[Evaluation of long-term results of using the drug Fertiwell: impact on the likelihood of conception and pregnancy outcome].

INTRODUCTION: Current methods of treating male infertility have limited efficiency, since they are aimed to individual stages of the pathogenesis. Preparations based on testicular regulatory polypeptides are the most physiological and universal, owing to a complex effect on the self-regulation of testicular tissue. AIM: To study the delayed efficiency and safety of therapy with Fertiwell in patients with pathospermia and to assess the frequency of conception and pregnancy outcome in their partners based on the collection, analysis and interpretation of medical data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A telephone survey of patients participating in the phase III clinical trial was carried out. The fact of conception in a couple was assessed over a period of 1 to 9 months after completion of therapy, as well as time from completion of the course to conception, pregnancy outcomes, newborn health outcomes. RESULTS: In the period from 1 to 9 months after completion of therapy, pregnancy occurred in 17 out of 34 couples (50%) in the Fertiwell group and in 13 out of 42 couples (30.95%) in the placebo group. This difference was statistically and clinically significant (p<0.05). All pregnancies resulted in a live birth. The median time from completion of the course to conception was 4 months in Fertiwell group and 6 months in the placebo group. There were no significant differences in anthropometric parameters of newborns between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: When using the drug Fertiwell, pregnancy and live birth rate was significantly higher (2.23 times) compared to the control group. There was a trend toward earlier pregnancies in partners of men receiving Fertiwell. Thus, this drug can be recommended for the treatment of men with idiopathic infertility as monotherapy, as well as in combination with assisted reproductive technologies.

[The efficiency of combined regimens for the treatment of urinary tract infections in women using the herbal drug Canephron N].

INTRODUCTION: Currently, empiric antibiotic therapy is considered the standard for acute cystitis. However, additional treatment may be required to alleviate the patient's condition and shorten the time to subjective recovery. AIM: To evaluate the efficiency of the combined administration of fosfomycin trometamol and herbal drug Canephron N in comparison with a single oral dose of fosfomycin trometamol in women with uncomplicated bacterial cystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, comparative, open-label study was carried put between January 2018 and June 2019. The study included 112 women with symptoms of acute uncomplicated cystitis, who were randomized between two groups in a 1:1 ratio. In the main group, patients received a single oral dose of fosfomycin in combination with Canephron N (2 tablets t.i.d. for 2 weeks), while in the control group patients received only a single dose of fosfomycin (3 g). Symptoms were assessed using the Russian version of the Acute Cystitis Symptom Score (ACSS), completed daily for a week. Also, all patients underwent urine analysis on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th days of therapy. The mean time to complete recovery based on the ACSS questionnaire and the time to resolution of pyuria were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Comparison of the proportion of patients with complete cure, according to the questionnaire, or with the elimination of pyuria was carried out using the chi-square test. RESULTS: The final analysis included 46 patients who received fosfomycin in combination with Canephron and 47 patients who received fosfomycin as monotherapy. In the group of combination therapy, patient-reported complete recovery (assessed by the ACSS questionnaire) was seen on average after 1 day, while in patients treated with monotherapy, the median time to subjective recovery was 3 days (p=0.00012). A significant difference between the groups in the proportion of patients with complete resolution of symptoms of acute cystitis was observed on days 1, 2, and 3 (p<0.05). The therapy was well tolerated in both groups. The most frequent adverse events were dyspepsia (8.7% in the combination group compared to 6.4% in the control group) and headache (in 4.3% and 6.4% of patients, respectively). CONCLUSION: the combined use of fosfomycin trometamol and the herbal drug Canephron N allows to reduce the duration of symptoms in patients with acute cystitis, thereby accelerating return to their usual lifestyle patterns.

[Assessment of the safety and efficacy of medicinal product PPR-001 based on regulatory polypeptides of the testes].

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of the drug PPR-001 (lyophilizate) in comparison with placebo in men with impaired spermatogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective, multicenter, parallel-group research. RESULTS: It was found that the drug has clinical efficacy and a positive effect on the concentration of spermatozoa in the ejaculate, the percentage of progressively mobile forms and the number of morphologically normal forms of spermatozoa was increased in the group of PPR-001. The primary end point was defined as a proportion of patients who had a therapeutic response (TO) at Visit 3. TO meant at least 20% increase in the concentration and/or progressive motility of spermatozoa compared to the baseline level. The hypothesis of Superiority of PPR-001 over placebo based on primary end point was confirmed (the limit of Superiority was more than 27%). In total, AEs were identified in 65 patients out of 100 (34 patients in the PPR-001 group and 31 patients in the placebo group). When assessing the number of patients who had AEs, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. All identified AEs were of mild severity; during the study. No negative dynamics was found according to the results of the assessment of vital functions, biochemical and clinical blood tests, clinical urinalysis, ECG indicators. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated the superiority of PPR-001 over placebo in terms of increasing concentration and motility of spermatozoa in the ejaculate. A significant increase in the number of morphologically normal forms of spermatozoa in the PPR-001 group was also revealed.

[Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of urethroplasty after failed hypospadias repair].

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of surgical treatment of hypospadias is one of the most controversial problem in urology, considering a lack of continuity in the management of these patients between pediatric andrologists and general urologists. Patients who undergone to multiple hypospadias repairs remain one of the most difficult categories for reconstructive urethral surgery and urology in general. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The treatment results of 112 adult patients who had complications of previously performed hypospadias repairs were evaluated. The results of repeated procedures were compared in patients, in whom modified balloon urethral catheter (group 1; n=50) or standard Foley catheter (group 2; n=62) was used, respectively. RESULTS: Most patients after surgery assessed the appearance of the penis as "good" (92% in group 1, 77.4% in group 2). In group 1, satisfactory results was seen in 8% of cases and there were no unsatisfactory results, while in group 2, where standard Foley catheter was used, these values were 19.4% and 3.2%, respectively. In group 1, complication rate was lower than in group 2 (10% versus 41.9%; p<0.05). In group 1, there was a significantly higher proportion of patients with a Qmax score of more or equal 18 ml/s (90% versus 74.2%; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Repeated procedures in adult men with late complications of surgical treatment of hypospadias are quite effective, although they are accompanied by a rather high complications rate. The use of a new model of the urethral catheter with dilating cuff and an irrigation canal allows to improve treatment results in this category of patients.

[Erectile function after corporoplasty in patients with peyronies disease].

PURPOSE: To evaluate erectile function in patients with Peyronies disease (PD) who underwent corporoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 374 patients who underwent corporoplasty by a single surgeon during 1996-2016 were analyzed. In all cases IIEF questionnaire was evaluated pre- and postoperatively. Intracavernous injection test and penile doppler ultrasonography were performed if required. Median follow-up was 9.5 years. Analysis of risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED) before and after corporoplasty was performed. RESULTS: Prevalence of risk factors for ED in our sample has greatly increased during follow-up. At the last follow-up visit 285 patients were sexually active. Evaluation of patient satisfaction with the quality of erections has shown that 139 patients were fully satisfied (48.8%), 84 patients were somewhat satisfied (29.5%) and 62 patients were not satisfied with their erectile function (21.7%). According to IIEF questionnaire, 105 patients (36.8%) had no ED (> 26 points); 74 patients (26%) had mild ED; 67 patients (23.5%) had mild-to-moderate ED; 21 patients (7.4%) had moderate ED; and 18 patients (6.3%) had severe ED. However, a causal relationship between ED and treatment of Peyronie's disease was found not in all cases. Seven patients had infrequent sexual intercourse (1-2 per month) and 50 patients had no sexual activity. DISCUSSION: At long term after corporoplasty some patients experience ED, though causality between ED and PD treatment couldnt be confirmed in all such cases. It should be noted that we have found an increase in prevalence of independent risk factors for ED during follow-up period. These patients could possibly benefit in terms of quality of life if they underwent penile prosthesis placement during primary surgical treatment for PD. However, some patients had no sexual activity due to causes unrelated to ED. CONCLUSION: Not all patients with PD are satisfied with their sexual functioning after corporoplasty. However, ED after surgical management of PD is not always a consequence of surgery itself.

[Comparative Analysis of the Performance of Mascot and IdentiPy Algorithms on a Benchmark Dataset Obtained by Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Testicular Biopsies].

Proteome profiling of human testicular biopsies was performed using tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. Protein identification results were compared for the Mascot commercial search engine, the SearchGUI noncommercial package, and their analog IdentiProt based on the open-source IdentiPy algorithm (http://hg.theorchromo.ru/identipy). A feature of IdentiPy is an automatic optimization of MS/MS search parameters. A set of protein identifications obtained with IdentiPy was consequently greater by one third than the sets with the other search engines. For the first time, an IdentiPy/IdentiProt search was conducted within the Progenesis LC-MS framework, which allows spectrum alignment, and the proteome profile obtained with alignment was compared with that obtained using the ProteoWizard converter. A total of 16 human chromosome 18 proteins were identified, including the myelin basic protein, which is not characteristic of testicular tissue.

[The role of drug therapy in the management of varicocele].

Varicocele-related infertility is traditionally considered an indication for surgery. At the same time in some specific clinical settings, especially with subclinical varicocele, conservative therapy using hormonal or antioxidant drugs is also possible. The potential role of drug therapy in this patient category remains controversial. The article discusses the options and treatment regimens for men with varicocele-related infertility. Given the difficulties in interpreting the results of studies and the heterogeneity of the data, it is not yet possible to recommend abandoning varicocelectomy in favor of drug therapy. The most promising option for drug therapy is adjuvant antioxidants after surgical treatment of varicocele.

[Results of urethral reconstruction in adults after multiple hypospadias repairs].

AIM: To improve treatment results in patients after multiple hypospadias repairs by optimizing the postoperative management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients (mean age 48.1+/-15.3 years) with urethral strictures secondary to failed hypospadias repairs underwent staged graft urethroplasty using oral mucosa (cheek, lip, tongue) as a grafting material. In 62 patients, at the end of surgery the bladder was drained with a standard Foley catheter. In twenty patients the bladder was drained with a modified silicone urethral catheter, which had an additional channel for delivering drugs and removing the urethral wound effluent, and a second additional channel for inflating a balloon fixed to the catheter tube at different parts of the catheter. RESULTS: The mean length of the stricture was 5.4+/-1.2 cm (from 1 to 16 cm). Twenty-eight patients had postoperative complications. Using the modified catheter resulted in statistically significantly (p<0.05) smaller percentage of complications (10% vs 41.9%) compared to standard Foley catheter. Urinalysis and sperm test on the follow up examination at 12 months showed that only 9 (10.9%) patients had signs of the inflammatory process. Seventy-five patients (91.5%) rated the appearance of the penis as "good"; only 5 (6.1%) and 2 (2.4%) patients considered the result as "satisfactory" and "unsatisfactory", respectively. Eighty patient (97.6%) regarded the treatment result as "good" for the quality of urination and only two (2.4%) considered it "satisfactory". When assessing the strength of urinary stream, 64 (78.1%), 13 (15.8%) and 5 (6.1%) patients rated it as "good", "satisfactory", and "unsatisfactory", respectively. CONCLUSION: The study findings shows that staged urethroplasty using the oral mucosa restores the urethral patency, reduces the severity of the inflammatory process, thus improving the quality of life of patients after failed hypospadias repair. The proposed modification of the catheter ensures the timely delivery of drugs to the surgical site, evacuation the wound effluent from the urethra and helps prevent strictures by periodically inflating the adjustable balloon-dilator.

[A man's role in recurrent miscarriage in a spouse].

In a review article based on the published literature and their own research, the authors examine the role of a man in recurrent miscarriage and reproductive losses in a spouse. Detailed description is presented of the negative impact of elevated levels of sperm DNA fragmentation on the course of pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, on the occurrence of recurrent miscarriage or missed abortion, on the effectiveness of assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs. The etiology and pathogenesis of damage to sperm DNA are described. Outlined are positive effects of correcting adverse lifestyle factors, the role of varicocelectomy and antioxidant therapy, and advances in ART. The review specifies the role of different male karyotype abnormalities (translocations) in the pathogenesis of pregnancy loss. The implications of urologic surgery, preimplantation genetic diagnosis in solving this problem are discussed. New treatment strategies using correction of male disorders for couples with recurrent miscarriage are offered.

[Optimization of an approach to solving the problem of a barren marriage in secretory azoospermic men].

AIM: To compare the efficiency of using different interventional procedures for a barren marriage in case of secretory azoospermia (SAS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The trial enrolled 110 patients aged 25 to 54 years with SAS. The levels of sexual hormones were determined; ovarian punch biopsy was performed. RESULTS: Decreased volume of the ovaries was noted in 85.3% of the patients; diffuse or focal changes in their parenchyma were seen in 65.7%. There was an increase of follicle-stimulating hormone levels and a reduction in testosterone ones. Hyperestrogenemia was identified in 26.5% of the patients. The level of inhibin B was lower in all the patients. The efficiency of standard testicular sperm extraction for cryopreservation was achieved in 28.7% of the patients and that of a microsurgical technique was in 56.7%. The wives of 37 out of the 57 patients included in an assisted reproductive technology program were more than 12 weeks pregnant after 95 intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. CONCLUSION: The microsurgical technique is most effective in achieving the successful treatment of patients with azoospermia in order to prevent male infertility.

[Electromyography of the penis in the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction after radical operations on the organs of the lesser pelvis]. / Elektromiografiia polovogo chlena v diagnostike érektil'noi disfunktsii posle radikal'nykh operatsii na organakh malogo taza.

The paper presents the technique and results of electromyography of the penis (EMP) for 68 males divided into 3 groups: 21 volunteers with erectile disorders, 20 patients with nonvasculogenic erectile dysfunction and no history of pelvic operations, 27 patients with erectile abnormalities as a result of pelvic operations (after cystectomy -11, cystoprostatectomy -1, rectal resection -7, rectal extirpation -8 patients, groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively). Autonomic innervation of the penis is primarily characterized by such EMP parameters as amplitude, synchronism and frequency of potentials. Neurogenic penile disorder was identified in 3 patients of group 2 (1 patient with intervertebral disk hernia, 2 patients with lumbosacral osteochondrosis), in all patients of group 3 (electric silence was recorded in 22 patients). EMP should be included in the algorithm of examination of patients with erectile dysfunction as providing a reliable assessment of autonomic penile innervation.