Background: Under normal circumstances, there is a steady balance between the production of oxygen derived free radicals and their destruction by the cellular antioxidant system inside the human body. However, any imbalance between the levels of these oxidants and antioxidants might cause DNA damage and may lead to cancer development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of antioxidants and free radicals in blood and tissue of cancer patients and compare these levels at different TNM stages to derive the possible role of free radicals and antioxidant enzymes in the etiology of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This study includes 30 patients suffering from cancer breast and 20 patients as controls who had benign breast diseases. Circulating lipid peroxide (Malonyldialdehyde [MDA]) levels and activities of the defensive enzymes (Superoxide Dismutase [SOD] and Catalase [CAT]) were estimated in the blood and breast tissue of these patients. Results: Increased levels of free radicals and low levels of antioxidants were observed in malignant tissue. An elevated lipid peroxide concentration was found in the tissue of all the cancer breast patients as evidenced by an increase in the mean MDA level seen with increasing TNM stage of carcinoma breast. Levels of antioxidants SOD and CAT were decreased in cancer patients. Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that free radical activity is enhanced in cancer breast patients while the antioxidant defense mechanism is weakened. This activity is enhanced with the increasing severity of cancer as depicted in different TNM stages of breast cancer.

Background and Objectives:To compare laparoscopic transperitoneal versus retroperitoneoscopic pyeloplasty for primary ureteropelvic junction obstruction in a prospective randomized manner and assess overall results with long-term follow-up.Methods:In this prospective study, from 2008 to 2012, 112 cases of primary ureteropelvic junction obstruction were randomized in a 1:1 ratio into 2 groups. Group I included patients who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty, and group II consisted of patients who underwent retroperitoneoscopic laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Demographic and clinical characteristics and postoperative and operative data were collected and analyzed. The statistical analysis was performed with the Fisher exact test, χ2 test, and Mann-Whitney U test for independent groups, and P < .05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The total operative time and intracorporeal suturing time were significantly higher in group II than in group I (P < .001). The visual analog scale score for pain on postoperative day 1 and the requirement for tramadol were significantly higher in group I than in group II (P = .004). The hospital stay and the rate of temporary ileus were significantly greater (P < .036 and P < .02, respectively) in group I than in group II. The success rate of transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty versus retroperitoneoscopic laparoscopic pyeloplasty was 96.4% versus 96.6% with a mean follow-up period of 30.75 ± 4.85 months versus 30.99 ± 5.59 months (P < .88).Conclusion:Transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty is associated with significantly greater postoperative pain, a higher tramadol dose, a higher rate of ileus, and a longer hospital stay in comparison with retroperitoneoscopic laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Although the operative time for retroperitoneoscopic laparoscopic pyeloplasty is significantly longer, the success rate remains the same for both procedures.

Aim:To determine the prevalence of testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) in healthy Indian men employed in a hospital aged above 40 years.Materials and Methods:A general medical health check-up camp was organized for all male employees above 40 years age working in surgical departments. After clinical history and systemic inquiry, subjects were requested to fill the St. Louis University's ADAM Questionnaire based on which the total and free-serum testosterone estimation was then done.Results:One hundred fifty seven healthy volunteers enrolled for the study (mean age 53.1 years; range 40–60). The androgen decline in the aging male (ADAM) Questionnaire detected 106 men (67.5%) to be symptomatic for TDS. Serum testosterone estimation in these subjects revealed 41/106 to have low free-serum testosterone levels and 32/106 to have low total-serum testosterone. In 11 and 6 cases, respectively, the serum free- and total-testosterone levels were found to be low although the subjects were asymptomatic for TDS.Conclusions:The prevalence of symptomatic biochemical hypogonadism was 26.1%. The higher prevalence of symptoms alone of TDS was unusual. It could be because of the nature of the questionnaire. Free-serum testosterone may be a better single test to diagnose symptomatic hypogonadism than total-serum testosterone.