Paclitaxel resistance and the role of miRNAs in prostate cancer cell lines.

Purpose: To investigate the expression profiles of 86 miRNAs in paclitaxel-resistant prostate cancer cell lines and to identify the genes that have a role in the development of drug resistance.

Methods: Three prostate cancer cell lines, androgen-dependent VCaP, androgen-independent PC-3 and DU-145, were used to obtain paclitaxel-resistant cells by progressively increasing the concentration of paclitaxel in the culture medium. Viability assays with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium and sulforhodamine B were used to assess the cell resistance level and cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel treatment.

Association of B7-H4 gene polymorphisms in urothelial bladder cancer.

Background/aim: We aimed to study polymorphisms of the B7-H4 gene in order to evaluate a possible association in urothelial carcinoma, as it is highly expressed in cancer tissues.

Materials And Methods: In this study B7-H4 gene rs10754339, rs10801935, and rs3738414 SNPs were studied by PCR-RFLP method in paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 62 urothelial carcinoma patients and in a control group including 30 patients without bladder cancer.

Results: We detected that the rs10754339 polymorphism was more frequent in the cancer patients when compared with the control group (P < 0.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for ureteral stones: twelve years of experience with 2836 patients at a single center.

Purpose: To retrospectively analyze the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) for managing ureteral stones in patients who were treated during a 12-year period at a single center in Turkey.

Materials And Methods: The study involved 3300 patients who had single ureteral stone and underwent SWL between January 1999 and March 2011. Medical records from 2836 (85%) patients were available for evaluation.

Testicular tissue histology in rabbit testes after transparenchymal suturing with six different types of suture material.

Aim: Our aim was to investigate the changes in testicular tissue histology associated with six different types of commonly used suture material.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one adult male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to seven groups of three animals each: sham-operated controls; polyglyconate suture; chromic catgut suture; polypropylene suture; polyglactin-910 suture; silk suture; and poliglecaprone-25 suture. All the materials tested were 6-0 caliber.

Effect of carbon dioxide pneumoretroperitoneum on bacterial translocation in an experimental retroperitoneoscopy model.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of artificial CO2 pneumoretroperitoneum on bacterial translocation in an experimental retroperitoneoscopy model.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen adult male New Zealand White rabbits weighing 2.5 to 3 kg were divided into two groups.

Natural transmission of AZFb Y-chromosomal microdeletion from father to his three sons.

Microdeletions of the so-called azoospermia factor (AZF) locus of the Y chromosome long arm (Yq) are an etiological factor of severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia. Patients affected are infertile unless assisted reproductive techniques are used. We report the case of an azoospermic patient (proband) and three brothers who inherited a Yq microdeletion from their father through a spontaneous pregnancy.

Absorbable versus nonabsorbable graft: outcome of bone anchored male sling for post-radical prostatectomy incontinence.

Purpose: We determined the outcome of the bone anchored male sling procedure for stress urinary incontinence in men regarding the graft material used.

Materials And Methods: A total of 39 men with post-radical prostatectomy incontinence received a perineal bone anchored male sling. Patients with previous salvage external beam radiotherapy and high serum prostate specific antigen, incontinence due to neurogenic or posttraumatic etiology, or previous benign prostatectomy were excluded.

The effect of carbon dioxide pneumoretroperitoneum on free oxygen radicals in rabbit retroperitoneoscopy model.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumoretroperitoneum on free oxygen radicals in the kidney. Twelve male New Zealand rabbits were divided into 2 equal groups; group 1; control operation group (retroperitoneal space preparation without CO2 insufflation) and group 2; study group (10-12 mm Hg pneumoretroperitoneum for 3 hours with CO2). At the end of the procedure, laparotomy was performed to harvest ipsilateral and contralateral kidney in both groups after three hours.

Terazosin and doxazosin in the treatment of BPH: results of a randomized study with crossover in non-responders.

Objective: To compare the effects of the doxazosin and terazosin on total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) in treating patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and compare this effectivity by switching the drugs in the patients who did not benefit from either the first or the second drug.

Methods: This is a prospective randomized study of the patients with LUTS suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Fifty male patients (mean age 59.

Acute effects of sildenafil on Humphrey visual field and intraocular pressure.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of sildenafil on visual field and intraocular pressure in a group of healthy subjects.

Methods: Twenty-eight healthy male volunteers with normal eyes were included in the study. Visual field examinations were performed using FASTPAC 30-2 program (white-on-white and blue-on-yellow) with the Humphrey field analyzer before and one hour after receiving oral 50 and 100 mg sildenafil citrate.

Induction of spermatogenesis in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with gonadotropins in older men.

We investigated the treatment results in 6 azoospermic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) cases that remained untreated 41-47 years of age. Medical history, physical examination, hormone profile measurements, peripheral blood karyotype, skull X-ray and/or magnetic resonance imaging were performed. Patients received 1,000 to 5,000 IU hCG, 2-3 times per week, and 75 to 150 IU hMG, 2-3 times per week for 24 months.

Plasma kinetic vaporization of the prostate: clinical evaluation of a new technique.

Purpose: We evaluated our results with bipolar plasma kinetic electrovaporization in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-one patients with infravesical obstruction by BPH have been treated with bipolar plasma kinetic electrovaporization. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) with a quality of life (QOL) scoring questionnaire, uroflowmetry (maximum flow rate; Qmax), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), and residual urine volume and prostate specific antigen (PSA) measurements had been performed before surgery.

Effects of carbon dioxide pneumoretroperitoneum on free radical formation in remote organs and use of verapamil as an antioxidant.

Background And Purpose: Pneumoretroperitoneum (Prp) acts as an ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury causes production of reactive oxygen species, which affect organs remote from the sites of I/R. The aim of this study was to assess the remote organ changes after Prp and to explore the effects of antioxidants.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for solitary distal ureteral stones: does the degree of urinary obstruction affect success?

Background And Purpose: Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is a safe and effective way to treat stones in the distal ureter, but the impact of urinary obstruction on outcome is not clear. We investigated the relation between the degree of stone-induced urinary obstruction and the outcome of SWL treatment in patients with solitary distal ureteral stones.

Patients And Methods: A series of 165 consecutive patients with solitary distal ureteral stones underwent SWL (Multimed 9200 Lithotriptor, Elmed Medical Systems, Turkey) between October 2002 and September 2003 at two separate centers.

Early effects of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy exposure on testicular sperm morphology.

Objective: To investigate the effects of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) applied to the pelvic region on testicular histology and spermatogenesis.

Material And Methods: ESWL (2000 shock waves over a 20-min period at 18 kV) was applied to 12 adult New Zealand male rabbits. The rabbits were divided into three equal groups: those in Group 1 were sacrificed 1 h after the intervention, those in Group 2 were sacrificed on the 3rd day and those in Group 3 were sacrificed on the 7th day.

An artificial neural network for predicting the presence of spermatozoa in the testes of men with nonobstructive azoospermia.

Purpose: We developed an artificial neural network (ANN) for predicting spermatozoa prior to testicular biopsy in men with nonobstructive azoospermia. The performance of this ANN was compared to that of the standard logistic regression (LR) model.

Materials And Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from the physical examination and laboratory records of 303 patients who presented with infertility due to nonobstructive azoospermia.

Early tissue reactions in the rat bladder wall after contact with three different synthetic mesh materials.

Objectives: To investigate bladder tissue reactions to three types of implanted mesh material, i.e. polypropylene, polyglactin and polypropylene-polyglactin combined.

Comparison of changes in tissue oxidative-stress markers in experimental model of open, laparoscopic, and retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy.

Purpose: We evaluated the oxidative stress in renal tissue during three types of surgery: open donor nephrectomy (ODN), laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN), and retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy (RDN). The aim was to find out which is the appropriate procedure for harvesting a donor kidney.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four New Zealand White rabbits were randomized to four groups, each consisting of six rabbits.

Effect of retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy on tissue oxidative stress markers in rabbit pneumoretroperitoneum model.

Background And Purpose: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy causes increased renal oxidative stress. There are no data about the effects of the retroperitoneoscopic route. The aim of our study was to evaluate the oxidative stress occurring in renal tissues during retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy in a rabbit model.

Sildenafil citrate does not affect QT intervals and QT dispersion: an important observation for drug safety.

Background: Sildenafil is an effective and widely used therapeutic agent for erectile dysfunction. Deaths have been reported due to sildenafil use and most of them are attributed to concurrent use of nitrates. However, the effects of sildenafil on QT intervals, QT dispersion, and the possible risk of ventricular arrhythmia have not been studied before.

Determination of cut-off values for leucocytes and bacteria for urine flow cytometer (UF-100) in urinary tract infections.

Leucocytes and bacteria in urine are the important indices for diagnosing urinary tract infections. Urine specimens from 260 patients were examined for leucocytes and bacteria with the UF-100 flow cytometer (Sysmex Corporation, Japan). The results obtained with the UF-100 were compared with those obtained by bacteriologic cultures of the same urine samples.