Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TVP) has been introduced as an alternative to standard transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) with lesser morbidity. However, the efficacy of this new technique has not been well known. To compare the results of standard TURP and TVP, 76 patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BFH) were divided into two groups in a randomized clinical trial. Preoperative assessment included AUA Symptom score, maximum flow rates (Qmax), digital rectal examination, serum prostate specific antigen, and transrectal ultrasonography, with biopsy if the patient was randomized to vaporization. Transrectal temperature measurements and the hemoglobin concentration of the irrigation fluid were investigated in all the patients during the procedure. Although the transrectal temperature was higher in the TVP group (0.53-1.27 degrees C; mean 0.83 degrees C), no associated complication were determined. However, blood loss was significantly lesser than with TURP (340 mL v 60 mL). Two patients in the TURP group required blood transfusions, and one had sphincteric incontinence, whereas one postoperative retention, one reoperation with bladder perforation, and one sphincteric incontinence were seen in the TVP group. On the other hand, 12-month follow-up demonstrated that the uroflow rates improved in a similar manner. The Qmax increased in the TURP and TVP groups from 8.8 and 8.3 mL/sec to 19.6 and 17.2 mL/sec, respectively. The mean AUA Symptom Score decreased from 13.7 to 7.9 and 6.1 at 6 and 12 months, respectively. In the TVP group and from 14.6 to 7.3 and 7.0 at 6 and 12 months, respectively, in the TURP group. There were significant differences in the mean catheterization time (P < 0.0001) and hospital stay (P < 0.0001) in favor of TVP. Our results suggest that TVP is a safe and effective alternative treatment for symptomatic BPH.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth, preeclampsia (PE), and fetal growth restriction (FGR) in pregnant women with COVID-19 according to the gestational age. Methods: This retrospective study included 167 pregnant women who were hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19. The patients were divided into three groups according to the time of diagnosis as follows: <12 weeks of gestation (first trimester, n = 10), 12-24 weeks of gestation (n = 28), and >24 weeks of gestation (n = 129). Medical records of the patients were reviewed retrospectively and adverse pregnancy outcomes were analyzed. Results: A total of 49 (29.3%) patients had an active COVID-19 infection at the time of delivery, while 118 (70.7%) gave birth after the infection was cleared. Twenty-three patients had preterm birth and the gestational age was <34 weeks in only four of these patients. There was no significant difference in the preterm birth, PE, FGR, HELLP syndrome, and gestational diabetes mellitus among the three gestation groups (p = 0.271, 0.394, 0.403, 0.763, and 0.664, respectively). Four (2.39%) patients required intensive care unit stay. Maternal death was seen in only one (0.59%) patient. Conclusion: Our study showed no significant correlation between the gestational age at the time of COVID-19 infection and the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth, PE, FGR, and gestational diabetes mellitus. However, further studies are needed to draw a firm conclusion on this topic.

The aim of our study was to evaluate whether neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a predictor of disease progression and recurrence in patients with primary non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). This was a prospective study of 86 patients with newly diagnosed NMIBC. The patients were classified by the number of points assigned by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer risk tables. The correlation between progression score, recurrence score, age, mean platelet volume, red blood cell distribution width and NLR was assessed statistically. The same parameters were compared between the risk groups. A significant difference in NLR and age values was observed between recurrence and progression risk score groups. The relationships between NLR and recurrence and progression risk scores were no longer significant after correcting for the statistical effect of age on scores. Age was significantly different between groups after adjusting for NLR. Our study revealed that NLR and age were associated with patient age and bladder tumor progression and recurrence risk scores. After correcting for age, the significant relationship with NLR was lost, in contrast to some previous studies. We recommend that patient age should be corrected to avoid misleading results in NLR studies.

Background/aim: The HIV-infected population is aging, and the concomitant comorbidities increase the likelihood of polypharmacy. There is a scarcity of data for determining drug-related problems in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between September 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016. All patients underwent a face-to-face interview with a clinical pharmacist. The 'PCNE Classification V 7.0.' was used classify incident drug-related problems (DRPs). Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.4±13.06 years. The rate of polypharmacy was 66.1% in patients with comorbidities and 12.3% in those without comorbidities (p<0.001). DRPs were more prominent in older patients (46 vs. 37 years, p<0.001), with longer duration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) (45 vs. 27 months, p=0.014), and with lower education level (p=0.013). Receiving >3 ART drugs was associated with more DRPs in the logistic regression model (odds ratio: 8.299, 95% confidence interval: 1.924–35.803). Fifty-eight interventions were performed in 45 (24.9%) patients. Clinical pharmacist interventions were performed in 18.9% of patients without polypharmacy and in 38.9% of patients with polypharmacy (p<0.001). Conclusion: DRPs and polypharmacy are common among elderly PLWHA. More interventions are warranted to boost the quality of life in aging PLWHA. Keywords: human immunodeficiency virus, polypharmacy, drug-related problems

BackgroundWe evaluated the cholesterol lowering efficacy of low-fat spoonable yoghurt with 1.9 g/d plant stanols as esters on plasma lipid profiles of Turkish subjects with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia.MethodsUsing a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design, intervention (n = 35) and control (n = 35) groups consumed either 115 g low-fat yoghurt with 1.9 g/d plant stanols as esters or placebo yoghurt, respectively, for 4 weeks. Seventy subjects with untreated mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia (aged 23-65 years) were recruited. Changes in the lipid profile, including lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, and triglycerides, and anthropometric measurements were monitored at screening, baseline, and at the end of the second, third, and fourth weeks of intervention. The general linear model repeated measures procedure was used to test differences in the repeated continuous variables between study groups.ResultsSerum total cholesterol (4.6%), LDL cholesterol (6.3%), and non-HDL cholesterol (6.2%) concentrations were reduced significantly from baseline in the plant stanol group compared to the control group (p = 0.007, p = 0.005 and p = 0.005, respectively). A variation in the response of serum total and LDL cholesterol between the subjects in plant stanol group was obtained. No clinically significant change in anthropometrical measurements was observed during the intervention.ConclusionsThe spoonable low-fat yoghurt with 1.9 g/d plant stanols as esters lowered total, LDL, and non-HDL cholesterol levels in Turkish subjects with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia. Nevertheless variation in baseline cholesterol levels, genetic predisposition of the subjects and compliance may contribute to a large individual variability.