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

Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pyogenes: results of a multicentre study in Turkey

The in vitro activities of several antimicrobial agents against clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (283), Haemophilus influenzae (272), Moraxella catarrhalis (179) and Streptococcus pyogenes (256) were determined in a multicentre study with the participation of five hospitals from four cities in Turkey. Penicillin resistance in S. pneumoniae was evaluated using the E-test and the remaining agents by disk diffusion. For S. pneumoniae overall 25.8% of the isolates were intermediately and 3.9% were highly resistant to penicillin and resistance to chloramphenicol, azithromycin and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) was 3.8, 2.1 and 55.4%,, respectively. Seven percent of H. influenzae produced P-lactamase and all were susceptible to cefotaxime and azithromycin; the highest rate of resistance, 23.5%, was for TMP/SMX. Eighty-one percent of M. catarrhalis isolates produced beta-lactamase, 18.4% were resistant to TMP/SMX and all were susceptible to sulbactam/ampicillin combination. Resistance to chloramphenicol and azithromycin of S. pyogenes was 2.2 and 1.9%, respectively. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved

Antimicrobial Resistance and Predisposing Factors Associated with Catheter-Associated UTI Caused by Uropathogens Exhibiting Multidrug-Resistant Patterns: A 3-Year Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia

Background: Widespread and rapidly emerging multidrug-resistant uropathogens, particularly carbapenem-resistant pathogens, are a public health concern that impairs the determination of empirical therapy. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility profile and factors associated with catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CA-UTI). Method: This retrospective study was carried out on a total of 779 urine cultures over a 3-year period. Antimicrobial sensitivity tests were performed using the standard Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Results: The prevalence of CA-UTI in our study was 12.7%; a total of 47% of cultures had multi-drug-resistant (MDR) uropathogens, and 13% of the cultures showed extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing pathogens. Elderly patients, intensive care unit admissions, and associated comorbidities were correlated with higher rates of CA-UTI caused by multidrug-resistant uropathogens (p < 0.021, 95% CI: 0.893–2.010), (p < 0.008, 95% CI: 1.124–5.600), (p < 0.006, 95% CI: 0.953–2.617). Latex catheters and prolonged catheterization time were associated with increased risk of CA-UTI (p < 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.743–1.929, p = 0.012, 95% CI: 0.644–4.195). Patients with MDR uropathogens had prolonged hospital stays, i.e., 49% in more than 2 weeks (p < 0.04, 95% CI: 0.117–3.084). E. coli was the most common pathogen (26.3%), followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (24.3%). Acinetobacter baumannii showed the highest MDR pattern (88.5%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (68%). Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae were associated with prolonged hospital stays (>2 w at 73.1 and 69%, respectively). Higher antimicrobial resistance against ceftriaxone (85.7%), meropenem (54.3%), ertapenem (50%), ciprofloxacin (58.5%), amikacin (27%), tigecycline (7.6%), and colistin (4.6%), was revealed in the study. Conclusion: Aside from the higher antimicrobial resistance against cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, the findings of this study revealed that carbapenems are facing increased rates of antimicrobial resistance and are associated with substantial morbidity, prolonged hospitalization times, and increased healthcare expenses

Severe Penile Curvature following Otis Urethrotomy

Urethral stricture is a common urological pathology with a high recurrence rate after treatment. Urethral manipulations are among its main causes. In this paper, urethral stricture developed secondary to urethral catheterization and was treated with cold-knife internal urethrotomy and the Otis urethrotomy procedure. During the follow-up period, severe ventral penile curvature preventing sexual intercourse developed due to fibrosis of the corpus spongiosum and tunica albuginea of the penis. This ventral penile curvature was corrected with a separate operation using a tunica vaginalis flap harvested from the left scrotum

Postcircumcisional Ischemia of the Glans Penis Treated with Pentoxifylline

Ischemia of the glans penis is a rare postcircumcision complication. We describe a four-year-old boy developing ischemia of the glans penis 48 h after circumcision. The ischemia completely resolved following treatment with iv pentoxifylline (PTX) for six days, and the patient was discharged without any problems. PTX treatment should be kept in mind as an alternative treatment modality in ischemia of the glans penis which is a serious potential post-circumcision complication