Compensated hypogonadism in men with sickle cell disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of hypogonadism in a population of men with SCD and characterize its aetiology. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with the development of hypogonadism, but there is still controversy regarding its aetiology and clinical implications. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 34 men with SCD aged > 18 years. Sociodemographic and clinical data, including anthropometric measurements (weight, height and BMI), were obtained. Early morning, blood samples were collected and total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), a complete blood count and haemoglobin electrophoresis were measured. Eugonadism was defined as T ≥300 ng/dL and LH ≤9.4 mUI/mL; primary hypogonadism as T < 300 ng/dL and LH > 9.4 mUI/mL; secondary hypogonadism as T < 300 ng/dL and LH ≤ 9.4 mUI/mL; and compensated hypogonadism as T ≥ 300 ng/dL and LH > 9.4 mUI/mL. RESULTS: Median age was 33 (26-41) years, and SS genotype was the most frequent (73.5%). The prevalence of eugonadism, compensated hypogonadism and secondary hypogonadism was 67.5%, 26.4% and 5.88%, respectively. No men with primary hypogonadism were identified in our sample. Those with compensated hypogonadism had also higher FSH levels (>7.8 mUI/mL, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: In our study population of men with SCD, a high prevalence of compensated hypogonadism was identified, which is a controversial and distinct clinical entity that warrants monitoring and further research.

Aspectos negligenciados na reabilitação sexual masculina após prostatectomia radical / Aspects neglected in the male sexual rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy

O câncer de próstata é uma das neoplasias mais frequentes na população masculina. A prostatectomia radical está entre os principais tratamentos para essa afecção, sendo a primeira escolha para casos de doenças localizadas e localmente avançadas. Contudo, essa modalidade de tratamento cirúrgico costuma trazer grande prejuízo à função sexual masculina como um todo. Sabe-se que a disfunção erétil é uma complicação frequente e temida do tratamento cirúrgico do câncer de próstata, de forma que há diversas estratégias para prevenir e tratar tal condição. Porém, uma adequada reabilitação sexual desses pacientes envolve um atendimento global às dificuldades encontradas no restabelecimento de uma vida sexual satisfatória, não apenas focado na qualidade das ereções. Infelizmente, há uma série de problemas sexuais frequentes que são desencadeados pela prostatectomia radical, mas que ainda são extremamente negligenciados no cuidado pós-operatório. Dentre eles podemos citar: queda do desejo sexual, perda de volume peniano, desenvolvimento de deformidades penianas e distúrbios do orgasmo e da ejaculação. Neste artigo são abordados os principais efeitos sexuais da prostatectomia radical que costumam ser negligenciados no seguimento

Prevalence of priapism in individuals with sickle cell disease and implications on male sexual function.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate epidemiological aspects of priapism in patients with sickle cell disease, and these aspects impact on adult sexual function. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study including individuals with sickle cell disease who were evaluated at a reference center for sickle cell. Participants completed a structured questionnaire about their sociodemographic characteristics and priapism events. Sexual function was assessed using validated two instruments, the Erection Hardness Score and one about the sex life satisfaction. RESULTS: Sixty-four individuals with median aged of 12 (7 to 28) years were interviewed. The prevalence of priapism was 35.9% (23/64). The earliest priapism episode occurred at 2 years of age and the latest at 42 years. The statistical projection was that 71.1% of individuals of the study would have at least one episode of priapism throughout life. Patients with episodes of priapism (10/23) had significantly worse erectile function Erection Hardness Score of 2 [1-3]; p=0.01 and were less satisfied with sexual life 3 [3-5]; p=0.02. CONCLUSION: Priapism is usually present in childhood, and severe episodes are associated with cavernous damage, impairment in the quality of the erection, and lower sexual satisfaction.

Prevalence of priapism in individuals with sickle cell disease and implications on male sexual function / Prevalência de priapismo em indivíduos com doença falciforme e suas implicações na função sexual masculina

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate epidemiological aspects of priapism in patients with sickle cell disease, and these aspects impact on adult sexual function. Methods This was a cross-sectional study including individuals with sickle cell disease who were evaluated at a reference center for sickle cell. Participants completed a structured questionnaire about their sociodemographic characteristics and priapism events. Sexual function was assessed using validated two instruments, the Erection Hardness Score and one about the sex life satisfaction. Results Sixty-four individuals with median aged of 12 (7 to 28) years were interviewed. The prevalence of priapism was 35.9% (23/64). The earliest priapism episode occurred at 2 years of age and the latest at 42 years. The statistical projection was that 71.1% of individuals of the study would have at least one episode of priapism throughout life. Patients with episodes of priapism (10/23) had significantly worse erectile function Erection Hardness Score of 2 [1-3]; p=0.01 and were less satisfied with sexual life 3 [3-5]; p=0.02. Conclusion Priapism is usually present in childhood, and severe episodes are associated with cavernous damage, impairment in the quality of the erection, and lower sexual satisfaction.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar aspectos epidemiológicos do priapismo em pacientes com doença falciforme e o impacto desses aspectos na função sexual de adultos. Métodos Trata-se de estudo transversal, que incluiu indivíduos com doença falciforme acompanhados em um centro de referência. Os participantes responderam a um questionário estruturado acerca das características sociodemográficas e eventos de priapismo. A função sexual foi avaliada por meio de dois instrumentos validados, a Escala de Rigidez de Ereção e um sobre satisfação com a vida sexual. Resultados Foram entrevistados 64 indivíduos com média de idade de 12 (7-28) anos. A prevalência de priapismo foi de 35,9% (23/64). O episódio mais precoce ocorreu aos 2 anos de idade e o mais tardio, aos 42 anos. A projeção estatística foi de que 71,1% desses sujeitos teriam pelo menos um episódio de priapismo ao longo da vida. Pacientes adultos com episódios de priapismo (10/23) apresentaram função erétil significativamente pior Escala de Rigidez de Ereção de 2 [1-3]; p=0,01 e estavam menos satisfeitos com a vida sexual 3 [3-5]; p=0,02. Conclusão O priapismo manifesta-se desde a infância, e episódios graves estão associados a dano cavernoso, prejuízo na qualidade da ereção e menor satisfação sexual.

Avaliação dos biomarcadores urinários no controle do tratamento de estenose de junção ureteropélvica em adulto / The role of urinary biomarkers in the assessment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in adults

INTRODUÇÃO E OBJETIVO: A estenose de junção ureteropélvica (EJUP) é importante causa de obstrução do trato urinário e pode levar a deterioração progressiva da função renal. Há espaço para o aprimoramento de novos métodos diagnósticos capazes de discriminar hidronefrose e uropatia obstrutiva. Acredita-se que os biomarcadores urinários podem fornecer indícios de lesão renal precoce na obstrução urinária. Neste contexto, KIM-1 pode elevar-se na urina por lesão tubular proximal, NGAL por lesão no túbulo proximal, distal ou alça de Henle, CA19-9 por produção excessiva no túbulo obstruído e ?2-microglobulina (beta2M) por injúria ao glomérulo ou ao túbulo proximal. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as propriedades diagnósticas dos biomarcadores urinários citados em adultos com EJUP, sendo o primeiro estudo na literatura a avaliar tais moléculas nesta população. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados de modo prospectivo pacientes consecutivos acima de 18 anos com diagnóstico de EJUP submetidos a pieloplastia videolaparoscópica de dezembro de 2013 a fevereiro de 2015. Foram excluídos do estudo pacientes com EJUP bilateral, rim contralateral patológico, EJUP em rim único, antecedentes de tratamento cirúrgico para estenose de JUP ou taxa de filtração glomerular inferior a 60 ml/min/1,73m2. Cada paciente forneceu quatro amostras de urina para medição de biomarcadores, uma no pré-operatório e outras com 1, 3 e 6 meses de seguimento pós-operatório. O grupo controle foi constituído por voluntários saudáveis sem hidronefrose à ultrassonografia. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 47 pacientes com idade média de 38,6 ± 12,7 anos (intervalo 19 a 64 anos), sendo 17 (36,2%) do sexo masculino e 30 (62,8%) do sexo feminino. O grupo controle foi composto por 40 indivíduos semelhantes ao grupo com EJUP no que concerne idade (p = 0,95) e sexo (p = 0,82). KIM-1 foi o marcador com melhores propriedades diagnósticas, apresentando área sob a curva (AUC) de 0,79 (95% CI 0,70 a...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is an important cause of urinary tract obstruction and can lead to progressive deterioration of renal function. Thus the development of novel non-invasive methods capable of discriminating obstruction and hydronephrosis may be useful. Elevation of urinary biomarkers may provide early evidence of kidney damage in urinary obstruction. In this scenario, urinary concentrations of KIM-1 may be elevated following proximal tubular injury, while NGAL may increase as result of injury to proximal or distal tubule as well as to loop of Henle, CA19-9 after overproduction in the obstructed tubule and ?2 microglobulin (beta2M) after injury to the glomerulus or the proximal tubule. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic properties of these urinary biomarkers in adults with UPJO. METHODS: We prospectively studied consecutive patients older than 18 years diagnosed with UPJO undergoing laparoscopic pyeloplasty from December 2013 to February 2015 in our institution. Exclusion criteria included patients with bilateral UPJO, unilateral UPJO with contralateral pathologic kidney, solitary kidney, history of previous surgical treatment for UPJO or glomerular filtration rate below 60 ml/min/1,73m2. Each patient provided four voided urine samples for biomarker measurement, one at preoperative consultation and the others at 1, 3 and 6 months of postoperative follow-up. Healthy individuals with no hydronephrosis on ultrasound evaluation constituted our control group. RESULTS: We included 47 patients with a mean age of 38.6 ± 12.7 years (range 19-64 years), from which 17 (36.2%) were males and 30 (62.8%) were females. The control group consisted of 40 subjects with no statistical difference to the study group regarding age (p = 0.95) and gender (p = 0.82). KIM-1 had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.89) and was the biomarker with the...

Nocturia is the Lower Urinary Tract Symptom With Greatest Impact on Quality of Life of Men From a Community Setting.

PURPOSE: Lower urinary tract symptoms are numerous, but the specific impact of each of these symptoms on the quality of life (QoL) has not been evaluated in community-dwelling men. An assessment of these symptoms and their effects on QoL was the focus of this study. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study with 373 men aged >50 years from a community setting. Patients completed the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire, which includes questions on each of the specific urinary symptoms and a question addressing health-related QoL that are graded from 0 to 5. We used the Pearson correlation test to assess the impact of each symptom on QoL. RESULTS: Nocturia (58.9%) was the most prevalent urinary symptom. The mean score was 0.9±1.4 for incomplete emptying, 1.0±1.5 for frequency, 0.9±1.3 for intermittency, 0.8±1.3 for urgency, 1.0±1.5 for weak stream, 0.5±1.0 for straining, and 2.0±1.6 for nocturia. Nocturia and frequency were the only symptoms associated with poorer QoL, with nocturia showing a stronger association. CONCLUSIONS: Nocturia affects 50% of community dwelling men aged >50 years, and is the lower urinary tract symptom with the greatest negative impact on QoL.

Predicting necrosis in residual mass analysis after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated that pathological analysis of retroperitoneal residual masses of patients with testicular germ cell tumors revealed findings of necrotic debris or fibrosis in up to 50% of patients. We aimed at pursuing a clinical and pathological review of patients undergoing post chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) in order to identify variables that may help predict necrosis in the retroperitoneum. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent PC-RPLND at the University Hospital of the University of São Paulo and Cancer Institute of Sao Paulo between January 2005 and September 2011. Clinical and pathological data were obtained and consisted basically of: measures of retroperitoneal masses, histology of the orchiectomy specimen, serum tumor marker and retroperitoneal nodal size before and after chemotherapy. RESULTS: We gathered a total of 32 patients with a mean age of 29.7; pathological analysis in our series demonstrated that 15 (47%) had necrosis in residual retroperitoneal masses, 15 had teratoma (47%) and 2 (6.4%) had viable germ cell tumors (GCT). The mean size of the retroperitoneal mass was 4.94 cm in our sample, without a difference between the groups (P = 0.176). From all studied variables, relative changes in retroperitoneal lymph node size (P = 0.04), the absence of teratoma in the orchiectomy specimen (P = 0.03) and the presence of choriocarcinoma in the testicular analysis after orchiectomy (P = 0.03) were statistically significant predictors of the presence of necrosis. A reduction level of 35% was therefore suggested to be the best cutoff for predicting the absence of tumor in the retroperitoneum with a sensitivity of 73.3% and specificity of 82.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Even though retroperitoneal lymph node dissection remains the gold standard for patients with residual masses, those without teratoma in the primary tumor and a shrinkage of 35% or more in retroperitoneal mass have a considerably smaller chance of having viable GCT or teratoma in the retroperitoneum and a surveillance program could be considered.

Acute onset of renal colic from bilateral ureterolithiasis: a case report.

We report a case of a 32-year-old man, who presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain, with radiation to his back. An ultrasound examination revealed mild hydronephrosis bilaterally. A non-enhanced computer tomography was then performed and showed a 9 mm hyperdense image in the left ureter topography along together with an 8-mm hyperdense image in the right ureter topography, allowing us to establish the diagnosis of bilateral ureterolithiasis. The patient was taken to the operating room in order to perform ureteroscopy for endoscopic removal of the stones.

Infrared digital telethermography: a new method for early detection of varicocele.

Besides physical examination, various traditional methods of examination are believed to have an important role in diagnosing varicocele. Infrared digital telethermography is presented as a new diagnostic tool for early presentation of varicocele.