Interferon-ribavirin therapy induces serum antibodies determining 'rods and rings' pattern in hepatitis C patients.

A cytoplasmic antigen associated to inosine-5'-monophosphatedehydrogenase 2 eliciting specific antibodies (antirods and rings, RR) has been identified in patients with chronic hepatitis C who were exposed to pegylated interferon (PI) and ribavirin (RBV). The significance of anti-RR in these patients merits to be investigated. Sera from 88 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients undergoing PI-RBV therapy were analysed for the presence of RR pattern by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 substrate (Inova Diagnostics, San Diego, CA, USA).

Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Materials And Methods: A group of 399 patients with symptoms suggesting prostatitis without urethral discharge attending an outpatient Prostatitis Clinic was considered. All were evaluated by the same urologist according to a protocol comprising medical history, physical and transrectal ultrasound examination.

Efficacy of repeated cycles of combination therapy for the eradication of infecting organisms in chronic bacterial prostatitis.

A total of 137 patients with a diagnosis of chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) were subjected to combination pharmacological therapy with antibacterial agents (ciprofloxacin/azithromycin), alpha-blockers (alfuzosin) and Serenoa repens extracts. Of those, 88 patients (64.2%) showed microbiological eradication at the completion of a 6-week cycle of therapy.

Microscopic and microbiological findings for evaluation of chronic prostatitis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the significance of different diagnostic methods for detecting prostatic inflammation/infection.

Materials And Methods: A group of 233 with symptoms suggesting prostatitis without urethral discharge attending an outpatient Prostatitis Clinic was considered. All were evaluated by the same urologist according to a protocol comprising medical history, physical and transrectal ultrasound examination.

Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test: a method to confirm eradication in children.

We evaluated an antigen-based stool assay as an indicator of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) status during treatment aimed at eradicating Hp in 22 Hp-positive patients and 63 negative control patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay was 100% and 70%, respectively, when the manufacturer's cutoff was used. When we used the cutoff calculated from a receiver operating characteristic curve, the specificity of this test increased.