The efficacy of platelet rich plasma in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common issue among males, and the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for treating ED has gained increasing attention, but there is still no conclusive evidence regarding its efficacy. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of PRP therapy for ED. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases up to November 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on PRP therapy for ED. We used Review Manager version 5.4 for data analysis and management. RESULT: After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria for screening, a total of 4 studies involving 413 patients were finally included in our meta-analysis. According to our analysis, the PRP group showed significant advantages over the placebo group in terms of MCID at the first month (p = 0.03) and sixth months (p = 0.008), while there was no significant difference between the two groups at the third month (p = 0.19). Additionally, in terms of IIEF, PRP showed significantly better efficacy than placebo at the first, third, and sixth months (p < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: PRP shows more effectiveness in treating ED compared to placebo, offering hope as a potential alternative treatment for ED.

The pooled analysis evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of desmopressin combined with anticholinergic drugs in the treatment of pediatric nocturnal enuresis.

OBJECTIVE: This pooled analysis aims to demonstrate the clinical efficacy and safety of combined desmopressin and anticholinergic therapy in the treatment of pediatric nocturnal enuresis (NE). METHODS: A systematic search was conducted through PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, ResearchGate, and Cochrane Library to identify all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing monotherapy with desmopressin versus combined therapy with desmopressin and anticholinergic agents for the treatment of NE. Data analysis was performed using RevMan version 5.4.1. RESULTS: This study included 8 RCTs involving a total of 659 patients. The frequencies of complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and nonresponse (NR) were computed for both short-term treatment (1 month) and long-term treatment (3 months). Additionally, alterations in the mean number of NE episodes, adverse events, and relapse were assessed. Our analysis indicates that, in comparison to the monotherapy group, the combination therapy group plays a pivotal role in augmenting the CR odds and diminishing the NR ratios in both short-term and long-term treatments (1 month CR ratio [risk ratio (RR): 1.84; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-2.76; p = 0.003, I2 = 72%]; 3 months CR ratio [RR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.25-1.76; p < 0.00001, I2 = 0%]; 1 month NR ratio [RR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.55-0.82; p = 0.0001, I2 = 0%]; 3 months CR ratio [RR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.19-0.73; p = 0.004, I2 = 0%]). Furthermore, in both short-term and long-term treatment, the combined therapy group exhibits a greater magnitude of change in the average number of NE episodes compared to patients receiving monotherapy (1 month, mean difference [MD] = -2.97; 95% CI: -4.23 to -1.71, p < 0.0001; 3 months, MD = -4.30; 95% CI: -7.18 to -1.43, p = 0.003). Moreover, the combination therapy group exhibits a significant reduction in the recurrence rate (RR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.15-0.86; p = 0.02). There is no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (RR: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.58-2.31; p = 0.67). CONCLUSION: Combining desmopressin with anticholinergic medications is more effective for NE than desmopressin alone, with lower recurrence and minimal adverse effects.

Updated recommendations on the therapeutic role of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for peyronie's disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic role of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for Peyronie's disease (PD) has been controversial in a long term. We aimed to further evaluate the therapeutic effect of ESWT for PD on the basis of available high-quality studies. METHODS: The PubMed, CENTRAL and Embase databases were searched for articles published from January 1st, 2000 to December 31, 2022. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using ESWT to treat PD were included. Meta-analysis and forest plots were carried out using Review Manager 5.4.1 software, and outcomes were reviewed by 2 authors independently. Using the Risk of Bias assessment form (ROB-2) by Cochrane Collaboration for quality assessment. PRISMA 2020 guidelines were used in this article to achieve the quantitative and qualitative synthesis of data. RESULTS: A total of four RCTs were included. 151 patients in the ESWT group and 150 patients in the control group. The meta-analysis results showed that ESWT could significantly reduce plaque size (OR 2.59, 95%CI 1.15 to 5.85, P = 0.02) and relieve pain (MD -1.55, 95%CI -2.46 to -0.64, P = 0.0008); but it has no significant effect on reducing the penile curvature (OR 1.93, 95%CI 0.87-4.26, P = 0.11) and improving sexual function (MD 2.6, 95%CI -1.63 to 6.83, P = 0.23), there is also no significant difference in complication rates between groups (OR 2.94, 95%CI 0.66 to 13.03, P = 0.16). The risk of bias of results is low. The limitations of this study are that the number of included studies is too small, some experimental outcomes are missing, and the expression of outcomes is not unified. CONCLUSIONS: For PD, ESWT can be considered as a safe short-term treatment, which can reduce plaque size and relieve pain, but cannot improve penile curvature and sexual function. Its long-term efficacy remains to be discussed. REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023436744).

A comparative analysis of perioperative complications and biochemical recurrence between standard and extended pelvic lymph node dissection in prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is commonly performed during radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer staging. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze existing evidence compare perioperative complications associated with standard (sPLND) versus extended PLND templates (ePLND) in RP patients. METHODS: A meta-analysis of prospective studies on PLND complications was conducted. Systematic searches were performed on Web of Science, Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library until May 2023. Risk ratios (RRs) were estimated using random-effects models in the meta-analysis. The statistical analysis of the data was carried out using Review Manager software. RESULTS: Nine studies, including three randomized clinical trial and six prospective studies, with a total of 4962 patients were analyzed. The meta-analysis revealed that patients undergoing ePLND had a higher risk of partial perioperative complications, such as lymphedema ( I2 =28%; RR 0.05; 95% CI: 0.01-0.27; P <0.001) and urinary retention ( I2 =0%; RR 0.30; 95% CI: 0.09-0.94; P =0.04) compared to those undergoing sPLND. However, there were no significant difference was observed in pelvic hematoma ( I2 =0%; RR 1.65; 95% CI: 0.44-6.17; P =0.46), thromboembolic ( I2 =57%; RR 0.91; 95% CI: 0.35-2.38; P =0.85), ureteral injury ( I2 =33%; RR 0.28; 95% CI: 0.05-1.52; P =0.14), intraoperative bowel injury ( I2 =0%; RR 0.87; 95% CI: 0.14-5.27; P =0.88), and lymphocele ( I2 =0%; RR 1.58; 95% CI: 0.54-4.60; P =0.40) between sPLND and ePLND. Additionally, no significant difference was observed in overall perioperative complications ( I2 =85%; RR 0.68; 95% CI: 0.40-1.16; P =0.16). Furthermore, ePLND did not significantly reduce biochemical recurrence ( I2 =68%; RR 0.59; 95% CI: 0.28-1.24; P =0.16) of prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: This analysis found no significant differences in overall perioperative complications or biochemical recurrence between sPLND and ePLND, but ePLND may offer enhanced diagnostic advantages by increasing the detection rate of lymph node metastasis.

The Effect of Distraction Techniques on Pain, Fear, and Anxiety in Children Undergoing Circumcision: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Circumcision is a common pediatric operation, and distraction technique can be used as an adjunct analgesic method during the perioperative period. The study aims to explore the effect of distraction techniques on reducing pain, fear, and anxiety in children undergoing circumcision. The PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Embase databases were searched for articles published from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2023. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Meta-analysis and forest plots were carried out using Review Manager 5.4.1 software, and outcomes were reviewed by two authors independently. We used the Risk of Bias assessment form (ROB2) developed by the Cochrane Collaboration to assess the quality of included studies. PRISMA 2020 guidelines were used in this article to achieve the quantitative and qualitative synthesis of data. A total of seven RCTs were included. The intervention group consisted of 417 patients, while the control group had 245 patients. The meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis results showed that the distraction technique could significantly relieve pain (MD -1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [-1.61 to -0.99], p < .00001), fear (SMD -1.04, 95%CI -1.68 to -0.4, p = .001), and anxiety (SMD -1.07, 95%CI [-1.64 to -0.51], p = .0002). Similarly, therapeutic play significant could significantly relieve fear (MD -0.4, 95%CI [-0.71 to -0.1], p = .01) and anxiety (SMD -1.31, 95%CI [-2.59 to -0.04], p = .04), virtual reality (VR) could significantly relieve anxiety (SMD -0.67, 95%CI [-0.98 to -0.37], p < .0001). Distraction techniques can alleviate perioperative pain, fear, and anxiety in children undergoing circumcision.

A novel prognostic predictor of immune microenvironment and therapeutic response in clear cell renal cell carcinoma based on angiogenesis-immune-related gene signature.

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common type of RCC, typically produces no symptoms initially. Patients with ccRCC are at increased risk of developing advanced metastatic disease due to the absence of dependable and effective prognostic biomarkers. Therefore, it is particularly urgent to find optimal stratification of patients with ccRCC to distinguish the clinical benefits of different malignant degrees. Angiogenesis has a profound impact on the malignant behavior of renal cancer cells, and anti-angiogenic drugs have been applied to metastatic renal cancer patients. Moreover, immune function dysregulation is also a significant factor in tumorigenesis. We aim to construct a predictive model that combines angiogenesis and immune-related genes (AIRGs) to aid clinicians in predicting ccRCC prognosis. Methods: We gathered transcriptome and clinicopathology data from two datasets, the E-MTAB-1980 dataset and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We utilized consensus clustering to find new molecular subgroups. A predictive model for the prognosis of angiogenesis-immune-associated genes (AIRGs) was conducted by the lasso and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The signature's predictive ability was then tested in different datasets. Meticulous scrutiny and comprehensive assessment were undertaken, both internally and externally, to establish the prognostic model. Analyses of immunogenomics were carried out to examine the relationship between risk scores and clinical/immune features, including immune cell infiltration, genomic alterations, and response to targeted and immunotherapy therapy. Results: Our prognostic signature, comprising 4 AIRGs, stood as an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC, while risk scores emerged as a novel indicator for forecasting overall survival. Risk scores exhibited significant associations with various immunophenotypic factors, such as oncogenic pathways, antitumor response, different immune cell infiltration, antitumor immunity, and response to targeted and immunotherapy therapy. Conclusions: AIRGs-based prognostic prediction model could effectively predict immunotherapy responses and survival outcomes of ccRCC.

Low expression of PRRG2 in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma: an immune infiltration-associated prognostic biomarker.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the prognostic significance of Proline-rich γ-carboxyglutamic acid protein 2 (PRRG2) in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC), a prevalent and deadly cancer, and its association with immune cell infiltration, a key strategy in developing effective biomarkers. METHODS: The study meticulously elucidated the prognostic significance and potential role of PRRG2 in KIRC, correlating its expression with patient sex, age, metastasis, and pathological stage. Utilizing Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), the involvement of PRRG2 in immune response was investigated. The association between PRRG2 expression and immune cell infiltration was also scrutinized. Ultimately, cellular and tissue identity were confirmed via immunohistochemical staining and quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: The study elucidates a notable decrease in PRRG2 expression in KIRC patients, correlating with demographic factors, metastasis, and pathological staging, and portending an unfavorable prognosis. Bioinformatic analyses underscore PRRG2's role in immune response, with its expression significantly tied to immune cell infiltration and marker expression. CONCLUSION: PRRG2 may potentially impact prognosis in KIRC patients by regulating immune infiltration, thus rendering PRRG2 a promising candidate prognostic biomarker for KIRC-associated immune infiltration.

Identifying molecular subtypes and tumor microenvironment infiltration signatures in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma based on stemness-associated disulfidptosis genes by integrating machine learning, single-cell analyses and experimental validation.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is an aggressive malignant tumor. Disulfidptosis is a new programmed cell death mechanism, which is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of intracellular disulfides that are highly toxic to cells. However, the contribution of disulfidptosis to ccRCC progression has not been fully clarified. In this study, two different molecular subtypes related to disulfidptosis were identified in ccRCC patients by the non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithm. The cluster 1 was characterized by a worse prognosis and higher mRNAsi levels. Then, difference analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were conducted to search modular genes that are highly associated with tumor stemness and tumor microenvironment. Subsequently, a SADG signature containing nine genes was constructed stepwise by WGCNA and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis. The high-risk score group had a worse outcome, and immune regulation and metabolic signatures might be responsible for cancer progression in the high-risk group. After that, a predictive nomogram was constructed, and the predicting power of the risk model was verified using inter and three independent external validation datasets. Nine SADGs were shown to significantly correlate with immune infiltration, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI) and immune checkpoint. In addition, based on the single-cell RNA sequencing dataset (GSE139555), the distribution and expression of nine hub genes in various types of immune cells were analyzed. Finally, the expression level of the nine genes was verified in clinical samples by qRT-PCR.

Low Expression of TSTD2 Serves as a Biomarker for Poor Prognosis in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is a common cancer in people worldwide, and one of the main issues is developing suitable biomarkers. This study aims to investigate the expression of TSTD2 in KIRC and its impact on prognosis. Methods: RNA sequencing data from TCGA and GTEx were gathered to examine the functional enrichment of TSTD2-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using GO/KEGG, GSEA, immunocyte permeation analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. The Kaplan‒Meier-Cox regression model and the prognostic nomograph model were used to assess the clinical importance of TSTD2 in KIRC. R software was used to analyze the included studies. Finally, verification of cells and tissues was performed using immunohistochemical staining and quantitative real‒time PCR. Results: In contrast to normal samples, it was discovered that TSTD2 was underexpressed in a number of malignancies, including KIRC. Furthermore, in 163 KIRC samples, low expression of TSTD2 was linked to a poor prognosis, as were subgroups with age greater than 60, the integrin pathway, the development of elastic fibers, and high TNM stage, pathologic stage, and histologic grade (P < 0.05). Age and TNM stage were included in the nomogram prognostic model, and low TSTD2 was a prognostic predictor that could be used independently in Cox regression analysis. In addition, 408 DEGs with 111 upregulated genes and 297 downregulated genes were found between the high- and low-expression groups. Conclusion: The diminished expression of TSTD2 may serve as a biomarker for unfavorable outcomes in KIRC, and holds potential as a target for therapeutic interventions.

PIMREG is a prognostic biomarker involved in immune microenvironment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma and associated with the transition from G1 phase to S phase.

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most common tumors in the world and affects human health seriously. PIMREG is a mitotic regulator which is essential to the metaphase-to-anaphase transition in cell cycle. Although PIMREG plays a crucial role in the malignant progression of tumors, there are few reports on its role in ccRCC. Methods: The transcriptional expression profile and clinical data of PIMREG were downloaded from TCGA database and verified by qRT-PCR. Kaplan-Meier plotter was used to analyze the effect of PIMREG on overall survival (OS), disease specific survival (DSS) and progression-free interval (PFI) of patients with ccRCC. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis were used to determine the independent prognostic factors of ccRCC. The effects of PIMREG on cell migration and invasion were detected by wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay, and CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay and cell cycle assay were used to detect the effect of PIMREG on cell proliferation. In addition, the changes in cell cycle related proteins were detected by western blot. Results: PIMREG was highly expressed in human ccRCC and was positively correlated with pathologic stage, TNM stage and histologic grade. In addition, patients with high expression of PIMREG had a poor prognosis. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis identified that PIMREG was an independent prognostic factor of ccRCC. Additionally, PIMREG was also closely related to immune cell infiltration. Experiments in vitro identified that the knockdown of PIMREG could significantly inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of ccRCC. The expression of cyclin D1, CDK4 and CDK6 was also significantly reduced after PIMREG knockdown. Conclusions: PIMREG plays a vital role in the development of ccRCC and may become a potential therapeutic target in the future.

The Efficacy of Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors for the Male Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To investigate the potential use of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in male patients, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis. Our study involved the identification and collection of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from leading databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. The primary objective of this analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of COX-2 inhibitors for the treatment of LUTS. Our analysis involved six short-term (within 3 months) RCTs involving 707 patients. We found that COX-2 inhibitor treatment significantly improved the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of patients (mean difference [MD] = -2.99, 95% confidence interval (CI): -3.65 to -2.33, p < .00001), nocturia frequency (MD = -1.90; 95% CI: -3.18 to -0.61, p = .004), and maximum flow rate (Qmax) (MD = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.06 to 1.98, p = .04). However, no significant differences were found between patients in terms of changes in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (MD = 0.02; 95% CI: -0.39 to 0.43, p = .92) and total prostate volume (TPV) (MD = -2.93; 95% CI: -6.45 to 0.59, p = .10). Therefore COX-2 inhibitors are an effective treatment for LUTS.

The role of three-dimensional model in preoperative communication before partial nephrectomy and postoperative management.

Objective: To investigate the role of the three-dimensional (3D) image reconstruction technique in preoperative communication before partial nephrectomy (PN) and postoperative follow-up. Methods: A retrospective study was performed with 158 renal cancer patients treated with PN at our center from May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2019. 81 patients (group A) had preoperative communication using the 3D reconstruction technique, while 77 patients (group B) did not. The surgeon explained the anatomical structure, tumor characteristics, and surgical approach in detail to the two groups of patients. Each patient completed a questionnaire. The loss to follow-up rate over a 3-year period was counted for both groups, and non-cancer-related serious complications such as renal failure and cardio-cerebrovascular disease were observed. This research did not include patients who returned for follow-up care owing to associated complications such as postoperative chronic kidney disease. Comparisons between two groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test. Results: All patients showed no statistically significant differences in basic clinical parameters, such as age, gender, body mass index, tumor size, and R.E.N.A.L. score (P â€‹> â€‹0.05). In group A, patients were significantly more likely to experience understanding of renal anatomy (P â€‹= â€‹0.001), characteristics of renal cell carcinoma (P â€‹= â€‹0.003), surgical approach (P â€‹= â€‹0.007), and relief of preoperative anxiety (P â€‹= â€‹0.013). The follow-up adherence at 3 years postoperatively in group A and group B was 21 cases and 10 cases, respectively (P â€‹= â€‹0.041). In addition, glomerular filtration rate < 60 â€‹mL/min/1.73 â€‹m2 or serum creatinine > 186 â€‹µmol/L at 3 years after surgery occurred in 5 patients in group A and 13 in group B (P â€‹= â€‹0.034), and a systolic blood pressure rise greater than 20 â€‹mmHg occurred in 9 patients in group A and 18 in group B (P â€‹= â€‹0.041). Conclusions: The use of 3D reconstruction techniques for preoperative communication can successfully improve patients' perception and comprehension of kidney tumors and PN, as well as help to prevent serious postoperative non-cancer-related complications.

The efficacy of peripheral nerve block on postoperative catheter-related bladder discomfort in males: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of peripheral nerve block (PNB) in preventing postoperative catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD). Methods: Up to July 1, 2022, the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched, and all articles that met the PICOS (Patient, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Study design) criteria were enrolled. The included trials were evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. Patients in the block group received bilateral PNB, while those in the non-block group did not need any additional procedure or simply achieved "sham block". CRBD was quantified using the visual analog scale (VAS) score, which was questioned and recorded at 0-1 h, 1-2 h, 4-8 h, 8-12 h and 12-24 h intervals. The incidences of CRBD, moderate to severe CRBD and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were meta-analysed. Results: Six trials with a total of 544 patients were considered. First, the block group had a lower incidence of CRBD than the non-block group at 0-1 h (OR 0.22; 95% CI, 0.18-0.08; P < 0.0001), 1-2 h (OR 0.14; 95% CI, 0.08-0.26; P < 0.00001), 4-8 h (OR 0.27; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.58; P < 0.0008) and 8-12 h (OR 0.51; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.87; P = 0.01). Second, the block group showed a lower incidence of moderate to severe CRBD than the non-block group at 0-1 h, 1-2 h and 4-8 h, and the ORs were 0.12 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.49; P = 0.003), 0.17 (95% CI, 0.08 to 0.37; P < 0.00001) and 0.29 (95% CI, 0.15 to 0.55; P = 0.0002),respectively. Finally, the block group was significantly associated with a decreased incidence of PONV (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.39; P = 0.0002). Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested that PNB markedly reduced the incidence and severity of early postoperative CRBD and decreased the occurrence of PONV.

Sclerosing Adenosis of the Prostate-A Benign Lesion Similar to Prostate Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Sclerosing adenosis of the prostate (SAP) is a rare benign non-neoplastic small acinar hyperplasia. Like sclerosing adenosis of the breast, which is confused with breast cancer, SAP is a trap in the pathological differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions of the prostate. We report such a case to help colleagues better distinguish and diagnose such diseases. A 75-year-old patient with SAP had a prostate specific antigen (PSA) level of 11.0 ng/mL, and he had been suffering from progressive dysuria for 3 years. The central glandular area and the right periphery of the prostate were found to have nodular low signals on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Prostate biopsy showed that basal cells were positive for P63 and P504s, few basal cells were positive for S-100, and the positive rate of Ki67 was approximately 2%. We consider that the possibility of SAP is high. The patient was treated conservatively and was discharged in good health, free of dysuria and other problems. SAP is a rare benign lesion that is easily misdiagnosed as prostate cancer. The prostatic gland tube has a complete basal cell layer surrounding it, as well as myoepithelial cell metaplasia of basal cells, which is a key trait in distinguishing it from prostate cancer. Although the latest research indicates that SAP does not require treatment, the question of whether it is a risk factor for prostate cancer remains unanswered.

The efficacy of intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES) in treating female with urinary incontinence symptom from meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials.

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common disease in the middle-aged and elderly women, and physical therapy has gradually become the mainstream treatment of UI. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES) in the treatment of UI. Methods: From January 2006 to December 2021, we finally selected nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 657 participants from PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases to evaluate the efficacy of IVES in the treatment of female UI. Continuous data were represented by mean difference and 95% CI, while dichotomous data were represented by odds ratio and 95% CI. All the data were analyzed by the Review Manager Version 5.4. Results: Compared with the control group, there were significant improvements in urine pad test (P = 0.01), urinary incontinence frequency (P = 0.04), some indicators in the incontinence quality of life questionnaire and King's health questionnaires, and subjective feeling of cure (P = 0.009) in the IVES group. However, in other indicators reflecting UI, there was no significant difference between the IVES group and the control group. In addition, subgroup analysis showed that IVES and IVES combined with training could significantly reduce the weight of the urine pad, which reflected the improvement of urine leakage. Conclusion: This meta-analysis proved that IVES can partially improve the symptoms of female patients with UI compared with the control group. However, it still needs to be further evaluated through more high-quality research in the future.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 16 Randomized Controlled Trials of Clinical Outcomes of Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Treating Erectile Dysfunction.

We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LI-ESWT) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). From July 2011 to June 2021, we finally selected 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 1,064 participants to evaluate the efficacy of LI-ESWT in the treatment of ED from PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. The data are analyzed by Review Manager Version 5.4. Fifteen articles mentioned International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), in the follow-up of 1 month (mean difference [MD] = 3.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.38, 4.98], p = .0005), 3 months (MD = 3.01, 95% CI = [2.04, 3.98], p < .00001), and 6 months (MD = 3.20, 95% CI = [2.49, 3.92], p < .00001). After treatment, the improvement of IIEF in the LI-ESWT group was better than that in the control group. Besides, eight of the 16 trials provided data on the proportion of patients with baseline Erectile Hardness Score (EHS) ≤ 2 improved to EHS ≥ 3. The LI-ESWT group was also significantly better than the placebo group (odds ratio [OR] = 5.07, 95% CI = [1.78, 14.44], p = .002). The positive response rate of Questions 2 and 3 of the Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) was not statistically significant (SEP2: OR = 1.27, 95% CI = [0.70, 2.30], p = .43; SEP3: OR = 4.24, 95% CI = [0.67, 26.83], p = .13). The results of this meta-analysis suggest that treatment plans with an energy density of 0.09 mJ/mm2 and pulses number of 1,500 to 2,000 are more beneficial to IIEF in ED patients. In addition, IIEF improvement was more pronounced in patients with moderate ED after extracorporeal shockwave therapy.

Distal end of Double-J ureteral stent position on ureteral stent-related symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Most patients suffer from ureteral stent-related symptoms (USRS) caused by indwelling ureteral stents. Nevertheless, various medications to alleviate discomfort as well as novel stents are continually being developed, and in recent years, some researchers have believed that proper intravesical stent placement can relieve USRS. Objective: To determine appropriate intravesical ureteral stent position may alleviate USRS. Methods: Up to May 1, 2022, the PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science databases were thoroughly searched, and two independent reviewers included relevant studies that met the PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) criteria. Studies methodological quality were assessed by ROB2 and ROBINS-I. Ureteral stent symptom questionnaire (USSQ), international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and quality of life (QoL) was used to quantify the USRS. According to intravesical ureteral stent position, Group A was defined as the contralateral group, that is distal end of ureteral stent crossed the bladder midline, whereas Group B was classified as ipsilateral group, meaning stent end did not cross the midline. Results: Six studies incorporating a total of 590 patients were eligible. In terms of USSQ score, the meta-analysis showed that contralateral group was associated with a significant increase in USSQ total (MD, 17.55; 95% CI, 12.04 to 23.07; P < 0.001), urinary symptoms (MD, 2.74; 95% CI, 0.48 to 5.01; P = 0.02), general health (MD, 4.04; 95% CI, 2.66 to 5.42; P < 0.001), work performance (MD, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.98; P < 0.001) and additional problems (MD, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.47 to 1.32; P < 0.001) scores while not associated with a significant increase in body pain (MD, 3.13; 95% CI, -0.19 to 6.44; P = 0.06) and sexual matters (MD, 1.01; 95% CI, -0.03 to 2.06; P = 0.06). As for IPSS, although no significant differences in IPSS total (MD, 2.65; 95% CI, -0.24 to 5.54; P = 0.07) or voiding symptoms (MD, -0.84; 95% CI, -3.16 to 1.48; P = 0.48) scores were found, ipsilateral group was associated with a significant decrease in storage symptoms (MD, 1.92; 95% CI, 0.91 to 2.93; P = 0.0002). Furthermore, ipsilateral group was linked to a significant decrease in QoL score (MD, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.18 to 1.82; P = 0.02). Conclusion: This meta-analysis proven that correct intravesical stent position was critical, and patients with stents crossing the midline experienced more severe USRS than those who did not. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to corroborate our findings.