High-intensity focused ultrasound for prostate cancer: long-term followup and complications rate.

Introduction. As it is well known, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is a minimally invasive procedure for prostate cancer. Many investigators reported their series of patients, demonstrating the effectiveness of the treatment. The most majority of Authors, however, do not report the side effects and the complications of the procedure, which is the aim of our study. The diagnosis and management of complications is discussed, and the oncologic outcome is reported in terms of quality of life. Materials and Methods. We report our experience in 89 patients, low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients according with D'Amico classification. All data collected along the study were analyzed, including side effects and complications of the procedure. Results. Our series demonstrates the effectiveness of the procedure, in line with larger series reported in literature by other investigators. The most important side effects are sexual function impairment and transient incontinence in a minority of cases. Minor complications are reported as well as rare cases of major complications, which can require surgical treatment.

Attitudes to, and practice of, unconventional medicine by physicians in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Given the great public demand for unconventional medicines (UM) in most Western countries, the aim of this study was to assess the attitudes to, and supply of, UM by physicians in Italy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of all of the physicians belonging to the Ordine dei Medici of the province of Parma was carried out by means of an anonymous questionnaire mailed to 2631 physicians and returned by 1734 (66%). The outcome measurements were the prevalence of opinions concerning UM, the prevalence of its practice, and the extent to which demographic and practice characteristics influenced it. RESULTS: The majority of the physicians (53%) attributed some efficacy to UM. This belief was significantly more frequent amongst female physicians (p<0.01). A small proportion of physicians (8%) claimed to practice some form of UM. The following types of physicians were also more likely to practice UM: rural physicians (p=0.01), those working as National Health Service (NHS) general practitioners or in private practice (p<0.0001) and those specialized in areas relating to the musculoskeletal apparatus or anesthesia/intensive care (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This Italian survey found a smaller proportion of physicians practicing UM on their patients than those indicated by other published surveys.