Racial and socioeconomic disparities in surgical care for post-prostate cancer treatment complications: A nationwide Medicare-based analysis.

Objectives: To investigate the racial and socioeconomic (income) differences in receipt of and time to surgical care for urinary incontinence (UI) and erectile dysfunction (ED) occurring post-radical prostatectomy (RP) and/or radiation therapy (RT). Materials and Methods: Utilizing the Medicare Standard Analytical Files (SAF), a retrospective cohort study was performed on data of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) from 2015 to 2021. Patients who underwent RP and/or RT and who subsequently developed UI and/or ED were grouped into four cohorts: RP-ED, RP-UI, RT-ED and RT-UI. County-level median household income was cross-referenced with SAF county codes, classified into income quartiles, and used as a proxy for patient income status. The rate of surgical care was compared between groups using two-sample t-test and log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to determine covariate-adjusted impact of race on time to surgical care. Results: The rate of surgical care was 6.8, 3.61 3.07, and 1.54 per 100 person-years for the RP-UI, RT-UI, RP-ED, and RT-ED cohorts, respectively. Cox proportional 'time-to-surgical care' regression analysis revealed that Black men were statistically more likely to receive ED surgical care (RP-ED AHR:1.79, 95% CI:1.49-2.17; RT-ED AHR:1.50, 95% CI:1.11-2.01), but less likely to receive UI surgical care (RP-UI AHR:0.80, 95% CI:0.67-0.96) than White men, in all cohorts except RT-UI. Surgical care was highest among Q1 (lowest income quartile) patients in all cohorts except RT-UI. Conclusions: Surgical care for post-PCa treatment complications is low, and significantly impacted by racial and socioeconomic (income) differences. Prospective studies investigating the basis of these results would be insightful.

Does climate impact inflatable penile prosthesis infection (IPP) risk? Assessment of temperature and dew point on IPP infections.

BACKGROUND: Variations in climate have been associated with a greater risk of surgical site infections, urinary tract infections, and changes in the skin microbiome; however, limited data exist on the impact of climate on inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) infections. AIM: We sought to evaluate the impact of climate on the risk of IPP infections in a large international, multicenter cohort. METHODS: We performed a multi-institutional, retrospective study of patients undergoing IPP surgery. We then evaluated whether the month or season, during which surgery was performed, affected device infections. Implant infections were defined as infections requiring device explantation. A univariate logistic regression analysis was undertaken. OUTCOMES: Our primary outcome was implant infection. RESULTS: A total of 5289 patients with a mean age of 62.2 ± 10.8 years received IPP placement. There was a fairly even distribution of implants performed in each season. A total of 103 (1.9%) infections were recorded. There were 32 (31.1%) IPP infections in patients who underwent surgery in the summer, followed by 28 (27.2%) in the winter, 26 (25.2%) in the spring, and 17 (16.5%) in the fall. No statistically significant differences were recorded in terms of season (P = .19) and month (P = .29). The mean daily temperature (P = .43), dew point (P = .43), and humidity (P = .92) at the time of IPP placement was not associated with infection. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings provide reassurance to prosthetic urologists that infection reduction strategies do not need to be tailored to local climate. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Climate data were not directly recorded for each hospital, but rather based on the monthly averages in the city where the surgery was performed. CONCLUSION: The climate at time of IPP placement and time of year of surgery is not associated with IPP infection risk.

Erectile dysfunction and Peyronie's disease diagnosis rates after penile fracture-a retrospective claims database cohort analysis.

Our objective was to analyze the rates of erectile dysfunction and Peyronie's disease following a penile fracture using a large, multi-institutional claims database. Inclusion criteria included men ages 15 or older with a diagnosis of penile fracture and any office visit within 5 years of the penile fracture. Exclusion criteria included prior erectile dysfunction, prescription of erectile aids, or penile prosthesis placement. Our primary outcome was the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction or prescription of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors within 5 years. A secondary analysis assessed rates of Peyronie's disease following penile fracture. 1242 men were identified with penile fracture and subsequently matched to men without penile fracture, resulting in equal cohorts of 1227 men. Men with a history of penile fracture were more likely to receive a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction or require phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (RR 3.18, 95% CI: 2.30-4.40). Men who did not undergo immediate repair had higher rates of erectile dysfunction or treatment (RR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.22-2.78). Men over the age of 45 years who had a penile fracture were more likely to develop erectile dysfunction or treatment compared to men under 45 years (RR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.14-2.39). Rates of Peyronie's disease were higher in men with a history of penile fracture (5.8% vs 0%, p < 0.0001). Rates of Peyronie's disease were lower if immediate repair of the fracture was performed (RR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.10-0.41). Men over the age of 45 years with penile fracture were more likely to develop Peyronie's Disease within 5 years compared to men under the age of 45 years penile fracture (RR: 3.72, 95% CI: 1.94-7.16). Penile fracture increases the risk of both erectile dysfunction and Peyronie's disease, especially those treated with conservative measures or over the age of 45 years compared to patients under 45 years with a penile fracture.

Disparities in prostate cancer.

Despite substantial advances in early detection/prevention and treatments, and improved outcomes in recent decades, prostate cancer continues to disproportionately affect Black men and is the secondleading cause of cancer death in this subgroup. Black men are substantially more likely to develop prostate cancer and are twice as likely to die from the disease compared with White men. In addition, Black men are younger at diagnosis and face a higher risk of aggressive disease relative to White men. Striking racial disparities endure along the continuum of prostate cancer care, including screening, genomic testing, diagnostic procedures, and treatment modalities. The underlying causes of these inequalities are complex and multifactorial and involve biological factors, structural determinants of equity (i.e., public policy, structural and systemic racism, economic policy), social determinants of health (including income, education, and insurance status, neighborhood/physical environment, community/social context, and geography), and health care factors. The objective of this article is to review the sources of racial disparities in prostate cancer and to propose actionable recommendations to help address these inequities and narrow the racial gap.

Urethral bulking with native tissue during artificial urinary sphincter surgery.

The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is the "gold standard" surgical treatment for severe stress urinary incontinence.  However, a subset of patients with frail urethras may require technical adjuncts to ensure optimal cuff function.  Our objective is to provide a detailed tutorial of our institution's method for performing urethral bulking with native tissue in patients with frail urethras during AUS surgery. We have found that urethral bulking with native tissue provides a cost-efficient and durable technique for improved AUS cuff coaptation.  Our experience demonstrates adequate short and intermediate term efficacy with limited complications.  These techniques equip surgeons with an alternative surgical approach for appropriate patients receiving AUS surgery who have been previously exposed to pelvic radiation and/or significant surgical morbidity resulting in frail urethral tissue.

AUA-recommended Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Primary Penile Implantation Results in a Higher, Not Lower, Risk for Postoperative Infection: A Multicenter Analysis.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to determine if the AUA-recommended prophylaxis (vancomycin + gentamicin alone) for primary inflatable penile prosthesis surgery is associated with a higher infection risk than nonstandard regimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a multicenter, retrospective study of patients undergoing primary inflatable penile prosthesis surgery. Patients were divided into those receiving vancomycin + gentamicin alone and those receiving any other regimen. A Cox proportional-hazards model was constructed adjusted for major predictors. A subgroup analysis to identify the appropriate dosage of gentamicin was also performed. RESULTS: A total of 4,161 patients underwent primary inflatable penile prosthesis placement (2,411 received vancomycin + gentamicin alone and 1,750 received other regimens). The infection rate was similar between groups, 1% vs 1.2% for standard vs nonstandard prophylaxis. In the multivariable analysis, vancomycin + gentamicin (HR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4 to 5.4, P = .004) and diabetes (HR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.03 to 3.4, P = .04) were significantly associated with a higher risk of infection. Antifungals (HR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.19, P < .001) were associated with lower risk of infection. There was no statistically significant difference in infection rate between weight-based gentamicin compared to 80 mg gentamicin (HR: 2.9, 95% CI: 0.83 to 10, P = .1). CONCLUSIONS: Vancomycin + gentamicin alone for antibiotic prophylaxis for primary inflatable penile prosthesis surgery is associated with a higher infection risk than nonstandard antibiotic regimens while antifungal use is associated with lower infection risk. A critical review of the recommended antimicrobial prophylactic regimens is needed. Prospective research is needed to further elucidate best practices in inflatable penile prosthesis antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Testosterone replacement in prostate cancer survivors with testosterone deficiency: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer today have organ-confined disease and low risk of disease recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Testosterone deficiency in prostate cancer survivors contributes to impaired health-related quality of life but testosterone treatment is viewed as a contraindication in this population. OBJECTIVES: We describe the design of the first randomized trial to determine the safety and efficacy of testosterone treatment in men who have undergone prostatectomy for non-aggressive prostate cancer and have symptomatic testosterone deficiency. METHODS: Surviving Prostate cancer while Improving quality of life through Rehabilitation with Testosterone Trial is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group trial in 142 men, ≥ 40 years, who have undergone radical prostatectomy for organ-confined prostate cancer, Gleason score ≤ 7 (3+4), Stage pT2, N0, M0 lesions and have symptomatic testosterone deficiency and undetectable prostate specific antigen for > 2 years after surgery. Eligible participants are randomized to weekly intramuscular injections of 100-mg testosterone cypionate or placebo for 12 weeks and followed for another 12 weeks. Primary endpoint is change from baseline in sexual activity. Secondary outcomes include change in sexual desire, erectile function, energy, lean and fat mass, physical and cognitive performance. Safety is assessed by monitoring prostate-specific antigen, lower urinary tract symptoms, hemoglobin, and adverse events. RESULTS: The trial is being conducted at two trial sites in Boston, MA and Baltimore, MD. As of July 30, 2022, 42 participants have been randomized. No prostate-specific antigen or clinical recurrence has been noted to-date. DISCUSSION: Recruitment was slowed by coronavirus disease 2019-related closures, slow subsequent ramp-up of research activities, and patient concerns about safety of testosterone treatment. Despite these challenges, participant retention has been high. CONCLUSION: The Surviving Prostate cancer while Improving quality of life through Rehabilitation with Testosterone Trial, a placebo-controlled, randomized trial, will determine whether testosterone replacement therapy is safe and efficacious in correcting symptoms of testosterone deficiency in prostate cancer survivors, and potentially inform clinical practice.

Epidemiology and treatment of priapism in sickle cell disease.

Ischemic priapism is a common but underrecognized morbidity affecting about 33% of adult men with sickle cell disease (SCD). The onset of priapism occurs in the prepubertal period and tends to be recurrent with increasing age. Significantly, priapism is associated with an unrecognized high burden of mental duress and sexual dysfunctions. The diagnosis of priapism is clinical. Many episodes of priapism will resolve spontaneously, but when an episode lasts longer than 4 hours, the episode is considered a urologic emergency requiring quick intervention with either corporal aspiration or shunt surgery. Only 3 randomized clinical trials (stilbesterol, ephedrine or etilefrine, and sildenafil) have been conducted for secondary priapism prevention in SCD. All 3 trials were limited with small sample sizes, selection biases, and inconclusive results after completion. The current molecular understanding of the pathobiology of priapism suggests a relative nitric oxide (NO) deficiency secondary to chronic hemolysis in SCD and associated phosphodiesterase type 5 dysregulation. We posit an increase in NO levels will restore the normal homeostatic relationship between voluntary erection and detumescence. Currently, 2 randomized phase 2 trials (1 double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and 1 open-label, single-arm intervention) are being conducted for secondary priapism prevention in men at high risk for recurrent priapism (NCT03938454 and NCT05142254). We review the epidemiology and pathobiology of priapism, along with mechanistic therapeutic approaches for secondary prevention of priapism in SCD.

Clinical Vignettes Part I.

Patients with sickle cell disease and/or (rarely) trait are at increased risk for developing recurrent episodes of priapism, also known as stuttering priapism, and major ischemic priapism. Treatment of acute ischemic priapism is reactive; whereas ideal management consists of preventative approaches to ultimately promote the best improvement in patient's quality of life. Leg ulcers in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are quite common, with ∼20 % of patients with HBSS reporting either having an active or a past ucler. They can be confused with venous ulcers, with lower extremity hyperpigmentation confounding further the diagnosis. Several factors believed to contribute to the development of leg ulcers in patients with SCD are discussed in this article. Sickle cell liver disease (SCLD) occurs because of a wide variety of insults to the liver that happen during the lifetime of these patients. SCLD includes a range of complications of the hepatobiliary system and is increasing in prevalence with the aging adult sickle population. Liver nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) is more common than realized and underappreciated as a diagnosis and requires liver biopsy with reticulin staining. Undiagnosed, the insidious damage from liver NRH can lead to noncirrhotic portal hypertension or cirrhosis.

The pulley stitch: fixation of penile prosthetic exit tubing.

Proximal positioning of the penile prosthesis cylinder is performed during inflatable penile prosthesis surgery. We describe a technique to secure a prosthetic cylinder during inflatable penile prosthesis implantation. Urologists performing prosthetic surgeries employ a variety of surgical techniques to achieve successful outcomes. A surgical technique that secures the prosthetic device may ultimately mitigate cylinder migration and erosion. This is a simple, cost-effective technique that can be readily incorporated into conventional corporotomy closure procedures. It proves to be a feasible technique for both running and interrupted corporotomy closures. The "pulley stitch" offers an adjunctive technique for prosthesis cylinder positioning and may also help prevent migration of prosthetic devices, and it can be incorporated with corporotomy closure.

Sexual health outcomes after penile reconstruction in the exstrophy-epispadias complex.

INTRODUCTION: The penis in exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC) males is diminutive and patients are often dissatisfied with appearance and length. Due to an increased risk of psychosexual dysfunction, patients desire penile reconstruction. Surgical options include penile lengthening with a full thickness skin graft (SG) or tissue expansion (TE) used for cutaneous coverage or neophalloplasty using a radial forearm free flap or pedicled antero-lateral thigh flap. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess sexual health outcomes before and after SG or TE assisted lengthening and neophalloplasty. STUDY DESIGN: Patients aged 18 years or older, who underwent penile reconstruction were identified using an institutionally approved database of EEC patients. Patient perception of penile appearance, sexual function, their frequency of sexual intercourse and overall satisfaction with reconstruction were assessed using a survey consisting of validated and non-validated questions. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients underwent penile reconstruction, 57 met the inclusion criteria and 28 responded to the survey (49.1%). Fourteen were reconstructed using a SG, 6 with TE and 8 underwent neophalloplasty. Median time from reconstruction to survey completion was 4.4 years (range 1.2-13.2) Four patients had a diagnosis of epispadias, 1 cloacal exstrophy, 23 classic bladder exstrophy (CBE). Before reconstruction patients were dissatisfied with their penile appearance with a median penile perception score of 4.5 compared to 7.5 after surgery (p = 0.0034, Fig. 1). Twenty-three patients were dissatisfied with penile length, with 18 reporting an improvement following reconstruction (p = 0.0002). There was no correlation in time after reconstruction with PPS or satisfaction with penile length (p = 0.86 and p = 0.55, respectively). Overall, the median Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) score was 19, with no difference between the surgical groups (p = 0.33). Nine patients engaged in sexual intercourse before reconstruction which increased to 17 afterwards. CONCLUSION: All three surgical methods improved patient perception of penile appearance and length. Patients who previously never engaged in intercourse were able to and those who had were doing so more frequently, of which a greater proportion were in a relationship. The results are encouraging though must be interpreted with caution due to the small number of responders and possible risk of bias. These findings provide vital information for future patients and routine psychological assessment will help manage patient expectations to improve satisfaction.

Postphalloplasty urinary function test: an observational study of novel outcome instrument to capture urinary dysfunction and quality of life after phalloplasty.

Due to growing social acceptance, there has been an increasing number of gender-affirmation surgeries performed in North America. Most research in this patient population focuses on surgical outcomes and advancing techniques. However, little work has been done to study functional outcomes. To better evaluate urinary dysfunction in the postphalloplasty trans men patient population, our group developed a novel patient-reported outcome instrument - the postphalloplasty urinary function test (PP UFT) and protocol to measure postvoid urethral volume (PVUR), and we present our preliminary results. We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study in a cohort of 15 adult trans men who had undergone phalloplasty with urethral lengthening surgery between 2018 and 2021. Patients had stable urinary function via the neophallus at the time of survey. Patients filled out the PP UFT and were asked to record their PVUR as per our protocol. The average PP UFT score was 8.9 out of 40 and the average quality-of-life (QOL) score was 2.6. Postvoid dribbling constituted the major complaint and on average comprised 63.2% of the reported PP UFT score. The average PVUR was 2.2 ml (range: 0.5-5.6 ml). There was a positive correlation between higher PP UFT and worse-reported quality of life (P < 0.01; R2 = 0.4). Current questionnaires accepted in cis-male urology have limitations for accurately capturing urinary dysfunction in this specific patient group. The combination of PP UFT and PVUR measurement offers potential for quantifying urinary function and quality of life in patients who undergo phalloplasty. Future studies will validate these instruments.

Low-Intensity Electrostimulation Enhances Neuroregeneration and Improves Erectile Function in a Rat Model of Cavernous Nerve Injury.

BACKGROUND: Neurogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) following radical prostatectomy (RP) is a frequent complication often leading to erectile tissue remodeling and permanent ED. Low-intensity electrostimulation (LIES) has been shown to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, however, its application on cavernous nerves (CN) has never been investigated. AIMS: To investigate whether LIES enhances CN regeneration, improves erectile function (EF) recovery, and prevents corpora cavernosal remodeling after CN injury, which is a principal factor for ED following RP. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into Sham, Bilateral Cavernous Nerve Injury (BCNI), and BCNI + LIES (1V, 0.1ms, 12Hz, 1h/day). After 7days, EF was assessed (ICP measurement). Penes and CN were collected for molecular analyses of TGF-ß1, Il-6, CRP, eNOS, ERK and AKT protein levels in corpus cavernosum (CC), and immunohistological analysis of DHE, total collagen and α-SMA in CC and S-100, Tub-III, DAPI, TUNEL, and nNOS in CN. OUTCOMES: Effects of LIES on EF, erectile tissue remodeling and CN structure. RESULTS: EF was decreased (P < .05) 7 days after BCNI and increased (P < .05) by LIES. Intracavernosal reactive oxygen species (DHE) was increased (P < .05) after BCNI and normalized by LIES. Protein expressions of TGF-ß1, IL-6, and CRP were increased in the penis (P < .05) after BCNI and normalized by LIES. The α-SMA and/or total collagen ratio was decreased (P < .05) after BCNI in the penis and normalized by LIES. Protein expression ratio of p-ERK/ERK and p-AKT/AKT did not change after BCNI but increased (P < .05) in LIES group. Myelination and number of nNOS positive cells in the CN were decreased (P < .05) after BCNI and normalized by LIES. The number of apoptotic nerve cells within the dorsal penile nerve was increased (P < .05) after BCNI and decreased (P < .05) by LIES compared to the BCNI group. There were no differences in eNOS expression in the penis between study groups. CLINICAL TRANSLATION: LIES may offer a potential new tool for penile rehabilitation and ED management following RP, potentially enhancing EF recovery and minimizing the side effects of this surgery. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: This study provides evidence of the protective effect of LIES on EF and tissue remodeling following CN injury; nevertheless, this study has been conducted on animals and the translation to humans remains to be demonstrated. Further research to identify the underlying mechanisms of action is required. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that LIES of the CN after CN injury protects CN structure, enhances EF recovery, and prevents corpora cavernosal remodeling. Sturny M, Karakus S, Fraga-Silva R, et al. Low-Intensity Electrostimulation Enhances Neuroregeneration and Improves Erectile Function in a Rat Model of Cavernous Nerve Injury. J Sex Med 2022;19:686-696.

Testosterone Treatment and the Risk of Prostate Adverse Events.

Hypogonadism is a common clinical condition affecting men, with older men having an increased incidence. Clinicians (endocrinologists and urologists) who may be involved in providing testosterone therapy should be familiar with the effects of testosterone on the prostate. Before initiating testosterone therapy, physicians and patients should partake in shared decision-making, including pretreatment testing, risks and benefits of testosterone therapy relating to benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms, a discussion on prostate cancer in those who have not been diagnosed with malignancy, and a thorough discussion with patients who may have a previous diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Association between Previous Pelvic Radiation and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Failure of Replacement Artificial Urinary Sphincters.

PURPOSE: In order to accurately characterize how a history of radiation therapy affects the lifespan of replacement artificial urinary sphincters (AUSs), all possible sources of device failure must be considered. We assessed the competing risks of device failure based on radiation history in men with replacement AUSs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified men who had a replacement AUS in a single institutional, retrospective database. To assess survival from all-cause device failure based on radiation history and other factors, we conducted Kaplan-Meier, Cox proportional-hazards and competing risks analyses. RESULTS: Among 247 men who had a first replacement AUS, men with a history of radiation had shorter time to all-cause device failure (median 1.4 vs 3.5 years for men with radiation vs without radiation history, p=0.02). On multivariable Cox-proportional hazards analysis, previous radiation was associated with increased risk of all-cause device failure (HR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.30-3.43, p=0.002). On multivariable cause-specific hazards analysis, prior radiation was associated with a higher risk of erosion/infection (HR: 7.57, 95% CI: 2.27-25.2, p <0.001), but was not associated with risk of urethral atrophy (p=0.5) or mechanical failure (p=0.15). CONCLUSIONS: Among men with a replacement AUS, a history of pelvic radiation was associated with shorter time to device failure of any cause. Radiation was also specifically associated with a sevenfold increase in the risk of erosion or infection of replacement AUS, but not with urethral atrophy or mechanical failure. Patients with a replacement AUS should be appropriately counseled on how radiation history may impact outcomes of future revisions.

Psychometric Impact of Priapism on Lives of Adolescents and Adults With Sickle Cell Anemia: A Sequential Independent Mixed-Methods Design.

Despite priapism being one of the most frequent complications of sickle cell anemia (SCA) in male individuals, little has been reported about the impact of priapism in this population. The authors used a sequential independent mixed-methods design, which used both international multicenter focus group discussions (n=35) and a quantitative patient-reported outcome measure (n=131) to determine the impact of priapism on men with SCA in Nigeria and the United States. The authors analyzed data from focus groups using an iterative inductive-deductive approach. Comparison of the Priapism Impact Profile data was done using the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Our result showed that priapism, across cultures, is associated with shame and embarrassment. These emotions interfere with timely clinical and family communication about priapism symptoms and complications. Participants were dissatisfied with the quality of care at emergency facilities. The quality of life and physical wellness of men with SCA-related priapism were significantly different for the 3 groups: (1) priapism condition getting better, (2) priapism condition getting worse, and (3) priapism condition remain the same (P=0.002 and P=0.019, respectively). Psychological, sexual, and physical wellbeing are all adversely affected by priapism. Evidence-based methods are necessary for adequate medical, educational, and psychological treatment for recurrent priapism.

Modified malleable prosthesis with a fixed mesh: case series for the Ghattas technique.

Penile prosthetic implantation represents a cornerstone for patients with organic erectile dysfunction (ED) that is refractory, unsatisfactory, or contra-indicated for other approved medical or mechanical options. In this study, we introduce the "Ghattas technique," wherein we constructed a polypropylene mesh sheath that surrounds and is fixed to a 13-mm malleable prosthesis cylinder, which can increase the cylinder diameter for cases that need a larger prosthesis. All patients underwent preoperative evaluation and completed the five-item International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF-5). Postoperative outcomes were evaluated by IIEF-5 and Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaires at final follow-up. The mean age of the 23 included patients was 57.9 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 11.4) years and the mean duration of ED was 8.5 (s.d.: 7.9) years. Erection improvement was determined by comparing mean preoperative and postoperative IIEF-5 scores (8.3 [s.d.: 3.9] vs 24.6 [s.d.: 0.6], P < 0.001). High treatment satisfaction was determined according to a mean EDITS score of 94.9 (s.d.: 9.9). The proposed Ghattas technique was safe and effective in our patients, and provides opportunity for cases that need a diameter larger than 13 mm. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Histopathologic and clinical comparison of recurrent and non-recurrent urethral stricture disease treated by reconstructive surgery.

BACKGROUND: Urethral stricture is a relatively frequent problem often requiring multiple surgical interventions. The objective of this study was to compare the clinicopathologic features of urethral resections from patients who underwent open end-to-end anastomotic urethroplasty and later recurred compared to those who did not. METHODS: A retrospective review of the pathology files identified 36 consecutive patients who underwent urethroplasty. The histopathological analysis included evaluation of the inflammatory infiltrate based on the predominant (>50%) cell type: lymphocyte-rich, neutrophil-rich, plasma cell-rich, and mixed; length and thickness of the fibrous plaque; and the cellularity of the fibrous plaque: cellular (>40 stroma nuclei/HPF) or paucicellular (<40 stroma nuclei/high power field). RESULTS: Ten (28%) patients recurred, and 26 (72%) did not. There was no significant difference between recurrent and non-recurrent cases in age, race, comorbidities, location of the stricture, and etiology. All patients with recurrent strictures showed dense paucicellular fibrotic plaques (10/10; 100%), while this was seen in 14/26 (53.8%) non-recurrent cases (P=0.01). Only one patient with cellular fibrosis showed recurrence during follow-up. The log-rank test shows that time to recurrence is significantly shorter in patients with paucicellular fibrosis compared to those with cellular fibrosis (P=0.036). The inflammation consisted of a mixed population of CD3(+) T-lymphocytes, CD20(+) B-lymphocytes, and CD68(+) histiocytes, and there was no difference in the composition of the inflammation between groups. All cases with plasma cell-rich infiltrate showed normal IgG4:IgG. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports reporting cellularity of the fibrous plaque as a potential predictor of outcome in patients undergoing reconstructive urethroplasty. Patients with paucicellular fibrosis are at increased risk of recurrence.

A Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (OPK-88004) in Prostate Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Androgen deficiency is common among prostate cancer survivors, but many guidelines consider history of prostate cancer a contraindication for testosterone replacement. We determined the safety and efficacy of a selective androgen receptor modulator (OPK-88004) in symptomatic, testosterone-deficient men who had undergone radical prostatectomy for low-grade, organ-confined prostate cancer. METHODS: In this placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial, 114 men, ≥19 years of age, who had undergone radical prostatectomy for low-grade, organ-localized prostate cancer, undetectable PSA (<0.1 ng/mL) for ≥2 years after radical prostatectomy and testosterone deficiency were randomized in stages to placebo or 1, 5, or 15 mg OPK-88004 daily for 12 weeks. Outcomes included PSA recurrence, sexual activity, sexual desire, erectile function, body composition, muscle strength and physical function measures, mood, fatigue, and bone markers. RESULTS: Participants were on average 67.5 years of age and had severe sexual dysfunction (mean erectile function and sexual desire domain scores 7.3 and 14.6, respectively). No participant experienced PSA recurrence or erythrocytosis. OPK-88004 was associated with a dose-related increase in whole-body (P < 0.001) and appendicular (P < 0.001) lean mass and a significantly greater decrease in percent body fat (P < 0.001) and serum alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.001) than placebo. Changes in sexual activity, sexual desire, erectile function, mood, fatigue, physical performance, and bone markers did not differ among groups (P = 0.73). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of OPK-88004 was safe and not associated with PSA recurrence in androgen-deficient men who had undergone radical prostatectomy for organ-confined prostate cancer. OPK-88004 increased lean body mass and decreased fat mass but did not improve sexual symptoms or physical performance.

Effect of Erythropoietin on Erectile Function after Radical Prostatectomy: The ERECT Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: Erectile dysfunction significantly impacts quality of life for men undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Erythropoietin is a promising neurotrophic factor for neurogenic erectile dysfunction based on preclinical and retrospective data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ERECT (NCT00737893) is a phase 2, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (July 2017-December 2019) evaluating the impact of perioperative erythropoietin on recovery of erectile function and other patient-reported, health-related quality of life outcomes after bilateral nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (3, 6, 9, and 12 months). Erythropoietin (20,000 units) or saline placebo was injected subcutaneously the day before, day of, and day after surgery for 3 total doses. RESULTS: Of 63 patients assessed for eligibility, 56 patients were randomized. Arms (29 erythropoietin, 27 placebo) were well balanced (89.3% robotic, median age 55.5 years). International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function Domain (IIEF-EF) scores increased from median 12.5 at 3 months to 24.5 at 12 months. Median 2-week serum hemoglobin was higher for the erythropoietin arm compared to placebo (14.7 vs 13.6, p=0.02). There was no statistically significant difference in IIEF-EF scores at 6 months comparing erythropoietin to placebo (p=0.50) or at other time points (mixed model regression coefficient: -1.7, 95% CI -6.1-2.7, p=0.45). Excellent nerve-sparing rating (10/10) was associated with improved IIEF-EF recovery (+5.2, p=0.022). Other patient-reported, health-related quality of life domains as well as oncologic outcome and complications were similar between arms during followup. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of brief perioperative dosing, erythropoietin did not improve recovery of erectile function for men undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer compared to placebo. Further research to identify effective adjuncts to improve health-related quality of life for these men is needed.