Erectile dysfunction, penile atherosclerosis, and coronary artery vasculopathy in heart transplant recipients.

Introduction: Vascular erectile dysfunction (ED) is the expression of a systemic vascular disease and in particular of endothelial dysfunction. Dysfunctional endothelium plays also a significant role in the onset and progression of coronary artery vasculopathy (CAV).

Aim: This pilot study was designed to evaluate the prevalence and pathogenesis of ED and its correlation with CAV in heart transplanted male.

Monoclonal gammopathy after liver transplantation: a risk factor for long-term medical complications other than malignancies.

The aims of the study were to evaluate (i) the prevalence of MGUS in patients after liver transplantation (LT), (ii) the role of MGUS as a risk factor for malignancy and other medical complications after LT. One hundred and fifty consecutive patients were included in the study and followed prospectively after LT for more than 18 months. Eighteen patients had MGUS before LT, whereas 49 patients developed MGUS after LT ('de novo' MGUS).

Blood levels, apoptosis, and homing of the endothelial progenitor cells after skin burns and escharectomy.

Background: Skin burns are an acute trauma involving an extensive vascular damage and an intense inflammatory response. Bone marrow-derived circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are known to migrate to sites of neovascularization in response to mediators (vascular endothelial growth factor and stromal cell-derived factor-1) released after trauma and ischemia, to contribute to wound healing, and to increase neovascularization of animal prefabricated flaps. Recent data showed an increase in EPC number in burned patients and a positive correlation between EPC number and total body surface area (TBSA) burnt, but data were limited to the first 5 days after thermal injury.

Bone mass in subjects with Klinefelter syndrome: role of testosterone levels and androgen receptor gene CAG polymorphism.

Context: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is a chromosomal alteration characterized by supernumerary X-chromosome(s), primary hypogonadism, decreased pubertal peak bone mineral density (BMD), and accelerated bone loss during adulthood. Decreased bone mass has been traditionally related to low testosterone levels. However, testosterone replacement therapy does not necessarily increase bone mass in these patients, and low BMD can be observed also in patients with normal testosterone levels.