We concluded that nicotine has hazardous effects on bone, and vitamin E has a protective role against nicotine.

A total of 191 patients were evaluated at our department for azoospermia, and 11 were found to have azoospermia due to ejaculatory duct obstruction as proved by normal serum hormones, normal testicular biopsy, low ejaculate volume and absence of fructose in semen. Also transrectal ultrasound was performed, revealing distended seminal vesicles and dilated ejaculatory ducts. All these criteria together suggested ejaculatory duct obstruction as a cause of azoospermia. All patients underwent endoscopic management for treatment of their ejaculatory duct obstruction in the form of resection and/or incision of the ejaculatory duct ostium inside the urethra and patency was checked intraoperatively by injection of sterile methylene blue in the vas and visualizing the efflux of the blue dye endoscopically. Intraoperative patency was documented in 10 patients and postoperative patency by follow-up semen analysis in 7 patients (70% patency rate) of which 2 (20% pregnancy rate) were able to conceive within 2 years of endoscopic treatment. Postoperative complications included acute urinary retention in 1 patient, haematuria in 5 and recurrent epididymitis in 2 patients.

Introduction: Carbon tetrachloride (CCL 4) is a potent environmental hepatotoxin that was commonly used in industrial applications. The main active component in ginger is 6-gingerol which is responsible for many of its medicinal properties. Aim of the work: To assess the possible protective role of orally administered 6-gingerol on a model of hepatic injury induced by CCL 4 in adult male albino rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were used in this study and were divided into three groups. Group I: control group which was further subdivided into three subgroups, group II: received intraperitoneal injection of CCL 4 twice / week for two weeks. Group III: received oral 6-gingerol daily five days before the injection of CCL 4-as in group II-and continued till the end of experiment. After two weeks from last injection of CCL 4. All rats were sacrificed; the right lobe of the liver was taken and processed. Sections stained by H&E, Mallory`s trichrome stain and immunostaining for TNF-α and PCNA were prepared. Morphometric and statistical analysis were also performed. Results: Liver of group II showed hepatocytes with vacuolated cytoplasm and congested hepatic sinusoids. Congested portal veins and dilated bile ducts were also seen at portal tract areas. Increased collagen fibers at the portal tract areas were seen by Mallory's trichrome. Increased intensity of positive immune reaction for TNF-α and PCNA was also observed in this group. In group III the liver showed picture nearly similar to that of the control. Morphometric and statistical analysis confirmed the histological and immunohistochemical results. Conclusions: The present work concluded that 6-gingerol could provide a good protection of the liver in a model of hepatic injury induced by CCL 4 .

Corpus cavernosum electromyography (EMG) and its evolution: single potential analysis of cavernous electrical activity (SPACE) seem to be promising diagnostic methods in the evaluation of erectile dysfunction and smooth muscle integrity. Our study concentrates on the role of EMG in the evaluation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscles, using it as a noninvasive technique for demonstrating autonomic erectile dysfunction through their influence on recording SPACE and consequent proper selection of patients for different therapeutic modalities. A total of 80 male patients were examined for the feasibility of transcutaneous registration of cavernous electrical activity with a 2-channel electrophysiological unit (Evamatic 2000, Dantec) with two surface electrodes bilaterally placed on the penile shaft. Ten patients had normal erectile function, but complained of other urological symptoms. They served as the controls for normal electrical activity. Fifty patients with organic impotence of nonvascular (neurogenic) or vascular (venogenic, arteriogenic) aetiologies were subjected to EMG in both the flaccid and the erect state. On the basis of the EMG patterns the patients were divided into the following groups: 34 patients having normal tracing in both the flaccid and the erect state, and 21 patients showing abnormal patterns of waves with evidence of autonomic neurogenic dysfunction and incomplete smooth muscle relaxation. Of the latter 4 had long-standing diabetes mellitus and 4 had spinal injuries.

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