Antiplatelet (aspirin) therapy as a new option in the treatment of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction: A prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

WOS: 000427128300004PubMed ID: 29344879To investigate the efficiency of antiplatelet (aspirin) therapy in vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (VED) patients with a high mean platelet volume. A total of 184 patients diagnosed with VED between the ages of 18 and 76 were randomly divided into two groups and treated for 6 weeks [group 1: 120 patients (mean age 48.3), aspirin 100 mg/day; group 2: 64 patients (mean age 47.7), placebo 100 mg/day]. The changes from baseline to end point in erectile function scores on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) and the number of patients who answered "yes" to questions 2 and 3 of the sexual encounter profile (SEP) were compared statistically. The mean baseline IIEF-EF scores in groups 1 and 2 were 14.1 +/- 4.9 and 14.3 +/- 5.2, respectively (p = 0.7966), the number of patients who answered "yes" to SEP-2 was 62 (51.6%) in group 1 and 32 (50%) in group 2 (p = 0.8366), and the number of patients who answered "yes" to SEP-3 was 38 (31.6%) in group 1 and 20 (31.2%) in group 2 (p = 0.9557). In the aspirin group, the changes from baseline to end point in the IIEF-EF, SEP-2, and SEP-3 scores were 7.2, 36.6, and 46.6%, respectively. In the placebo group, these changes were 2.0, 9.4, and 12.5%, respectively. When compared with the placebo group, aspirin-treated subjects showed a significant improvement in all three efficacy measures (p <0.0001). 100 mg of aspirin administered once a day significantly improved EF in men with VED

Genetska raznolikost populacija Picea orientalis (L.) Link u Turskoj

Knowledge of genetic variation is needed to understanding the genetic structure in forest tree populations. In addition, the determination of the genetic structure in the natural distribution areas of forest trees has become easier depending on the development of the isoenzyme technique. Determining the genetic structure and variations of Picea orientalis (L.) Link, which is limited local natural distribution areas on the world, transfer of this genetic to the future generations with sustainable forestry is important to ensure the continuity of the species. In this study, genetic differences and similarities were determined for P. orientalis populations in selected regions (Artvin, Torul-Örümcek, Tirebolu-Ak&#305;lbaba, Ordu-Çambaş&#305;, Artvin-Şavşat, Ardanuç-Ovac&#305;k, Şavşat-Sahara, Artvin-Saçinka, Ardahan-Posof and Maçka-Hamsiköy) in Turkey. In the study using 10 gene loci in different enzyme systems to determine the genetic variation, the values of heterozygosity (Ho), number of alleles per locus (AL), genetic diversity (v), intrapopulational differentiation (dT), multi­locus diversity (Vgam) and differentiation among populations (Dj) were determined in these populations. The grand means were obtained as 0.154, 1.74 and 1.719 for the observed heterozygosity, alleles per locus and genetic diversity, respectively. Moreover, when the genetic diversity was considered, three different groups arose in terms of selected populations. Since Torul-Örümcek population had relatively higher results in contrast to other populations, this population has high importance for sustainability of gene resource of oriental spruce.Za razumijevanje genetske strukture populacija šumskog drveća potrebno je poznavati genetsku varijabilnost. Razvoj izoenzimske tehnike olakšao je određivanje genetske strukture populacija u području rasprostranjenja vrsta. Određivanjem genetske strukture i varijabilnosti Picea orientalis (L.) Link, koja je u svijetu ograničena na manje područje, transfer trenutne genetske strukture na buduće generacije putem održivog gospodarenja šumama važan je za osiguravanje kontinuiteta vrste. U ovom istraživanju određene su genetske različitosti i sličnosti za populacije P. orientalis u odabranim populacijama (Artvin, Torul-Örümcek, Tirebolu-Ak&#305;lbaba, Ordu-Çambaş&#305;, Artvin-Şavşat, Ardanuç-Ovac&#305;k, Şavşat-Sahara, Artvin-Saçinka, Ardahan-Posof an Maçka-Hamsiköy) Turske. Korišteno je 10 genskih lokusa u različitim enzimskim sustavima, a određena je genetska varijabilnost, vrijednost heterozigotnost (Ho), broj alela po lokusu (AL), genetski diverzitet (v), intrapopulacijska diferencijacija (dT), multilokusna raznolikost (Vgam) te diferencijacija među populacijama (Dj). Za promatranu heterozigotnost, broj alela po lokusu i genetski diverzitet dobivena je središnja vrijednost od 0.154, 1.74 i 1.719. Nadalje, kod razmatranja genetskog diverziteta, pojavile su se tri različite skupine u smislu odabranih populacija. S obzirom da je populacija Torul-Örümcek pokazala relativno više vrijednosti u odnosu na ostale populacije, ova populacija je vrlo važna za održivost genetskih izvora kavkaske smreke

Potential autofertility in true hermaphrodites

This article examines the studies on the pregnancies of true hermaphrodites and self-fertilization in hermaphrodite mammals that have been published in the last 40years. The number of hermaphrodite pregnants reported in the literature since 1975 was 14, the number of pregnancies was 26 and the number of healthy born babies was 20. All of the babies that were born were male. The pregnancy developed following gonadectomy in seven cases (nine pregnancies). In some cases, either gonadectomy was not performed at all or it was performed after pregnancy (eight cases, 17 pregnancies). The karyotype was 46,XX in four of these eight cases that became pregnant despite in situ ovotestis while it was 46,XX/46,XY in the other four cases (chimera). In the literature, pregnancy cases that developed through self-fertilization were not reported in humans. However, autofertilization was detected in mammalian hermaphrodites such as domestic rabbit. Furthermore, the ovarian tissues of true hermaphrodites were mainly functional and ovulatory. The testicular tissues were mainly immature. However, spermatogenesis was determined in some cases. In fact, both ovulation and spermatogenesis were detected in some cases. All of these findings show that true hermaphrodites with ovarian and testicular tissues are potentially autofertile

Blood platelet activity in men with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the platelet activity in patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). Materials and methods: The total blood count, including hemoglobin (Hgb), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), platelet (PLT) and mean platelet volume (MPV) parameters were measured in the patient (n = 70) and control groups (n = 50). Results: The average age was 48.1 ± 11.7 and 47.6 ± 12.3 in the patient and control groups (p = 0.8217), respectively. MPV was higher in the patient group and there was a statistically significant difference between two groups (11.27 ± 0.56 and 9.8 ± 0.91, p < 0.0001). PLT counts were lower in the patient group but there was not a statistically significant difference (196.23 ± 37.01 and 209.07 ± 36.71, p = 0.0626). In terms of haemoglobin, WBC and RBC values, there was no difference in the patient and control groups. Conclusions: Finding high MPV, which reflects the platelet activity, in the patient group shows that platelets also have a role in the VED etiopathogenesis. In the case of the confirmation of this result with additional studies, the efficiency of anti-platelet therapy in the vasculogenic ED should also be researched

A self-inflicted male urethral/vesical foreign body (olive seed) causing complete urinary retention

WOS: 000418920500031PubMed ID: 29204360Foreign body in the urethra is a relatively rare occurrence. A variety of foreign bodies, majority of which were mostly self-inflicted for psychiatric disorder, senility, intoxication, and autoerotic stimulation, have been reported in the literature. We report a case of self-inserted foreign body (olive seed) in the urethra

Sexual intercourse as a new option in the medical expulsive therapy of distal ureteral stones in males: A prospective, randomized, controlled study

WOS: 000413117200007PubMed ID: 28803386To investigate the effect of sexual intercourse on the spontaneous passage of distal ureteral stones 5-10 mm in size. A total of 190 male patients with distal ureteral stones were randomly divided into three groups. Patients in group 1 were administered tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day (n = 60). Patients in group 2 were asked to have sexual intercourse at least three times a week (n = 66). Patients in group 3 received standard medical therapy alone and acted as the controls (n = 64). The expulsion rate was controlled after 2 and 4 weeks. Differences between the groups were analyzed statistically by the Chi-square and Student's t test. p 0.05). The mean stone size was 7.09 +/- 1.4 mm in group 1, 7.01 +/- 1.4 mm in group 2, and 7.1 +/- 1.3 mm in group 3 (p > 0.05). Spontaneous passage rates in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 81.6, 81.8, and 51.5%, respectively, and it was significantly higher in group 1 (p = 0.0394) and group 2 (p = 0.0350). There was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.9925). The analgesic needs in groups 1, 2, and 3 were found to be 1.3 +/- 0.4, 1.2 +/- 0.6, and 1.4 +/- 0.4 times, respectively, and were significantly lower in the sexual intercourse group than in the control group (p = 0.0276). Tamsulosin and sexual intercourse increase the spontaneous passage of distal ureteral stones 5-10 mm in size. At least three sexual intercourses per week seem to be at least as effective as tamsulosin. Sexual intercourse also reduces the need for analgesics in ureteric colic due to ureteral stones

Reply letter to: "Can modern biology interpret the mystery of the birth of Christ?"

WOS: 000450690600025PubMed ID: 28920497With the advent of Enlightenment, the intellectual movement that challenged principles and views grounded in tradition and faith and affirmed that knowledge should be advanced through a scientific method, science and religion began to drift apart and today, they are often considered irreconcilable. We believe that, since both aim at finding the same truth, whether by evaluating natural processes or through revelation, a positive dialogue can and should be established

The reliability of the Turkish version of the international index of erectile function (IIEF): Literature review

Erektil disfonksiyon (ED) yaşam kalitesini düşüren ve dünya genelinde yaygın olan bir durumdur. Bugüne kadar ED değerlendirmesi için geliştirilen çeşitli sorgulamalar olmuştur. Ama en popüler ve yaygın kullanılan sorgulama Uluslararası Erektil Fonksiyon İndeksi (IIEF)'dir. IIEF, Türkçe de dahil otuzdan fazla dile tercüme edilmiş ve son yıllarda laboratuar tabanlı testlerin yerini almaya başlamıştır. Çünkü IIEF sadece ED derecesini değerlendirmek için değil aynı zamanda ED tedavisinin sonuçlarını değerlendirmek için de kullanılmaktadır. Bu yazıda, Türkçe IIEF ve onun güvenilirliği üzerinde yapılan çalışmalar incelenmiştir.Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition that reduces the quality of life and widespread throughout the world. There have been several questionnaires so far developed for the assessment of ED. But the most popular and widely used of these questionnaires is the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). The IIEF has been translated into more than thirty languages including Turkish and have begun to replace laboratory-based tests in recent years. Because IIEF not only used to assess the degree of ED, it is also used to evaluate the results of the treatment of ED. In this article, we reviewed the studies on the Turkish IIEF and its reliabilit

Reply to: Bianchi P. The existence of parthenogenesis in the human species, poses an interesting question: Is it conceivable that auto-fertilization may occur in human true hermaphrodites?

In his letter to the Editor, Bianchi said that,“The letterfrom Dr. Bayraktar [1] commenting on the article byBenagiano and Dallapiccola [2] on the existence of par-thenogenesis in the human species, poses an interestingquestion: is it conceivable that auto-fertilization mayoccur in human true hermaphrodites?”This approach of Bianchi is very interesting. Because,like Benagiano and Dallapiccola, I am saying that Mary’spregnancy cannot be explained by parthenogenesis,because parthenogenetic reproduction is not possible inhumans [1,2,4]. In addition, I am saying that Mary’s preg-nancy cannot be explained by parthenogenesis, but itcan be explained by autofertilization [1,4].Autofertilization is a biological mechanism that differsfrom parthenogenesis. However, it seems that Bianchiconfuses parthenogenesis and autofertilization. Myhypothesis is that“True hermaphrodites are potentialautofertile, because they have ovarian and testicular tis-sues, so autofertilization is rarely seen in truehermaphrodites”

Elective male circumcision; Medicolegal discussions and current literature

Elektif erkek sünneti (EES) hakkında bazı medikolegal tartışmalar vardır. Amerikan Pediatri Akademisi’nin (AAP) 2012 yılındaki raporuna göre, yeni doğan erkek sünnetinin tıbbî faydaları risklerinden fazladır. AAP’nin bu raporu, EMC hakkındaki tartışmalara yeni bir boyut kazandırmıştır. Bu rapor, sünnetin etik ve yasal bir müdahale olmadığını söyleyen çevreler tarafından eleştirilmiştir. Ancak, mevcut literatür AAP’nin bu raporunu doğrulamaktadır. ES, üriner enfeksiyonlar, fimozis, balanit, kandidiyaz, yüksek riskli HPV enfeksiyonu, HIV, genital ülser, sifiliz, trikomonas vaginalis, mikoplazma genitalium, herpes simpleks virüs tip 2, şankroid, penil kanser, prostat kanseri ve serviks kanseri riskini anlamlı derecede azaltıyor iken, seksüel fonksiyonlar üzerinde de olumsuz bir etki yapmamaktadır. EMC için önerilen yaş 0-1 yıldır. Çünkü infantil MC’de komplikasyonlar daha az, iyileşme daha hızlı ve maliyet daha avantajlıdır. Bu dönemdeki sünnetin ruh sağlığı açısından da bir riski bulunmamaktadır. İnfantil MC’nin komplikasyonları %0,2-0,3 civarındadır ve bunların çoğu da genellikle minimal müdahalelerle önlenebilmektedir. Eğer 0-1 yaş arasında sünnet yapılmamış ise kastrasyon fobisi nedeniyle 3-6 yaş arasında sünnetten kaçınılmalı ve çocuğun 7-10 yaşına ulaşması beklenmelidir.There are some medicolegal discussion about elective male circumcision(EMC). According to the report of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 2012, the health benefits of newborn MC outweigh the risks. This report of the AAP has given a new dimension to the discussion about MC. This report has been criticized by circles who say circumcision is not an ethical and legal intervention. However, the current literature confirms this report of the AAP. While MC significantly reduces the risks of urinary tract infections, phimosis, balanitis, candidiasis, high-risk HPV infection, HIV, genital ulcer disease, syphilis, trichomonas vaginalis, mycoplasma genitalium, herpes simplex virus type 2, shancroid, penile cancer, prostate cancer and cervical cancer, it does not negatively affect on sexual functions. MC also affects mental health positively in populations where circumcision is prevalent because of traditions and beliefs. The recommended age for MC is 0-1 years. Because, the complications are less, the healing is faster, and the cost is more advantageous in infantile MC. There is also no risk of circumcision in this period in terms of mental health. MC complications in infancy are around 0,2-0,3% and most of them are usually prevented with minimal intervention. If MC is not performed between 0-1 age it should be avoided between 3-6 years of age due to castration phobia and the boy should be expected to reach the age of 7-10 years