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Objective: Resistin is an important factor in the pathogenesis of obesity-induced insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction-mediated cardiovascular system diseases. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the most important causes of erectile dysfunction. Polyphenol resveratrol has several pharmacological functions, such as preventing endothelial dysfunction and inducing endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation via redox regulation and nitric oxide production. The present study tested the hypothesis that resveratrol restores endothelium-mediated responses that are disrupted by resistin. Materials and Methods: After a 24 h incubation period of tissues with resistin, endothelium-dependent and independent relaxation responses and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase level were evaluated in the presence and absence of resveratrol in rabbit corpus cavernosum (CC). Results: Resistin caused no impairment in the endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation responses. In the presence of resistin, NADPH oxidase levels increased by 28% in the CC tissues. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Resveratrol administration caused a significant decrease in NADPH oxidase activity in the resistin-treated group compared with the resistin-alone group. Conclusion: Resistin caused no changes in the functional responses of CC and NADPH oxidase activity, but resveratrol incubation significantly reduced NADPH oxidase activity in penile tissue. Based on the results of the study, resveratrol may be a treatment target under conditions in which NADPH oxidase activity is increased in penile tissue. In line with the results of this study, the effect of resistin on CC must be investigated at different concentrations and incubation times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the sperm parameters and spontaneous pregnancy rates of patients with varicocele and primary infertility at three and six months after surgery. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the sperm parameters of 134 male patients who presented with clinical varicocele and primary infertility between July 2016 and May 2019. All the patients underwent microscopic inguinal varicocelectomy. We compared the sperm parameters (count, movement, and morphology) and spontaneous pregnancy of the patients preoperatively, and at three and six months postoperatively. Results: In total, 134 patients with a mean age of 26.2 (20-38) years underwent the surgery. We found an increase in all the sperm parameters in the third and sixth months postoperatively. We also examined the differences among the sperm parameters in the third month and sixth month, and found a significant increase in the sperm count and motility at six months (p<0.001). The postoperative third-month pregnancy rates were 2.9% (n=4) and 26.8% (n=36) in the sixth month. Conclusion: The improvement in sperm parameters in the third month after varicocele operation continued and increased by the postoperative sixth month. Therefore, patients with varicocele and primary infertility should be aware that the rate of spontaneous pregnancy could increase within six months and should wait for at least that period before applying for assistive reproductive techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the results of contraction- and relaxation-based biofeedback (BF) in children with lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). Materials and Methods: Between 2007 and 2017, we randomly directed children with the diagnosis of LUTD and refractory to standard urotherapy modifications via BF by using two different animations: animation A with relaxation nature BF (RBF) and animation B with contraction nature BF (CBF). The categories of non-response, partial response, and full response were defined as a 0-49% decrease, 50-99% decrease, and 100% decrease in the LUTD Symptom score, respectively. Results of biofeedback using RBF or CBF were compared. Results: There were 100 and 70 children in the RBF and CBF groups, respectively. Patients with an abnormal voiding pattern (abnormalVP) and a positive electromyography (EMG) activity (positive EMG) had a better resolution with RBF (p=0.001), whereas patients with abnormalVP and a negative EMG activity (negative EMG) had a better resolution with CBF (p=0.039). Despite being statistically insignificant, patients with a normal voiding pattern (normalVP) and positive EMG had a better resolution with CBF (p=0.452), whereas patients with normalVP and negative EMG had a better resolution with RBF (p=0.083). Conclusion: The EMG activity identifies the BF nature in children with LUTD and abnormalVP. Importantly, positive EMG had better results with RBF, whereas negative EMG had better results with CBF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To show our retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) experience in anomalous kidney stones and compare its safety and efficiency with normal kidney stones. Materials and Methods: Between 2012 and 2018, patient data was reviewed retrospectively and 1700 procedures were taken into consideration. Forty-seven anomalous kidney stones were included in the study (group A). In these patients, 18 had calyx diverticulum, 12 had horseshoe kidney, 8 had ureteral duplication, 2 had ectopic kidneys, 1 had malrotation, and 1 had bifid pelvis. After making a matched pair analysis, 47 normal kidney stones with similar demographic and stone characteristics were included in our study (group N). Demographic, stone, intraoperative and postoperative data were recorded. We compared these groups regarding efficiency and safety. Results: Average scope time, hospitalization time, and postoperative double J-stent rate were higher in group A. The difference was statistically insignificant (p>0.05). Ureteral access sheath usage was higher in group N, though the difference was statistically insignificant (p=0.63). Stonefree rates and success rates were higher in group N though the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The rate of complications was statistically significantly higher in group A (p=0.02). Conclusion: RIRS can be used in the management of anomalous kidney stones. It is an efficient and safe method. Prospective and larger patient numbered studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]