Antidepressant nonadherence and sexual dysfunction among young adult males: the cross-sectional YAMAN study.

PURPOSE: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are associated with high rates of nonadherence and sexual dysfunction, yet the correlation between these findings in young adult men is poorly characterized. We aimed to evaluate if young adult men are less willing to adhere to antidepressant treatment due to intolerable side effects, such as sexual dysfunction. METHODS: Deidentified, compensated survey that assessed baseline demographics, PHQ-8 and GAD-7 scores, attitudes towards antidepressant medication side effects, and perceptions of antidepressant medications including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, bupropion, and mirtazapine. RESULTS: From 665 delivered surveys, 505 respondents completed their survey (response rate: 76%), of which 486 were included for final analysis. After seeing common side effect profiles, our sample's willingness to take sexual function-sparing agents, such as bupropion or mirtazapine, was significantly greater than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (p < 0.001), with no significant difference between bupropion and mirtazapine (p = 0.263). The negative influence of erectile dysfunction and anorgasmia scored significantly higher than other common antidepressant side effects like weight gain, nausea, and dry mouth (range: p < 0.001, p = 0.043). With the exception of insomnia, participants indicated that experiencing sexual dysfunction while taking an antidepressant medication would lead to nonadherence at a significantly higher frequency than any other side effect assessed (range: p < 0.001, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The risk of experiencing sexual side effects when taking antidepressants could lead young adult men to become nonadherent to these medications. Strategies to augment the effectiveness of antidepressants, such as shared decision-making and the use of sexual function-sparing agents, are critical.

Palliative Care for Pediatric Urology.

Palliative care in the field of urology has largely been limited to adult oncologic conditions. Although there is a plethora of established literature suggesting the advantageous impact of palliative care, there is limited integration of palliative care in adult urology. This underutilization is further exacerbated in pediatric urology, and palliative care in pediatric urology remains an underexplored area despite the prevalence of several life-limiting conditions in this patient population. This paper highlights the potential need for palliative care intervention in a variety of urologic conditions in the pediatric population, including congenital lower urinary tract obstruction, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, exstrophy-epispadias complex, and congenital bilateral renal agenesis. Each condition poses unique challenges that can be addressed with the inclusion of a palliative care team, including decision-making spanning prenatal-neonatal-pediatric periods, acute and chronic symptom management, family relations, body image issues, risk of recurrent hospitalizations and surgeries, and potentially fatal complications. Alongside standard urologic interventions, palliative care can serve as an additional means of addressing physical and psychosocial symptoms experienced by pediatric urology patients to enhance the quality of life of patients and their families.

When to address form and when to address function: Timing of surgical reconstruction for a patient with 46 XY DSD.

Differences of sexual development (DSD) refers to congenital conditions characterized by discordant appearances of external genitalia with respect to sex chromosomes. We present a case of a 46 XY DSD adolescent with bilateral undescended testes and severe scrotolabial anomalies who was lost to follow-up for several years who recently presented with "recurrent UTIs." Although the patient desired immediate reconstruction to void while standing, shared-decision making was used to first address his bilateral cryptorchidism, with plans to delay other reconstruction until the patient is older. Pediatric patients with DSD have complicated medical and surgical problems and require a collaborative multidisciplinary team.

Prevalence of opioid and benzodiazepine use in adult patients with the exstrophy-epispadias complex.

INTRODUCTION: Bladder exstrophy (BE), cloacal exstrophy (CE), and epispadias (E) are variants of the exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC). These children require opioids and benzodiazepines to achieve pain management and immobilization for a lifetime of surgeries. It is hypothesized that these children would be sensitized to opiates and benzodiazepines as adults. The objective was to identify incidence of opiate and benzodiazepine use in adult EEC patients. METHODS: A US Health network, TriNetX Diamond was queried from 2009 to 2022. Incidence of prescriptions for benzodiazepines and opioids were calculated for adults aged 18-60 years with a diagnosis of BE, CE, or E. RESULTS: A total of 2627 patients were identified: 337 with CE, 1854 patients with BE, and 436 with E. Of these, 55.5% of CE, 56.4% of BE, and 41.1% of E had received any opioid prescription. Non-EEC controls had lower rates of opioids at 0.3%. E had a lower likelihood than BE or CE of receiving opioids (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001). Benzodiazepines were prescribed in 30.3% of CE, 24.4% of BE, 18.3% of E, and 0.1% of controls. CE had a higher likelihood of benzodiazepines than both BE and E (p = 0.022, p < 0.001, respectively). E group had the lowest likelihood of benzodiazepine prescription (p = 0.007 when compared to BE) and all groups were significantly higher than controls (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). For BE, females were more likely to be prescribed opioids (p = 0.039) and benzodiazepines (p = 0.027) than males. Sub-analyses revealed BE females had higher rates of surgical procedures (general, cardiac, gastrointestinal, and maternity) and chronic diagnoses (generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, chronic pain) compared to males with BE. Older age was associated with higher likelihood of opioid or benzodiazepine prescriptions in BE (p < 0.001), CE (p = 0.004), and E (p = 0.002). DISCUSSION: Across the EEC, adult patients with the most severe anomalies of CE were more likely to have received opioids and benzodiazepines. Females with BE were prescribed more opioid and benzodiazepines than males with BE. Mirroring the US population, female sex and increasing age were associated with higher rates of prescriptions, chronic diagnoses, and surgical procedures. Limitations include the lack of granular data and ability to correlate results with childhood surgeries. CONCLUSION: Adult EEC patients have higher rates of opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions, with a high percentage of co-prescribing when compared to healthy controls. Across the spectrum, those with more severe anomalies, female sex, and increasing age were more likely to have received prescriptions.

Robotic-Assisted Augmented Roof Ureteroplasty With Appendiceal Onlay Flap.

BACKGROUND: Mid-to-proximal ureteral strictures pose a surgical challenge that historically required ileal ureter substitution, downward nephropexy, or renal autotransplantation. Ureteral reconstruction techniques involving buccal mucosa or appendix have gained traction with success rates approaching 90%. OBJECTIVES: In this video we describe surgical technique for a robotic-assisted augmented roof ureteroplasty using an appendiceal onlay flap. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our patient is a 45-year-old male with recurrent impacted ureteral stones requiring multiple right-sided interventions including ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy, ureteral dilation, and laser incision of ureteral stricture. Despite adequate treatment of his stone disease, he had deterioration of his renal split function with worsening right hydroureteronephrosis to the level of the mid-to-proximal ureter consistent with failed endoscopic management of his stricture. We proceeded with simultaneous endoscopic evaluation and robotic repair with plan for either ureteroureterostomy or augmented roof ureteroplasty using buccal mucosa or an appendiceal flap. RESULTS: Reteroscopy and retrograde pyelogram revealed a 2-3 cm near-obliterative stricture in the mid-to-proximal ureter. The ureteroscope was left in situ and the patient was placed in the modified flank position to allow concurrent endoscopic access during reconstruction. The right colon was reflected revealing significant scar tissue overlying the ureter. With the ureteroscope in situ, we utilized firefly imaging to aid in our dissection. The ureter was spatulated and mucosa of the diseased segment of ureter excised in a nontransecting manner. The mucosal edges of the posterior ureter were re-approximated with the ureteral backing left in place. Intraoperatively, we identified a healthy, robust appearing appendix and thus planned for an appendiceal onlay flap. If an atretic or diseased appendix was encountered, a buccal mucosa graft with omental wrap would be utilized. The appendix was harvested on its mesentery, spatulated, and interposed in a pro-peristaltic fashion. A tension-free anastomosis was performed between ureteral mucosa and the open appendix flap. A double-J stent was placed under direct vision and Indocyanine Green (ICG) green was used to evaluate blood supply to the margins of the ureter and the appendix flap. The stent was removed 6 weeks postoperatively, and on 3-month follow-up imaging he had resolution of his right hydroureteronephrosis and has had no further episodes of stone formation, infections, or flank pain with 8-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Augmented roof ureteroplasty with appendiceal onlay is a valuable tool in the urologists arsenal of reconstructive techniques. Use of intraoperative ureteroscopy with firefly imaging can aid in delineating anatomy during difficult ureteral dissections.

Neurosynergy: an animated documentary exploring the synergistic capabilities of art, science, and medicine.

Neurosynergy is an award-winning animated documentary film focussed on the convergence of art, science, and medicine. It highlights Dr. Joel Schechter, a retired medical instructor who has been drawing and teaching medical students for several years. The use of animated documentaries has great potential in connecting viewers with lived experiences of individuals.

Drawing on medical school experiences.

As a medical student, engagement with the medical humanities allowed me to express myself, reflect on experiences, and share my inner thoughts and feelings. Drawing has played a critical role in my life both casually and professionally. It has helped me study anatomy and how the human body works, connect with others, and find a collaborative community. From scrutinising over detailed Netter anatomical drawings to creating my own graphic medicine pieces, the arts and humanities bolster my medical education to become a more well-rounded and competent physician for my future patients.

Frontline provider perceptions of implementing home-based palliative care covered by an insurer.

OBJECTIVE: To examine frontline providers' experiences implementing home-based palliative care (HBPC) covered by a private health insurer in partnership with community-based hospice, home health, and Accountable Care Organizations. STUDY SETTING: Primary data collection at three community-based hospice and home health organizations in Northern and Southern California at the outset of the new private payer-contracted HBPC. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative focus groups with frontline HBPC providers. DATA COLLECTION: Focus groups were guided by a nine-item, semi-structured research protocol, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by two independent coders using a grounded theory approach. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Participants (n = 24) were mostly White (79.2%) female (91.7%) aged 39 years or less (62.5%), and from diverse disciplines. Three major themes were identified: (1) patient referrals, (2) organizational factors, and (3) HBPC reimbursement. Findings highlight barriers and facilitators to implementing HBPC covered by an insurer including the organization's community reputation, the dynamic/"teaminess" of the HBPC team, having a site champion/"quarterback," and issues from a siloed medical system. Participants also discussed challenges with patient referrals, specifically, lack of palliative care knowledge (both providers and patients/families) and poor communication with patients referred to HBPC. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that despite a favorable perception of payer-contracted HBPC by frontline providers, barriers and facilitators persist, with patient accrual/referral paramount.