Outcome analysis of patients with Peyronie's disease who elect for vacuum erection device therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Peyronie's disease (PD) affects approximately 0.7-11% of men and has numerous proposed treatments. Invasive management options include surgical or injectable therapy, while penile traction therapy with vacuum erection device (VED) represents a non-invasive approach. Our objective is to assess outcomes for patients with PD who opt for non-invasive management. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis for patients with PD who were followed for at least three months and opted for noninvasive therapy. All patients were instructed to initiate VED traction therapy for 10 minutes twice per day. Patients were assessed for degree of PD deformity and erectile function (Sexual Health Inventory for Men [SHIM] score) at initial and subsequent encounters. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 57 (12) years, and the mean (SD) duration of PD prior to assessment was 25 (15) months. The mean (SD) duration of followup was 14 (11) months. Among untreated patients who did not use a VED, nine showed improvement, 20 remained stable, and four had worsening curvature. The untreated group had a significant change in curvature, with a mean improvement (SD) of 3.6 (12)° (p=0.048). All 20 men who initiated VED traction therapy had an improvement in curvature with a significant mean (SD) improvement of 23 (16)° (p=2.6×10-6). Changes in SHIM scores did vary significantly between groups. No complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who opt for non-invasive management of PD, VED traction therapy provides improved curvature resolution compared to those who do not use such a device. The limitations of this study include the retrospective nature and a small sample size at a single treatment center.

The effects of combined free radical scavenger and sildenafil therapy on age-associated erectile dysfunction: An animal model.

INTRODUCTION: Aging results in erectile dysfunction that is partially attributed to decreased nitric oxide (NO) and increased free radical generation. Vitamin E enhances endothelial cell function and acts as a free radical scavenger; however, its benefits on erectile function in the elderly are unknown. AIMS: The aim of the following study is to determine if Vitamin E alone, or in combination with the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor sildenafil, may improve erectile function and the NO signaling in a cohort of aged (13-15 month old) rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 28) were divided based upon age into young (4-5 months old, n = 7) and aged (13-15 months old, n = 21) cohorts. Aged rats were treated with Vitamin E, sildenafil or a combination of both. Penile cavernosal and dorsal nerve tissues were evaluated for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and caveolin-1 expression. Erectile function was assessed through intra-cavernous pressure (ICP) recordings. RESULTS: nNOS and cavoelin-1 were significantly decreased in aged rats compared with young controls. In aged rats, both Vitamin E and sildenafil partially recovered nNOS expression but when combined, a synergistic elevation in nNOS was observed. The significant decreases in ICP recorded in aged rats were improved with sildenafil; however, Vitamin E did not yield any additional improvements in ICP. CONCLUSIONS: Diminished levels of nNOS and caveolin-1 are found in aged rats. When combined with sildenafil, Vitamin E synergistically increased nNOS expression. Since biochemical gains were not realized physiologically, other contributing factors likely exist.

Outpatient tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy and concomitant cystolitholapaxy.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a widely employed endourologic procedure to remove renal stones. Traditionally, PCNL has been performed on an inpatient basis, with patients routinely hospitalized postoperatively. Given the ongoing rising healthcare costs, a shift toward outpatient surgery is desirable. We report the case of a 21-year-old female who was safely discharged a few hours following uncomplicated tubeless PCNL and concomitant cystolitholapaxy for a stent with encrustation on its distal coil. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published case of tubeless PCNL with concomitant cystolitholapaxy performed on an entirely outpatient basis.

A single-center study examining the outcomes of percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration in the treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive azoospermia (OA) is characterized by normal spermatogenesis and the absence of sperm in the ejaculate. Variable success rates have been reported using in-vitro fertilization (IVF) combined with PESA in cases of men with OA. AIMS: To determine fertilization and pregnancy outcomes from PESA-derived spermatozoa and to ascertain whether frozen spermatozoa yields similar outcomes compared to fresh specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The charts of 68 consecutive couples undergoing 68 cycles of sperm retrieval for OA over eight years (2002-2010) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients requiring testicular intervention were excluded (n = 17). RESULTS: Viable sperms were identified in 100% of men, and fresh spermatozoa were obtained in 40 patients (78.4%) simultaneously with female egg retrieval. The average fertilization rate was 77.7% with five embryos not surviving to transfer (12.5%). Pregnancies were confirmed in 48.6% (17/35). Twin gestations occurred in 11.8% (2/17) of cases. Frozen-thawed spermatozoa were used in 11 patients (21.6%). In this subgroup, the average fertilization rate was 73.6% with pregnancies confirmed in 54.5% (6/11). No multiple gestations were generated, and no complications occurred. The use of fresh spermatozoa for PESA provided no significant improvements in outcomes over frozen specimens. SUMMARY: PESA is a very effective, simple, and safe method of obtaining spermatozoa for IVF. Outcomes obtained using fresh and frozen PESA-derived spermatozoa were similar and as such, either could be used during the IVF process.

Isodicentric Yq mosaicism presenting as infertility and maturation arrest without altered SRY and AZF regions.

The isodicentric Y (idic Y) chromosome is one of the most common aberrations of the human Y chromosome. Due to a structural instability during cell division, patients with idic Y may develop mosaic karyotypes with variable phenotypes. We present a rare case of a 25-year-old male with azoospermia and infertility. In this patient, an idic Yq was characterized by duplication of almost the entire Y chromosome in head-to-head fashion with breakpoints occurring at the distal Yp / Yp11.3 with sparing of both the AZF and SRY regions. We discuss the possible mechanisms of azoospermia in this patient and add to the limited evidence that exists regarding the importance of pseudoautosomal regions and meiotic sex chromosome pairing as part of normal spermatogenesis.