A machine learning approach to assess Sustainable Development Goals food performances: The Italian case.

In this study, we introduce an innovative application of clustering algorithms to assess and appraise Italy's alignment with respect to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on those related to climate change and the agrifood market. Specifically, we examined SDG 02: Zero Hunger, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13: Climate Change, to evaluate Italy's performance in one of its most critical economic sectors. Beyond performance analysis, we administered a questionnaire to a cross-section of the Italian populace to gain deeper insights into their awareness of sustainability in everyday grocery shopping and their understanding of SDGs.

Evaluation of the "Teaching Guide for Basic Laparoscopic Skills" as a stand-alone educational tool for hands-on training sessions: a pilot study.

Introduction And Objectives: Standardization of hands-on training (HoT) has profoundly impacted the educational field in the last decade. To provide quality training sessions on a global scale, the European School of Urology Training group developed a teaching guide for tutors in 2015. Our study aims to understand whether this guide alone can provide information enough to match the performance improvement guaranteed by an expert tutor.

Association between dietary flavonoids intake and prostate cancer risk: A case-control study in Sicily.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to test the association between dietary flavonoids intake and prostate cancer (PCa) in a sample of southern Italian individuals.

Design: A population-based case-control study on the association between PCa and dietary factors was conducted from January 2015 to December 2016, in a single institution.

Setting: Patients with elevated PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) and/or suspicion of PCa underwent transperineal prostate biopsy (≥12 cores).

A phase II, randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial on the efficacy of Curcumina and Calendula suppositories for the treatment of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome type III.

Objective: The management of chronic prostatitis/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome type III (CP/CPPS) has been always considered complex due to several biopsychological factors underling the disease. In this clinical study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment with Curcumin and Calendula extract in patients with CP/CPPS III.

Material And Methods: From June 2015 to January 2016 we enrolled 60 consecutive patients affected by CP/CPPS III in our institution.

Comparison between Briganti, Partin and MSKCC tools in predicting positive lymph nodes in prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the discriminative capabilities of Briganti, Partin and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomograms in predicting lymph-node invasion (LNI) and to perform a meta-analysis to yield pooled area under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUCs) for model comparison.

Materials And Methods: An electronic search of the MEDLINE and Embase databases up to October 2016 was undertaken. The AUC value, total number of patients and rate of LNI were extracted from the included references.

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Prostate Health Index and 4-Kallikrein Panel Score in Predicting Overall and High-grade Prostate Cancer.

Markers for prostate cancer (PCa) have progressed over recent years. In particular, the prostate health index (PHI) and the 4-kallikrein (4K) panel have been demonstrated to improve the diagnosis of PCa. We aimed to review the diagnostic accuracy of PHI and the 4K panel for PCa detection.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Metabolic Syndrome and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Is Metaflammation the Link?

Purpose: The prevalence of prostatic inflammation (PI) is very frequent in patients affected by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). To investigate the relationship between prostatic inflammation (PI) and the presence of MetS and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a cohort of patients affected by BPH/LUTS.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study from January 2012 to June 2014 on 264 consecutive patients, who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate for bladder outlet obstruction.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, a biomarker in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a single-institutional longitudinal study.

Background: Bladder cancer represents one of the most important clinical challenges in urologic practice. In this context, inflammation has an important role in the development and progression of many malignancies. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of pre-treatment Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on the risk of recurrence and progression in patients with primary non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Impact of combination therapy 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARI) plus alpha-blockers (AB) on erectile dysfunction and decrease of libido in patients with LUTS/BPH: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) represent one of the most common clinical complaints in adult men. Several drugs used for LUTS/BPO may strongly affect sexual function and bother. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the impact of combination therapy with alpha-blockers (AB), 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARI) on the risk of erectile dysfunction(ED) and libido alterations (LA) from randomized clinical trial (RCT).

Metabolic syndrome and prostatic disease: potentially role of polyphenols in preventive strategies. A review.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer are two common urological diseases of the elderly. Scientific community has always looked for a link that could explain the correlation between the two diseases and the role of chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of BPH and PCa. As shown by the reports of the two diseases relationship with oxidative stress and metabolic syndrome, the use of compounds with antioxidant action could therefore affect both the symptoms and their onset.

Association Between the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score and Urodynamic Examination in Multiple Sclerosis Patients With Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between the neurogenic bladder symptoms score (NBSS) and urodynamic examination in patients affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) and related lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD).

Methods: We recruited 122 consecutive patients with MS in remission and LUTD from January 2011 to September 2013 who underwent their first urodynamic examination. Neurological impairment was assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and bladder symptoms were studied with the NBSS.

Heme oxygenase levels and metaflammation in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between intra-prostatic levels of heme oxygenase (HO), metaflammation in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissue in patients with MetS and moderate-severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Methods: Between January 2012 and June 2013, 132 consecutive patients, who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate for moderate-severe LUTS, secondary to clinical BPH, were enrolled. Prostate samples were investigated for the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate, according to the Irani score, and for HO-1 and HO-2 levels measurements.

Association between long-term erectile dysfunction and biochemical recurrence after permanent seed I(125) implant brachytherapy for prostate cancer. A longitudinal study of a single-institution.

We aimed to investigate the predictive factor of erectile dysfunction (ED) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients who underwent low-dose permanent I(125) seed implant brachytherapy and to investigate if ED could represent a patient's reported outcome measures (PROMs) of efficacy of BT and indirectly associated with biochemical recurrence free survival (BRFS). From 2000 to 2012, 176 consecutive patients with low-risk PCa underwent BT. ED was evaluated with the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5).

Accuracy capabilities comparisons between Karakiewicz, Kattan and Cindolo nomograms in predicting outcomes for renal cancer carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Several prognostic models have been proposed to predict outcomes of patients affected by renal cell carcinoma. We analyze the discriminative capabilities of Karakiewicz, Kattan and Cindolo nomograms and perform a meta-analysis to yield pooled area under the receiver operator curves (AUCs) for model comparison. The end points of interest were disease-recurrence free survival (DFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Emerging links between non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic obstruction, metabolic syndrome and its components: A systematic review.

We carried out a systematic review in order to determine the connection between lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to bladder outlet obstruction and metabolic syndrome with its components. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review and Web of Science from their inception until January 2015 to identify all eligible studies on the effect of metabolic syndrome (or component factors) on the presence or severity of lower urinary tract symptoms/bladder outlet obstruction in men. This analysis was carried out according to the STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology guidelines.

Connections between lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic enlargement and metabolic syndrome with its components: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A significant amount of epidemiological evidences have underlined an emerging link between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic enlargement a (BPE). We aimed to assess the connections between LUTS and MetS with its components. Meta-analysis were conducted to determine the mean differences (MD) and confidence intervals of IPSS total score, IPSS-voiding, IPSS-storage and prostate volume (PV) in patients with or without MetS.

Increase of Framingham cardiovascular disease risk score is associated with severity of lower urinary tract symptoms.

Objective: To determine the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) assessed by the Framingham CVD risk score in a cohort of patients without previous episodes of stroke and/or acute myocardial infarction.

Patients And Methods: From September 2010 to September 2014, 336 consecutive patients with BPH-related LUTS were prospectively enrolled. The general 10-year Framingham CVD risk score, expressed as percentage and assessing the risk of atherosclerotic CVD events, was calculated for each patient.

Relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and benign prostatic hyperplasia/lower urinary tract symptoms: new insights from an Italian cross-sectional study.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) assessed by the fatty liver index (FLI), in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) patients and to estimate its ability in predicting LUTS.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 448 consecutive patients affected by LUTS. LUTS were evaluated using the IPSS questionnaire and metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria (by International Diabetes Federation).

Tailored treatment including radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy + androgen deprivation therapy versus exclusive radical prostatectomy in high-risk prostate cancer patients: results from a prospective study.

Purpose: To evaluate outcomes of patients with high risk prostate cancer (PCa) who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) in a context of a multidisciplinary approach including adjuvant radiation (RT) + androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

Matherials And Methods: 244 consecutive patients with high risk localized PCa underwent RP and bilateral extended pelvic lymph node dissection at our institution. Adjuvant RT + 24 months ADT was carried out in subjects with pathological stage ≥ T3N0 and/or positive surgical margins or in patients with local relapse.

Insulin resistance is an independent predictor of severe lower urinary tract symptoms and of erectile dysfunction: results from a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Several studies have linked the association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), erectile dysfunction (ED), and the presence of insulin resistance (IR) due to an underlined metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Aim: This study aims to determine the relationship between IR, sexual function, and LUTS and to demonstrate the ability of IR in predicting ED and severe LUTS.

Methods: Between January 2008 to January 2013, 544 consecutive patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia-related LUTS were enrolled.

Pneumatic lithotripsy versus holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy for the treatment of single ureteral stones: a prospective, single-blinded study.

Objective: The aim of this prospective single-blinded study was to analyze the stone-free (SF) rates between pneumatic lithotripsy (PL) and laser lithotripsy (LL) for the treatment of single and primary ureteral stones and to evaluate potentially predictive factors of a SF status.

Material And Methods: From January 2010 to January 2011, 133 consecutive patients with single and primary ureteral stones were prospectively enrolled. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression were performed to estimate predictive factors of a SF status.

Percentage of cancer involvement in positive cores can predict unfavorable disease in men with low-risk prostate cancer but eligible for the prostate cancer international: active surveillance criteria.

Objectives: To identify predictive factors of unfavorable disease and of biochemical failure in patients treated with radical prostatectomy but eligible for active surveillance (AS) according to Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance (PRIAS) criteria. We aimed to introduce and validate the percentage of cancer involvement in positive cores (CIPC) as potential worse predictive factor.

Methods: From January 2002 to December 2007, 750 consecutive subjects underwent radical prostatectomy at a single institution.

Potential efficacy of some african plants in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

Traditional medicine is very popular in Africa and it is considered as an alternative form of health care. Plants and vegetables used in folk and traditional medicine have gained wide acceptance as one of the main sources of prophylactic and chemopreventive drug discovery and this is due to the evidence of particular biological and biochemical characteristics of each plants extracts. The role of these compounds in urological field may be explained by the antiinflammatory effect through interference with prostaglandin metabolism, alteration of lipid peroxidation, direct inhibition of prostate growth and moreover through an antiandrogenic or antiestrogenic effect and a decrease of the availability of sex hormone-binding globulin.

Effects of Serenoa repens, selenium and lycopene (Profluss®) on chronic inflammation associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: results of "FLOG" (Flogosis and Profluss in Prostatic and Genital Disease), a multicentre Italian study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Profluss® on prostatic chronic inflammation (PCI).

Materials And Methods: We prospectively enrolled 168 subjects affected by LUTS due to bladder outlet obstruction submitted to 12 cores prostatic biopsy for suspected prostate cancer + 2 cores collected for PCI valuation. First group consisted of 108 subjects, with histological diagnosis of PCI associated with BPH and high grade PIN and/or ASAP, randomly assigned to 1:1 ratio to daily Profluss® (group I) for 6 months or to control group (group Ic).