Gokhan Gokce

In this experimental study, our aim was to determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition and angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blockade affect the apoptotic changes in contralateral testis following unilateral testicular torsion (UTT). Study groups consisted of 30 adult male Wistar rats. The rats were randomly separated into five groups. Group 1 was maintained as control without manipulation. Group 2 underwent the sham operation. Torsion was created by rotating the left testis 720° clockwise for 4 h and maintained by fixing the testis to the scrotum in the other groups. Group 3 underwent torsion and detorsion, with saline administration after detorsion. In group 4, the same surgical procedure was done as in the detorsion group, but AT1 receptor blocker (losartan 30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally for 60 min before detorsion. In group 5, the same surgical procedure was done as in the detorsion group, but ACE inhibitor (lisinopril 50 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally for 60 min before detorsion. Bilateral testes were removed from each rat 24 h after surgery. Apoptosis was assessed in paraffin-embedded sections stained for TUNEL method. Reticulum staining was performed to evaluate the extracellular changes semiquantitatively. Testicular biopsy score counts were performed on these sections according to Johnsen. The mean apoptotic scores of group 1, group 2 and group 3 were significantly higher than that of the other groups. There was no difference between the apoptotic scores of groups 1, 2, 4 and 5. Reticulum stain was increased in group 3 as compared to other groups. The mean Johnsen biopsy score of group 3 was significantly lower than that of the other groups. ACE inhibition and AT1 receptor blockade reduced the tubular damage and apoptosis in the contralateral testes after UTT. The beneficial effect of these drugs may arise from inhibition of ischemic process resulting from increased sympathetic activity and elimination of insults subsequent to dysregulation of RAS. These results suggest that ACE inhibitors and AT1 receptor blockers may be of potential value in patients with UTT.

We report the case of a 93-year-old paraplegic male patient who presented with complete tear of penile urethra and ventral penile skin due to indwelling urethral catheter. Therefore, debilitating patients with chronic indwelling urethral catheters should be in surveillance and caregivers of these patients should be alerted for such potential complications.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the pharmacological effects of adrenomedullin, a potent vasodilator and hypotensive peptide isolated from human phaeochromocytoma cells, on corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in vitro , as the intracavernosal injection of adrenomedullin induces penile erection in the anaesthetized cat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of adrenomedullin were investigated in isolated muscle strips from New Zealand rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle pre‐contracted with phenylephrine alone, in the presence of indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), Nω‐nitro l ‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), and K ⁺ ‐channel blockers. RESULTS: Adrenomedullin caused relaxation of isolated pre‐contracted rabbit corpus cavernosum strips in a concentration‐dependent manner. The response of corpus cavernosum was unaffected L‐NAME, indomethacin and K ⁺ ‐channel blockers CONCLUSION: The relaxation exerted by adrenomedullin in rabbit corporal tissue may arise from the effect of the drug on its specific receptors and/or calcitonin gene‐related peptide‐1 receptors. The relaxant effect of adrenomedullin might lead to novel clinical applications for erectile dysfunction.

The urethra can be the site of various types of foreign bodies. A 61-year-old man having a giant urethral stone with two safety pins was evaluated according to the literature. To our knowledge, we...

Epidermoid cysts are benign cysts localizingrarely in solid organs with an unclearpathogenesis. A 55 years old woman having anepidermoid cyst in the renal pelvis wasevaluated according to the...

In 174 cases of genitourinary tuberculosis diagnosed and treated in our clinic we evaluated, retrospectively, age and sex distributions, symptoms, physical and laboratory findings, primary focus, surgical and medical treatments. Flank pain and non-specific urinary complaints, e.g. dysuria, were the major symptoms. Although some authors prefer short-term medical therapy for the treatment of genitourinary tuberculosis, the relapse rate in our series after 12 months of therapy was 19% and we therefore suggest that therapy should be continued for at least 12 months. The poor nutritional status and social conditions characteristic of subjects from our region may, however, have influenced this high relapse rate.

Adenomatoid tumors are rare benign tumors of female and male genital tracts. In this paper, we reported an epididymal and a testicular adenomatoid tumor in two patients presented with enlarged...