PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Bartoletti

Publications and source records attributed to R Bartoletti.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cowper's gland duct cyst in an adult male. Radiological and clinical aspects.

A 48-year-old man presenting with perineal pain, weak stream and dysuria was found to have a Cowper's gland duct cyst measuring 1.8 x 3.5 cm, which was investigated with retrograde and voiding urethrography, cavernosography and perineal MRI, which was the single most useful imaging technique. Treatment consisted in complete surgical excision, which allowed an anatomical reconstruction of the urethra. This condition is typical of the pediatric age group, and seldom diagnosed in adults.

Adult↗

Long-term results of anterior and posterior urethroplasty with actuarial evaluation of the success rates.

PURPOSE: We analyzed the long-term results of different urethroplasty techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 98 patients who underwent different procedures for anterior (78) and posterior (20) urethral strictures. Mean followup was 53 months. A total of 20 patients underwent end-to-end anastomosis (group 1), 30 underwent 1-stage procedures (group 2), 28 underwent 2-stage procedures (group 3), and 20 underwent bulboprostatic anastomosis (group 4). The results were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and log rank test. RESULTS: The success rate was 95% for group 1, 93.4% for group 2, 78.6% for group 3, and 70% for group 4. Statistical evaluation of the actuarial success rates failed to show significant differences among the 4 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The stricture recurrences were uniformly distributed over time. Urethroplasty patients must be followed for the rest of their lives.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Cytofluorometric evaluation of nuclear DNA content distribution in renal neoplasms treated by conservative surgery.

The prognostic value of nuclear DNA content in 21 patients who underwent conservative surgery for renal tumors was the object of a retrospective study. Cytofluorometric evaluation of nuclear DNA content distribution was performed on smears obtained from 50-micron thick histologic sections prepared with the Hedley technique, using a Leitz MPVII microspectrophotometer. The DNA indexes were plotted in the form of frequency histograms. DNA measurements were repeated by a cell image analysis system (CAS 200; Becton Dickinson) in 16/21 cases. Nuclear DNA content was diploid in 12 cases, triploid in 4, tetraploid in 2 and multiclonal in 3. No statistically significant correlation was found between ploidy and tumor stage and size, using Kendall's tau test, while there was a significant correlation between tumor ploidy and nuclear grade (p < 0.01). Excluding 2 postoperative deaths, with an average follow-up of 54 months, tumor diffusion was observed in 2 patients (1 with multiclonal and 1 with triploid DNA content) and a local recurrence in a patient with a triploid tumor. Of the remaining 16 no evidence of disease (NED) cases, 10 have a diploid DNA tumor content, 2 diploid, 2 tetraploid and 2 multiclonal. It is concluded that even after conservative surgery for renal neoplasms a diploid DNA content is a favorable prognostic factor. A completely negative prognostic impact of nondiploid tumors is not confirmed, since although all three negative events occurred in this group, there are also 4 NED patients with respectively 70, 46, 43 and 40 months' follow-up.

Adult↗

Lomefloxacin versus ciprofloxacin in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections: a multicenter study.

The efficacy and safety of lomefloxacin 400 mg daily in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections were confirmed in a randomized multicenter study that enrolled 294 patients from 16 centers in Italy. A total of 155 patients were treated with 400 mg lomefloxacin once daily for 15 days while a total of 139 patients received 500 mg of ciprofloxacin twice daily for 15 days. Eradication of the initial pathogen was observed in 87% of patients treated with lomefloxacin and in 81% of ciprofloxacin-treated patients while clinical success was achieved in 85% of lomefloxacin-treated patients and in 76% of patients treated with ciprofloxacin. The differences in outcome between the two treatment groups were not statistically significant (chi 2 = ns). Both drug regimens were well tolerated and no patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events. In conclusion, once-daily lomefloxacin was as effective as twice-daily ciprofloxacin in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections.

Administration, Oral↗

Leiomyoma of the female urethra.

Benign smooth muscle tumors of the female urethra are rare. A case of urethral leiomyoma which had been present for 18 years before surgical removal is reported. The pathogenesis and the clinical aspects of this unusual clinical condition are discussed.

Female↗

Ureterouterine fistula as a complication of cesarean section.

A rare case of ureterouterine fistula caused by a complication of cesarean section after a normal pregnancy is reported. The patient presented with a urinous seeping into the vagina, and the fistula was diagnosed preoperatively on urography and computerized tomography. Treatment consisted of a 2-stage surgical approach, including percutaneous nephrostomy and subsequent ureteral reimplantation.

Adult↗

Asynchronous bilateral non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the testis: report of three cases.

Asynchronous involvement of both testes by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was observed in 3 patients ranging in age from 38 to 82 years. According to the Working Formulation, all cases were classified as large cell immunoblastic lymphomas, and immunohistochemical studies demonstrated a T-cell phenotype in 1 patient and a B-cell phenotype in 2 patients. Relapse to the contralateral testis occurred after a mean interval of 6 months. The negative prognostic impact of these neoplasms is confirmed in the present series, since 2 patients died of disease 7 and 9 months after diagnosis and 1 patient had a laterocervical and Waldeyer's ring recurrence after 1 year.

Adult↗

Orchiectomy and nilutamide or placebo as treatment of metastatic prostatic cancer in a multinational double-blind randomized trial.

The efficacy and tolerance of the nonsteroidal antiandrogen nilutamide in the treatment of prostatic cancer were studied in a large double-blind clinical trial initiated in 1986. Patients with metastatic prostatic cancer without prior endocrine manipulation underwent orchiectomy and were randomized to 1 of 2 groups receiving nilutamide (225 patients) or placebo (232). Nilutamide and placebo were evaluated for efficacy in 207 and 216 patients, respectively. Progression-free survival was significantly longer in the nilutamide group (median time to progression 20.8 months on nilutamide and 14.9 months on placebo, p = 0.005). Median time to death from prostatic cancer was 30.0 months in the placebo group and 37 months in the nilutamide group. Objective regressions were higher in the nilutamide group (41%) than in the placebo group (24%). Significant differences in favor of the nilutamide group were found at several intervals for bone pain, prostatic acid phosphatase, prostate specific antigen, alkaline phosphatase and bone scan isotope uptake. Nilutamide and orchiectomy constitute a more effective treatment for metastatic prostatic cancer than orchiectomy alone, and the adverse effects of nilutamide, usually minor, are outweighed by the significant improvements in most disease measures and progression-free survival.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Leuprorelin acetate depot in advanced prostatic cancer: a phase II multicentre trial.

The therapeutic efficacy and safety of various doses of leuprorelin acetate depot were determined in an open, multicentre study of patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostatic cancer (stages C, D1 or D2). Patients were randomly assigned to receive 3.75 mg (30 cases), 7.5 mg (eight cases), 15 mg (eight cases) and 30 mg (one patient) leuprorelin acetate depot administered subcutaneously once every 4 weeks. Of the 43 patients evaluable, two (5%) had complete remission, 23 (53%) partial remission and 13 (30%) patients stable disease. No significant differences were observed in response rates in relation to dose, disease stage or previous hormonal therapy. Disappearance or improvement in bone pain and urinary symptoms occurred in 63% and 79% of cases, respectively. Serum androgen concentrations decreased rapidly and persistently to castration levels, without significant differences for different doses. Treatment was well tolerated with a low incidence of mild side-effects - gynaecomastia (16%), nausea/vomiting (13%) and diarrhoea (2%). It is concluded that 3.75 mg leuprorelin acetate depot given subcutaneously once every 4 weeks is able to produce hormonal effects in all patients, an overall objective response comparable to that obtained using higher doses.

Aged↗

[Fibroepithelial polyps of the ureter].

The fibroepithelial polyps is a rare benign tumor, that can rise at any level of the upper urinary tracts with a major predisposition at the pyeloureteral junction. The exact etiology is not known, even if we remember that chronic irritation, stasis and infection sometimes caused by an associated calculus are important factors in the genesis of the tumor. The authors report 3 new cases with ureteral seat, of which one is associated with a calculus. This fact underlines the importance of an exact differential diagnostic with the carcinoma as well for the conservative treatment as for the prognosis which is favourable.

Adult↗

Interferon alpha-2a and vinblastine in the treatment of metastatic renal carcinoma.

Twenty patients with measurable metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were treated with interferon alpha-2a (18 X 10(6) IU i.m. 3 times weekly) in combination with vinblastine sulfate (0.1 mg/kg i.v. every 3 weeks). Objective responses in the lungs, bone and liver metastases were observed in 5 of 18 evaluable patients. Dose reduction of interferon alpha-2a (to 9 X 10(6) IU i.m. 3 times weekly) was necessary in 7 patients due to intolerable flu-like side effects and leukopenia (nadir 3,500 leukocytes/mm3). Tolerance was good in 55% of cases. Objective clinical response was observed in 27.7% of patients, and only 38.8% progressed. It is necessary to perform further studies, varying the therapeutic schedules, in order to elicit a better control of the toxic effects and a greater objectiveness of the clinical response.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Pharmacokinetics, endocrine and antitumour effects of leuprolide depot (TAP-144-SR) in advanced prostatic cancer: a dose-response evaluation.

Twenty-two patients with advanced prostatic cancer and one with benign prostatic hypertrophy were given the GnRH analogue leuprolide in the form of a slow-release depot formulation by subcutaneous injection at doses of 3.75, 7.5, 15 or 30 mg. Following the first dose, drug levels were measured by a double-antibody RIA over an observation period of 5 weeks. Thereafter patients continued long-term subcutaneous treatment at the same dose every 4 weeks. Serum levels of leuprolide showed a rapid increase immediately after injection, reaching a peak proportional to dose within 3 h (range of mean values 13.1-54.5 ng/ml). Subsequently, mean drug levels declined to a plateau proportional to dose (0.49-1.99 ng/ml at 5 weeks). A significant dose-dependent increase in the area under the serum concentration-time curve from zero to 35 days (AUC0-35 days) from 541.7 to 1653.9 ng/ml.h was also noted (p less than 0.01). With all doses there was an initial rise in serum LH and FSH, followed by a rise in testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, then a sharp decrease within 3 weeks. FSH inhibition was achieved in all the 20 evaluable patients and was maintained in 17 of them (85%) over 5 weeks. Fifteen subjects (75%) had marked suppression of LH levels. In 13 of them (65%) this condition continued for the entire observation time. Castration levels of serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, however, were maintained in all patients for up to 5 weeks. Two of the 21 evaluable patients (10%) had a complete response; 15 a partial response (71%) and 3 stable disease (14%). No significant differences were observed in relation to dose. Clinical improvement and serum hormonal changes support this as a new and superior method of administration of leuprolide at a dose as low as 3.75 mg.

Aged↗

Intracellular collagen in fibroblasts of Peyronie's disease.

Ultrastructural study of fibrotic plaques from six patients with Peyronie's disease disclosed collagen fibrils located within smooth membrane bound cytoplasmic structures in most of the fibroblasts. These cells also contained prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum, which was dilated and filled with electron dense material, and hypertrophic Golgi structures in which occasional collagen fibrils were seen. Vacuoles containing collagen fibrils and amorphous substance or cellular detritus were also observed. Data from the present study support the hypothesis that intracytoplasmic collagen fibril formation is caused by excessive collagen synthesis by fibroblasts of Peyronie's fibromatosis.

Cells, Cultured↗

Microsatellite alterations in superficial and locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Recent studies described the existence of genetic instability associated with bladder carcinogenesis. Alterations at microsatellite loci constitute a recognized tumor marker of genome instability. A series of 21 transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder (10 superficial and 11 invasive carcinomas) was analyzed for the presence of alteration in 12 microsatellite loci, in order to detect the role of microsatellite instability in genesis and progression of human bladder cancer. Our preliminary results indicate a trend to presence of microsatellite instability (MI) in invasive and undifferentiated tumors compared to superficial and differentiated forms. Eight out of 11 T2-T4 tumors presented a number of altered microsatellite >/=2 compared to one out of 10 Ta-T1 bladder carcinomas (p=0.008). Moreover, 9 out of 15 (60%) G2-G3 tumors had significantly more unstable microsatellites than those differentiated (0 out of 6) (p=0.019). Our results provide an insight into the potential usefulness of microsatellite analysis of bladder carcinoma to better understand which neoplastic forms will evolve to invasive progression and indicate that pronounced MI may be associated with more aggressive bladder carcinomas.

Aged↗