Epigenetic inheritance of diet-induced and sperm-borne mitochondrial RNAs.

Spermatozoa harbour a complex and environment-sensitive pool of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs)1, which influences offspring development and adult phenotypes1-7. Whether spermatozoa in the epididymis are directly susceptible to environmental cues is not fully understood8. Here we used two distinct paradigms of preconception acute high-fat diet to dissect epididymal versus testicular contributions to the sperm sncRNA pool and offspring health. We show that epididymal spermatozoa, but not developing germ cells, are sensitive to the environment and identify mitochondrial tRNAs (mt-tRNAs) and their fragments (mt-tsRNAs) as sperm-borne factors. In humans, mt-tsRNAs in spermatozoa correlate with body mass index, and paternal overweight at conception doubles offspring obesity risk and compromises metabolic health. Sperm sncRNA sequencing of mice mutant for genes involved in mitochondrial function, and metabolic phenotyping of their wild-type offspring, suggest that the upregulation of mt-tsRNAs is downstream of mitochondrial dysfunction. Single-embryo transcriptomics of genetically hybrid two-cell embryos demonstrated sperm-to-oocyte transfer of mt-tRNAs at fertilization and suggested their involvement in the control of early-embryo transcription. Our study supports the importance of paternal health at conception for offspring metabolism, shows that mt-tRNAs are diet-induced and sperm-borne and demonstrates, in a physiological setting, father-to-offspring transfer of sperm mitochondrial RNAs at fertilization.

[A Spanish multicenter trial of TVT for female urinary incontinence]. / TVT para la incontinencia urinaria femenina: estudio multicéntrico español.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate results and complications of TVT in a large series from different hospital centers in Spain. METHOD: We retrospectively studied the results of TVT placement from 6 centers with 272 consecutive patients (median follow-up was 636 days). All types of stress urinary incontinence with a surgical indication were included and no previous conditions were established regarding the indication. No protocol was used for either the intervention or postoperative support measures. Data collection was protocolized and carried out using a common questionnaire that was completed by an urologist at each center from 3 to 6 months after the intervention and then annually. All patients who underwent intervention were asked about their satisfaction with the outcome. Multivariate studies were made to identify the factors that influenced the recovery of continence and the occurrence of complications. RESULTS: 92.1% of patients were continent and 2.4% have not shown any improvement. 91.6% of the patients claimed to be satisfied whereas only 2.7% were dissatisfied. After four years only 2.8% of patients showed mild incontinence with time and 0.4% had moderate incontinence. Only previous surgery for incontinence was found to be significantly unfavorable factor for achieving postoperative continence. CONCLUSION: We have reproduced a scenario closer to daily clinical reality than the results of series from a single institution or analyses using stricter selection criteria. This multicenter study verifies the viability and reproducibility of TVT with minimal complications in centers where patients are not selected and where not all urologists are specialized in urinary incontinence.

[Antibiotic prophylaxis in endoscopic urologic surgery]. / Profilaxis antibiótica en cirugía urologica endoscópica.

Recent studies have shown the value of antibiotic prophylaxis with short therapy periods in patients submitted to transurethral surgery. We have carried out a prospective study on 46 patients, all with negative urine cultures prior to the intervention, divided into two groups: one control and the other with short cefuroxime prophylaxis. With the latter a reduction in post-operative infectious complications was obtained, and specifically of postoperative bacteriuria, from a 70% in the control group to al 13% in the prophylaxis group. The results are statistically significant.

[Skin metastasis in external ear canal of bladder carcinoma]. / Metástasis cutánea en conducto auditivo externo de carcinoma vesical.

A case of vesical carcinoma skin metastasis in the external ear is presented. Apart from its uncommonness, cutaneous dissemination of a vesical carcinoma implies a poor prognosis since it is indicative of metastasis spreading to other sites, death occurring in nearly all cases within three months of diagnosis.

[Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma]. / Rabdomiosarcoma paratesticular.

Report of one paratesticular RMS in a 28 year-old male. The paper includes a review of the various clinical, etiopathogenic and therapeutic features involved. RMS is a neoplasia difficult to diagnose through M.O. and, quite often, it is necessary to use immunohistochemical techniques in order to discover some of the muscular fibre markers, such as Desmin, Myosin and Myoglobin. Several theories have been put forward to explain its origin, and the most widely accepted defends an origin in a poorly differentiated mesenchymal tissue. The advantages of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy following orchiectomy are discussed as treatment.

[Calcified renal carcinoma. Diagnostic difficulty]. / Carcinoma renal quistificado. Dificultad diagnóstica.

Two cases of renal carcinoma presenting as renal cyst seen at our service in the past year are described. One presented as a large central cyst with several smaller cysts on its wall. The other presented as a renal cyst coexisting with several serous cysts. Imaging techniques are underscored due to the diagnostic difficulties. The currently available diagnostic techniques for classifying tumor masses with mixed or undefined features are briefly described.