Transperineal laser ablation of the prostate as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer: The results of a Delphi consensus project.

Objective: To evaluate transperineal laser ablation (TPLA) with Echolaser® (Echolaser® TPLA, Elesta S.p.A.

Efficacy of N-acetylcysteine, D-mannose and to Treat Recurrent Cystitis in Breast Cancer Survivals.

Background/aim: Breast cancer survivors in adjuvant therapy, frequently experience the estrogen deficiency with genitourinary symptoms mostly represented by recurrent bacterial cystitis. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine, D-mannose and Morinda citrifolia fruit extract (NDM), when associated to antibiotic therapy, in reducing the persistence of recurrent cystitis in this risk population.

Patients And Methods: Sixty breast cancer survived women with recurrent cystitis were retrospectively examined.

Prostate cancer as a paradigm of multidisciplinary approach? Highlights from the Italian young radiation oncologist meeting.

Aims And Background: The diagnostic and therapeutic approach to prostate cancer has evolved rapidly in last decades. Young professionals need an update about these recent developments in order to improve the care of patients treated in their daily clinical practice.

Methods: On May 18, 2013, AIRO Giovani (the young section of the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology) organized a multidisciplinary meeting involving, as speakers, several young physicians from many parts of Italy actively involved in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to prostate cancer.

[The efficacy of degarelix on LUTS (Lower urinary tract symptoms) relief in patients with prostate cancer].

Hormonal therapy is one of the treatment options for prostate cancer patients. There are many hormonal treatments modality to block the testosterone effect on prostate cancer cell proliferation. Degarelix is an innovative molecule able to antagonize the GnRH receptor with comparable oncological results to GnRH agonist, but with less side effects, avoiding the flare up phase, and better efficacy in LUTS relief.

A retrospective study to reduce prostate biopsy cores by a real time interactive tool.

Objective: Prostate carcinoma (PCa) is one of the most frequent neoplasms, with more than 110.000 new cases/year in Europe. As PCa is not clearly demonstrable at transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), guidelines on TRUS guided biopsy suggest to perform a random tissue sampling (at least 8-12 "cores" depending on gland volume).

The role of Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis of vasculogenic impotence.

Objective: Many authors have demonstrated that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their related risk factors can predict erectile dysfunction (ED). The penile Doppler ultrasonography is a method to evaluate the cavernous blood flow in people with suspected vasculogenic impotence. The goal of our study was to evaluate if erectile dysfunction is associated to a vascular disease and which is the role of penile Doppler investigation.

Pelvic floor rehabilitation for continence recovery after radical prostatectomy: role of a personal training re-educational program.

Purpose: radical prostatectomy (RP) is affected by urinary incontinence (UI) that, even if temporary, can severely impact patients quality of life. We investigated if a post surgery tutored and personal trained pelvic floor re-educational program improves continence recovery more than pelvic floor exercises performed by patients on their own.

Patients And Methods: 332 incontinent (>1 pad/daily) patients (pts) submitted to RP between 2006 and 2008 were prospectively randomized in group A (166 pts) and group B (166 pts).

Variations in blood ghrelin levels in prostate cancer patients submitted to hormone suppressive treatment.

Background: Ghrelin is a natural growth hormone segretagogue (GHS), involved in the biology of a number of diseases such as lung cancer and prostate cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship existing between ghrelin and testosterone, insulin, and PSA in prostate adenocarcinoma.

Patients And Methods: A patient population and a control population were studied.

Management of thyroid nodules as secondary involvement of renal cell carcinoma: case report and literature review.

Literature reports intra-thyroid involvement of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as a very rare and late event after kidney cancer diagnosis. Nevertheless, it must be investigated and differentiated from primary thyroid nodules. This is important in order to give the patient the best and earliest treatment.

Accuracy of a new echographic method (RULES, radiofrequency ultrasonic local estimators) in prostate cancer diagnosis.

Background: This study evaluated the accuracy of a new echographic method named RULES (radiofrequency ultrasonic local estimators) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: A double-blind prospective study was carried out on 105 patients mean age 66.6 years, prostate specific antigen (PSA) >4 ng/ml with clinical and/or biochemical suspicious of prostate cancer.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the urinary bladder: case report and review of the literature.

Small and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the urinary bladder are rare and usually coexist with urothelial carcinoma in elderly patients. Here we report the clinical case of a young smoker who was referred to our institution for a primary pure neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder, and review the existing literature on small and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the urinary bladder.

Alpha 1 antichymotrypsin genotype is associated with increased risk of prostate carcinoma and PSA levels.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-skin cancer among men in Western countries. Inflammation appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of PCa. Recent studies have shown that many inflammatory genes are associated with the risk of PCa.

A novel spectral ultrasonic differentiation method for marking regions of interest in biological tissues. In vivo preliminary results.

Background: "in vivo" application of a new echographic method able to better identify neoplastic tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate its accuracy in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Double-blind prospective study on 60 patients (pts) submitted to both transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) of prostate with a traditional echograph connected to a new hardware/software platform named FEMMINA (Fast Echographic Multiparameter Multi Image Novel Apparatus) that processes the echo signal by RULES (Radiofrequency Ultrasonic Local EStimators) algorithm and to a prostatic biopsy (8 to 12 cores).

The effects of renal ischemia on kidney function in renal cancer conservative surgery.

Over the past ten years nephron sparing surgery for renal cancer has been compared to radical nephrectomy for what concern oncological results, even in elective situations but it is necessary to consider functional results (renal function) as well. Clamping renal artery, inducing a temporary renal ischemia that might represent the major known cause of permanent renal damage, is advised for both open and laparoscopic conservative approach. Data from literature show that before the clamping, the patient should be adequately hydrated and receive mannitol.

Hematoma into peritoneum following transrectal echo-guide prostate biopsy inducing lower abdominal and urinary tract symptoms.

A 58 years man was submitted to a sextant echo-guided transrectal prostate biopsy. Three weeks later he started complaining of lower abdominal and urinary tract symptoms. Abdominal ultrasound and 3D contrast enhanced CT detected an ovular shaped and capsulated 140 cc volume mass into the peritoneum compressing the bladder.

Development and validation of the BSP-BPH (Bononian Satisfaction Profile--Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) a "disease-specific" questionnaire for the evaluation of health related quality of life in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Objectives: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) associated to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) are very common in middle aged and older men. Since BPH, and the related therapies have a significant impact on a patient's Quality of Life (QoL), the health related quality of life (HQoL) evaluation is becoming an important aspect to be considered. The present study deals with the development and validation of a BPH disease specific questionnaire (Bononian Satisfaction Profile - BSP-BPH), considering HQoL in patients seeking medical help for BPH.

BSP-PC (Bononian Satisfaction Profile--Prostate Cancer): development and validation of a "disease-specific" questionnaire for the evaluation of health-related quality of life in patients with prostate cancer.

Objectives: Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common neoplasia in men over 50 years of age in western countries. Nowadays, since there are several alternative medical-surgical treatments for this cancer, health-related quality of life (HQoL) evaluation has become very important. The present study deals with the development and the validation of a questionnaire (BSP-PC), considering the HQoL in prostate cancer patients.