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Anastomosing hemangioma of the ovary is a rare vascular tumor that predominantly affects middle-aged women. Despite its benign nature, its histological appearance can mimic aggressive vascular lesions, posing diagnostic challenges. This review aims to provide an overview of this uncommon entity.

This review will describe histological features of infectious diseases involving the urogenital tract, and is organized by organ or location. Emphasis is placed on selected parasitic, viral and bacterial infections that either occur more frequently in the urogenital tract than elsewhere (schistosomiasis), or are of particular importance to the pathologist because of their common occurrence and relation to malignancy (human papillomavirus), or relationship to pelvic inflammatory disease (actinomycosis). Detailed discussions of the life cycle of schistosomiasis and the characteristics of human papillomavirus are included because knowledge of their interactions with the human host is important in order to understand the histological features seen in these infections. The histological features of these infections will be discussed, as well as selected inflammatory conditions that may mimic infection. Only brief comments will be made of bacterial and other viral infections, many of them sexually transmitted, that occur in the urogenital tract and are more commonly diagnosed by means other than histological examination, or may involve the urogenital tract as part of a systemic infection. Cervical cytology is not discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urogenital tract is sensitive to the effect of oestrogen and progesterone throughout adult life. Epidemiological studies have implicated oestrogen deficiency in the aetiology of lower urinary tract symptoms and Genitourinary Symptoms of the Menopause (GSM) occurring following the menopause. The role of systemic and local oestrogen replacement therapy in the management of postmenopausal lower urinary tract symptoms remains controversial although the use of vaginal oestrogens in the management of women complaining of lower urinary tract symptoms and GSM is now well established.This aim of this paper is to review the history of post-menopausal hormonal therapy in the management of postmenopausal urinary incontinence, recurrent lower urinary tract infections and GSM with a special focus on the lifelong research in the field by Professor Linda Cardozo.

Foreign bodies in the pediatric urogenital tract are rare but urgent clinical conditions that can cause severe symptoms and complications. The current management remains challenging. This study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the clinical characteristics, diagnostic challenges, and treatment strategies for pediatric urogenital tract foreign bodies. Through a retrospective analysis of patient data, valuable insights into the management of this condition are offered to facilitate the development of more effective management strategies. A single-center retrospective study design was employed, reviewing clinical data of 30 pediatric patients with urogenital tract foreign bodies admitted to Anhui Children's Hospital from October 2016 to May 2023. This included 16 cases of urethral and bladder foreign bodies and 14 cases of vaginal foreign bodies. Among them, there were 14 males and 16 females, with a median age of 6.3 years. Treatment methods included transvaginal endoscopic removal, cystoscopic removal, pneumovesicum laparoscopy removal, and perineal incisional foreign body removal. Surgical time, blood loss, hospitalization days, and postoperative follow-up results were recorded. Key clinical presentations included vaginal bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge, hematuria, dysuria, urinary retention, and perineal pain. Preoperative routine examinations included ultrasound, abdominal radiography, and, in some cases, CT scans. All 30 patients underwent successful surgery, with a median surgical time of 30.5 min (IQR 16.8–50.8), minimal intraoperative bleeding, and a median postoperative hospital stay of 2 days (IQR 2–3). Follow-up from 3 months to 1 year revealed no abnormalities in the urogenital system, no residual foreign bodies, and no occurrence of severe complications. No cases of recurrent foreign body insertion were observed. Early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric urogenital tract foreign bodies are crucial to reduce patient suffering and the risk of complications. The choice of surgical method depends on the type, size, and location of the foreign body, with endoscopy being the preferred option. Laparoscopic cystoscopy and open surgery are also effective treatment modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary tract infections (UTI) represent a significant cause of morbidity affecting individuals of all ages, including the pediatric population. In about 80% of cases, the cause of UTI in humans is Escherichia coli. In this paper, we have investigated the antibacterial effect of essential oils of ten species of plants on clinical isolates of pathogenic bacteria isolated from the pediatric population. The existing differences in the antimicrobial effect of essential oils were examined by the one-way ANOVA method, while Tukey's test was used to compare pairs. The results have shown that the essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. had the strongest antimicrobial activity (> 25 mm). The weakest effect was shown by the oil of Chamomilla recutita (L.) Raushert, which showed the antimicrobial effect only towards E. coli. Based on the results, we can conclude that essential oils can be a natural alternative to the use of antibiotics.

Unlike male mammals showing a well-delimited external urethral sphincter, female mammals have urogenital sphincters shaped by muscles like the urethrovaginal sphincter. Childbirth-related injuries affect morphometry and function of urogenital sphincters in women, which frequently underlies pelvic floor disorders, including stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. The bulboglandularis muscle (Bgm) seems to shape a urogenital sphincter in rabbits. We determined herein the effect of multiparity on urethral and vaginal pressures generated by the Bgm stimulation in age-matched nulliparous and multiparous chinchilla-breed rabbits to stimulate the Bgm with trains of ascending frequencies (from 1 to 100 Hz; 4 s duration each). Subsequently, the Bgm was excised, measured in width, and weighed. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were determined with Mann-Whitney U or Student t-tests or repeated measures two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey tests. Spearman's partial coefficients were calculated to investigate the correlation between the highest pressure (urethral or vaginal) and the Bgm width. Multiparity reduced the weight and the width in the Bgm origin and medial regions. Urethral and vaginal pressures increased in response to the electrical stimulation of Bgm with frequencies from 20 to 100 Hz. Multiparas showed significant reductions in both types of pressures. We detected a strong correlation (conditioned by multiparity) between the medial Bgm width and the highest vaginal pressure. Our present findings demonstrate that multiparity impairs the function of Bgm, resulting in diminished urethral and vaginal pressures. Furthermore, the significant narrowness of the Bgm was correlated with the vaginal pressure recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Abnormalities of the external genitals are an important issue in dog breeding because of the unfavourable qualities and characteristics of breeds, resulting in consistent economic losses. Despite their significance, little scientific attention has been given to these problems. Although there are several reviews on cryptorchidism in dogs, none have described anorchia. Testicular agenesis is a rare reproductive disorder with a congenital origin. Moreover, no author has described the diagnostic procedure for making a definitive diagnosis of anorchia in dogs. It is important to have a well‐structured diagnostic scheme to help practical veterinarians make a confirmatory diagnosis. This review article aims to provide an update on canine anorchia diagnosis based on the poor research studies published in recent years. We have also contributed to the pathogenesis of this disorder using human medicine studies. Finally, the review includes therapeutic hypotheses that can be expanded in future studies.

BackgroundUreaplasma urealyticum, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the prevalent causes of several genital diseases worldwide; however, their characteristics in different genders have not been well documented in Shanghai. The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of common pathogens among outpatients, considering variations by gender and age.MethodsFrom January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2021, the urogenital swabs of 16216 outpatients aged 3–95 years from two general hospitals in Shanghai were collected. All participants' swabs were investigated for U. urealyticum, C. trachomatis, and N. gonorrhoeae by isothermal RNA-based simultaneous amplification and testing. The basic information of all participants was also recorded, including age and gender. The chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence between different genders, age groups, and infection patterns.ResultsThere were 5,744 patients (35.42%) with positive samples whose ages ranged from 7 to 80 years (33.23 ± 8.63 years), and 62.14% of them were women. The most common pathogen detected was U. urealyticum (85.08%). The highest prevalence rate of all three pathogens was found in patients aged ≤ 20 years (40.53%, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 33.80%-47.63%). The prevalent rate of U. urealyticum was higher in men (33.36%, 95% CI: 32.19%-34.55%). The overall prevalence rates of U. urealyticum, C. trachomatis, and N. gonorrhoeae were 30.14% (95% CI: 29.44%-30.85%), 6.00% (95% CI: 5.64%-6.38%), and 2.10% (95% CI: 1.89%-2.33%).ConclusionsUreaplasma urealyticum was the most prevalent pathogen in the population, and its prevalence decreased with age. Young men aged ≤ 20 years were more frequently infected. Regular screening for sexually transmitted pathogens in different genders and age groups are warranted, particularly in young men.

Abnormalities of the external genitals are an important issue in dog breeding because of the unfavourable qualities and characteristics of breeds, resulting in consistent economic losses. Despite their significance, little scientific attention has been given to these problems. Although there are several reviews on cryptorchidism in dogs, none have described anorchia. Testicular agenesis is a rare reproductive disorder with a congenital origin. Moreover, no author has described the diagnostic procedure for making a definitive diagnosis of anorchia in dogs. It is important to have a well‐structured diagnostic scheme to help practical veterinarians make a confirmatory diagnosis. This review article aims to provide an update on canine anorchia diagnosis based on the poor research studies published in recent years. We have also contributed to the pathogenesis of this disorder using human medicine studies. Finally, the review includes therapeutic hypotheses that can be expanded in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the findings of investigation of the microflora of 257 males with infectious-inflammatory diseases of the urogenital tract using the test system “Androflor”. The role of representatives of conditionally pathogenic microflora as the main etiological agent in occurrence of infectious-inflammatory diseases of the urogenital tract in males was shown. Its composition in 39.3±3.0% of cases was represented by bacteria of family Enterobacteriaceae, in 10.9±1.9% – by Enterococcus spp., in 3.1±1.1% – by Haemophilus spp. and in 0.4±0.1% of cases – by P. aeruginosa. Out of 101 strains of enterobacteria, 27 representatives had the ability to synthesize β-lactamases 26.7±4.4% of cultures), in particular: 16 isolates of E. coli, 5 isolates of P. mirabilis and 6 isolates of K. pneumoniae. The selected strains of enterobacteria producing β-lactamases appeared to be resistant at least to 6 tested antibiotics, which allowed referring them to categories of multi-resistant. All cultures producing β-lactamases showed resistance to penicillinеs – ampicillin and amoxiclav. In this case, resistance to at least one of the antibiotics of cephalosporin group of the third generation was noted. In addition, 83.3±2.1% of the examined isolates were characterized by resistance to macrolides – erythromycin and azithromycin, as well as to co-trimoxazole and fosfomicin. The obtained data are of practical importance to develop efficient schemes of antibiotic therapy for infectious-inflammatory diseases of the urogenital tract, caused by strains of enterobacteria producing β-lactamases.

Introduction: Microbiota in the human body are closely related to human diseases. Female urogenital tract and rectal microbes have been considered as important factors affecting female pregnancy, but the mechanism is unknown. Methods: Cervical, vaginal, urethral, and rectal swabs were collected from 22 infertile patients and 10 controls, and follicular fluid was extracted from 22 infertile patients. The microbial composition of different sampling sites of infertile patients was examined. By comparing the microbial composition difference between infertile patients and controls and combining bioinformatics methods to analyze the potential impact of the female urogenital tract (cervical, vaginal and urethral) and rectal microbial diversity on female infertility and pregnancy outcomes. Results: Lactobacillus predominated in the female urogenital tract, but its abundance decreased in infertile patients, whereas the abundance of Gardnerella and Atopobium increased. The microbial changes in the urethra had the same trend as that in the vagina. Compared with healthy controls, the cervical and rectal microbial diversity of infertile patients were significantly increased and decreased, respectively. There might be interactions between microbes in different parts of female. Geobacillus thermogeniticans was enriched in the urogenital tract and rectum of infertile patients, and has a good predictive effect on infertility. Compared with infertile patients, L. johnsonii was enriched in the vagina, urethra, and intestine of the control group. L. acidophilus in follicular fluid might be associated with Non-pregnancy. Conclusion: This study found that the microbial composition of infertile patients was changed compared with that of healthy people. The translocation of Lactobacillus between the rectum and urogenital tract might play a protective barrier role. The changes of Lactobacillus and Geobacillus might be related to female infertility or pregnancy outcome. The study provided a theoretical basis for the future treatment of female infertility from the perspective of microorganisms by detecting the microbial changes associated with female infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptospira is a pathogen involved in fertility problems in pigs. Nevertheless, little information is available on pathogenicity, transmission, tissue tropism, and immune response. The objective of this preliminary study was to induce a diagnostically detectable infection in naïve gilts using Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae to gain the knowledge required for designing a large-scale trial. Eight seronegative fertile gilts were divided into three groups: control (n = 2), challenge (n = 3; 10 mL of 108 leptospires/mL intravenously), and contact (n = 3). A daily clinical examination and periodic sampling of blood, urine, and vaginal swabs were performed until four weeks after infection when necropsy was undertaken. Seroconversion of infected animals was detected first by a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) between four and seven days after inoculation. No clinical signs were observed except pyrexia. Laboratory data primarily remained within reference intervals. Leptospira were undetectable in all groups by real-time PCR (sera, urine, vaginal swabs, and tissue samples) and bacterial culture (urine and tissue samples). However, histologic evidence for tubulo-interstitial nephritis could be found. Based on the study results and limitations, questions to be solved and approaches to be reconsidered are raised for the conduction of further experimental studies to understand the pathogenesis and the role of Icterohaemorrhagiae in pig health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Urogenital microbiota may be associated with the recurrence of bladder cancer, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The notion that microbiota can upregulate PD-L1 expression in certain epithelial tumors to promote immune escape has been demonstrated. Thus, we hypothesized that the urogenital microbiota may be involved in the recurrence and progression of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) by upregulating the PD-L1 expression. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship between urogenital microbial community and PD-L1 expression in male patients with NMIBC. Results 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to analyse the composition of urogenital microbiota, and the expression of PD-L1 in cancerous tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The subjects (aged 43–79 years) were divided into PD-L1-positive group (Group P, n = 9) and PD-L1-negative group (Group N, n = 19) respectively based on their PD-L1 immunohistochemical results. No statistically significant differences were found in the demographic characteristics between group P and N. We observed that group P exhibited higher species richness (based on Observed species and Ace index, both P < 0.05). Furthermore, subgroup analysis showed that the increase in number of PD-L1 positive cells was accompanied by increased richness of urogenital microbiota. Significantly different composition of urogenital microbiota was found between group P and group N (based on weighted Unifrac and unweighted Unifrac distances metric, both P < 0.05). Enrichment of some bacterial genera (e.g., Leptotrichia, Roseomonas, and Propionibacterium) and decrease of some bacterial genera (e.g., Prevotella and Massilia) were observed in group P as compared with group N. These findings indicated that these genera may affect the expression of PD-L1 through some mechanisms to be studied. Conclusion Our study provided for the first time an overview of the association between urogenital microbiota and PD-L1 expression in male patients with NMIBC, indicating that urogenital microbiota was an important determinant of PD-L1 expression in male NMIBC patients.

Currently, the problem of the development of resistance to drugs among microorganisms that colonize the urogenital system is becoming especially relevant due to broadly distributed dysbiotic conditions of the reproductive system of men and women. Therefore, there should be constant monitoring of the qualitative and quantitative composition of microbiota of the urogential tract and determination of the levels of antibiotic-resistance of strains of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms in the reproductive system of various layers of the population. We monitored 774,375 people of various age and sex – patients of the independent diagnostic laboratory INVITRO in the city Dnipro in 2017–2019. Among the examined people, 640,783 of the patients were diagnosed with the development of dysbiotic disorders, accounting for 82.7% of the total amount of the applications for medical help. According to the results of identification of the range of dysbiotic conditions of the urogenital system of patients of different ages and sexes, we determined the dominating role of facultative anaerobes in the development of dysbiotic impairments caused by colonizations by large numbers of conditionally-pathogenic microorganisms: in women, Gardnerella accounted for 86.1%, Staphylococcus – 63.2%, Streptococcus – 54.1%, Candida – 69.3%; in men, Streptococcus were found in 83.0%, Staphylococcus – 79.4%, Corynebacterium – 54.2% and Candida – 37.6% of the cases. Share of obligate anaerobes was also quite large: women were diagnosed with Prevotella in 59.7%, Peptostreptococcus in 53.2%, Fusobacterium in 45.4% of the cases cases; men were observed to have Peptostreptococcus 62.4%, Clostridium in 54.3%, Bacteroides in 32.5% of the cases. We determined high parameters of frequency of diagnosing antibiotic-resistant isolates of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms that circulate in the urogenital tract of patients with dysbiotic impairments, belonging to the following families: Mycoplasmataceae – 78.6%, Enterobacteriaceae – 56.0% and genera – Staphylococcus – 76.1%, Gardnerella – 24.3%, Corynebacterium – 21.2%. The research revealed increase in the frequency of detection of strains of urapathogenic bacteria resistant to the applied antibiotic preparations in 2018–2019 compared with the data of 2017: increases of 10.3% and 6.4% in representatives of family Mycoplasmataceae resistant to ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin respectively, 4.8% and 4.0% in Enterobacteriaceae resistant to chloramphenicol and ampicillin respectively, and 8.9% in the genus Staphylococcus resistant to vancomycin.

This article presents the findings of investigation of the microflora of 257 males with infectious-inflammatory diseases of the urogenital tract using the test system “Androflor”. The role of representatives of conditionally pathogenic microflora as the main etiological agent in occurrence of infectious-inflammatory diseases of the urogenital tract in males was shown. Its composition in 39.3±3.0% of cases was represented by bacteria of family Enterobacteriaceae, in 10.9±1.9% – by Enterococcus spp., in 3.1±1.1% – by Haemophilus spp. and in 0.4±0.1% of cases – by P. aeruginosa. Out of 101 strains of enterobacteria, 27 representatives had the ability to synthesize β-lactamases 26.7±4.4% of cultures), in particular: 16 isolates of E. coli, 5 isolates of P. mirabilis and 6 isolates of K. pneumoniae. The selected strains of enterobacteria producing β-lactamases appeared to be resistant at least to 6 tested antibiotics, which allowed referring them to categories of multi-resistant. All cultures producing β-lactamases showed resistance to penicillinеs – ampicillin and amoxiclav. In this case, resistance to at least one of the antibiotics of cephalosporin group of the third generation was noted. In addition, 83.3±2.1% of the examined isolates were characterized by resistance to macrolides – erythromycin and azithromycin, as well as to co-trimoxazole and fosfomicin. The obtained data are of practical importance to develop efficient schemes of antibiotic therapy for infectious-inflammatory diseases of the urogenital tract, caused by strains of enterobacteria producing β-lactamases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Genitourinary neurofibroma is a benign nerve sheath tumor commonly found in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. This disease is very rare and can appear in all urinary tracts. Considering the rarity of neurofibromatosis of the bladder, the present case report is introduced with the aim of showing the importance of this pathology. Case Report: The patient is a 25-year-old man who visited the urology clinic last month due to hematuria. The patient did not mention any other clinical symptoms. An ultrasound was requested for the patient, and a mass was reported in the bladder. The patient underwent mass resection through the urethra. In the pathological and immunohistochemical studies, the patient was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. The general condition of the patient after surgery is good and the patient's symptoms are resolved. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the patient was symptomatic and had a mass in the bladder on ultrasound. Due to the lack of a previous diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 for the patient and the lack of a definite diagnosis about the type of mass, the best treatment approach is surgery and complete removal of the mass. After the final diagnosis based on histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations, the best approach is to follow up the patient with imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim: to study changes in the microbiota of the urogenital tract of women of reproductive age in the Dnipro region, which is caused by conditionally pathogenic microorganisms on the background of smoking. Material and methods: biomaterial of patients (scraping from the urogenital tract) who applied to the Center for Laboratory Medicine PE "VIS-MEDIC" in Dnipro region. We analyzed the components of the microbiota of the vagina of women of the surveyed groups (sign of age and smoking) in the period from 2018 to 2021. For the use in an analysis, microbiota data were obtained using the test system Femoflor Screen. Results. Analysis of the results of the study revealed the dependence of the composition of the microbiota of the reproductive tract of women on the use of tobacco products. An increase in indicators for conditionally pathogenic microorganisms was shown. The rate of detection of elevated levels of M. hominis in samples of biological material varied between 6-8 % but was not recorded in all study groups of women. There was also an increase in the frequency of detection of elevated levels of U. urealyticum, U. parvum in samples of biological material, the values of which ranged from 9 to 50 %. Conclusions. The obtained data allowed to assess the effect of tobacco on the composition of the microbiota of the urogenital tract of women and made it possible to use them in measures of social and preventive work, as an indisputable fact to quit smoking. Therefore, there is a need for further research to establish the role of microorganisms involved in restoring the composition of the microbiota after inflammatory processes in women who use and do not use tobacco products. The results may be relevant for the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases, processes caused by opportunistic pathogens of the urogenital tract of women of reproductive age, potentially dangerous occurrence and development of infertility and the basis for social and preventive work among women on the background of smoking [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptospira is a pathogen involved in fertility problems in pigs. Nevertheless, little information is available on pathogenicity, transmission, tissue tropism, and immune response. The objective of this preliminary study was to induce a diagnostically detectable infection in naïve gilts using Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae to gain the knowledge required for designing a large-scale trial. Eight seronegative fertile gilts were divided into three groups: control (n = 2), challenge (n = 3; 10 mL of 108 leptospires/mL intravenously), and contact (n = 3). A daily clinical examination and periodic sampling of blood, urine, and vaginal swabs were performed until four weeks after infection when necropsy was undertaken. Seroconversion of infected animals was detected first by a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) between four and seven days after inoculation. No clinical signs were observed except pyrexia. Laboratory data primarily remained within reference intervals. Leptospira were undetectable in all groups by real-time PCR (sera, urine, vaginal swabs, and tissue samples) and bacterial culture (urine and tissue samples). However, histologic evidence for tubulo-interstitial nephritis could be found. Based on the study results and limitations, questions to be solved and approaches to be reconsidered are raised for the conduction of further experimental studies to understand the pathogenesis and the role of Icterohaemorrhagiae in pig health.

There has been remarkable progress in the field of surgical pathology; however, histomorphology has remained the most important and essential tool of the surgical pathologist in everyday practice till now. It is surprising that the hematoxylin–eosin (H and E) stain, introduced more than a century ago, has still remained the gold standard stain for histological examination and diagnosis of human diseases. Besides different findings or clues observed in histopathology sections like inclusions, granules, grooving, globules, halo, or clearing, which would enable the pathologist to provide a precise and accurate diagnosis; observation of clear cells is one of the important findings and clue for reporting. It may also sometimes lead to difficulties and delays in establishing the diagnosis. It can be focal or extensive and primary or rarely it may be secondary. Clear cell changes may be observed in many non-neoplastic, benign, or malignant tumors of diverse origin. Clear cell tumors contain a preponderance of clear cells. It can be seen in almost all the organs of human body and can be classified according to location or biological behavior. Commonly seen clear-cell tumors are usually malignant and common organs involved are female genital tract, urogenital tract, head and neck areas, central nervous system, skin, and rarely in bone and soft tissues. For approach to clear cell lesions, one has to decide if the change is artifactual, a mimic of clear cell tumors, or a clear cell tumor in reality. Once the mimics and artifactual/degenerative changes have been ruled out, a tumor either primarily of clear cell origin or showing secondary change has to be decided. The tumor next is to be diagnosed as benign/malignant and epithelial/mesenchymal based on morphology.

Pelvi-perineal disorders represent a wide spectrum of diseases involving different disciplines. A patient-centered care and a coordinated approach, extended from functional to oncological diseases, may be achieved through the planning of a "pelvi-perineal network". The network is a new clinical and organizational model, entirely devoted to pelvi-perineal health through a multidisciplinary multiprofessional approach, coordinated and synergistic. The network is a new mental approach, without walls, to treat different diseases in the same patient and not a concrete management unit for single disease. In the network the team care approach is critical to get a more in-depth understanding of the symptoms cascade and to define a coordinated integrated management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaea represent a separate domain of life, next to bacteria and eukarya. As components of the human microbiome, archaea have been associated with various diseases, including periodontitis, endodontic infections, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and urogenital tract infections. Archaea are generally considered nonpathogenic; the reasons are speculative because of limited knowledge and gene annotation challenges. Nevertheless, archaeal syntrophic principles that shape global microbial networks aid both archaea and potentially pathogenic bacteria. Evaluating archaea interactions remains challenging, requiring clinical studies on inflammatory potential and the effects of archaeal metabolism. Establishing a culture collection is crucial for investigating archaea functions within the human microbiome, which could improve health outcomes in infectious diseases. We summarize potential reasons for archaeal nonpathogenicity, assess the association with infectious diseases in humans, and discuss the necessary experimental steps to enable mechanistic studies involving archaea.

• The urogenital tuberculosis is characterized by a non-specific and highly misleading clinical symptomatology. • The clinical polymorphism of urogenital tuberculosis leads to a delayed diagnosis and severe complications. • The diagnosis is a mixture of clinical, biological, radiological and especially histological arguments. • The urogenital tuberculosis can mimic a renal or a bladder cancer requiring often a useless surgical treatment. Urogenital tuberculosis is a rare and severe disease since it causes serious consequences. Often, diagnosis may be delayed because of its multiple presentation forms and clinical features. Usually, the recognition is easy to hold, but in certain cases the presentation form can be misleading which can exclude the diagnosis. We present two cases of unusual form of urogenital tuberculosis from which clinical features were taken for a malignant cancer at the beginning. The first case is about a young woman with renal lesions then proceeding to radical nephrectomy. The second case is about a 48 years old patient who had a radical cystectomy to treat an urothelial carcinoma (classified as pT1G3) along with squamous metaplasia (25 %). In both cases, the histologic investigation revealed the presence of a granulomatous reaction with giant cells and caseous necrosis which confirms the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Through the study of these two cases and literature review, we mark the different diagnosis and treatment difficulties handling these unusual presentation forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bladder volume at the onset of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is an important prognostic indicator of spontaneous resolution and the risk of pyelonephritis.Objective: We aim to determine whether pediatric urologists and pediatric radiologists can accurately estimate the timing of reflux by examining voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) images without prior knowledge of the instilled contrast volume.Materials and Methods: Total bladder volume and the volume at the time of reflux were collected from VCUG reports to determine the volume at the onset of VUR. Thirty-nine patients were sorted into three groups: early-/mid-filling reflux, late-filling and voiding only. Thirty-nine images were shown to three pediatric urologists and two pediatric radiologists in a blinded fashion and they were then asked to estimate VUR timing based on the above categories. A weighted kappa statistic was calculated to assess rater agreement with the gold standard volume-based report of VUR timing.Results: The mean patient age at VCUG was 3.1±2.9 months, the median VUR was grade 3, and 20 patients were female. Overall agreement among all five raters was moderate (k=0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-0.50). Individual agreement between rater and gold standard was slight to moderate with kappa values ranging from 0.13 to 0.43.Conclusion: Pediatric radiologists and urologists are unable to accurately and reliably characterize VUR timing on fluoroscopic VCUG. These findings support the recently published American Academy of Pediatrics protocol recommending the routine recording of bladder volume at the onset of VUR as a standard component of all VCUGs to assist in a more accurate assessment of the likelihood of resolution and risk of recurrent urinary tract infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The microRNA‐371a‐3p (miR‐371a‐3p) has been reported to be an informative liquid biopsy (serum and plasma) molecular biomarker for both diagnosis and follow‐up of patients with a malignant (testicular) germ cell tumor ((T)GCT). It is expressed in all histological cancer elements, with the exception of mature teratoma. However, normal testis, semen, and serum of males with a disrupted testicular integrity without a TGCT may contain miR‐371a‐3p levels above threshold, of which the cellular origin is unknown. Objectives: Therefore, a series of relevant tissues (frozen and formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE), when available) from the complete male urogenital tract (i.e., kidney to urethra and testis to urethra) and semen was investigated for miR‐371a‐3p levels using targeted quantitative RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR). Materials and methods: In total, semen of males with normospermia (n = 11) and oligospermia (n = 3) was investigated, as well as 88 samples derived from 32 different patients. The samples represented one set of tissues related to the entire male urogenital tract (11 anatomical locations), three sets for 10 locations, and four sets for six locations. Results: All testis parenchyma (n = 17) cases showed low miR‐371a‐3p levels. Eight out of 14 (57%) semen samples showed detectable miR‐371a‐3p levels, irrespective of the amount of motile spermatozoa, but related to sperm concentration and matched Johnsen score (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient 0.849 and 0.871, p = 0.000, respectively). In all other tissues investigated, miR‐371a‐3p could not be detected. Discussion: This study demonstrates that the miR‐371a‐3p in healthy adult males is solely derived from the germ cell compartment. Conclusions: The observation is important in the context of applying miR‐371a‐3p as molecular liquid biopsy biomarker for diagnosis and follow‐up of patients with malignant (T)GCT. Moreover, miR‐371a‐3p might be an informative seminal biomarker for testicular germ cell composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital prepubic sinus is a very rare urogenital anomaly that manifests as a tubular structure of varying histological findings that drains to the skin overlying the pubic symphysis. This tract has been observed to course above, below or, in only a handful of cases, directly through the pubis. We report a case of congenital prepubic sinus with this unusual transpubic course in an 18-year-old man. The patient was initially taken to the operating room for excision of a presumed inclusion cyst. At the time of surgery, the collection was found to track proximally and was excised down to the level of the pubic symphysis. Subsequent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging established the diagnosis of congenital prepubic sinus. We describe the different anatomical courses of congenital prepubic sinus, hypotheses of its pathogenesis, and the use of MR imaging in both diagnosis and surgical planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In immunocompromised patients, reactivation of latent BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) can cause disease with lytic infections of the kidneys and the lower urinary tract. Emerging evidence also links BKPyV to oncogenesis and high‐grade intrarenal and transitional cell carcinomas. These neoplasms strongly express polyomavirus large‐T antigen as a defining feature; that is, they are ‘large‐T‐positive carcinomas’. Such neoplasms arise in immunocompromised patients, typically in renal allograft recipients, and preferentially in tissues harbouring latent BKPyV. In recent articles in this journal, it was shown that tumour cells harbour replication‐incompetent clonal BKPyV. The virus can be truncated and randomly integrated into the genome, and/or it can be mutated in an episomal state. Truncation and/or deletions in the BKPyV non‐coding control region can hamper late viral gene expression, replication, and cell lysis, while facilitating overexpression of early genes, including that encoding large‐T. Biologically active fusion proteins or alterations in human tumour suppressor or promoter function have not been described so far, making uncontrolled large‐T gene expression in non‐lytically infected cells a prime suspect for neoplastic transformation. Current concepts of BKPyV‐induced disease, including recent reports from this journal, are discussed, and evolving paradigms of BKPyV‐associated oncogenesis are highlighted. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonspecific infection of the female reproductive system continues to occupy the first place among pathologies of the reproductive tract of the female. These diseases affect the organs and tissues related to the reproductive system. Using the method of polymerase chain reaction in real time, we investigated characteristics of the normal and conditionally pathogenic aerobic / facultative anaerobic, anaerobic biota in the urethra, cervical canal and vagina of women aged 16 to 58 years, studies were carried out on the basis of the Center of Laboratory Diagnostics, LLC "MEDLAYF". For all women up to the age of 40, biota is mainly represented by lactobacilli (Lactobacillus spp.), and in pathological complications of the urogenital tract of women the microbial composition of the biocoenosis is characterized by a decrease in the number of lactobacilli and their replacement by pathogenic anaerobic microorganisms. In disorders of the microflora of the urogenital tract we also detected the human papillomavirus of both high and low carcinogenic risk and Ureoplasma (urealiticum + parvum), Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis and yeast of the genus Candida spp. The most frequently distributed of the most common causative agents of pathological conditions of the reproductive system of women is the human papillomavirus of high carcinogenic risk, Ureoplasma (urealiticum + parvum) and Candida spp. This is due to anatomical and physiological characteristics of the genital organs, hormonal and immune system.

Primary malignancies of female urethra are infrequent, constituting a fraction of less than 1% of genitourinary malignancies. Primary clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra, is even rarer, that histomorphologically resembles clear-cell carcinoma of the female genital tract, occurs predominantly in women and is associated with a relatively poor prognosis. The histogenesis of this rare urethral neoplasm has not been completely determined. Various hypotheses concerning the origin have been postulated, including (1) diverticular origin (2) mullerian origin (3), glandular differentiation of urothelium or urothelial carcinoma. Here, we report a case of 67-year-old female with obstructive urinary symptoms and pain in abdomen, diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of urethra. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) workup of the tumour was done to find the origin of the tumour.

The method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in real-time was used to analyze the quantitative characteristics of normal and potentially pathogenic aerobic/facultative-anaerobic and anaerobic biota in the urethra, cervical channel and vagina in healthy women aged 10–40. The biota of all the women under 40 years and some of women older than 40 was mostly represented by lactobacilli. Microbialcomposition of the biocenosis in some women older than 40 is characterized by reduction in quantity of lactobacilli and their replacement by anaerobic microorganisms, mainly, such as Atopobium vaginae (16%), Gardnerella vaginalis (12%), Megasphaera spp. (8%), Dialister spp. (8%), Eubacterium spp. (8%) and Porphyromonas spp. (4%). Rarely, a wide range of other pathogens plays its role, including inter alia: Trichomonas vaginalis (8%), Mycoplasma genitalium (4%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (2%) andChlamydia trachomatis (1%). The most frequent are the following strain associations: A. vaginae andG. vaginalis,Eubacterium spp. andPorphyromonas spp.,U. (urealyticum + parvum) andM. genitalium,N. gonorrhoeae andCh. trachomatis,U. (urealyticum + parvum) andCandida spp. This is connected with anatomical and physiological characteristics of genitals, hormonal and immune system action. Quantitative study of the biota of urogenital tract in Dnipropetrovsk women with the use of real-time PCR is the sensitive method for diagnosing both physiological and pathological changes, and dysbiotic disorders at early stages and preventing their further development into more serious forms.

Досліджено частоту виявлення урогенітальних мікоплазм у жінок різного віку культуральним методом тест-система DUO з метою встановлення їх етіологічного значення у розвитку запальних процесів урогенітального тракту жінок. Ідентифіковано досліджувані культури Мycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum у діагностичному титрі >104 КУО/мл і у титрі

Three-dimensional ultrasound is an established diagnostic imaging technique in many specialties. However, in neonates, infants and children three-dimensional ultrasound still is underutilized, partially due to time constraints for post-processing and restricted availability, of devices as well as dedicated pediatric transducers. Also reimbursement issues still need to be addressed. This editorial review presents more or less established pediatric three-dimensional ultrasound applications with proven diagnostic benefit as well as potential future applications of three-dimensional/four-dimensional ultrasound in infants and children, aiming at enhancing research and promoting practical use of three-dimensional ultrasound in relevant pediatric conditions. Particularly, applications in neonatal neurosonography, ultrasound of the urogenital tract as well as some other small part and miscellaneous queries are highlighted. Additional other potential and future indications are discussed briefly, also mentioning restrictions and potential future developments. In summary, three-dimensional ultrasound holds some potential to widen sonographic diagnostic capabilities throughout childhood and hopefully will be increasingly investigated and introduced into clinical practice provided respective equipment and pediatric three-dimensional/four-dimensional ultrasound transducers become available.

Aims: To characterize the contractile properties of the bulbospongiosus (Bsm), isquiocavernosus (Ism), and pubococcygeus muscles (Pcm), and their involvement in the genesis of vaginal pressure in nulliparous and multiparous rabbits. Methods: Age‐matched nulliparous and multiparous rabbits were used to record the isometric contractile responses of each muscle as well as the intravaginal pressure evoked by single square electrical pulses and stimulation trains of ascending frequency. To establish significant differences between groups, two‐tail unpaired Student t tests were carried out. The linear correlation between intravaginal pressure and muscle contractile force was analyzed with Pearson correlation tests. For all cases, a P ≤ 0.05 was set as statistically significant. Results: Multiparity decreased the contractile force of Bsm and Ism generated by high‐frequency stimulation trains. The normalized force of the Pcm increased when evoked at 1, 4, and 10 Hz while this decreased at higher frequencies (20, 50, and 100 Hz). The contraction of both Bsm and Ism raised particularly the pressure on the perineal vagina while that of the Pcm increased the pressure in the pelvic vagina. Such a functional segregation is still present in multiparous rabbits albeit it was modified. Conclusions: Multiparity induces changes in the contractile responses of Bsm, Ism, and Pcm, which alterates the vaginal pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymes containing the FIC (filamentation induced by cyclic AMP) domain catalyze post-translational modifications of target proteins. In bacteria the activity of some Fic proteins resembles classical toxin--antitoxin (TA) systems. An excess of toxin over neutralizing antitoxin can enable bacteria to survive some stress conditions by slowing metabolic processes and promoting dormancy. The cell can return to normal growth when sufficient antitoxin is present to block toxin activity. Fic genes of the human and animal pathogen Campylobacter fetus are significantly associated with just one subspecies, which is specifically adapted to the urogenital tract. Here, we demonstrate that the fic genes of virulent isolate C. fetus subsp. venerealis 84-112 form multiple TA systems. Expression of the toxins in Escherichia coli caused filamentation and growth inhibition phenotypes reversible by concomitant antitoxin expression. Key active site residues involved in adenylylation by Fic proteins are conserved in Fic1, Fic3 and Fic4, but degenerated in Fic2. We show that both Fic3 and the non-canonical Fic2 disrupt assembly and function of E. coli ribosomes when expressed independently of a transacting antitoxin. Toxicity of the Fic proteins is controlled by different mechanisms. The first involves intramolecular regulation by an inhibitory helix typical for Fic proteins. The second is an unusual neutralization by heterologous Fic--Fic protein interactions. Moreover, a small interacting antitoxin called Fic inhibitory protein 3, which appears unrelated to known Fic antitoxins, has the novel capacity to bind and neutralize Fic toxins encoded in cis and at distant sites. These findings reveal a remarkable system of functional crosstalk occurring between Fic proteins expressed from chromosomal and extrachromosomal modules. Conservation of fic genes in other bacteria that either inhabit or establish pathology in the urogenital tract of humans and animals underscores the significance of these factors for niche-specific adaptation and virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hypospadias is a congenital anomaly of the urogenital tract characterized by abnormal location of the external urethral meatus over ventral aspect of penis. The ideal time to correct primary hypospadias is when aged 6-12 months. However, in some developing countries, such as ours, this anomaly may be left untreated until adulthood. There are multiple risk factors responsible for development of this anomaly, out of which paternal sub fertility is one of them. As the child grows into adulthood, fertility status becomes an important issue, frequently raised by patients. Aim: To evaluate the fertility potential of adult hypospadiac patients and to rule out the effect of age of surgical correction over fertility potential. Materials and Methods: Seventy three adult patients of hypospadias were prospectively evaluated, out of which 43 were operated during adulthood. All patients underwent measurement of penile length and circumference in both flaccid and erect positions along with testicular volume, serum LH, FSH and testosterone and semen analysis. A set of questionnaire was given to all the patients which included assessment of erectile function (IIEF-5), ejaculatory function, strength of libido and level of satisfaction after sexual intercourse. Results were compared with an age matched control group of 70 healthy person. Results: Out of 73 patients with a mean age of 23.73 years, 14(19.17%) had proximal and rest 59(80.82%) had distal type of hypospadias. Mean penile length in both type of hypospadiac patients under both flaccid and erect conditions (7.92±1.33 and 9.62±1.31cm) were significantly shorter than those of control (10.78±0.94 and 13.15±1.15 cm) (p0.05). The strength of libido (p>0.05) was comparable with control in both type of hypospadiac patients; however IIEF-5 scores was poor in the proximal type of hypospadias. Semen volume (ml), sperm concentration (mill/ml), active sperm motility (%), and normal sperm morphology were comparable between distal hypospadiac group and control (p>0.05), however these parameters were poor in proximal type. The serum FSH and LH levels were significantly higher and serum testosterone level was significantly lower in hypospadiac patients than control (p

Introduction. Urogenital congenital anomalies are among the most common congenital anomalies and very frequent pathology in paediatric urology. Health care systems strive to shorten the duration and reduce the costs of hospitalization, while maintaining treatment effectiveness. Objective. To evaluate the duration of hospital stay of surgically treated patients with congenital urogenital anomalies and estimate the possibility of using fast track surgery principles in paediatric urology in the local settings of a developing country. Methods. Retrospective non-randomized study included 552 patients who had been surgically treated at the Urology Department of the University Children’s Hospital, during 2010. In line with their congenital anomalies, all patients were classified in one of four groups: I - upper urinary tract anomalies (252 patients); II - genital anomalies (164 patients); III - testicular anomalies (76 patients) and IV - associated anomalies (60 patients). We analyzed the total duration of stay as well as preand post-operative stay in the hospital. Results. The average duration of hospitalization was 4.7±4.0 days. Patients with testicular anomalies stayed for the shortest period (2.3±1.9 days) (p

Introduction: Hypospadias is a congenital anomaly of the urogenital tract characterized by abnormal location of the external urethral meatus over ventral aspect of penis. The ideal time to correct primary hypospadias is when aged 6-12 months. However, in some developing countries, such as ours, this anomaly may be left untreated until adulthood. There are multiple risk factors responsible for development of this anomaly, out of which paternal sub fertility is one of them. As the child grows into adulthood, fertility status becomes an important issue, frequently raised by patients. Aim: To evaluate the fertility potential of adult hypospadiac patients and to rule out the effect of age of surgical correction over fertility potential. Materials and Methods: Seventy three adult patients of hypospadias were prospectively evaluated, out of which 43 were operated during adulthood. All patients underwent measurement of penile length and circumference in both flaccid and erect positions along with testicular volume, serum LH, FSH and testosterone and semen analysis. A set of questionnaire was given to all the patients which included assessment of erectile function (IIEF-5), ejaculatory function, strength of libido and level of satisfaction after sexual intercourse. Results were compared with an age matched control group of 70 healthy person. Results: Out of 73 patients with a mean age of 23.73 years, 14(19.17%) had proximal and rest 59(80.82%) had distal type of hypospadias. Mean penile length in both type of hypospadiac patients under both flaccid and erect conditions (7.92±1.33 and 9.62±1.31cm) were significantly shorter than those of control (10.78±0.94 and 13.15±1.15 cm) (p<0.001). In spite of short penile length, the level of satisfaction of all patients and their partner after penetrating intercourse were comparable to control (p>0.05). The strength of libido (p>0.05) was comparable with control in both type of hypospadiac patients; however IIEF-5 scores was poor in the proximal type of hypospadias. Semen volume (ml), sperm concentration (mill/ml), active sperm motility (%), and normal sperm morphology were comparable between distal hypospadiac group and control (p>0.05), however these parameters were poor in proximal type. The serum FSH and LH levels were significantly higher and serum testosterone level was significantly lower in hypospadiac patients than control (p <0.001). However, no difference in testicular size was found. The patients who were operated during childhood had shorter penile length compared to patients operated during adulthood. Conclusion: Fertility potential parameters in distal type of hypospadias were comparable with control. However the proximal type had poor erectile function and semen quality. Patients operated in either childhood or in adulthood, there was no significant difference in fertility potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of urogenital tumours (WHO “blue book”), published in 2016, contains significant revisions. These revisions were performed after consideration by a large international group of pathologists with special expertise in this area. A subgroup of these persons met at the WHO Consensus Conference in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2015 to finalize the revisions. This review summarizes the most significant differences between the newly published classification and the prior version for renal, penile, and testicular tumours. Newly recognized epithelial renal tumours are hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) syndrome–associated RCC, succinate dehydrogenase–deficient RCC, tubulocystic RCC, acquired cystic disease–associated RCC, and clear cell papillary RCC. The WHO/International Society of Urological Pathology renal tumour grading system was recommended, and the definition of renal papillary adenoma was modified. The new WHO classification of penile squamous cell carcinomas is based on the presence of human papillomavirus and defines histologic subtypes accordingly. Germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) of the testis is the WHO-recommended term for precursor lesions of invasive germ cell tumours, and testicular germ cell tumours are now separated into two fundamentally different groups: those derived from GCNIS and those unrelated to GCNIS. Spermatocytic seminoma has been designated as a spermatocytic tumour and placed within the group of non–GCNIS-related tumours in the 2016 WHO classification. Patient summary The 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification contains new renal tumour entities. The classification of penile squamous cell carcinomas is based on the presence of human papillomavirus. Germ cell neoplasia in situ of the testis is the WHO-recommended term for precursor lesions of invasive germ cell tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare disorder that presents with urological complications. We present a 6-year-old boy admitted with urological symptoms that revealed an inherited EB misdiagnosed. We also review the literature on this disorder and management of the common urological complications.

Background: Candida spp. is frequently isolated from cases of vulvovaginal candidiasis and catheter associated UTI. C.albicans is the most frequently isolated species but non-albicans species of candida are gaining clinical significance. Objectives: To compare the virulence factors like biofilm production, phospholipase and hemolytic activity in C.albicans with that of non albicans species of candida isolated from urogenital tract. Materials and Methods: Vaginal swabs and urine samples received in Microbiology laboratory during one year period were processed by standard methods. The candida isolates were speciated and biofilm production, phospholipase and hemolytic activity were studied in them. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 11.5. Results: Out of the 3001 urine samples processed 41 (1.3%) were positive for candida, out of 293 high vaginal swabs 41(14%) were positive for candida. C.albicans was the most prevalent isolate followed by C.tropicalis, C.glabrata and C.krusei. Out of 40 C.albicans strains, 22 (55%) produced biofilm, 39 (97.5%) produced hemolysin and 21 (52.5%) produced phospholipase. Out of 42 strains of non albicans species of candida, 19 (45%) produced biofilm, 41(97.6%) hemolysin and 5 (12%) produced phospholipase. Conclusion: Phospholipase production was better in C.albicans in comparison toother species of candida. There was no statistically relevant difference between hemolysin and biofilm production by C.albicans and non albicans strains of candida.

Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is a rare solid tumor of unknown etiology that can arise in most organs. IPT usually presents as a single, benign lesion. In the urogenital tract, IPT frequently occurs in the bladder, but in rare instances, IPT may originate in the kidney, prostate, or ureter. We describe a highly unusual case of multi-organ IPT that included the periureteral area, paravesical space, and prostate. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography imaging, and by pathology testing that detected prominent immunoglobulin G4-positive plasma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To assess the preventive effect of different intravaginal (i.va.) doses of Lactobacillus reuteri CRL1324 against vaginal colonization by Group B Streptococcus ( GBS) in a murine experimental model. Methods and Results The major virulence factors of four vaginal GBS clinical isolates were determined to select the most virulent strain and set up a murine model of streptococcal vaginal colonization. Later, the effect of four and seven doses of 108 viable cells of Lact. reuteri CRL1324 i.va. administered, prior to the GBS challenge was studied. Seven doses of lactobacilli were able to significantly reduce the number of viable GBS cells, while four doses showed no preventive effect. Both doses reduced the leucocyte influx induced by GBS. Seven doses caused a slight increase in the Lact. reuteri CRL1324 vaginal colonization compared with four doses and reduced murine vaginal pH compared to control mice. Conclusions Lactobacillus reuteri CRL1324 evidenced a preventive effect on GBS vaginal colonization in an experimental mouse model. Significance and Impacts of the Study Maternal GBS colonization is one of the most important risk factors for developing disease in newborns. Lactobacillus reuteri CRL1324 could be considered as a new biological agent to reduce infections caused by this micro-organism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathology in the urinary tract is one of the most frequent queries when children are referred for an ultrasound examination. Comprehensive ultrasound examinations can answer most clinical questions of the urogenital tract with minimal patient preparation and without the use of ionising radiation. Therefore, optimised imaging protocols should be available in all radiology departments where children are examined. This review suggests a preferred imaging protocol for urogenital imaging in children and gives an overview of the different structures of the urogenital tract, the normal age-related sonographic anatomy, and gives examples of the most commonly encountered diseases of the urogenital system in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]