Changes in retinal vessels related to varicocele: a pilot investigation.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether retinal vasculature changes had occurred (retinal artery diameter, retinal vein diameter and artery/vein ratio) in patients with varicocele. This pilot study included 50 healthy subjects with any eye disease apart from slight refractive errors and 55 patients with varicocele. Retinal arteriolar and venular diameters were measured and summarised as central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE). Retinal microvascular diameters and the arteriolar-to-venular ratio (AVR) were assessed with a digital retinal camera. All measurements and calculations were performed using a computer-based program. The mean CRAE value was 151.8 ± 3.6 µm in the study group and 150.4 ± 4.5 µm in the control group. Mean CRVE value was 209.4 ± 5.9 µm in the study group and 200.1 ± 8.7 µm in the control group. AVR was found 0.72 ± 0.02 in the study group and 0.75 ± 0.03 in the control group. There were significant differences between groups in terms of CRVE and AVR. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of CRAE. The results of this study showed that the patients with varicocele showed significant changes on retinal vascular diameter.

Protective effect of ebselen on experimental testicular torsion and detorsion injury.

Ebselen is used as a drug in clinical trials against stroke, reperfusion injury with anti-atherosclerotic and renoprotective effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of ebselen, on torsion/detorsion (T/D)-induced biochemical and histopathological changes in experimental testicular ischaemia/reperfusion injury. A total of 28 male Wistar Albino rats were divided into four groups: group 1(sham-operated group, n = 7), group 2(ebselen group, n = 7), group 3(torsion/detorsion + saline, n = 7) and group 4(T/D + 10 mg kg(-1) ebselen group, n = 7). The tissue homogenate samples were used for immediate nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione measurement. Testes in all groups were evaluated for the biochemical assay and histopathological examinations. To evaluate spermatogenesis, Johnsen scoring system was used. Testicular tissue MDA and NO levels in group 3 were significantly higher than in group 1 and 4. In histological evaluation of the testicular tissues, ebselen administration improved tubular histology significantly compared with T/D group. Significant increase in histological score was observed in the testis of group 3 compared with group 1 and 2. Histological score in group 4 significantly decreased compared with group 3. Johnson score was significantly lower in T/D group compared with all other three groups, ebselen administration increased the score significantly compared with T/D group. Ebselen reduced oxidative biochemical and histopathological damage in our testicular T/D rat model.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of thymoquinone in a rat model of acute bacterial prostatitis.

Prostatitis plays a major role in morbidity and mortality related to prostate diseases. The aim of this study was to detect whether thymoquinone (TQ) could ameliorate oxidative damage and the proliferative response induced by Escherichia coli (E. coli) in rats. A total of 42 adult male Wistar rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into seven groups (three treatment groups, three infected groups and one control group). Control group received saline and was killed 24 h after saline administration. Infected rats were killed after 24, 48 and 72 h following direct injection of E. coli into the prostate. Treatment groups were administered with 10 mg/kg dose of TQ intraperitoneally following E. coli injection and after 24 and 48 h following E. coli injection. The rats were killed at 24, 48 and 72 h after the first drug administration. Each group was compared with each other and with the control group. In addition, infected groups were compared with treatment groups. Our findings show that the treatment with TQ has a protective effect against bacterial prostatitis-induced tissue injury. Increase in malondialdehyde levels and histological damage caused by E. coli were improved markedly with TQ treatment. TQ treatment particularly increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase and decreased the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase. These observations might be attributed, at least in part, to the antioxidant effect of TQ and suggest that it could be a clinically valuable agent in the prevention of acute prostatitis caused by E. coli.

The effect of ankaferd to stop bleeding in experimental partial nephrectomy.

AIMS: In kidney surgery, bleeding is one of the most important issues. In partial nephrectomy, as a "blood stopper", we used surgycell and ankaferd which is used traditionally in Turkish medicine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 24 Wistar-Albino rats were grouped randomly. Laparotomy was performed in the first group, sham group. In the second group, partial nephrectomy was performed to lower-kidney pole and then, serum physiology was given to the lower part of the kidney. In the third group, partial nephrectomy was performed and surgycell was given over the kidney. In the fourth group, partial nephrectomy was performed and then ABS was applied. In all groups, the gauze was weighted on sensitive lift before and after the operation in order to determine the amount of bleeding. After the subjects were left alive for 5 hours, the levels of blood urea, and creatinine and kidney histopathology were evaluated. RESULTS: No meaningful difference between the groups was found as for the levels of blood urea, and creatinine and the kidney histopathology. Bleeding amount was diminished significantly in the group 4, to which ankaferd was applied. CONCLUSION: Ankaferd is a substance which can be used effectively for controlling acute bleeding in kidney surgery (Tab. 2, Ref. 19). Full Text in free PDF www.bmj.sk.

What is the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and urolithiasis?

AIM: Despite the high incidence of urolithiasis in general population, the exact underlying pathology is unknown. Possible association between urolithiasis and parameters of physical health were assesed in the presented study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed at an Internal Medicine out patient unit during routine check ups. Patients between the ages of 20 and 70 years were studied to prevent debility induced weight loss in elderly. Patients with devastating illnesses were excluded to avoid their possible effects on weight. Cases with urolithiasis were collected in one group, and age and sex-matched cases without urolithiasis were collected in other group. RESULTS: Eighty cases with urolithiasis and 120 cases without were studied. Mean age of urolithiasis cases was 49.0 years, and 52.5 % of them were female. Mean weight of the urolithiasis cases was 76.0 kg, whereas it was 80.8 kg in the group without urolithiasis (p=0.013). The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) was significantly higher in the urolithiasis group with unknown reasons (17.5 % vs 7.5 %, p<0.01). There was no significant difference as for the height, body mass index, prevalence of hypertension, and mean values of low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride between the groups. CONCLUSION: In spite of several terrible effects of excess weight on health, we could not detect any association with urolithiasis, but there is a highly significant association between urolithiasis and type 2 DM, and it may have hundreds of mechanisms with variable priorities, which must be explained with further studies (Tab. 1, Ref. 21). Full Text in free PDF www.bmj.sk.

The role of adrenomedullin in varicocele and impotence.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the levels of adrenomedullin (a vasodilatory peptide) in penile blood before and after injection with papaverine in impotent men, and in the internal spermatic vein in infertile patients with varicocele, comparing the results with levels in the brachial vein in the same patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Intracavernosal levels of adrenomedullin were determined in 14 impotent men (with no vascular pathology, as assessed by colour Doppler ultrasonography) before and after papaverine-induced penile erection. The effect of needle puncture alone was assessed in eight control patients. The level of adrenomedullin was also measured in the internal spermatic vein and brachial vein in 14 infertile men with varicocele. RESULTS: The mean (SD) intracavernosal adrenomedullin levels in the 14 impotent men were significantly different between the flaccid and papaverine-induced erectile state, at 93.5 (33.0) and 135.8 (34.9) pmol/mL, respectively, (P < 0.05). Needle puncture alone had no effect on adrenomedullin levels. In men with varicocele, the adrenomedullin level of 139.0 (34.3) pmol/mL within the internal spermatic vein was significantly higher than that in the brachial vein, at 103.9 (37.6) pmol/mL (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Injection with papaverine increases adrenomedullin release into penile blood; this release may be responsible for the increase in penile blood flow and penile erection. Higher levels of adrenomedullin within the internal spermatic vein of patients with varicocele may result from the retrograde flow of venous blood from the left adrenal gland and kidney. Further studies are needed to determine the role of adrenomedullin in male infertility and impotence.

Increased nitric oxide production in the spermatic vein of patients with varicocele.

OBJECTIVE: To define the level of nitric oxide (NO) in the spermatic vein of patients with varicocele and its relation with male infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following physical and color Doppler ultrasonographic examination, whole blood samples were drawn from a peripheral vein and a dilated varicocele vein from fourteen patients with clinically palpable varicocele (G2-3) before ligation. NO levels in the serum were determined as total nitrite by Greiss reaction and results were compared with Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: NO levels in the internal spermatic vein were 36.05 +/- 8. 92 micromol/l, compared to 19.41 +/- 4.12 micromol/l in the peripheral vein and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In view of our results, increased NO levels in the dilated varicocele vein might be responsible for spermatozoa dysfunction.