Nitric oxide mediated effects of nebivolol on erectile function in rats with heart failure

Background and objective: Heart failure (HT) is a common complication of cardiovascular disease, which leads to functional cardiac abnormalities. Beta-blockers are commonly used to reduce mortality in HF patients; however, they are associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction (ED). Nebivolol is a third-generation beta-blocker with also having a Nitric oxide (NO) releasing effect. NO plays a key role in penile erection. The aim of this study was to investigate the NO-mediated effects of nebivolol on ED in HE Material and methods: Twenty-four weeks old rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated control (SC), HF-induced control (HFC), and nebivolol-treated (HFNEB). HF was induced by the ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Eight weeks after the ligation, functional, hemodynamic, biologic, and histologic studies were conducted to assess NO-mediated effects of nebivolol. Results: HF rats displayed impaired erectile function represented by decreased intracavernosal/mean arterial pressure ratio (ICP/MAP). Increased nitrosative damage/decreased antioxidant capacity was consistent with decreased endothelial NOS (eNOS) and increased inducible NOS (iNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) immunoreactivity in this group. Nebivolol treated animals were characterized by improved functional capacity, increased antioxidant and decreased oxidant capacity. Prevention of eNOS and an increase in nNOS immunoreactivity was also significant in this group. Conclusion: Our study showed the positive effects of nebivolol on erectile function in HF. NO-mediated mechanisms behind this effect can be summarized as eNOS mediated dilation of the cavernous body and nNOS mediated smooth muscle relaxation. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first in the literature to discuss all three NOS isoforms in order to explain the NO-mediated effects of nebivolol in ED

Laboratuvardan Kliniğe Transplantasyon Pratiği

Transplantasyon; Temel Tıbbi Bilimler, Moleküler Tıp, Genetik ve İmmünolojiden klinik uygulamalardan destek alan multidisipliner bir tıp dalıdır. Temel bilimlerdeki başarılı çalışmaların kliniğe uygulanması, klinikte karşılaşılan sorunların da, oluşturulan deneysel hayvan modellerinde irdelenmesi, elde edilen bilgilerin klinik uygulamalara aktarılması; diğer deyişle tecrübelerin “Translational” özellikli olması günümüz transplantasyon çalışmalarında bir gerekliliktir. İmmün sistemin bileşenlerinin ve reaksiyonlarının iyi bilinmesi, hücreler arası ilişkilerde greftin reddi ya da kabul edilmesinin şartlarını doğru anlamak ve uygun laboratuvar yöntemleri ile klinik durumun aydınlatılması transplantasyonda stratejik önemdedir. Bu nedenle, klinik transplantasyon çalışmaları yapanlar temel bilimler bilgileri ile de donanımlı olmalıdırlar. Multidisipliner bir dal olma bilinci ile yapılan klinik transplantasyon çalışmalarında başarı yakalanmaktadır. Laboratuvardan Kliniğe Transplantasyon kitabımızda tüm yönleri ile transplantasyonun organizmaya etkileri ve bunların klinik sonuçlarını, çalışmalarımızın ışığında sunmayı ve tartışmayı hedefledik. Editör: Prof.Dr. Mesut İzzet TİTİZ Yardımcı Editör: Doç.Dr. Pınar AT

Small cell carcinoma of prostate presenting with Cushing′s syndrome

Small cell carcinoma of prostate (SCPCa) was initially described by Wenk et al. in 1977. SCPCa is a very rare cancer that accounts for only 0.5-2% of all prostate carcinomas. Although, this pathology is usually accompanied with prostate adenocarcinomas, there are a few hypotheses about the origin of SCPCa. Poorly differentiated acinar adenocarcinoma must be distinguished from SCPCa in histopathological examination. These patients may present with different paraneoplastic syndromes. Early diagnosis is very important because of the aggressive tumor behavior. Here, we report a patient who presented with Cushing syndrome and thereafter diagnosed with SCPCa

Renal Medullary Carcinoma; A Rare Entity

Renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) is an uncommon aggressive neoplasm of the kidney. RMC is biologically aggressive with a very poor prognosis, and metastasis is seen in up to 95% of the patients at diagnosis or shortly thereafter. The common sites of metastasis are respectively lymph nodes, lungs, livers, and adrenal glands in order of frequency. The presence of poorly differentiated eosinophilic cells in a characteristic fibro-inflammatory stroma is seen in histological examination. The origin and pathogenesis of RMC are unclear. The radiographical and pathological findings suggest that RMC probably originates in the calyceal epithelium in or near the renal papillae, which could be the result of chronic ischemic damage in the renal papillae epithelium by sickled erythrocytes. Positivity of VEGF and HIF-1α supports the chronic hypoxia that may be caused in the pathogenesis of RMC. Other factors such as genetic or environmental factors are important. Although hemoglobinopathy is very common, RMC is very rare. An understanding of the molecular and genetic factors of this rare disease is important for its prevention and treatment. We herein describe an adult Turkish patient, who presented with hematuria. The diagnosis was RMC after pathological examination

Post-Prostatic Massage Examination for Prediction of Asymptomatic Prostatitis in Needle Biopsies: A Prospective Study

WOS: 000267850300054PubMed: 19524953Purpose: Although asymptomatic prostatitis is the most common noneancer diagnosis as demonstrated histologically by biopsies, screening and identification before biopsy remain unclear. In this study we prospectively evaluate the efficacy of examination of post-prostatic massage urine for prediction of asymptomatic prostatitis in biopsies. Materials and Methods: A total of 161 consecutive men 50 to 80 years old with serum prostate specific antigen 4.1 to 10.0 ng/ml, normal digital rectal examination, no evidence of clinical prostatitis or urinary tract infection, who underwent 8 or 10-core prostate biopsies under transrectal ultrasonography guidance were included in the study. Immediate pre-biopsy leukocyte count in post-prostatic massage urine was determined per high power field (400 X). We selected 5, 7 and 10 leukocytes per high power field as cutoffs, and urine was examined for prediction of histological prostatitis. Results: Histological diagnosis was prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer in 66 (41.0%), 63 (39.1%) and 32 (19.9%) patients, respectively. The mean number of leukocytes and percentage of positive post-prostatic massage urine microscopy for all cutoffs were significantly higher in subjects with prostatitis than in those without prostatitis (p<0.0001). Histological prostatitis was predicted most accurately by the 5 leukocyte cutoff (sensitivity 68.2%, specificity 82.1% and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.75). Conclusions: In asymptomatic men with mild increases of prostate specific antigen histological evidence of prostatic inflammation is common. The leukocyte count in post-prostatic massage urine appears to be useful for screening of this condition before biopsy. Our data suggest that 10 leukocytes per high power field in post-prostatic massage urine, the usually applied cutoff, may be too high for the definition of prostatic inflammation