Aim: Varicocele is abnormal dilation of testis veins without unclear pathophysiology. Morphological studies showed imbalance between vasoconstrictor and vasodilator mechanisms. We aimed to determine the relationship between varicocele and cardiovascular system disorders with electrocardiography (ECG) parameters. Methods: This is a prospective study which was conducted in a University Hospital between February and June 2018. Thirty patients (18-45 years old) with high grade varicocele from urology outpatient clinic and 32 healthy volunteers for the control group were recruited to the study. Results: P-min. value was significantly higher in control group than patients with high grade varicocele (p= 0.03). PR, QT and QTc intervals, PWD and P-max values were similar. Also, there were no significant differences in terms of the other ECG parameters between the groups. Conclusions: In this small prospective study we have found no association between high grade varicocele and potential electrocardiographic arrhythmia predictors namely OTd, QTc interval, PWD, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio. Long-term follow-up and large-scale prospective studies are needed to confirm our results.

Aim: Cholestasis leads to liver cell death, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and eventually liver failure. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for cholestatic disorders. Hepatic cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression increases in various chronic liver diseases caused either by viruses or toxins. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of UDCA and the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib on inflammation and fibrogenesis in a rat model of cholestasis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). Methods: Fifty Sprague–Dawley rats that underwent common BDL for 21 days were assigned to one of five treatment groups (sham-operation, BDL, daily UDCA treatment following BDL, daily celecoxib treatment following BDL, and daily celecoxib and UDCA combination treatment following BDL). Serum and liver samples were collected after 21 days. Fibrosis, ductular proliferation, and portal inflammation were scored in liver samples. Liver function tests were evaluated. Results: In comparison with the control group, the BDL group showed hepatic damage as evidenced by elevation in serum biochemical and histological changes such as ductular reaction, fibrosis, and inflammation. These pathophysiological changes were attenuated by chronic UDCA and selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib supplementation. Conlusion: Our findings indicate that the addition of Celecoxib to UDCA reduces liver inflammation and fibrosis and might be an effective supplemental therapy with UDCA for cholestatic diseases. The beneficial effects of chronic UDCA and Celecoxib supplementation may be associated with their potential cytoprotective, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects.

Aim: This study investigated the effect of antiepileptic drug monotherapy on cognitive functions in pediatric epilepsy patients. Methods: 98 recently diagnosed epilepsy patients aged 6-16 years were included. All patients underwent routine laboratory tests, electroencephalography, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and intelligence testing. The patients were treated with valproic acid (VA), carbamazepine (CBZ), oxcarbazepine (OXC), or levetiracetam (LEV). The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISCR) was applied three times, before, six months and 12 months after the start of antiepileptic therapy. Results: No significant difference was determined among the mean verbal, performance and total intelligence scores of patients using a single antiepileptic drug at baseline, after six or 12 months. Conclusion: We conclude that the type of antiepileptic drug using has no adverse effects on cognitive functions.

Aim: Hysterectomy is one of the most prevalent surgical intervention in gynecological field. This study concerns the requirement and necessity of an endometrial sampling to exclude an unpredictable uterine malignancy risk before hysterectomy for benign conditions. Methods: This is a retrospective and cross-sectional study involving 307 patients who had hysterectomy for benign conditions between years 2014-2018. Prior to hysterectomy, in 162 cases, an endometrial sampling was performed ahead (biopsy group) and in 145 cases, hysterectomy was performed without obtaining an endometrial sampling earlier on (control group). Pre- and postsurgical pathological evaluation reports were collected and compared between the groups. Results: Features of the patients as mean age, number of previous pregnancies, being at postmenopausal status did not vary significantly between two groups. In the biopsy group, 51.2% of the patients were in the premenopausal period, 40.7% of the patients had postmenopausal bleeding and 52.5% had abnormal uterine bleeding symptoms and these three features were significantly higher than in the control group. In the control group, one case (0.7%) had leiomyosarcoma and another case (0.7%) had endometrial adenocarcinoma. In the biopsy group, endometrial adenocarcinoma was detected in 5 patients (3.1%) as significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusion: If there are no symptoms, clinical and radiological findings suggesting an endometrial malignancy in patients who planned to undergo a hysterectomy for benign conditions, it is unnecessary to perform a routine endometrial biopsy.

Aim: We aimed to compare platelet counts (Plt), plateletcrit (PCT) and platelet distribution width (PDW) values of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients with those of healthy subjects. Methods: The records of 39 T1DM patients who were hospitalized between January 2016 and May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Control group consisted age and body mass index matched nondiabetic patients. Subjects having history of cardiovascular disease or any other systemic disease were excluded. Results: Compared to control group Plt (270±63 vs. 215±35 k/mm3), PCT (0.217±0.057 vs. 0.168±0.034 %) and PDW [17.4(16.2-20.4) vs. 17(12.5-19.4) %] were significantly higher in T1DM patients. Conclusion: Platelet indices which are common, simple and inexpensive hemogram parameters are increased T1DM patients.