Prolidase is a cytosolic exopeptidase that cleaves iminodipeptides with carboxy-terminal proline or hydroxyproline and plays a major role in collagen turnover. Collagen is the essential content in atherosclerotic plaque, playing a key role in the stability/ instability and progression of endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED). Consequently, in this study we sought to determine serum prolidase activity and markers of oxidative stress, such as lipid hydroperoxide and total free sulfhydryl, in vasculogenic ED. We evaluated 92 patients with vasculogenic ED and 50 control subjects by clinical and laboratory investigations. We measured serum prolidase activity and serum total free sulfhydryl levels spectrophotometrically. Serum lipid hydroperoxide levels were determined with ferrous ion oxidationxylenol orange method. We assessed the association of serum prolidase activity with the presence and severity of vasculogenic ED and clinical characteristics, as well as laboratory parameters. We also assessed the association of serum prolidase activity with the variables according to the vascular status of patients with vasculogenic ED. The comparison included 92 vasculogenic ED patients grouped into 3 categories according to the vascular status of patients with ED-arterial insufficiency (n 5 26), veno-occlusive dysfunction (n 5 37), and mixed-type impotence (n 5 29)-and 50 controls. Receiver-operator characteristics (ROCs) were analyzed to find a cutoff value with the best sensitivity and lowest falsepositive rate. Serum prolidase activity (53.5 6 5.5 U/L vs 45.7 6 4.9 U/L, respectively; P , .001) and serum lipid hydroperoxide levels were significantly increased in patients with vasculogenic ED compared with controls, whereas serum total free sulfhydryl levels were significantly decreased in patients with vasculogenic ED compared with controls (P , .001). The lowest and highest mean serum prolidase activities were detected in control participants and in patients with arterial insufficiency, respectively (analysis of variance P , .001). The overall findings of this study support the predictive accuracy of the serum prolidase activity in our cohort, with a statistically significant ROC value of 0.78. Findings of this study have shown that serum prolidase activity is significantly associated with the presence and severity of vasculogenic ED, and elevated serum prolidase activity might be an independent predictor of ED.

OBJECTIVES:To investigate the acute effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor on erectile dysfunction by evaluating serum oxidative status and prolidase activity.METHODS:Serum samples of 36 patients with erectile dysfunction and 30 control cases were analyzed for total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, and prolidase activity, before and after the administration of tadalafil citrate.RESULTS:Before and after tadalafil citrate administration, serum total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, and prolidase were 1.1±0.0 vs. 1.6±0.0 µmol H2O2 Eq/L, 10.3±1.1 vs. 6.9±1.2 µmol H2O2 Eq/L, and 236.4±19.5 vs. 228.2±19.2 U/L, respectively (p<0.0001 for all).CONCLUSIONS:Evaluation of serum oxidative status and prolidase activity confirmed the beneficial acute effects of PDE5 inhibitor in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Sexual functionality significantly contributes to health-related quality of life and can decrease with obesity. In this study, we aimed to prospectively evaluate the changes that occur in the erection function, sexual function and testosterone level of male patients scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery, as well as the changes in the sexual function of their partner. A total of 40 patients and their partners were included. International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire and the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) were filled before and 6 months after surgery by the male patients. The ASEX form was also completed by the partners before and 6 months after the procedure. The height and weight measurements and testosterone values were measured before and after surgery. A statistically significant difference was found between the preoperative and post-operative IIEF-5 scores of the patients (p = 0.000 < 0.01). There was also a statistically significant difference between the patients and their partners' preoperative and post-operative ASEX scores. We can conclude that the partners of men with preoperative erection complaints also experience sexual dysfunction, and with the post-operative decrease in or disappearance of erection complaints, the sexual function of both male patients and their partners improves.

Despite of the documented strong inverse relationships between Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and male/female fertility, and also between IR and female infertility via ovarian functions as in polycystic ovary syndrome, to our knowledge, there is no report about any influence of IR on male fertility. DM and metabolic syndrome (MetS) have negative influence on fertility. Thus, IR may be accused of causing detrimental effect on male infertility due to hyperinsulinemic state and being one of the components for MetS. Interestingly, due to our preliminary results, we do not found any inverse correlation between IR and male reproductive functions.

PurposeThe aim of this study, to investigate whether there is any association between enuresis in childhood and nocturnal polyuria syndrome (NPS) in adult life.MethodsThe study consisted of thirty five patients with nocturnal polyuria, and thirty five healthy people without nocturnal polyuria in adult life, were asked to assess their enuresis in childhood.ResultsThere was a history of enuresis in childhood in 18 (51.42%) of 35 of men with nocturnal polyuria and in 4 (11.42%) of 35 without nocturnal polyuria. Enuresis in childhood was significantly more common in men with nocturnal polyuria than without nocturnal polyuria. The difference was significant (P<0.0001). The prevalence of enuresis in the nocturnal polyuria (51.42%) was more than two-fold higher than reported prevalence in general populations.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that the history of enuresis in childhood seems to increase the risk of having NPS in adult life. This relationship should be taken into account in the evaluation of men with complaints from NPS in adult life and the possible common pathophysiology should be considered in the treatment planning.