Serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels do not predict the efficiency of testicular sperm retrieval in men with non-obstructive azoospermia.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine whether serum concentrations of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) can be used as a tool for prediction of the efficacy of sperm retrieval. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort observational study. AMH levels were determined in 47 men presenting for infertility evaluation. Group 1 consisted of 24 infertile patients diagnosed with non-obstructive azoospermia. Group 1 was further divided into two subgroups. The patients with spermatozoa in their testicular samples constituted group 1a (n = 13), while the patients with absence of spermatozoa constituted group 1b (n = 11). Twenty-three normozoospermic fertile men constituted group 2. Serum AMH was measured before obtaining testicular specimens. RESULTS: Testicular spermatozoa were recovered in 13 out of the 24 patients (54%). Demographic characteristics of the three groups were similar. The difference between serum AMH levels among the three groups did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: We speculated that although AMH is secreted predominantly into the seminiferous tubules, studying serum samples might be more advantageous than seminal plasma because the presence of seminal proteases could influence AMH levels in the latter. However, our results did not demonstrate differences in serum concentrations of AMH between the studied groups. Studies with extended patient populations focusing on seminal plasma concentrations of AMH are warranted.     

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...     

Ischemia-modified albumin levels in children having seizure

Convulsions are one of the frequently seen problems for a neurologist in the daily routine. It is difficult to distinguish the seizure from pseudo-seizure because of lack of conclusive tests. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between seizure types and seizure periods by studying IMA serum levels in children having seizure. Two groups were included (patients and control) in our study. The patient group consisted of the children admitted to Pediatric Emergency Care during January 2008–January 2010 with seizure and the control group consisted of healthy children. Serum Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) level in the group having seizures was 99.7 and 83.2 U/ml in the control group. In the comparison of the patient and control groups, significant differences were found between their IMA values (p = 0.000). There was a significant difference between IMA values of the group having generalized tonic–clonic seizures and those of the control group (p = 0.001). In comparison of the IMA values of the group having febrile convulsions and those of the control group, a significant difference was determined (p = 0.011). It has been shown that if the seizure was prolonged over 5 min, IMA level increased, and there was a significant difference between the groups experiencing over 5 min of seizures and the groups experiencing less than 5 min of seizures (p = 0.001). An increase in IMA levels in febrile convulsion supports the hypoxia development in the brain during the seizure. Serum IMA levels increased with the elongation of the seizure period and may be an indicator for status epilepticus.     

The growth hormone receptor polymorphism in patients with acromegaly: relationship to BMI and glucose metabolism

The aim of this study was to investigate association between the frequencies of Growth Hormone receptor (d3GHR) gene polymorphisms and some clinical parameters of acromegalic patients. Total of 35 acromegalic patients were enrolled to study. The d3GHR polymorphism was identified by using polymerase chain reaction from peripheral blood samples. The levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, BMI, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, IGF-I, GH, IGFBP3, triglyceride, HDL and LDL cholesterol concentrations were evaluated. The frequencies of d3GHR genotypes were found as follows; 5 (14.3%) subjects had d3/d3, 11 (31.4%) had d3/fl and 19 (54.3%) had fl/fl in patients. The prevalence of the d3 and fl alleles was 30 and 70%, respectively. Systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR was found significantly increased in homozygote d3GHR genotype group compared to d3/fl subjects (P?<?0.05). In addition, BMI was observed significantly different among three genotypes (P?=?0.007) and in the subjects with d3/d3 genotype, BMI was found significantly higher than d3/fl and fl/fl genotypes groups. As well as, no significant difference was found between the d3 and fl alleles group in terms of the clinical parameters except for BMI (P?=?0.002). It can be said that the d3GHR gene polymorphism may affect BMI, systolic blood pressure and insulin regulation. At the same time we can say homozygote d3GHR genotype and d3 allele carriers may have more risk than other genotypes for high BMI.     

Urolithiasis in infants: evaluation of risk factors

Objective

Urolithiasis in infants is not a very rare situation in Turkey, and the incidence has been increasing in recent years. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the clinical characteristics, metabolic and anatomic risk factors for urolithiasis and microlithiasis in infants.

Methods

The cases of 178 infants (63 girls, 115 boys), who were referred to our department between 1999 and 2009 with urolithiasis, were evaluated.

Results

The mean age at diagnosis of stone disease was 11.5 months (range, 10 days–24 months). The mean follow-up duration was 33.6 months (1.2–110 months). The major clinical symptoms of our patients were restlessness in 24 children (13.5%) and vomiting in 23 (13%). Thirty-five infants (19.7%) had a urinary tract abnormality; vesico-ureteral reflux was the most common abnormality (12.9%). Hypercalciuria and hyperuricosuria were detected in 46 and 56%, respectively. Stone analysis was performed in 56 infants, and calcium oxalate was determined in 36 patients (64.3%). A family history of urolithiasis, presenting symptoms and underlying metabolic abnormalities were similar for patients with microlithiasis and those with larger stones. However, infants with microlithiasis had higher ratios for history of vitamin D administration and feeding with formula. Surgical treatment was performed in 42 infants and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in 30 infants.

Conclusion

Our results showed that urolithiasis in infants may present nonspecific symptoms and may even be asymptomatic and that a positive family history for urolithiasis, urologic abnormalities, metabolic disorders, urinary tract infections, vitamin D administration and feeding with formula may increase the occurrence of urolithiasis in infants.     

Lymphocyte and monocyte vitamin D receptor expression during paricalcitol or calcitriol treatments in patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease

International Urology and Nephrology - In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of paricalcitol and calcitriol usage on vitamin D receptor (VDR) contents of CD8+?,...     

Spontaneous external jugular vein pseudoaneurysm treated by thrombin injection: Case report and literature review

Although external jugular vein (EJV) aneurysms are infrequent, regardless of etiology, spontaneous pseudoaneurysms (PAs) are extremely rare and generally require surgery. We describe a case of spontaneous PA of the EJV, which was successfully treated by percutaneous thrombin injection.     

EFI region 8 Balkan external proficiency testing for HLA typing: Results of 15 years

Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Medical Biology, as the first EFI‐accredited HLA laboratory in Turkey since 1999 has been organizing both national and international quality control tests for HLA typing under the banner of the “Balkan external proficiency testing (BEPT)” encompassing countries from EFI regions 8. The first round of BEPT in 2004 was organized for low‐resolution HLA‐A,‐B typing by molecular methods and 12 centres participated in the exercise. In 2005, low‐resolution HLA‐DR typing was added, and in 2007, low‐resolution HLA‐C and DQ typing were added to the exercise and 28 centres participated. In 2015, high‐resolution (four digits or higher typing) HLA‐A,‐B,‐C,‐DR and –DQ typing added to the exercise and 40 centres participated. In the last 2 years, 2017 and 2018, the number of participating centres increased to 48 and 52, respectively. When the distribution of low‐resolution typing methods applied in the exercises were investigated, it was found that 82% of the centres in the first round of BEPT in 2004 used PCR‐SSP, whereas in the last round in 2018, 26% of the centres preferred SSP, while the rest used SSO (50%) or SSP and SSO (24%) methods. Methods for high‐resolution typing were SBT (41%), NGS (18%), SSO (18%), SSP (6%), SBT + NGS (6%) and SBT + SSP (11%). In 15th trial for BEPT, nomenclature mistake rate was 12%, and erroneous result rate was 6% for HLA samples. The most common mistakes in the exercises were nomenclature mistakes. The EFI Standards Version 7.0 is stated "HLA type can be reported using a hyphen if homozygosity is not proven by family studies." In order to provide standard results among HLA laboratories and since accurate HLA typing leads to significant increase of graft and patient survival, quality control exercises should be performed in all HLA‐based tests periodically.