Mass spectrometric identification of diagnostic markers for chronic prostatitis in seminal plasma by analysis of seminal plasma protein clinical samples.

There are few specific diagnostic markers for chronic prostatitis. Therefore, we used mass spectrometry to evaluate differences in seminal plasma protein expression among patients with prostatitis and young and middle-aged healthy controls. We analysed pooled seminal plasma protein samples from four prostatitis patients (two pools), three young controls (one pool), and three middle-aged controls (one pool). The samples were analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Of the 349 proteins identified, 16 were differentially expressed between the two control pools. Five proteins were up- or down-regulated in both of the prostatitis pools compared to middle-aged controls but not between young and middle-aged pools. Progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PAEP) was over-expressed in prostatitis samples compared to young and middle-aged controls. Our findings and those of previous studies indicate that PAEP is a potential seminal plasma marker for chronic prostatitis. In conclusion, we found age-related changes in seminal plasma protein expression. PAEP expression in seminal plasma should be investigated further to evaluate its potential as a diagnostic marker for chronic prostatitis.

Non-prosthetic surgery in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. A retrospective study of 45 impotent patients in the University of Oulu.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the outcomes of the patients with total erectile impotence who have undergone non-prosthetic surgery in our hospital and to make a decision concerning the continuation of this treatment modality. The study series consisted of 45 operated patients, 21 of whom had undergone venous leakage surgery and 24 revascularization of the penis. The follow-up time was at least 12 months. The outcome of venous surgery after 6 months was initially good in 16 patients (76%) but declined in such a way that 12 months after the operation it was good only in 6/21 patients (29%). Despite this, 11/21 patients were capable of intercourse after a prostaglandin E1 injection 1 year from the operation. Altogether 17/21 patients (81%) benefited from venous surgery after 12 months. The outcome of arterial surgery was good in 11/24 patients (46%) 12 months after the operation. A moderate outcome was obtained in another 8/24 patients (33%), who were capable of intercourse after a prostaglandin E1 injection. Minor complications occurred in 20% of the venous surgery patients; 25% of the patients with arterial surgery had complications and half of these were severe, resulting in glans hypervascularization. Our findings indicate that non-prosthetic surgery continues to have an established position in the treatment of severe impotence when all conservative treatment modalities have been used.