Should We Tailor the Clinical Management of Erectile Dysfunction According to Different Ages?

INTRODUCTION: The impact of erectile dysfunction (ED) on patients' sexual satisfaction and mood profile could differ across different ages. AIM: To investigate the relationship between erectile function (EF), sexual satisfaction, and mood status among patients seeking medical help for ED. METHODS: Data from 765 patients presenting at a single center for ED were analyzed. Patients were categorized as young (≤50 years), middle-aged (>50 and ≤65 years), and old (>65 years) individuals and completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Beck's Inventory for Depression (BDI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The IIEF overall satisfaction and intercourse satisfaction domain scores and the BDI score were used to investigate sexual life satisfaction and depressive symptoms (defined as BDI > 11) across ages and according to ED severity. Linear and logistic regression analyses assessed the relationship between satisfaction scores and the risk of depressive symptoms with age and EF. RESULTS: Median (interquartile range) age at first assessment for ED was 50 (38, 59) years. Compared with older men, young and middle-aged patients showed significantly higher IIEF-OS and IIEF- Intercourse Satisfaction scores for increasing IIEF-EF scores. Older men showed no difference in terms of satisfaction scores for mild ED and normal EF status. At linear regression analysis, both IIEF-EF and age were significantly associated with sexual satisfaction (all P < .0001). The interaction term between age and EF was also significant, suggesting that the older the patients, the higher the feeling of sexual satisfaction for the same EF status (P = .004). Overall, 25% of patients reported depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analysis showed a 40% risk of depressive symptoms for patients <45 years with severe ED compared to a risk <20% for a man >65 years of age with the same EF status. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Treating older patients with mild ED may not lead to a further improvement in sexual satisfaction as compared with younger patients with the same ED severity. Younger ED patients suffer more from depressive symptoms compared with older men, regardless of ED severity, thus supporting the need for a comprehensive psychological counseling. STRENGTH & LIMITATIONS: The single-center design and the lack of the assessment of the impact of ED treatment are the main limits. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical management of ED should be tailored according to different ages: younger patients deserve to be investigated and eventually treated for depressive symptoms. Older patients should be counseled for treatment when a sexual satisfaction improvement is expected. Capogrosso P, Ventimiglia E, Boeri L, et al. Should We Tailor the Clinical Management of Erectile Dysfunction According to Different Ages? J Sex Med 2019;16:999-1004.

Impact of synchronous metastasis distribution on cancer specific survival in renal cell carcinoma after radical nephrectomy with tumor thrombectomy.

PURPOSE: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma can be clinically diverse in terms of the pattern of metastatic disease and response to treatment. We studied the impact of metastasis and location on cancer specific survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 2,017 patients with renal cell cancer and tumor thrombus who underwent radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy from 1971 to 2012 at 22 centers in the United States and Europe were analyzed. Number and location of synchronous metastases were compared with respect to patient cancer specific survival. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to quantify the impact of covariates. RESULTS: Lymph node metastasis (155) or distant metastasis (725) was present in 880 (44%) patients. Of the patients with distant disease 385 (53%) had an isolated metastasis. The 5-year cancer specific survival was 51.3% (95% CI 48.6-53.9) for the entire group. On univariable analysis patients with isolated lymph node metastasis had a significantly worse cancer specific survival than those with a solitary distant metastasis. The location of distant metastasis did not have any significant effect on cancer specific survival. On multivariable analysis the presence of lymph node metastasis, isolated distant metastasis and multiple distant metastases were independently associated with cancer specific survival. Moreover higher tumor thrombus level, papillary histology and the use of postoperative systemic therapy were independently associated with worse cancer specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: In our multi-institutional series of patients with renal cell cancer who underwent radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy, almost half of the patients had synchronous lymph node or distant organ metastasis. Survival was superior in patients with solitary distant metastasis compared to isolated lymph node disease.

Awareness and knowledge of human papillomavirus-related diseases are still dramatically insufficient in the era of high-coverage vaccination programs.

PURPOSE: Assess knowledge and awareness concerning human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, HPV-associated diseases, and the existence of a specific vaccine among non-HPV-screened Caucasian-European adults after the market introduction of HPV vaccines. METHODS: A cohort of 934 consecutive patients seeking their first medical help for uroandrologic purposes anonymously completed a 17-item questionnaire related to HPV. Data were compared with those of an age-comparable cohort of nurses (controls; n = 172). RESULTS: Knowledge and awareness of HPV infection were reported in 564 (51%) and 735 (66.5%) participants, respectively. Overall, 51.3% participants were informed that HPV is sexually transmitted, but most reported not being aware that HPV infection can be associated with anogenital warts (61.7%), female genitalia (46.6%), penile (58.5%), and oropharyngeal cancer (79.7%). Only 36.5% of the participants were informed regarding the existence of a specific vaccine. HPV knowledge was retrieved through the media and/or the Internet, at school, doctors, and relatives or friends in 395 (35.7%), 155 (14%), 97 (8.8%), and 88 (8.0%) participants, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed that female gender [odds ratio (OR) 3.08; p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval 2.18-4.35] and educational status [high school diploma versus primary-secondary (OR 1.61; p = 0.03; 1.04-2.51); university degree versus primary-secondary (OR 2.89; p < 0.001; 1.83-4.57)] were significantly associated with awareness of HPV. CONCLUSIONS: Only approximately half of the participants reported knowing what HPV infection is, even after the approval and market introduction of the HPV vaccine. Awareness about the existence and availability of a HPV vaccine was even lower.

Extent of lymph node dissection at nephrectomy affects cancer-specific survival and metastatic progression in specific sub-categories of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

OBJECTIVE: To test whether the number of lymph nodes removed affects cancer-specific survival (CSS) or metastatic progression-free survival (MPFS) in different renal cell carcinoma (RCC) scenarios. METHODS: We used Cox regression analyses to analyse the effect of the number of lymph nodes removed on CSS and MPFS in 1983 patients with RCC treated with nephrectomy. To adjust for possible clinical and surgical selection bias, analyses were further adjusted for number of positive nodes, presence of metastases, age, performance status, T stage, tumour size and grade. RESULTS: The prevalence of lymph node invasion was 6.1%. The mean follow-up period was 83.3 months. Multivariable analyses showed that the number of nodes removed had an independent, protective effect on CSS in patients with pT2a-pT2b or pT3c-pT4 RCC (hazard ratio [HR] 0.91, P = 0.008 and HR 0.89, P < 0.001, respectively), in patients with bulky tumours (tumour size >10 cm, HR 0.97, P = 0.03) or when sarcomatoid features were found (HR 0.81, P = 0.006). The removal of each additional lymph node was associated with a 3-19% increase in CSS. When considering MPFS as an endpoint, the number of nodes removed had an independent, protective effect in the same patient categories. CONCLUSIONS: When clinically indicated, the number of nodes removed affects CSS and MPFS in specific sub-categories of patients with RCC.

Lessons learned from the International Renal Cell Carcinoma-Venous Thrombus Consortium (IRCC-VTC).

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) extension into the renal vein or the inferior vena cava occurs in 4%-10% of all kidney cancer cases. This entity shows a wide range of different clinical and surgical scenarios, making natural history and oncological outcomes variable and poorly characterized. Infrequency and variability make it necessary to share the experience from different institutions to properly analyze surgical outcomes in this setting. The International Renal Cell Carcinoma-Venous Tumor Thrombus Consortium was created to answer the questions generated by competing results from different retrospective studies in RCC with venous extension on current controversial topics. The aim of this article is to summarize the experience gained from the analysis of the world's largest cohort of patients in this unique setting to date.

Contemporary Diagnostic Work-Up for Male Infertility: Emphasizing Comprehensive Baseline Assessment.

Infertility is a prevalent issue affecting many couples during their reproductive years, with a significant number facing challenges in conceiving despite regular unprotected intercourse. Male factor infertility (MFI) contributes significantly to these cases, with a significant proportion of men lacking an identifiable etiology. As such, a thorough assessment of MFI has become increasingly vital for personalized management. This position paper from the Andrology team at IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele emphasizes a comprehensive and individualized approach to MFI work-up, addressing the evolving challenges encountered in clinical practice. Our approach involves a thorough diagnostic work-up to identify the underlying causes of MFI, integrating insights from extensive literature review and our proprietary data. Our data demonstrates that an extensive diagnostic assessment allows us to identify at least one underlying cause of MFI in most infertile men. However, challenges persist in diagnosing less severe phenotypes with unclear etiology. We discuss the importance of individualized MFI work-up and its implications for developing rational therapeutic protocols. Lastly, this paper highlights the necessity for a personalized diagnostic assessment, addressing the daily clinical challenges and emphasizing tailored approaches to try to improve outcomes among couples seeking first medical help for infertility.

Staging lymphadenectomy in renal cell carcinoma must be extended: a sensitivity curve analysis.

UNLABELLED: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: In renal cell carcinoma the role of lymphadenectomy (LND) is still controversial. Moreover, no firm consensus exists regarding the minimum number of lymph nodes that should be removed to obtain a satisfactory staging LND at the time of surgery. Our findings demonstrate that, when clinically indicated, staging LND in renal cell carcinoma should be extended. The removal of 15 lymph nodes might represent the lowest threshold to define a staging LND as adequate. More extended LND should be pursued if unfavourable clinical and pathological characteristics are evident at diagnosis and/or during surgery. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the staging of lymphadenectomy in renal cell carcinoma. No convincing data exist regarding the minimum number of lymph nodes that should be removed at the time of nephrectomy to ensure an accurate staging. METHODS: Between 1987 and 2011, 850 patients with renal cell carcinoma underwent either partial or radical nephrectomy plus lymph node dissection (LND) at a single tertiary care institution (Tany N0-1Many ). Receiver operating characteristic curve coordinates were used to graph the probability of finding lymph node invasion according to the number of removed lymph nodes. Assuming that the likelihood of finding lymph node invasion according to the number of lymph nodes removed may be affected by patient characteristics, analyses were further stratified for clinical and pathological characteristics. RESULTS: The rate of lymph node metastases strongly correlated with the clinical and pathological characteristics of the patients. Fifteen lymph nodes need to be removed to achieve a 90% probability of detecting at least one metastatic lymph node. Only slight differences were recorded after stratification for clinical nodal status, the presence of metastases at diagnosis and pathological T stage. Finally, 13, 16 and 21 lymph nodes need to be removed to achieve a 90% probability of detecting lymph node invasion, if present, in the low risk (score 0-1), intermediate risk (score 2-3) and high risk (score 4-5) Mayo Clinic classification, respectively. CONCLUSION: The removal of 15 lymph nodes represents the lowest threshold for considering a staging LND as adequate. More extended LND should be pursued if unfavourable clinical and pathological characteristics are evident at diagnosis and/or during surgery.

When to perform lymph node dissection in patients with renal cell carcinoma: a novel approach to the preoperative assessment of risk of lymph node invasion at surgery and of lymph node progression during follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To identify preoperatively patients who might benefit from lymph node dissection (LND). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed lymph node invasion (LNI) at final pathology and lymph node (LN) progression during the follow-up for 1983 patients with RCC, treated with either partial or radical nephrectomy. LN progression was defined as the onset of a new clinically detected lymphadenopathy (>10 mm) in the retroperitoneal lymphatic area. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the effect of each potential clinical predictor (age, body mass index, tumour side, symptoms, performance status, clinical tumour size, clinical tumour-node-metastasis stage, and albumin, calcium, creatinine, haemoglobin and platelet levels) on the outcome of interest. The most parsimonious multivariable predictive model was developed, and discrimination, calibration and net benefit were calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of LNI was 6.1% (120/1983 patients) and during the follow-up period, 82 patients (4.1%) experienced LN progression. On multivariable analyses, the most informative independent predictors were tumour stage (cT3-4 vs cT1-2, odds ratio [OR] 1.52, P = 0.05), clinical nodal status [cN1 vs cN0, OR 7.09, P < 0.001], metastases at diagnosis (OR 3.04, P < 0.001) and clinical tumour size (OR 1.14, P < 0.001). The accuracy of the multivariable model was found to be 86.9%, with excellent calibration and net benefit at decision-curve analyses. CONCLUSIONS: By relying on a unique approach, combining the risk of harbouring LNI and/or LN progression during the follow-up period, we have provided the first clinical presurgery model predicting the need for LND.

Effect of number and location of distant metastases on renal cell carcinoma mortality in candidates for cytoreductive nephrectomy: implications for multimodal therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether the combination of number and location of distant metastases affects cancer-specific survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: Overall, 242 metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients with synchronous metastases at diagnosis underwent cytoreductive nephrectomy at a single institution. Combinations of number and location of distant metastases were coded as: single metastasis and single organ affected, multiple metastases and single organ affected, single metastasis for each of the multiple organs affected, and multiple metastases for each of the multiple organs affected. Covariates included age, symptoms, performance status, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, tumor size, Fuhrman grade, T stage, lymph node status, necrosis, sarcomatoid features and metastasectomy at the time of nephrectomy. RESULTS: The median survival was 34.7 versus 32.3 versus 29.6 versus 8.5 months for single metastasis and single organ affected, multiple metastases and single organ affected single metastasis for each of the multiple organs affected, and multiple metastases for each of the multiple organs affected patients, respectively. At multivariable analyses, the combination of number and location of distant metastases resulted in one of the most informative and independent predictors of cancer-specific survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients. The lung was the location with the highest rate of single organ affected (50.3% vs 35.1% in other sites; P < 0.001). Considering only patients with a single metastasis, no statistically significantly different cancer-specific survival rates were recorded (P > 0.3) among different metastatic organs. CONCLUSIONS: Among metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy, the combination of the number and location of distant metastases is a major independent predictor of cancer-specific survival. Patients with multiple organs affected by multifocal disease are more likely to have poorer survival.

Haemospermia in the Real- Life Setting: A New High-Risk Stratification.

OBJECTIVE: To (i) identify a novel risk stratification for patients complaining of haemospermia; and, (ii) compare its predictive ability to select high-risk patients by retrospectively validating the EAU guidelines classification. METHODS: Data from 283 consecutive patients complaining of a single episode/recurrent haemospermia were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified into low vs high-risk according to EAU guidelines, whose diagnostic performance was then validated. We identified a new risk stratification model based on clinical factors associated with (i) positive semen culture and (ii) prostate cancer (PCa) and bladder cancer (BC). Diagnostic accuracy of the two predictive models (EAU vs New) was assessed and decision curve analyses (DCA) tested their clinical benefit. RESULTS: Overall, 259 (91.5%) were high-risk and 24 (8.5%) low risk according to the EAU guidelines. Recurrent haemospermia was reported by 134 (47.4%) patients. 126 (44.5%) had baseline CCI score ≥ 1. At MVA logistic regression analysis, history of recurrent genito - urinary tract infections was identified as a predictor for positive semen culture (OR: 3.39, 95% CI: 1.77 - 6.57, P =.002). Likewise, baseline CCI ≥ 1 was identified as a predictor for PCa and BC (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.17 - 2.04, P =.009). Sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of the EAU guidelines were 13.3%, 89.2% and 51% respectively, whereas the new model performed substantially better: 98.9%, 58% and 78% respectively. CONCLUSION: The application of the EAU guidelines risk stratification does not ensure proper identification of high-risk patients complaining of haemospermia. We propose a novel, better performing and easily implementable risk stratification tool.

Delay in seeking medical help in patients with new-onset erectile dysfunction remained high over and despite the PDE5 era--an ecological study.

INTRODUCTION: It is common knowledge among researchers that erectile dysfunction (ED) is an important sentinel marker of cardiovascular and overall men's health. AIM: Determine whether the delay of time between ED onset and seeking medical help (DSH), considered as a proxy of awareness of the importance of ED for overall men's health, has shortened during the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5) era. METHODS: Complete data from 619 patients seeking first medical help for new-onset ED as their primary disorder between July 2000 and July 2010 were analyzed (i.e., DSH, ED severity as defined by the International Index of Erectile Function-erectile function [IIEF-EF] domain score, patient's awareness of any PDE5, and Charlson Comorbidity Index [CCI]). Analysis of variance tested DSH throughout the 10-year time frame. Cox regression models tested the association between predictors and DSH. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assess if DSH has shortened throughout PDE5 era. Evaluate potential predictors of DSH. RESULTS: Overall, mean DSH was 30.2 months (median 12.0; range 5-300 months). DSH shortened throughout the analyzed 10-year period (F = 1.918; P = 0.047), with a significant drop only from year 2009 (DSH up to year 2008 vs. from year 2009: 31.0 months [12.0] vs. 7.5 months [6.0], respectively; P < 0.001). Age, CCI, educational status, and ED severity did not significantly change over time. As a whole, 560 patients (90.5%) were aware of PDE5 at the time of their first office visit. PDE5 awareness emerged as an univarible and multivariable predictor of a shortened DSH. Conversely, DSH was not clearly associated with age, CCI, educational status, or ED severity. CONCLUSIONS: Delay in seeking medical help in new-onset ED patients remained high over the PDE5 era, with a significant drop only from the year 2009. PDE5 awareness emerged as an independent predictor of shortening of this delay.

Can We Rely Solely on the International Prostate Symptoms Score to Investigate Storage Symptoms in Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated with Benign Prostatic Enlargement? Findings from a Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Discrepancies exist between patient-reported storage phase symptoms severity and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) scores. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the Overactive Bladder questionnaire (OABq) can detect further storage phase lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among patients complaining solely of voiding LUTS based on the IPSS questionnaire, and to address the real-life impact of voiding LUTS towards patients' quality of life (QoL). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data from 233 consecutive men seeking medical help for LUTS/benign prostate enlargement for the first time were analysed. All patients completed both the OABq and the IPSS questionnaire. In order to investigate patients with predominantly voiding phase symptoms, men with storage phase symptoms at IPSS were eventually excluded from the analysis. Patients with an OABq score of ≥40 were considered as those having moderate-to-severe storage LUTS. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics and linear regression models tested the associations between OABq scores, IPSS, and IPSS-QoL. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: OABq scores were higher in men with severe voiding symptoms than in men with mild voiding symptoms (p < 0.001). More than half of patients with predominant voiding symptoms, according to the IPSS questionnaire, depicted a pathologic OABq score. A higher rate of pathologic OABq scores was found in men with moderate/severe voiding symptoms than in those with mild scores (67.4% vs 49.6%, p < 0.001). At multivariable analysis, younger age (beta -0.1, p < 0.01), IPSS voiding subscore (beta 0.3, p < 0.001), and OABq score ≥40 (beta 1.1, p < 0.001) emerged as independent predictors of IPSS-QoL after accounting for prostate volume and flow max. CONCLUSIONS: The OABq can detect the presence of further storage phase LUTS in patients presenting solely with voiding LUTS and IPSS suggestive of voiding phase symptoms. In addition, the OABq was associated with worse patient QoL regardless of the severity of voiding symptoms. PATIENT SUMMARY: The Overactive Bladder questionnaire (OABq) is able to detect the presence of additional storage lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients presenting solely with voiding LUTS according to the IPSS questionnaire. Moreover, the OABq is associated with worse quality of life in these patients regardless of the severity of voiding symptoms.

Is It Compulsory to Investigate for Erectile Dysfunction in Patients Presenting for Low Urinary Tract Symptoms?

BACKGROUND: Current European Association of Urology guidelines suggest investigation of erectile dysfunction (ED) among patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) whenever there is a clinical suspicion. OBJECTIVE: To assess factors predictive of ED, which may drive the need for a clinical assessment in men only presenting for LUTS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data from 914 men presenting for LUTS at a single-center outpatient clinic and without a previous diagnosis of ED were analyzed. INTERVENTION: All patients completed the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) and the International Index of Erectile Function-erectile function (IIEF-EF) questionnaires. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Logistic regression analyses tested potential predictors of ED and severe ED. The accuracy of the predictive models was assessed, and decision curve analyses (DCAs) tested their clinical benefit. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The median baseline IPSS score was 12 (7-19). IIEF-EF scores suggestive of unreported ED were observed in 503 (55%) patients; of all, 251 (27%) men showed severe ED. At logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04; p<0.001), IPSS score (OR: 1.04; p<0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.37; p=0.02), and smoking history (OR 1.36; p=0.03) were associated with unreported ED, after accounting for body mass index, hypertension, other cardiovascular diseases, and dyslipidemia. The same factors were associated with severe ED (all p≤0.03). The predictive model including these variables showed good accuracy for predicting ED (areas under the curve 0.69 and 0.72, respectively). However, DCAs showed no greater clinical benefit regarding identifying which patients should actually be screened for ED using these variables versus screening all patients with LUTS. Conversely, the net clinical benefit of the tested model was higher when predicting severe ED. As a limitation, we could not check prospectively the clinical impact of detecting ED in LUTS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Given the importance of ED in terms of overall men's health, segregating patients to be investigated or not for ED according to the traditional risk factors did not emerge more clinically useful than screening all patients presenting for LUTS. PATIENT SUMMARY: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are frequently associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). Patients presenting for LUTS only in the everyday clinical practice should always be screened for ED and managed accordingly.

Extensive Assessment of Underlying Etiological Factors in Primary Infertile Men Reduces the Proportion of Men With Idiopathic Infertility.

Objective: Up to 40% of infertile men remain without a recognized cause (i.e., idiopathic infertility). We aimed to identify, categorize, and report the supposed causes of male infertility in a cohort of white-European men presenting for primary couple's infertility, by using a thorough and extensive baseline diagnostic work-up. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study of 1,174 primary infertile men who underwent a thorough diagnostic work-up including: detailed medical history, physical examination, hormonal assessment, genetic testing, semen analyses; semen and urine cultures; testis color Duplex US. Men without any identified causal factor were considered as idiopathic. Six different etiological categories were established, and their prevalence was estimated. Logistic regression models estimated the risk of missing causal identification. Results: A possible causal factor was identified in 928 (81%) men. Hypogonadism was the most frequent identified cause (37%), followed by varicocele (27%). Genetic abnormalities were found in 5% of patients. A causal factor was more easily identifiable for the more severe infertility cases, and azoospermic men were those less likely to be defined as idiopathic (OR and 95% CIs: 0.09; 0.04-0.20). Relative proportion of identified causes remained constant during the 10-year study period (p>0.43). Conclusions: Due to a more comprehensive and extensive diagnostic work-up, at least one underlying cause of male infertility factor in 4 out of 5 infertile men can be identified. Men with a less severe phenotype remain a clinical challenge in terms of establishing a possible etiologic factor. Further studies are needed to assess which subset of infertile men deserves a more extensive work-up.

Patients presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms who most deserve to be investigated for primary bladder neck obstruction.

We aimed to investigate clinical features potentially useful in primary bladder neck obstruction (PBNO) diagnosis in men presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Data from 1229 men presenting for LUTS as their primary complaint at a single centre were retrospectively analysed. All patients underwent a comprehensive medical and physical assessment, and completed the International Prostate Symptoms Score. All patients were investigated with uroflowmetry, and trans-rectal ultrasound imaging to define prostate volume. Urodynamic evaluation was performed when the diagnosis of benign prostatic enlargement was not confirmed and the patient presented a significant chance of detrusor overactivity or underactivity. As per our internal protocol, patients < 60 years old with bothersome LUTS and > 60 years with a prostate volume (PV) < 40 mL were also investigated with urethrocystoscopy to rule out urethral stricture. Logistic regression analysis tested clinical predictors of possible PBNO. Of 1229 patients, 136 (11%) featured a clinical profile which was consistent with PBNO. Overall, these patients were younger (p < 0.0001), had lower BMI (p < 0.0001), less comorbidities (p = 0.004) and lower PSA values (p < 0.0001), but worse IPSS scores (p = 0.01) and lower PV values (p < 0.0001) compared to patients with other-aetiology LUTS. At multivariable analysis, younger age (OR 0.90; p = 0.003) and higher IPSS scores (OR 1.12; p = 0.01) were more likely to be associated with this subset of patients, after accounting for other clinical variables. One out of ten young/middle-aged men presenting for LUTS may be affected from PBNO. Younger patients with more severe LUTS systematically deserve an extensive assessment to rule out PBNO, thus including urethrocystoscopy and urodynamics with voiding-cysto-urethrogram.

Trends in reported male sexual dysfunction over the past decade: an evolving landscape.

We investigated changes in patterns of reported male SDs at a single academic centre over a 10-year time frame. Comprehensive data of 2013 patients consecutively assessed for the first time by a single Sexual Medicine expert between 2006 and 2019 has been analysed. All patients were assessed with a thorough sexual and medical history. Primary reason for seeking medical help at first assessment was recorded for all patients and categorized as: erectile dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation (PE), low/reduced sexual desire/interest (LSD/I), Peyronie's disease (PD), and other SDs. Linear and logistic regression models tested the association between different reasons for seeking medical help and the time at first evaluation. Local polynomial regression model explored the probability of reporting different SDs over the analysed time frame. Median (IQR) age at first clinical assessment was 50 (38-61) years. Overall, most patients were assessed for ED (824; 41%), followed by PD (369; 18%), PE (322; 16%), LSD/I (204; 10%) and other SDs (294; 15%). Significant changes in terms of reported SD over the analysed time frame were observed. The likelihood of assessing patients for ED significantly increased up to 2013, with a decrease in the past 5 years (p < 0.001). PE assessment at presentation linearly decreased over time (OR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.91-0.96; p < 0.001). Patients assessed during the past few years were more likely to report PD (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.15-1.25; p < 0.001) and LSD/I (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.16-1.26; p < 0.001), with a linear increase over the evaluated time frame. Likewise, patients were also more likely to report other SDs (Coeff: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.10; p = 0.004), with a linear increase over time. These results may reflect real changes in SD incidence, increased public awareness towards different SDs and the possible impact of novel treatments available on the market throughout the same time frame.

Perioperative and oncologic outcomes of open radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava thrombectomy with liver mobilization and Pringle maneuver for Mayo III level tumor thrombus: single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Scarce data are available regarding the technique and outcomes for patients with RCC and Mayo III caval thrombi. The aim of this study was to report surgical and oncological outcomes of RCC patients with Mayo III thrombi treated with radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy after liver mobilization (LM) and Pringle maneuver (PM). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of surgical technique, outcomes and cancer control in 19 patients undergoing LM and PM in a single tertiary care institution were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 78% of the patients had performance status ECOG 1 and 58% had a Comorbidity Index >2. Median surgical time was 305 minutes (IQR 264-440). Intraoperative complications were reported for 39% of patients and postoperative complications for 58% (only grade 1 and 2). Intensive Care Unit support was necessary in 16% of the cases. Median length of hospital stay was 9 days (IQR: 7-11). Thirty- and 90-day mortality were 5% and 15%. Two-year overall survival and cancer-specific survival were 60% and 62%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We reported surgical techniques, intra- and perioperative complications and follow-up in the largest cohort of RCC patients requiring LM and PM.

Leukocytospermia is not an informative predictor of positive semen culture in infertile men: results from a validation study of available guidelines.

STUDY QUESTION: Are the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines for performing semen culture accurate enough for detecting a positive semen culture in Caucasian-European infertile men? SUMMARY ANSWER: The majority (80%) of asymptomatic infertile men with a positive sperm culture may miss a proper diagnostic assessment when relying on EAU guidelines; no single parameter can assist in medical decision-making. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The EAU guidelines suggest performing semen culture in case of increased leukocytes in semen (>106 peroxidase positive white blood cells/ml, i.e. leukocytospermia). STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: A cross-sectional validation study including 523 infertile men was carried out during 2010-2018. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: Infertile men who were asymptomatic for genital infections were enrolled at a single academic center, and a semen culture was obtained in every case. A concentration of >103 cfu/ml urinary tract pathogens in the ejaculate was considered indicative of significant bacteriospermia. Semen analysis values were assessed on the basis of 2010 World Health Organization reference criteria. EAU guidelines for semen culture were used to predict positive semen culture in our cohort and thus validated. Moreover, we tested the predictive performance and accuracy of several clinical parameters and compared them to EAU guidelines. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: A positive semen culture was found in 54 men (10%). The application of EAU guidelines would have missed 43 out of 54 (80%) positive semen cultures with 120/131 (92%) useless examinations. EAU guidelines specificity, sensitivity and discrimination were 74%, 20% and 47%, respectively. When trying to improve positive semen culture prediction, we were unable to find any informative baseline parameter except for serum neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (odds ratio 1.70 (95% CI 1.04-2.77)), although without any improvement in terms of discrimination (P = 0.10). LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: The study was limited by the lack of a control group of fertile men its retrospective nature. Moreover, monoclonal antibodies were not used for leukocyte assessment. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Since it is not possible to identify infertile men at risk of semen infection, further studies are needed to tailor the execution of semen culture. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: No funding was received for this study. There are no competing interests.

Renal sinus fat invasion in pT3a clear cell renal cell carcinoma affects outcomes of patients without nodal involvement or distant metastases.

PURPOSE: According to the 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM classification, perinephric and renal sinus fat invasion are classified as pT3a renal cell carcinoma. However, only a few studies have assessed the impact of sinus fat invasion on patient survival and with controversial results. We analyzed the impact of sinus fat invasion on cancer specific survival in a cohort of patients with pT3a clear cell renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data on 115 consecutive patients treated with open radical nephrectomy for unilateral, sporadic pT3a clear cell renal cell carcinoma at our department from 1989 to 2006. All pathological specimens were rereviewed by a single uropathologist. The prognostic role of sinus fat invasion in cancer specific survival was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: Ten patients had direct ipsilateral adrenal invasion and were excluded from analysis. A total of 105 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma were evaluated. Median followup was 38 months. In the overall population sinus fat invasion did not reach independent predictive status in terms of cancer specific survival on multivariate Cox regression analysis after adjusting for age, performance status, tumor dimension, tumor grade, synchronous metastases, nodal involvement, sarcomatoid differentiation and coagulative necrosis. In the subset of patients with pNx/pN0 M0 (83) the actuarial 5-year cancer specific survival was 71.9% and 45.5% for those with perinephric fat invasion only and sinus fat invasion, respectively (p = 0.025). Sinus fat invasion achieved an independent predictive role on multivariable Cox regression analysis (p = 0.048, HR 2.06). CONCLUSIONS: Sinus fat invasion in clear cell renal cell carcinoma significantly affects cancer specific survival in patients without nodal or distant metastases. However, sinus fat invasion is not associated with worse cancer specific survival in cases of metastatic disease.

Is sperm banking of interest to patients with nongerm cell urological cancer before potentially fertility damaging treatments?

PURPOSE: We assessed the opinions of patients with nongerm cell urological cancer on sperm banking before undergoing surgical or nonsurgical therapy that could potentially endanger subsequent fertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2007 and July 2008, 753 patients visited a urological office and were invited to complete a brief self-administered questionnaire to assess opinions on sperm banking before undergoing any eventual therapy potentially dangerous for male fertility. Logistic regression models tested the association between predictors (age, educational level, relationship status, previous fatherhood and benign disorder vs nongerm cell urological cancer) and patient wishes for sperm banking. RESULTS: Median patient age was 65 years (mean 61.6, range 18 to 76). Overall 522 patients (69.3%) had nongerm cell urological cancer and only 242 (32.1%) were in favor of pretreatment sperm banking. On univariate analysis age (OR 0.961, p <0.001), a stable relationship (OR 0.486, p <0.001) and previous fatherhood (OR 0.390, p <0.001) were inversely associated with the wish for sperm banking, whereas having cancer and educational status were not significantly correlated. Multivariate analysis indicated that aging (OR 0.966, p = 0.001) and previous fatherhood (OR 0.587, p = 0.029) maintained inverse associations. Having urological cancer was positively (OR 1.494, p = 0.045) associated with the wish for sperm banking. CONCLUSIONS: In urological patients there is a low rate of willingness to bank sperm before any potential fertility damaging therapeutic approach. Having nongerm cell urological cancer is an independent predictor that is positively associated with the wish to bank sperm. It is vitally important to provide comprehensive information about pretreatment sperm banking to young adults with nongerm cell urological cancer.