Impact of enterococcal urinary tract infections in immunocompromised - neoplastic patients.

Infections in immunocompromised-neoplastic patients represent a severe complication. Among bacteria, Enterococcus species constitute a common causative pathogen of urinary tract infections (UTIs), especially among hospitalized patients with or without urinary tract carcinoma, related commonly to urinary tract abnormalities, urinary catheters or prolonged antibiotic treatment. Although enterococci have been considered more commonly as colonization bacteria in the intestine than virulent agents, they are frequently implicated in UTIs.

Effects of secondary biological treatment plant effluent administration, as drinking water, to rats' urogenital system in relation to cadmium and lead accumulation.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the secondary biological treatment plant effluent administration on the kidneys, urinary bladder, and testis of Wistar rats in relation to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation, since such an effluent is used for irrigation of edible plants. Male Wistar rats, randomly assigned into 5 groups, were treated with domestic sewage effluent (DSE) for 24 months. Cadmium and lead concentrations in the DSE, rats' tissues, and urine were estimated by means of atomic spectroscopy.

Vanillylmandelic acid protects against reperfusion injury in an experimental animal model of myocardial infarction.

Vanillylmandelic acid, a catecholamine end-metabolite, has been shown to have several biological properties in previous studies, despite considered biologically inactive. We examined the potential effects of vanillylmandelic acid on the ischemic heart following myocardial infarction and reperfusion on a rat model. Thirty-four female Wistar rats were randomized into two groups, control and experimental.

Curcumin Acts as a Chemosensitizer for Leiomyosarcoma Cells In Vitro But Fails to Mediate Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Cisplatin-Induced Experimental Nephrotoxicity in Rats.

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of various cancers. Although it represents an effective regimen, its application is accompanied by side effects to normal tissues, especially to the kidneys. Cisplatin generates free radicals and impairs the function of antioxidant enzymes.

Screening for prostate cancer: moving forward in the molecular era.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is the most widely known screening test to detect prostate cancer (PCa). However, PSA testing has been recently put under the microscope mainly due to its weak correlation with prostate malignancy. In several clinical trials the PSA-screening validity for the diagnosis of PCa was evaluated.

An Update on Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the arthropod-borne flaviviruses (arboviruses) which are mainly transmitted by blood-sucking mosquitoes of the genus ZIKV infection has been known to be rather asymptomatic or presented as febrile self-limited disease; however, during the last decade the manifestation of ZIKV infection has been associated with a variety of neuroimmunological disorders including Guillain⁻Barré syndrome, microcephaly and other central nervous system abnormalities. More recently, there is accumulating evidence about sexual transmission of ZIKV, a trait that has never been observed in any other mosquito-borne flavivirus before. This article reviews the latest information regarding the latter and emerging role of ZIKV, focusing on the consequences of ZIKV infection on the male reproductive system and the epidemiology of human-to-human sexual transmission.

Numerical Imbalances of Chromosome 7 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive neoplasm. Many chromosomal and gene alterations have been identified in OSCC, including structural and numerical changes. In this study, we implemented a molecular assay of chromosome 7 (Chr7) in order to investigate the level of its numerical instability in OSCC.

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on benign prostate hyperplasia.

Introduction: Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) has been treated with various types of electromagnetic radiation methods such as transurethral needle ablation (TUNA), interstitial laser therapy (ILC), holmium laser resection (HoLRP). In the present study, the effects of a noninvasive method based on the exposure of patients with BPH to a pulsative EM Field at radiofrequencies have been investigated.

Materials And Methods: Twenty patients with BPH, aging 68-78 years old (y.

MRI in the histologic characterization of testicular neoplasms.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to investigate the potential role of MRI in the preoperative characterization of the histologic type of testicular tumors and, more specifically, to differentiate seminomatous from nonseminomatous testicular neoplasms.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one patients with histologically proven germ cell testicular tumors underwent MRI of the scrotum on a 1.5-T unit.

Microbiological quality of indoor and outdoor swimming pools in Greece: investigation of the antibiotic resistance of the bacterial isolates.

During 1997-2005, the microbiological quality and susceptibility of bacterial isolates of swimming pool waters were investigated. A total of 462 water samples were collected from three indoor swimming pools (a teaching pool, a competition public pool, a hydrotherapy pool) and two outdoor swimming pools (a hotel semi-public and a residential private pool) in Northwestern Greece. All water samples were analyzed for the presence of bacteria, protozoa and fungi and susceptibility tests were performed for the bacterial isolates.

Molecular profiling and genomic microarrays in prostate cancer.

In the present review article a global approach regarding the usefulness of genomic microarrays in prostate cancer management, is attempted. Cancer is a multistep process of mutations in key regulatory genes and epigenetic alterations that result in loss of balanced gene expression. A complete knowledge of the interaction between the genetic variability of the neoformation (tumor profiling) and the genetic variability of the host (inherited genome profiling), will be able to determine the better strategy against the cancer and the less toxicity for the patient.

Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies in high risk localized prostate cancer.

In this review article adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies in patients at high risk for localized prostate cancer are presented in some detail. Adjuvant hormone therapy by antiandrogens as well as antineoplastic chemotherapeutic agents such as estramustine and taxanes are referred. Neoadjuvant therapies in addition to systemic therapy before or after local treatment for prostate cancer may improve the outcome of high risk patients otherwise destined to treatment fail.

Penile erection during transurethral surgery.

Intraoperative penile erection during endoscopic surgery, although an infrequent occurrence, is a troublesome complication and a challenge to the urologist. It is difficult to perform the procedure during penile erection, because various complications may occur. The etiology is unclear, and a number of pharmacological remedies have been discussed in the literature.

Combined use of antisense oligonucleotides and chemotherapeutics in the treatment of refractory prostate cancer.

Throughout the past six decades, our understanding of cancer of the prostate and the treatment of the disease using endocrine therapy has been centred on the classical investigations of Charles Huggins, which established that tumor tissue of the prostate as well as the normal tissue of the gland retained some degree of androgen dependence. Attention must now be focussed on the 20-40% of patients who are resistant to endocrine therapy. These patients are non-responders to conventional endocrine treatment after 3 to 6 months, quickly progress and die of the disease.

Solitary fibrous tumour of the epididymis: MRI features.

We present a case of a solitary fibrous tumour, located at the epididymis, in a 65-year-old man, presented with a scrotal mass. Ultrasound and MRI of the scrotum revealed a paratesticular mass, with rich vascularity, arising in the left epididymis. Radiological findings were non-specific and the patient underwent surgery.

Giant simple renal cyst complicated with hypertension.

Solitary renal cysts are a common and usually asymptomatic occurrence in older patients. They may be associated with hypertension or abdominal disturbances, as they can be responsible for compression of surrounding tissues and distortion of renal vessels. This report presents an interesting case of a hypertensive patient with a solitary renal cyst of a marked size.

Quality of life survey in patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is a major health concern for Western patients who are facing important decisions, alongside with the physicians, concerning their treatment. Additionally, the physician has to take into account the potential side effects of the disease and the treatment itself. Treatment for advanced prostate cancer produces problematic physical and psychosocial side effects.

The role of lymphadenectomy in renal cancer surgery. An update.

In the present review the role of lymph node dissection in association to the prognosis of renal cell carcinoma is discussed in some details. The distribution of lymph node metastases, the extend of the lymph node dissection as well as the relation between histologic type and the incidence of nodal metastases are the points that must be well investigated. Nowdays, it seems that the complete lymph node dissection does not demonstrate any survival benefit over the radical nephrectomy alone.

Monotherapy in advanced prostate cancer: an overview.

Prostate cancer is the second leading malignancy in men associated with an enormous research interest in all aspects of the disease. It is well recognized that the regulation of prostatic growth is a complicated biological process. Further more the androgenic dependence of the advanced prostate cancer is well know and in the last 50 years significant progresses regarding the principle of deprivation of androgens for the treatment of the disease occured.

Assessment of in vivo chemotherapy-induced DNA damage in a p53-mutated rat tumor by micronuclei assay.

Production of DNA damage is the basis of cancer treatments such as chemo- and radiotherapy. Such treatments induce mitotic catastrophe, a form of cell death resulting from abnormal mitosis and leading to the formation of interphase cells with multiple micronuclei. In this study, we compared apoptosis induction and micronuclei formation to assess the DNA damage provoked in vivo by cytotoxic agents in established 9L rat gliosarcoma tumors expressing a mutated p53 gene.

Penetration of antimicrobial agents into the prostate.

In the present review article, the penetration of antimicrobial agents into prostatic fluid and tissue was examined. Three major factors determining the diffusion and concentration of antimicrobial agents in prostatic fluid and tissue are the lipid solubility, dissociation constant (pKa) and protein binding. The normal pH of human prostatic fluid is 6.

Micronuclei to detect in vivo chemotherapy damage in a p53 mutated solid tumour.

Apoptosis induction and micronuclei formation were compared following cytotoxic treatments in two rat glioma differing in p53 integrity. In vitro, micronuclei emergence but not apoptosis was linked to the p53 mutated status. In vivo, micronuclei assays were more sensitive to evaluate DNA damage induced by chemotherapy in a p53-mutated solid tumour.

Germ cell transplantation: a review and progress report on ICSI from spermatozoa generated in xenogeneic testes.

Results from the transplantation of donor male germ cells into xenogeneic recipient seminiferous tubules indicate that donor spermatogonia are capable of differentiating to form spermatozoa morphologically characteristic of the donor species. Germ cell transplantation procedures combined with developments in freezing, culturing or enriching germ cell populations have applications of paramount importance in medicine, basic sciences and animal reproduction. Additionally, these techniques can serve as an alternative approach for gonadal protection and fertility preservation in patients with cancer.

Inhibition of benzo(a)pyrene-induced carcinogenesis by vitamin C alone and by vitamin C/vitamin E and selenium/glutathione.

The reduction on peroxidation caused by benzopyrenes by some naturally occurring antineoplastic agents was studied in this experimental work. Inhibition/reduction of experimental carcinogenesis induced by benzo(a)pyrene by vitamin C alone and by vitamin C/vitamin E and selenium/ glutathione was attempted in 224 female Wistar rats divided in four groups. Injected with 10.