation and tubular necrosis in the tubular epithelium. In the IR+Melatonin group, while MDA levels significantly decreased, SOD activities increased. In the IR+Melatonin group, the level of tubular necrosis and cast formation are significantly decreased than those seen in the ischemia-reperfusion group. Melatonin in particular was effective to reverse hot ischemia of kidney by its antioxidant effects. These results may indicate that melatonin pretreatment protects against functional, biochemical, and morphological damage better than vitamin E in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Multiple primary malignant neoplasms in urologic patients.

METHODS: Second primary cancers constitute approximately 9-10% of malignancies diagnosed in the United States. We aimed to show the risk and incidance of second primary tumor occuring associated to urologic tumors and show the distrubution of tumors in Tracia region. We retrospectively examined the patients' files with the diagnosis of malignant disease between the years 1985-2000. Hazard function analysis was performed to estimate the relative risk of secondary malignancy occuring. Age, sex and tumor number were examined to find out if they affect on mortality rate. RESULTS: A total number of 25 MPMNs were diagnosed. In 52 percent of the cases the second primary neoplasm developed within six months. The relative risk of development of a second neoplasm is found as increasing 1.111 times per month. The incidence of secondary malignancy occuring in the patients with one tumor was found as 6.31%. Age (p < 0.001) and tumor number (p < 0.001) are found as statistically effective predictor on mortality rate where the sex is not. CONCLUSIONS: In the patients with a primary tumor not only the metastasis must be investigated but also second primary tumors should be taken into consideration.

The use of human dura mater as an interposition graft in the treatment of vesicovaginal fistula.

PURPOSE: In this prospective study we aimed to describe our new technique; dehydrated human dura mater as an interposition graft in patients undergoing benign vesicovaginal fistula repair (VVF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with benign VVFs aged 38-73 years were operated with dura mater interposition technique at our institution between July 1996 and February 2002. In all patients fistula were secondary to abdominal hysterectomies with benign diseases and two had undergone previous transvaginal surgery. Patients were operated 8-15 (mean 12) weeks after previous surgery. A suprapubic cystotomy was performed and the fistula was not excised. The bladder wall is widely dissected from underlying vagina. Dura-mater was placed over the vaginal suture line to close the fistulous tract, cytostomy was inserted and the bladder was closed. An 18 F Foley catheter was left in the bladder for 5 days. A successful repair is defined as no leakage by cystogram at 14 days postoperatively and completely dry by patient report. RESULTS: An overall success rate of 100% was achieved in all patients. All patients remain dry at the follow-up which ranges from 7 to 60 (mean 26) mounts. Patients were discharged at 14 to 26 (mean 16) days postoperatively. No major complications or side effects were observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: The use of human dura mater as an interposition graft in the treatment of vesicovaginal fistula is an alternative for VVF repairs because of its excellent tissue compability, stability, good elasticity and absorbability.

Chondrosarcoma of the pubis imitating bladder tumor radiologically: a case report.

Chondrosarcoma is a rare tumor that more frequently involves the pelvic bones, the femur, and the humerus. The rareness of the tumor makes the diagnosis difficult. Malignant cartilage tumors typically have an unstable radiographic appearance. In this report we aimed to point out the difficulties of the radiological differentiation of the pelvic chondrosarcoma and bladder tumor.