Cactus flower extracts may prove beneficial in benign prostatic hyperplasia due to inhibition of 5alpha reductase activity, aromatase activity and lipid peroxidation.

The cactus flower is deemed to be helpful in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) therapy, although there is no published information regarding its clinical effect in patients and on the mechanism of its biological activity. The present study evaluated the ability of cactus flower extracts to exert an effect on BPH through possible inhibition of such processes as lipid peroxidation, androgen aromatization and testosterone reduction. Cactus flower extracts indeed inhibited aromatase and 5alpha reductase activity in cultured foreskin fibroblasts, and also in human placental and prostatic homogenates. The inhibitory activity in both instances was associated with the dichloromethane or ethanol (methanol) extracts, while a marked antioxidative activity was associated with the aqueous extract. The finding that cactus flower extracts interfere concurrently in vitro with aromatase and reductase activity as well as with free radical processes suggests that these substances may prove beneficial in BPH treatment.

Mixed adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma arising in the urachus. A case report and review of the literature.

Primary urachal carcinomas are very rare urological malignancies. In the present article we report an unusual case of a small cell carcinoma with neurendocrine features and adenocarcinoma arising in the urachus, and review the literature. The results of the immunohistochemical studies are presented.

Environmental and nutritional factors significantly associated with cancer of the urinary tract among different ethnic groups.

A high incidence rate of urinary tract cancer in the Acre District among the Jewish population compared with the non-Jewish population has been studied. The dietary and environmental factors identified and the possible mechanisms of the protective effect that may be conferred by fluid intake, olives and olive oil, cumin, and pepper (chili pepper and pepper) are discussed.

Transvaginal-distal urethroplasty. A multipurpose operation.

Experience of a surgical procedure used to treat five women with varying pathology of the lower urinary tract is described. Transvaginal elongation of the urethra and distal urethroplasty were performed in all cases, with gratifying results. The procedure is presented as a multipurpose operation.

Urinary calculi in children.

Forty-seven cases of urinary calculi were seen, in children from the Western Galilee region, in the last thirteen years. This disease was found in very high frequency in Oriental Jewish children, as well as in Arab children (0.29/1,000 and 0.26/1,000, respectively), and is rare in Jewish children of Ashkenazic European origin (0.04/1,000). These facts were known from previous studies. The striking finding in this survey was the high family incidence of urinary calculi. In 21 of 47 cases from this series one or more family members (up to second cousins) were affected by the same disease. The etiology of "idiopathic" urinary calculi in cases in which no metabolic defect is found was never clearly established. This study suggests that hereditary factors have great importance in a population with a high incidence of this disease.

A correlative cytohistologic study on the interrelationship between exfoliated urinary bladder carcinoma cell types and the staging and grading of these tumors.

The purpose of this sutdy was to demonstrate the existence of a certain correlation between the type of exfoliated malignant tumor cells (transitional and/or epidermoid) in 28 bladder tumor cases, and the stage of these tumors as evidenced in histologic sections of full-depth bladder biopsies or cystectomies. This investigation permitted not only correlation of the type of malignant cells with the stage but also with the grade of these tumors. However, this study should be followed by more investigations based on quantitative analyses or cytomorphometric approaches in order to reach more definitive results.