• ÖZ

Objective: Several studies have shown that the De Ritis (aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase) ratio is a prognostic biochemical biomarker in many cancers, including urological cancers. Biochemical recurrence is a well-known indicator of the biological aggressiveness of the tumor. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the predictability of the De Ritis ratio for biochemical recurrence in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy due to localized prostate cancer. Methods: This study included 198 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer between 2008 and 2015 in our clinic. Preoperative data of the patients included age, prostate-specific antigen level, post-biopsy Gleason score, De Ritis ratio, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and platelet count. Among the postoperative data, the Gleason score, extracapsular invasion, positive surgical margin, seminal vesicle invasion, perineural invasion, lymph node invasion, and pathological tumor stage data were evaluated retrospectively. The relationship of these parameters was examined in patients who developed biochemical recurrence during the follow-up period. Results: The mean follow-up period of the patients was 56.7 ± 23.6 months and biochemical recurrence occurred in 10.1% of all patients. In the receiver-operating characteristic analysis, the cut-off value for biochemical recurrence was 1.184, and the patients with a ratio below this value were grouped as the low De Ritis group and the patients with higher rates were grouped as the high De Ritis group. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, high De Ritis ratio, Gleason score >8 of radical prostatectomy specimen, positive surgical margin, and the presence of seminal vesicle invasion were detected as independent risk factors for biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Conclusion: De Ritis ratio is an independent risk factor for predicting biochemical recurrence in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy due to localized prostate cancer.

• ÖZ

Objective: Umbilical vein catheterization and central venous catheters are frequently used. We aimed to present our experiences in 15 of 16 patients with embolized catheters who were successfully retrieved by percutaneous intervention. Methods: During 10 years, 16 patients with embolized umbilical vein catheters, port catheters, central venous catheters, catheter fragments, and guide wires were examined. Demographic characteristics of the patients, catheter indications, embolized catheter types, localizations and lengths of a catheter, durations of flora, entry points during retrieval of embolized catheters, snare’s features used, grasping location of the embolized catheter, and additional procedures were examined retrospectively. Results: Of the 16 patients, 7 were girls; their ages were between 11 days and 39 years; 14 of the patients were children. Their weights were between 1.3 kg and 65 kg. The umbilical vein catheter in 5 patients, the port catheter in 7 patients, a double-lumen central venous catheter in 1 patient, the distal part of the fragmented sheath in 1 patient, and the guide wire in 2 patients were embolized. Conclusions: The procedures of umbilical vein catheterization, peripheral central vein catheterization, and port catheterization are safe in experienced hands. Rarely, those catheters may break and embolize. As soon as it is diagnosed, embolized catheters should be removed to prevent complications. Since the retrieval of embolized catheters by percutaneous transcatheter route is safe and successful, it should be used as the first choice.

• ÖZ

Objective: Marrubium L. genus (Lamiaceae), which has 40 taxa in the world, is represented by 25 taxa in Turkey. Marrubium rotundifolium Boiss. is an endemic species and is distributed in Aegean. This study was aimed to determine the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic effects of hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of the endemic Marrubium rotundifolium Boiss. Methods: Ultrasonic-assisted extraction was applied to aerial parts of the plant. The Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride/ potassium acetate methods determine the extract’s total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The 2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+) radical decolorinaztion assay was used to determine the extracts’ Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity. The deoxyribose assay was carried out for determining the extracts’ OH− radical scavenging activity, and 2,2-diphenyl1-picrylhydrazyl was used for radical scavenging assay. 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide method was used to determine the in vitro cytotoxicity of plant extracts on 3 cancer (Caco-2, SH-SY5Y, and PC-3) and 2 non-cancer cell lines (NIH-3T3 and HK-2). The antimicrobial activity was examined through the microdilution method. Results: Phenolic contents of 2.62 ± 0.16 gallic acid equivalents μg/mL were observed in the methanol extract, while the highest flavonoid content was determined in n-hexane extract (168.63 ± 2.76 QE μg/mL). In the OH˙−, ABTS˙+, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity studies, M. rotundifolium methanol extract showed higher IC50 values at lower doses (0.277 ± 0.024, 3.21 ± 0.081, 0.033 ± 0.001 mg/mL, respectively). Concerning the cytotoxic activity, only methanol extract showed inhibition on PC-3 cells (IC50: 0.173 ± 0.018 µg/mL). Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the extracts against Gram-positive bacteria were lower than Gram-negative bacteria and yeast strains. Conclusion: This study is the first detailed study that examines antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of endemic M. rotundifolium.

• ÖZ

Objective: Laparoscopic ovarian drilling normalizes ovulation by reducing cortical thickening, lowering androgen production, and regulating luteinizing hormone pulse frequency. On the other hand, the effect of laparoscopic ovarian drilling on the endometrium is unknown. This study was planned to investigate the changes in the functional markers of choline, creatine, lactate, and lipid metabolites of the endometrium before and after laparoscopic ovarian drilling in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods: Twenty women diagnosed with clomiphene-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome who did not ovulate successfully despite the administration of clomiphene citrate or aromatase inhibitor were included in the study. Patients were offered Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) or laparoscopic ovarian drilling options. Patients who accepted laparoscopic ovarian drilling formed the study group. Endometrial MR spectroscopy was applied to the participants in the mid-luteal phase before laparoscopic ovarian drilling. Choline, creatine, lactate, and lipid metabolites of all patients were measured and denominated parts per million. The second MR spectroscopy was performed 2 months after the first MR spectroscopy, and the changes in endometrial metabolites after laparoscopic ovarian drilling were recorded. Twenty patients who did not have clinical and laboratory findings of polycystic ovary syndrome and were matched for age and body mass index were accepted as the control group. The patients in this group were selected from fertile women with at least 2 children. MR spectroscopy was performed in the mid-luteal phase in fertile women. The obtained results were compared within and between groups and the possible effects of laparoscopic ovarian drilling on metabolite synthesis were tried to be determined. Results: During MR spectroscopy examination main endometrial metabolites choline, creatine, lactate, and lipid were detected in the polycystic ovary syndrome group. The most prominent metabolite peak before and after laparoscopic ovarian drilling was recorded as choline and creatine. There was a significant increase in choline and creatine peaks after laparoscopic ovarian drilling compared to the values before laparoscopic ovarian drilling. There was no significant increase in lactate and lipid signals before and after laparoscopic ovarian drilling. The choline and creatine metabolite levels of the women with polycystic ovary syndrome before laparoscopic ovarian drilling were significantly lower than those of the fertile women. The choline and creatine metabolite levels of the women with polycystic ovary syndrome after m laparoscopic ovarian drilling were similar to those of the fertile women. There was no significant difference between lactate and lipid signals before and after laparoscopic ovarian drilling. Conclusion: Laparoscopic ovarian drilling improves polycystic ovary syndrome-related subfertility by increasing endometrial choline and creatine metabolite levels to those of fertile women.

• ÖZ

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in newly diagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism patients and to evaluate the relationship between the presence of osteoporosis and the primary hyperparathyroidism routine laboratory parameters including N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide. Methods: This prospective study included 94 patients (mean age: 59.7 ± 11.7 years, female/male: 78/16) who have been diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism. For all patients participating in this study, laboratory tests were performed (routine tests and tests for diagnosing hyperparathyroidism), and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry inspections were also performed. The participants of the study were divided into 3 groups according to T score in dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry as normal (group I or T score >−1), patients with osteopenia (group II or T score between −1 and −2.5), and the patients with osteoporosis (group III or T score ≤ −2.5). Results: Notable level increase of blood urea nitrogen and N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide from group I to group III is seen in the results. In logistic regression analysis, it was found that levels of N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide and urine calcium independently determined the patients for osteoporosis (P < .05). According to the analysis, it was found that increasing levels of urine calcium (per 10 mg/day) and N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (per 10 pg/mL) increase the risk of osteoporosis by 8.6% and 9.1% for patients, respectively. When we took N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide and urine calcium cut-off values as 200 pg/mL and 300 mg/day, respectively, it determines patients for osteoporosis with 82.6% sensitivity and 73.2% specificity, and 73.9% sensitivity and 63.4% specificity, respectively. N-terminalpro-brain natriuretic peptide and urinary calcium levels were independently associated with T score in dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Conclusion: The primary outcome of this study is N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels are significantly increased in newly diagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism patients and are independently associated with osteoporosis presence. In addition, apart from N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide level, urine calcium level is also independently associated with osteoporosis presence, in our study.