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Brucellosis remains an important public health problem in Turkey, just as it is in other regions of the world. This study was conducted to determine the types and rates of cutaneous lesions that occur in patients with brucellosis. Brucellosis was diagnosed by standard tube agglutination testing for Brucella antibodies at a titer of 1/160 or higher in the presence of compatible clinical findings. A total of 140 patients who had been given a diagnosis of brucellosis were prospectively observed in the dermatology clinic. Of these patients, 102 (72.9%) were female, with a mean age of 44.11+/-18.22 y, and 38 (27.1%) were male, with a mean age of 46.44+/-14.58 y. The duration of symptoms was less than 2 mo (acute) in 75 patients (53.5%), from 2 to 12 mo (subacute) in 30 patients (21.4%), and longer than 12 mo (chronic) in 35 patients (25.0%). Cutaneous findings related to brucellosis were observed in 8 (5.71%) of the 140 cases. Maculopapular eruptions were observed in 2 patients (25%), erythema nodosum-like lesions in 2 (25%), psoriasiform lesions in 1 (12.5%), palmar erythema in 1 (12.5%), malar eruption in 1 (12.5%), and palmar eczema in 1 (12.5%). The investigators concluded that although cutaneous findings encountered in brucellosis are generally not specific to this disease, the presence of these findings may be useful in diagnosing brucellosis in persons who live in, or used to live in, endemic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a rare presentation of brucellosis as bilateral optic nerve and right abducent nerve involvement, and endocarditis complicated by right premacular hemorrhage in a 28-year-old white female. The patient showed improvement with both medical and surgical therapy. Brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of papillitis, gaze palsy and endocarditis complicated with premacular hemorrhage in endemic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Fibroepithelial polyps of the ureter are benign tumors arising from the mesodermal tissue in the ureteral wall. Their etiology remains unknown. Hematuria and obstructive urinary symptoms are the most common findings. The treatment of choice is endoscopic resection, and the prognosis for patients with these lesions is excellent. Case presentation We present three cases of fibroepithelial polyps associated with calculi in the distal part of the ureter. The patients were all women, aged 20, 45 and 52 years. Two patients were suffering from flank pain and dysuria while one patient was asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. The patients were fully treated with endoscopic resection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fourth report of adult ureteral fibroepithelial polyps associated with ureteral calculi in the English literature. The etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of fibroepithelial polyps are discussed in this report. Conclusion Whenever polypoid lesions are detected especially at the distal part of the ureter, benign fibroepithelial polyps should be kept in mind for differential diagnosis. Additionally, although rarely seen, the co-existence of ureteral calculi with fibroepithelial polyps should be borne in mind.

Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Objective: To develop an efficient and easy-to-use nomogram that can predict testicular sperm extraction (TESE) success in men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) by using pre-operative parameters., Materials and Methods: Data of 3093 men who underwent TESE for NOA were included in this study. Demographic data, testis volumes, presence of varicocele, length of infertility, history of previous surgeries, history of genitourinary infections, smoking status, chromosome abnormalities, presence of Y-chromosome microdeletion, family history of infertility, testis biopsy, surgical data, sperm retrieval rate, final pathology obtained at TESE, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone levels were recorded. The primary outcome was to develop an efficient nomogram that can predict the TESE success in men with NOA. The secondary outcomes were identifying the significant pre-operative parameters that are associated with success in TESE., Results: Sperm retrieval rate was 50.2%(1553/3093). Testis volume, history of varicocelectomy, chromosome abnormalities, and presence of Y-chromosome microdeletion were shown to affect sperm retrieval rate significantly (P <.05). Sperm retrieval success was higher in men with older age, higher testis volume (>10 mL), lower follicle-stimulating hormone level (≤12.92 mIU/mL), lower luteinizing hormone level, and higher testosterone level (P <.05). Only testis volume and patient's age were associated with successful sperm retrieval in multivariate logistic regression analysis., Conclusion: In men with NOA, high testis volume, old age, low follicle-stimulating hormone level, low luteinizing hormone level, and high testosterone level are advantageous for successful sperm retrieval in TESE. Herein, we present a nomogram that can predict the outcome of TESE in men with NOA with adequate success., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We aimed to compare the success rate of spermatozoa retrieval through microscopic testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) in non-obstructive azoospermic (NOA) men with a solitary testis with that of mTESE in NOA men with bilateral testes and the parameters affecting these rates., Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of factors contributing to infertility in NOA patients with a solitary testis and men with bilateral testes was carried out. In this multicenter study, 74 patients with NOA with a solitary testis were matched with 74 patients with bilateral testes in terms of age, duration of infertility, and volume of the solitary testis from 2770 patients with NOA with bilateral testes. Hormonal parameters, presence of varicocele, history of varicocelectomy, history of undescended testis and karyotype analysis results were compared., Results: Spermatozoa were obtained from 40 (54.1%) patients with a solitary testis and 42 (56.76%) patients with bilateral testes. No differences were found regarding age, duration of infertility, or mean testicular volume between patients with a solitary testis and patients with bilateral testes. When serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were compared regardless of sperm retrieval status, it was observed that both levels were greater in the group of patients with a solitary testis (p < 0.01). Patients with solitary and bilateral testes from whom spermatozoa were obtained had larger testes than those from whom spermatozoa could not be obtained (p < 0.05). Similarly, the serum levels of FSH and LH were significantly greater in patients with a solitary testis than in those with bilateral testes (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in the literature to evaluate the parameters that influence mTESE outcome in NOA patients with a solitary testis and NOA patients with bilateral testes. Greater testicular volume was found to positively affect spermatozoa retrieval for patients with a solitary testis. The higher levels of FSH and LH in patients with a solitary testis than in patients with bilateral testes of similar testicular volume may be due to a compensatory mechanism developed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The fact that these hormones are higher in patients with a solitary testis does not mean that the number of spermatozoa obtained through mTESE will be decreased., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The purpose of this study was to determine the average penis length and girth among the Turkish population, and to analyse the perspectives of couples. A total of 1703 males and 139 female partners participated in this study. All the participants completed a questionnaire and the flaccid and stretched penis length and girth were recorded. The results showed that the average flaccid penis length was 8.44 ± 2.28 cm and 12.27 ± 2.91 cm stretched, with girth of 8.23 ± 2.07 cm. Regarding the importance of penis size for a satisfying sexual experience, 18.5% of men thought penis length mattered, 9.9% considered thickness important, and 71.6% thought both were significant. A majority of participants, 67.8% of males and 76% of females, expressed that erect penis length was crucial for sexual pleasure. For a healthy sexual intercourse, 19.4% of the female partners emphasized the significance of penis length, 23.7% highlighted thickness, and 56.8% emphasized both factors for a fulfilling sexual relationship. A comparison between men's stretched penis length and the ideal length for partner satisfaction revealed no statistically significant difference (13 (4.8-21) cm vs. 12 (8-20) cm, p = 0.078). The average penis length and girth of Turkish males were found to be similar to the data in studies of this subject in literature. Both the males and their partners thought that erect penis length and girth were important for sexual intercourse. The males considering penis lengthening and thickening procedures should know whether or not their own penis is close to the average values, to avoid undergoing unnecessary surgeries., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (©2024 The Author(s). Published by MRE Press.)

Purpose: The purpose of this meta-analysis is to study the impact of varicocele repair in the largest cohort of infertile males with clinical varicocele by including all available studies, with no language restrictions, comparing intra-person conventional semen parameters before and after the repair of varicoceles., Materials and Methods: The meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA-P and MOOSE guidelines. A systematic search was performed in Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases. Eligible studies were selected according to the PICOS model (Population: infertile male patients with clinical varicocele; Intervention: varicocele repair; Comparison: intra-person before-after varicocele repair; Outcome: conventional semen parameters; Study type: randomized controlled trials [RCTs], observational and case-control studies)., Results: Out of 1,632 screened abstracts, 351 articles (23 RCTs, 292 observational, and 36 case-control studies) were included in the quantitative analysis. The before-and-after analysis showed significant improvements in all semen parameters after varicocele repair (except sperm vitality); semen volume: standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.203, 95% CI: 0.129-0.278; p<0.001; I²=83.62%, Egger's p=0.3329; sperm concentration: SMD 1.590, 95% CI: 1.474-1.706; p<0.001; I²=97.86%, Egger's p<0.0001; total sperm count: SMD 1.824, 95% CI: 1.526-2.121; p<0.001; I²=97.88%, Egger's p=0.0063; total motile sperm count: SMD 1.643, 95% CI: 1.318-1.968; p<0.001; I²=98.65%, Egger's p=0.0003; progressive sperm motility: SMD 1.845, 95% CI: 1.537%-2.153%; p<0.001; I²=98.97%, Egger's p<0.0001; total sperm motility: SMD 1.613, 95% CI 1.467%-1.759%; p<0.001; l2=97.98%, Egger's p<0.001; sperm morphology: SMD 1.066, 95% CI 0.992%-1.211%; p<0.001; I²=97.87%, Egger's p=0.1864., Conclusions: The current meta-analysis is the largest to date using paired analysis on varicocele patients. In the current meta-analysis, almost all conventional semen parameters improved significantly following varicocele repair in infertile patients with clinical varicocele., Competing Interests: The authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology.)

Background: Herein, we analyzed the efficacy of main antibiotic therapy regimens in the treatment of healthcare-associated meningitis (HCAM)., Materials/methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in 18 tertiary-care academic hospitals Turkey, India, Egypt and Romania. We extracted data and outcomes of all patients with post-neurosurgical meningitis cases fulfilling the study inclusion criteria and treated with empirical therapy between December 2006-September 2018., Results: Twenty patients in the cefepime + vancomycin-(CV) group, 31 patients in the ceftazidime + vancomycin-(CFV) group, and 119 patients in the meropenem + vancomycin-(MV) group met the inclusion criteria. The MV subgroup had a significantly higher mean Glasgow Coma Score, a higher rate of admission to the intensive care unit within the previous month, and a higher rate of antibiot herapy within the previous month before the meningitis episode (p < 0.05). Microbiological success on Day 3-5, end of treatment (EOT) clinical success (80% vs. 54.8%% vs 57.9%), and overall success (EOT success followed by one-month survival without relapse or reinfection 65% vs. 51.6% vs. 45.3%), EOT all cause mortality (ACM) and day 30 ACM (15% vs. 22.6% vs. 26%) did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) among the three cohorts. No regimen was effective against carbapenem-resistant bacteria, and vancomycin resulted in an EOT clinical success rate of 60.6% in the methicillin-resistant staphylococci or ampicillin-resistant enterococci subgroup (n = 34)., Conclusions: Our study showed no significant difference in terms of clinical success and mortality among the three treatment options. All regimens were ineffective against carbapenem-resistant bacteria. Vancomycin was unsuccessful in approximately 40% of cases involving methicillin-resistant staphylococci or ampicillin-resistant enterococci., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To compare COVID-19 associated mucormycosis cases (CAM) with non-COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (non-CAM) cases followed as in-patients., Study Design: Observational Study., Place and Duration of Study: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Health Sciences University (HSU), Adana, Turkey, between January 2018 and March 2022., Methodology: Patients with a diagnosis of mucormycosis (proven and probable) were dichotomised as COVID-19 associated mucormycosis and non-COVID-19 associated mucormycosis cases. Both groups were compared for underlying malignancy, chemotherapy, antifungal therapy related side effects and overall survival., Results: Of the 35 cases enrolled in the study, 17 (48.6%) had CAM and 18 (51.4%) had non-CAM. A statistically significant difference was detected between non-CAM and CAM cases in terms of haematological malignancy, receiving chemotherapy, and antifungal therapy-related side effects (p=0.019, p=0.019, and p=0.027 respectively). Steroid use was found as a risk factor for the diabetic CAM cases (p<0.0001). The difference between the CAM and non-CAM cases in terms of overall survival was not statistically significant (p=0.088)., Conclusion: Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing number of critical patients, treatment of COVID-19 should be performed cautiously in patients who have the risk of developing CAM, particularly those with diabetes and immunosuppression (haematologic malignancy, receiving steroid or chemotherapy, etc.) and these patients should be monitored closely., Key Words: Mucormycosis, COVID-19, Mucormycosis associated with COVID-19, Diabetes mellitus, Turkey.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis (CAM) is a relatively new concept in the literature that emerged during the pandemic. Bibliometric analysis is a type of analysis that uses mathematical and statistical methods to study the formal properties of knowledge areas. This study aimed to reveal the main themes, conceptual structures, and trends of bibliometric studies on mucormycosis in 2 different periods, pre-and during the pandemic., Methods: This study consisted of 2 periods: pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19. Articles were collected from the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection database. We provided AND and OR connectors for the keyword query and selected studies based on relevant keywords. Collected data were classified based on their publication date and examined using the R programming language (Version 4.0.3) package Bibliometrix and SciMAT Software., Results: A total of 1261 articles were investigated, and performance and information structure analyses were conducted. Based on Bradford's law, the Journal of Fungi was the top-ranked journal in both periods. Cureus and mycoses were placed 2nd and 3rd in the second period. India is the largest contributor. In performance analysis, conceptual structures such as Rhizopus oryzae, epidemiology, diagnosis, management, treatment, and outcomes were at the forefront of mucormycosis publications during the COVID-19 period., Conclusions: Research trends have shifted to the clinical treatment and management of COVID-19. Therefore, pathogenesis, diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment strategies for CAM should be developed in the future., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), which has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The aim of the study described here was to determine the severity of pneumonia and the clinical parameters related to a modified lung ultrasound score (mLUS) in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The study included 44 patients with proven COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of pneumonia severity: mild/moderate pneumonia (group I), severe pneumonia (group II) and critically ill patients (group III). It was determined that mLUS values in groups I-III were 6.51 ± 4.12, 23.5 ± 5.9 and 24.7 ± 3.9, respectively. mLUS values were significantly higher in group II and III patients than in group I patients. There was a positive relationship between mLUS and age and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level and a negative relationship with P a O 2 /F i O 2 (p = 0.032, β = 0.275 vs. p = 0.012, β = 0.315 vs. p = 0.001, β = -0.520, respectively). In patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, mLUS increases significantly with the severity of the disease., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest disclosure The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We aimed to investigate the relationship between premature ejaculation and the age when men had been circumcised before adulthood. A total of 2,768 sexually active male patients aged between 18 and 65 years were included in this study. A multicentre study was conducted prospectively with the participation of 20 centres. A survey consisting of 12 questions prepared by the researchers, as well as the validated Turkish versions of the five-item Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool, was administered to all participants. The study included 1,603 participants who met the inclusion criteria. There was no significant difference in the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool and self-reported ejaculation time between the participants who had been circumcised at different ages during childhood. Remembering circumcision experience with fear or anxiety did not increase the risk of sexual dysfunction compared to the participants who described their experience with happiness or with no particular emotion. There was no significant difference in Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool scores or the self-reported ejaculation time of the participants circumcised at different ages. The age of childhood circumcision, having a fearful or anxious circumcision experience, does not affect the risk of premature ejaculation in adult life., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Aims of the Study: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of testosterone deficiency on cognitive functions in metastatic prostate cancer patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)., Methods: In this multicentric prospective study, 65 metastatic prostate cancer patients were evaluated. Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the California Verbal Learning Test Second Edition, the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised, and the Trail Making Test. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory. Cognitive functions and depressive symptoms were recorded before the androgen deprivation therapy and at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups., Results: At the basal cognitive assessment, the mean Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the California Verbal Learning Test Second Edition, the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised scores were 25.84 ± 17.54, 32.68 ± 10.60, and 17.63 ± 11.23, respectively, and the mean time for the Trail Making Test was 221.56 ± 92.44 seconds, and were similar at the 3-month, and 6-month controls (P > .05). The mean pretreatment, third and sixth month testosterone levels were 381.40 ± 157.53 ng/dL, 21.61 ± 9.09 ng/dL and 12.25 ± 6.45 ng/dL (P < .05), and the total PSA levels were 46.46 ± 37.83 ng/mL, 1.41 ± 3.31 ng/mL and 0.08 ± 0.14 ng/mL (P < .05), respectively., Conclusion: The ADT in patients with metastatic prostate cancer does not affect patients' cognitive functions and depressive symptoms. However, further prospective randomised studies with higher cohorts and longer follow-up periods are needed., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused unprecedented restrictions in outpatient services and surgical practices in urology as in other medical branches as well as in all areas of life., Aim: To investigate whether there have been variations in the presentations of male patients with sexual and reproductive health problems to the outpatient urology clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand the underlying factors for these variations, if any., Methods: Male patients aged ≥18 years who presented to the outpatient urology clinics in 12 centers across Turkey from February 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those who presented to the outpatient clinic from February 1, 2020 to March 11, 2020 comprised the "pre-COVID-19 pandemic period" group, whereas those who presented to the outpatient clinic from March 12, 2020 to June 1, 2020 comprised the "COVID-19 pandemic period" group and compared with each other., Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome of this study was the number and diagnose of patients presented to urology outpatient clinics., Results: Andrological problems were detected in 721 of 4,955 male patients included in the study. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, there was a significant increase in andrological diagnosis in these patients compared with the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period (n = 293 [17%] vs n = 428 [13.2%], P  < .001, respectively). Similarly, there was a statistically significant increase in the number of patients diagnosed with male reproductive or sexual health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic period (n = 107 [6.2%] vs n = 149 [4.6%], P  = .016 and n = 186 [10.8%] vs n = 279 [8.6%], P  = .013, respectively). The number of patients diagnosed with erectile dysfunction during the pandemic was also significantly higher than the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period (n = 150 [8.7%] vs n = 214 [6.6%], P  = .008)., Conclusion: Presentations to the outpatient urology clinics owing to andrological problems markedly increased during the pandemic period. Although these problems are of multifactorial origin, psychogenic factors are also considered to significantly trigger these problems. MB Duran, O Yildirim, Y Kizilkan, et al. Variations in the Number of Patients Presenting With Andrological Problems During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic and the Possible Reasons for These Variations: A Multicenter Study. Sex Med 2020;XX:XXX-XXX., (© 2020 The Authors.)

Background: There is no study evaluating the Tpeak-Tend (Tpe) interval, Tpe/QT ratio, and Tpe/QTc ratio to assess cardiac arrhythmias in patients with COVID-19., Objective: We aimed to examine whether there is a change in QT, QTc, Tpe interval, Tpe/QT ratio, and Tpe/QTc ratio in patients with COVID-19., Methods: The study included 90 patients with COVID-19 infection and 30 age-and-sex-matched healthy controls. QT, QTc, Tpe interval, Tpe/QT ratio, and Tpe/QTc ratio were measured. The participants included in the study were divided into the following 4 groups: healthy controls (group I), patients with COVID-19 without pneumonia (group II), patients with COVID-19 and mild pneumonia (group III), and patients with COVID-19 and severe pneumonia (group IV). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05., Results: It was found that baseline heart rate, presence of hypertension and diabetes, white blood cell count, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, potassium, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, NT-proBNP, high sensitive C reactive protein, D-dimer, hs-cTnI, Tpe, Tpe/QT, and Tpe/QTc increased from group I to group IV, and they were significantly higher in all patients in group IV (p < 0.05). Systolic-diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, and calcium levels were found to be lowest in group IV and significantly lower than in other groups (< 0.05). QT and QTc intervals were similar between groups. It was determined that increased heart rate, calcium, D-dimer, NT-proBNP and hs-CRP levels were significantly related to Tpe, Tpe/QT, and Tpe/QTc., Conclusions: In patients with COVID-19 and severe pneumonia, Tpe, Tpe/QT ratio, and Tpe/QTc ratio, which are among ventricular repolarization parameters, were found to be increased, without prolonged QT and QTc intervals. In this study, we cannot definitively conclude that the ECG changes observed are directly related to COVID-19 infection or inflammation, but rather associated with severe COVID-19 scenarios, which might involve other causes of inflammation and comorbidities. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 115(5):907-913).

The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of the parameters that might have an effect on the success of microscopic testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in infertile patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Between 2003 and 2014, 860 patients with NOA were retrospectively analysed. The effect of age, infertility duration, history of varicocelectomy, herniorrhaphy or orchiopexy, presence of solitary testis, tobacco use, previous testicular biopsy results, history of orchitis, usage of human chorionic gonadotropin in the past three months, presence of undescended or retractile testis, presence of varicocele, testicular volume, levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, and testosterone, presence of Klinefelter syndrome and micro-deletion of Y chromosome on sperm retrieval rates were evaluated. In 45.8% (n = 394) of the patients who underwent micro-TESE, spermatozoon was adequately obtained. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that previous successful testicular biopsy (OR = 15.346; GA = 5.45-43.16; p < .001) and higher testicular volumes significantly increase sperm retrieval rate in micro-TESE. The testicular volume cut-off as 11 ml was found to be the most significant factor. Although currently testicular biopsy result is not being used as a diagnostic method, it is significantly associated with micro-TESE result., (© 2019 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

We investigated the number and distribution of Cajal-like cells in patients with azoospermia. A total of 99 patients with non-obstructive azoospermia were divided into subgroups [19 patientsin hypospermatogenesis group (S1), 40 patients in maturation arrest group (S2), 20 patients in a Sertoli cell-only syndrome (S3), and 20 patients in a testicular atrophy and fibrosis group (S4)], and 20 patients with obstructive azoospermia group (S0). Sections stained with a c-kit antibody were studied by light microscopy to determine the number and distribution of Cajal-like cells in peritubular and perivascular areas of testis. The number of Cajal-like cells were higher in all the non-obstructive groups than in the obstructive group (S0: 2.43 cells/mm 2 , S1: 3.14 cells/mm 2 , S2: 4.00 cells/mm 2 , S3: 4.57 cells/mm 2 , S4: 3.86 cells/mm 2 ) but statistically significantly different (p<0.05) in the S2 and S3 subgroups only. Distribution of Cajal-like cells were similar in all groups. The number and distribution of Cajal-like cells in non-obstructive groups suggest that these cells may affect spermatogenesis. This cellular type can be responsible for the regulation of cellular motility or spermatogenesis. Electrophysiological and electron microscopic studies are needed to better define morphology and function of Cajal-like cells in the testis, especially totally the normal testis tissue., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Taiwan.)

Aim: To examine the variables associated with mortality in patients with Acinetobacter baumannii-related central nervous system infections treated with intrathecal colistin., Materials and Methods: This multi-centre retrospective case control study included patients from 11 centres in Turkey, as well as cases found during a literature review. Only patients with CNS infections caused by multidrug-resistant or extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii treated with intrathecal colistin were included in this study. The variables associated with mortality were determined by dividing the patients into groups who died or survived during hospitalisation, and who died or survived from Acinetobacter meningitis., Results: Among the 77 cases enrolled in the study, 35 were found through a literature review and 42 were cases from our centres. Forty-four cases (57.1%) were male and the median age was 48 years (range: 20-78 years). Thirty-seven patients (48%) died during hospitalisation. The variables associated with increased all-cause mortality during hospitalisation included old age (odds ratio, 1.035; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.004-1.067; p=0.026) and failure to provide cerebrospinal fluid sterilisation (odds ratio, 0.264; 95% confidence interval, 0.097-0.724; p=0.01). There is a trend (P=0.062) towards higher mortality with using of meropenem during meningitis treatment. Fifteen cases (19%) died from meningitis. There were no significant predictors of meningitis-related mortality., Conclusions: The mortality rate for central nervous system infections caused by multidrug-resistant or extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is high. Old age and failure to provide CSF sterilisation are associated with increased mortality during hospitalisation., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Mucormycosis is a rare but invasive fungal disease with high mortality. The present study aimed to retrospectively investigate the demographic characteristics, as well as the clinical, radiological and laboratory features and the results of treatment, in the patients followed in our hospital because of mucormycosis. The present study retrospectively evaluated 28 cases, which were followed in our hospital because of mucormycosis between January 2002 and July 2013. The clinical form was rhinocerebral in 27 cases (rhinoorbital in 12, nasal in 8 and rhinoorbitocerebral in 7) and disseminated in one case. With regard to predisposing factors, diabetes mellitus (n = 20), haematological malignancy (n = 6) and chronic renal insufficiency (n = 5) were the leading concomitant diseases. Seventeen (61%) of 28 cases showed atypical clinical picture. With regard to the therapeutic outcomes; it was found that 14 (50%) cases died and six cases recovered with sequel. Today, when particularly the prevalence of immunosuppressive diseases and conditions are gradually increasing, the incidence of mucormycosis is also increased. Considering that the majority of our cases had atypical clinical involvement and complications, being familiar with the characteristics of this disease could be life-saving together with early diagnosis and treatment., (© 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)