Although the pathological mechanism underlying kidney damage is not completely understood, it has been reported that reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed during ureteral obstruction may play an important role in this process. Carvedilol has been used in a limited number of studies examining oxidative injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of carvedilol on serum and tissue oxidative stress parameters in the partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (PUUO)-induced rat model. To our knowledge, the protective effects of carvedilol in the PUUO-induced rat model have not been reported. Twenty-six male Wistar albino rats, age 5.5 to 6 months and weighing 250 to 300 g, were used in this study. The rats were randomly divided into three groups. In Group 1 (n = 9), the control group, a sham operation was performed. In Group 2 (n = 8), the PUUO group, the left ureter was embedded into the psoas muscle to create PUUO and maintained for 7 days. In Group 3 (n = 9), carvedilol was orally administered to the rats (2 mg/kg). After the establishment of PUUO, carvedilol was given for the following 7 days. After partial unilateral ureteral obstruction, a nephrectomy was performed to determine the blood and tissue levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC), and nitric oxide (NO). The median SOD, MDA, PC, and NO levels in the tissues were 0.006 U/mg protein, 5.11 nmol/g protein, 4.31 nmol/mg protein, and 0.337 μmol/g protein in the control group, respectively. There was a significant increase in tissue SOD (p = 0.014), MDA (p = 0.002), and NO (p = 0.004) levels in Group 2. However, a statistically significant difference was not observed in PC (p = 0.847) enzymatic activity in Group 2. When compared with Group 2, carvedilol treatment caused a reduction in NO (p = 0.003), and PC (p = 0.001) activities in Group 3. The serum SOD (p = 0.004), MDA (p = 0.043), PC (p = 0.043), and NO (p = 0.001) levels were significantly different in Group 3 compared with Group 2. Administration of carvedilol also reduced the detrimental histopathologic effects caused by PUUO. According to histopathological examination of the renal tissues, the inflammation rates were 22.2%, 87.5% and 33.3% in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p < 0.05). The results of the present study show that partial unilateral ureteral obstruction caused oxidative stress in the serum and kidney tissues of rats, and treatment with carvedilol reduced the harmful effects of ureteral obstruction.

This experimental study was designed to produce ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat corpus cavernosum by inducing 1 h of priapism and investigating the effects of melatonin on the levels of oxidative injury parameters. Twenty-one adult male rats were randomly divided into three groups as follows; sham operated, control group (Group C): only penectomy was performed and blood (3 ml) drawn from vena cava inferior (VCI), ischemia and reperfusion group (Group I/R); priapism (1 h) + ½ h reperfusion + penectomy + blood from VCI, melatonin treatment group (Group I/R + M); priapism (1 h) + melatonin (½ h before reperfusion, 50 mg/kg, ip) + ½ h reperfusion + penectomy + blood from VCI. Priapism was induced with a vacuum erection device (cut tip of 2-cc syringe) and a rubber band was placed at the base of the erect penis. In two groups, excluding Group C, penectomies were performed after 1 h of ischemic priapism and ½ h reperfusion for biochemical analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) in the tissues. In all groups, about 3 ml blood was drawn from VCI to study the same parameters in systemic circulation. The results were compared statistically using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). As a result, in biochemical examination of penile tissues, there were significant increase in SOD, CAT activities and MDA levels in I/R group in comparison with group C (P < 0.05). With melatonin treatment, these levels were decreased closer to control levels (P < 0.05). The changes in PC levels were insignificant in penile tissues of all groups (P > 0.05). Analysis of serum in all rats revealed that the activity of SOD and the levels of MDA, NO and PC were increased in I/R group when compared with control group but with multiple comparisons only the increases in SOD activity and NO level were significant (P < 0.05). Decrease in the activity of SOD and the levels of NO and PC were significant after melatonin administration in serum of all groups (P < 0.05). The results of this study showed that experimentally induced priapism caused oxidative injury in cavernosal tissues of rats, and treatment with melatonin alleviated these effects. From the result of this experimental study, it can be extrapolated that melatonin may be used as an antioxidant agent in the treatment of ischemic priapism in the future urology practice.

OBJECTIVE:In recent studies, vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and early infancy has been reported to predispose children to many chronic diseases, except those of the skeletal system. The aim of this study was to investigate whether craniotabes in otherwise healthy newborns is physiological, its relationship to vitamin D deficiency and whether or not it requires treatment.METHODS:A total of 150 healthy newborns with a weight of over 2000 g were included. Newborns were divided into two groups during postnatal discharge (1-3.’s day): those with and without craniotabes. The 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D levels of the newborns’ mothers were measured, and all infants were re-evaluated for craniotabes, as well as tested to determine levels of serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25(OH) vitamin D, urine calcium and creatinine.RESULTS:Craniotabes was present in 45 (30%) of newborns enrolled in the study. Craniotabes of the newborns born during the winter months was significantly higher. PTH level was significantly higher in 1-month-old newborns with craniotabes than those without craniotabes. No relationship was observed between diet and craniotabes, but in exclusively breastfed infants, vitamin D level was statistically significantly lower. No statistically significant difference was found in the occurrence of craniotabes in newborns with or without vitamin D support.CONCLUSION:The relationship between newborn craniotabes and maternal vitamin D deficiency is not clear. However, the present study illustrates that maternal vitamin D deficiency is still a major problem. Therefore, measures to prevent maternal vitamin D deficiency should be strengthened.

Several studies have shown that rs9939609 and rs1421085 in fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene rs17782313 and rs12970134 in melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene influence obesity. In the present study, we aimed to determine association between rs9939609, rs1421085, rs17782313, and rs12970134 polymorphism, and their relation with body mass index (BMI), glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and lipid values in obese children. We included 100 newly diagnosed obese children and 100 healthy children. The rs1421085 (CC/CT) (p = 0.019) and rs9939609 (AA/AT) (p = 0.002) polymorphism regions were higher in the obese group. Additionally, we found that both the rs1421085 (CC/CT) and rs9939609 (AA/AT) polymorphism associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.011 and p = 0.003) and triglycerides (p = 0.01 and p = 0.004) level, respectively. Further, the rs9939609 and rs1421085 variants of FTO gene associated with HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides levels in obese children; however, updated studies with a large sample size are required to establish strong links with genetic variants and risk factors in childhood obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Rigid bronchoscopy (RB) is the traditional treatment in foreign body (FB) aspiration in childhood but is a traumatic and invasive procedure. However, flexible optic bronchoscopy (FoB) is a noninvasive and nontraumatic respiratory intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate FoB as a first-line treatment modality in pediatric cases presenting with a preliminary diagnosis of FB aspiration. METHODS: Subjects who underwent FoB under general anesthesia with the preliminary diagnosis of FB aspiration were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Two cases were inherited from pediatric surgery because they were not removed with FoB. The demographic, clinical, and radiological findings at the presentation were recorded. Results of success rate and complications were recorded. RESULTS: Among the FB aspiration cases age range of 7 months to 16 years. FoB demonstrated a FB in the airways of 31 (62.2%) subjects. The duration of the symptoms in the subjects was 9.1 ± 8.8 days. Three of the cases were taken over from pediatric surgery because they were not removed with RB. Most commonly encountered FB's were organic materials (n = 20, 64%). FoB was successful in removing the FB from the proximal and also distal airways in 93% of the subjects. No significant complications and side effects were observed except post-FoB cough. CONCLUSION: This result has shown that FoB for the treatment of FB aspiration is successful in removing FB aspiration from both the proximal and distal airway that the RB cannot remove. Furthermore, FoB did not have any significant airway complication. FoB may be used as the first-line treatment modality for FB aspiration instead of RB in childhood the fact that noninvasive and nontraumatic respiratory intervention.