Long-term results of balloon dacryocystoplasty: success rates according to the site and severity of the obstruction.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term patency of lacrimal drainage system (LDS) after balloon dacryocystoplasty (BD) and to give the long-term success rates according to the severity and localization of the obstruction.

Methods: Between May 1993 and December 2003, BD was attempted in 117 eyes of 108 patients with idiopathic-acquired LDS obstruction. Patients with active dacryocystitis, dacryolithiasis, traumatic obstruction or lacrimal mass, obstructions at the superior or inferior canaliculi lateral to the common canaliculus, and follow-up period less than 36 months were excluded from the study.

Combined proper hepatic artery and common hepatic duct injury in open cholecystectomy: case report and review of the literature.

A 24-y-old male patient underwent elective open cholecystectomy at another center. On the third postoperative day, he developed fever and jaundice, for which he underwent reoperation at the same center on the seventh postoperative day. During the second surgery, massive bleeding was encountered, suture ligations were applied, and T-tube drainage was performed.

Right coronary artery aneurysm: possible relation with obesity?

Aneurysms of the coronary arteries are uncommon occurrences that usually develop secondary to atherosclerosis and are often asymptomatic. We present a 57-year-old male patient who presented with the diagnosis of an inferior wall acute myocardial infarction with a large aneurysm of the right coronary artery and with morbid obesity. To the best of our knowledge, a relationship between body mass index and coronary artery aneurysm has not been reported in the literature so far.

Novel biomarkers of bladder decompensation after partial bladder obstruction.

Aims: Partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) results in marked contractile, biochemical, and histological alterations in the bladder. Our aim was to determine the time course of progressive PBOO in the rabbit and to find parameters that marked the shift to decompensation.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four rabbits were subjected to 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of PBOO.

Long term partial bladder outlet obstruction induced contractile dysfunction in male rabbits: a role for Rho-kinase.

Aims: In this study we examined the expression of Rho-kinase (ROK) isoforms in rabbit detrusor smooth muscle during the progression of partial bladder outlet obstruction and correlated them with the time course of obstruction.

Methods: Detrusor samples were obtained from bladders after 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of obstruction and also sham operated control rabbits. Contractile responses to field stimulation (FS) and also the smooth muscle (SM) to collagen ratio were determined in isolated bladder strips.

The effect of maturation and age on oestrogen-induced functional hypertrophy of the female rabbit bladder.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of maturation and ageing on oestrogen-induced functional hypertrophy of the female rabbit bladder.

Materials And Methods: Twenty female rabbits were separated into two groups of 10 each by age, young (immature) and old rabbits and each age group was subdivided into three subgroups. The rabbits in subgroup 1 were controls, subgroup 2 were ovariectomized (Ovx) and subgroup 3 were Ovx and received 17-beta oestradiol (1 mg/kg/day) by a subcutaneous slow-release tablet implant.

Novel alterations in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the female rabbit bladder subjected to hormonal manipulations.

Objectives: Previous studies have demonstrated that ovariectomy induces reduced blood flow and hypoxia, resulting in free radical damage of the mucosal and smooth muscle compartments of the rabbit urinary bladder, whereas estradiol administration results in angiogenesis and recovery from hypoxia. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of ovariectomy and estradiol replacement on the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities of the bladder.

Methods: A total of 12 mature female rabbits were divided into three groups of four rabbits each: control, ovariectomy, and ovariectomy with 17-beta estradiol supplementation by subcutaneous slow-release tablet.

Effect of castration on male rabbit lower urinary tract tissue enzymes.

Objectives: The influence of testosterone on the prostate and corpus cavernosum have been studied extensively. However, the influence of testosterone on the lower urinary tract (bladder and urethra) have not been investigated to any great extent. The aim of this study was to determine whether androgen deprivation alters lower urinary tract metabolism.

Clinical value of cell counts and indices in testicular fine needle aspiration cytology in primary infertility: diagnostic performance compared with histology.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic value of testicular fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology with that of open biopsy in primary infertility and nonobstructive azospermia or severe oligozoospermia, to evaluate the reliability of percentage cell counts and cell indices.

Study Design: Thirty patients (21 azospermic and 9 severe oligozoospermic) who had samples for testicular FNA obtained from both testis (mean age = 28.7) and open biopsy were included in the prospective study.

A comparison of the vascular density of VEGF expression with microvascular density determined with CD34 and CD31 staining and conventional prognostic markers in renal cell carcinoma.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the vascular density of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression with microvascular density determined by CD34 and CD31 with conventional prognostic parameters.

Methods: The study involved 50 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cases. VEGF, CD34, and CD31 were stained by immunohistochemistry, and then preparations were evaluated by two pathologists under light microscopy.

Frontal sinus osteoma associated with pneumocephalus.

The most common causes of intracranial air are head trauma and neurosurgical procedures. Less common etiologies include infection due to gas-forming organisms, mucoceles, tumours, congenital neuroenteric cysts, and dural defects. Here, we present a case of a frontal sinus osteoma associated with longstanding pneumocephalus.

Assessment of the continence status and patients' satisfaction after retropubic radical prostatectomy: a questionnaire based study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the continence status and patients' satisfaction after retropubic radical prostatectomy by a self-administered questionnaire composed of 12 questions.

Materials And Methods: In total, 143 patients who underwent RRP operation at our department from 1992 to 2000 with a minimum 6 months of follow-up were assessed. Seventy two patients participated in the study.

Fine needle aspiration cytology: a survey of current European practice.

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is practised widely throughout Europe. The majority of countries have dedicated cytopathologists as well as histopathologists practicing cytology. Despite this, FNAC is performed mostly by clinicians and radiologists except in the larger centres with dedicated staff with a special interest in cytopathology.

Natural history of patients with multicystic dysplastic kidney-what followup is needed?

Purpose: Most clinicians recommend followup with annual ultrasound for patients with multicystic dysplastic kidney. The aim of this study was to determine whether followup ultrasound provides any clinical benefit.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 73 patients who were diagnosed with multicystic dysplastic kidney between October 1991 and August 2005.

Variations of patient doses in interventional examinations at different angiographic units.

Purpose: We analyzed doses for various angiographic procedures using different X-ray systems in order to assess dose variations.

Methods: Dose-area product (DAP), skin doses from thermoluminescent dosimeters and air kerma measurements of 308 patients (239 diagnostic and 69 interventional) were assessed for five different angiographic units. All fluoroscopic and radiographic exposure parameters were recorded online for single and multiprojection studies.

Respiratory health in Turkish asbestos cement workers: the role of environmental exposure.

Aim: Benign and malignant pleural and lung diseases due to environmental asbestos exposure constitute an important health problem in Turkey. The country has widespread natural deposits of asbestos in rural parts of central and eastern regions. Few data exists about the respiratory health effects of occupational asbestos exposure in Turkey.

Tall cell variant of papillary carcinoma arising from a thyroglossal cyst: report of a case with diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology.

Background: Papillary carcinoma arising from a thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) is the most frequent malignancy arising from this embryologic remnant of the thyroglossal duct. The preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of such neoplasms has rarely been cited. Approximately 170 TDC cases have been reported in the literature worldwide, diagnosed solely on histopathology.

Adult clear cell sarcoma of the kidney: a case report.

Background: Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) in adults is extremely rare. Optimal treatment of adult patients with CCSK remains unclear.

Case Presentation: A 22-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of left flank pain.

Factors affecting the survival of patients treated by standard nephroureterectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

Purpose: In this study we tried to evaluate the predictive factors for survival in patients with upper urinary tract tumors.

Materials And Methods: From 1993 to 2003, 46 patients were treated by standard nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract tumor, but only 24 patients (52%) who had regular follow-up were included in the study. Age, sex, presenting symptoms of the patients, tumor localization, tumor stage and grade were analyzed with respect to survival.

Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for isolated lower caliceal stones in children compared with stones in other renal locations.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) monotherapy for isolated lower caliceal calculi in a pediatric age group and compare it with that for isolated middle/upper caliceal and renal pelvic calculi.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 151 renal units in 126 children treated with ESWL for isolated caliceal and renal pelvic stones from March 1992 to February 2004. The stones were localized in the lower, middle/upper calices, and renal pelvis in 50, 26, and 75 renal units, respectively.

The two-year clinical performance of esthetic restorative materials in noncarious cervical lesions.

Background: Materials used in restoration of cervical lesions include resin-modified glass ionomer cements, polyacid-modified resin-based composites and resin-based composites. In this study, the authors evaluated the clinical performance of these materials over a two-year period.

Methods: Thirty patients were enrolled in this study.

Expression of p53 protein and DNA flow cytometry in gastric adenocarcinoma: implications in patients treated with adjuvant etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatin.

Aims And Background: We evaluated the prognostic value of p53 protein, DNA content and S-phase fraction in patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach or the gastroesophageal junction treated with adjuvant etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin.

Methods And Study Design: Thirty-five consecutive patients with stage II or III gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma treated with at least two cycles of adjuvant etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin after curative gastric resection were included. The expression of p53 protein was determined by immunohistochemistry and DNA content by flow cytometry.