The effect untreated right subclinical varicocele on the outcomes of contralateral left clinical varicocelectomy in infertile patients

PURPOSE

The management of infertile patients with unilateral subclinical varicocele (SCV) and contralateral clinical varicocele (CV) remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate the effect of untreating SCV on the outcome of contralateral clinical varicocelectomy in infertile patients with oligoasthenozoospermia (OA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Infertile patients with the diagnosis of OA who underwent left varicocelectomy were retrospectively evaluated. While all patients in the study had left clinical varicocele (LCV), some patients had concomitant right SCV. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a right SCV accompanying LCV as group 1; (LCV n = 104) or group 2; (LCV with right SCV, n = 74). Patients were evaluated with spermiogram parameters, pregnancy rates and serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone at the first year of the follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean sperm concentration increased significantly in both groups. However, group 1 showed significantly greater improvement than group 2. The ratio of progressive motile sperm in group 1 was increased significantly whereas no significant change was shown in group 2. Both the spontaneous pregnancy rate and the pregnancy rate with ART were statistically lower in the group of patients with right SCV. No statistically significant difference was detected in serum hormone levels in both groups after varicocelectomy operations.

CONCLUSIONS

Untreated right SCV may have adverse impact on the outcomes of left clinical varicocelectomy. In this context, the right testis can be considered in terms of treatment in patients with right SCV accompanying left CV.

A case of giant cell osteosarcoma in a Scottish fold cat

This study describes a case of giant cell osteosarcoma (GCO) localised on the right scapulae in a six-year-old neutered male Scottish Fold cat. GCO is a rare tumour in domestic animals. This tumour is also known as giant cell-rich osteosarcoma. Multinucleated giant cells and osteoid structures are observed in GCO. The mass was 4.6 x 4.4 x 4.3 cm in size and very firm. Microscopically, fusiform spindle-shaped cells and multinucleated giant cells were observed. There were 4-8 mitotic figures in three random high-power fields (400x). Osteoid structures and necrosis were detected in several areas. In these areas, atypia was observed in the cells. Immunohistochemically, vimentin expression was observed in neoplastic cells and multinucleated giant cells. No immunoreactivity against actin and cytokeratin was observed in neoplastic cells. Additionally, vimentin expression was detected in the periphery of blood vessels and actin expression in blood vessel smooth muscle cells. As a result of histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, the mass was determined to be GCO.

Is spinal anesthesia an alternative and feasible method for proximal ureteral stone treatment?

Introduction

We investigated the clinical, operational, and pain parameters of patients who underwent semirigid ureterorenoscopy (sURS) under spinal anesthesia (SA) and general anesthesia (GA) for proximal ureter stones.

Material and methods

Patients treated with sURS after diagnosis of proximal ureter stones between January 2014 and May 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups (the SA group and the GA group) based on the type of anesthesia used. Perioperative variables and operation results were evaluated and compared. Success was defined as the patient being stone-free as observed on low-dose non-contrast computed tomography performed in the first month postoperatively.

Results

The SA and GA groups had 40 and 32 patients, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of age (p = 0.593), gender (p = 0.910), average stone size (p = 0.056), side (p = 0.958), or density (p = 0.337). Based on the Clavien classification system, complication rates between the two groups were similar. The postoperative visual pain scale in the SA group was statistically significantly lower (p <0.05) than in the GA group. Success rates in the SA and GA groups were found to be 90% (36/40) and 93.7% (30/32), respectively, with no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.819).

Conclusions

Ureterorenoscopy, which is performed for proximal ureter stone treatment in adult patients, is a reliable surgical method that can be performed under both SA and GA. SA offers the advantage of reduced postoperative pain as compared to GA.

How safe and effective is laparoscopic decortication of simple renal cysts in elderly patients?

Objective: To investigate the assessment of feasibility and safety of laparoscopic decortication of simple renal cysts in elderly patients.Methods: The data of 114 patients who underwent laparoscopic decortication for simple renal cyst between October 2011 and May 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients' age, gender and ASA scores; operation time; cyst size and location; complications; hospital stays and success rates of operations were recorded.Results: The mean age of the patients were 73.8 ± 8.2 years. Forty-eight (42.1%) of the patients were female and 66 (57.9%) were male. Cysts were localized on the right side in 61 (53.5%) patients and on the left side in 53 (46.5%) patients; and mean cyst size was 72.83 ± 31.13 mm. Also, they were localized on the anterior in 88 (77.2%) patients and on the posterior of the kidney in 26 (22.8%) patients. Preoperative ASA score distributions were ASA-I in 12 patients (10.5%), ASA-II in 31 patients (27.2%), ASA-III in 68 patients (59.7%), and ASA-IV in 3 patients (2.6%). Mean operative time was 41.4 ± 5.6 min. Clavien grade 1 complications were observed in 5 (10.4%) patients. Median hospitalization time was 1 day. No recurrence was occurred in any patient in the postoperative period.Conclusions: Although laparoscopic surgery has some risks and complications for elderly patients, laparoscopic decortication can be applied safely and effectively in treatment of simple renal cyst in that patient population.

Can subfoveal choroidal thickness replace subjective tests in patients using tadalafil to treat erectile dysfunction?

We aimed to determine the effect on choroidal thickness of daily 5 mg tadalafil use in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and to evaluate agreement between short form of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF 1-5, 15) scores and choroidal thickness during follow-up. Enhanced depth imaging spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) was used to measure full choroidal thickness in the subfoveal area, choroidal thickness (CT) and small-choroidal-vessel-layer (SCVL) thickness. Thirty of the 45 patients included complete their follow-ups and exhibited medication continuity. Patients were divided into two groups, five (16.7%) with ED at any level at third-month follow-up, and 25 (83.3%) with no ED, and subgroup analysis was then performed. Median changes in SCVL thickness at first- and sixth-month follow-ups were 20.5 µm versus 9.0 μm (p = .001) and 23.5 µm versus 12.5 µm (p = .005) in patients without and with ED respectively. The SCVL thickness increased by 20 μm compared with the baseline level, indicating an improvement in the patient's complaints of erectile dysfunction. The level of increase in SCVL thickness can be a useful and objective guide to clinicians if they cannot be present when the IIEF questionnaire is administered.

P wave dispersion in patients with erectile dysfunction

Background and aims

P wave dispersion (PWD) has been reported to be a non-invasive electrocardiographic predictor for atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study is to evaluate PWD between men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and healthy controls in order to investigate whether PWD was prolonged in patients with ED and related to severity of the disease.

Methods

This study included a total of 72 men (42 patients with ED and 30 healthy controls). Demographic data and clinical features were recorded on admission. An electrocardiographic evaluation was obtained to measure PWD values for both patients and controls.

Results

Maximum P wave duration was 108.5 ± 4.7 and 108.3 ± 4.3 in ED group and control group, respectively (p = 0.748). Minumum P wave duration was significantly higher in the control group than in the ED group. PWD was 48.1 ± 5.9 in the ED group. As a result, PWD was prolonged in patients with ED (48.1 ± 5.9 vs. 38.0 ± 3.9, p < 0.05). A significant negative correlation was observed between IIEF score and PWD values (p < 0.05, r = −0.662).

Conclusions

Patients with ED exhibited prolonged PWD values compared with normal controls. In addition, PWD was found to be associated with severity of the disease.

Can we Predict Preoperative Tumor Aggressivity with Hemogram Parameters in Renal Cell Carcinoma? a Novel Calculation Method

We aim to investigate the prognostic significance of the hemoglobin X lymphocyte / neutrophil ratio (HLNR) and hemoglobin x lymphocyte / platelet ratio (HLPR) with tumor aggressivity in patients with renal cell carcinoma. We retrospectively analyzed 127 patients' data who had diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma between 2008 and 2019 in Suleyman Demirel University Hospital. Tumor and patient characteristics, hemoglobin, neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet values HLNR and HLPR were calculated in preoperative hemogram parameters. The relationship between tumor pathological stage, Fuhrman nuclear grade and tumor necrosis with HLPR and HLNR analyzed with statistically. There was a negative correlation between pathologic stage, Fuhrman nuclear grade and tumor necrosis with HLNR. P values are 0.003, 0.012 and 0.015 respectively. HLNR was lower in patients with high pathologic stage, high Fuhrman nuclear grade and accompanying tumor necrosis positiveness. There was a negative correlation between pathologic stage, Fuhrman nuclear grade and tumor necrosis with HLPR. P values are 0.001, 0.014 and 0.047 respectively. HLPR was lower in patients with high pathologic stage, high Fuhrman nuclear grade and accompanying tumor necrosis positiveness. High pathological stage, high Fuhrman nuclear grade and existence of tumor necrosis are associates with preoperative low HLNR and low HLPR in renal cell carcinoma patients. They can be used as prognostic markers in patients with renal mass preoperatively.

Fibroepithelial Polyp of the Ureter: A Rare Cause of Hydronephrosis

Background: Fibroepithelial polyps of the urothelial system are rare and are considered to be benign tumors. Ultrasonography (USG), contrast-enhanced CT, and contrast-enhanced MRI can be used for detecting fibroepithelial polyps in the urothelial system. These polyps can be treated by performing open exploration and endoscopic or laparoscopic resection. Previous studies have also reported the frequent use of laser treatment for treating fibroepithelial polyps located in the proximal ureter.

Case Presentation: A 54-year-old female patient presented to our clinic with right flank pain. Evaluation of the patient by performing USG and CT detected grade-2 hydronephrosis of the right kidney; however, no stone was detected in the urinary system. MRI detected thickening of the wall of the right proximal ureter along with contrast enhancement. These findings suggested the presence of a ureteral polyp. Ureterorenoscopy detected a 7-cm-long ureteral polyp in the proximal ureter, which was resected by performing monopolar cautery.

Conclusion: Although fibroepithelial polyps of the urinary tract are rare, they should be considered in the absence of urinary calculi and in the presence of a ureteral obstruction. Furthermore, careful endoscopic resection by performing electrocautery is a safe and useful method for treating ureteral lesions.

Transvesicoscopic Bipolar Sealing of Vesicovaginal Fistula

Introduction: Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is a problem that physically and psychologically debilitates the patient. Options for treatment of VVF include transabdominal, transvaginal, transvesical, laparoscopic, and robotic repair or minimally invasive methods such as fulguration. We describe a novel minimally invasive technique: transvesicoscopic bipolar sealing of the vesicovaginal fistula (TBSF).

Case Presentation: We carried out the transvesicoscopic sealing of VVF with 5 mm of diameter on a 46-year-old woman, who had a failed conservative treatment with a Foley catheter placement. The patient was informed about the modified surgical procedure before operation. The fistula tract was sealed by using an electrothermal bipolar vessel sealer through a 5-mm transvesical ports. The patient was discharged on the first postoperative day and was on anticholinergic medications after the operation. The patient remained dry after the removal of the catheter at the third postoperative week.

Conclusion: In select cases of VVF, TBSF may be effectively used for closure of the fistula tract.

2% Lidocaine gel or plain lubricating gel: Which one should be used in male flexible cystoscopy?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate and compare the effects on pain of intraurethral 2% lidocaine gel and plain lubricating gel in male patients underwent flexible cystoscopy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The data of 220 male patients who underwent flexible cystoscopy between March 2012 and August 2014 were retrospectively analized. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to using intraurethral gel types. Group I included 120 patients who were underwent flexible cystoscopy with 2% lidocaine gel and Group II was consisted from 100 patients who underwent flexible cystoscopy with plain lubricating gel. The groups were compared according to postprocedure data including pain score, procedure time and age of patients.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients in Group I was 50.02±11.87 years while that in Group II was 52.03±13.37 years (p=0.492). The mean procedure times were 6.02±0.787 and 6.28±0.689 minutes in Group I and Group II respectively (p=0.061). Pain perception scores were not statistically different between the groups (Group I: 3.10±0.980, Group II: 3.34±0.789, p=0.132).

CONCLUSION

Use of intraurethral 2% lidocaine gel has no advantage over plain lubricating gel in regard to pain control during flexible cystoscopy in men.

Retrospective evaluation of urological admissions to emergency service of a training and research hospital

OBJECTIVE

Many patients consult emergency services with urological complaints. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, clinical presentation and treatments of urological emergency cases in a training and research hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated urological emergency patients referred to the emergency unit between July 2012 and July 2013 according to age, gender, affected organ, radiological imaging techniques and treatment.

RESULTS

Among 141.844 emergency cases, 3.113 (2.19%) were urological emergencies and 53.2% of the patients were male (mean age: 49.1), and 46.8% of them were female (median age: 42.8). The most frequent illness was genitourinary infection constituting 41.2% of the cases followed by renal colic (36.9%). Among the urological emergencies 483 (15.5%) patients were hospitalized and 152 surgical operations were performed. The mostly performed procedure was the placement of a suprapubic catheter in 34 patients constituting (22.3%) of the cases. Totally eight patients were referred to another experienced health center due to different reasons.

CONCLUSION

Most of the urological emergency patients do not require emergency surgical interventions however, timely identification and management of urological emergencies with in-depth clinical evaluation are important to prevent late complications. Therefore the doctors working in emergency services must be heedful of urological emergencies.

[The value of PCR method in the species-level identification of a mucoid Salmonella sp. strain isolated from the urine culture of a case with asymptomatic nephrolithiasis]

Colonies of the Salmonella strains usually show a smooth (S) character. Therefore, Salmonella strains producing mucoid colony are very rarely encountered in the literature. Identification of the mucoid Salmonella strains to the species level is difficult via conventional methods, since the mucus layer does not allow the bacterium to respond to the antigenic reactions. In this study we aimed to emphasize the identification of Salmonella serotypes by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) when rough (R) or mucoid (M) Salmonella isolates are encountered in the laboratory. The urine culture of a 17-year-old female patient revealed growth of 100.000 cfu/mL gram-negative bacilli in mucoid colony morphology. The isolate was identified as Salmonella sp. by biochemical tests and Vitek 2 (bioMérieux, France) automated identification system. Agglutination tests showed negative reaction with the known antiserums. Absence of agglutination was attributed to the mucoid character of the isolate. Identification of the Salmonella sp. was confirmed by Vitek MS MALDI-TOF (bioMérieux, France) analysis method, however, the serotype of the strain could not be identified. In order to verify that the mucoid colony was Salmonella spp., species-specific PCR was performed using invA primers, and Salmonella sp. identification was verified by observing a 284 base-pair (bp) PCR amplicon. Subsequently, serogrouping was done by multiplex-PCR (mPCR), which could identify the O:B (O:4), O:C1 (O:7), O:C2-C3 (O:8), O:D (O:9, O:9,46, O:9,46,27), and O:E (O:3,10, O:3,19) somatic antigens. It was detected that the mucoid Salmonella sp. formed a band of approximately 615 bp in size and took place in group D. Another mPCR directed towards O:D1(O:9) and O:E1(3,10) somatic antigens to detect subgroups of group D mucoid Salmonella spp., revealed that the isolate formed a DNA band of approximately 624 bp in size and took place in group D1 which is usually isolated from human. Modified version of another mPCR was used to determine phase-1 flagellar antigen of common Salmonella serovars, as well as to determine the phase-1 flagellar antigen of mucoid Salmonella spp. in group D1. Thus, the isolate was serotyped as Salmonella Enteritidis (1.9,12:g,m:-). Antibiotic susceptibility test performed by disc diffusion method in line with the recommendations of CLSI, revealed that the isolate was susceptible to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and chloramphenicol. In conclusion, PCR is a reliable and rapid alternative method that contributes to the conventional serotyping of Salmonella when rough or mucoid strains that lack somatic and flagellar antigens, are isolated.

A study on the morphological structure of syrinx in ostriches (Struthio camelus)

The aim of this study was to investigate the topographical, anatomical and histological characteristics of syrinx in five ostriches. It was observed that the syrinx in the ostrich was tracheobronchial type and was composed of three different cartilage groups, namely tympanum, cartilagines (cartt.) tracheosyringeales and cartt. bronchosyringeales. Tympanum and cartt. tracheosyringeales were formed from three and four cartilage rings, respectively, while cartt. bronchosyringeales was formed from three C-shaped cartilage rings. The pessulus did not contain any ossified or cartilaginous tissues and was made up of a double folded mucous membrane extending dorsoventrally from median walls of bronchus primarius into the cavum syringis.