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We aimed to compare the preventive effects of combined antioxidants ( CA1, 2) with a single antioxidant drug (thymoquinone; TQ) on experimental testis Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) injury. Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of seven rats each: control, testis I/R, testis I/R + CA1, testis I/R + CA2, and testis I/R + TQ. After 1 h of testicular ischemia, reperfusion was achieved by detorsion for 4 h. Antioxidants were intraperitoneally administered for 30 min prior to reperfusion. All rats were sacrificed 4 h after reperfusion to evaluate the tissue levels of malondialdehyde ( MDA) and total antioxidant status ( TAS) and the immunohistochemical evaluation of tissue inducible and endothelial nitric acid synthase ( iNOS, eNOS) and apoptosis protease-activating factor 1 ( APAF-1). MDA levels were lower and TAS values were higher in the I/R + antioxidant groups than in the I/R group ( p < 0.05). iNOS and eNOS levels in the I/R + antioxidant groups were also lower than those in the I/R group ( p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the CA groups and the TQ group according to aforementioned parameters. In addition, tissue APAF-1 values were significantly higher in the I/R group than in the other groups. However, there was a significant difference between the TQ and CA groups in APAF-1 levels, which were highest in the TQ group ( p < 0.05). Although TQ alone increased TAS values and reduced tissue iNOS and eNOS levels, combined antioxidant treatment may more effectively reduce apoptosis and increase preventive effects in testis I/R injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare the frequency of apoptosis in the erectile tissue of chronic diabetic and healthy rats. Materials and methods Fourteen chronic diabetic and 10 healthy Sprague–Dawley rats were killed, their penises harvested and stored at –70°C until staining and flow cytometric analysis for apoptosis. A cell suspension was obtained from the penile tissue by scraping the inside of the cavernosum with a scalpel and filtering through a mesh. Samples of the cell suspension (0.5 × 106 cells) were stained with Annexin V (an indicator of apoptosis) and propidium iodide (PI, which stains dead cells), incubated for 15 min at room temperature and analysed by flow cytometry. The DNA content was also analysed in each sample. Results In normal erectile tissue, a mean of 6.2% of cells were stained with Annexin V, while only 2.7% were stained with PI; DNA content analyses showed 7.5% were hypodiploid cells. In diabetic rats 19.5% of cells were stained with Annexin V and 5.2% with PI; 22.9% of cells were hypodiploid. Conclusion The ratio of apoptotic cells in the erectile tissues of diabetic rats was significantly greater than in normal rats. The high rate of apoptosis in diabetic rats may play a role in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Splenosis is a well-known entity, caused by autotransplantation of splenic tissue as a result of trauma or splenectomy. Patients are generally asymptomatic, and this entity is diagnosed during routine diagnostic imaging. Cystic changes in splenic implants have been defined before but, as to our knowledge, radiological demonstration of cystic components has not been published in the literature. It is well-known that unusual locations of the splenic implants create diagnostic problems, sometimes leading to unnecessary surgical interventions. In this report splenosis, mimicking a renal tumour, with cystic changes in the biggest splenule, and diagnosis with ferrumoxide-enhanced MRI is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]