Lindane is a scabicide and pesticide that can exert neurotoxic effects such as tonic and clonic seizures that are refractory to many antiepileptic drugs. Folic acid stands out as a potential substance worth testing for its neuroprotective and in certain experimental models anticonvulsive effects. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential therapeutic value of folic acid supplementation on the behavioral characteristics of lindane-induced seizures. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: Controls: dimethyl sulfoxide-injected (C1), saline-treated (C2); lindane (4 mg/ kg; 6 mg/kg; 8 mg/kg; L4; L6; L8, respectively); folic acid 15 mg/kg (F) and F administered 30 min prior to L4, L6, or L8 (L4F; L6F; L8F, respectively). Convulsive behavior was assessed by the incidence of seizures, seizure latency and seizure severity. Lindane administration has shown a tendency of proportional increase in seizure incidence, decrease in seizure latency and increase in seizure intensity. Pretreatment with folic acid significantly prolonged the latency period and decreased the frequency of grade 4 seizures in the L8F group when compared to the L8 group. We concluded that folic acid alleviates the behavioral manifestations of lindane-induced seizures and that it can be applied as a potential adjuvant in lindane-poisoned patients; however, further research is still needed. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 175032]

Background: Considering the high global frequency of prostate cancer, it is necessary to know the benefits and drawbacks of numerous diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Methods: In this article, we include 88 manuscripts (46/88 original studies) found on PubMed, written in English in extenso, dealing with nuclear medicine methods in patients with prostate cancer. Results: Choline PET/CT had low sensitivity in detecting the primary tumor. This method has been almost completely replaced by PSMA PET/CT, which is included in international guidelines and recommended for initial staging of unfavorable intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer, the detection of recurrent disease after treatment, the evaluation of mCRPC, therapy response evaluation, and theranostics. FDG is currently used in aggressive forms of prostate cancer and as a supplement in PSMA PET/CT for patient selection for RLT. Na[¹⁸F]F has demonstrated satisfactory diagnostic capacity for evaluating bone loss; however, due to a lack of research, it is not recommended in international guidelines. ¹⁸F-Fluciclovine has lower sensitivity than [¹⁸F]F-PSMA-1007 for the detection of early biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer. GRPR and SSTR analogs are less frequently used but can be useful in the evaluation of rarer pathohistological types. [^99mTc]Tc-PSMA can be used in resource-limited settings where PET/CT is unavailable, with a lower sensitivity compared to [¹⁸F]F-PSMA-1007 but a higher sensitivity compared to bone scans. Conclusions: PSMA tracers are important tools for evaluating intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer, with limitations in 5–10% of prostate cancers that do not express PSMA. Theranostics are increasingly incorporating PSMA.

Current standard treatments for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), a urological disorder with anxiety as a major comorbidity, are limited in success rates. Recent findings revealed the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs), but there is a gap in the knowledge on its effects in CP/CPPS. Therefore, the objective of our study was to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of CORM-A1 on the scrotal pain threshold and anxiety-related behaviors in experimental model of CP/CPPS. Adult Wistar albino male rats were randomized to Sham (intraprostatic saline) or CP/CPPS (intraprostatic λ-carrageenan) groups (n = 12). Half received CORM-A1 (2 mg/kg/day, i.p., days 1–7), others PBS, forming four subgroups (n = 6). The pain threshold (by an electronic von Frey esthesiometer) and anxiety-like behavior (by an open field, elevated plus maze and light/dark test) were assessed; prostates were histologically examined. Carrageenan-induced CP/CPPS caused significant mechanical pain hypersensitivity (p < 0.001), anxiety-like behaviors (p < 0.001–0.05), and histological prostate damage when compared to corresponding Sham groups. CORM-A1 treatment increased pain thresholds (p < 0.001) and improved behavioral outcomes (p < 0.001–0.01) in all ethological tests. These findings indicate that CORM-A1 exerts analgesic and anxiolytic effects in an experimental model of CP/CPPS in rats.

Background: Bladder neck preservation (BNP) has been adopted in open (ORP), laparoscopic (LRP), and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). However, there are concerns that this technique can compromise oncological outcome and increase positive surgical margins (PSM). The aim was to evaluate the outcome of BNP, focusing on surgical and pathological outcomes, as well as biochemical recurrence (BCR). Methods: We prospectively collected demographic and clinical data from 170 consecutive patients who underwent ORP and LRP between 2014 and 2020. ORP was performed in 63 patients, and the rest underwent LRP. BNP was performed in 85 patients. Results: PSM were found in 24.7% of patients. Of patients with BNP, 22.4% had PSM. There was no significant statistical difference between patients with or without BNP in the form of PSM. Base-positive margins were detected in 9.4% of patients with BNP and in 5.9% of patients without BNP with no statistical significance. Bioptic Gleason score, clinical stage, and preoperative PSA were statistically significantly correlated with PSM. BCR was more common in patients without BNP (23.5%) vs. non-BNP (21.2%). The only statistically significant predictor of BCR was PSM. Conclusion: This study suggests that BNP in RP is not associated with an increased level of PSM. Preoperative PSA, bioptic Gleason score, and clinical T stage of disease were identified as predictors of PSM occurrence.