Introduction: Trace elements are primary components of biological structures; however, they can be toxic when their concentrations are higher than those needed for biological functions. Materials and Methods: In the present study serum levels of trace elements were measured in 30 patients (mean age was 26.9±11.2 years) newly diagnosed with germ cell testicular cancer and 32 healthy volunteers (mean age: 27.4±10.8) by using furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Serum samples were stored at-20°C until assays. Results: In patients with germ cell testicular cancer, the diagnosis was seminoma in 15, mix germ cell tumor in 7, embryonal carcinoma in 4, yolk sac tumor in 2 and teratoma in 2 patients. There was stage I testicular tumor in 19 patients (63.3%) while stage II in 6 patients (20.0%), stage IIIA in 4 patients (13.3%) and stage IIIC in one patient (3.4%). It was found that serum Co, Cu, Mg and Pb levels were increased (p<0.05), whereas Fe, Mn, and Zn levels were decreased in patients with testicular cancer (p<0.05). Conclusions: These alterations may be important in the pathogenesis of testicular cancers; however, further prospective studies are needed to identify the relationship between testicular cancer and trace elements.

PurposeWe aimed to determine the differences of the urodynamic findings of mix urinary incontinence (MUI), urge urinary incontinence (UUI), and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and to evaluate the urodynamic findings in different groups by using bladder sensitivity index (BSI).Materials and MethodsThe data of 99 patients who underwent urodynamic testing related to the suspicion of SUI, UUI or MUI were analysed. This analysis included a retrospective evaluation of patients’ cards, voiding diaries, and urodynamic reports. At filling cystometry, the parameters of first sensation of bladder filling (FSBF), first desire to void (FDV), strong desire to void (SDV), and bladder capacity (Vmax), which were related to the bladder sensation, were determined. Subsequently, uroflowmetric findings were recorded during bladder emptying. BSI was defined as the ratio of Vmax/FDV. These results were statistically compared among the goups.ResultsThe sample included 35(35.5%) MUI, 33(33.3%) UUI and 31 (31.1%) SUI. The mean ages were similar in all groups (P = 0.868). The mean FSBF, FDV, SDV and Vmax values were significantly different among groups (p = 0.004, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 respectively). Nevertheless, there was no statistically significant difference among the mean daily voiding accounts (P = 0.005). Although the mean maximum flow rate (Qmax) values were similar (P = 0.428), the mean maximum detrusor pressure (Pdetmax) values were significantly different (P = 0.021). The mean BSI values showed no significant differences (P = 0.097).ConclusionsIt was concluded that while the use of urodynamic testing could contribute to the management of urinary incontinence, the indexes including BSI requere more detailed and comprehensive studies.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between adenosine deaminase and various cancers has been investigated in several studies. However, serum adenosine deaminase activity and carbonic anhydrase and catalase activities in patients with bladder cancer have not previously been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to measure serum adenosine deaminase, carbonic anhydrase and catalase activities in patients with bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients with bladder cancer and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum adenosine deaminase, carbonic anhydrase and catalase activities were measured spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: Serum adenosine deaminase, carbonic anhydrase and catalase activities were significantly higher in patients with bladder cancer than controls (all significant, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These markers might be a potentially important finding as an additional diagnostic biochemical tool for bladder cancer.