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The development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa) has biologically and genetically remained a mystery. A man's risk of developing PCa is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Angiogenic cytokines like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play a pivotal role in tumor angiogenesis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in angiogenesis-dependent genes affect the sensibility of cancer development and progression. Therefore, we hypothesized a potential association between DNA sequence variations in VEGF -460 gene region and sporadic PCa patients in the Turkish population. 133 sporadic PCa patients and 157 healthy controls were studied. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of the polymorphism did not yield a statistically significant difference between patients and controls (P>0.05). Furthermore, classification of patients by tumor-lymph nodes-metastasis (TNM), Gleason Scores (GS) and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels did not show significant differences among the VEGF -460 C>T genotypes (P>0.05). This is the first demonstration showing that the VEGF -460 C>T polymorphism in men is not associated with sporadic PCa in the Turkish population.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of pelvicaliceal anatomical differences on the etiology of lower caliceal stones. Materials and Methods: Records of adult patients between January 1996 and December 2005 with solitary lower caliceal stone were reviewed. After exclusion of patients with hydronephrosis, major renal anatomic anomalies, non-calcium stones, history of recurrent stone disease and previous renal surgery, 78 patients were enrolled into the study. Lower pole infundibulopelvic angle (IPA), infundibulovertebral angle (IVA), infundibular length (IL), width (IW), number of minor calices and cortical thickness of the lower pole together with other caliceal variables obtained from the whole pelvicaliceal anatomy of both stone-bearing and contralateral normal kidneys were measured from intravenous pyelogram of the patients. Total pelvicaliceal volume was also calculated by a previously described formula for both kidneys. Results: There were statistically significant difference between two kidneys in terms of IW (p < 0.001) and IL (p = 0.002) of the upper calyx, IW (p = 0.001) and IVA (p < 0.001) of the lower calyx), pelvicaliceal volume (p < 0.001), IPA of middle calyx (p = 0.006) and cortical thickness over the lower pole (p < 0.001). However there was no difference between stonebearing and contralateral normal kidneys in terms of lower pole IPA (p = 0.864) and IL (p = 0.568). Conclusion: Pelvicaliceal volume but not lower caliceal properties seem to be a risk factor for stone formation in lower calyx.

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the correlation of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and histopathology with various features of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) cases who consulted to our universitybased infertility clinic, and the probability of prompting couples about TESE success and to investigate the cost reduction chance through cost-beneficial aspects. Material and methods:One hundred and twenty-five patients were enrolled in this study. Age, unprotected intercourse period, age of puberty, and concomittant diseases were noted. Testicular volumes were measured. The correlations between genetic test results and serum levels of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), free testosterone, prolactine were investigated. Results:The incidence of NOA among infertile men was found to be 15.1%. Median age of the cases was 33.1 years. Decrease in TESE success rate was seen in the group aged >30, and those who practiced unprotected intercourse for more than 10 years. TESE success rate was 40 percent. The required negative correlation between FSH levels, and testicular volume was not observed when the patient had additional diseases and/or genitourinary surgery. FSH and LH levels were significantly different between TESE-positive and negative groups (p=0.006, and p=0.001 respectively). Success rate in bilateral TESE group was 14.2%, and 96% of TESE-negative patients had bilateral TESE. Fifteen of 118 patients had Y chromosome microdeletions. These results were similar in both TESE-positive and negative group. Conclusion:None of the parameters investigated herein predicted succesful TESE outcomes. However, in cases with increased FSH and AZFa/AZFb deletion before application of bilateral TESE, in cases of increased FSH and AZFa/AZFb deletion, detailed information should be given to these patients about low success rates and risk of disease inheritance which may reduce procedural costs. Knowing groups with poor prognosis, may help rearrangement of the appropriation of infertility in health policies.

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