Altun, Abdulsemet; Bozkurt, Aliseydi; Erdogan, Abdullah; Mertoğlu, Cuma; Hirik, Erkan; Keskin, Ercüment; Turan, Abdullah

Objective: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) are common surgical methods in the treatment of kidney stones. Possible effects on kidneys are an important factor in determining the surgical procedure and the surgical method. In our study, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and myo-inositol oxygenase (MIOX) were used to compare acute kidney injury in patients that underwent PNL and RIRS. Material and Method: Eighty patients aged 20–75, who underwent PNL or RIRS in our urology clinic between November 2018 and February 2020 were included in the study. In this prospective study, the demographic characteristics, stone size, operation time, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin and biochemistry values of the patients were recorded. About 5 cc blood samples taken from the patients before the operation and at the fourth hour after the operation were centrifuged and kept at −80°C, and the KIM-1 and MIOX levels were measured in the biochemistry department. Results: There was no difference between the groups in terms of demographic data; however, the operation time and length of hospital stay were significantly longer in the PNL group. The mean increase in MIOX was 10.583 ± 9.73 and 7.501 ± 16.46 ng/ml in the PNL and RIRS groups, respectively. Although there was a statistically significant increase in both groups, this increase was greater in the PNL group. A significant increase was observed only in the PNL group in the postoperative period (p = 0.003). Discussion and Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that the PNL procedure causes more damage to the kidneys than RIRS.

Yaris, Mehmet; Akdogan, Nebil; Öztürk, Murat; Bozkurt, Aliseydi; Karabakan, Mehmet

Background: Studies demonstrate that getting antioxidants in the course of treatment has a positive impact beneficial effect on fertility, especially on the quality of sperm. Because of that reason antioxidants are recommended as a potentially influential treatment for infertility in men. However, it is argued that this treatment is not based on sufficient evidence and has no effect on the rate of healthy pregnancy. Objective: In this study, two different antioxidant combinations with different doses and contents were evaluated in terms of their effect on sperm parameters. Materials/methods: A total of 122 patients diagnosed with idiopathic infertility were enrolled in our multicenter study. The patients were divided into two different groups: The first group used a combination 2 x 1 sachet form (l-carnitine 1 g, acetyl-l-carnitine 0.5 g, fructose 1 g, citric acid 0.50 mg, selenium 50 mu g, coenzyme Q10 20 mg, vitamin C 90 mg, zinc 10 mg, folic acid 200 mu g, and vitamin B12 1.5 mu g) and the second group used a combination tablets form 2 x 1 (l-carnitine 500 mg, selenium 50 mu g, coenzyme Q10 20 mg, vitamin C 60 mg, zinc 15 mg, folic acid 400 mu g, vitamin E, and ginseng 15 mu g) for 6 months. The total semen volume, the total sperm number, sperm concentration, sperm motility, and lastly morphological findings of the patients were compared at the end of 6 months. Results: The mean age of the patients participating in the study was 30.8 +/- 6.05 years. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of baseline sperm count. There was a significant difference between the baseline and sixth-month values of the patients using both combinations. However, no significant statistical difference was found between the groups according to the sixth-month data. The combinations of both antioxidants had a positive effect on sperm parameters, and the use of different doses and contents had a similar effect. Conclusion: Both antioxidants respectively had a positive effect on sperm parameters and also the use of different doses and contents had a similar effect.

Yilmazel, Fatih Kursat; Karabulut, Ibrahim; Yilmaz, Ali Haydar; Keskin, Ercument; Bedir, Fevzi; Özbey, Isa

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate, with this retrospective study, the patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, who were followed up in our clinic in the last decade and were reviewed in terms of the incidence of the disease, diagnostic methods and differential diagnoses, treatment modalities, fertility rates, and treatment success. Methods: After a very careful differential diagnosis, 81 patients (1.5% of infertile men presenting to the outpatient clinic) were diagnosed with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. This study only included patients diagnosed with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The treatment was undertaken in two periods depending on whether or not the patients wanted to have children at that time: testosterone replacement therapy and gonadotropin therapy. To induce spermatogenesis, the patients were treated using human chorionic gonadotropin and urinary or recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone. Results: The pregnancy rates of the spouses of the patients were as follows: spontaneous 64.6% (n = 42), intrauterine insemination 12.3% (n = 8), in vitro fertilization 15.3% (n = 10), and microscopic testicular sperm extraction + intracytoplasmic sperm injection 4.6% (n = 3). Conclusion: Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is a rare but easily diagnosable and treatable cause of male infertility. After a long period of the treatment, almost all idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism patients can be treated with gonadotropins (human chorionic gonadotropin + follicle-stimulating hormone) in order to have children. The most important issue in the treatment is the dose of the drugs used in the treatment and the duration of the treatment. The most important result is that the required gonadotropin dose varies according to each patient. Therefore, the treatment dose and duration should be increased until patients have children.

Erdogan, Abdullah; Bozkurt, Aliseydi; Altun, Abdulsemet; Turan, Abdullah

Aims: Diabetes mellitus is a progressive, chronic, systemic, metabolic disease that must be managed effectively. Its prevalence is increasing rapidly. We investigated whether urologists' awareness and recognition of glucosuria contributed to the diagnosis of diabetes and regulation of blood glucose. Methods: A total of 39,053 patients were retrospectively evaluated between January 2018 and February 2019. Of them, 16,211 had undergone urinalysis for varied reasons. Glucosuria was semi-quantitatively measured as (+), (++), (+++), and (++++). Patients were assessed in terms of whether they had been referred to endocrinology or internal medicine departments within the 15 days and the presence/absence of a previous or new diagnosis of diabetes mellitus by measuring blood glucose and HgbA1c levels. Results: Glucosuria was detected in 665 patients (4.1%), of whom 495 were included in the study. 417 (84.2%) had been previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, and 56 (11.3%) newly received a diabetes mellitus diagnosis. Blood glucose and HbA1c values were normal in 22 (4.4%) patients with glucosuria. HgbA1c value was determined as 7 or above in 381 (91.3%) of 417 cases with a previous diabetes mellitus diagnosis. Conclusion: Referring all patients detected to have glucosuria in the spot urine test at any time regardless of fasting/non-fasting to the relevant departments can contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus disease.

Erdogan, Abdullah; Keskin, Ercument; Altun, Abdulsemet

Purpose: Kidney stones are one of the most common urological problems. When deciding on the method of treatment for this common disease, the cost of the procedure should also be taken into consideration. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 55 patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy and 75 patients who underwent retrograde intrarenal surgery between January 2016 and November 2018. Until operative success was achieved, all additional surgical procedures, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy procedures, and interventional procedures required to resolve complications were recorded. Total cost was compared between the percutaneous nephrolithotomy and retrograde intrarenal surgery groups. Results: No significant difference was found between the percutaneous nephrolithotomy and retrograde intrarenal surgery groups in terms of gender, mean age, stone side, stone localization and stone surface area. The total cost of 55 patients that underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy was calculated as US$14.766 after the first operation, and the total cost of 75 patients that underwent retrograde intrarenal surgery was determined to be US$46.627. The mean cost per patient was calculated US$320 +/- US$186 for percutaneous nephrolithotomy and US$749 +/- US$242 for retrograde intrarenal surgery (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a lower-cost and successful method in the surgical treatment of 1-3 cm stones, but the serious complications involved in this operation should be kept in mind.

Karabulut, Ibrahim; Koc, Erdem; Yilmaz, Ali Haydar; Ahiskali, Elif Oral; Keskin, Ercument; Adanur, Senol; Resorlu, Berkan

OBJECTIVE:: In this study, we aimed to compare cases of retrograde intrarenal surgery performed under spinal or general anesthesia through investigating relevant parameters for the first time in the literature. MATERIAL AND METHOD:: In total, 86 patients with diagnosis of kidney stone who were treated by retrograde intrarenal surgery were included in this randomized controlled prospective study. In total, 43 of these operations were performed under spinal anesthesia (group I) and 43 were performed under general anesthesia (group II). The groups were compared in terms of demographic features, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, duration of operation, complication rates, postoperative visual analogue scale, postoperative hospitalization period, stone-free rates, and cost value ratios. RESULTS:: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic findings, preoperative stone loads, postoperative stone-free rates, complication rates and postoperative hospitalization periods (p > 0.05). Postoperative visual analogue scale scores and cost value ratios were found statistically significantly lower in the spinal anesthesia group (group I) when compared with the general anesthesia group (group II; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION:: Performing retrograde intrarenal surgery in the presence of spinal anesthesia is equally effective with general anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia also appears to be a more advantageous method due to statistically significantly lower mean postoperative pain scores and treatment cost value ratios.

Keskin, Ercüment; Karabakan, Mehmet; Bozkurt, Aliseydi; Hirik, Erkan; Karabulut, İbrahim; Gunay, Murat; Çakan, Murat

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have shown that atherosclerosis is associated with erectile dysfunction and the serum bilirubin level. In this study, the serum total bilirubin levels of patients with erectile dysfunction were measured to investigate the relationship between the levels of erectile dysfunction and total bilirubin. METHODS: A total of 94 patients with erectile dysfunction were divided into three groups; severe erectile dysfunction (33 patients), moderate erectile dysfunction (31 patients), and mild erectile dysfunction (30 patients). In addition, a control group was formed with 31 healthy men. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 Questionnaire was used to measure the quality of erection in all the groups. The body mass index was calculated for all the participants. The serum glucose, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, triglyceride, total bilirubin, and total testosterone levels were also determined. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of the mean age, hypertension, smoking status, alcohol use, cardiovascular diseases, hepatobiliary disease, diabetes mellitus, and levels of total testosterone, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and triglyceride. However, high-density lipoprotein, body mass index, and total bilirubin were significantly lower compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The serum total bilirubin level was found to be 0.41 ± 0.21 ng/dL in the severe erectile dysfunction, 0.43 ± 0.19 ng/dL in the moderate erectile dysfunction, and 0.48 ± 0.11 ng/dL in the mild erectile dysfunction groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Considering the significant differences between the erectile dysfunction and control groups in terms of serum total bilirubin levels, a low level of bilirubin may have a role in the etiology of erectile dysfunction.