-
Revista Internacional de Andrologia Mar 2024It is estimated that microorganisms colonize 90% of the body surface. In some tracts, such as the genitourinary tract, the microbiota varies throughout life, influenced...
It is estimated that microorganisms colonize 90% of the body surface. In some tracts, such as the genitourinary tract, the microbiota varies throughout life, influenced by hormonal stimulation and sexual practices. This study evaluated the semen differences and presence of , , and in semen samples from patients with symptoms of chronic prostatitis and men asymptomatic for urogenital infections. Fifty-three semen samples were included: 22 samples from men with symptoms of chronic prostatitis and 31 asymptomatic men (control group). In addition to the presence of , , and , semen parameters, total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma, prostatic antigen and some proinflammatory cytokines were evaluated in each semen sample. Volunteers with symptoms of chronic prostatitis presented a lower percentage of sperm morphology (4.3% control group 6.0%, = 0.004); in the semen samples of volunteers in the group asymptomatic for urogenital infections, microorganisms associated with the vaginal microbiota were detected more frequently. The presence of bacteria in the vaginal microbiota can also benefit male reproductive health, which undergoes various modifications related to lifestyle habits that are susceptible to modification. Microorganisms associated with the vaginal microbiota, such as , , and , may have a protective role against the development of male genitourinary diseases such as prostatitis.
Topics: Humans; Male; Prostatitis; Semen; Adult; Microbiota; Coitus; Gardnerella vaginalis; Lactobacillus; Vagina; Middle Aged; Actinobacteria; Female; Young Adult; Chronic Disease; Case-Control Studies; Semen Analysis; Cytokines
PubMed: 38735876
DOI: 10.22514/j.androl.2024.006 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Radioligand therapy with [Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 can be used to prolong life and reduce tumor burden in terminally ill castration resistant prostate cancer patients. Still,...
Radioligand therapy with [Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 can be used to prolong life and reduce tumor burden in terminally ill castration resistant prostate cancer patients. Still, accumulation in healthy tissue limits the activity that can be administered. Therefore, fractionated therapy is used to lower toxicity. However, there might be a need to reduce toxicity even further with e.g. radioprotectors. The aim of this study was to (i). establish a preclinical mouse model with fractionated high activity therapy of three consecutive doses of 200 MBq [Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 in which we aimed to (ii). achieve measurable hematotoxicity and nephrotoxicity and to (iii). analyze the potential protective effect of co-injecting recombinant α-microglobulin (rA1M), a human antioxidant previously shown to have radioprotective effects. In both groups, three cycles resulted in increased albuminuria for each cycle, with large individual variation. Another marker of kidney injury, serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), was only significantly increased compared to control animals after the third cycle. The number of white and red blood cells decreased significantly and did not reach the levels of control animals during the experiment. rA1M did reduce absorbed dose to kidney but did not show significant protection here, but future studies are warranted due to the recent clinical studies showing a significant renoprotective effect in patients.
Topics: Animals; Alpha-Globulins; Mice; Male; Humans; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Dipeptides; Lutetium; Kidney; Radiopharmaceuticals; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant; Blood Urea Nitrogen; Prostate-Specific Antigen
PubMed: 38734765
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61370-2 -
Journal of Infection in Developing... Apr 2024This study aims to show the bacteriologic picture of acute prostatitis and bacteremia caused by infective agent after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy...
INTRODUCTION
This study aims to show the bacteriologic picture of acute prostatitis and bacteremia caused by infective agent after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSBx) and to determine the resistance rates of the infections in patients undergoing transrectal biopsy and to guide prophylaxis approach before biopsy.
METHODOLOGY
The retrospective data of 935 patients who underwent TRUSBx between January 2010 to January 2019 were reviewed. Pre-biopsy urine cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility were obtained. Subsequently, patients admitted to the hospital with any complaint after biopsy were examined for severe infection complications.
RESULTS
Of the 430 (61.7%) patients who underwent urine culture before the procedure, 45 (10.5%) had growth; 30 (66.7%) of the growing microorganisms were Escherichia coli. Twenty (44.4%) of all Gram-negative agents in pre-biopsy urine culture were susceptible to quinolone. Post TRUSBx bacteremia was present in 18.2%, urinary system infection in 83.6%, and hospitalization in 61.8% of 55 patients who were admitted to the hospital. In the isolated gram-negative microorganisms, fluoroquinolones resistance in urinary system infections was seen in 40% and bacteremia was seen in 70% of the cases. ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria were determined in 40% of infections in blood and 38.5% of urinary system infections in the post biopsy period in the current study.
CONCLUSIONS
These high antibiotic resistance rates suggest that we better review our pre-procedure prophylaxis approaches.
Topics: Humans; Male; Retrospective Studies; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Middle Aged; Aged; Prostate; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteremia; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Prostatitis; Image-Guided Biopsy; Urinary Tract Infections
PubMed: 38728642
DOI: 10.3855/jidc.18209 -
European Journal of Case Reports in... 2024Melioidosis is an infection caused by , a Gram-negative bacterium. It is a disease endemic to Southeast Asia and northern Australia although its global incidence has...
BACKGROUND
Melioidosis is an infection caused by , a Gram-negative bacterium. It is a disease endemic to Southeast Asia and northern Australia although its global incidence has been rising. It most commonly infects people with certain identified risk factors such as diabetes, alcoholism, thalassemia, and underlying chronic disease involving lungs, kidney and liver. This bacterium is capable of producing a wide array of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic disease to localised infections such as in the lung, bone or skin to disseminated infection.
CASE DESCRIPTION
This is a case, from United Arab Emirates, of a 40-year-old male recently diagnosed with diabetes who presented with multiple abscesses and was eventually diagnosed with disseminated melioidosis. He was treated successfully with antibiotics and drainage of abscesses.
CONCLUSION
In non-endemic regions, melioidosis can be easily missed in common diagnostic approaches. This gap of awareness could delay the diagnosis and allow further deterioration of the patient due to complications. Thus, case reports like this can enlighten internists about changing incidences and complexity of clinical presentations, thus preparing them to better handle such patients in the future.
LEARNING POINTS
Owing to its considerably rare incidence in non-endemic regions including the United Arab Emirates, melioidosis can easily be overlooked or misdiagnosed.Moreover, due to similarity with multiple other diseases and infections as well as significant absence from standard medical curricula, melioidosis is rarely on the differential list of an internist.This report aims to enhance awareness and alertness to aid earlier detection and avoid severe complications.
PubMed: 38715889
DOI: 10.12890/2024_004415 -
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &... May 2024Several studies have found lower prostate cancer diagnosis rates among men with HIV (MWH) than men without HIV, but reasons for this finding remain unclear.
BACKGROUND
Several studies have found lower prostate cancer diagnosis rates among men with HIV (MWH) than men without HIV, but reasons for this finding remain unclear.
METHODS
We used claims data from a South African private medical insurance scheme (07/2017-07/2020) to assess prostate cancer diagnosis rates among men aged ≥18 years with and without HIV. Using flexible parametric survival models, we estimated hazard ratios (HR) for the association between HIV and incident prostate cancer diagnoses. We accounted for potential confounding by age, population group, and sexually transmitted infections (confounder-adjusted model), and additionally for potential mediation by prostatitis diagnoses, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, and prostate biopsies (fully adjusted model).
RESULTS
We included 288 194 men, of whom 20 074 (7%) were living with HIV. Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 1 614 men without HIV (median age at diagnosis: 67 years) and in 82 MWH (median age at diagnosis: 60 years). In the unadjusted analysis, prostate cancer diagnosis rates were 35% lower among MWH than men without HIV (HR 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-0-82). However, this association was no longer evident in the confounder-adjusted model (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.82-1.30) or in the fully adjusted model (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.91-1.44).
CONCLUSIONS
When accounting for potential confounders and mediators, our analysis found no evidence of lower prostate cancer diagnosis rates among men with HIV than men without HIV in South Africa.
IMPACT
Our results do not support the hypothesis that HIV decreases the risk of prostate cancer.
PubMed: 38713162
DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-24-0137 -
European Heart Journal. Case Reports May 2024Infective endocarditis rarely results in mitral stenosis. This report presents a case of prosthetic valve infective endocarditis caused by infection, which resulted in...
BACKGROUND
Infective endocarditis rarely results in mitral stenosis. This report presents a case of prosthetic valve infective endocarditis caused by infection, which resulted in mitral stenosis and was difficult to diagnose.
CASE SUMMARY
A 78-year-old Japanese man underwent aortic and mitral bioprosthetic valve replacement six years prior to the initiation of hormone therapy for prostate cancer. Three weeks after hormone therapy initiation, the patient developed exertional dyspnoea that progressively worsened and ultimately led to orthopnoea. Chest radiography revealed pulmonary congestion, and transthoracic echocardiography revealed mitral stenosis that was not present three months previously. The patient progressed to heart failure, and bicuspid valve replacement was performed. The excised aortic and mitral bioprosthetic valves were covered with vegetations, and pathological examination confirmed the presence of . Therefore, the cause of mitral stenosis was infective endocarditis.
DISCUSSION
In patient with rapidly progressive prosthetic valve stenosis after valve replacement, infective endocarditis due to should be suspected even if blood cultures are negative.
PubMed: 38707527
DOI: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytae205 -
International Journal of Pharmaceutics:... Jun 2024Pathogenic bacteria cause chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP). CPB is characterized by urinary tract infection and persistence of pathogenic bacteria in prostatic...
Pathogenic bacteria cause chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP). CPB is characterized by urinary tract infection and persistence of pathogenic bacteria in prostatic secretion. Owing to poor blood supply to the prostate gland and limited drug penetration, CBP treatment is difficult. Transferosomes are ultradeformable vesicles for nanocarrier applications, which have become an important area of nanomedicine. Such carriers are specifically targeted to the pathological area to provide maximum therapeutic efficacy. It consists of a lipid bilayer soybean lecithin phosphatidylcholine (PC), an edge activator Tween 80 with various ratios, and a chloroform/methanol core. Depending on the lipophilicity of the active substance, it can be encapsulated within the core or among the lipid bilayer. Due to their exceptional flexibility, which enables them to squeeze themselves through narrow pores that are significantly smaller than their size, they can be a solution. One formulation (Cipro5 PEG) was selected for further in vitro analysis and was composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC), Tween 80, and polyethylene glycol-6 stearate (PEG-6 stearate) in a ratio of 3:3:1 in a chloroform/methanol mixture (1:2 /v). In vitro, the results showed that PEGylated transferosomes had faster drug release, higher permeation, and increased bioavailability. The transferosomes were quantified with a particle size of 202.59 nm, a zeta potential of-49.38 mV, and a drug entrapment efficiency of 80.05%. The aim of this study was to investigate drug targeting. Therefore, Monoclonal antibody IgG was coupled with Cipro5 PEG, which has specificity and selectivity for conjugated nanoparticles. In vivo, a total of twenty-five adult Wistar rats were obtained and randomly divided into 5 groups, each of 5 rats at random: the control group, blank group, positive control group, Cipro 5PEG group, and Cipro 5PEG coupled with IgG antibody group. The cytokines levels (IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α) in the serum were detected by analysis kits. Compared with the control group, treatment with Cipro 5PEG coupled with the IgG antibody could significantly inhibit cytokines, according to histological analysis. Cipro 5PEG, coupled with the IgG antibody group, reduced prostate tissue inflammation. Hence, our results show a promising approach to delivering antibiotics for the targeted therapy of CBP.
PubMed: 38706465
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2024.100247 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Several studies have shown an association between prostate carcinoma (PCa) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); however, none of the studies so far have identified the...
Several studies have shown an association between prostate carcinoma (PCa) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); however, none of the studies so far have identified the histopathological and genetic markers of cancer aggressiveness associated with EBV in PCa tissues. In this study, we used previously characterized EBV-PCR-positive (n = 39) and EBV-negative (n = 60) PCa tissues to perform an IHC-based assessment of key histopathological and molecular markers of PCa aggressiveness (EMT markers, AR expression, perineural invasion, and lymphocytic infiltration characterization). Additionally, we investigated the differential expression of key oncogenes, EMT-associated genes, and PCa-specific oncomiRs, in EBV-positive and -negative tissues, using the qPCR array. Finally, survival benefit analysis was also performed in EBV-positive and EBV-negative PCa patients. The EBV-positive PCa exhibited a higher percentage (80%) of perineural invasion (PNI) compared to EBV-negative PCa (67.3%) samples. Similarly, a higher lymphocytic infiltration was observed in EBV-LMP1-positive PCa samples. The subset characterization of T and B cell lymphocytic infiltration showed a trend of higher intratumoral and tumor stromal lymphocytic infiltration in EBV-negative tissues compared with EBV-positive tissues. The logistic regression analysis showed that EBV-positive status was associated with decreased odds (OR = 0.07; p-value < 0.019) of CD3 intratumoral lymphocytic infiltration in PCa tissues. The analysis of IHC-based expression patterns of EMT markers showed comparable expression of all EMT markers, except vimentin, which showed higher expression in EBV-positive PCa tissues compared to EBV-negative PCa tissues. Furthermore, gene expression analysis showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the expression of CDH1, AR, CHEK-2, CDKN-1B, and CDC-20 and oncomiRs miR-126, miR-152-3p, miR-452, miR-145-3p, miR-196a, miR-183-3p, and miR-146b in EBV-positive PCa tissues compared to EBV-negative PCa tissues. Overall, the survival proportion was comparable in both groups. The presence of EBV in the PCa tissues results in an increased expression of certain oncogenes, oncomiRs, and EMT marker (vimentin) and a decrease in CD3 ITL, which may be associated with the aggressive forms of PCa.
Topics: Humans; Male; Prostatic Neoplasms; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Biomarkers, Tumor; Aged; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genetic Markers; Middle Aged; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Neoplasm Invasiveness
PubMed: 38705879
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60538-0 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jun 2024Heterotopic ossification (HO) develops when bone formation appears in soft tissues, usually after an injury or major surgery. Timely and accurately diagnosing of this...
INTRODUCTION
Heterotopic ossification (HO) develops when bone formation appears in soft tissues, usually after an injury or major surgery. Timely and accurately diagnosing of this rare event is essential due to the possibility of misdiagnosis as a maintained foreign body, infection, incisional neoplastic recurrence, and metastatic or primary neoplasms.
CASE PRESENTATION
In this study, we present a 57-year-old man who was operated for peritonitis due to perforated appendicitis, and an asymptomatic HO was accidentally found on an incisional line of previous open prostatectomy about 5 years earlier due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. A bone density lesion was seen in the fascia and on the incisional scar of previous surgery.
DISCUSSION
HO rarely occurs within an abdominal incision due to surgery. It is reported only within vertical midline incisions and mainly within the first year after the operation. Imaging confirms the diagnosis of HO in previous abdominal surgery scars, which reveals dense vertical calcification along the previous incisional scar. In the case of HO, the exclusive effective management is the entire surgical excision with primary closure, and NSAIDs are the preventive choices.
CONCLUSION
HO should be considered in patients presenting with discomfort or palpable mass or even asymptomatic patients with previous abdominal surgeries besides considering relative history such as surgical complications or neoplasms.
PubMed: 38704967
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109655 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Awareness is vital for cancer prevention. US studies show a strong link between web searches and cancer incidence. In Europe, the relationship remains unclear. This... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Awareness is vital for cancer prevention. US studies show a strong link between web searches and cancer incidence. In Europe, the relationship remains unclear. This study characterizes regional and temporal relationships between cancer incidence and web searches and investigates the content of searches related to breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate, and testicular cancer, brain tumors, and melanoma in Germany (July 2018-December 2019). Aggregate data from Google Ads Keyword Planner and national cancer registry data were analyzed. Spearman's correlation coefficient (r) examined associations between cancer incidence and web search, repeated measures correlation (r) assessed time trends and searches were qualitatively categorized. The frequency of malignancy-related web searches correlated with cancer incidence (r = 0.88, P = 0.007), e.g., breast cancer had more queries than the lower-incidence cervical cancer. Seasonally, incidence and searches followed similar patterns, peaking in spring and fall, except for melanoma. Correlations between entity incidence and searches (0.037 ≤ r ≤ 0.208) varied regionally. Keywords mainly focused on diagnosis, symptoms, and general information, with variations between entities. In Germany, web searches correlated with regional and seasonal incidence, revealing differences between North/East and South/West. These insights may help improve prevention strategies by identifying regional needs and assessing impact of awareness campaigns.
Topics: Humans; Germany; Incidence; Information Seeking Behavior; Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Female; Internet; Male; Registries
PubMed: 38702333
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60267-4