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Biomedical subjects

Giovanni Muzzonigro

Publications and source records attributed to Giovanni Muzzonigro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The effect of the enkephalin DADLE on transcription does not depend on opioid receptors.

[D-Ala(2),D-Leu(5)] enkephalin (DADLE) is a synthetic peptide capable of inducing a hibernation-like state in mammals in vivo and in cultured cells in vitro. The effects of DADLE seem to be due to its binding to opioid receptors; however, it inhibits the growth of LNCaP cells, devoid of opioid receptors. We have investigated the effects of DADLE on this cell line using transmission electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry and cytometry, in order to elucidate the general mechanism(s) by which this enkephalin affects cell metabolism. We demonstrated that, similar to cell lines provided with opioid receptors, in LNCaP cells DADLE induces structural modifications of cytoplasmic and nuclear constituents, as well as a decrease in transcription and proliferation. However, DADLE does not provoke an increase in apoptotic or necrotic cell fraction, and, after removing the enkephalin from the culture medium, all effects disappear. We also demonstrated that DADLE molecules enter the cytoplasm and the nucleus of LNCaP cells, mostly binding to perichromatin fibrils and dense fibrillar component, where transcription and early splicing of pre-mRNAs and pre-rRNAs occur. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that the effect of DADLE on transcription and on cultured cells does not depend on opioid receptors. DADLE can, therefore, be envisaged as an extremely promising molecule to be used for inducing a reversible hypometabolic state in various cultured cells, without provoking cell damage or death.

Cell Death↗
PubMed2006

Identification of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase as a novel tumor marker for renal clear cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To explore the involvement of enzymes of drug metabolism in renal cell carcinoma we analyzed the gene expression profiles of tumor and nontumor tissues from the same patient by DNA macroarray. The enzyme nicotinamide N-methyltransferase was selected for further evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase mRNA expression was investigated in paired tissue samples from cancerous and noncancerous parts of the kidneys of 30 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma who underwent tumor nephrectomy. Measurements were performed by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Paired tissue samples were also obtained from 1 patient with chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and from another with oncocytoma to compare the specificity of changes in nicotinamide N-methyltransferase expression among tumors that are related to different renal epithelial cell types. Western blot analysis and catalytic activity assay were also performed to study nicotinamide N-methyltransferase expression. Expression correlated with tumor characteristics. RESULTS: A marked increased expression in tumor tissue was found for nicotinamide N-methyltransferase, which is an enzyme involved in the biotransformation of many drugs and xenobiotic compounds. Differential gene expression measurements in tumor vs normal tissue revealed up-regulation in all clear cell renal cell carcinomas at between 3 and 294-fold (mean 41). In contrast, in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and oncocytoma nicotinamide N-methyltransferase expression did not increase. In addition, nicotinamide N-methyltransferase expression significantly correlated inversely with tumor size. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that a marked nicotinamide N-methyltransferase increase is a peculiar feature of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Additional studies may establish the role of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase in tumor formation and progression.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Correlation between ultrasound alterations of the preprostatic sphincter and symptoms in patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

PURPOSE: We investigated ultrasound alterations of the preprostatic sphincter in patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome. We evaluated the frequency of these alterations, standardized their ultrasound measurement and correlated them with symptoms in patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 37 patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome and 23 healthy volunteers certain parameters were measured by transrectal ultrasound, including prostate volume, hypoechoic periurethral zone volume, posterior prostate lip thickness, bladder neck thickness, detrusor thickness and the degree of echogenicity of the anterior fibromuscular stroma. All patients were evaluated with the International Prostate Symptom Score and National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. Urinary flow rate and post-void residual urine volume were also considered in each patient. All assessments were done independently and consecutively by 3 operators. RESULTS: A hypoechoic periurethral zone volume was found in 36 of 37 patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome. No significant intra-observer and interobserver differences were found in ultrasound parameter measurements. In the chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome group ultrasound findings showed greater post-void residual urine volume, detrusor thickness and hypoechoic periurethral zone volume, increased posterior prostate lip thickness and bladder neck thickness, and greater anterior fibromuscular stroma hyperechogenicity. On multivariate analysis hypoechoic periurethral zone volume was an independent predictive factor for worse National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index pain, urinary and total scores. Posterior prostate lip thickness was the only factor predictive of a worse International Prostate Symptom Score in patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome. A hypoechoic periurethral zone volume, posterior prostate lip thickness and bladder neck thickness with calculated threshold values revealed fair to excellent accuracy for identifying a patient with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound evaluation of the bladder neck-posterior urethra in patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome led us to identify a set of lesions that cannot be found in healthy subjects. The measurement of hypoechoic periurethral zone volume, posterior prostate lip thickness and bladder neck thickness could be useful for following patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome and maybe for better understanding the complicated pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Hematospermia: diagnosis and treatment.

The presence of blood in ejaculate represents 1% of all andrologic and urologic symptoms. In most cases it has a benign character and tends to regress spontaneously after the first episode. But in the same case it can be caused by bladder-prostate or systemic malignant patology, so it is necessary to subject the patient to laboratory and instrumental tests in order to find the best treatment that, as for hematospermia, is an etiological one. Most important for correct diagnosis are patient history, physical examination, laboratory tests, transrectal ultrasound examination of the prostate, MRI, CT, cistoscopy. Hematospermia is rarely associated with significant pathology, especially in younger men. The 3 factors that dictate the extent of the evaluation and treatment are patients age, the duration and recurrence of the hematospermia, and the presence of any associated hematuria. So it is possible to distinguish idiopathic from secondary hematospermia, because secondary hematospermia, i.e. the one in which the bleeding cause is known or suspected, requires an etiologic treatment. Urologists must make rational decisions based on evidence rather than practice defensive medicine. Understanding the pathophysiology and prevalence in populations of different ages helps minimize the likelihood of problems. When in doubt, performing a TRUS, cystoscopy, and basic laboratory analyses limits exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Evidence for the presence of alpha1 adrenoceptor subtypes in the human ureter.

AIM: Several studies have proposed a role for alpha1 adrenoceptors (ARs) in ureteral physiology, indicating that they are present in the ureter; however, few studies have been done to identify alpha1 AR subtypes present in this area. Thus, this study was carried out to characterize the alpha1 AR subtype gene and protein expression in proximal, medial, and distal region of the human ureter. METHODS: Molecular characterization of alpha1 AR subtypes were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. alpha1 AR protein expression was studied by saturation binding curves and by competition binding curves with selective antagonists. Analysis of data was performed using the GraphPad PRISM 4 software. RESULTS: Analysis of saturation binding curves revealed a heterogeneous distribution of alpha1 AR binding sites, the B(max) for the distal ureter was indeed 52.5 +/- 5.4 fmol/mg prot, while a lower similar density of alpha1 ARs was demonstrated in the medial (25.2 +/- 1.7 fmol/mg prot) and proximal (23.4 +/- 0.4 fmol/mg prot) ureters. Molecular and pharmacological characterization of alpha1 AR subtypes indicated that each receptor was present, although with differences in terms of the amount expressed. CONCLUSIONS: Human ureter was endowed with each alpha1 AR subtype, although alpha1D and alpha1A ARs were prevalent over alpha1B ARs. Radioligand binding results revealed that there were no significant differences in the K(d) between ureteral regions, while a heterogeneous distribution of alpha1 AR binding sites was detected, with the highest density of alpha1 ARs in the distal ureter and a lower similar density in the medial and proximal ureters.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Medical-expulsive therapy for distal ureterolithiasis: randomized prospective study on role of corticosteroids used in combination with tamsulosin-simplified treatment regimen and health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical efficacy of the addition of a corticosteroid drug to tamsulosin in the medical-expulsive therapy of distal ureterolithiasis. METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients with a symptomatic distal ureteral stone were included in our study and randomized to one of two home treatment groups. Group 1 patients (n = 30) received tamsulosin (0.4 mg daily), and group 2 patients (n = 30) were treated with a corticosteroid drug (deflazacort, 30 mg daily) plus tamsulosin. The treatment duration was until stone expulsion or 28 days, whichever came first. The primary endpoint of the study was the stone expulsion rate. The secondary endpoints were the expulsion time; use of analgesics; number of emergency room admissions, hospitalizations, and workdays lost; drug side effects; and quality of life of the patients (EuroQol questionnaire, EQ-5D) during treatment. RESULTS: The two groups had a similar expulsion rate (90% for group 1 and 96.7% for group 2; P = 0.612), but the expulsion time was significantly reduced in group 2 patients (P = 0.036). During the treatment period, we did not observe significant differences between the two groups in the number of emergency room visits or hospitalizations, analgesic use, number of workdays lost, or incidence of drug side effects. The quality of life of the patients during therapy, as determined using the EQ-5D, was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a corticosteroid drug in association with tamsulosin seemed to induce more rapid stone expulsion. In addition, tamsulosin alone as medical-expulsive therapy for distal ureteral calculi had excellent expulsive effectiveness.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2005

Randomized trial of the efficacy of tamsulosin, nifedipine and phloroglucinol in medical expulsive therapy for distal ureteral calculi.

PURPOSE: Recent studies show the interesting efficacy of different drug combinations for the spontaneous expulsion of distal ureteral stones. We performed a randomized, prospective study to assess and compare the efficacy of 3 drugs as medical expulsive therapy for distal ureteral calculi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 210 symptomatic patients with distal ureteral calculi greater than 4 mm were randomly allocated to home treatment with phloroglucinol, tamsulosin or nifedipine (groups 1 to 3, respectively). Each group was given a corticosteroid drug and antibiotic prophylaxis with an injectable nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug was also used on demand. The primary end point was the expulsion rate and the secondary end points were expulsion time, analgesic use, need for hospitalization and endoscopic treatment as well as the number of workdays lost, quality of life and drug side effects RESULTS: The expulsion rate was significantly higher in group 2 (97.1%) than in groups 1 (64.3%, p <0.0001) or 3 (77.1%, p <0.0001). Group 2 significantly achieved stone passage in a shorter time than the other 2 groups and showed a significantly decreased number of hospitalizations as well as a better decrease in endoscopic procedures performed to remove the stone. The control of renal colic pain was significantly superior in group 2 compared with the other groups, resulting in fewer workdays lost. Group 3 showed lower analgesic use and decreased workdays lost compared with group 1. No difference in side effects was observed among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Medical expulsive therapy should be considered for distal ureterolithiasis without complications before ureteroscopy or extracorporeal lithotripsy. The use of tamsulosin in this treatment regimen produced stone expulsion in almost all cases in a short time, allowing complete home patient treatment.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed2005

Tamsulosin in the treatment of LUTS/BPH: an Italian multicentre trial.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the efficacy and tolerability of tamsulosin (0.4 mg MR o.d.)for 12 weeks in out-patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) at Italian urology centres. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicentre clinical trial in 261 patients aged > or =45 years, with a diagnosis of LUTS/BPH and total International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) > or =8. Patients were given tamsulosin (0.4 mg MR o.d.) for 12 weeks and examined three times: at a screening visit (2 weeks before inclusion), at inclusion and at the end of treatment. Primary efficacy parameter: Total I-PSS score. Secondary efficacy parameters: obstructive and irritative I-PSS, I-PSS individual items, I-PSS responders, Maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), Qmax responders. Tolerability was evaluated on the basis of AEs. RESULTS: The total I-PSS diminished significantly by 33.1% (P = 0.0001). Both obstructive and irritative symptoms were significantly reduced by 35.4% and 30.3%, respectively (both P = 0.0001). All the 7 individual I-PSS items improved significantly (P = 0.0001), including quality of life. The mean +/-SD Qmax increased significantly by 11.1%. Seven patients (2.6%) reported 11 adverse events; hypotension was not documented as well as no cases of abnormal ejaculation were reported. All events resolved after discontinuation of treatment. CONCLUSION: Tamsulosin is effective and well tolerated. The low incidence or absence of documented hypotension is the main advantage of tamsulosin over the other non selective alpha blockers in the treatment of patients with LUTS/BPH within the setting of an Italian urology referral centre.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed2005

Reliability of echo-color-Doppler in the differential diagnosis of the "acute scrotum". Our experience.

The purpose of this study is to illustrate how echo-colour-Doppler (ECD) plays an important role in the aetiological diagnosis and differential diagnosis of acute scrotal pain, and whether it could be regarded as a detecting method of first choice for a variety of diseases leading to acute orchialgia and having similar clinical manifestations (pain, swelling and reddening of the scrotal skin). We have studied 23 patients between 16 and 32 years of age (average: 24 years); the side affected by acute orchialgia was the right side in 9 cases and the left one in 14 cases. During surgery, testicular torsion resulted to be present in 8 cases out of the 16 examined. Pre-operative ECD found complete testicular torsion with 2 false negatives, showing a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 87%. We, therefore, believe that ECD is rather reliable in the pre-operative diagnosis of testicular torsion and that it could be used for the pre-operative diagnosis of this urological affection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical analyses of opioid treatment effects on PC3 prostatic cancer cells.

Some opioid peptides are able to inhibit the growth of human prostatic cancer cells; in particular, the [D-Ala(2),D-Leu(5)] enkephalin (DADLE) reduces PC3 cell growth. In order to understand how DADLE decreases cell proliferation, we investigated, by electron microscopy, its effects on PC3 cellular components. PC3 cells were incubated with DADLE and processed for both ultrastructural morphology and immunoelectron microscopy. Some cells were incubated with BrU to determine the transcriptional rate. BrU and DADLE molecules were detected by immunogold techniques and the labeling was quantitatively evaluated. Modifications of some cytoplasmic and nuclear components were observed in DADLE-treated cells. Moreover, treated cells incorporated lower amounts of BrU than control cells. DADLE molecules were located in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus, especially on mRNA transcription and early splicing sites. Our data suggest that DADLE is able to slow down the synthetic activity of PC3 cells, perhaps interfering with nuclear functions.

Cell Division↗
PubMed2004

Acupuncture reflexotherapy in the treatment of sensory urgency that persists after transurethral resection of the prostate: a preliminary report.

AIMS: In this study, we wanted to evaluate whether acupuncture reflexotherapy is able to treat the sensory irritative components of LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) that persist after transurethral resection of the prostate. METHODS: We have evaluated 42 patients, randomly selected into three groups: 14 patients received placebo, 15 patients received oxybutynin, and 13 patient were treated with electrostimulation by acupuncture reflexotherapy. RESULTS: Before treatment, the mean maximum flow rate (Qmax) was 21.0 +/- 3.2 mL/sec, the mean International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) score was 12.9 +/- 4.2, the mean I-PSS Quality of Life (IPSS QoL) score was 3.6 +/- 1.2. At the first check-up performed after 3 months, we could observe that the I-PSS and QoL scores were 12.6 +/- 4.3 and 3.8 +/- 1.3 in the group who received placebo; the scores decreased to 11.1 +/- 3.2 and to 3.1 +/- 1.0, respectively, in the 15 patients treated with oxybutynin and decreased to 6.1 +/- 2.6 and 1.3 +/- 1.1, respectively, in the 13 patients who underwent acupuncture reflexotherapy. At 1-year follow-up, these parameters were practically similar. The voiding diaries allowed us to deduce that the average number of daytime voidings decreased by 8% in patients who received oxybutynin and decreased by 20% in 13 patients who underwent reflexotherapy; the average number of nocturnal micturitions decreased by approximately 20% and 60%, respectively, in patients who received oxybutynin and reflexotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study has pointed out that acupuncture reflexotherapy has a real benefit in patients with sensory urgency that persists after transurethral resection of the prostate.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostaining in lymph node metastases and primary prostate adenocarcinoma after neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (NADT) on the cellular proliferative activity in primary prostate cancer and lymph node metastases using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Metastatic pelvic lymph nodes and tumoral prostatic tissue were obtained from 21 patients after radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Sixteen patients received NADT for 3 months prior to surgery; five patients did not and were evaluated as a control group. Histopathologic analysis was performed using PCNA immunostaining. and histopathologic findings of primary tumors and lymph node metastases after NADT were reported. Clinical follow-up was performed for a mean of 43.7 months. RESULTS: Evaluation of PCNA immunostaining of lymph node metastases in the 16 treated patients revealed a mean positivity for metastatic tumor of 4.5% (SD 3.1%); the corresponding value for the five patients who were not treated with NADT was 19.6% (SD 0.94%) (p < 0.05). In four of the treated cases the proliferative activity in the lymph node metastases was greater than that in the other 12 (9.3% and 3.0%, respectively) and no histopathologic regressive changes were observed in these four cases. The residual tumoral proliferative activity in lymph nodes was greater than that in primary tumors (4.5% and 1.3%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the nodal metastases were responsive to hormonal therapy, as assessed by PCNA staining, although a greater residual proliferative activity was observed after NADT in lymph node metastases in comparison with the primary prostatic tumor. This can be attributed to a metastatic phenotype less responsive to hormonal therapy compared to the primary tumor.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Safety and efficacy of transurethral resection of prostate glands up to 150 ml: a prospective comparative study with 1 year of followup.

PURPOSE: We investigated the safety and efficacy of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for prostate glands between 70 and 150 ml. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 113 patients treated with TURP for benign prostatic hyperplasia. A total of 57 patients with a prostate volume of less than 70 ml were assigned to group 1, while 56 with a prostate volume of between 70 and 150 ml were assigned to group 2. Preoperative parameters considered in each patient were prostate volume, International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), urinary flow rate measurement (Qmax) and post-void residual urine volume (PVR). Operative time, resected tissue weight and all complications were recorded. All patients were evaluated 3 months and 1 year postoperatively. Preoperative, perioperative and postoperative data on the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: Each group achieved significant improvement in I-PSS, Qmax and PVR. Operative time was significantly longer in group 2 but the complication rate was similar in the 2 groups. Group 2 resulted in better improvements in Qmax and I-PSS. At 1 year of followup PVR was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2. Multivariate analysis revealed that only age was a significant independent predictor of complications, and only age and initial Qmax were independent predictive variables of outcome. CONCLUSIONS: TURP for large prostate glands is a safe procedure without showing a different complication rate compared with TURP for recommended volumes. Patients with a baseline prostate volume of greater than 70 ml seem to achieve better improvement in obstruction and symptoms.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Immunohistochemical evaluation of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in noninvasive and early invasive urothelial papillary neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression in urothelial papilloma and in noninvasive and early invasive papillary carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: The study included 40 cases of papillary neoplasia of the urinary bladder subdivided into 10 cases of urothelial papilloma (UP); 10 of papillary carcinoma, grade 1; 10, grade 2 (G2); and 10, grade 3 (G3). Invasion of the subepithelial connective tissue was present in 5 cases of G2 and 7 cases of G3. According to the 2002 revision of the TNM system, these cases were defined as T1 and the others as Ta. uPAR expression was evaluated with an immunohistochemical technique in 5-microns-thick tissue sections. RESULTS: Difference in the distribution of positive cases in the 4 groups were statistically significant and greatest in G3. Statistically significant differences were also observed between Ta and T1 cases in terms of uPAR intensity. CONCLUSION: Detection of immunoreactivity for uPAR was associated with high grade UP carcinomas. These data indicate that uPAR is potentially an important prognostic factor in bladder carcinoma.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2004

Transurethral resection versus minimally invasive treatments of benign prostatic hyperplasia: results of treatments. Our experience.

OBJECTIVE: In this non-randomized prospective study the results of standard TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate) versus other minimally invasive treatments were compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among all the patients treated at our Institution for bladder outlet obstruction due to BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) from January 1995 to June 1998, 212 patients have been evaluated; 90 patients underwent to TURP, 13 patients to TVP (Transurethral ElectroVaporization), 24 patients to TUNA (TransUrethral Needle Ablation), 71 patients to ILC (Interstitial Laser Coagulation), and 13 patients to WIT (Water-Induced Thermotherapy). RESULTS: TURP achieves the highest decrease of prostate volume (48.8%), the best increase of maximum flow rate (75.3%) and the highest decrease of residual volume (89.8%) in comparison to other methods; these results are substantially stable 24 months after treatment; on the other hand, after WIT a reduction of prostatic volume of 5.2%, an increase of maximum flow rate of 16.7% and a decrease of residual volume of 25.2% can be observed. The relief of bladder outlet obstruction is indicated by the decrease of detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate in comparison to baseline values; it decreases of 27.5% for WIT, of 34.8% for TUNA, of 38.3% for ILC, of 48.4% for TUR, and of 53.3% for T.P The recorded results are substantially stable 24 months after treatment. A marked decrease of IPSS and QL score can be observed for all the procedures after 6 months, ranging from 40.2% for WIT to 76.7% for TUNA; however, these parameters undergo to a slight worsening 24 months after treatment for TURP, TVP and TUNA, while remain substantially stable for ILC and WIT. CONCLUSION: From the analysis of our results, it appears that TURP is still the golden standard treatment for BPH; TURP remains the most effective and definitive way of treatment, but it could be less attractive from the patients' perspective, especially after minimally invasive treatments with good tolerability have become available. It is therefore evident that the choice of each method should be performed in consideration of patients' general performance status, of symptoms and of indications and contraindications of each method.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Renal sarcoma associated with adult polycystic kidney disease. A case report and literature review.

The development of renal cell carcinoma in Adult Polycystic Kidney Disease (APKD) has been reported in the literature; one of the features of renal malignancy in APKD is the difficulty to make a diagnosis, and the majority of cases reported are incidental findings at surgery or autopsy. We report a rare case of renal sarcoma in a patient with APKD. Sarcoma associated with APKD does not seem to have particular biological characteristics when compared with primary renal sarcoma; however the polycystic kidney represents an aggravating circumstance, because of the difficulty in making an early diagnosis of a disease with a poor prognosis.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

Persistent priapism and histological modifications of the erectile tissue. Two case reports.

Prolonged veno-occlusive priapism is associated with a high risk of fibrosis of the corpora and impotence. We present 2 cases of prolonged low-flow priapism who came under our observation more then 72 hours after the onset of priapism. The first case was a 51-years old man in which the aethiology of priapism was cauda equina compression by a L4-L5 discal haernia, not recovered after surgical decompression. The second case was a 23-years old man suffering of painful priapism lasting for more than 7 days due by abuse of cocaine, alcohol and psychopharmaceuticals. In both cases drainage and irrigation of the corpora followed by injection with an alpha-agonist agent has been insufficient. Detumescence has been obtained with shunt procedure and compressive bondage. The biopsy of the corpora cavernosa showed fibrosis.

Adult↗