[Is total parenteral nutrition necessary in patients subjected to radical cystectomy?] . / E necessaria la nutrizione parenterale totale nei pazienti sottoposti a cistectomia radicale?

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to evaluate the nutritional stats in candidates to radical cystectomy in order to minimize post-operative complications. METHODS: The evaluation is carried out on the basis of anthropometric, bio-humoral and immunologic indexes in a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent major urologic surgery during the last two years. Twenty cases of invasive bladder cancer (mean age 71 years) who underwent radical cystectomy have been studied: in 13 cases urinary diversion by Camey II technique, in 7 cases by Bricker technique has been performed. In 5 cases of orthotopic neo-bladder, endovenous parenteral protein sparing nutrition was carried out for 4 days, in the remaining 15 cases glucidic and saline solutions have been administered. RESULTS: In all the 20 evaluated patients post-operative complications have not been observed. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the data obtained, the conclusion is drawn that patients with bladder cancer are generally not so malnourished to need an artificial feeding regimen. Considering the urinary tract substitution effects on renal function and metabolism, particularly for the role of glucose on proximal and distal tubule the usefulness of administering only glucidic solutions and maintaining a good diuresis is underlined.

Different portions of the maize root system host Burkholderia cepacia populations with different degrees of genetic polymorphism.

In order to acquire a better understanding of the spatial and temporal variations of genetic diversity of Burkholderia cepacia populations in the rhizosphere of Zea mays, 161 strains were isolated from three portions of the maize root system at different soil depths and at three distinct plant growth stages. The genetic diversity among B. cepacia isolates was analysed by means of the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. A number of diversity indices (richness, Shannon diversity, evenness and mean genetic distance) were calculated for each bacterial population isolated from the different root system portions. Moreover, the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) method was applied to estimate the genetic differences among the various bacterial populations. Our results showed that, in young plants, B. cepacia colonized preferentially the upper part of the root system, whereas in mature plants, B. cepacia was mostly recovered from the terminal part of the root system. This uneven distribution of B. cepacia cells among different root system portions partially reflected marked genetic differences among the B. cepacia populations isolated along maize roots on three distinct sampling occasions. In fact, all the diversity indices calculated indicated that genetic diversity increased during plant development and that the highest diversity values were found in mature maize plants, in particular in the middle and terminal portions of the root system. Moreover, the analysis of RAPD patterns by means of the AMOVA method revealed highly significant divergences in the degree of genetic polymorphism among the various B. cepacia populations.

Congenital fibroepithelial polyp of prostatic urethra in an adult.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an unusual case of congenital fibroepithelial polyp of the prostatic urethra in an adult, presented with acute urinary retention. METHODS: Cystouretrographic, endoscopical and pathological investigations are discussed. RESULTS: The definitive diagnosis of the tenth case of this benign lesion was made only after endoscopic resection and pathological examination. The complete resolution of the symptoms has been quick. CONCLUSIONS: We stress this unusual pathology in order to focus its peculiarity in aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.

[Granulomatous prostatitis as collateral effect of intravesical immunotherapy with BCG]. / Prostatite granulomatosa come effetto collaterale dell'immunoterapia endovescicale con BCG.

Twenty-five male patients with superficial bladder cancer underwent intravesical Bacillus Calmette Guerin immunotherapy. A high incidence of side effects has occurred using three different substrains of BCG. Our interest has been focused on BCG related granulomatous prostatitis: we have found four asymptomatic patients with histologically diagnosed disease. We suppose therefore that its incidence is underestimated.