Protective effect of a potent antioxidant, pomegranate juice, in the kidney of rats with nephrolithiasis induced by ethylene glycol.

Purpose: We aimed to study the protective effects of pomegranate juice (PJ) on ethylene glycol (EG)-induced crystal deposition in renal tubules, renal toxicity, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nuclear factor-kappaB activities in rat kidneys.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-six rats were divided into four equal groups: Control, EG, EG + 50 microL PJ/d (PJ50), and EG + 100 microL PJ/d (PJ100). Rats were sacrified on days 10 and 45.

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in diarrhoeic lambs in Kars province and potential risk factors.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in diarrhoeic lambs and investigate some risk factors in Kars province (Northeastern region of Anatolia) in Turkey. Four hundred faecal samples were taken from the rectums of clinically diarrhoeic and aged to 1-month-old lambs from 34 sheep farms in 20 villages in March-April 2007 and examined by using the modified acid-fast staining technique. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species was found as 38.

Can lemon juice be an alternative to potassium citrate in the treatment of urinary calcium stones in patients with hypocitraturia? A prospective randomized study.

To investigate that lemon juice could be an alternative to potassium citrate in the treatment of urinary calcium stones in patients with hypocitraturia, 30 patients with hypocitraturic urinary calcium stones were enrolled into study. The patients were divided into three groups equally. Exactly 60 mEq/day fresh lemon juice ( approximately 85 cc/day) and potassium citrate (60 mEq/day) were given to the patients of first and second group, respectively.

LDL-cholesterol lowering increases plasma apelin in isolated hypercholesterolemia.

Apelin, a relatively newer adipokine with various actions in cardiovascular system, was recently reported to decrease in dyslipidemia. The present study addresses whether plasma apelin increases after hypolipidemic intervention either through therapeutic life style change (TLC) or statin treatment. A total of 134 patients were subjected to treatment with a TLC intervention for 12 weeks.

The effects of pioglitazone and metformin on plasma visfatin levels in patients with treatment naive type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Circulating visfatin levels are altered in insulin resistant states. We evaluated the effects of two insulin-sensitizing hypoglycemic agents on plasma visfatin and adiponectin levels in patients with newly diagnosed and untreated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Forty-four patients with T2DM were randomized to treatment either with pioglitazone (15-45mg/day) or metformin (1000-2000mg/day).

Ultrastructural changes in hepatocytes after taurine treatment in CCl4 induced liver injury.

Aim: To search the organelle based changes in hepatocytes after taurine treatment in experimental liver fibrosis induced by CCl(4) administration.

Methods: Thirty rats were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n = 15) was injected with CCl(4) plus taurine and Group 2 (n = 15) with CCl(4) plus saline for 12 wk.

Comparison of photoselective vaporization of the prostate and transurethral resection of the prostate: a prospective nonrandomized bicenter trial with 2-year follow-up.

Purpose: To present our 2-year data comparing photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Patients And Methods: In this prospective non-randomized study, 210 patients with a prostate volume <70 mL underwent PVP (112) or TURP (98). Functional follow-up included measurement of maximum urinary flow rate (Q(max)), post-void residual urine volume (PVR), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and quality-of-life score (QoL) within a 24-month period.

Quantification of PSA mRNA levels in peripheral blood of patients with localized prostate adenocarcinoma before, during, and after radical prostatectomy by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of detected prostate-specific antigen (PSA) mRNA expression levels in circulating cells in patients with prostate cancer by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and to determine the effect of surgical manipulation on hematogenous dissemination.

Methods: Blood samples before, during, and after (24 h) surgery were obtained from 34 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy for detecting PSA mRNA expression levels. PSA mRNA expression levels, PSA levels, and Gleason scores were then compared.

Video-assisted thoracoscopy for spontaneous pneumothorax after pneumonectomy.

In this paper, we present 3 patients who had previously undergone pneumonectomy and then presented with a spontaneous pneumothorax. The indication for pneumonectomy was tuberculosis and NSCLC in 2 and 1 patient, respectively. The interval between the surgery and development of pneumothorax was 2, 4, and 11 years.

Low plasma apelin levels in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To investigate blood apelin concentrations in patients with newly diagnosed and untreated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who had no additional disorder and to investigate the association of apelin with adiponectin, body mass indexes (BMI) and insulin sensitivity.

Methods: Forty patients with T2DM and 40 healthy controls were enrolled. Apelin levels were measured along with BMI, lipids, glucose, insulin and adiponectin levels, and HOMA-IR indexes.

Platelet aggregation is not enhanced in patients with prediabetes.

Prediabetes [impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and/or impaired fasting glucose (IFG)] is a major risk factor for T2DM as well as for cardiovascular disease and mortality. In the present study, the platelet aggregation and fibrinogen levels were investigated in prediabetic subjects who had no confounding factors such as hypertension, obesity or dyslipidemia. Thirty-nine subjects with prediabetes (24 IFG and 15 IGT) and age, sex and BMI matched 36 healthy controls were enrolled.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in patients with previous open stone surgery.

Objectives: Our objective was to investigate the effects of previous open nephrolithotomy on technical features, outcomes, and morbidities of subsequent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Methods: One hundred and sixty patients underwent PCNL between December 2004 and September 2006. The patients were divided into those who had previous open nephrolithotomy on the same kidney (group 1: 55 patients) and those who had no previous open surgery (group 2: 105 patients).

Pyrolidium dithiocarbamate prevents shockwave lithotripsy-induced renal injury through inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity in rats.

Purpose: Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is commonly used for treatment of renal stones. Free oxygen radicals are involved in the pathophysiology of renal injury due to SWL. We investigated the protective effect of pyrolidium dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an antioxidant and nuclear factor kappa-B (NFkappa-B) inhibitor, against renal injury.

Erciyes University students' knowledge about AIDS: differences between students of natural and social science.

The authors' goal in this study was to assess differences in knowledge about AIDS between students of natural science (NS) and social science (SS). The authors surveyed 542 students at Erciyes University in Kayseri, Turkey, regarding their knowledge of AIDS. Some differences in knowledge about AIDS (eg, regarding the virus that causes AIDS, the diagnostic test, risk factors) existed between NS and SS students.