Urinary human polyomavirus and papillomavirus infection and bladder cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: The association of transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder (TCB) with Schistosoma haematobium suggested a possible role of infections in the aetiology of TCB. METHODS: In all, 114 TCB cases and 140 hospital controls from Pordenone Province were enrolled within an Italian multi-centric case-control study. Urine samples were screened for DNA from five human polyomaviruses (HPyV) (JCV, BKV, MCV, WUV, and KIV); SV40; and 22 mucosal human papillomaviruses (HPV) using highly sensitive PCR assays. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were computed for risk of TCB by HPyV- or HPV-positivity using unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Human polyomavirus prevalence was similar in TCB cases (71.7%) and controls (77.7%) (OR for TCB=0.85; 95% CI: 0.45-1.61). JCV was the most frequently detected HPyV type. No individual HPyV showed a significant association. Among cases, HPyV-positivity was not associated with tumour characteristics, but it was significantly lower in women than men and among current and former smokers than never smokers. Human papillomavirus was detected in seven cases and five controls (OR=1.52; 95% CI: 0.42-5.45). CONCLUSION: The present small study does not support an involvement of HPyV or HPV infection in TCB aetiology in immunocompetent individuals. Differences in HPyV-positivity by sex and smoking may derive from differences in either acquisition or persistence of the infection.

[Color Doppler and ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy in the diagnosis of prostatic neoplasm]. / Color Doppler e biopsie prostatiche ecoguidate nella diagnosi di neoplasia prostatica.

The diagnosis of prostate neoplasm is still limited today by the variable power of prediction of the three main surveys used: prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digito rectal exploration (DRE) and ultrasound transrectal (TRUS). The study aimed to estimate the benefits and the diagnostic impact of the color Doppler ultrasonography on the diagnosis of prostate neoplasm through biopsies targeted on areas with abnormal flow. With this purpose, 222 biopsies performed on 71 patients between 1997 and 1999 were considered, which led to a diagnosis of neoplasm in 36 patients. Of the 84 biopsies that revealed prostate adenocarcinoma, 74 (64.3%) were correlated to hypoechoic lesions with abnormal flow signals while 41 (35.6%) showed a benign pathology (prostatitis or benign prostatic hyperplasia) (p < 0.0011). In five patients (13%) who did not present any evident lesions at a first transrectal ultrasound, the diagnosis of neoplasm was made only through biopsies targeted on areas with abnormal flow. Therefore, the color Doppler exam can be used during prostate ultrasonography either to consolidate the diagnosis or to give a useful target in case of isoechoic lesions.

[Critical considerations on the implant of penile prosthesis: indications, choice of prosthesis, surgical technique, and follow-up]. / Considerazioni critiche sull'impianto di protesi peniene: indicazione, scelta della protesi, tecnica chirurgica e follow-up.

The surgical techniques for penile prothesis implantation are well known and standardized. Multicomponent hydraulic prostheses offer, without any doubt, the best guarantees in terms of function and aesthetic results. Nevertheless their insertion is sometime troublesome and a superficial knowledge of the technical problems may lead to complete and disappointing failures. In the present work the Authors report their personal experience with various types of penile prostheses and describe in details, the different maneuvers which are needed for their correct implantation. Some variation of the original technique will be also described. The results obtained will also be described.

[Anatomo-functional study of penile innervation in the rat]. / Studio anatomo-funzionale dell'innervazione peniena nel ratto.

The Wistar rat represents a very useful model in experimental surgery and in scientific research. The anatomic structures are very similar to those encountered in man. Moreover the cost for their purchase, breeding and nourishment is very low and it's possible to perform surgical maneuvers without sterility. Nevertheless the penis has an extremely small dimension and its anatomic structure is quite different from that of man because corpora cavernosa are almost completely occupied by an osteo-cartilagenous formation: the os penis. For this reason it's very difficult to perform a physiopathological study of erection on the rat. On the other hand the nervous fibres are very similar for course and localization to those encountered in man and monkeys. Their electrical stimulation causes an erection which is adequate in duration and intensity to be evident.

[Critical assessment of penile prosthesis implants: indication, choice of prosthesis, surgical technique and follow-up]. / Considerazioni critiche sull'impianto di protesi peniene: indicazione, scelta della protesi, tecnica chirurgica e follow-up.

The surgical techniques for penile prosthesis implantation are well known and standardized. Multicomponent hydraulic prosthesis offer, without any doubt, the best guarantees in terms of function and aesthetic results. Nevertheless their insertion is sometime troublesome and a superficial knowledge of the technical problems may lead to complete and disappointing failures. In the present work the Authors report their personal experience with various types of penile prosthesis and describe in details, the different maneuvers which are needed for their correct implantation. Some variation of the original technique will be also described. The results obtained will also be described.