Human aand b-defensins are cationic, amphipathic effector peptides of the innate immune system with broad antimicrobial activity [1]. a-defensins are produced by neutrophils (human neutrophil peptides [HNP] 1–4), as well as by epithelial cells in the gut and genitourinary tract (human defensins [HD] 5 and 6). bdefensins (human b-defensins [HBD] 1–4) are constitutively expressed by epithelial ce...

Mycoplasma genitalium (Mg) is a mollicute that causes a range of human urogenital infections. A hallmark of these bacteria is their ability to establish chronic infections that can persist despite completion of appropriate antibiotic therapies and intact and functional immune systems. Intimate adherence and surface colonization of mycoplasmas to host cells are important pathogenic features. How...

Malakoplakia is a rare inflammatory condition that can affect many organ systems, including genitourinary tract, it is associated with impaired immune function. It is characterized by distinctive Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. Very rare cases have been reported to present as a locally advanced renal mass.

Haemophilus species are known to colonize the upper respiratory tract and can cause infections. However Haemophilus influenzae has been rarely described as a cause of genitourinary tract infection. We report a 44-year-old nonimmunocompromised Japanese man with bacteremic pyelonephritis caused by a nontypable H. influenzae associated with a left ureteral calculus. The organism was isolated from ...

Tumors of the kidney, bladder, prostate, testis, and adrenal represent a large part of the adult urologic practice, but are relatively infrequent in children. The natural history and management of these tumors in the pediatric age is different from that of the adults. As result of the successful work of several clinical trial groups in recent decades, there has been a significant improvement in...

BACKGROUND One of Europe's most well-developed industrial regions is found in the Republic of Bulgaria. The industrialization of the region has a big impact on air pollution. Thermal power plant "Maritza East" (the largest of its kind in southeastern Europe), the army training range, machine manufacturers, household heating and high volume of automobile traffic are all major sources of pollutio...