This study provides data on the prevalence of and risks factors for erectile dysfunction in Spain. The relationship of erectile dysfunction with certain risk factors, such as cardiovascular risk factors and drugs intake, are well known and our study corroborates these associations. Other associations with erectile dysfunction, such as prostate disease, allergy and rheumatism, support findings in previous reports, although to our knowledge the pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. Estimating the strength of the association of erectile dysfunction with distinct risk factors in terms of odds ratios enabled us to identify the factors to pursue when seeking to prevent erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, the relationship of tobacco with erectile dysfunction, which has been controversial in previous series, was well characterized in our study.

We report 8 cases of self-inserted unusual foreign bodies in the lower urinary tract, all being treated from 1976 to 1990. Three of them were located in the urethra and 5 in the bladder. Several objects were found (electric cable, tweezers, hairpin, drawing pin, pebbles, paper clip). In 4 cases the objects were inserted for masturbatory purposes. Five of the patients were psychologically ill or handicapped. The most common reason for consultation was dysuria, and the treatment procedures were endoscopy in 5 patients and cystotomy in the other 3.

Purpose: Report and review the literature on ureteral avulsion as a rare complication of ureteroscopy.Materials and Methods: We analyzed 3 cases of ureteral avulsion in a series of 4,645 ureteroscopic procedures performed from January 1990 to December 2001. We especially report the different managements for this complication.Results: Due to the different extent of the injury, each patient was treated in a particular way, including a patient managed by means of an endourological approach.Conclusions: When performing ureteroscopy or using Dormia baskets, one should always bear in mind the possibility of serious complications, including ureteral avulsion or perforation. The use of an extremely careful technique of ureteral insertion, the mandatory placement of a safety guidewire, and a working guidewire, all minimize the risk of untoward events.

A low incidence of nocardiosis following kidney transplantation was observed. Fatal cases occurred in patients with bacteremia and serious comorbid medical conditions, in whom early diagnosis and specific treatment was required.

We treated 51 patients diagnosed as having chronic bacterial prostatitis (gram-negative) with 2 ml. intraprostatic amikacin (500 mg.) or tobramycin (100 mg.) weekly for 2 to 4 weeks. Administration was perineal with echographic control and injection was done in the echogenic zone or external gland. In each case the diagnosis was obtained by fractioned microbiological study via the method of Meares and Stamey. This test was repeated 4, 12 and 24 weeks after the end of treatment. Of the patients 25 (49 per cent) were cured microbiologically, 11 (21.5 per cent) were cured after a second cycle of treatment and the remaining 15 (29.4 per cent) failed to respond. The clinical cure rate was 43.1 per cent and 41.1 per cent of the patients were improved. After 6 months 5 patients had relapse and 1 had reinfection. No differences were observed with both antimicrobials. The microbiological cure indexes of 70.5 and 58.8 per cent after 3 and 6 months, respectively, compared favorably with that obtained by oral therapy with antimicrobials that reach effective levels in the prostatic fluid. Transitory post-injection hemospermia was observed in 11 patients. Together with pain during or after injection (8 and 5 patients, respectively), these were the sole adverse effects observed with this therapy.