Resveratrol reduces inflammation-related Prostate Fibrosis.

Inflammation-related prostate fibrosis (PF) is strongly associated with impaired urethral function and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) severity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of RSV in patients with small prostate volume and LUTS. Sixty-four patients with PF were randomized either to RSV therapy (group A= 32 patients) or placebo (group B= 32 patients). At baseline (T0) and after 2-months (T2), patients of both groups underwent administration of NIH-Chronic Prostatic Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaires for prostatitis and LUTS, respectively, and Expressed Prostatic Secretion (EPS) assays. After two months, only, group A patients treated with RSV showed significant symptomatic improvement of all NIH-CPSI and IPSS subscale scores, as well as a better EPS assay after prostate massage, in terms of high amount of prostatic volume and reduced white blood cells counts. Our data suggested pharmacological advantage after 2-month treatment with RSV in selected patients with PF for the treatment of voiding and storage complaints.

Sperm of patients with severe asthenozoospermia show biochemical, molecular and genomic alterations.

The multifactorial pathological condition, that is, severe low sperm motility is a frequent cause of infertility. However, mechanisms underlying the development of this condition are not completely understood. Single abnormalities have been reported in sperm of patients with asthenozoospermia. In this study, we characterized, in 22 normozoospermic men and in 37 patients with asthenozoospermia, biochemical, molecular and genomic abnormalities that frequently occur in sperm of patients with asthenozoospermia. We evaluated a panel of sperm biomarkers that may affect the motility and fertilizing ability of sperm of patients with severe asthenozoospermia. Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is involved in the pathogenesis of such sperm abnormalities, we determined the association between ROS production and sperm abnormalities. High percentage of patients with severe asthenozoospermia showed increased basal and stimulated ROS production. Moreover, these patients showed increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number but decreased mtDNA integrity and they were associated with elevated ROS levels. Furthermore, mitochondrial membrane potential was also significantly decreased and again associated with high ROS production in these patients. However, the rate of nuclear DNA fragmentation was increased only in less than one-fifth of these patients. An important cohort of these patients showed multiple identical biochemical, molecular and genomic abnormalities, which are typical manifestations of oxidative stress. The most frequent association was found in patients with high ROS levels, increased mtDNA copy number and decreased integrity, and low MMP. A smaller cohort of the aforementioned patients also showed nDNA fragmentation. Therefore, patients with asthezoospermia likely present reduced fertilizing potential because of such composed abnormalities.

Symptom Severity Following Rifaximin and the Probiotic VSL#3 in Patients with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (Due to Inflammatory Prostatitis) Plus Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

This study investigated the effects of long-term treatment with rifaximin and the probiotic VSL#3 on uro-genital and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) plus diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) compared with patients with D-IBS alone. Eighty-five patients with CP/CPPS (45 with subtype IIIa and 40 with IIIb) plus D-IBS according to the Rome III criteria and an aged-matched control-group of patients with D-IBS alone (n = 75) received rifaximin and VSL#3. The primary endpoints were the response rates of IBS and CP/CPPS symptoms, assessed respectively through Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) and The National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), and performed at the start of therapy (V0) and three months after (V3). In IIIa prostatitis patients, the total NIH-CPSI scores significantly (p < 0.05) decreased from a baseline mean value of 21.2 to 14.5 at V3 , as did all subscales, and in the IIIb the total NIH-CPSI score also significantly decreased (from 17.4 to 15.1). Patients with IBS alone showed no significant differences in NIH-CPSI score. At V3, significantly greater improvement in the IBS-SSS and responder rate were found in IIIa patients. Our results were explained through a better individual response at V3 in IIIa prostatitis of urinary and gastrointestinal symptoms, while mean leukocyte counts on expressed prostate secretion (EPS) after prostate massage significantly lowered only in IIIa cases.

Obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with obesity and hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The links between obstructive sleep apnoea and hypertension are well established; obstructive sleep apnoea is reported in up to 30% of patients with hypertension, although it is frequently underdiagnosed. Physicians can assess the degree of sleepiness by administering the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, but the large number of patients with hypertension makes this strategy difficult for busy physicians to implement. Obese patients form a subgroup at higher risk for obstructive sleep apnoea, which can be targeted for screening. AIM: The study carried out a preliminary exploration of the effectiveness of screening patients with hypertension and obesity for obstructive sleep apnoea in general practice using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. SETTING: One group practice in Italy. DESIGN OF STUDY: 'Good clinical practice' was systematically applied: identification of patients with hypertension and obesity; qualitative interview to identify obstructive sleep apnea; and consequent work-up and therapy. METHOD: Three family physicians, caring for 769 pharmacologically-treated patients with hypertension, identified 220 obese patients without relevant pulmonary or neurological diseases or insomnia; 31 of these 220 patients scored >11 on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. RESULTS: Polysomnography confirmed obstructive sleep apnoea in 10% of the obese, hypertensive population (95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.03% to 13.63%), and in 3.9% of the whole hypertensive population (95% CI = 2.74% to 5.51%). At baseline, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring showed uncontrolled blood pressure in all these patients. Under continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the blood pressure value normalised (P<0.05), and the mean Epworth Sleepiness Scale score decreased significantly: mean 13.68 versus 7.84 (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In obese patients with hypertension examined in this study, the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea prevalence is about 10%. CPAP significantly ameliorates the blood pressure control. This simple screening and treatment strategy may be easily adopted in primary care.