Determination of ⁴⁰K Concentration in Gravel Samples from Konyaalt i Beach, Antalya

Terrestrial radioactivity is caused by the radioactive elements, located in various amounts in soil and rocks. The concentration of radioactive elements varies with the geographical and geological structure of the region and with the mineralogical composition of soil and rock. In this study, ⁴⁰K activity concentrations in gravel samples, collected from Konyaaltı Beach, were measured. The measurement was performed using gamma ray spectrometery at gamma spectrometry laboratory of Süleyman Demirel University

The role of power Doppler ultrasonography at prostate needle biopsy [Prostat · igne ? iyop? i? inde power Doppler ultrasonogra?i?in ye?i]

Introduction: Transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy is the method of choice for prostate biopsy guidance. It was demonstrated that most prostate cancers in peripheral zone showed hypervascularization, in contrasts to hypovascularization of the normal peripheral zone. Color Doppler ultrasonography or power Doppler sonography may be of help in differentiating prostate cancer from benign prostatic disease by demonstrating local blood flow changes in the lesion compared to signals from surrounding tissue. Power Doppler is more sensitive to slow flow and is less angle-dependent than color Doppler imaging. In this prospective study, the role of power Doppler ultrasonography in addition to systematic 10 cores biopsy for the detection of prostate cancer was assessed. Materials and Methods: Between July 2002 and April 2003, 52 patients who have serum PSA level greater than 2.5 ng/mL or abnormal digital rectal examination included the study. All patients were examined with the 7.5 MHz end-firing probe (Hitachi EUB 525, Tokyo, Japan). Biopsies were directed into hypervascularized area detected by power doppler ultrasonography before systematic 10 cores needle biopsies were performed. No major complication during or after the procedure was seen. The impact of power Doppler, directed biopsies to prostate cancer detection rate, was analyzed using chi-square test. Mean age of patients was 63.1 (42-82). Results: In addition to 520 systematic biopsy sites from 52 patients, 73 suspicious areas detected by power Doppler ultrasonography were also biopsied. A total of 65 biopsy sites in 11 patients turned out to be adenocarcinoma of the prostate. With the use of power Doppler ultrasonography, cancer detection rate was increased to 11.0% (65/593) from 10.2% (53/520). This increase was statistically insignificant (p=0.75). In 2 patients, prostate cancer was diagnosed only in the suspicious areas detected by power Doppler ultrasonography. The contribution of power Doppler ultrasonography in that regard was also statistically insignificant (p=0.80). In a patient with prostate cancer diagnosed with systematic 10 cores needle biopsy, power Doppler ultrasonography could not detect any suspicious areas. In contrasts to suspicious areas detected with power Doppler ultrasonography, prostate cancer was diagnosed in a patient in the areas taken by systematic 10 cores needle biopsy technique. Conclusion: Targeted biopsy performed on the basis of power Doppler ultrasonography findings does not increase the detection rate of prostate cancer compared to systematic 10 cores needle biopsy technique. A second set systematic 10 cores needle biopsy seems the most reliable method in patients with high serum PSA level or suspicious digital rectal examination and negative biopsy result in the first set of biopsy

Clinical results of transurethral electrovaporization resection of prostate (TUVRP) with two different electrodes versus TURP: A randomized prospective clinical study [Prostatin Iki Farkli Elektrotla Yapilan Transüretral Elektrovaporizasyon Rezeksiyonu (TUVRP) ile TURP Kli?ik Sonuçlarinin Karşilaştirilmasi: Randomize Prospektif Kl·inik Bir Çalişma]

Introduction: The aim of our study was to compare the results of conventional transurethral electroresection of the prostate (TURP) and transurethral vaporization and resection of the prostate (TUVRP) operations in patients with symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction due to prostatic enlargement. Materials and Methods: 59 consecutive patients with symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction due to prostatic enlargement and prostate size between 20-60 g were prospectively randomized to two treatment groups; one group underwent standard TURP and the other TUVRP. Eligibility criteria included IPSS result 8 or grater, Qmax <15 ml/sec and prostate volume of 20 to 60 gm on transrectal ultrasonography. Patients less than 50 years old and those with a known neurogenic bladder, cancer of the prostate or bladder, history of prostate surgery or currently taking medications known to affect voiding function (alfa blockers) were excluded from this study. Patients were followed-up at 1, 3 and 12 months after treatment. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum flow rate (Qmax), post-voiding residual urine volume (PVR) and transrectal ultrasound results were recorded during the follow-up period. Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis, Wilcoxon test and Bonferroni corrected Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis to compare the preoperative and postoperative data. Results: With respect to efficacy parameters (IPSS, Qmax, PVR and prostate volume) we did not observe statistically significant difference among those groups (TURP and TUVRP). Also the complications were similar on both groups. Conclusions: TUVRP seems to be a safe and efficacious modification of TURP (with) and the main advantage of this technique is to produce a more accurate TURP operation with less hemorrhage by improving surgeon's comfort during the resection

Migration of a bullet in the spinal canal

Migration of a bullet within the spinal canal after gunshot injury is rare. We report here the case of a penetrating gunshot injury of the lumbar spine at L3 with migration of the bullet within the spinal canal S2. The patient had marked paraparesis (proximal 1/5, distal 0/5 muscle strength) and anaesthesia at L3 and below, and had a hypocompliant, hyper-reflexive bladder with decreased capacity, and absent anal tonus. We removed osseous fragments in the canal with an L3 laminectomy and extracted the bullet by S2 laminectomy. After surgery, we observed an improvement in paraparesis, an increase in bladder capacity and urinary compliance, and improvement in anal tonus. The appropriate course of action in this type of injury remains unclear, because the number of cases described in the literature is not sufficient to provide a basis on which to make a definitive therapeutic decision. We herein review the literature describing cases in which a bullet in the spinal canal has migrated; we describe the treatment used and the outcomes in these cases. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of varicocelectomy on sperm creatine kinase, HspA2 chaperone protein (creatine kinase-M type), LDH, LDH-X, and lipid peroxidation product levels in infertile men with varicocele

Objectives. To determine the total sperm creatine kinase, HspA2 chaperone protein (creatine kinase-M isoform), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), LDH-X activities, and lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde [MDA]) levels in infertile men with varicocele and to examine the possible effect of varicocelectomy on these parameters. Methods. Eighty-one men were enrolled in this study. The study population consisted of a control group (n = 25) and a varicocele group (n = 56). Of the 56 patients with varicocele, 26 underwent microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy at our institution between July 2002 and July 2003. The standard semen parameters (sperm concentration and motility and Kruger morphology) and total sperm creatine kinase, HspA2, LDH, and LDH-X activities, and MDA levels were assessed in the control and varicocele groups. The differences were compared between the two groups. The same parameters were repeated at 6 months postoperatively in the varicocelectomy group and the preoperative and postoperative results were compared. Results. The sperm concentration was significantly lower in the varicocele group than in the control group (P = 0.01). The mean sperm HspA2 activities were significantly lower and the LDH activities and MDA levels were significantly greater in the varicocele group than in the control group (P = 0.005 and P = 0.001, P <0.001, respectively). No statistically significant difference was found in the semen parameters in the varicocelectomy group preoperatively and postoperatively. Sperm HspA2 activities increased significantly after varicocelectomy compared with preoperatively (P <0.001). Conclusions. Our data suggest that sperm HspA2 activities are lower and LDH activities and MDA levels are greater in infertile men with varicocele. These data also suggest that varicocelectomy increases HspA2 activities in these patients. © 2005 Elsevier Inc

Urothelial neoplasm of pelvis renalis with cytomorphology findings [Sitomorfolojik bulgularla pelvis renalisin üroteryal neoplazmi]

Urine cytology is an important diagnostic technique for urothelial neoplasia. Although it is difficult to demonstrate the cytopathological clues in the diagnos are of pelvicalicial system and urothelial tumors, tumor grading and diagnosis with cytology provides important advantages for treatment. After "right pelvis renalis tumor?" determination in abdominal computerized tomography of a 55 year old male patient for gross hematuria etiology search, multiple milimetric papillary mass appearance was observed at pelvis renalis in ureterorenoscopy. In examination of urine sample obtained during this procedure reported as "suspicious of malignancy". A tumoral mass characterized with papillary structures composed of 6-7 epithelial cells layer lined around fibrovasculary core, is designated in cross sections. Tumor was composed of atypical epithelial cells with pleomorphic, coarse, apparent nucleoli, hyperchromatic nuclei and eosynophilic cytoplasm features. Tumor with no lamina propria invasion reported as "papillary urothelial neoplasm with low malignancy potential (WHO/ISSUP 98)" Our case was worth presentation because of its diagnostic cytological features. © 2009 OMÜ Tüm Haklari Saklidir

A multicentre based critical analysis of laser settings during intrarenal laser lithotripsy

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