Prevention of cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis by resveratrol: a comparative experimental study with mesna

PURPOSE

Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is the most common urotoxic side effect of cyclophosphamide (CP). The aim of this study was to compare the classical efficacy of mesna (2-mercaptoethane sulfonate sodium) with three different doses of resveratrol (RES) on cyclophosphamide-induced HC in rats.

METHODS

Forty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups. Group 1 served as a negative control (sham). Five groups received a single dose of cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg) intraperitoneally at the same time. Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 received only CP, CP + 20 mg/kg RES, CP + 40 mg/kg RES, CP + 80 mg/kg RES, and CP + classical protocol of three doses of mesna (30 mg/kg three times), respectively. Antioxidants, cytokines, and malondialdehyde levels were measured in all groups. In addition, histopathological alterations in tissues were examined.

RESULTS

CP administration induced severe HC with marked edema, hemorrhage, and inflammation in group 2. RES 20 mg/kg showed meaningful protection against bladder damage compared to the control group. It was seen that RES 40 mg/kg gave weaker protection but RES 80 mg/kg was not found to be effective.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, marked bladder protection was found in 20 and 40 mg/kg RES applications compared to the control group, but this protection was weaker than with mesna.

Does metabolic syndrome increase erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of metabolic syndrome (MS) on erectile dysfunction (ED) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We included patients who had presented at the urology outpatients with LUTS or ED complaints and at the endocrinology outpatients for diabetes between May 2012 and April 2013. MS was present in 50 of the 107 patients (42.7%). The blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, serum lipid profile, triglyceride, total cholesterol, body mass index (BMI) and total prostate specific antigen (PSA) values were recorded. The international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life score and international erectile function index (IIEF-5) values were determined for the patients. All patients also underwent uroflowmetry together with prostate volume and residual urine volume measurement.

RESULTS

There was a significant negative correlation between the IPSS and IIEF scores of the patients (P < .001, r = -0.42). There was no significant difference regarding IPSS scores between patients with and without MS (P = .6), while the IIEF-5 scores were significantly lower in the MS group (P = .03).

CONCLUSION

We found that metabolic syndrome did not significantly affect LUTS but could significantly contribute to ED. We therefore feel patients presenting with ED complaints should also be carefully evaluated for MS. 

Is there a relationship between the grade of maternal hydronephrosis and birth weight of the babies?

Mild hydronephrosis may be present in upto 90% of pregnancies. The degree of hydronephrosis was determined by maximal calyceal diameter (MCD). The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a relationship between grade of maternal hydronephrosis and birth weight of the babies. Subjects were examined in three groups: group 1 MCD of 5-10 mm (grade I), group 2 10-15 mm (grade II) and group 3 patients >15 mm (grade III). There were 45, 30, 13 patients in the groups, respectively. Estimated fetal weight (EFW) at the time that hydronephrosis was diagnosed, birth weight and duration of pregnancy were compared. The average birth weight of the babies was not statistically different in the three groups (p > 0.05), but there was a statistically significant difference in fetal weights at the time of diagnosis (p = 0.02). The grade of maternal hydronephrosis does not affect the duration of pregnancy.

Age of patient is a risk factor for urethrocutaneous fistula in hypospadias surgery

OBJECTIVE

There is still much debate regarding the effect that age at hypospadias operation has on the rate of complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patient age is a risk factor for surgical complications when using the tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty technique.

METHODS

Between 2005 and 2011, 307 pediatric patients with distal or mid-penile hypospadias underwent the TIP procedure. Demographic and surgical data were evaluated.

RESULTS

The complications recorded across all age groups were: fistula, meatal stenosis, glans dehiscence and urethral stenosis. Fistula was the most frequent complication in 10-14 year olds compared to the younger patient groups, and this difference was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Age and surgical technique should be taken into consideration when planning hypospadias surgery, since the complication rate increases with patient age. The TIP technique is a safe procedure with a low rate of fistula formation in distal and mid-penile hypospadias repair for patients of any age during the prepubertal period.

Evaluation of erythrocyte deformability in experimentally induced osteoporosis in female rats and the effects of vitamin C supplementation on erythrocyte deformability

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible variations in antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte deformability in experimentally induced osteoporosis in female rats and to assess the effects of vitamin C supplementation on those variations.

MATERIAL

A total of 20 female Wistar Albino Rats were randomized into the three groups as controls (Group C, n = 6), ovariectomized rats (Group O, n = 7) and ovariectomized rats receiving vitamin C supplementation (Group OVC, n = 7). After the surgical procedure of ovariectomy, group OVC received 1 g ascorbic acid in 500 mL water daily. After 100 days following the ovariectomy, bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

BMD was significantly lower in the group O than in the group C (p = 0.015), whereas it was significantly higher in the group OVC than in the group O (p = 0.003). MDA activity was significantly higher in the group O than in the group C (p = 0.032), whereas it was significantly lower in the group OVC than in the group O (p = 0.025). SOD activity was significantly higher in the group O than in the group C (p = 0.032). Erythrocyte deformability was significantly higher in the group O than in the group C and OVC (p = 0.008, p = 0.021, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Erythrocyte deformability may show negative variations, suggesting a causative role in disruption of blood flow and tissue perfusion, which also negatively affect bone metabolism. Vitamin C supplementation seems to reverse those negative effects of variations in erythrocyte deformability. However, our preliminary results should be confirmed in more experimental studies and clinical trials (Tab. 3, Ref. 28).

P wave and QT changes among inpatients with schizophrenia after parenteral ziprasidone administration

OBJECTIVE

Although ziprasidone has been reported to cause ventricular arrhythmias, there have been no studies regarding the influence of ziprasidone on atrial conduction. Intraatrial and interatrial conduction time prolongation and inhomogeneous propagation of sinus impulses are indicated by P wave changes on surface electrocardiography. We aimed to evaluate proneness to atrial fibrillation after intramuscular ziprasidone in drug-free inpatients with schizophrenia.

METHODS

We evaluated 11 eligible inpatients who were drug free for at least 4 weeks with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia disorder and 11 healthy controls who were hospital staff members. Electrocardiography was performed at baseline and 1.5-2h after ziprasidone injection. A 12-lead surface electrocardiogram was obtained from each subject in the supine position at a paper speed of 50mm/s and 2mV/cm.

RESULTS

The changes between baseline and the period after parenteral ziprasidone administration in P-wave duration, P-wave dispersion, QTc, QTc(max), QTc(min), and QT dispersion variables were significant (p>0.05). The initial P-wave dispersion was significantly longer in patients than in healthy controls (p<0.05). There were no correlations between electrocardiography parameters and clinical severity scores or demographic variables in either group.

CONCLUSION

Intramuscular ziprasidone administration does not seem to influence atrial and ventricular electrical conduction in drug-free inpatients with schizophrenia. However, schizophrenia might affect atrial conduction resulting in atrial fibrillation, which may be a cause of some complications in inpatients with this schizophrenia.

TWO CLINICAL PROBLEMS IN ELDERLY MEN: OSTEOPOROSIS AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Seventy-six of 108 random men aged 50 years or over were evaluated for erectile dysfunction with interviews of patients using the International Index of Erectile Function Form and minimal evaluation. Serum hormone concentrations were measured. Bone mineral density was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Hormone levels did not show significance in terms of erectile dysfunction or bone mineral density results. Erectile dysfunction was determined in 57 (75%) of 76 patients. Ten (13.2%) patients had osteoporosis and 45 (59.2%) had osteopenia at the bone mineral density measurements. The distribution of bone mineral density groups relating to erectile dysfunction did not show significance. The frequencies of osteoporosis and erectile dysfunction increased with age, but the association of these conditions seems to be independent of each other and hormonal changes appear not to be the major determinants for both conditions in elderly men.

The influences of depression and venlafaxine use at therapeutic doses on atrial conduction

Patients with depression have increases risk of cardiac mortality. Overdose with venlafaxine has been accused of supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation and other cardiac effects. Discontinuous and inhomogeneous propagation of sinus impulses in atrium plays a major role in atrial fibrillation. We aimed to measure the effects of venlafaxine therapy on propagation of sinus impulses reflections in electrocardiography in depression. Eligible 19 participants were outpatients with depression. 75 mg/day dose of venlafaxine was administered to the patients. The patients were asked to complete both Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. 17 healthy participants enrolled in the study. The electrocardiography records were obtained while patients were drug naive and one week after treatment. The baseline durations of P(minimum) and P(maximum) in the patient group were significantly shorter than controls (p < 0,05). The differences between baseline and after venlafaxine therapy among electrocardiographical variables were statistically insignificant. There were no significant correlations between age, sex, body mass index, clinical inventories and electrocardiographical variables in both patients and controls. Autonomic dysregulation in myocardium is still inconclusive in depression. Venlafaxine at therapeutic dose of 75 mg/day does not seem to be associated with myocardial conduction dysregulation.

Brucellar spondylodiscitis: a case report

Brucellosis is a common zoonosis which still remains as a major health problem in certain parts of the world. Osteoarticular involvement is the most frequent complication of brucellosis, in which the diagnosis of brucellar spondylodiscitis is often difficult since the clinical presentation may be obscured by many other conditions. Herein, we reported an uncommon case of spondylodiscitis due to brucella in an elderly male who had diabetes mellitus and degenerative spinal disease as underlying conditions. The diagnosis was established by using magnetic resonance imaging after the brucella-agglutination test was found to be positive. The diagnosis was also confirmed by positive blood culture. A high degree of suspicion in the diagnosis of brucellar spondylitis is essential to reduce the delay for the treatment. Thus, it should be essentially included in the differential diagnosis of longstanding back pain particularly in regions where brucellosis is endemic. Screening serologic tests for brucella should be used more widely in cases with low index of suspicion, especially in endemic areas.

Eristalis tenax as a cause of urinary myiasis

Eristalis tenax, belonging to order Diptera, family Syrphidae seldomly causes intestinal myiasis. Urinary myiasis caused by Eristalis tenax larvae is a rare manifestation found in both humans and other vertebrate animals. We report a 58-y-old woman presented with painful mixing and bilateral costo-lumbar pain. The larva in her urine sample was identified as Eristalis tenax related to its typical morphology.

The assessment of functional status in Turkish children with cerebral palsy (a preliminary study)

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common causes of disability in childhood leading to functional limitations. Assessment of the functional limitations is important to determine the severity of the disability in CP and to evaluate the benefit of the rehabilitation programme. However, the results of the measurements show variations according to different sociocultural characteristics. The Functional Independence Measure of Children (WeeFIM) had not been studied in Turkish children previously. The aims of this study were to evaluate the functional disability of Turkish children with CP by using WeeFIM and to compare the results with those of healthy counterparts.

METHODS

A total of 86 children aged 24 months to 120 months were included in the study. Forty-five children with CP and 41 healthy children representing the controls were evaluated with WeeFIM. Both children with CP and healthy controls were categorized into four groups according to their chronological age. The variations in the WeeFIM subsets scores (self-care, sphincter control, transfers and locomotion, communication and social cognition) and total WeeFIM scores in children with CP and healthy controls were analysed.

RESULTS

The children with CP had lower WeeFIM scores than healthy controls. The sphincter control subset scores of children with CP increased as they grew up. There was no statistically significant difference in all WeeFIM subset scores and the total WeeFIM scores among the four age groups of children with CP.

CONCLUSION

The WeeFIM appears to be a useful instrument for measuring the disability of Turkish children with CP. However, studies with wider series are needed to generalize our results.

Studies on the effects of x-ray on erythrocyte zinc and copper concentrations in rabbits after treatment with antioxidants

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of supplemental antioxidant vitamins and minerals on the erythrocyte concentrations of zinc and copper in rabbits after exposure to X-rays. The animals were divided into two experimental and one control group (CG). The first group (VG) was given daily oral doses of vitamins E and C; supplemental amounts of manganese, zinc, and copper were mixed with the feed and given to the second group of experimental animals (MG). Blood samples were taken from all groups before and after 4 wk of vitamin and mineral administration and after irradiation with a total dose of 550-rad X-rays. The administration of minerals caused the most significant increases of Zn and Cu. Even after irradiation, the zinc levels in the irradiated animals were higher than in the nonirradiated vitamin-supplemented animals (p<0.05). The results suggest that supplementation with antioxidant vitamins and minerals may have a protective effect against X-ray-induced damage.

The effects of bovine respiratory syncytial on normal ovine lymphocyte responses to mitogens or antigens in vitro

In the present study peripheral blod mononuclear cells (MNC) obtained from normal uninfected lambs were used to study the possible effects of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) on lymphocyte responses to the mitogens, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in vitro. Live BRSV had a depressive effect on the proliferative responses of normal MNC to PHA, Con A and PWM. Inactivated BRSV and a commercial preparation of prostaglandin E2 were also found to depress the proliferative responses of normal ovine MNC to PHA but recombinant tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) had no such effect. Serum samples obtained from BRSV-infected lambs contained substances inhibitory to PHA-driven lymphocyte blastogenesis. Memory blastogenic responses to border disease virus (BDV) of lymyphocytes obtained from lambs previously primed with BDV were significantly reduced when lymphocytes were exposed to infectious BRSV.

Vaccination with glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV)-infected cells stimulates a better immune response in lambs than vaccination with heat-inactivated cell-free BRSV

The lamb model was used to investigate the possible protective effects of vaccination with inactivated viral antigens against experimental infection with bovine respiratory syncytial virus. Two groups of eight lambs were vaccinated with either glutaraldehyde-inactivated cell-associated virus or heat-inactivated cell-free virus and subsequently challenged with live virus, along with a group of naive lambs. The virus was shed for significantly longer periods, and the virus titres in nasal secretions were significantly higher in the group of naive lambs than in the two groups of vaccinated lambs. The period of virus-shedding in nasal secretions and virus titres was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in the group of lambs immunized with the cell-associated preparation. The same antigen stimulated better cellular immune responses as measured by virus-specific cytotoxicity or by virus-specific lymphocyte proliferation. However, priming with inactivated vaccines had no significant effect on lymphocyte responses to phytohaemagglutinin, which was found to be significantly reduced (p < 0.01) following challenge with live virus.

In-vitro studies on mechanisms of immunosuppression associated with bovine respiratory syncytial virus

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) depressed the proliferative reactivity of normal ovine peripheral blood lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). This BRSV-induced reduction in proliferative reactivity was not reversed or ameliorated by the addition of (1) indomethacin or flunixin meglumine, substances known to inhibit the production of prostaglandins, or (2) the cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2), or (3) rat growth factor. The results suggest that the suppression of ovine lymphocyte reactivity to PHA associated with BRSV was not caused by the release of cyclooxygenase products such as prostaglandins, or the production of inhibitors of IL-1 or IL-2.

The effects of bovine respiratory syncytial virus on the phagocytic and antigen-presenting capacity of peripheral blood monocytes and monocytic cell lines derived from lambs and calves

Human respiratory syncytial virus and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) suppress lymphocyte responses to mitogens. In the present study, the possible effects of BRSV on some functions of antigen-presenting cells (APC) were investigated by exposing ovine monocytic cells to the virus before their use as APC. The depletion of monocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells resulted in the near total abrogation of proliferative responses to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Reactivity was restored by the addition of homologous monocytic cells derived from ovine peripheral blood monocytes as APC. The exposure of these monocytic cells to BRSV for 48 h before their use as APC significantly reduced the proliferative responses of uninfected ovine lymphocytes to PHA. Furthermore, the exposure of bovine peripheral blood monocytes and bovine and ovine monocytic cell lines to BRSV for 48 h reduced their capacity to phagocytize latex beads.