Short-term effects of a dietary supplement on lower urinary tract symptoms.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common conditions affecting men over 40 years of age, typically manifesting itself with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Recently, research interest has focused in discovering a viable nutraceutical alternative to the drugs that are currently the first line of treatment for BPH. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of a dietary supplement containing curcumin, beta-sitosterol and oligomeric proanthocyanidins in a group of BPH/LUTS patients. One-hundred men with LUTS caused by BPH were enrolled in this study and agreed to take one tablet a day of the test dietary supplement for three months. Several parameters, such as International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), degree of urinary obstruction and average urinary flow were evaluated at different time points. Significant improvement in LUTS was seen after one month of treatment and a significant decrease in mean IPSS index was evident after three months of treatment. Moreover, a comparison of the mean urinary flow and of the number of subjects with bladder obstruction at three months versus one month of treatment shows a significant improvement. The study results suggest that the dietary supplement is effective for almost all the symptoms investigated, including the reduction of IPSS score and the increase of urinary flow. Moreover, the dietary supplement proved to be safe and well tolerated by the great majority of the enrolled subjects. .

A case of severe allergic reaction to cooked potato.

UNLABELLED: White potato is a very common ingredient in the diet of infants in Mediterranean countries, and in its cooked form, it is one of the first solid foods introduced, usually around the age of 4-6 months. Allergy to potato is uncommon, and allergic reactions to cooked potato have been reported only in children. We report a case of severe potato-induced allergic reaction in an 8-month-old infant with atopic dermatitis and multiple food allergies that raises questions about differential diagnosis between anaphylaxis and food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES). CONCLUSION: Allergy to cooked potatoes could be a cause of severe although rare allergic reactions; it could be very difficult, in some cases, to make a differential diagnosis between anaphylaxis and FPIES. Moreover, the diagnosis appears to be very important for the choice of therapy and long-term allergologic management.

A natural pharma standard supplement formulation to control treatment-related toxicity and oxidative stress in genitourinary cancer: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: Oncological treatments are associated with toxicities that may decrease compliance to treatment in most genitourinary cancer patients. Supplementation with pharmaceutical-standardized supplement may be a supplementary method to control the side effects after chemo- and radiotherapy and the increased oxidative stress associated to treatments. This registry study evaluated a natural combination of supplements containing curcumin, cordyceps, and astaxanthin (Oncotris™) used as supplementary management in genitourinary cancer patients who had undergone oncological therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with genitourinary cancers (prostate or bladder malignancies) who had undergone and completed cancer treatments (radiotherapy, chemotherapy or intravesical immunotherapy with increased oxidative stress and residual symptoms) were recruited in this registry, supplement study. Registry subjects (n = 61) freely decided to follow either a standard management (SM) (control group = 35) or SM plus oral daily supplementation (supplement group = 26). Evaluation of severity of treatment-related residual side effects, blood count test, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and plasma free radicals (oxidative stress) were performed at inclusion and at the end of the observational period (6 weeks). RESULTS: Two patients dropped out during the registry. Therefore, the analysis included 59 participants: 26 individuals in the supplementation group and 33 in the control group. In the supplement group, the intensity of signs and symptoms (treatment-related) and residual side effects significantly decreased at 6 weeks: minimal changes were observed in controls. Supplementation with Oncotris™ was associated with a significant improvement in blood cell count and with a decreased level of plasmatic PSA and oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Naturally-derived supplements, specifically Oncotris™ (patent pending), could support the body to overcome the treatment-related toxicities - and the relative oxidative stress in cancer patients.

Anti-inflammatory effects exerted by Killox®, an innovative formulation of food supplement with curcumin, in urology.

OBJECTIVE: In this Open Controlled Trial we administered an innovative formulation of food supplement with curcumin (Killox®) to test its efficacy, safety and compatibility with other drugs, in the therapy of post-surgery complications of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and transurethral resection of bladder (TURB), and in the prevention of late complications. Furthermore, Killox® effects were verified in subjects with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Killox® was administered to 40 TURP patients for 20 days, to 10 TURB patients for 10 days and to 30 BPH patients for 60 days. The study was an open controlled trial, approved by the internal Review Board, with a completely independent set of retrospective observations. RESULTS: In the subjects who underwent surgery the treatment warded off postoperative and late complications, whereas among controls, without anti-inflammatory therapy after surgery until one week later, 21 (52.5%) out of 40 TURP subjects and 4 (40%) out of 10 TURB subjects were still found with symptoms of inflammation and urinary burning, and they had to be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for seven days. Moreover among controls 2 in TURP group presented an urethral stricture, and no one in TURB group. Killox® patients did not report any adverse effect and the therapy was well tolerated, instead among 21 control subjects, who were treated with NSAIDs, 7 reported nausea and epigastric pain. Also in BPH patients the product was effective in a satisfying manner, shortening the duration of irritation symptoms. Noteworthy, Killox® administration did not modify the efficacy of the other treatments. The effect of Killox® was found statistically significant vs controls. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic activity and safety of Killox® in urology allow physicians to administer a new efficient product in substitution of NSAIDs.

Rendimiento del ASAS Health Index en pacientes con Espondiloartritis de la vida real / Performance of ASAS Health Index in real life spondyloarthritis patients

Introducción: El cuestionario "Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society Health Index" (ASAS-HI) fue desarrollado para medir de manera global la funcionalidad y el estado de salud en pacientes con espondiloartritis (EspA). Se han propuesto puntos de corte para determinar diferentes estados de salud que fueron poco evaluados en pacientes de la vida real. Objetivos: Describir el estado de salud medido por ASAS-HI en pacientes argentinos con EspA axial (EspAax) y periférica (EspAp) en la práctica diaria y evaluar los factores asociados al pobre estado de salud. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de corte transversal, analítico y multicéntrico. Se incluyeron consecutivamente pacientes con EspAax y EspAp según criterios ASAS, de 15 centros argentinos. Análisis estadístico: Se realizó estadística descriptiva, análisis bivariado y multivariado (regresión logística múltiple) para evaluar los factores asociados al pobre estado de salud (ASAS-HI ≥12). Para analizar la validez de constructo de la herramienta se realizó correlación de Spearman entre el ASAS-HI y otros parámetros de evaluación de la enfermedad. Resultados: Se incluyeron 274 pacientes con EspA, con una edad media de 49 (±14) años y una duración mediana de la enfermedad de 62 meses (p25-75: 24-135), 155 (56,6%) de los pacientes eran de sexo masculino, 129 pacientes (47%) con EspAax y 145 (52,9%) EspAp. Según el ASAS-HI 119 pacientes (43,4%) presentaban buen estado de salud, 117 (42,7%) tenían estado de salud moderado y 38 (13.9%) pobre estado de salud. En los pacientes con EspAp el valor de ASAS-HI mediano fue de 7 (p25-75: 3-10). El ASAS-HI correlacionó positivamente con: DAS28: rho: 0.5 (p<0.001) y HAQ: rho: 0.54 (p<0.001). La variable asociada de manera independiente con pobre estado de salud fue el DAS28 (OR: 1.9, IC95% 1.1-3.4, p: 0.029). En los pacientes con EspAax el valor de ASAS-HI mediano fue de 6 (p25-75: 2.75-10). El ASAS-HI mostró correlación con: BASDAI: rho: 0.7 (p<0.001), ASDAS-ERS: rho: 0.7 (p<0,001), ASQoL: rho: 0.8 (p<0.001), BASFI rho: 0.75 (p<0.001). La variable que se asoció de manera independiente a pobre estado de salud fue el ASDAS-ERS (OR 6.6, IC95% 2-22, p 0.002). Conclusión: Un pobre estado de salud se asoció independientemente a mayor actividad de la enfermedad en pacientes con EspAax y EspAp. El ASAS-HI correlacionó con otros parámetros de la enfermedad, lo que refuerza la validez de constructo de esta nueva herramienta.

Introduction: The "Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society Health Index" (ASAS-HI) questionnaire was developed to globally measure function and health status in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). Cut-off points have been proposed to determine different health states that were poorly evaluated in real-life patients. Objectives: To describe the health status measured by ASAS-HI in Argentine patients with axial SpA (AxSpA) and peripheral SpA (SpAp) in daily practice and to evaluate the factors associated with poor health. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional, analytical and multicenter study. Patients with SpAax and SpAp were consecutively included according to ASAS criteria, from 15 Argentine centers. Statistical analysis: Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate analysis (multiple logistic regression) were performed to evaluate the factors associated with poor health status (ASAS-HI ≥12). To analyze the construct validity of the tool, Spearman correlation was performed between the ASAS-HI and other disease evaluation parameters. Results: 274 patients with SpA were included, with a mean age of 49 (± 14) years and a median duration of the disease of 62 months (p25-75: 24-135), 155 (56.6%) were male, 129 patients (47%) with AxSpA and 145 (52.9%) SpAp. According to the ASAS-HI, 119 patients (43.4%) had good health, 117 (42.7%) had moderate health and 38 (13.9%) had poor health. In patients with SpAp, the mean ASAS-HI value was 7 (p25-75: 3-10). The ASAS-HI positively correlated with: DAS28: rho: 0.5 (p <0.001) and HAQ: rho: 0.54 (p <0.001). The variable independently associated with poor health status was DAS28 (OR: 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.4, p: 0.029). In patients with AxSpA, the mean ASAS-HI value was 6 (p25-75: 2.75-10). The ASAS-HI showed correlation with: BASDAI: rho: 0.7 (p <0.001), ASDAS-ERS: rho: 0.7 (p <0.001), ASQoL: rho: 0.8 (p <0.001), BASFI rho: 0.75 (p <0.001). The variable that was independently associated with poor health was the ASDAS-ERS (OR 6.6, 95% CI 2-22, p 0.002). Conclusion: Poor health status was independently associated with higher disease activity in patients with AxSpA and SpAp. The ASAS-HI correlated with other parameters of the disease, which reinforces the construct validity of this new tool.

Polymorphisms in the fetal progesterone receptor and a calcium-activated potassium channel isoform are associated with preterm birth in an Argentinian population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate genetic etiologies of preterm birth (PTB) in Argentina through evaluation of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes and population genetic admixture. STUDY DESIGN: Genotyping was performed in 389 families. Maternal, paternal and fetal effects were studied separately. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was sequenced in 50 males and 50 females. Y-chromosome anthropological markers were evaluated in 50 males. RESULT: Fetal association with PTB was found in the progesterone receptor (PGR, rs1942836; P=0.004). Maternal association with PTB was found in small conductance calcium activated potassium channel isoform 3 (KCNN3, rs883319; P=0.01). Gestational age associated with PTB in PGR rs1942836 at 32-36 weeks (P=0.0004). MtDNA sequencing determined 88 individuals had Amerindian consistent haplogroups. Two individuals had Amerindian Y-chromosome consistent haplotypes. CONCLUSION: This study replicates single locus fetal associations with PTB in PGR, maternal association in KCNN3, and demonstrates possible effects for divergent racial admixture on PTB.

Incidence of prostate cancer in Sicily: results of a multicenter case-findings protocol.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) in Sicily in patients who entered an early detection protocol. METHODS: From February 2002 to February 2004, 16,298 subjects aged 40-75 entered the protocol. Patients with suspicious DRE, PSA>10 ng/ml, PSA