Knowledge on the male reproductive tract and testicular cancer among adolescents in Austria.

PURPOSE: Testicular cancer is the most frequent malignant tumour among young adults. Therefore, regular self-examination for early detection is recommended by all guidelines. The fact that the knowledge of young adults living in Austria on this important topic is unknown, prompted the current investigation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the knowledge on anatomy and function of the male reproductive tract and of testicular cancer in particular a German questionnaire recently developed by Anheuser et al. (Urologe 2019;58:1331-1337) was applied. This 4-page questionnaire contains mainly multiple-choice questions. This questionnaire was distributed in three different schools to male and female students in the 11th and 12th school level. RESULTS: A total of 337 students (mean age: 17.3 years; male: n = 183; female: n = 154) completed the questionnaire. In a simple pictogramm, 63% were able to correctly identify the prostate, 87% the testis and 64% the epididymis. Half of the students (49.3%) could describe the function of the testis. The question regarding the age peak of testicular cancer was correctly answered by 81%, yet 18% believed that testicular cancer is caused by the sexual contact. The purpose of the testicular self-examination was correctly answered by only 54.9% with a higher rate for women (67.5% vs. 44.3%, p = 0.001). With a theoretical maximal score of 15, the students reached a mean overall of 10.4 with no sex difference (p > 0.05). Differences were noted for the school type: the highest score was present in the Gymnasium (11.2), followed by the Realgymnasium (10.8) and the HTL (9.8; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This survey demonstrates relevant knowledge deficits of young adults regarding the male reproductive tract, testicular cancer and self-examination.

Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Reveals Important Association of Fluid Status and T1 -Mapping by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.

BACKGROUND: Extracellular matrix expansion is a key pathophysiologic feature in heart failure and can be quantified noninvasively by cardiac magnetic resonance T1 -mapping. Free water within the interstitial space of the myocardium, however, may also alter T1 -mapping results. PURPOSE: To investigate the association between systemic fluid status and T1 -mapping by cardiac magnetic resonance. STUDY TYPE: Prospective, observational single-center study. POPULATION: Two-hundred eighty-five consecutive patients (44.4% female, 70.0 ± 14.9 years old) scheduled for cardiac MR due to various cardiac diseases. SEQUENCE AND FIELD STRENGTH: 1.5-T scanner (Avanto Fit, Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany). For T1 -mapping, electrocardiographically triggered modified-Look-Locker inversion (MOLLI) recovery sequence using a 5(3)3 prototype on a short-axis mid-cavity slice and with a four-chamber view was performed. ASSESSMENTS: MR parameters including native myocardial T1 -times using MOLLI and extracellular volume (MR-ECV) were assessed, and additionally, we performed bioimpedance analysis (BIA). Furthermore, demographic data and comorbidities were assessed. STATISTICS: Wilcoxon's rank-sum test, chi-square tests, and for correlation analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficients were used. Regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between patients' fluid status and T1 -mapping results. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mixed cohort presented with a mean overhydration (OH) of +0.2 ± 2.4 liters, as determined by BIA. By MR, native T1 -times were 1038 ± 51 msec and MR-ECV was 31 ± 9%. In the multivariable regression analysis, only OH was significantly associated with MR-ECV (adj. beta: 0.711; 95% CI: 0.28 to 1.14) along with male sex (adj. beta: 2.529; 95% CI: 0.51 to 4.55). In linear as well as multivariable analysis, only OH was significantly associated with native T1 times (adj. beta: 3.750; 95% CI: 1.27 to 6.23). CONCLUSION: T1 -times and MR-ECV were significantly associated with the degree of OH on BIA measurement. These effects were independent from age, sex, body mass index, and hematocrit. Patients' volume status may thus be an important factor when T1 -time and MR-ECV values are interpreted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 3.