Exploring pharmacological interventions in benign prostate hyperplasia: the role of cost-effectiveness analysis in daily practice and future directions.

INTRODUCTION: Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) significantly impacts men's health and quality of life, with its prevalence rising with age. This review critically examines the cost-effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for BPH to optimize patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilization. AREAS COVERED: This review explores the integration of cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) into clinical practice, balancing clinical efficacy with economic efficiency in BPH management. We performed a critical literature search, including recent studies on the economic evaluation of BPH treatments, focusing on pharmacotherapies such as alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. Additionally, we discussed the concept of CEA and evaluated the role of medicinal reconciliation and the avoidance of polypharmacy in favor of optimal BPH treatment. EXPERT OPINION: Cost-effectiveness analysis is crucial for evaluating BPH treatments, with evidence suggesting a shift towards surgical interventions may offer greater long-term economic benefits. However, these models must be applied cautiously, considering clinical evidence and patient preferences to ensure equitable and patient-centric healthcare.

Effects of long and short ejaculatory abstinence on sperm parameters: a meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of ejaculatory abstinence on sperm parameters. Methods: This analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023472124). We performed a search on PubMed using the following text terms: (("sperm parameters" OR "sperm analysis" [Mesh]) AND ("sperm DNA fragmentation" OR "DNA fragmentation" [Mesh]) AND ("sexual abstinence" [Mesh] OR "abstinence")) and an advanced search in Scopus using the terms ("sperm parameters" OR "sperm parameters" OR "DNA fragmentation") AND ("abstinence"). The sperm parameters that were investigated were sperm volume, total sperm motility, progressive sperm motility, sperm concentration, sperm morphology, and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). A two-day cut-off as a "short" or "long" abstinence period has been defined. Results: Thirteen studies published between 2013 and 2022 were included in this meta-analysis. A total of 2,315 patients, ranging from 6 to 836 from each cohort, were enrolled in the study. We showed that longer abstinence time was associated with greater sperm concentration (mean difference [MD]: 8.19; p <0.01), sperm volume (MD: 0.96; p <0.01), and higher SDF (MD: 3.46; p <0.01), but lower progressive sperm motility (MD: -1.83; p <0.01). Otherwise, no statistically significant difference was observed in patients with longer vs. shorter abstinence times regarding total sperm motility (MD: -1.83; p = 0.06). Meta-regression analysis showed that days of abstinence were positively and linearly related to sperm concentration (slope: 3.74; p <0.01) and SDF (slope: 0.65; p = 0.044). Conclusions: According to our data, short ejaculatory abstinence is associated with better sperm quality. Indeed, a higher percentage of progressive sperm motility and lower levels of SDF have been reported in a short abstinence cohort. In contrast, the long abstinence group reported a higher sperm concentration. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023472124.

The Role of the Urobiome in Kidney Transplantation: A Systematic Review.

Background: The urinary microbiome, also known as the urobiome, was traditionally considered sterile. However, emerging evidence suggests its presence in the urinary tract. Urobiome dysbiosis has been associated with various urologic conditions, making it a topic of interest also in kidney transplantation. This systematic review examines the evidence of urobiome changes in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Methods: Systematic literature searches in the PubMed and SCOPUS databases. Results: Of the 770 articles identified, 8 met the inclusion criteria. The urobiome showed reduced diversity in KTRs compared with healthy controls and patients on dialysis. Proteobacteria enrichment was associated with graft stability or spontaneous tolerance in KTRs without immunological events. Kidney interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy were associated with changes in resident urinary microbes and increased pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, KTRs with chronic allograft dysfunction had a higher prevalence of Corynebacterium. Conclusions: The review highlights the importance of studying the urobiome in KTRs and its potential impact on transplant outcomes. The field remains largely unexplored, and further research is needed to establish consistent study designs and objectives. Future studies could lead to biomarker discovery, personalized therapies, and improved outcomes and graft survival in KTRs.

Prevalence of non-neurogenic male lower urinary tract symptoms after kidney transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: This review investigates the prevalence of male non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) after renal transplant, as kidney transplantation is a transformative intervention for patients with end-stage renal disease significantly enhancing quality of life that might be diminished by LUTS. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. A systematic search in the PubMed and Scopus databases was performed using specific terms. Inclusion criteria considered male kidney transplant recipients, analysing outcomes in English-language studies. Discrepancies were resolved by consultation. RESULTS: Among 18 studies involving 29 086 recipients, the prevalence of non-neurogenic LUTS ranged from 5.8% to 33.0%. Studies predominantly used the International Prostate Symptom Score for evaluation. Surgical interventions, mostly for benign prostatic obstruction, ranged from 2.5% to 20.0%. Voiding and post-micturition symptoms were under-represented. CONCLUSION: This review found varied non-neurogenic LUTS prevalence and characteristics in male kidney transplant recipients, emphasising the need for standardised assessments, prospective studies, and improved understanding of LUTS mechanisms. Enhanced knowledge can guide interventions, additionally benefiting recipient quality of life.

Intraplaque injections of hyaluronic acid for the treatment of stable-phase Peyronie's disease: a retrospective single-center experience.

Peyronie's disease (PD) is a condition of penile connective tissue affecting up to 10% of men worldwide. In the complexity of its management, nonsurgical treatments, such as intraplaque injections, are gaining attention. The current literature shows data on the efficacy of intraplaque injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) mainly in acute-phase PD. However, data on injections of HA in stable-phase PD are lacking. Data for this retrospective study were derived from a prospectively maintained database of private patients presenting at a private medical practice affiliated to the University of Naples "Federico II" (Naples, Italy) with stable-phase PD between January 2020 and March 2023. Patients underwent a standard protocol of three injections, each administered at a two-week interval. During the intervals, patients performed vacuum device therapy, penile stretching, and modeling exercises. All patients compiled the Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ) and Global Assessment of Peyronie's Disease (GAPD) at baseline and 2 weeks after the third injection. A penile Doppler ultrasound was performed 2 weeks after the last injection to record the final curvature. Overall, we recruited 62 patients with stable-phase PD and a mean (±standard deviation [s.d.]) curvature of 52.7° (±9.7°). After 6 weeks, eight (12.9%) patients did not experience any curvature improvement. The remaining 54 patients had a final mean (±s.d.) curvature of 40.3° (±9.1°) with P < 0.001, compared to that before treatment. We found improvement in all PDQ domains (all P ≤ 0.01), and 50 (80.6%) patients reported subjective improvement of the penile curvature according to the GAPD. In conclusion, we demonstrated that after three injections of HA administered according to the adopted protocol, patients with stable-phase PD could experience significant improvements in penile curvature, and physical and psychological consequences of the disease without significantly relevant side effects.

Effects of Physical Activity on Fertility Parameters: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PURPOSE: Augmented adiposity may negatively impact sexual sphere through its metabolic effects and its detrimental impact on reproductive hormones. Moreover, a dysregulated metabolic pathway may promote apoptosis among spermatogenic cells. Based on these premises, a relation between weights loss and ameliorate semen parameters seems beneficial. To investigate if physical activity may affect semen parameters and fertility rate, a systematic literature search on major dataset has been performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The search terms included: "Assisted reproduction therapies," "fertility," "semen parameters," "sperm parameters," and "physical activity." This analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines and it was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023384471). A total of 47 studies have been identified; 1 reference has been eliminated after duplication check. After preliminary screening 32 papers have been excluded. Considering the exclusion criteria, 15 full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility. After a full-text review, six studies published during a span of eight years (2014-2022) have been included in the meta-analysis. Semen parameters, pregnancy and birth rates were investigated. The revised Cochrane risk of bias tool (Rob2) has been used to check the risk of bias. RESULTS: The number of patients enrolled in studies ranges from 17 to 521; in the end, a total of 1,637 patients have been enrolled in the study. Fertility parameters investigated were semen quality parameters and pregnancy rates and live births. A statistically significant relationship between physical exercise and sperm concentration (p=0.02), total sperm motility (p<0.01), total sperm count (p<0.01), normal morphology (p<0.01) has been established. Moreover, the study registered a statistically significant association within physical activity and total pregnancy rate (p<0.01) and live birth rate (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that physical activity is significantly associated with amelioration of semen parameters and may be crucial in improving or even reverting male infertility.

Risk and benefits of penile length preservation techniques during penile prosthesis implantation: a systematic review by the young academic urologists sexual and reproductive health working group.

Background: Penile shortening, frequently resulting from end-stage Peyronie's disease (PD), has a negative impact on patients' sexual activity and overall quality of life, especially when accompanied by Erectile dysfunction (ED). Various surgical techniques have been described to manage concomitant ED and penile shortening through penile prosthesis (PP) implantation. Objectives: To evaluate the benefits and risks of different penile length preservation techniques during PP implantation. Design: A systematic review of the available literature on the use of penile length preservation maneuvers in conjunction with PP implantation was conducted. Data sources and methods: For this systematic review, three databases (Medline, Embase and Cochrane) and clinical trial.gov were queried for relevant publications from 1 January 1990 to 1 September 2022. The review process followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Results: The qualitative analysis included 15 relevant articles involving 1186 adult patients who underwent penile length preservation techniques during PP implantation. Penile lengthening of 1-7 cm was reported. Overall, postoperative complications were described in up to 21.7% of cases. Only five studies reported functional outcomes, showing a significant improvement in postoperative period based on the administered questionnaire (e.g. IIEF - International Index of Erectile Function, EDITS - Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction). Conclusion: Penile length preservation procedures appear to offer a viable option for managing acquired penile shortening, particularly in cases of PD. However, they are associated with a significant risk of complications. Proper patient selection, thorough discussion of risks and benefits, and referral to high-volume centers are mandatory to achieve optimal outcomes and minimizing complications. Trial registration: PROSPERO database registration CRD42022360758.

A clinical guide to rare male sexual disorders.

Conditions referred to as 'male sexual dysfunctions' usually include erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory disorders and male hypogonadism. However, some less common male sexual disorders exist, which are under-recognized and under-treated, leading to considerable morbidity, with adverse effects on individuals' sexual health and relationships. Such conditions include post-finasteride syndrome, restless genital syndrome, post-orgasmic illness syndrome, post-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) sexual dysfunction, hard-flaccid syndrome, sleep-related painful erections and post-retinoid sexual dysfunction. Information about these disorders usually originates from case-control trials or small case series; thus, the published literature is scarce. As the aetiology of these diseases has not been fully elucidated, the optimal investigational work-up and therapy are not well defined, and the available options cannot, therefore, adequately address patients' sexual problems and implement appropriate treatment. Thus, larger-scale studies - including prospective trials and comprehensive case registries - are crucial to better understand the aetiology, prevalence and clinical characteristics of these conditions. Furthermore, collaborative efforts among researchers, health-care professionals and patient advocacy groups will be essential in order to develop evidence-based guidelines and novel therapeutic approaches that can effectively address these disorders. By advancing our understanding and refining treatment strategies, we can strive towards improving the quality of life and fostering healthier sexual relationships for individuals suffering from these rare sexual disorders.

Complications after surgical correction of penile fractures-Is there a clinical impact?

BACKGROUND: Surgical exploration and closure of the tunica albuginea is the recommended treatment for penile fractures. The recovery of sexual function is the main result that surgeons and patients pursue. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the sexual health effects of a surgically corrected penile fracture. Secondarily, we sought to identify risk factors that may influence long-term sexual function and their effects on genital body image satisfaction. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent surgical correction of penile fractures between 2007 and 2022 in a tertiary center was performed. Lesion characteristics, weeks until the resumption of sexual activity, and post-operative sexual function were recorded. The presence of glans hypoesthesia, penile deformation, penile nodule palpation, and self-satisfaction with body image were assessed. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients with a mean age of 42.30 ± 12.98 years and a median follow-up of 70 (20-134) months were identified. Sexual intercourse was recorded as a percentage. Penile deformation was the most common complication, appearing in 14.5% of patients, erectile dysfunction in 5.8%, penile nodules in 4.3%, and glans hypoesthesia in 2.9%. The median post-operative International Index of Erectile Function-5 was 24 (21.5-24). Self-satisfaction with body image had a median of 9 and was negatively associated with bilateral lesions and penile deformation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Distal fractures could be linked to erectile dysfunction and glans hypoesthesia. Surgical correction of penile fractures shows positive functional and self-reported outcomes, and the potential andrological complications rarely necessitate specific treatment.

Do "testosterone boosters" really increase serum total testosterone? A systematic review.

Testosterone boosters are heavily marketed on social media and marketplaces to men with claims to significantly increase testosterone. Lax industry regulation has allowed sales of supplements to thrive in the absence of verification of their purported benefits. Our primary objective was to systematically review all data published in the last two decades on testosterone boosters and determine their efficacy. Our outcome of interest was total testosterone increase versus placebo in four different populations: male athletes, men with late-onset hypogonadism infertile men and healthy men. Following search and screening, 52 studies were included in our review, relating to 27 proposed testosterone boosters: 10 studies of cholecalciferol; 5 zinc/magnesium; 4 Tribulus terrestris and creatine; 3 Eurycoma longifolia and Withania somnifera; 2 betaine, D-aspartic acid, Lepidium meyenii and isoflavones; while the remainder were single reports. Our findings indicate that most fail to increase total testosterone. The exceptions were ß-hydroxy ß-methylbutyrate and betaine, which can be considered effective for male athletes. Eurycoma longifolia, a blend of Punica granatum fruit rind and Theobroma cacao seed extracts (Tesnor™) and purified Shilajit extract (PrimaVie™) can be considered possibly effective for men with late-onset hypogonadism; Eurycoma longifolia and Withania somnifera possibly effective for healthy men; and a non-hormonal aromatase inhibitor (Novadex XT™) possibly effective for male athletes.

Erection hardness score or penile Doppler ultrasound: which is a better predictor of failure of nonsurgical treatment of erectile dysfunction?

Background: In the evaluation of men presenting for erectile dysfunction (ED), specific diagnostic tests, such as an intracavernous injection test (IIT) with Erection Hardness Score (EHS) assessment or penile Doppler ultrasound (PDU), may be necessary. Aim: The study sought to compare the prognostic value of PDU parameters with erection rigidity with EHS during IIT in predicting refractory ED after 5 years. Methods: Patients referred for ED were evaluated and had a PDU with at least 15 µg of intracavernous alprostadil and without any sexual stimulation. At 5 years of follow-up, current and past ED treatments were noted. Refractory ED was defined as having a penile prosthesis (PP) implanted, having failed nonsurgical treatments but having refused PP implantation, or having discontinuation of nonsurgical treatments due to loss of efficacy. Patients with hypogonadism and pelvic surgery were excluded. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were drawn and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Outcomes: The outcome was the AUC for predicting refractory ED. Results: At 5 years, 69 men were still in follow-up with a mean age of 58.47 ± 10.39 years, and 13 (18.8%) were classified as having refractory ED. The AUC for the EHS, peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic flow, and resistive index to discriminate refractory ED were 0.820, 0.613, 0.730, and 0.714, respectively. Clinical Implications: EHS can be a good predictor of response to nonsurgical treatments in ED. Strengths and Limitations: This was a prospective study to compare IIT with PDU, and validated disease-specific questionnaires were used to assess both clinical efficacy and satisfaction. PDU was performed by a blinded third party. However, resulting from a single-center study, our sample size can be considered small, and the number of events observed was also low. Conclusion: Our data suggest that an abnormal EHS during an IIT is, at least, noninferior than an abnormal PDU in predicting those patients that will not respond to nonsurgical treatments and that will need a PP in long-term.

Can we rely on total testosterone measurement to exclude hypogonadism in erectile dysfunction?

Although male hypogonadism (MH) is a prevalent comorbidity in patients presenting for erectile dysfunction (ED), its screening relies solely on total testosterone (TT). Ageing and other conditions can increase sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and lower free testosterone (FT) causing symptomatic MH despite normal TT. The primary objective was to measure the prevalence of normal TT/low FT among patients presenting for ED. From January 2019 to December 2020, 408 patients referred for sexual dysfunction were screened; 180 men with a confirmed diagnosis of ED were included. MH was screened using TT, SHBG, albumin and LH. FT was calculated (cFT). Low TT, high SHBG and low cFT were defined as <345 ng/dL, >50 nmol/L and <6.5 ng/dL, respectively. Patients were divided into groups according to TT/cFT status and to age group. The frequency of normal TT/low cFT was 17.2%. From all 31 patients with normal TT/low cFT, only four (12.9%) had either hyperthyroidism, hepatic disease or HIV infection, while 23 (74.2%) were older than 60 years. Patients with normal TT/low cFT were older (65.57 ± 10.43 vs. 56.79 ± 10.63 yo, p = 0.001) and had higher SHBG (78.48 ± 40.14 vs. 52.35 ± 20.39 nmol/L, p = 0.014) than patients with normal TT/cFT. Patients over 60 years represented 48.9% of the sample, 52.5% had elevated SHBG and their frequency of normal TT/low cFT was 26.3%. Normal TT/low cFT is frequent and can be missed by current screening recommendations for MH in patients presenting for ED. Ageing seems to be the main culprit as elevated SHBG prevalence increases steeply after the sixth decade. TT cannot solely be relied on to exclude biochemical MH in patients presenting for ED, especially in patients over 60 years old. Current guidelines for MH screening in ED should be amended.

Analysis of benign prostatic obstruction surgery: A long-term evaluation in a real-life context.

OBJECTIVE: Surgery is the treatment for male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) relat-ed to benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) refractory to pharma-cological treatment or with complications. This study aimed to assess factors associated with the need for surgical reinterven-tion and/or continuation of pharmacological treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent prostatic surgery for male LUTS associated with BPO between 1 May 2015 and 1 May 2016, with a minimum follow-up of five years, in an academic tertiary hospital.  The type of surgery, preoperative, postoperative and follow-up analysis were collected in a database. RESULTS: A total of 212 patients were included with a mean age of 70 ± 8.66 years at five years follow-up. At 5 years, a total of 86.9% of patients do not need pharmacological treatment and 12% required surgical reintervention. Of the preoperative parameters, it was found a relationship between prior prostatitis and the need for second surgery with an odds ratio of 4.6. CONCLUSIONS: Patients should be informed of the potential need for pharmacological treatment following surgery, or even of the need for reintervention. History of prostatitis seems to be a risk factor for reintervention.

Metabolic evaluation in urolithiasis - study of the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities in a tertiary centre.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic abnormalities are one of the most important risk factors for urinary stone disease. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities in patients referred to the urolithiasis outpatient clinic of a tertiary centre. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study evaluating 67 patients referred to the urolithiasis outpatient clinic. Metabolic evaluation was performed, including one 24-hour urine sample. RESULTS: Metabolic abnormalities could be identified in 92.5% patients. Almost a quarter of the patients had only one metabolic abnormality and 67.6% had more than one abnormality. The most prevalent metabolic abnormalities were hypercalciuria (54.5%), hyperoxaluria (34.7%) and hyperuricosuria (32.3%). Patients with hypercalciuria were older (54.7 vs. 47.8 years, p = 0.018) and family history of stone disease was significantly more frequent among patients with hyperoxaluria (71.4% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.013). There was a positive linear relationship between body mass index (BMI) and urinary calcium (r = 0.247, p = 0.048) and a negative linear relationship between BMI and urinary pH (r = -0.254, p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of metabolic abnormalities, metabolic evaluation should be performed in every patient with urolithiasis evaluated in a tertiary setting.

Current stepwise recommendations for hypogonadism screening in erectile dysfunction are not cost-effective.

Hypogonadism is a prevalent comorbidity with erectile disfunction (ED) and current guidelines recommend screening for hypogonadism with total testosterone (TT). If low TT is detected, further assessment with LH and SHBG plus albumin are needed to establish an etiology and treatment. Our primary objective was to determine the cost benefit of current stepwise approach versus ad initium full hormonal assessment. Two hundred consecutive male patients referred for ED were screened after consent and 81 were included and assessed for hypogonadism according to the current stepwise approach with TT, and only if TT was less than 345 ng/mL, a full hormonal assessment with TT, LH, and SHBG plus albumin to calculate free testosterone was performed. Direct costs were calculated using the national public healthcare system reimbursement tables and were compared with a hypothetical initial full hormonal assessment. Screening TT was less than 345 ng/mL in 34.6% patients leading to a full hormonal assessment on these. Using a stepwise approach there was a direct cost increase of 5.82 € per patient. Moreover, one out of every three patients had two extra venipunctures and an additional follow-up appointment. Current stepwise recommendations may prove costly in high prevalence scenarios such as the ED subpopulation as a direct cost increase was observed.

Is There a Point to Performing a Penile Duplex Ultrasound?

INTRODUCTION: Specialized diagnostic evaluation of erectile dysfunction (ED) may require an intracavernous injection test (IIT) or penile duplex ultrasound (PDU). AIM: Our primary objective was to compare the prognostic value of IIT and PDU for treatment efficacy and patient satisfaction with first-line sildenafil citrate. METHODS: After 200 patients were screened, a total of 77 patients with ED had a standardized PDU by a blinded third party, and peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic flow (EDF), and resistive index (RI) in timely intervals were recorded. The erection hardness score (EHS) was used to score erection rigidity during the test and was also noted. Patients also completed a briefed International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire and were started on open-label 100 mg sildenafil citrate at baseline. The IIEF-5 and erectile dysfunction inventory of treatment satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaires were repeated and completed at 6 months' follow-up. Improvement, cure, and satisfaction were defined as an increase of 4 points in IIEF-5 with an IIEF-5 score higher than 21 points and EDITS score higher than 50, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated and compared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: EHS did not have a different or larger AUC than PSV, EDF, and RI for improvement, cure, and satisfaction with sildenafil citrate. RESULTS: The patient's mean age was 58.76 ± 10.27 years and almost half of the patients had moderate ED according to the IIEF-5 (42.8%). Improvement, cure, and satisfaction were high among participants (77.9%, 64.9%, and 67.5%, respectively). The erection rigidity EHS also showed an excellent-to-good ability to predict improvement, cure, and patient satisfaction (AUC = 0.921, 0.873, and 0.898, respectively) with sildenafil citrate. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: There is no point in performing more than an IIT when a specialized diagnostic evaluation is required for diagnostic or medico-legal reasons because PDU is time-consuming and requires both hardware and ultrasound skills with no added prognostic value. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This is the first prospective study to directly compare IIT with PDU, and validated disease-specific questionnaires were used to assess both clinical efficacy and satisfaction. Moreover, the PDU was performed by a blinded third party. However, this was a single-center study and the population included was small. CONCLUSION: PDU parameters add no prognostic value to determining erection rigidity during a standard IIT. Erection rigidity during IIT, as assessed with the EHS, suffices as a prognostic tool. Morgado A, Diniz P, Silva CM. Is There a Point to Performing a Penile Duplex Ultrasound? J Sex Med 2019;16:1574-1580.

Is there a role for bilateral peak systolic velocity readings in a penile duplex ultrasound?

The penile duplex ultrasound (PDU) has been used as a diagnostic tool in erectile dysfunction (ED) management. It is currently recommended that peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic flow (EDF) should be recorded on both the right and left cavernosal arteries. However, the clinical utility of bilateral recordings is unknown. Our primary objective is to assess the clinical utility of bilateral recordings in ED treatment with sildenafil. A total of 77 patients were included. All patients had a standardised PDU and also completed the IIEF-5 and started on-demand treatment with sildenafil at 100 mg at baseline. The IIEF-5 and EDITS were completed at the 6-month follow-up. The Spearman test was used to assess correlation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Improvement, cure and satisfaction were high (77.9%, 64.9% and 67.5%, respectively), and the median IIEF-5 and EDITS were 25(22; 25) and 81.81(63.63; 88.63) respectively. The lowest PSV had the highest positive correlation with IIEF-5 and EDITS (p = 0.436 and 0.379, respectively), and it could predict improvement, cure and satisfaction with a fair-to-good accuracy (AUC = 0.837, 0.750 and 0.749 respectively). The present study shows bilateral penile blood-flow assessment is important, and attention should be focused on the lowest bilateral PSV.

Misdiagnosis And Undertreatment Of Erectile Dysfunction In The Portuguese Primary Health Care.

INTRODUCTION: The importance of erectile dysfunction (ED) diagnosis and treatment has been highlighted since the early 2000s. However, nearly 20 years after the first phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) was marketed, underdiagnosis and undertreatment of ED in the primary health care setting may still be present. AIM: To assess the relative frequency of patients who are medically treated for ED before referral to specialized urology care. The secondary objectives were to evaluate possible reasons for non-treatment prior to referral and other signs of undertreatment, namely cardiovascular risk assessment and antihypertensive treatment. METHODS: 200 male patients referred for ED to specialist urology care by general practitioners were screened after consent between January 2016-December 2018. A full standardized medical and sexual history were taken. Previous medical treatment of ED, namely pharmacologic name and dosages, and cardiovascular risk factors were noted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Of the 115 included patients, only 33.9% of patients had already taken PDE5i before referral, and none had taken alprostadil by intracavernous route. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 58.68 ± 10.01 years old. Only 45.2% had been prescribed the highest dose of PD5i. From the remaining untreated patients, only 19.7% had ≥3 cardiovascular risk factors, including 5.6% of patients who also presented moderate-to-severe stable or unstable angina requiring a stress test or cardiology assessment before treatment. Regarding the 54 patients with medical history of arterial hypertension, 43.4% and 30.2% were treated for hypertension with a diuretic and a beta blocker, respectively. CONCLUSION: More focus on the primary healthcare continuous medical education regarding sexual dysfunction, namely ED, is needed because major undertreatment of ED is still present because low prescription of PD5i before referral is noted. Morgado A, Moura ML, Dinis P, et al. Misdiagnosis And Undertreatment Of Erectile Dysfunction In The Portuguese Primary Health Care. Sex Med 2019;7:177-183.

Long-term patient-reported satisfaction with different inflatable penile prosthesis: Comparison between AMS 700CX and Coloplast Titan.

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most prevalent male sexual disorders worldwide. When conservative treatment is unsuccessful, contraindicated or causes unacceptable side effects penile prosthesis implantation is a definitive option for the management of ED. Although considered a third-line therapy, it achieves the highest satisfaction rates as compared with non-surgical treatment. Three-piece inflatable penile prothesis (IPP) represents the most sophisticated implantable device, AMS 700CX™ and Coloplast Titan® being the two most commonly used. Although there are several studies evaluating patient satisfaction with either model, there is little published data comparing both models. METHODS: We have compared overall patient satisfaction in 55 patients submitted to either 700CX™ or Titan® implantation. The Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire was used to access patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Patient mean age and follow-up time were 59.1 years and 57.9 months respectively. There was no difference in EDITS score between 700CX™ and Titan® IPP (77.2±12.1 versus 77.5±16.6 respectively, p=0.956). CONCLUSION: Overall patient satisfaction as assessed by EDITS questionnaire was not different between 700CX™ and Titan®.

Intratrigonal OnabotulinumtoxinA Improves Bladder Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients with Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis: A Pilot, Single Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: We compared the efficacy and safety of trigonal injections of onabotulinumtoxinA and saline in patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This phase II study enrolled women who had had bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis for more than 6 months and pain for 4 months or longer on a visual analogue scale of 0 to 10, which were refractory to common treatment. OnabotulinumtoxinA 100 U in 10 or saline as placebo in 9 was administered as 10 trigonal injections of 1 ml. The primary study end point was the change from baseline pain intensity reported at week 12. Additional end points included O'Leary-Sant scores, micturition frequency, quality of life at week 4, 8 and 12, and the treatment benefit scale at week 12. Safety assessments included urinary tract infection, post-void residual urine and the initiation of clean intermittent catheterization. RESULTS: At week 12 onabotulinumtoxinA had significantly reduced pain compared with saline (mean ± SD -3.8 ± 2.5 vs -1.6 ± 2.1, p <0.05). The proportion of patients who achieved a 50% or greater reduction in the pain visual analog scale was 60% for onabotulinumtoxinA vs 22% for placebo. OnabotulinumtoxinA significantly improved O'Leary-Sant scores and quality of life over placebo at weeks 4, 8 and 12. Important numerical reductions in voiding frequency were also observed with the toxin. OnabotulinumtoxinA was well tolerated. Urinary tract infections developed in 3 patients who received onabotulinumtoxinA vs 2 who received saline. Mean post-void residual urine at week 12 was 5 ± 13 ml for onabotulinumtoxinA vs 0 ml with saline. This study had the limitations inherent to a single center trial with a small number of patients enrolled. CONCLUSIONS: OnabotulinumtoxinA 100 U caused significant and clinically relevant improvements in bladder pain and quality of life in patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis refractory to common therapy. It was also well tolerated.