N-Acyl Homoserine Lactones and Lux Solos Regulate Social Behaviour and Virulence of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae

The phyllosphere is a complex environment where microbes communicate through signalling molecules in a system, generally known as quorum sensing (QS). One of the most common QS systems in Gram-negative proteobacteria is based on the production of N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) by a LuxI synthase and their perception by a LuxR sensor. Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), the aetiological agent of the bacterial canker of kiwifruit, colonises plant phyllosphere before penetrating via wounds and natural openings. Since Psa genome encodes three LuxR solos without a cognate LuxI, this bacterium may perceive diffusible signals, but it cannot produce AHLs, displaying a non-canonical QS system. The elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the perception of environmental cues in the phyllosphere by this pathogen and their influence on the onset of pathogenesis are of crucial importance for a long-lasting and sustainable management of the bacterial canker of kiwifruit. Here, we report the ability of Psa to sense its own population density and the presence of surrounding bacteria. Moreover, we show that Psa can perceive AHLs, indicating that AHL-producing neighbouring bacteria may regulate Psa virulence in the host. Our results suggest that the ecological environment is important in determining Psa fitness and pathogenic potential. This opens new perspectives in the use of more advanced biochemical and microbiological tools for the control of bacterial canker of kiwifruit.

Postural rehabilitation and Kinesio taping for axial postural disorders in Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of postural rehabilitation (PR) on trunk asymmetry and balance, with and without Kinesio taping (KT) of the back muscles as additional treatment, in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who have postural disorders.

DESIGN

Single-blind, randomized controlled trial with 1-month follow-up.

SETTING

Ambulatory care in referral center.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients (N=20) with PD showing postural abnormalities of the trunk, in the sagittal and/or coronal plane.

INTERVENTIONS

Four weeks of patient-tailored proprioceptive and tactile stimulation, combined with stretching and postural reeducation, was provided to 13 subjects (PR group), while 7 received no treatment (control group). Six of the 13 subjects receiving PR also had KT strips applied to their trunk muscles, according to the features of their postural abnormalities.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, and degrees of trunk bending in the sagittal and coronal planes were assessed at the enrollment (t0), 1 month later (t1), and 2 months later (t2).

RESULTS

At t1, all treated patients showed a significant improvement in trunk posture in both the sagittal (P=.002) and coronal planes (P=.01), compared with baseline. Moreover, they showed an improvement in measures of gait and balance (P<.01). Benefits persisted at t2 for all measures, except lateral trunk bend. No differences were found when comparing the PR and KT groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of active posture correction and trunk movements, muscle stretching, and proprioceptive stimulation may usefully impact PD axial symptoms. Repeated training is advocated to avoid waning of the effect.

Microencapsulated lysine and low-protein diets: effects on performance, carcass characteristics and nitrogen excretion in heavy growing-finishing pigs

Two studies were conducted to assess the effects of dietary protein and Lys reduction on growth performance, carcass quality, N excretion, and plasma N profile in growing-finishing pigs from 35 to 180 kg. The growing trial was conducted with 72 gilts and 72 barrows with 6 pens per treatment and 6 gilts or 6 barrows per pen. Four diets with the same DE and NE were compared: 1) control diet, 2) diet with protein content reduced by 3% units compared with the control diet and supplemented with Lys HCl to match the requirements according to the 2012 NRC (FLys), 3) diet similar to FLys for protein level but supplemented with only 50% of the Lys HCl provided with FLys (-50% FLys), and 4) diet similar to FLys and -50% Flys for protein level with microencapsulated Lys added to supply 20% of the Lys provided by FLys (-80% MLys). Pigs fed the FLys diet performed in a similar manner and showed similar carcass characteristics to the control pigs. Pigs fed the -50% FLys diet had the lightest BW (P < 0.01) as well as the lightest carcass (P = 0.02) and trimmed thigh (P = 0.04) weights. Pigs fed the -80% MLys diet showed growth performance and carcass characteristics similar to the control pigs. The N balance study was conducted with 8 barrows arranged in a double replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. The control pigs had greater (P < 0.01) N intake and urinary and total N excretion compared with pigs fed the low-protein diets. The reduction of the dietary protein concentration by 3% units decreased total N excretion by an average of 24.5% and the greatest reduction of total N excretion was obtained by the -80% MLys diet (26.12%) compared with the control diet throughout the trial. No effect of dietary treatment was observed on the plasma concentrations of ammonia, urea, and total AA in the 80-kg pigs. Decreased plasma ammonia (P < 0.01) and urea (P = 0.03) concentrations were detected in the 120-kg pigs fed the low-protein diets. The 160-kg pigs fed the -80% MLys pigs had less total AA, indispensable AA in particular (P < 0.01), than pigs fed the other diets and decreased ammonia (P < 0.01) and urea (P = 0.05) concentrations than the control pigs. The results showed that the use of microencapsulated Lys, compared with both Lys HCl and dietary protein-bound Lys, can save CP and synthetic AA in diet formulation and can reduce N excretion in manure without adversely affecting the growth performance and carcass quality of heavy growing-finishing pigs.

Outcome of oral provocation test in egg-sensitive children receiving semi-fat hard cheese Grana Padano PDO (protected designation of origin) containing, or not, lysozyme

PURPOSE

Lysozyme, obtained from egg white, is a potential food allergen used in the dairy industry to prevent late blowing of the loaf caused by the outgrowth of clostridial spores (Cl. butyricum and Cl. tyrobutyricum) during cheese aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible correlation between egg protein allergy in pediatric age and sensitization to egg lysozyme, used for the preparation of Grana Padano cheese.

METHODS

The tolerability of Grana Padano cheese has been evaluated in pediatric patients allergic to egg proteins through an oral provocation test with increasing amounts of cheese containing, or not, lysozyme at 12 and 24 months of aging.

RESULTS

When lysozyme-sensitized children received 12-months aged and lysozyme-containing cheese, several immediate and late adverse reactions such as itching, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, dermatitis, rhinitis, bronchial asthma, urticaria, and angioedema were seen in 5 out of 21 subjects; only 1 out of 21 children showed an adverse reaction after challenge with 24-months-ripened lysozyme-containing cheese.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a possible relationship between the severity of allergic reactions and the lysozyme-specific IgE level in blood. In particular vomiting, hypotension, and abdominal pain were present when IgE level was higher than 7 kU/L. A ripening time of 24 months may reduce allergy problems when lysozyme-containing cheese is given to sensitized subjects, probably due to the hydrolysis of antigenic epitopes during aging.

Influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus outbreak in a cat colony in Italy

In April 2009, a novel H1N1 influenza A virus (pH1N1) was recognized as the cause of the flu pandemic in humans. Here, we report the isolation of pH1N1 virus from the lung homogenates of two cats, which died after severe respiratory symptoms. The cats belonged to a cat colony consisting of 90 caged cats and were found dead following a 2-week period of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases in the colony. During the outbreak, 25 cats died and 50% of the animal colony showed anorexia, depression, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. Histological examination of the lungs of the two tested cats displayed lesions centred on terminal airways with epithelial bronchiolar hyperplasia and alveolar necrosis. Influenza A virus was detected in the lung tissues by immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR). Partial sequences of haemagglutinin (HA) genes and complete sequences of neuraminidase (NA) genes of the two isolates displayed high similarity to the pH1N1 viruses circulating in humans (99% for HA gene and 100% for NA gene). To determine whether the pandemic virus had circulated among cats, serum samples and pharyngeal swabs were collected from 38 cats of the colony. Serum samples were tested by ELISA to detect antibodies against pH1N1 nucleoprotein and by hemagglutination-inhibition test, while pharyngeal swabs were examined by pH1N1 specific rRT-PCR. Twenty-one (55%) of the tested cats carried antibodies against the isolated strain and two swabs were positive for the presence of pH1N1 RNA. Our results confirm that the pH1N1 virus was able to infect cats and raise the hypothesis of the circulation of the virus within the colony being due to cat-to-cat transmission. The case reported here provides, to the best of the authors' knowledge, the first description of the pH1N1 infection involving numerous cats that lived in a restricted area with limited contact with humans.

Tributyrin and lactitol synergistically enhanced the trophic status of the intestinal mucosa and reduced histamine levels in the gut of nursery pigs

This study determined whether tributyrin and lactitol could synergistically facilitate the transition from milk to solid feed in nursery pigs. At 21 d after birth, 64 piglets were moved from the piggery to a production barn and fed a medicated diet. At 28 d after birth, the piglets were weighed and allotted into four groups and fed a standard nonmedicated diet (control) or the control diet with tributyrin (butanoic acid 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester; 10 g/kg), or with lactitol (beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-sorbitol; 3 g/kg), or with tributyrin (10 g/kg) plus lactitol (3 g/kg). On d 0, 14, and 42 after being fed the control or experimental diets, the animals were weighed, and animal health, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were determined. On d 42, four piglets from each treatment were killed to measure the empty and full weight of the gut, as well as the weights of the liver and kidneys. The jejunum and cecum were sampled to analyze the luminal concentrations of lactic acid; short-chain fatty acids; and mono-, di-, and polyamines and to assess the mucosal status. Mortality after 42 d ranged from 19% for animals fed the control diet, to 6% for animals fed the tributyrin or lactitol diets, and to 0% for animals fed the tributyrin+lactitol diet. After 14 d, the ADG was 127% greater (P < 0.05) in animals fed the tributyrin+lactitol diet than in animals fed the control or tributyrin diets. After 42 d, animals fed the tributyrin+lactitol diet were heavier (P < 0.05) than animals fed the tributyrin diet. At slaughter, no differences (P > 0.05) in organ weights were observed. With the exception of animals fed the lactitol diet, wherein cecal lactic acid levels increased threefold (P < 0.01), the luminal concentrations of lactic acid and short-chain fatty acids were not different (P > 0.05). Among the various amines analyzed, the only response (P < 0.05) was a 66 and 49% decrease in histamine levels in the jejunum and cecum, respectively, in animals fed the tributyrin+lactitol diet compared to the control diet. In the jejunum of animals fed the lactitol or tributyrin+lactitol diets, the length of the villi was increased by 12% (P < 0.05) compared to animals fed the control diet, whereas the tributyrin diet did not have any effect on the villi (P > 0.05). In the cecum, the depths of the crypts were reduced (P < 0.001) by 18% in animals fed the lactitol diet and 45% in animals fed the tributyrin or tributyrin+lactitol diets compared to animals fed the control diet. In conclusion, a diet containing tributyrin and lactitol as nutribiotics resulted in lower histamine levels in the jejunum and cecum, as well as longer jejunal villi and shallower cecal crypts.

Bladder involvement in systemic sclerosis: urodynamic and histological evaluation in 23 patients

Lower tract involvement of systemic sclerosis is an uncommon manifestation. In this study we have evaluated the functional and morphologic vesical changes in 23 female patients with systemic sclerosis to investigate if bladder dysfunction was correlated with an extended skin sclerosis and/or a more serious organ involvement. Urodynamic alterations were observed in only 3 cases. Urinary symptoms and urodynamic features were correlated neither with severity of vesical fibrosis nor with visceral involvement. Autonomic dysfunction was detected in 13 patients.

[Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the prostate. Clinical case]

The authors report an extremely rare case of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the prostate. No satisfactory clinical and pathological classification exists for this tumour, creating particular difficulties for therapeutic decisions and prognosis. Descriptions of cases with excellent survival rates are reported in the literature, to the extent that this is sometimes regarded as a low-malignancy tumour, but other reports also exist of massive diffusion of the pathology with fatal consequences. Advances in the knowledge of this tumour have enabled a number of earlier pathogenetic hypotheses to be ruled out, namely its possible derivation from ectopic salivary cells, ectopic periurethral glands or metaplastic urethral mucosa, but the origin of this carcinoma is still not certain. It is also difficult to differentiate this form from the typical adenocarcinoma and to make a prognosis for survival. In the case reported here, the final diagnosis was made on the lymph node biopsy obtained during surgery, given that a preoperative biopsy was not feasible owing to the scarcity of material available. The patient received standard hormonal therapy for prostate carcinoma.

Correlation between Gleason score of needle biopsy and radical prostatectomy tissue

Gleason score has been identified as an important variable to predict disease extent and biologic behaviour of prostate cancer. However, the correlation between Gleason score of needle biopsy and surgical specimen is often poor. We studied 72 patients who underwent needle biopsy and radical prostatectomy to correlate Gleason score with PSA, clinical and pathological tumour stage. Only 47.2% of Gleason scores were identical in the biopsy and specimens, 37.5% were undergraded and 15.2% were overgraded. Correlations between clinical and pathological stage were identical in 30.5% of patients, 61.1% of patients were understaged and 8.3% overstaged. In conclusion, accuracy of clinical staging and grading of prostate cancer is low. Although the Gleason score on needle biopsy might be useful to predict the final stage and grade, correlation with surgical specimen is poor.

[Prostatic endoprosthesis in the treatment of prostatic obstruction: preliminary experience with the new Trestle model]

The urethral stent is a relatively new treatment modality for benign prostatic hypertrophy ostruction. Although the ultimate prostatic endoprosthesis has yet to be developed, various stents have been produced and investigated with good results. We review the several currently available stents and we report the preliminary clinical experience with a new device (Trestle).

Functional evaluation of different ileal neobladders and ureteral reimplantation techniques

OBJECTIVES

To compare and assess the function of ileal neobladders with different reconfiguration and with several types of ureteral reimplantation.

METHODS

Forty-five male patients underwent radical cystectomy and detubularized ileal neobladder. In 20 patients an ileal neobladder was carried out according to Studer's technique, in 12 a 'W'- and in 13 a 'U'-shaped neobladder. In the Studer's patients 60 cm of ileum was used, in the 'W' 40 and in the 'U' 30 cm. For the uretero-ileal anastomosis Nesbit's technique was utilized in the Studer's, in the 'W' and 'U' neobladders Camey Le Duc's technique was performed instead. Four patients underwent a serous-lined extramural tunnel reimplantation. Follow-up included a functional and morphological study of the urinary system and a urodynamic study.

RESULTS

All Nesbit's uretero-ileum anastomoses resulted refluent when the reservoir was filled up, 15 of 50 ureteral reimplantations according to the Camey Le Duc technique showed reflux at full filling. At 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up, the double reconfiguration reservoirs (Studer's and 'W') showed a larger capacity and a lower maximum pressure than neobladders with a single bending. At 12 months, continence and the voiding interval time was significantly higher in the double reconfiguration than in the 'U' neobladders.

CONCLUSION

The double reconfiguration of the reservoir ('W') might be preferable to that with a single one. As for the type of ureteral anastomosis to select, the problem is still debatable even if in our case-control study we have had better results in terms of reflux and stenosis with the uretero-enteric anastomosis with Nesbit's and associated afferent long tubular ileal limb than with Studer's technique.

Severe urinary bladder involvement in systemic sclerosis. Case report and review of the literature

Lower urinary tract involvement is an uncommon manifestation of systemic sclerosis; however, it may represent a troublesome disturbance affecting the quality of life in systemic sclerosis patients. Here we report the case of a middle-aged woman with a 5-year history of systemic sclerosis, who developed severe and progressive urinary bladder sclerosis. This report is particularly interesting because of the severity of the bladder involvement, which required surgical treatment.

Painless treatment of hydrocele: EMLA cream anaesthesia and fibrin adhesive sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy for hydroceles was performed in 18 patients. Cutaneous anaesthesia was induced with an anaesthetic cream (lidocaine and prilocaine, EMLA cream) and a fibrin sealant (Tissucol) was injected into the sac after fluid aspiration. Patients experienced no pain during needle insertion and sclerosant procedure; 2 recurrences were observed during follow-up. EMLA cream anaesthesia and fibrin adhesive sclerotherapy represent a useful alternative to surgical treatment of hydroceles.

Urinary tract endometriosis: report of 2 cases and a review of the literature

Endometriosis of the urinary tract is a relatively rare condition. Since clinical signs are not specific the diagnosis is difficult and the therapy is not well defined. Two cases and a review of the literature are presented.

[Unusual development of urothelioma of the upper urinary tract]

A case of extrarenal spreading of transitional cell carcinoma caused by rupture of ureterohydronephrosis by ureteral transitional cell carcinoma is reported. Ultrasonography and CT revealed the presence of a severe right ureterohydronephrosis with large septa and a 2 cm diameter exophytic neoplasia of the middle ureter. Nephroureterectomy was performed with excision of a perirenal mass. Histologic examination revealed the presence of transitional cell carcinoma in the perirenal mass, caused by dissemination after renal rupture. CT and ultrasonography were not able to differentiate hydronephrosis from pericapsular spreading because of the extreme disruption of the renal parenchyma.

[Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord. Clinical case]

Sarcomas are neoplasms originating from connective tissues of any anatomical region; the sarcoma of spermatic cord is a rare neoplasm with only little more than two hundred cases described in the literature. Rhabdomyosarcomas in childhood and leiomyosarcomas in adults are the most frequent histological types. Liposarcomas, fibrosarcomas and osteosarcomas are less frequent. The spermatic cord liposarcoma originates from the spermatic cord fatty tissue and therefore it consist of adipose cells, fibroblasts and myxomatosus cells; such neoplasms are usually very well differentiated. Diagnosis is suggested by the appearance of a progressively enlarging mass and by echotomography which shows a solid or liquid mass of the spermatic cord. Therapy consists of surgical intervention (orchifunicolectomy) which also allows a correct histological diagnosis. The case of a 56 year-old male who underwent left orchifunicolectomy for a sarcoma of spermatic cord occasionally discovered during surgical repair of a left groin hernia is reported. Six months after the intervention the patient is in good condition and there is no evidence of relapse.

[Fracture of the penis: description of a case]

Fracture of the penis is not a frequent event and it consists of a rupture of the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa and sometimes of the urethra; the lesion occurs when the penis is erect because during erection the tunica albuginea is very thin and not flexible and it can be easily damaged by a trauma; most lesions occur during intercourse for impact of the erect penis against the female perineum or the pubic synphisis, but lesions during masturbation, fightings or falling off the bed are also described [1-2-3]. Clinically there are pain, detumescence, hematoma and recurvatum of the penis toward the opposite side of the lesion and hematuria if also the urethra is damaged. Usually diagnosis is quite easy with a good anamnesis, clinical examination and echotomography which can reveal presence of hematoma and hypoechogenic areas along the tunica albuginea or the urethra that appears irregular. Nowadays, fractures of the penis need a surgical approach to obtain good results avoiding consequences such as recurvatum or fibrotic areas [3-4-7-8]. We describe two cases of fracture of the penis occurred in two young men during masturbation and treated surgically with excellent results: twelve and eighteen months respectively after surgery patients are well and can enjoy a normal sexual activity with no problems at all.

Bladder replacement with modified Studer pouch using absorbable staples

The use of absorbable staples may allow to reduce the operating time of orthotopic bladder replacement. We report our experience in 14 patients with a modification of the Studer technique using absorbable PolyGIA instruments. The technique has been shown to be simple and quick to perform (time for pouch creation 15-40 minutes, mean 16 minutes) with no significant intraoperative difficulties. Urodynamic data and continence are satisfactory and seem comparable to different procedures and not related to staples' use. The main question remains if the reduced operating time equalizes the high cost of staple devices.

Urodynamic evaluation of urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy: our experience

Thirty-four patients after retropubic radical prostatectomy, were evaluated with urodynamic studies. Patients were divided in three groups depending on the degree of urinary continence. A statistically significant difference was found between different groups for the mean functional profile length and maximal urethral closure pressure. Detrusor instability was detected in 11 patients with moderate incontinence and in 1 patient with severe incontinence. Neither differences of age, previous prostatic surgery, tumour extension, nor preservation of the neurovascular bundles had any significant influence on recovery of continence.

Bladder instability and incontinence after radical prostatectomy

Thirty-nine patients were evaluated after retropubic prostatectomy, by urodynamic studies. They were divided into three groups depending upon the degree of urinary continence. A statistically significant difference was found between different groups in mean functional profile length and maximal urethral closure pressure. Differences in age, previous prostatic surgery, tumour extension, or preservation of the neurobundles did not have any significant influence on recovery of continence.

Recurrences and progression of superficial bladder cancer following long-term intravesical prophylactic therapy with mitomycin C: 48-month follow-up

A total of 208 patients with superficial transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder (STCC) after transurethral resection were treated with 30 mg intravesical instillations of mitomycin C (MMC) weekly for 8 weeks, followed by monthly maintenance doses for 12 months. All patients were controlled with a urinary cytological examination every 2 months and with cystoscopy every 3 months. Mean follow-up was 47.8 and 49.3 months in the prophylaxis and control groups, respectively. The incidence of tumor recurrences at the 12th and 48th months was 29 and 44%, respectively, in the MMC group and 45 and 58%, respectively, in the control group. Progression evaluated by grade and stage was significantly higher in the control group. These data indicate that MMC appears to be effective in the prophylaxis of STCC, but the possibility of long-term relapse suggests maintenance of a longer therapy.

[Electrovaporization of the prostate]

Electrovaporization is a new and potentially useful modification of transurethral resection of the prostate which is rapidly becoming a treatment of choice for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. We report our experience with 22 patients treated using the Circon Acmi Grooved Vaportrode vaporization electrode. Procedures were carried out using the standard technique of electrovaporization with general or regional anaesthesia. Mean operative time was 40 minutes (range 25-65 minutes) and all patients were discharged without catheter after 1 or 2 days. Symptom score, peak uroflow and postvoid residual urine showed statistically significant improvement at 3 months (p < 0.01). There were no significant complications. Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate seems to be a easy and safe procedure with significantly lower costs and excellent results. However, long-term efficacy and complications need to be evaluated in multicentre clinical trials.

Vacuum constriction device and topical minoxidil for management of impotence

OBJECTIVE

We report our preliminary experience with a vacuum constriction device and topical minoxidil for the management of impotence.

METHODS

We evaluated 18 patients, 8 with neurogenic and 10 with psychogenic impotence with a vacuum constriction device and topical minoxidil (1 ml 2% solution).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

All patients responded to treatment but 100 cases refused home use because of psychological impact. Twelve patients did not need the application of the constrictive ring because of the erection facilitation effect of minoxidil. No side effects were observed. In our opinion the association of the vacuum constriction device with topical minoxidil might be useful in the treatment of impotence; however, several factors must be evaluated in selecting patients. Application of minoxidil before vacuum constriction device might be useful to reduce the time of device application, to increase the efficacy of the device and in some cases to avoid the use of the constrictive ring.

Densitometric and biochemical alterations in bony tissue induced by ureterosigmoidostomy

The mineral content of bone was measured in 134 male patients who underwent ureterosigmoidostomy within the past 18 years. Moreover, the principal humoral indices of bone metabolism, together with hematic pH and alkaline reserve (BE) values were evaluated. This study showed that after approximately 6 years from a ureterosigmoidostomy there was significant bone demineralization. These data, supported by a parallel increase of serum osteocalcin, show that ureterosigmoidostomy represents a risk factor for osteoporosis especially in those patients who already have below normal values of bone mineral density prior to surgery.

[Role of color-Doppler in the assessment of erectile impotence: personal experience]

We present our experience with colour duplex sonography in the assessment of 38 impotent men, whose ten underwent radical prostatectomy, following intracavernous pharmacological stimulation with PGE1. All patients with a clinical good response following PGE1 injection had peak cavernosal artery velocities > 30 cm/sec. The remaining suboptimal responders who presented an elevated end-diastolic velocity (> 5 cm/sec) showed a venous leakage demonstrated with cavernosography. Colour duplex sonography is a valuable and non-invasive tool in the assessment of impotence and can provide valuable information in the diagnosis of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.

Cellular expression of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in normal kidney structures and in renal cancer. Possible significance in immune response and in the clinicopathological correlation

In this study we investigated the presence of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on renal cell cancer in 16 patients who underwent nephrectomy. In all cases, normal renal tissues presented ICAM-1 on the parietal epithelial cells lining Bowman's capsule while neither the visceral epithelium nor the glomerular endothelium were stained. The epithelial proximal and distal tubular cells were stained poorly (5 +/- 3 positive tubular cross sections/mm2). No renal cells were stained by the monoclonal antibody for LFA-1. In contrast, in renal cancer tissue we found 6 cases, negative for ICAM-1 and the others positive with a mean number of positive tubular cross sections of 52 +/- 37/mm2. In 10 cases staining with LFA-1 antibody was negative, while for the other cases the mean number of positive tubular cross sections was 11 +/- 8/mm2. Our results suggest that the expression of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 on the surface of malignant cells may explain the unusual clinical aspects of renal cell carcinoma, its association with the immune system, and clarify certain aspects of immunotherapy.

Self-retaining intraurethral device for treatment of prostatic obstruction

We report our experience about insertion of 32 self-retaining intraurethral device (IUC) in patients with prostatic obstruction. Follow-up ranged between 2 and 38 weeks. Success rate of IUC insertion was 93.7% and 46.6% of patients have IUC in place without complications during follow-up. IUC is easy and quick to introduce, it allows spontaneous voiding, full continence, sexual activity and routine life-style. It represents a useful alternative to indwelling catheter in patients at high risk or refusing surgery and it might be used in patients who are waiting for surgery or need long term catheterization.

[Echography of injuries of the penis]

The Authors report 3 cases of penile trauma observed in a period of 6 months. The patients were studied by penile echography and cavernosography. In this series+ echotomography resulted more accurate than cavernosography which gave always negative results.

Combined renal and pyelic fusion with crossed ectopia of single ureter

A case of a forty-five-year-old woman with fused kidneys and intercommunicating pelves drained by a single ureter crossing the midline is reported. A review of the literature is presented.

Renal hydatid disease: report of 9 cases and discussion of urologic diagnostic procedures

Nine cases of renal hydatid disease are reported. All diagnostic procedures are discussed and the important role of ultrasound renal scan and cyst puncture is emphasized. Although it is rare, renal secondary location has to be suspected in cases of hepatic echinococcosis and conservative surgical treatment is required to preserve renal function.