Treatment of chronic abacterial prostatitis: a review

Epidemiology of prostatitis in Finnish men: a population-based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To study the lifetime occurrence of prostatitis in Finnish men and their exposure to the disease. Subjects and methods A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in the two most northerly provinces of Finland (Oulu and Lapland). Altogether, 2500 male residents aged 20-59 years were chosen at random to complete a questionnaire on prostatitis. The data were collected between June 1996 and October 1997. Replies were received from 1832 men, giving a response rate of 75%.

RESULTS

The overall lifetime prevalence of prostatitis was 14.2%. The risk of having or having had prostatitis increased with age, being 1.7 times greater in men aged 40-49 years than in those aged 20-39 years, and 3.1 times greater in those aged 50-59 years. The overall incidence was 37.8/10 000 person years. More than a quarter of the 261 men who had or had had prostatitis symptoms (27%) suffered from them at least once a year, while 16% suffered from persistent symptoms; 63% of the men with prostatitis had their worst symptoms during the winter (November-March). Neither education nor profession had much influence on the occurrence of prostatitis, but divorced and single men had a lower risk than married men. Most patients felt they had not received enough information about the disease at their first visit to a general practitioner.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this survey showed that the occurrence of prostatitis symptoms in men living in northern Finland is higher than that reported in other parts of the world. This could be partly caused by the cold climate.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis, especially chronic prostatitis, is sometimes regarded as an obscure, ill-defined condition, perhaps because the anatomical location of the gland and ill-defined symptoms make diagnosis difficult. Treatment may appear time consuming and tiresome for doctor and patient, but by following established principles, diagnosis is often simple and management straightforward.

Transport studies of beta-lactam antibiotics and their degradation products across electrified water/oil interface

An electrochemical method for quantifying beta-lactam antibiotics (cephalexin and ampicillin) and their hydrolysis products is described. Cyclic voltammetry at the water/nitrobenzene interface in a four-electrode system was used. The zwitterionic compounds were ionized to the necessary electrochemical form by pH adjustment. The pH change, however, resulted also in hydrolysis of the antibiotics. Hydrolysis products were characterized across UV-vis spectrum. The various hydrolysis products as well as the ionized antibiotics were studied in voltammetric transfer from water to nitrobenzene using the method of the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES). It was concluded that this electrochemical method is suitable for the quantification of beta-lactam antibiotics and their hydrolysis products.

Effective office management of chronic prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis does not have to be a frustrating urologic office encounter. The empathetic urologist who is equally committed to all patients (including those with prostatitis), can achieve realistic improvement in symptoms with a simple and straightforward diagnostic and therapeutic strategy.