Minimally Invasive Transanal Repair of Rectourethral Fistulas

Background

Rectourethral fistulas (RUFs) represent an uncommon complication of pelvic surgery, especially radical prostatectomy. To date there is no standardised treatment for managing RUFs. This represents a challenge for surgeons, mainly because of the potential recurrence risk.

Ejaculatory disorders: pathophysiology and management

Ejaculatory dysfunction (EjD) is one of the most common male sexual disorders, yet EjD is still frequently misdiagnosed or overlooked as a result of numerous patient and physician barriers. The wide spectrum of EjD ranges from premature or rapid ejaculation, through delayed ejaculation, to a complete inability to ejaculate--otherwise known as anejaculation--and includes retrograde ejaculation and painful ejaculation. Conventional algorithms for managing ejaculatory disorders are based either on an organic or psychogenic etiology, with the latter more traditionally considered the main cause. This paper reviews physiopathological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of ejaculation disorders, with a particular focus on the most prevalent disorder, premature ejaculation.     

Tracheal agenesis without esophageal fistula: genetic, resuscitative, and pathological issues

An exceptional case of tracheal agenesis with no communication with the esophagus is described. This malformation needs surgical airway approach and is hardly classifiable. We analyzed the literature and our institutional data: this resulted to be the first case of such anatomical variant. Genetic and pathological issues are reviewed: recent genetic data seem to explain this malformation. We also reviewed the available literature about prenatal presentation. Because prenatal diagnosis is difficult to achieve and current guidelines for neonatal resuscitation do not provide any recommendation, the resuscitative team may not be prepared for managing such a case. Usefulness of uncommon resuscitative maneuvers is discussed: a promptly performed surgical tracheotomy is the only mean to ventilate such a baby.     

Ten years of laparoscopic adrenalectomy: lesson learned from 104 procedures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term results of 104 consecutive laparoscopic adrenalectomies performed during a period of 10 years in two specialist centers. One hundred four patients underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy in two specialist centers in Italy between 1994 and 2003. Indications to laparoscopic adrenalectomy were aldosterone-secreting adenoma (20%), pheochromocytoma (24%), cortisol-secreting adenoma (11.5%), incidentaloma (26.9%), multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A (2.8%), adrenal metastases from lung cancer (3.8%), adrenal cyst (6.7%), and angiomyolipoma (3.8%). Transperitoneal anterior and lateral approaches were adopted in 17 and 84 patients, respectively. Retroperitoneal approach was adopted in three patients. Mean operative time was 108 +/- 39.1 minutes (range, 40-300 minutes). There was no correlation between adrenal tumor diameter and operative time. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 106 mL (range, 40-600 mL). Intraoperative complication rate and conversion rate were 4.8 per cent (5 cases). Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe procedure. After a relatively short learning curve, it can be performed successfully by any surgeon with low operative morbidity and mortality. The size of the adrenal tumor should not be considered a contraindication to this procedure.     

Dendritic spine morphology determines membrane-associated protein exchange between dendritic shafts and spine heads

The purpose of this study was to examine whether variability in the shape of dendritic spines affects protein movement within the plasma membrane. Using a combination of confocal microscopy and the fluorescence loss in photobleaching technique in living hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons expressing membrane-linked GFP, we observed a clear correlation between spine shape parameters and the diffusion and compartmentalization of membrane-associated proteins. The kinetics of membrane-linked GFP exchange between the dendritic shaft and the spine head compartment were slower in dendritic spines with long necks and/or large heads than in those with short necks and/or small heads. Furthermore, when the spine area was reduced by eliciting epileptiform activity, the kinetics of protein exchange between the spine compartments exhibited a concomitant decrease. As synaptic plasticity is considered to involve the dynamic flux by lateral diffusion of membrane-bound proteins into and out of the synapse, our data suggest that spine shape represents an important parameter in the susceptibility of synapses to undergo plastic change.     

Platelet Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate as a Biomarker of Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor Efficacy in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study

Background

Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) are a mainstay in the therapy of erectile dysfunction (ED). The primary end point of clinical efficacy, both in clinical studies and normal practice, is represented by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF).

Objective

To evaluate if platelet cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) could represent a valuable marker for PDE5-I activity in ED.

Design, setting, and participants

The study enrolled 46 patients with psychogenic, organic, and mixed ED (20–71 yr of age; IIEF score <26). Patients were randomized to 6 wk of vardenafil, 5 mg/d at bedtime, or placebo.

Intervention

All patients donated two blood samples, one before starting the protocol and the second after 6 wk of treatment.

Measurements

Platelet cGMP was measured in both placebo and vardenafil groups. All the patients completed the IIEF-Erectile Function (EF) domain and the sexual encounter profile (SEP) and underwent visual sexual stimulation (VSS) coupled with Rigiscan. All the measurements were performed prior to starting the protocol and after the 6 wk of treatment.

Results and limitations

Platelet cGMP production was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in patients taking 5 mg vardenafil versus placebo. Vardenafil was not superior to placebo in improving IIEF-EF and SEP scores. Conversely, VSS-Rigiscan revealed a significant amelioration (p < 0.028) in the vardenafil group versus placebo. The changes in platelet cGMP level correlated well with VSS-Rigiscan (p = 0.0037) but not with IIEF-EF and SEP.

Conclusions

Platelet cGMP could represent a relatively simple, reliable, and objective biomarker of PDE5-I activity in ED clinical studies. Larger clinical studies are needed to further validate the use, utility, and limits of this assay.     

意大利临床实践中的PDE5抑制剂治疗模式：“勃起功能障碍观测研究”的纵向数据

“勃起功能障碍观测研究”（Erectile Dysfunction Observational Study,EDOS）是一项为期6个月的多中心前瞻性研究,研究对象包括被要求开始接受治疗或改变治疗方式的ED病人。本研究旨在分析ED的治疗模式,并比较不同治疗模式的疗效。研究对象为到医院看病并诊断需要进行ED治疗的患者。他们接受ED治疗,并在治疗开始时、治疗3个月、6个月时回答来自IIEF（International Index of Erectile Function）,EDITS（Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction）,SF-PAIRS（Short Form of the Psychological and Interpersonal Relationship Scale）／nq卷的问题。医生可以给病人开出市场上现有的任何疗法,并可以在治疗过程中任何时间改变疗法。在完成为期6个月的分析的1338名病人中,有624人（47％）改变了疗法,714人（53％）一直接受最初诊断的疗法,其中接受治疗的病人持续接受一种疗法的比率显著高于接受西地那非或伐地那非治疗的病人。其它影响这一比率的变量包括性欲低下和ED。各种PDE-5抑制剂在效力、病人满意度、自信心、自发性等方面无显著差异。接受他达拉非治疗的病人的SF—PAIRS“时间相关”项的分数显著优于接受其它治疗的病人。结果显示现有的三种PDE-5抑制剂的临床实践和临床实验结果相似,但病人如果要终止或改变用药,他达拉非的风险较低。     

Giant cell ependymoma of the cervical spinal cord: case report and review of the literature

Ependymomas account for 2–6% of all central nervous system neoplasms. They develop from the ependymal cells that line the ventricular cavities of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord, as well as from ependymal clusters in the filum terminale. Giant cell ependymoma (GCE) is a rare subtype, with few cases reported, mostly in the brain. We describe the case of a cervical spinal cord ependymoma with pleomorphic giant cells and focal calcifications occurring in a 25-year-old woman. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large multicystic and partially enhancing intramedullary tumour extending from C2 to C5. Intraoperative analysis of frozen section tissue fragments suggested a malignant tumour; however, an obvious cleavage plane was present around most of the mass, and a macroscopically complete tumour removal could be achieved. Subsequently, paraffin sections and immunohistochemical investigations revealed unequivocal evidence of a GCE with focal calcifications. This case, the second giant-cell ependymoma to be described in the spinal cord and the first with focal calcifications, highlights the features of GCE and the discrepancy between the worrisome histological appearance, the surgical findings and the clinical relatively good prognosis.     

BsmI vitamin D receptor genotypes influence the efficacy of antiresorptive treatments in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. A 1-year multicenter, randomized and controlled trial

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms could be considered one of the factors influencing the efficacy of the anti-osteoporotic treatments. In this multicenter, prospective, randomized and controlled trial we evaluated whether BsmI vitamin D receptor (VDR) genotypes influence the efficacy of antiresorptive treatment regimes (administered alone or in combination) in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Using restriction endonuclease, we identified the BsmI VDR polymorphism in 1,100 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The women were randomized, taking account of genotype, into five treatment groups: (1) alendronate (Aln, 10 mg/day) plus raloxifene (Rlx, 60 mg/day); (2) Aln plus hormone replacement therapy (HRT, 0.625 mg/day conjugated equine estrogens plus 2.5 mg/day medroxyprogesterone acetate); (3) Aln alone; (4) HRT alone; and (5) Rlx alone. Lumbar-spine bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers were measured at study entry and after 1 year of treatment. Using the general linear model (GLM) repeated-measures procedure, the means of BMD and bone turnover markers significantly differed from baseline after a period of treatment. In particular, the mean change from baseline for BMD was –0.034 (95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.037 to –0.031, P <0.001); for serum osteocalcin (OC) it was 1.369 (95% CI: 1.289 to 1.448, P <0.001); and for urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) it was 1.322 (95% CI: 1.242 to 1.401, P <0.001), indicating a considerable variation before and after treatment of these indicators. In all three cases these effects appeared significantly influenced by treatments, genotypes, and the treatments*genotypes interaction term (P <0.001 each, except for the BMD and genotype effect with P =0.02), and not by the investigational centers involved in the study. In conclusion, in postmenopausal osteoporotic women, BsmI VDR genotypes influence the efficacy of antiresorptive drugs particularly when used in combination.     

Bilateral total hip arthroplasty in subjects with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia

Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) is a rare autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasia caused by abnormalities in the gene(s) coding for type IX collagen and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein. Clinically, the disease is characterized by abnormalities in the epiphyseal cartilage of multiple joints. Orthopedic manifestations include pain and restricted mobility. The disorder, which has a predilection for the femoral head and acetabulum, usually presents from the third to the fourth decade with secondary hip osteoarthritis. We report on 7 subjects affected by multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, which presented hip osteoarthritis in their third decade of life and underwent staged bilateral total hip arthroplasty. All patients experienced pain relief and improved quality of life after surgical treatment.