Assessment of changes in penile sensation by electrophysiological study after radical prostatectomy: A pilot study

Background:To evaluate the changes in penile sensation by electrophysiological tests in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) and to demonstrate the role of dorsal penile nerve injury in postoperative erectile dysfunction.Materials and methods:Twenty-six volunteer patients who were eligible for RP were included in the study. Preoperative penile sensory electromyography and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire were done for each patient. Erectile function assessment and electrophysiological evaluation of penile sensation were repeated at postoperative 3rd and 6th months.Results:Postoperative IIEF-5 scores and electromyography values were significantly lower than preoperative findings (p < 0.05). The IIEF-5 scores in the nerve sparing-RP (NS-RP) group were significantly higher than the non-nerve sparing-RP (NNS-RP) group in the postoperative period. Nerve conduction velocity values in the NS-RP group were also higher than the NNS-RP group at the postoperative 3rd and 6th months. However, these changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).Conclusions:Patients who underwent RP have decreased penile sensation due to cavernous nerve damage and a possible dorsal penile nerve injury. The decrease of penile sensation may be associated with postoperative erectile dysfunction.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbon from Biowaste-Peanut Shell and Application to Preconcentration/Removal of Uranium

This study aims to synthesize and characterize an economical and ecological adsorbent with high adsorption capacity. For this purpose, the peanut shells (Pistacia vera L.) were modified chemically. After the synthesis of activated carbon (AC), the optimum conditions for enrichment steps were performed using parameters: pH and contact time for uranium in the model solutions. The measurements were carried out by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). From the shapes of the BET isotherms, the AC obtained exhibits type I. The study indicated that the surface area and total pore volume of the AC were found to be 679.9 m² g⁻¹ and 0.31 cc g⁻¹, respectively. The adsorption capacity was found to be 260 mg g⁻¹. The optimum pH was found to be 6.0 for enrichment using the AC obtained by sulfuric acid as a chemical-modifier. The optimized method was applied to enrichment of U at ppb levels in the model solutions.

     

The Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Behavioral Training on Sexual Dysfunction,Incontinence, Physical Activity Level and Quality of Life in the Elderly

Sexuality and Disability - Alterations in hormonal balance, especially with ageing, cause many pelvic floor problems such as urinary incontinence, lack of interest in or desire for sex and...     

Living unrelated donor kidney transplantation between spouses

From November 3, 1975 to November 3, 1990, 874 kidney transplants were performed at our centers. Of these, 675 (77.2%) were from living donors and 199 (22.8%) were from cadaver donors. Five hundred eighty (66.4%) of the living donors were first degree related while 99 (11.3%) were unrelated or second degree related donors, 29 of which were spouses. All donor recipient pairs were ABO-compatible, with the exception of one pair. Donor recipient relations were wife to husband in 25 cases and husband to wife in 4 cases. All were first grafts and started functioning during surgery. In this series, the follow-up for the recipients was 4 to 64 months (mean 33.5 ± 4.5 months). One-year patient survival and graft survival rates were 92.4% and 81.9%, respectively. Two-year patient survival and graft survival rates were 92.4% and 78.2%, respectively. The single ABO-incompatible case is also doing well, 21 months postoperatively. This study demonstrates that the interspouse kidney transplantation may be used when cadaver organ shortage is a problem. While providing the couple with a better quality of life, interspouse kidney transplantation also enables the couple to share the joy of giving and receiving the gift of life from one another.

---

Resumen En nuestro centro se efectuaron 874 trasplantes renales entre noviembre 3 de 1975 y noviembre 3 de 1990; 675 (77.2%) fueron de donantes vivos y 199 (22.8%) de donantes cadavéricos; 580 (66.4%) de los donantes vivos fueron familiares de primer grado y 99 (11.3%) fueron donantes no relacionados familiarmente o familiares de segundo grado, de los cuales 29 eran cónyuges. Todas las parejas donante-recipiente exhibieron compatibilidad ABO, con excepción de una. La relación donante-recipiente fue esposa a esposo en 25 casos y esposo a esposa en 4 casos. Todos los injertos eran de primera vez y todos comenzaron a funcionar en la mesa de cirugía. El seguimiento osciló entre 4 y 64 meses (33.5 ± 4.5). Las tasas de sobrevida a un año del paciente y del injerto fueron 92.4% y 81.9% respectivamente; las tasas a dos años fueron 92.4% y 78.2% respectivamente. El único caso ABO no compatible también se encuentra bien, a 21 meses en la actualidad. El presente estudio demuestra que el trasplante renal entre esposos puede ser utilizado cuando haya escases de órganos cadavéricos. Al tiempo que permite una mejor calidad de vida, el procedimiento da a la pareja la oportunidad de gozar el hecho de otorgar y de recibir el regalo de la vida entre uno y otro.

---

Résumé Nous avons effectué 874 transplantations rénales dans nos centres de transplantation entre le 3 Nov, 1975 et le 3 Nov, 1990. Parmi celles-ci, 675 (77.2%) provenaient de donneurs vivants et 199 (22.8%) des reins provenaient de cadavres. Cinq cent quatre vingt des donneurs vivants (66.4%) étaient parents au premier degré alors que 99 (11.3%) étaient parents au 2è degré ou n'étaient pas parents, parmi lesquels 29 étaient des époux. Tous les couples donneur/receveur, sauf un, étaient compatibles dans le système ABO. Le couple donneur/receveur était femme à mari dans 25 cas et mari à femme dans quatre. Il s'agissait dans tous les cas d'une première greffe et qui a commencé à bien fonctionner sur la table d'opération. Dans cette série, le suivi des receveurs allait de 4 à 64 (33.5 ± 4.5) mois. Les taux de survie des malades et des greffes à un an étaient respectivement de 92.4% et 81.9%. Les taux de survie des malades et des greffes à deux ans étaient respectivement de 92.4% et 78.2%. Le seul cas avec incompatabilité ABO va très bien avec un recul de 21 mois. Cette étude montre que la transplantation entre époux est une solution valable en cas de manque de reins. En plus d'améliorer la qualité de survie du receveur et par là même du couple, cette variété de transplantation donne également au couple la possibilité d'avoir la joie de donner et de recevoir un cadeau de vie de leur époux.

     

Somatostatin infusion withdrawal in the diagnosis of childhood growth hormone deficiency

OBJECTIVE: An evaluation of growth hormone (GH) testing for GH deficiency (GHD) in childhood is confounded by the lack of a world-wide consensus on the definition of GHD. Although a single GH test remains the most powerful biochemical tool in the evaluation of a child with growth failure, the test remains far from ideal. Withdrawal of somatostatin (SS) infusion is followed by a rebound rise of GH thought to be mediated by endogenous GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) function. This study was designed to compare the GH response to 90 min SS infusion in children with normal GH secretion versus children with GH deficiency. METHODS: Ten children with GHD and 10 healthy controls (NC) have been evaluated for GH response to somatostatin infusion withdrawal (SSIW) and compared with response of two provocative tests, glucagon plus propranolol test and L-Dopa test. All children received constant infusion of somatostatin for 90 min (3 microg/kg per h, Stilamin, Serono, Aubonne, Switzerland). In order to determine GH, blood samples were obtained 90 min before the SS infusion and 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 min after the cessation of infusion. RESULTS: Growth hormone peak levels with SSIW were significantly lower in GH deficient children than in healthy children (2.5 +/- 1.2 ng/dL, vs 21.9 +/- 5.3 ng/dL, respectively, P < 0.01). No adverse effects were observed during or after somatostatin infusion. CONCLUSION: In the present study, SSIW elicited a significant GH rise in healthy children but not in children with GH deficiency. Although further controlled studies using more data are necessary to expand these findings, the results suggested that children with GH deficiency can be reliably discriminated from healthy children by SSIW.     

Comparison of preputial sac and urine cultures in healthy children

The aim of the present study was to examine subpreputial bacteriology and to compare it with the urine cultures of healthy male children. Seventy-two male children were divided into two groups as A and B according to age. In both groups preputial sac and urine cultures were taken simultaneously. Gram (+) enteric cocci were the most common isolated pathogens from the preputial sac in group B. Enterobacter, E. coli and staphylococci species were isolated from the urine cultures of three patients in group B. We could not find any difference between the preputial sac swabs of group A and B patients, but the isolation rate of urine cultures of group A patients was significantly higher than group B (p < 0.05). The findings of the present study support a potential role of the prepuce acting as a reservoir of faecal bacteria in the pathogenesis of UTI in male infants, especially in the first year of life. Improved penile hygiene after the first year of life does not alter the subpreputial bacteriology, but significantly decreases the contamination of urine. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.