Chronic inflammation of the prostate type IV with respect to risk of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammatory infiltrate (CII) might be involved in prostate cancer (PCA) and benign hyperplasia (BPH); however, its significance is controversial. Chronic inflammatory prostatitis type IV is the most common non cancer diagnosis in men undergoing biopsy because of suspected PCA. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate potential associations of coexistent CII and PCA in biopsy specimens after prostate assessment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Between January 2007 and December 2008, 415 consecutive patients who underwent prostate biopsy were retrospectively evaluated. The investigated variables included Age (years) and PSA (ug/l); moreover, CII+, glandular atrophy (GA+), glandular hyperplasia (GH+), prostate Intraepithelial neoplasm (PIN+), atypical small acinar cell proliferation (ASAP+) and PCA positive cores (P+) were evaluated as categorical and continuous (proportion of positive cores). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Associations of CII+ and PCA risk were assessed by statistical methods. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: In the patient population, a biopsy core positive for PCA was detected in 34.2% of cases and the rate of high grade PCA (HGPCA: bGS ! 8) resulted 4.82%. CII+ significantly and inversely associated with a positive biopsy core P+ (P < 0.0001; OR = 0.26) and HGPCA (P = 0.0005; OR = 0.05). Moreover, the associations indicated that patients with coexistent CII+ on needle biopsy were 74% less likely to have coexistent PCA than men without CII+ as well as 95% less likely to have HGPCA in the biopsy core than men without coexistent CII+. There were limits in our study which was single centre and included only one dedicated pathologist. CONCLUSIONS: There was an inverse association of chronic inflammation of the prostate type IV and risk of PCA; moreover, HGPCA was less likely to be detected in cancers associated with coexistent CII. In prostate microenvironment, prostate chronic inflammation may be protective; however, its role in PCA carcinogenesis remains controversial and needs further research.

Vesicouterine fistulas following cesarean section: report on a case, review and update of the literature.

Herein we report on 1 more case of vesicouterine fistula following cesarean section with review and update of the literature concerning this unusual topic. The disease presented with vaginal urinary leakage, cyclic hematuria and amenorrhea. The fistula was successfully repaired by delayed surgery. Actually, all over the world the prevalence of the disease is increasing for the frequent use of the cesarean section. Fistulas may develop immediately after a cesarean section, manifest in the late puerperium or occur after repeated procedures. Spontaneous healing is reported in 5% of cases. Vesicouterine fistulas present with vaginal urinary leakage, cyclic hematuira (menouria), amenorrhea, infertility, and first trimester abortions. The diagnosis is ruled out by showing the fistulous track between bladder and uterus as well as by excluding other more frequent urogenital fistulas. The disease treatment options include conservative treatment as well as surgical repair. Rarely, patients refuse any kind of treatment because of the benignity of symptoms and prognosis of the disease. Conservative management by bladder catheterization for at least 4-8 weeks is indicated when the fistula is discoveredjust after delivery since there is good chance for spontaneous closure of the fistulous track. Hormonal management should be tried in women presenting with Youssef's syndrome. Surgery is the maninstay and definitive treatment of vesicouterine fistulas after cesarean section. Patients scheduled for surgery should undergo pretreatment of urinary tract infections. Surgical repair of vesico-uterine fistulas are performed by different approaches which include the vaginal, transvesical-retroperitoneal and transperitoneal access which is considered the most effective with the lowest relapse rate. Recently, laparoscopy has been proposed as a valid option for repairing vesicouterine fistulas. The endoscopic treatment may be effective in treating small vesicouterine fistulas. The pregnancy rate after repair is 31.25% with a rate of term deliveries of 25%. The disease may be prevented by emptying the bladder as well as by carefully dissecting the lower uterine segment. It is advisable that after vesicouterine fistula repair delivery should be performed by repeating a cesarean section since the risk of fistula recurrence. Usually, vesicouterine fistulas are diagnosed postoperatively. As a result, at least 95% of patients will undergo another operation for repairing the fistula. In the meantime they are bothered by related symptoms which impair their quality of life. As far as we are concerned intraoperative diagnosis is the gold standard in detecting vesicouterine fistulas for allowing immediate repair. We propose intraoperative sonography by the transvaginal (or transrectal) route for the Foley transurethral catheter producing bloody urine, for suspecting bladder injury while dissecting the uterine lower segment and for monitoring patients who already had had vesicouterine fistula repair. As a result patients will avoid the familial and social problems related to the disease as well another operation. Moreover, ultrasound Doppler examination may help in better investigating and understanding the pathophysiology of vesicouterine fistulas.

Intraparenchymal renal artery aneurysms. Case report with review and update of the literature.

Increased interest in aneurysms involving the renal artery and its branches has occurred during the past 3 decades. The prevalence of renal artery aneurysms is approximately 0.01%-1% in the general population as well as 2.5% in hypertensive patients undergoing angiography. Intraparenchymal renal artery aneurysms (IPRAAs) are rare since being detected in less than 10% of patients with renal artery aneurysms. The Authors report an unusual case of multiple small intrarenal artery aneurysms associated with a large IPRAA located in the mid portion of the right kidney. Usually, IPRAAs are secondary to diseases or injuries of the kidney vascular network. They are classified as true, false, saccular, fusiform, dissecting, and microaneurysms. Potential complications of IPRAAs include peripheral dissection, thrombosis, hypertension, renal infarction and rupture. IRAAs may be detected incidentally as well as present with urologic symptoms and signs related to complications. Actually, IRAAs are investigated by non invasive modalities including duplex ultrasound, magnetic resonance angiography, spiral three-dimensional computed tomography angiography, and three-dimensional reconstructed rotational digital substraction angiography of the segmental and distant branches of the renal artery. Angiography with intrarterial injection of contrast material is the gold standard in diagnosing IPRAAs. Treatment options for IPRAAs include observation, aneurysmectomy with surgical repair, endovascular procedures, nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy. Observation is indicated for asymptomatic intraparenchymal renal artery aneurysms measuring less than 2 cm in diameter. Surgical repair of IPRAAs includes aneurysmectomy and reconstruction of the renal artery by in vivo or ex vivo technique. The procedure is indicated for IPRAAs causing renovascular hypertension, dissection, urologic symptoms, embolization, local expansion and women of childbearing age with a potential for pregnancy. In recent years, transcatheter arterial embolization has emerged as a simple, useful and effective technique in managing IRAAs. The procedure is performed by transfemoral catheterization as well as by superselective catheterization and embolization of interlobar arteries with 3F microcatheters. Endovascular occlusion is obtained by using gelatin sponge, steel coils, detachable baloons, and conventional non-detachable microcoils delivered through a microcatheter. Nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy are reserved for conditions precluding renal revascularization which include overt RAA rupture, covert RAA rupture, artery-to-vein fistula, renal cell carcinoma, end stage nephropaty, renal infarction, severe ischemic renal atrophy or complex intrarenal aneurysms. Recently, partial nephrectomy by the laparoscopic approach has been proposed for managing IPRAAs and the procedure is considered feasible and safe.