The impact of a second MRI and re-biopsy in patients with initial negative mpMRI-targeted and systematic biopsy for PIRADS ≥ 3 lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the proportions of detected prostate cancer (PCa) and clinically significant PCa (csPCa), as well as identify clinical predictors of PCa, in patients with PI-RADS > = 3 lesion at mpMRI and initial negative targeted and systematic biopsy (initial biopsy) who underwent a second MRI and a re-biopsy. METHODS: A total of 290 patients from 10 tertiary referral centers were included. The primary outcome measures were the presence of PCa and csPCa at re-biopsy. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate predictors of PCa and csPCa, adjusting for relevant covariates. RESULTS: Forty-two percentage of patients exhibited the presence of a new lesion. Furthermore, at the second MRI, patients showed stable, upgrading, and downgrading PI-RADS lesions in 42%, 39%, and 19%, respectively. The interval from the initial to repeated mpMRI and from the initial to repeated biopsy was 16 mo (IQR 12-20) and 18 mo (IQR 12-21), respectively. One hundred and eight patients (37.2%) were diagnosed with PCa and 74 (25.5%) with csPCa at re-biopsy. The presence of ASAP on the initial biopsy strongly predicted the presence of PCa and csPCa at re-biopsy. Furthermore, PI-RADS scores at the first and second MRI and a higher number of systematic biopsy cores at first and second biopsy were independent predictors of the presence of PCa and csPCa. Selection bias cannot be ruled out. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent PI-RADS ≥ 3 at the second MRI is suggestive of the presence of a not negligible proportion of csPca. These findings contribute to the refinement of risk stratification for men with initial negative MRI-TBx.

Cancer Stem Cells and Prostate Cancer: A Narrative Review.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small and elusive subpopulation of self-renewing cancer cells with the remarkable ability to initiate, propagate, and spread malignant disease. In the past years, several authors have focused on the possible role of CSCs in PCa development and progression. PCa CSCs typically originate from a luminal prostate cell. Three main pathways are involved in the CSC development, including the Wnt, Sonic Hedgehog, and Notch signaling pathways. Studies have observed an important role for epithelial mesenchymal transition in this process as well as for some specific miRNA. These studies led to the development of studies targeting these specific pathways to improve the management of PCa development and progression. CSCs in prostate cancer represent an actual and promising field of research.

Double-J stent placement during laparoscopic ureterolithotomy: the "seagull" technique.

OBJECTIVE: To present a new technique of double-j stent (DJ) placement during laparoscopic transperitoneal ureterolithotomy (LUL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Following the extraction of the stone, a 6 French DJ open-end stent is prepared: two straight-tip hydrophilic guidewires are inserted into the appropriate lateral holes of the stent, as identified by the preoperative evaluation of the CT scan. Approximately 5 centimeters of each wire protrude from the proximal and distal ends of the stent to straighten its terminal curl, thus resembling the wings of a flying seagull. The remaining proximal portions of both guide wires are left within each guidewire dispenser. The two ends of the stent are grasped together in a U-fashion and inserted into the abdomen through a 10mm port. Once in the abdomen, the longer segment of the stent is inserted and pushed into the ureterotomy until it reaches the target site. The guide wire is then removed. The same procedure is repeated for the other end of the stent. A brief literature review on the currents techniques of laparoscopic DJ placement is also presented. RESULTS: Analyzing the outcomes of 21 LUL, the "seagull" technique is time-saving and safe. No perioperative complications were encountered. There is no risk of enlarging or tearing the ureterotomy and no need for patient replacement, extra cystoscopic or ureteroscopic procedures as well as of using modified guidewires and closed-tip stents. CONCLUSION: We described our step-by-step technique for DJ placement during LUL.

Sexual and functional outcomes after prolapse surgery: a randomized prospective comparison of trocarless transvaginal mesh and pelvic organ prolapse suspension.

PURPOSE: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) related to pelvic organ prolapse represents a common condition that negatively impacts female sexual activity. Laparoscopic pelvic organ prolapse surgery (POPs) and the anterior repair with a trocar-less trans-vaginal mesh (TTMs) represent two different surgical techniques to treat SUI secondary to POP. This study aimed to report the results of these techniques comparing the sexual and functional outcome improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine sexually active female patients, complaining of urodynamic stress incontinence, were enrolled in this prospective study, and simply randomized in two groups: 29 POPs and 30 TTMs. All patients were studied at baseline and 6 months after surgery. Preoperative evaluation included medical history, urodynamic test, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and pelvic magnetic resonance defecography. Six months after surgery, all patients completed the FSFI and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) and were investigated with a uroflowmetry test with post-void residual volume (PVR). RESULTS: At 6 months after surgery, 87% of POPs patients and 79% of TTMs subjects resulted dry. No statistically significant results were obtained in terms of urinary outcomes between the two surgical groups. Regarding sexual function, POPs group exhibited a significant greater improvement of global FSFI (mean: 27.4; SD: 4.31) compared to TTMs group (mean FSFI: 23.56; SD: 2.28; p-value ≤ 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that POPs and TTMs lead to satisfactory and safe functional outcomes with a good recovery of urinary continence. Furthermore, POPs, when compared to TTMs, led to a greater improvement of sexual function.

Shear wave elastography in varicocele patients: Prospective study to investigate correlation with semen parameters and histological findings.

AIMS: Shear wave elastosonography (SWE) is a non-invasive ultrasound imaging modality used to assess the mechanical properties of tissues such as rigidity and elasticity. In this prospective study, we investigated the effect of laparoscopic varicocelectomy on the elasticity, degree of fibrosis and function of the testes through SWE and we evaluated the correlation with semen parameters and histology findings. METHODS: Male patients with monolateral left varicocele and progressive alteration of the semen quality were enrolled prospectively. Patients were evaluated before varicocelectomy, 3 and 6 months after surgery with semen analysis, ecocolordoppler US and SWE. In all patients, a left testicular biopsy was performed at the time of varicocelectomy and it was repeated after 6 months in 55% of patients in order to investigate the histological findings and to correlate with SWE results. RESULTS: The study was conducted on 82 patients. SWE showed a statistically significant difference between left and right testicles. Three months after surgery the mean left testicular volume increased, mean left SWE features decreased, and sperm count increased (P values < .0001). The SWE parameters, testicular volume and semen analysis values showed a statistically significant positive correlation between the pre and postoperative results (P value < .0001). The histological alterations were significantly changed 6 months postoperative with a complete morphology recovery in accordance with SWE results. CONCLUSIONS: SWE showed a statistically significant positive correlation with testicular volume, semen analysis and histological findings. This study represents the first investigation that correlates the varicocele, the testis volume, the quality of the seminal fluid ant the histological findings with the ultrasound and SWE values.

Sexual and functional outcomes of prostate artery embolisation: A prospective long-term follow-up, large cohort study.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Among minimally invasive procedures for treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) prostate artery embolisation (PAE) is described as safe and effective. Aim of this study is to report our results, focusing on sexual outcomes (erectile and ejaculatory functions sparing) of PAE in patients suffering from bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) secondary to BPH. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled and submitted to PAE subjects suffering from BOO secondary to BPH. All patients were not suitable for surgery or declined invasive approaches. All subjects were preoperatively and postoperatively (3, 6, 12 and 18 months after) evaluated by urinary flowmetry, post voiding residual volume, prostate volume, serum PSA levels, International Index of Erectile Function, International Prostate Symptom Score and QoL scores. RESULTS: PAE was performed in 147 patients (mean age 72.5 y.o.). PAE was technically successful in all patients. The procedure lasted a mean time of 94.3 minutes, with a mean fluoroscopic time of 42.5 minutes. Twelve months follow-up data were available for all patients, while 126 patients (85%) completed the 18 months follow up. At 12 months follow up, the mean IPSS and QoL scores significantly decreased, and all the objective parameters (mean Qmax, PVR and prostate volume) reported a significant improvement. A total of 130 patients (88.5%) at 12 months reported the antegrade ejaculation preserved, and a slight not significant improvement of IIEF scores. The 18 months after PAE outcomes confirmed the significant improvement of all the variables evaluated (even for PSA values and IIEF scores). No major complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Our results evidence prostate artery embolisation as highly feasible and safe procedure with interesting outcomes. In particular, in our study PAE reported promising results in preserving antegrade ejaculation and erectile function. Our data are in line with the literature, confirming how PAE reduces obstructive symptoms in BPH patients not suitable or refusing standard surgical approaches.

Retzius-sparing versus standard robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a prospective randomized comparison on immediate continence rates.

BACKGROUND: Post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence is an adverse event leading to significant distress. Our aim was to evaluate immediate urinary continence (UC) recovery in a single-surgeon prospective randomized comparative study between the traditional robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (TR-RALP) and the Retzius-sparing RALP (RS-RALP), for the treatment of the clinically localized prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: 102 consecutive PCa patients were prospectively randomized to TR-RALP (57) or RS-RALP (45). Postoperative continence was defined as patient-reported absence of leakage or use of 0 pads/day. The immediate continence rate and 95% confidence interval (CI 95%) were calculated for each treatment. Univariable and multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess predictors of immediate continence following RALP. Continence rates from 1 to 6 months were calculated by Kaplan-Meier curves; log-rank test was used for the curve comparison. Two analyses were performed, considering a per-protocol (PP) population regarding all randomized patients that received nerve-sparing RALP and an Intention-To-Treat (ITT) population regarding all randomized patients that received RALP. RESULTS: In the PP analysis, the rates of immediate continence were 12/40 (30%) (CI 95% 17-47%) for the TR-RALP and 20/39 (51.3%) (CI 95% 35-68%) for the RS-RALP (p = 0.05). In the ITT analysis, the corresponding rates were 12/57 (21%) (CI 95% 11-34%) for the TR-RALP and 23/45 (51%) (CI 95% 36-66%) for the RS-RALP (p = 0.001). Median time to continence was 21 days for the TR-RALP and 1 day for RS-RALP, respectively (p = 0.02). The relative Kaplan-Meier curves regarding continence resulted statistically different when compared with the log rank test (p = 0.02). In the multivariate analysis, lower age and the Retzius-sparing approach were significantly associated to earlier continence recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The Retzius-sparing approach significantly reduces time to continence following RALP. Further studies are required to confirm the reproducibility of our results and investigate the role of the RS-RALP as an additional "protective" factor for postoperative continence in the elderly population.

Prospective randomized study comparing monopolar with bipolar transurethral resection of prostate in benign prostatic obstruction: 36-month outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold standard surgical treatment for bothersome moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostate obstruction. The aim of the study is to compare monopolar versus bipolar TURP focusing on operative and functional outcomes, and evaluating complications with a long-term follow-up. METHODS: From January 2007 to July 2014, a total of 497 patients were randomized and prospectively scheduled to undergo bipolar (251) or monopolar (246) TURP. International prostate symptom score (IPSS), IPSS-Quality of life (QoL), post-void residual and maximum flow rate were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 12, 24 and 36 months. Operative time, length of catheterization and hospitalization were all recorded. Complications were classified and reported. RESULTS: All patients completed the 36-month follow-up visit. Perioperative results showed no statistical significance between the two groups in terms of catheterization days, post-void residual, IPSS, IPSS-QoL score. The hospitalization length was found statistically significant in favor of the bipolar group. The 3-, 12-, 24- and 36-month follow-up showed significant and equal improvements in LUTS related to BPO in the two treatment groups. Regarding TURP complications, significant differences were observed in relation to urethral strictures, blood transfusion and TUR syndrome in favor of the bipolar group. CONCLUSIONS: Monopolar and bipolar TURP are safe and effective techniques for BPH management. Bipolar TURP in our prospective study reported the same efficacy of monopolar prostate resection, with a significant reduction of related complications.

Prospective study to compare antibiosis versus the association of N-acetylcysteine, D-mannose and Morinda citrifolia fruit extract in preventing urinary tract infections in patients submitted to urodynamic investigation.

BACKGROUND: The abuse of antimicrobical drugs has increased the resistance of microorganisms to treatments, thus to make urinary tract infections (UTIs) more difficult to eradicate. Among natural substances used to prevent UTI, literature has provided preliminary data of the beneficial effects of D-mannose, N-acetylcysteine, and Morinda citrifolia fruit extract, due to their complementary mechanism of action which contributes respectively to limit bacteria adhesion to the urothelium, to destroy bacterial pathogenic biofilm, and to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. The purpose of this study was to compare the administration of an association of D-mannose, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and Morinda citrifolia extract versus antibiotic therapy in the prophylaxis of UTIs potentially associated with urological mini-invasive diagnostics procedures, in clinical model of the urodynamic investigation. METHODS: 80 patients eligible for urodynamic examination, 42 men and 38 women, have been prospectively enrolled in the study and randomised in two groups (A and B) of 40 individuals. Patients of group A followed antibiotic therapy with Prulifloxacine, by mouth 400 mg/day for 5 days, while patients of the group B followed the association of mannose and NAC therapy, two vials/day for 7 days. Ten days after the urodynamic study, the patients were submitted to urine examination and urine culture. RESULTS: The follow up assessment didn't show statistical significant difference between the two groups regarding the incidence of UTI. CONCLUSIONS: The association of mannose and NAC therapy resulted similar to the antibiotic therapy in preventing UTIs in patients submitted to urodynamic examination. This result leads to consider the possible use of these nutraceutical agents as a good alternative in the prophylaxis of the UTI afterwards urological procedures in urodynamics.

Management of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia in elderly patients with a new diagnostic, therapeutic and care pathway.

INTRODUCTION: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) resulting in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is a widespread disease that strongly interferes with the quality of life (QoL) of elderly males. It represents a real clinical and socio-economic problem may be due to the lack of a diagnostic, therapeutic and care pathway (DTCP) tool for LUTS/BPH that considers elderly people population in its whole complexity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the proposed DTCP LUTS/BPH tool. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted on 278 patients over 75 years old with non-neurogenic LUTS recruited from February to July 2014 by 10 general practitioners (GP) and two assisted sanitary residences (ASR). Only five GPs and one ASR were provided with the complete DTCP LUTS/BPH tool to create two different groups of patients: group A (138 patients) was treated without the aid of the DTCP; group B (140 patients) was treated according to the DTCP. RESULTS: At 1 year of follow-up, the patients of Group B compared with Group A achieved a greater and significant mean reduction in the questionnaires score (International Prostate Symptom Score, Quick prostate test and QoL) linked to a higher increase in the flowmetry parameters (Qmax) and a lower postvoid residual. Furthermore, in Group B compared to Group A, a greater improvement of hydronephrosis, creatinine values and erectile dysfunction (ED) were obtained at 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The encouraging results obtained from this study are significant and support the use of this diagnostic, therapeutic and care tool (DTCP) as the ideal pathway management for elderly men with LUTS associated to BPH and ED. Further studies with greater number of elderly subjects and long-term follow-up are needed to confirm DTCP utility in the clinical management of LUTS/BPH and ED.

Can daily intake of aspirin and/or statins influence the behavior of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer? A retrospective study on a cohort of patients undergoing transurethral bladder resection.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the behavior of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in patients submitted to transurethral bladder resection (TURB) comparing subjects in chronic therapy with aspirin, statins, or both drugs to untreated ones. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on 574 patients diagnosed with NMIBC who underwent TURB between March 2008 and April 2013. The study population was divided into two main groups: treated (aspirin and/or statins) and untreated. The treated group was further divided into three therapeutic subgroups: Group A (100 mg of aspirin, daily for at least two years); Group B (20 mg or more of statins, daily for at least two years); and Group C (100 mg of aspirin and 20 mg of statins together). The mean follow-up of patients was 45.06 months. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed among the different groups at baseline. On multivariate analysis, statin treatment, smokers and high stage disease (T1) achieved the level of independent risk factor for the occurrence of a recurrence. When patients were stratified according to the different treatment; patients treated with statins (Group B) presented an higher rate of failure (56/91 patients; 61.5%) when compared to Group A (42/98 patients; 42.9%), Group C (56/98; 57.1%) and (133/287 patients; 46.3%). This difference corresponds to a significant difference in recurrence failure free survival (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that long-term treatment with aspirin in patients with NMIBC might play a role on reducing the risk of tumor recurrence. In contrast, in our investigation data from statins and combination treatment groups showed increased recurrence rates. A long-term randomized prospective study could definitively assess the possible role of this widely used drugs in NMIBC.

Overactive bladder in diabetes mellitus patients: a questionnaire-based observational investigation.

PURPOSE: Bladder dysfunction, secondary to diabetes, is mainly characterized by poor bladder emptying and overflow incontinence. However, there is evidence in literature that storage symptoms, as those suggestive for overactive bladder (OAB), may also affect people with diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of overactive bladder, the complaint of urinary urgency with/without urge incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia, in people with diabetes compared to healthy subjects (control group). METHODS: Symptoms were assessed through the overactive bladder questionnaire (OAB-q), an investigative tool, specifically developed for OAB diagnosis. RESULTS: OAB-q scores resulted higher in diabetic people than those of the control group. Age and disease duration resulted in measurements that showed a statistical correlation with the OAB-q scores. CONCLUSIONS: OAB symptoms are more prevalent in diabetic people than in non-diabetic people. This prompts further research to determine whether the onset of OAB symptoms can be considered as an indicator of diabetic neuropathy.

Scrotal extratesticular schwannoma: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Schwannomas are tumours arising from Schwann cells, which sheath the peripheral nerves. Here, we report a rare case of left intrascrotal, extratesticular schwannoma. Although rare, scrotal localisation of schwannomas has been reported in male children, adult men, and elderly men. They are usually asymptomatic and are characterised by slow growth. Patients generally present with an intrascrotal mass that is not associated with pain or other clinical signs, and such cases are self-reported by most patients. Imaging modalities (such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging) can be used to determine tumour size, exact localisation, and extension. However, the imaging findings of schwannoma are non-specific. Therefore, only complete surgical excision can result in diagnosis, based on histological and immunohistochemical analyses. If the tumour is not entirely removed, recurrences may develop, and, although malignant change is rare, this may occur, especially in patients with a long history of an untreated lesion. Thus, follow up examinations with clinical and imaging studies are recommended for scrotal schwannomas. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old man presented with a 3-year history of asymptomatic scrotal swelling. Physical examination revealed a palpable, painless, soft mass in the left hemiscrotum. After surgical removal of the mass, its histological features indicated schwannoma. CONCLUSIONS: Schwannoma should be considered in cases of masses that are intrascrotal but extratesticular. Ultrasonography provides the best method of confirming the paratesticular localisation of the tumour, before surgical removal allows histopathological investigation and definitive diagnosis. Surgery is the standard therapeutic approach. To prevent recurrence, particular care should be taken to ensure complete excision. This case report includes a review of the literature on scrotal schwannomas.

Quality of information and appropriateness of Open AI outputs for prostate cancer.

Chat-GPT, a natural language processing (NLP) tool created by Open-AI, can potentially be used as a quick source for obtaining information related to prostate cancer. This study aims to analyze the quality and appropriateness of Chat-GPT's responses to inquiries related to prostate cancer compared to those of the European Urology Association's (EAU) 2023 prostate cancer guidelines. Overall, 195 questions were prepared according to the recommendations gathered in the prostate cancer section of the EAU 2023 Guideline. All questions were systematically presented to Chat-GPT's August 3 Version, and two expert urologists independently assessed and assigned scores ranging from 1 to 4 to each response (1: completely correct, 2: correct but inadequate, 3: a mix of correct and misleading information, and 4: completely incorrect). Sub-analysis per chapter and per grade of recommendation were performed. Overall, 195 recommendations were evaluated. Overall, 50/195 (26%) were completely correct, 51/195 (26%) correct but inadequate, 47/195 (24%) a mix of correct and misleading and 47/195 (24%) incorrect. When looking at different chapters Open AI was particularly accurate in answering questions on follow-up and QoL. Worst performance was recorded for the diagnosis and treatment chapters with respectively 19% and 30% of the answers completely incorrect. When looking at the strength of recommendation, no differences in terms of accuracy were recorded when comparing weak and strong recommendations (p > 0,05). Chat-GPT has a poor accuracy when answering questions on the PCa EAU guidelines recommendations. Future studies should assess its performance after adequate training.

Post-Voided Residual Ratio Does Not Predict Trifecta Outcome after Transurethral Resection of Prostate.

The purpose of this study was to assess the importance of the post-void residual (PVR) ratio (PVR ratio) in achieving a favorable trifecta outcome for patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic enlargement (LUTS-BPE) who undergo transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Starting from 2015, a series of patients with LUTS-BPE who underwent TURP were included in a forward-looking study. These patients were assessed using the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) screening tool, uroflowmetry, and a transrectal ultrasound to measure prostate volume (TRUS). Both the PVR urine volume and the PVR ratio (PVR-R), which is the PVR as a percentage of total bladder volume (voided volume + PVR), were measured. The assessment of outcomes was based on the trifecta favorable outcome, defined as meeting all of the following criteria: (1) absence of perioperative complications, (2) a postoperative IPSS of less than eight, and (3) a postoperative maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) greater than 15 mL/s. A total of 143 patients were included, with a median age of 70 years (interquartile range 65-73). Of these, 58% (83/143) achieved a positive trifecta outcome. Upon conducting a multivariate analysis, both IPSS and Qmax were identified as predictors of a positive trifecta outcome, whereas the PVR-R did not prove to be an independent predictor. In summary, it was found that preoperative IPSS and Qmax are indicative of a trifecta outcome following TURP, whereas PVR-R is not.

Residents and Consultants Have Equal Outcomes When Performing Transrectal Fusion Biopsies: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The aim of our study was to compare the performance of residents vs. consultants in transrectal fusion prostate biopsies (FUS-PBs), as well as patient-reported comfort. Between January 2021 and October 2022, a consecutive series of patients undergoing FUS-PBs were randomized into two groups: (A) FUS-PBs performed by a consultant; (B) FUS-PBs performed by trained residents (>50 procedures). All patients underwent FUS-PBs with 12 systematic cores and 3/6 target cores. The detection rate and number of positive cores in the target lesion were compared between groups, and the patient's discomfort after the procedure was evaluated using the VAS scale. Overall, 140 patients with a median age of 72 years were enrolled. Overall, 69/140 (49.3%) presented prostate cancer and 53/69 (76.8%) presented a clinically significant cancer (Grade Group ≥ 2). Consultants presented a detection rate of 37/70 (52.9%) and residents a detection rate of 32/70 (45.7%) (p > 0.2); the mean number of positive cores in the index lesion was similar in both groups (1.5 vs. 1.1; p > 0.10). In terms of the patients' experiences, the procedure was well tolerated, with a median VAS score of 2 in both groups, with no statistically significant differences. Residents showed satisfactory outcomes in terms of detection rate, procedural time, and patient comfort when performing prostate biopsies. Residents, after adequate training, can safely perform prostate biopsies.

Medications Mostly Associated With Ejaculatory Disorders: Assessment of the Eudra-Vigilance and Food and Drug Administration Pharmacovigilance Databases Entries.

OBJECTIVE: To identify which medications are mostly associated with ejaculatory disorders through a disproportionality analysis. METHODS: The Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FDA-FAERS) and the Eudra-Vigilance (EV) database were queried to identify medications more commonly associated to ejaculatory disorders from September 10, 2012 to June 1, 2023. Proportional Reported Ratios (PRRs) were computed for all the selected drugs. RESULTS: Overall, 7404 reports of ejaculatory disorders reports were identified, and of these, 6854 cases (92.6%) were attributed to ten specific medications. On FDA-FAERS and EV databases, Paroxetine and Tamsulosin were the main responsible of delayed ejaculation (103/448 events, 23.0%) and retrograde ejaculation (366/1033 events, 35.4%), respectively. Finasteride was mostly related to painful ejaculation and ejaculation failure, with 150 events (7.8%) and 735 events (38.4%) respectively. Within the group of high-risk medications, Sildenafil presented higher risk of ejaculatory disorders than Tadalafil (PRR=5.85 (95%CI 5.09-6.78), P < .01). CONCLUSION: Ten drugs were recognized to display significant reporting levels of ejaculatory disorders. Among them, Finasteride and Sildenafil were responsible for the most reports in FDA-FAERS and in EV databases, respectively. Physicians should thoroughly counsel patients treated with these drugs about the risk of ejaculatory disorders. Further integration into clinical trials is needed to enhance the applicability and significance of these results.

Is early continence recovery related to the length of spared urethra? A prospective multicenter study comparing preoperative MRI and histologic specimen measurements after robotic radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common complication after radical prostatectomy, significantly affecting patients' quality of life. This study aimed to correlate the length of preserved urethra in robotic radical prostatectomy (RALP) patients with short-term urinary continence rates within 90 days post-surgery. METHODS: A prospective multicentric study enrolled 190 prostate adenocarcinoma patients undergoing RALP. Using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), urethral length was measured from the external urethral sphincter to the bladder neck. After surgery, histological measurements of the removed urethra were compared to the preoperative mpMRI data. Patients were categorized into two groups at the three-month follow-up based on urinary continence assessed through Urodynamic Study (UDS): Group A (94 patients without UI) and Group B (96 patients with UI). RESULTS: Results revealed a significant difference in mean UI recovery time (Group A: 12.35 days, SD: 3.09 vs. Group B: 93.86 days, SD: 34.8, p < 0.0001). A ROC curve identified a 16.5% cut-off value (p < 0.000, sensitivity 87.5%, specificity 91.8%). Both groups showed a significant negative correlation between preserved urethral percentage and UI recovery time (Group A: r -0.655, p < 0.0001; Group B: r -0.340, p: 0.017). Group A had an average of 21.52% preserved urethra, while Group B had 13.86% (p < 0.0001). At one-year follow-up, 93.2% overall patients reported urinary continence without pads. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the positive correlation between preserved urethra percentage in RALP and early urinary continence recovery, highlighting its surgical significance.

Penile metastasis from primary cholangiocarcinoma: the first case report.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic penile carcinoma derived from cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has not been previously reported in the literature. Common metastatic sites for CCA include the regional lymph nodes and adjacent organs. CCAs are not highly vascularised tumours, making hematogenous metastases uncommon. Hematogenous CCA metastases commonly occur at distant organs such as the lungs, adrenal glands, and bones. Median survival for patients with metastatic disease is generally less than 1 year. CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old Caucasian man consulted us after having undergone penile ultrasonography for pain and increased thickness at the base of the penis after self-examination. The patient presented with a history of hepatitis C-related cirrhosis and intrahepatic CCA, diagnosed 3 years previously. A biopsy of the corpora cavernosa on both sides revealed a carcinoma harbouring the same histological and immunophenotypical features as the primary hepatic lesion. CONCLUSIONS: To date, there is no case of penile or urogenital system metastasis from CCA described in the literature. Therefore, this article represents the first case report of penile metastasis from CCA.

Synchronous primary neoplasms of the bladder, skin and breast in a male patient: a case report.

The incidence of multiple primary malignant neoplasms increases with age, reflecting an increase in overall cancer risk in older patients. Cases of two or more concurrent primary cancers are still rare, although its incidence is increasing. Here, we report the case of a 57-year-old man who was referred to our institution with synchronous squamous cell carcinoma of the skin on the forehead, infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast, and transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case in literature of this combination of primary neoplasms.