Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate female sexuality in a selective population of newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) women. Materials and methods In this clinic-based study, 63 newly diagnosed consecutive women affected by definite MS were admitted. Disability and depression were evaluated with the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and Beck depression inventory, respectively. Sexual function was evaluated with the female sexual function index (FSFI). A group of 61 healthy female volunteers with the same baseline characteristics were used as controls. Postmenopausal women and patients with other major concomitant neurological, endocrinological, vascular, gynecological, psychiatric disorders, use of medicines that can cause female sexual dysfunction (FSD) and disease-modifying drugs were excluded from the study. Results All the evaluated patients were ambulant with no major neurological impairment (mean EDSS score 2.5, range 0—3.5). None of the patients were considered clinically depressed, but some of them were sad or worried. According to the sexual history and FSFI scores, sexual dysfunction was diagnosed in 22 (34.9%) out of the 63 patients and in 13 (21.31%) out of the 61 healthy females (P > 0.05). Conclusions In the newly diagnosed MS patients, FSD represent an important issue even though disability and other concomitant disorders affecting sexual function were excluded. Multiple Sclerosis 2008; 14: 561—563. http://msj.sagepub.com

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the most effective treatment for this disease. The cornerstone of the treatment of prostate cancer is inhibition of testosterone production which interrupts testosterone-induced growth of the prostate tumor. The dramatic decrease in testosterone levels, however, has several undesirable effects on the metabolic profile and bone metabolism and can also lead to fatigue, loss of libido, gynecomastia, and anemia, provoke vasomotor flushing, and generally affect the quality of life. Due to the long-term survival rates of patients with prostate cancer, treatment-related adverse effects are highly relevant and thus, in each clinical setting, the benefits of ADT must be weighed against treatment-related adverse effects. The current review focuses on the more recently described metabolic complications of androgen deprivation therapy, including obesity, diabetes, lipid alterations, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. In addition, it provides practical management recommendations drawn from the available guidelines issued by the American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association.

Background: Advanced prostate cancer (PC) may accumulate genomic alterations that hallmark lineage plasticity and transdifferentiation to a neuroendocrine (NE) phenotype. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a key player in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, its clinical value and role in NE differentiation in advanced PC has not been fully investigated. Methods: Two hundred and eight patients from a multicenter, prospective cohort of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with available RNA sequencing data were analyzed for tumor FAP mRNA expression, and its association with overall survival (OS) and NE tumor features was investigated. Results: Twenty-one patients (10%) were found to have high FAP mRNA expression. Compared to the rest, this subset had a proportionally higher exposure to taxanes and AR signaling inhibitors (abiraterone or enzalutamide) and was characterized by active NE signaling, evidenced by high NEPC- and low AR-gene expression scores. These patients with high tumor mRNA FAP expression had a more aggressive clinical course and significantly shorter survival (12 months) compared to those without altered FAP expression (28 months, log-rank p = 0.016). Conclusions: FAP expression may serve as a valuable NE marker indicating a worse prognosis in patients with metastatic CRPC.

In current clinical practice, lidocaine gel is widely used as a local anesthetic lubricant before various forms of transurethral instrumentation. Over the past few years, the value of local anesthesia during urethral catheterization and flexible or rigid cystoscopy has been questioned. Strong data are lacking, and the results from the different studies are contradictory. As a result, the correct use of the intraurethral gels is, for the most part, left to individual preference. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the characteristics of the intraurethral gels, to assess the effectiveness, and to define evidence-based indications for their use.