Characterization of Notch Signalling Pathway Members in Normal Prostate, Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PIN) and Prostatic Adenocarcinoma.

Prostate Cancer (PCa) holds the second place in terms of cancer-related mortality rate among men. The Notch signalling pathway regulates the proliferation and differentiation in embryonic and adult tissues and determines the cell fate. The body of knowledge in the present literature is currently controversial about the effect of the Notch pathway on prostatic cancer.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor alpha in rat testis during chronic renal failure.

Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to influence testis function. Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) is expressed in the postnatal testis, and has been demonstrated to stimulate testis development. Systemic diseases such as chronic renal failure (CRF) interfere with hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, which may cause defective steroidogenesis and gonadal functions.

Potential role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation in the pathogenesis of experimental left varicocele.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the poly(adenosine diphosphate[ADP]-ribose) polymerase (PARP) pathway is activated by experimental left varicocele. Rats underwent partial ligation of the left renal vein to induce experimental varicocele, and left testes were analyzed 13 weeks after surgery. Tubule degeneration was evaluated by Johnsen score.

Effects of androgen ablation therapy in TRAIL death ligand and its receptors expression in advanced prostate cancer.

Background: It is not known whether androgen ablation therapy (AAT) influences TRAIL death ligand and its receptors expression of prostate cancer (PCa) cells.

Aim: To investigate whether hormonal therapy alters the expression of TRAIL death ligand and TRAIL receptors in patients with advanced PCa.

Patients And Methods: 26 untreated and 20 AAT-treated advanced PCa patients were included in the study.

Role of spinning top urethra in dysfunctional voiding.

Objective: The role of spinning top urethra (STU) in children with dysfunctional voiding was evaluated retrospectively.

Material And Methods: From 1995 to 2002, the records of 154 children with dysfunctional voiding were reviewed retrospectively. Of the children 110 (71%) were girls and 44 (29%) were boys (mean age 8 years, range 4-14).

Effects of chemical sympathectomy on contralateral testicular histology and fertility in unilateral vasectomy.

Unilateral obstruction or injury to the vas deferens can result in significant injury to the contralateral testicle. Although various pathways have been proposed, the mechanism of contralateral testicular deterioration remains controversial. The present animal study was performed to evaluate the effects of unilateral vasectomy on ipsilateral and contralateral testicular histology and fertility in rats that were chemically sympathectomized neonatally.

Importance of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand in pathogenesis of interstitial cystitis.

Introduction: Although interstitial cystitis is an inflammatory disease, its etiopathogenesis is not clearly understood. The objective of the present study is to investigate the distribution of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its receptors in bladder biopsy samples of patients diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and the role of TRAIL in the pathogenesis of interstitial cystitis.

Materials And Methods: TRAIL and its receptors were stained immunohistochemically in bladder biopsy samples of 27 patients diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, and the samples were evaluated independently by two pathologists and were scored in terms of expression intensity and distribution.

Differential expression of TRAIL and its receptors in benign and malignant prostate tissues.

Purpose: Because TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand) selectively kills cancer cells without damaging normal cells, a gene therapy approach using TRAIL is feasible for treating patients with cancer. However, recent publications suggest that significant portions of human tumors appear to be TRAIL resistant. Furthermore, there is some controversy about whether TRAIL receptor composition influences TRAIL sensitivity in cancer cells.

Reduced E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expressions have no prognostic role in bladder carcinoma.

In various human cancers, dysfunction of the E-cadherin-catenin complex is associated with a decrease in cellular and tissue differentiation, and with higher invasive and metastatic potentials. The objective of this study was to investigate E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression in superficial noninvasive papillary TCC and invasive TCC, and correlate these results with pathological and clinical parameters. We have used immunohistochemistry to localize Ecadherin and alpha-catenin in 56 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 41 patients with superficial bladder cancer and 15 with invasive bladder cancer.

Differential PTEN protein expression profiles in superficial versus invasive bladder cancers.

Introduction: The prognostic significance of PTEN protein loss in bladder cancer is not well established. The objective of this study was to investigate the PTEN expression profile in superficial noninvasive papillary transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) versus invasive TCC and compared the results with pathological and clinical parameters.

Materials And Methods: Bladder tumor samples were obtained from 29 patients who underwent surgery for superficial (n=11) and invasive (n=18) bladder cancers at the Akdeniz University Hospital.

The potential role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity in the testicular dysfunction associated with varicocele: an experimental study.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been reported to be increased in the spermatic veins of men affected by varicocele. The aim of the present study was to determine whether iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) has a role in testicular dysfunction associated with varicocele, immunohistochemistry analyze was used to study iNOS activity in testis of adolescent rats with experimental left varicoceles. Rats were randomly divided into three groups.

The assessment of PTEN tumor suppressor gene in combination with Gleason scoring and serum PSA to evaluate progression of prostate carcinoma.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine if the tumor suppressor gene phosphate and tensin homolog (PTEN) (mutated in multiple advanced cancers 1) in combination with Gleason scoring and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) could be employed to better predict the progression of prostate carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: The study group consisted of 43 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), 15 with organ confined prostate carcinoma (OCPCa), and 18 with advanced prostate carcinoma (APCa). Prostate tissue samples were obtained from radical prostatectomy, transurethral resection, and TRUS guided trans-rectal needle biopsy and then evaluated for biomarker expression.

Sex cord tumour of the adult testis.

Sex cord stromal tumors are rare and account for approximately 6% of all testicular neoplasms. We report a case of sex cord tumor composed of granulosa cells and Sertoli cells in the adult testis.

Incidental adult posterior urethral valve without clinical features.

Posterior urethral valves are usually detected during infancy by prenatal sonography. Less is known about presentation and outcome in older patients. We are describing a patient who presented with renal stones and was found incidentally on cystoscopy to have Type I urethral valves.

The potential role of advanced glycation end product and iNOS in chronic renal failure-related testicular dysfunction. An experimental study.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in chronic renal failure (CRF)-associated testicular dysfunction in an experimental model. In additionally, we examined whether different peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids could contribute to the elevation in AGE level and iNOS expression in the testes.

Methods: Adult male Wistar rats, 10 and 12 weeks of age and weighing 200-330 g, were divided into 5 groups.

Unexpected presentation of syringocele. Acontractile bladder.

Cowper's syringocele is an uncommon deformity in the male urethra that is a distention of the duct of the Cowper's gland. Symptoms attributed to Cowper's syringocele in adults consist of lower urinary tract symptoms. To our knowledge there are no data on acontractile bladder due to Cowper's syringocele.

Expression of E-cadherin in prostate cancer in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues: correlation with pathological features.

Aims: E-cadherin has been studied recently as a potential marker for tumour progression. The present study aimed to assess the expression of E-cadherin in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded radical prostatectomy specimens and to compare its expression with the pathological stage and Gleason score.

Methods: This study comprised a total of 58 men who were selected on the basis of the negative surgical margins of surgical specimens from radical retropubic prostatectomies and concomitant pelvic lymph node dissections.