Does hypericin boost the efficacy of high-power laser? A preliminary experimental study on rats / A hipericina aumenta a eficácia do laser de alta potência? Um estudo preliminar e experimental em ratos

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Lasers are widely used in treating symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. In current practice, potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) lasers are the most common type of laser systems used. The aim here was to evaluate the rapid effect of high-power laser systems after application of hypericin. DESIGN AND SETTING: Experimental animal study conducted in the Department of Urology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey, in 2012. METHODS: Sixteen rats were randomized into four groups: 120 W KTP laser + hypericin; 120 W KTP laser alone; 80 W KTP laser + hypericin; and 80 W KTP laser alone. Hypericin was given intraperitoneally two hours prior to laser applications. The laser incisions were made through the quadriceps muscle of the rats. The depth and the width of the laser incisions were evaluated histologically and recorded. RESULTS: To standardize the effects of the laser, we used the ratio of depth to width. These new values showed us the depth of the laser application per unit width. The new values acquired were evaluated statistically. Mean depth/width values were 231.6, 173.6, 214.1 and 178.9 in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The most notable result was that higher degrees of tissue penetration were achieved in the groups with hypericin (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The encouraging results from our preliminary study demonstrated that hypericin may improve the effects of KTP laser applications. .

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Lasers são amplamente utilizados no tratamento de hiperplasia benigna de próstata sintomática. Na prática atual, lasers de fosfato de titanilo de potássio (KTP) são os tipos mais comuns usados dos sistemas. O objetivo foi avaliar o efeito rápido do sistema laser de alta potência após a aplicação de hipericina. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo experimental animal, realizado no Departamento de Urologia, Academia de Medicina Militar de Gülhane, Ancara, Turquia, em 2012. MÉTODOS: 16 ratos foram divididos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos: 120W KTP laser + hipericina; 120W KTP laser somente; 80W KTP laser + hipericina; 80W KTP laser somente. Hipericina foi dada intraperitonealmente duas horas antes da aplicação do laser. As incisões a laser foram feitas através do músculo quadríceps dos ratos. A profundidade e a largura das incisões a laser foram avaliadas histologicamente e registradas. RESULTADOS: Para padronizar o efeito do laser foi utilizada a razão entre profundidade e largura. Estes novos valores nos mostraram a profundidade da aplicação do laser de largura por unidade. Os novos valores adquiridos foram avaliados estatisticamente. Os valores da média de profundidade/largura foram 231,6, 173,6, 214,1 e 178,9 nos grupos 1, 2, 3 e 4, respectivamente. O resultado mais notável foi atingir altos graus de penetração tecidual nos grupos com hipericina (P < 0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados promissores do nosso estudo preliminar mostraram que hipericina pode melhorar os efeitos das aplicações do laser KTP. .

Does hypericin boost the efficacy of high-power laser? A preliminary experimental study on rats.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Lasers are widely used in treating symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. In current practice, potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) lasers are the most common type of laser systems used. The aim here was to evaluate the rapid effect of high-power laser systems after application of hypericin. DESIGN AND SETTING: Experimental animal study conducted in the Department of Urology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey, in 2012. METHODS: Sixteen rats were randomized into four groups: 120 W KTP laser + hypericin; 120 W KTP laser alone; 80 W KTP laser + hypericin; and 80 W KTP laser alone. Hypericin was given intraperitoneally two hours prior to laser applications. The laser incisions were made through the quadriceps muscle of the rats. The depth and the width of the laser incisions were evaluated histologically and recorded. RESULTS: To standardize the effects of the laser, we used the ratio of depth to width. These new values showed us the depth of the laser application per unit width. The new values acquired were evaluated statistically. Mean depth/width values were 231.6, 173.6, 214.1 and 178.9 in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The most notable result was that higher degrees of tissue penetration were achieved in the groups with hypericin (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The encouraging results from our preliminary study demonstrated that hypericin may improve the effects of KTP laser applications.

Comparison of the inguinal and scrotal approaches for the treatment of communicating hydrocele in children.

The inguinal approach is used for the treatment of hydrocele in the pediatric population. Although studies on scrotal orchiopexy have mentioned hernia or hydrocele repair through the same scrotal incision as a part of an orchiopexy procedure, there are a few studies reporting the treatment of isolated communicating hydrocele through a scrotal incision. We retrospectively evaluated and compared the outcomes of inguinal and scrotal approaches for the treatment of communicating hydrocele in boys. The classical inguinal and scrotal approaches to the treatment of communicating hydrocele were performed on 46 and 30 testicular units (in 43 boys and 27 boys, respectively). The patients' charts were reviewed to assess the operative times as well as the immediate and long-term complications during follow-up periods. The patients' ages ranged from 1 year to 8 years (3.6 ± 2.0 years) in the inguinal group and from 1 year to 10 years (mean 4.6 ± 2.8 years) in the scrotal group. Operative time was significantly lower in the scrotal group (p < 0.0001). The early minor complication rate did not differ between the two groups. Furthermore, there were no major complications noted. None of the patients had hydrocele recurrence after a mean follow-up of 6 months. The advantages of the scrotal approach for the treatment of communicating hydrocele are as follows: it is well tolerated, simple, and cosmetically appealing, and it has a short operative time in comparison with the standard inguinal approach. The scrotal incision technique is an effective alternative in communicating hydrocele treatment.

Effect of infertility duration on postvaricocelectomy sperm counts and pregnancy rates.

OBJECTIVE: The deterioration of seminal parameters in men with varicocele suggests a vascular lesion producing progressive damage to the testes over time. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the duration of infertility in infertile men with varicocele and the postoperative sperm counts to determine whether the infertility period is a parameter for predicting the pregnancy rate. METHODS: The medical records of 574 patients with palpable varicoceles were retrospectively reviewed. According to the duration of unprotected intercourse without conception (infertility period), the patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1, 0-3 years (n = 353); group 2, 3-6 years (n = 132); group 3, 6-9 years (n = 47); and group 4, >9 years (n = 42). The mean age of these groups was 28.5 +/- 5.3 years (range 19-58), 30 +/- 4.9 years (range 22-52), 31.6 +/- 4.1 years (range 25-42), and 36.4 +/- 4.2 years (range 29-50), respectively. The preoperative and postoperative total motile sperm counts (TMCs) and postoperative pregnancy rates among these groups were compared statistically, including multivariate analysis. RESULTS: An overall spontaneous pregnancy rate of 41.3% was achieved after microscopic varicocelectomy. The greatest pregnancy rate was achieved in group 1 (43.9%) and the lowest pregnancy rate in group 4 (31.7%; P < .05). The mean postoperative TMC in these groups was 34.9 +/- 3.5 x 10(6) and 24.6 +/- 1.7 x 10(6), the only statistically significant difference in terms of postoperative TMC and pregnancy among the 4 groups. CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, the pregnancy rates and TMCs after varicocelectomy correlate negatively with the infertility period. This finding supports the perspective that varicocele has deleterious effects on the testicular biology over time.

Fournier's gangrene: risk factors and strategies for management.

OBJECTIVE: The prognosis of Fournier's gangrene (FG) depends on early diagnosis and management. In this study, our objective was to identify the distinct features of FG that may influence the clinical outcome. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed in patients with a diagnosis of FG between January 1999 and December 2003. Etiological and predisposing factors, causative microbiological organisms, and clinical outcome were investigated. RESULTS: Twenty-five men (71%) and 10 women (29%) were included in the study. Mean age was 59.7 +/- 10.7 (range: 43-88) years. As a predisposing factor, diabetes mellitus (DM) was found to be in 46% of patients. All patients were treated by immediate debridement and wide-spectrum antibiotics. More than one bacterium was found in 75% of the patients' tissue cultures, and most frequently E. coli (43%) was identified. Although there were no etiological factors in 25 patients (71%), various etiological factors were found in 10 patients (29%). Multiple debridements were performed in the majority of the cases. The overall mortality rate was 40%. The mortality rates were found to be relatively higher in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM; 50%), with delayed admission to the hospital (45%), and in patients presenting with sepsis at the first admission to the hospital (78%) compared with others. In the logistic regression model, the presence of sepsis was as the only significant independent risk factor for mortality in FG. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the use of contemporary effective antibiotic treatment, aggressive debridements, and state-of-the-art intensive care conditions, FG still has high mortality and morbidity rates. In our series mortality rates were found to be higher in patients with delayed admission to the hospital, those with DM, and those who initially presented with sepsis.

Clinical and molecular characterization of two adults with autosomal recessive Robinow syndrome.

Autosomal recessive Robinow syndrome is caused by mutations in ROR2 and is characterized by short stature, mesomelic limb shortening, brachydactyly, vertebral abnormalities, and a characteristic "fetal face" dysmorphology. We report the clinical and molecular studies on two adults with this condition. Besides typical skeletal and facial features, one patient developed hydronephrosis, nephrocalcinosis, and renal failure. The second patient had characteristic skeletal manifestations including severe spinal involvement and showed endocrinological abnormalities including elevated gonadotropic hormones. The facial phenotype in both patients remained distinctive into adulthood. Analysis of the ROR2 gene revealed a homozygous c.1937_1943delACAAGCT mutation in Patient 1, and compound heterozygosity for c.355C > T (p.R119X). and c.550C > T (p.R184C) in Patient 2.