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Although infection remains the most common cause of FUO, with the highest percentage for tuberculosis, non-infectious etiologies seem to have increased when compared with previous studies.

Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity is associated with an increase in lipid peroxidation and oxygen free radicals in rat kidneys. In this study, the effects of desferrioxamine were compared to vitamin C and E on cisplatin-induced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in rat kidneys. Rats were divided into five groups, with 15 Wistar rats in each group. In the control group, rats received 1 mL/100 g isotonic saline solution intraperitoneally (i.p.). In Group II, 10 mg/kg cisplatin i.p. was injected to rats. Thirty minutes before the same dosage of cisplatin administration, 100 mg/kg i.p. vitamin C or E was given to rats in groups III and IV, respectively. Rats in Group V received 250 mg/kg desferrioxamine i.p., before the same dose of cisplatin administration. All rats were killed by cervical dislocation after 72 hours. The kidneys were immediately removed and washed in cold saline. Spectrophotometric method was used for all analyses. While catalase, glutathione reductase (GR), and super oxide dismutase (SOD) levels were found to be significantly decreased (P B < 0.001), malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (P < 0.001) levels were significantly increased in the cisplatin group when compared to the controls. MDA levels were decreased by desferrioxamine (P < 0.005) as well as vitamin C and E (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). These three compounds induced a significant increase in SOD levels (P B < 0.05), but only in the vitamin C group, were SOD levels not significantly different than the levels of the controls (P > 0.05). In the desferrioxamine (P < 0.05), vitamin C and E groups (P < 0.001 for both), the cisplatin elevated H2O2 levels were decreased. None of these drugs had any effect on GR and catalase levels (P > 0.05). Desferrioxamine is useful to prevent cisplatin-induced lipid peroxidation, however, vitamin C and E are more effective on antioxidant enzymes than desferrioxamine.

Hypocholesterolemia is seen in solid tumors and some hematological malignancies. We assessed cholesterol levels and the relationship between these levels and types and stages of multiple myeloma (MM) in the patients with MM. One-hundred two patients (60 male and 42 female) of mean age 59 +/- 11 years with MM were enrolled to this study. While 71.6% of the patients were Ig G type, 80.4% of the patients were at stage III. In the control group, there were 71 healthy persons (42 male and 29 female) of mean age 58 +/- 8 years. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the patients with MM were significantly lower than the controls (p < 0.001). There was no difference for the levels of very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride between the two groups (p > 0.05). Lipid parameters were not different between Ig types (p > 0.05). The levels of TC and LDL-C in the patients with stage I were higher than those of stages II and III (p < 0.001 and p < 0.005, respectively). The levels of TC and LDL-C in the controls were not higher than the patients with stage I (p > 0.05). HDL-C levels in the patients with stage III were lower than controls (p < 0.001). Hypocholesterolemia are seen in the patients with MM. Hypocholesterolemia may be due to increased LDL clearance and utilization of cholesterol by myeloma cells.

Brucellosis, which affects the genitourinary system in rate of 2–20%, is a multiorgan infectious disease. Twelve patients were diagnosed as having brucellar orchitis serologically, clinically and ultrasonographically. In 2 patients, Brucella melitensis was isolated in blood cultures. All the patients were working in cattle dealing. They were treated with 600 mg/day rifampicin plus 200 mg/day doxycycline for 6 weeks and followed up during 1 year. They recovered clinically within 3 weeks. Although they did not have any symptoms or findings, in 4 patients, serological titers did not return to normal after 6 weeks. In 2 of these patients, relapse was seen in the 6th and 8th months, respectively. These 2 patients recovered with 1 g/day ciprofloxacin plus 2 g/day tetracycline for 6 weeks. Relapse did not occur again. Conclusively, brucellosis must be considered as a cause of orchitis in especially endemic regions where cattle dealing is widespread. The patients must be followed for relapse during at least 1 year.

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