To evaluate the role of estrogen treatment on the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric or colonic injury, rats were given 17beta estradiol benzoate (0.001, 0.1, and 10 mg/kg) or vehicle for 7 days (following the induction of ulcer) or 4 days (following the induction of colitis) until they were decapitated. Food intake and fecal output were decreased by estradiol treatment but gastric emptying rate was not changed. Estradiol (10 mg/kg) reduced gastric ulcer index and colonic damage score compared to vehicle-treated groups. SEM and light microscopy demonstrated a significant reduction in the severity of ulcers and colitis by estradiol treatment. Gastric microscopic score was not changed by estradiol treatment, whereas in the colonic tissue score was significantly reduced. Elevated gastric MPO levels were reduced in gastric but not in colonic tissues as compared with corresponding vehicle groups. In conclusion, exogenous estradiol treatment at pharmacological doses improves the healing of both gastric and colonic injury induced by acetic acid in rats.

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Objective: To investigate the role of ultrasound guidance in intrauterine insemination (IUI). Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. The data was collected from the records of 197 couples with unexplained infertility who underwent IUI with a total of 267 IUI cycles in the in vitro fertilization center of our hospital between January 2009 and December 2010. Results: Of the 267 IUI cycles, 145 were carried out as US-guided, while 122 cycles IUI were performed with a blind procedure. In the US-guided IUI and blinded IUI groups, the pregnancy rates were 23.4 and 13.9%, respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p = 0.049), thereby indicating that US guidance improves pregnancy rates. In the US-guided IUI group, 9.7% of the cases were difficult, while in the blinded IUI group, 26.2% were difficult and the difference between the groups was also statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: US guidance in IUI improves pregnancy rates and reduces the frequency of difficult IUI.

It is claimed that around 100 million men worldwide have undergone vasectomy for birth control. Vasectomy is an operation to prevent the transfer of sperm by preventing the luminal continuity of the vas deferens. Degenerative changes after vasectomy usually start with loss of spermatogenic cells in the germinal epithelium, while Sertoli cells are affected later. There is no change in Leydig cells. Zinc, which is found at high rates in the male reproductive system, is an element in the structure of many enzymes necessary for cell membrane integrity, growth and sexual maturity. In this study, bilateral vasectomy was performed on 18 young adult male rats and control operation was performed on 18 rats. Afterwards, 6 animals from each group were sacrificed after 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 12 months. Germinal epithelium, tubule structure, basement membrane, interstitium and collagen fiber changes were examined at microscope and transmission electron microscope level. On the other hand, zinc content in testicular tissue was measured by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Six weeks after vasectomy, localized losses in the germinal epithelium and disorganization of spermatogenic cells were observed. In addition to the loss of spermatogenic cells at the 12th week, separations, thickening and an increase in the collagen fiber in the peritubular area were observed in the interstitium and perinuclear area. Tissue zinc content was also found to be the lowest in the 12 months group. In conclusion, our study showed that the degenerative changes in the rat testis that increased with time after vasectomy were parallel to the decrease in tissue zinc content.