Abstract Background: Chronic prostatitis has been a common disease reported with high frequency in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) even from decades ago. Infectious (Chlamydia trachomatis) or non-infectious (uric acid) prostatitis can hypothetically trigger vertebral inflammation in AS. This study aimed to assess the features of chronic prostatitis in patients with AS compared to healthy controls. Methods: A cross-sectional study including male patients with AS and healthy controls who agreed to undergo a prostate examination was conducted. Structured clinical interviews, prostate physical examinations, and cytological, biochemical, and microbiological tests on urinary samples collected before and after standardized prostatic massage (pre- and post-massage test) were performed. Results: Ninety participants (45 AS patients, mean age: 52.5 ± 10.0 years, with longstanding disease, 12.4 ± 6.9years, and 45 controls, mean age: 52.8 ± 12.1 years) were included. National Institutes of Health - Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) scores were similar in the AS and control groups (4.0 [1.0-12.0] vs. 5.0 [1.0—8.5], p = 0.994). The frequencies of symptoms of chronic prostatitis (NIH-CPSI Pain Domain ≥4) were also similar in both groups (23.3% vs. 22.7%, p = 0.953). Results of polymerase chain reaction tests for Chlamydia trachomatis were negative in all tested urinary samples, and uric acid concentrations and leukocyte counts were similar in all pre- and post-massage urinary samples. Conclusions: In this study, chronic prostatitis occurred in male patients with AS, but its frequency and characteristics did not differ from those found in the healthy male population of similar age.

Objectives To create a Brazilian version of the National Institutes of Health – Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) using a cross-cultural adaptation process. Materials and Methods The nine items of the NIH-CPSI were translated to Portuguese, by two independent translators, of native Portuguese language origin, and it was obtained a single version, that was retranslated to English by two English native spoken translators, in order to correct any discrepancies. Those versions were compared to the original text, the modifications were applied and it was created a final version in Portuguese. That was pre-tested and applied to 30 patients with pain or perineal or ejaculatory disorder. To each item of the pre-final version it was assigned a score according to the grade of understanding and clarity in order to implement the adequate corrections. The final version in Portuguese was submitted to evaluations including face validation and psychometric proprieties of reproducibility and internal consistency, respectively evaluated by the (p) Pearson correlation coefficient and α Cronbach coefficient. Results All items applied to 30 patients during pre-test phase had a grade higher than 8 of understanding and clarity, and were considered clearly understandable by the patients. However, at face validation evaluation, there was an inconsistency of item three that was redone. The final produced version, called NIH-CPSI (Braz) showed good reproducibility (p = 0.89-0.99) and internal consistency (α Cronbach coefficient = 0.85-0.93). Conclusions NIH-CPSI was adapted to Brazilian spoken Portuguese and its original proprieties were maintained, being a valid instrument for evaluations of symptoms of chronic prostatitis in Brazilian patients.

OBJETIVO: Identificar a necessidade de profilaxia antibiótica em colecistectomias videolaparoscópicas eletivas. MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo, randomizado e duplo-cego, em pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia videolaparoscópica eletiva, durante o período de Junho de 2003 a Julho de 2007, com alocação de 163 pacientes em dois grupos: A (n=82), recebeu profilaxia com cefoxitina 2g intravenoso na indução anestésica; B (n=81), recebeu solução salina 2 mililitros intravenoso. A equipe e a técnica cirúrgica utilizadas foram as mesmas. O desfecho avaliado foram complicações infecciosas de sítio cirúrgico, isto é, infecção de ferida operatória e abscessos superficiais e/ou profundos. Os pacientes foram revisados em sete e 28 dias pós-operatório. Os dados foram analisados pelo Teste exato de Fisher (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: O presente estudo demonstrou uma taxa de complicações infecciosas de 4,76%, no Grupo A e de 6,17% no Grupo B. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa (p=0,746) nas taxas de complicações infecciosas. Os grupos foram homogêneos e comparáveis. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia videolaparoscópica eletiva, de baixo risco cirúrgico, não necessitam de antibioticoprofilaxia, pois a mesma não traz redução das taxas de infecção.

BACKGROUND: To identify the need for antibiotic prophylaxis usage in routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: A prospective, randomized double-blind study was done in patients submitted to routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy from June 2003 to July 2007, with 163 patients divided in two groups: Group A (n=82) received antibiotic prophylaxis with Cefoxitin 2g IV at anesthesia induction; Group B (n=81) received 2 mL of isotonic sodium chloride solution at same time. Surgical technique and team were the same. The purpose of this study was to search the outcome for surgical site infections and superficial or deep abscesses. The patients were examined at 7 and 28 days after surgery. Data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: This study showed infection complication rates of 4.76% in group A and 6.17% in group B. There were no statistical significant differences (p = 0.746) for infection complication rates in both groups. The groups were homogeneous and comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Patients submitted to routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy with low surgical risk do not need antibiotic prophylaxis, because it will not result in lower infection rates.