The effect of aging on semen parameters in normozoospermic men: A cross-sectional study

Background: Semen parameters change with age and are reported differently worldwide. Objective: This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the semen quality pattern among aging men and the age thresholds for semen parameters. Materials and Methods: The records of men who had normal semen parameters from January 2015-June 2020 were retrospectively evaluated for andrological outpatient at Samsun Training and Research hospital and Gazi hospital in Samsun, Turkey. Adult men meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into 3 groups of I) 18-29 yr (n = 629), II) 30-39 yr (n = 775), and III) 40-49 yr (n = 190). Correlations between age and sperm parameters were then analyzed. Results: A total of 1594 men were enrolled in the study. Significant differences were observed in total sperm numbers, total motility rates, progressive motility rates, nonprogressive motility rates, normal morphology rates, mean semen volume, and sperm concentrations. The parameters of total sperm number, progressive motility rate, and normal morphology rate were significantly higher in group I than in the other 2 groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively) and in group II compared to group III (p = 0.001, p = 0.003, and p < 0.001), respectively. Mean semen volume and total motility rate were significantly higher in group I than in the other groups (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). However, no difference was observed between group II and group III (p = 0.61 and p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: Age has a significant impact on semen parameters capable of affecting male fertility, particularly total sperm numbers, the progressive motility rate, and the normal morphology rate. Key words: Age, Fertility, Semen, Semen quality

A rare cause of acute urinary retention in women: meatal condyloma accuminata, a case report

Acute urinary retention in women is a rarely seen phenomenon due to pharmacological, neuromuscular, anatomical, functional and infectious causes. Human papillomaviruses causing condyloma acuminata is one of the rarely reported viral infectious cause of acute urinary retention in case reports. A 45-year-old woman with acute urinary retention was found to have a round solid lesion on external urethral meatus. Histopathological examination revealed as condyloma acuminata. Urethral condyloma can be treated by local excision as an effective method for early improvement of voiding function. Even if the genital condyloma can be locally excised, patients should be referred to the gynecologists for cervical cancer screening.Pan African Medical Journal 2016; 2

Effect of atorvastatin on spermatogenesis in rats: A stereological study

Purpose: To investigate the effects of oral atorvastatin on spermatogenesis in a rat model.Methods: Rats were equally assigned into control and study groups, the latter receiving atorvastatin (20 mg/kg/day). At the end of 12 weeks, spermatogenetic activity was evaluated using stereological and optical fractionator methods. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone (TT), and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were measured using micro–ELISA kits. Total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL - C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were also measured by enzymatic colorimetric assays.Results: Testicular stereological analysis revealed that atorvastatin reduced Sertoli cell numbers (p < 0.001), spermatogonia (p < 0.001), spermatocytes (p < 0.001), and seminiferous tubule diameters (p < 0.001). LDL – C (p = 0.01) and TG (p = 0.01) values were significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in FSH (p = 0.44), LH (p = 0.48),and TT (p = 0.06) levels between the groups.Conclusion: The findings show that atorvastatin causes deleterious effects on rat spermatogenesis. It should therefore be used with caution in clinical practice owing to its potential adverse effects, especially on male fertility. Keywords: Statin, Atorvastatin, Spermatogenesis, Stereology, Testi

Dengeli skor kart temelli yeni hizmet geliştirme uygunluğunun bulanık mantık çerçevesinde hibrit çok kriterli karar verme yöntemleri ile karşılaştırmalı analizi: Türk bankacılık sektörü üzerine bir uygulama

Çalışmanın amacı, bankacılık sektörünün dengeli skor kart yöntemine uyarlanmış yeni hizmet geliştirme uygunluğu anahtar performans faktörleri ile Türk Bankacılık sektörünün rekabetçi uygunluğunun kamu, özel ve yabancı bankalar açısından karşılaştırmalı olarak analiz edilmesidir. Yeni hizmet geliştirme kavramı, yeni ekonomi süreci ile birlikte, hizmet işletmelerinin rekabetçi ortamda çok yönlü olarak dikkate alması gereken bir olgu haline gelmeye başlamaktadır. Özellikle, işletmelerin performans ölçümü ve hizmet uygunluğunun ölçümünde kriterlerin kurumsal karne temelinde tasnifi, işletmelerin hizmet geliştirme uygunluğuna hangi açılardan adapte olabildiğini yakından gösterebilmektedir. Bu nedenle, hizmet işletmelerinin etkin ve verimli faaliyet gösterebilmesi için kurumsal karneye göre yeni hizmet geliştirme uygunluk faktörlerinin yeniden düzenlenmesi; hibrit bir modelle yeni hizmet geliştirme uygunluğunun ölçümü ve ortaya çıkan sonuçlara göre işletmelerin yeni hizmet geliştirme önerilerinin sunulması açısından bu çalışmanın literatüre önemli katkıları olacağı düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışmanın özgün değeri, desteklenen literatür ile dengeli skor kart yaklaşımının revise edilen perspektiflerini kullanarak yeni hizmet geliştirme uygunluk modelinin önerilmesi; yeni hizmet geliştirme uygunluk faktörlerinin birbirinden bağımsız olma ve karşılıklı etkileşim varsayımları altında ağırlıklarının belirlenmesi; önerilen modelin Türk bankacılık sektörü?nde kamu, özel ve yabancı banka gruplarının performans ölçümünde hibrit çok kriterli karar verme yöntemleri kullanılarak karşılaştırmalı bir analiz oluşturulmasıdır. Çalışmadaki kuramsal yaklaşım, dengeli skor kart temelli yeni hizmet geliştirme uygunluğu faktörleri üzerinde kurgulanmış olup, faktörlerin kendi içindeki ağırlıkları bağımsızlık ve karşılıklı bağımlılık varsayımlarına göre bulanık mantığa dayalı Analitik Hiyerarşi Süreci ve Analitik Ağ Süreci yaklaşımları ile belirlenecektir. Türk bankacılık sektörünün yeni hizmet geliştirme uygunluk performansının ölçümünde ise, ağırlıklandırılmış faktörler kullanarak bulanık mantık temelli TOPSIS ve VIKOR yöntemleri kullanılarak sektörün göreceli uygunluğu ve performansı ölçümlenecektir. Çalışmanın temel hedefi, performans ölçümünde sıklıkla kullanılan dengeli skor kart yaklaşımının yeni hizmet geliştirme uygunluğu faktörlerine literatür tabanlı olarak uygulanarak yeni bir hizmet geliştirme uygunluk performans ölçüm modeli oluşturulması; önerilen modelin Türkiye için bankacılık sektörünün yeni hizmet geliştirme uygunluğunun ölçümünde kullanılması; ortaya çıkan bulguların kamu, özel ve yabancı bankaların uygulama sonuçları açısından karşılaştırılması ve yeni hizmet geliştirme uygunluğu açısından araştırma konusu Türkiye?deki banka gruplarına teknik ve sosyo- ekonomik önerilerde bulunulmasıdır

The Effect of Curcumin on Penile Fibrotic Plaque in Rats with Experimental Peyronie's Disease

Objective: No effective medical approach for the treatment of Peyronie's disease (PD) has to date been described. This study was intended to evaluate the antifibrotic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory effects of curcumin on fibrotic tissue in the tunica albuginea (TA) in a rat model of PD. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats aged 10 months were randomized into three groups (n = 8 in each). No PD model was induced in the control group. The PD+saline (PD+Ps) group received fibrin injection, followed two weeks later by saline administration by oral gavage for 14 days. The PD+Curcumin (PD+Cur) group received fibrin injection into the TA followed two weeks later by curcumin administration by oral gavage for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, fibrotic activity was evaluated using stereological and histopathological methods. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), one of the most fibrogenic cytokines, was evaluated using immunohistochemistry with an anti-TGF-β1 rabbit monoclonal antibody. Results: Stereological analysis revealed significantly greater Peyronie-like plaque areas in the TA in the PD+Ps group than in the control and PD+Cur groups (p<0.0001). No significant difference was observed between the control and PD+Cur groups (p=0.35). The PD+Ps group exhibited strong TGF-β1 immunoreactivity with increased expression in the collagenous connective tissues and fibroblasts around the TA. Conclusion: Curcumin reduced fibrotic tissue in the TA and may represent a novel therapeutic option in the treatment of PD

Treatment of Idiopathic Chronic Orchialgia with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS):A Preliminary Result

Purpose: Unilateral or bilateral testicular pain lasting more than 3 months is called as chronic orchialgia. Aproximately 25-50% of chronic orchialgia is idiopatic origin. This study aimed the effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy due to Idiopathic Chronic Orchialgia (ICO). Methods: Five patients were included into this study with ICO that diagnosed with physical examination, urine analyses, urinary system x-ray film, and scrotal doppler ultrasound. Medical history revealed that multiple conservative therapy attempts failed to alleviate the pain. Two of the patients had right sided ICO. Traditional TENS device is placed to the most painful points. TENS applied 3 times in a week with duration 30 minutes for 4 weeks. Before and after TENS application, patients were evaluated by using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at first and third months. Results: Median age of patients was 26.20±2.38 (22-30). Mean VAS value was 6.52 ± 0.89 before the procedure. After 1 month VAS value was 3.82 ± 0.83 (p0.05). None of the patients needed any analgesics after during the one month. No complications, hyperemia or hypoesthesia of the scrotal or penile skin, occurred after the procedure. Conclusion: TENS reduces pain by increasing endorphin release in the spinal cord dorsal horn. TENS is very effective method for first 1 month in patients with ICO but its effect reduces by the time. There is no standard therapeutic protocol for idiopathic chronic orchialgia. Therefore TENS may be an alternative for patients who do not benefit from medical therapy and do not want invasive procedures. Short-term use of TENS and low number of the patients are the limitations of this study. Randomized, placebo-controlled, and longer follow-up period studies are needed to better assess the efficacy of TENS for ICO

THE ROLE OF OPTICAL INTERNAL URETHROTOMY FOR MALE URETHRAL STRICTURE

Introduction:Urethral stricture is characterized by decrease in urethral flow severe enough to cause acute urinary retention. Urethral strictures may develop after traumas to urethral epithelium and/or corpus spongiosum. Complication rates due to untreated urethral stricture are very high. Although various treatment methods have been described, the second most common method after urethral dilation in practice is cold-knife internal urethrotomy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate data of patients who were treated with internal urethrotomy in our clinic. Methods:This study included patients who were treated with internal urethrotomy due to internal stricture between January 2011 and May 2015. Demographic, clinical, radiological, uroflowmetric (maximum and mean urine flow rate) and operative datas of the patients were retrospectively evaluated and recorded. Results:This study included 155 patients with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 71.70 (±13.7). Etiologically the most common reason was urological surgical procedures (67%) and the most common stricture was seen at bulbomembranous urethra region (85.2%). Mean length of stricture was 5.4±2.4mm. Mean duration to remove the catheter was 1.8±1.3 days. Regional anesthesia was used in 67.7% of the patients. Our success rate was 78,1%. Comparison of maximum and mean urine flow rates pre and postoperatively revealed significant increases postoperatively. Conclusion:Internal urethrotomy is a first line treatment method for urethral strictures because it is easily applied, has a low complication rate, and can be applied with local aenesthesia in high risk patients who are unable to take general anesthesia. Although recurrence rate is high, repeatability is its greatest advantage and it causes significant relief in patients with urethral strictures, but it must be kept in mind that definitive treatment is urethroplasty