Follicle-stimulating hormone and Inhibin B as predictors of successful sperm retrieval in men undergoing testicular sperm extraction: A review of 44 cases and meta-analysis.

The aim of the study and meta-analysis was to evaluate the predictive value of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B in sperm retrieval in men with non-obstructive azoospermia NOA. A total of 44 patients with a mean age of 36.1 years (SD=+/- 6.17) was included. We had 19 patients with successful sperm retrieval and 25 with failure. All patients had a normal karyotype. There was no difference between groups regarding patients mean age, prolactin or FSH. Patients with successful sperm retrieval had a significantly higher inhibin B level (134.62(+/-64,35) vs. 72.36(+/-67.78), p=0.006) and, paradoxically a higher body weight (92.38(+/-11.38) vs. 83.76(+/-11.90), p=0.027). The forest plots showed that a higher FSH level was significantly correlated with a negative success rate. Ahigher Inhibin B level was associated with a higher successful sperm retrieval (p=0.00001 respectively, p=0.0002). Surgical sperm retrieval could be, in some cases, the only chance to have a biological offspring.

Multiple Percutaneous Drainage of a Giant Pyonephrosis Caused by Urolithiasis: A Case Report.

The prevalence of kidney stones continues to rise in modern times. Undiagnosed and/or mistreated, it can result in suppurative kidney damage and, in rare instances, death from systemic infection. We present the case of a 40-year-old woman who presented to the county hospital for sleight left lumbar pain, fever, and pyuria for about two weeks. Ultrasound and CT scan revealed a giant hydronephrosis with no visible parenchyma, secondary to a stone in the pelvic-ureteral junction. Although a nephrostomy stent was placed, 48 hours later the purulent content was not evacuated completely. She was referred to a tertiary center, where two more nephrostomy tubes were placed to completely evacuate approximately 3 L of purulent urine. Three weeks later, after the inflammation parameters normalized, a nephrectomy was performed with good outcomes. A pyonephrosis urologic emergency can develop into septic shock, demanding rapid medical attention to prevent potentially fatal outcomes. In some circumstances, percutaneous draining of a purulent collection may not be sufficient to remove the whole purulent mass. Before nephrectomy, all collections must be removed with further percutaneous procedures.

The Antimicrobial Resistance Index and Fournier Gangrene Severity Index of Patients Diagnosed with Fournier's Gangrene in a Tertiary Hospital in North Eastern Romania.

Background: Although rare, Fournier's gangrene is a major urological emergency. We aimed to learn more about the pathogenesis of Fournier's gangrene and assess the antibiotic resistance patterns in individuals with this disease. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the patients diagnosed with and treated for Fournier's gangrene in a Neamt county hospital and "CI Parhon" Clinical Hospital in Iasi, Romania between 1 January 2016 and 1 June 2022. Results: We included a total of 40 patients, all males; of these, 12.5% died. In our study, in the patients that died, the adverse prognostic factors were a higher body temperature (38.12 ± 0.68 vs. 38.94 ± 0.85 °C; p = 0.009), an elevated WBC (17.4 ± 5.46 vs. 25.23 ± 7.48; p = 0.003), obesity (14.28% vs. 60%; p = 0.04), and a significantly higher FGSI (4.17 ± 2.80 vs. 9.4 ± 3.2; p = 0.0002) as well as MAR index (0.37 ± 0.29 vs. 0.59 ± 0.24; p = 0.036). These patients were more likely to have liver affections than those in the group who survived, but the difference was not significant. The most frequently identified microorganism in the tissue secretions culture was E. coli (40%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (30%) and Enterococcus (10%). The highest MAR index was encountered in Acinetobacter (1), in a patient that did not survive, followed by Pseudomonas (0.85) and Proteus (0.75). Conclusions: Fournier's gangrene remains a fatal condition, a highly resistant causative microorganism that is not always correlated with a poor prognosis.

Can we identify the risk factors for SIRS/sepsis after percutaneous nephrolithotomy? A meta­analysis and literature review.

With the increase in percutaneous interventions such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for renal lithiasis, infectious complications are becoming more frequent. The present study performed a systematic Medline and Embase databases search, using the following words: 'PCNL' [MeSH Terms] AND ['sepsis' (All Fields) OR 'PCNL' (All Fields)] AND ['septic shock' (All Fields)] AND ['urosepsis' (MeSH Terms) OR 'Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)' (All Fields)]. Because of the technological advances in endourology, articles published between 2012 and 2022 were searched. Of the 1,403 results of the search, only 18 articles, representing 7,507 patients in which PCNL was performed, met the criteria to be included in the analysis. All authors applied antibiotic prophylaxis to all patients and, in some cases, the infection was treated preoperatively in those with positive urine cultures. According to the analysis of the present study, the operative time has been significantly longer in patients who developed SIRS/sepsis post-operatively (P=0.0001) with the highest heterogeneity (I2=91%) compared with other factors. Patients with a positive preoperative urine culture had a significantly higher risk of developing SIRS/sepsis following PCNL (P=0.00001), OD=2.92 (1.82, 4.68) and there was also a high degree of heterogeneity (I2=80%). Performing a multi-tract PCNL also increased the incidence of postoperative SIRS/sepsis (P=0.00001), OD=2.64 (1.78, 3.93) and the heterogeneity was a little smaller (I2=67%). Diabetes mellitus (P=0.004), OD=1.50 (1.14, 1.98), I2=27% and preoperative pyuria (P=0.002), OD=1.75 (1.23, 2.49), I2=20%, were other factors that significantly influenced postoperative evolution. A total of two factors analyzed, body mass index and patient's age, did not influence the outcome, P=0.45, I2=58% and P=0.98, I2=63%.

Elements for Trial Without Catheter (TWOC) Success in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients: Lessons We Have Learned.

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive disease that causes low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). As prostatic volume grows, the prostatic urethra may become completely obstructed, resulting in full urine retention and acute hypogastric pain. Our research aimed to identify the optimal trial without catheter (TWOC) therapeutic approach and identify those factors that are associated with the recurrence of complete urinary retention (CUR). METHODOLOGY: The study enrolled with complete urinary retention and BPH were included in the study, after the insertion of a Foley catheter. The patients received tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day as an alpha-blocker treatment. In our investigation, patients who encountered complete urinary retention were randomly categorized into four groups based on the duration of urinary catheterization as determined by the attending urologist. RESULTS: Maintaining the urethrovesical catheter for three to seven days was related to the highest success of spontaneous urination, which was statistically significant compared to other study groups. (p=0.0007). Age over 70 years, no alpha-blocker before the urinary retention episode, and prostatic volume exceeding 50 ml were all associated with decreased TWOC efficacy. We found the highest rates of spontaneous urination were after three to seven days of urinary catheterization. CONCLUSION: BPH and complete urine retention can be managed by TWOC in many cases. Several factors affect the test's efficacy. Prolonged urinary catheter maintenance over seven days, prostatic volume over 50 ml, and age over 70 years are poor prognostic indicators.

Active metabolic lithiasis: A condition that requires proper evaluation and monitoring.

Kidney stone evolution is different among patients, with some exhibiting kidney stones once in a lifetime and others experiencing multiple recurrences, with some even presenting with them at short intervals of time. The present study analyzed the risk of recurrence in order to organize a personalized prophylaxis and follow-up for the patients at risk. Prior to the analysis, the patients completed the liquids, antecedents, medication, associated pathologies and aliments questionnaire. A total of 350 patients with kidney stones were consecutively enrolled between April 2019 and April 2022. The spectroscopic analysis of stone samples was performed with the Bruker Alpha II spectrometer, while the stone morphology was assessed using the Olympus SZ61TR stereomicroscope. Intact stones were sectioned and their cores were analyzed separately. Patients with metabolically active lithiasis had stones made of cystine (CYS), uric acid (UA), brushite or calcium oxalate dihydrate. Among patients aged 18-30 years, two morphological factors defining the metabolically active lithiasis were identified: Randall's plaques [odds ratio (OR), 8.8] and poor stone organization (OR, 12.0). In patients aged 31-40 years, one criterion for the diagnosis of metabolically active lithiasis was the identification of pale stone color (OR, 12.0). Among the 149 patients aged >50 years, 24.8% (n=37) had UA lithiasis. Furthermore, the association of the defining elements of the metabolic syndrome significantly increased the likelihood of the lithiasis recurrence (P=0.03; OR, 4.3). The presence of kidney stones in the family history was significantly associated with the type of stone (P=0.004). Among the 7 patients with CYS stones, 71.4% of them had family history of lithiasis. The study findings suggest that the identification of Randall plaques, a light stone color or a low degree of stone organization is associated with increased odds of lithiasis recurrence.

Urinary tract infections in complicated kidney stones: Can they be correlated with Guy's stone score?

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the existence of a connection between Guy's stone score and infectious complications after percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy. METHODS: The retrospective cohort, multi-centre study was conducted in the urology departments of Prof Dr Theodor Burghele Clinical Hospital and C.I. Parhon Clinical Hospital, Romania, and included data of patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019. Based on urography, the subjects were assigned to four groups, from GSS1 to GSS4, in accordance with the Guy's stone score classification. The complication rate after percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy was classified using the modified Clavien staging classification. Demographics, preoperative urine cultures, and the rate of complications were compared. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. RESULTS: Of the 246 patients, 116(47.2%) were males and 130(52.8%) were females. The overall mean age was 53.06±13.04 years (range: 18-83). The mean Guy's stone score was 1.82±0.9. The rate of percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy success was 160(65.04%). There were 105(42.68%) patients in GSS1 group, 63(25.60%) in GSS2, 24(9.75%) in GSS3 and 54(21.95%) in GSS4. There were significantly more preoperative positive urine culture in GSS3 and GSS4 groups compared to GSS1 and GSS2 groups (p<0.05). The rates of complications were statistically different among the groups (p=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary tract infections were found more frequently in patients with higher Guy's stone scores compared to those with low scores. The Guy's stone score classification were found to be a useful tool in predicting the immediate success rate of percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy.

Effectiveness of Clomiphene Citrate for Improving Sperm Concentration: A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Demographic data regarding male infertility suggest an increase in prevalence. This is an entity with multifactorial etiology, hormonal causes are often encountered. Although treatment with clomiphene was advocated to stimulate gametogenesis, it is still used off-label. We aimed to evaluate data from literature related to the effect of clomiphene as a single therapy, on the improvement of sperm count in infertile patients. Out of the 4,017 results of the search, only eight articles have been selected. The selected studies have been published between 1983 and 2020, and have included a total of 616 patients. From data reported, the treatment with clomiphene lead to a significant improvement of sperm concentration compared with placebo or with the level before starting the therapy (p<0.00001). Out of the 616 patients, in 369 (59.90%) cases improved sperm concentration was reported. In our meta-analysis, the selected studies had a high heterogeneity (I2  = 97%). Nevertheless, clomiphene is not an ideal treatment, paroxysmal effects have been reported. Our findings encourage the use of clomiphene on male infertility, although the potential side effects should be clearly explained to patients.

Determining whether previous SWL for ureteric stones influences the results of ureteroscopy as the second-line treatment: A clinical study.

The purpose of the study was to establish whether shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is a potential harmful first-line treatment for ureteric stones where ureteroscopy (URS) is necessary as a second-line treatment. Medical records of patients with ureteric stones who underwent either URS as the only therapy applied or SWL followed by URS over two years were retrospectively evaluated. In total, 158 patients were included: 79 patients in Group A (no SWL) and 79 in Group B (prior SWL before URS). There was no difference in major complications, Group A had higher stone-free rates, Group B had higher rates of ureteral edema and similar intraoperative ureteral lesions. In conclusion, the failure of SWL for lumbar or pelvic ureteral lithiasis does not appear to have a negative effect on the rate of intraoperative complications or the success rate of semi-rigid retrograde URS for this category of calculi, with the same safety profile as first-line endourological intervention.

Preoperative C-reactive protein is related with renal cell tumor dimension? Preliminary results.

INTRODUCTION: Renal tumors do not benefit from an unanimously accepted tumor marker. We tried to evaluate the advantages of preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) values and monitor the dynamic of CRP values from the perspective of the evolution of patients diagnosed with Grawitz tumors. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: We researched the medical records of patients with renal parenchymal tumors admitted to the Urological Clinic in Iasi, Romania, between 01.01.2018 and 01.08.2022. Data were collected regarding age, environment, comorbidities, paraclinical data, tumor characteristics, and treatment performed. Ninety-six patients were included. The data on the inflammatory syndrome pre- and postoperatively were evaluated comparatively. All patients were diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). RESULTS: We found that the renal tumor dimension correlates with an increased preoperative CRP level. For other variables, the correlations regarding age, sex, tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage, and size in relation to the increase or decrease of CRP had no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of preoperative CRP and CRP dynamics could predict the tumor's aggressiveness and the treatment's effectiveness. A clear association between CRP levels and RCC pathogenesis is not yet defined, thus, further studies are necessary.

Correlations between stones composition, dietary and comorbidities context of the lithiasic patient.

The incidence of nephrolithiasis is in full expansion, its etiology being frequently associated with lifestyle changes. The objective of this retrospective study, carried out between April and December 2019, was to identify the correlations of the known lithogenic factors with the chemical structure of the calculi in the patients from the North-Eastern region of Romania. The results obtained after the data analysis of our LAMPA questionnaire (L - liquids, A - antecedents, M - medication, P - associated pathologies, A - aliments) made in evidence a statistically relevant relationship between the heredocollateral history of lithiasis and calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) calculi, hypertension and calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) stones, uric lithiasis and diabetes, COD, and obesity, between predominantly uric lithiasis and meat or meat-derived products consumption, between frequent potato consumption and COD stones and the frequently consume of dairy products and predominantly COM calculi. The authors concluded that the use of a complex questionnaire, like LAMPA, together with Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic and morphological analysis are essential steps for developing an efficient metaphylaxis.

Infected hydronephrosis: can we reduce patient suffering and costs?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation among clinical parameters, risk factors, outcomes and costs in the context of patients with infected hydronephrosis. METHODS: This retrospective, multi-centric study was conducted in three Romanian academic urology departments, and comprised data of patients with infected hydronephrosis treated between July 2013 and July 2014. Based on per-patient hospitalisation costs, the participants were divided into three groups: group A: cost less than 500 euros), group B: between 500 and 1,000 euros, and group C: over 1,000 euros). Differences between clinical parameters, comorbidities, type of procedure, admission to intensive care unit, length of hospital stay and costs were analysed. RESULTS: Of the 175 patients, 49(28%) were in group A, 95(54.3%) in group B and 31(17.7%) in group C. The relevant parameters influencing outcomes and costs were age (p=0.001), neoplasical aetiology (p=0.001), leukocytosis (p=0.001), renal insufficiency (p=0.001), and moment of the intervention (p=0.005). Diabetes did not influence the costs (p=0.36). JJ stent insertion was tolerated at least the same as percutaneous nephrostomy, and with the same efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: In order to avoid patient suffering and to reduce costs linked to the treatment of infected hydronephrosis, the patient-general practitioner-specialist collaboration is of the utmost importance. Symptoms, signs, paraclinical features and empirical use of antibiotics may all lead to a delay in proper management, thus making the hospitalisation longer and the costs significantly higher.

Sublingual desmopressin is efficient and safe in the therapy of lithiasic renal colic.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of newer sublingual desmopressin administration in lithiasic renal colic, alone or combined with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). METHODS: Prospective single-blind study including an initial number of 249 patients with lithiasic renal colic was randomized as follows: group NSAID (71 patients) received ketorolac tromethamine (ketorolac) 30 mg im and sublingual placebo (vitamin C), groups D1 and D2 (57 and 62 patients) received sublingual desmopressin (Minirin Melt), 60 and 120 µg, respectively, whereas group C (59 patients) received a combination of 30 mg im ketorolac and 60 µg sublingual desmopressin. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analogue scale before and thirty minutes after drug administration. Patients experiencing pain aggravation were rescued and excluded from the study. RESULTS: Dropout incidence was higher in the NSAID group than in the groups treated with desmopressin in monotherapy or combined with ketorolac (p < 0.05). Pain intensity was diminished at least as potently by the monotherapy with desmopressin and ketorolac. The higher dose of desmopressin and the combination therapy decreased pain intensity with 56 and 59%, respectively, significantly more than the 47% decrease obtained with ketorolac alone (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001). Mean pain decrease was higher in the combination group (C) than in the NSAID or D1 groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively), suggesting drug additivity. Patients did not experience severe side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Sublingual desmopressin is at least as potent as NSAID in the treatment of lithiasic renal colic. The combination of sublingual desmopressin and NSAID has additive analgesic effects.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in retrograde ureteroscopy: what strategy should we adopt?

BACKGROUND: Retrograde ureteroscopy as a minimally invasive treatment of ureteral calculi can be complicated by the occurrence of urinary tract infections. Fever is considered the main indicator of such postoperative complications and we aimed to study its incidence in patients with and without preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis. METHODS: We included all patients who underwent retrograde ureteroscopy for ureteric stones in the Iasi and Tg Mures Urology Clinics from 2009 to 2012. Data were statistically analyzed using the EpiInfo 7 software. Indicative of a statistically significant difference was a p value <0.05. RESULTS: We recorded fever in a total of 108 cases, accounting for 22.83% of all subjects in the study. Group 1 included patients who received antibiotic prophylaxis; 48 of 147 (32.65%) were febrile, compared with Group 2 (no antibiotic prophylaxis), where we recorded febrile syndrome in 60 (18.40%) cases, p=0.0009. Comparing the two groups based on calculus size, for stones with diameters of 0.6-0.8 cm 38.71% of patients were febrile in Group 1, compared with 10.88% in Group 2 (p=0.0008). Secondary ureterohydronephrosis did not statistically influence the frequency of fever in any of the studied groups. CONCLUSION: Less than half of all febrile patients had positive urine cultures, which may point to other causes, such as noninfectious factors (aseptic kidney inflammation). This study did not prove the efficiency of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis; however, based on the clinical experience of the past 120 years, infectious complications are known to be associated with urological maneuvers and prophylaxis could be indicated.