Objective measurements of the penile angulation are significantly different than self-estimated magnitude among patients with penile curvature.

INTRODUCTION: The study was aimed to assess the presence of actual differences between the objective and the perceived magnitude of a curvature between patients affected by Peyronie's disease (PD) and congenital penile curvature (CPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wee analysed a cohort of 88 consecutive patients seeking medical help for either CPC or PD. All patients were invited to provide a self-made drawing of their penis in erection in order to obtain self-provided description of the deformity. An objective measurement of the deformity was also performed drawing two intersecting lines through the center of the distal and proximal straight section of the penile shaft. RESULTS: Our findings showed significant differences between patient self-estimation and the objective measurements of the penile angulation performed by trained experts, with only 32% of patients correctly assessing their own curvature. Overall, patients tended to overestimate (56%) their degree of curvature, but the results are different in patients with PD than those with CPC. In the 60 men (68%) who did not accurately assess their curvature, PD patients generally overestimated their curvature versus CPC patients (67% vs 16%). On the contrary CPC patients underestimated their curvature compared to PD (42% vs. 4%). CONCLUSION: In order to improve patients' satisfaction rates, the surgeon needs to take into consideration the patient's perception of the deformity when planning the type of surgical correction.

Genital Lichen Sclerosus in Male Patients: A New Treatment with Polydeoxyribonucleotide.

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is an inflammatory and chronic disease that causes itching, pain, dysuria, urinary retention, dyspareunia and sexual dysfunction, in both men and women. The first line pharmacological treatment is based on the use of topical steroids, which have proved their efficacy in 60-70% of cases but with a high rate of relapses in time (50-80% of the patients of both sexes). The purpose of our non-randomised prospective pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a new loco regional therapy with polydeoxyribonucleotides (PDRN) in the treatment of male genital LS. PDRN is an healing and anti-dystrophic drug with anti-inflammatory effects, through the reduction of cytokine. Twenty one male patients suffering from genital LS were recruited. All the patients were submitted to treatment using loco-regional intradermal injections with PDRN. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and PGI-I questionnaires were administered at baseline and at the end of treatment in order to evaluate the results of this treatment. The statistical evaluation of the data obtained with the DLQI questionnaire showed a marked improvement of the overall conditions in terms of quality of life, with an average change of scores from 15 to 4 (p < 0.0001). PGI-I questionnaire showed that 80% of the patients treated considered their post-treatment conditions as 'improved'. There was no significant change in terms of sexual function according to the IIEF questionnaire (p = 0.189). The results obtained show the excellent tolerability and the therapeutic efficacy of PDRN, with clear improvement of the local symptoms and of the quality of life.

Surgical management of acute pancreatitis in Italy: lessons from a prospective multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the surgical treatment of acute pancreatitis in Italy and to assess compliance with international guidelines. METHODS: A series of 1173 patients in 56 hospitals were prospectively enrolled and their data analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients with severe pancreatitis underwent surgical intervention. Necrosectomy was performed in 26 patients, associated with postoperative lavage in 70% of cases. A feeding jejunostomy was added in 37% of cases. Mortality was 21%. Of the patients with mild pancreatitis, 714 patients with a biliary aetiology were evaluated. Prophylactic treatment of relapses was carried out in 212 patients (36%) by cholecystectomy and in 161 using a laparoscopic approach. Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was associated with cholecystectomy in 83 patients (39%). Forty-seven patients (22%) were treated at a second admission, with a median delay of 31 days from the onset of pancreatitis. Eighteen patients with severe pancreatitis underwent cholecystectomy 37.9 days after the first admission. There were no deaths. DISCUSSION: The results indicate poor compliance with published guidelines. In severe pancreatitis, early surgical intervention is frequently performed and enteral feeding is seldom used. Only a small number of patients with mild biliary pancreatitis undergo definitive treatment (i.e. cholecystectomy) within 4 weeks of the onset of pancreatitis.

Pilot study to determine improvements in subjective penile morphology and personal relationships following a Nesbit plication procedure for men with congenital penile curvature.

AIM: To determine whether the surgical straightening of congenital penile curvature can improve intromission comfort, penile features, personal relationships and psychogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS: Fifty-four patients (mean age 24 years, range 20-31 years) whose congenital penile deviation due to physiological curvature was>or=25 degrees, as measured on a graph, and who were experiencing penetration discomfort were assessed specifically for the present study. Of these, 14 patients suffered from psychogenic ED. The assessment included a case history, an objective examination, a pharmacologically-induced erection with prostaglandin E1 10-20 g, a graph taken during erection, a basal and dynamic Duplex ultrasonograph, penile length measurement, nocturnal penile tumescence recording, hormonal profiles and a psychological interview to evaluate the quality of their personal relationships according to Hinde's parameters (contents, number, features, frequency, ability to perceive limits of mutuality, subjective perception of the other person[s], and reliability). All patients underwent the Nesbit procedure. The initial assessment was repeated at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Data analyses were carried out using the z test. RESULTS: Subjective judgement of cosmetic penile features and vaginal intromission comfort improved significantly after surgery whereas the quality of personal relationships and ED did not. CONCLUSION: The surgical straightening of congenital penile curvature improved intromission comfort and penile features, but it failed to improve interpersonal relationships or psychogenic ED.

Unreliability of the Duplex Scan in Diagnosing Corporeal Venous Occlusive Disease in Young Healthy Men With Erectile Deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To define the role of cavernosal venous occlusive dysfunction (CVOD) as the only cause of erectile dysfunction (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients meeting the CVOD criteria without any risk factors for organic ED were randomized into 2 groups; the end-diastolic velocity (EDV), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and resistive index (RI) of their cavernosal arteries were assessed using color duplex Doppler ultrasound (CDDU) after intracavernous injection (ICI) of 10 µg alprostadil. Group 1 (153 patients) underwent repeated CDDU + ICI assessments (a maximum of 3 rounds). Group 2 (149 patients) underwent CDDU + ICI before and after sexological counseling. The percentage data were analyzed using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test; the numerical data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: For group 1, the PSVs (median values: first round 42 cm/s; second round 54 cm/s; third round 66 cm/s) and RIs (median values: first round 70%; second round 89%; third round 92%) increased significantly in each CDDU + ICI round, whereas the EDVs were significantly lower (median values: first round 11 cm/s; second round 5 cm/s; third round 1 cm/s). For group 2, the PSVs (median values: from 44 to 67 cm/s) and RIs (from 72% to 93%) increased significantly after sexological counseling, whereas the EDVs (median values: from 12 to 1 cm/s) were significantly lower. CONCLUSION: Repeated CDDU + ICI and counseling strongly diminished the percentage of patients meeting the CVOD criteria, leading to the suspicion that CVOD is linked to psychological issues in highly selected young healthy men with ED.

Resolution of erectile dysfunction after an andrological visit in a selected population of patients affected by psychogenic erectile dysfunction.

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether some patients with psychogenic erectile dysfunction (PED) who chose psychotherapy spontaneously improved their sexual function immediately after diagnosis. Two hundred eighty-five patients with PED were retrospectively studied. Complete resolution of PED was analyzed regarding age, primary or secondary PED, marital status, domestic status, prevailing attitude of the female partner to the dysfunction, duration of their partnership, social status, duration of PED, International Index of Erectile Function score, and prevailing attitude of the patient after a diagnosis of PED. The data were analyzed using post-hoc tests. PED was resolved in 32.3% of the patients immediately after diagnosis. These patients were older, more frequently affected by secondary ED, more frequently living with their partner, and more frequently resigned or happy with the diagnosis of PED than the patients who did not resolve their PED. A nonchalant or cooperative female attitude to PED improved the possibility of PED resolution. The other variables did not influence PED resolution. Our data showed that a clear-cut diagnosis of psychogenic erectile deficiency and some psychosocial factors were critical for the management of some patients with PED.

Differences in Cavernosal Artery Parameters According to Different Anatomic Sampling Locations During the Diagnosis of Vascular Erectile Dysfunction Using Duplex Ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a standard location for examining penile cavernosal arteries (CAs) using dynamic duplex Doppler ultrasound (PDDU) examination in the diagnosis of non-arterial erectile dysfunction (ED) or arterial insufficiency. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two groups of 105 patients each were enrolled. The first group (age 56.3 ± 6.0 years) displayed clinical patterns of arterial insufficiency; the second group (age 35.2 ± 4.7 years) displayed clinical patterns of non-arterial ED. The patients had their peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI = PSV - EDV/PSV × 100), and acceleration time of the CAs measured using PDDU at the crura and at the midpoint between the penoscrotal junction and the coronal sulcus (mid penis). Intra- and interoperator variability were assessed. The PSV, RI, acceleration time, and EDV data obtained from the penoscrotal junction or from the "mid penis" in group 1 and in group 2 were compared using analysis of variance. RESULTS: The PSV, EDV, and acceleration time were significantly higher when measured at the crura penis than when measured at the "mid penis" in both groups, whereas the RI was higher at the "mid penis" than at the "crura." Thus, arterial ED was better diagnosed with the data from the mid penis, whereas non-arterial ED was better diagnosed at the "crura." CONCLUSION: The location of the sampling site of the CAs using PDDU is critical for a correct diagnosis of ED.

Male idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.

Idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (iOAT) affects approximately 30% of all infertile men. This mini-review discussed recent data in this field. Age, non-inflammatory functional alterations in post-testicular organs, infective agents (Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes virus and adeno-associated viruses), alterations in gamete genome, mitochondrial alterations, environmental pollutants and "subtle" hormonal alterations are all considered possible causes of iOAT. Increase of reactive oxygen species in tubules and in seminal plasma and of apoptosis are reputed to affect sperm concentration, motility and morphology. iOAT is commonly diagnosed by exclusion, nevertheless spectral traces of the main testicular artery may be used as a diagnostic tool for iOAT. The following can be considered therapies for iOAT: 1) tamoxifen citrate (20 mg/d) + testosterone undecanoate (120 mg/d) (pregnancy rate per couple/month [prcm]: 3.8%); 2) folic acid (66 mg/d) + zinc sulfate (5 mg/d); 3) L-carnitine (2 g/d) alone or in combination with acetyl-L-carnitine (1 g/d) (prcm: 2.3%); and 4) both carnitines = one 30 mg cinnoxicam suppository every 4 days (prcm: 8.5%). Alpha-blocking drugs improved sperm concentration but not morphology, motility or pregnancy rate. Tranilast (300 mg/d) increased sperm parameters and pregnancy rates in an initial uncontrolled study. Its efficacy on sperm concentration (but not on sperm motility, morphology or prcm) was confirmed in subsequent published reports. The efficacy of tamoxifen + testosterone undecanoate, tamoxifen alone, and recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone is still a matter for discussion.

Intralesional Injection of Hyaluronic Acid in Patients Affected With Peyronie's Disease: Preliminary Results From a Prospective, Multicenter, Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Hyaluronic acid has been shown to be efficacious in decreasing scar formation, inflammation, and oxidative stress. AIM: To assess the efficacy of intralesional injection of hyaluronic acid in patients affected by Peyronie's disease. METHODS: In this prospective, single-arm, self-controlled, interventional, multicenter pilot study, 65 patients underwent a 10-week cycle of weekly intraplaque injections with hyaluronic acid (0.8% highly purified sodium salt hyaluronic acid 16 mg/2 mL; Sinovial, IBSA, Lodi, Italy). Patients were re-evaluated 2 months after the end of therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plaque size (millimeters), penile curvature (degrees), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score for sexual satisfaction, and Patient's Global Impressions of Improvement (PGI-I) score. RESULTS: Median age was 57 years (range = 23-70). At baseline, mean plaque size was 10 mm (range = 3-30 mm), mean penile curvature was 30° (range = 0°-50°), and mean IIEF-5 score was 20 (range = 0-25), with slight to moderate erectile dysfunction (IIEF score < 21) in 36 of 65 patients (55%). A median VAS score of 6 (range = 2-10) was found. Mean follow-up was 12 months (range = 6-24 months). Statistically significant post-treatment improvements were detected for plaque size (before treatment = 10 mm [3-30 mm], after treatment = 8 mm [1-30 mm], P < .0001), penile curvature (before treatment = 30° [0°-50°], after treatment = 20° [0°-40°], P < .0001), IIEF-5 score (before treatment = 20 [11-25], after treatment = 21 [15-25], P < .0001), and VAS score (before treatment = 6 [2-10], after treatment 8 [2-10], P < .0001). After treatment, the rate of patients with an IIEF score lower than 21 decreased from 55% (36 patients) to 40% (25 patients). Overall improvement on the PGI-I questionnaire was 69%. CONCLUSION: Intralesional treatment with hyaluronic acid can improve plaque size, penile curvature, and overall sexual satisfaction and seems preferably indicated in the early (active) phase of the disease. Furthermore, it is easy to perform and well tolerated.

Towards an evidence-based understanding of Peyronie's disease.

Aetiopathogenesis and therapy for Peyronie's disease are summarized below. AETIOPATHOGENESIS: (a) Plaque fibroblasts and their products provoke an immune response; (b) there are chromosomal differences between plaques and normal albuginea; (c) plaque fibroblasts are immortalized cells; (d) plaque fibroblasts demonstrate an impaired mitochondrial activity. These patterns provoke inflammation and they compel us to regard Peyronie's disease as being more similar to keloids than to scars. THERAPY: Medical therapy plays a pivotal role in the management of Peyronie's disease and should be performed prior to any surgery. Intraplaque collagenase, intraplaque verapamil, intraplaque interferon, oral acetyl-L-carnitine, oral propionyl-L-carnitine and oral colchicine have proved effective in Peyronie's disease. With the exception of collagenase, these drugs have displayed a number of activities whose final result is to improve immune response, to inhibit inflammation and to inhibit fibroblast metabolism and replication. Therefore, the primitive replicative (rather than reactive) nature of the disease is confirmed; this knowledge may be of help in the identification of new non-surgical therapies for Peyronie's disease.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of young patients with Peyronie's disease: a retrospective study.

The average age of men affected by Peyronie's disease (PD) is approximately 50-55 years, but cases have been reported even in adolescence. Several studies have already investigated the presence of PD in young men, and these studies reported a PD prevalence that varies between 1.5% and 10.8%. Having noticed a greater number of young patients in our centers in recent years, we decided to carry out a retrospective study to evaluate the prevalence of PD in patients aged <40 years, as well as to investigate any possible difference in evolution based on the age of PD patients. We selected a sample of patients (n=271) with a similar time of onset of disease. We then stratified all 271 patients into two groups: group A (age <40 years [n=46]) and group B (age ≥40 years [n=225]). All 271 patients were evaluated for the following variables: penile plaque volume, degree of penile curvature, penile pain, and erectile function. Plaque volume was measured in cm(3) by dynamic penile color Doppler sonography after administration of intracavernosal alprostadil 10 mcg. The number of younger patients was 46, accounting for 16.9% of the whole sample. Our study showed more frequent appearance and greater progression of penile curvature in younger patients. The average angle of penile curvature and average score of penile pain intensity in the younger men were significantly higher than in patients aged ≥40 years (P=0.025 and P=0.0001, respectively). In the younger patients, not only was the pain more intense (visual analog scale [VAS] of 5.2 versus 3.8), but it was also more frequently present than in patients aged ≥40 years (78.2% versus 62.2%) (P=0.042). We may conclude that since PD in young patients has a more acute onset and a greater possibility of progression, it should be treated conservatively as soon as it is diagnosed.

Subsequent impaired fertility (with or without sperm worsening) in men who had fathered children after a left varicocelectomy: A novel population?

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this paper was to assess whether the beneficial effects of a varicocelectomy on fertility are transitory or definitive after a first fathering. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study which involved seven andrological centers. The files of 2223 patients who underwent subinguinal ligation of a high grade left varicocele for (oligo)±(astheno)±(terato)-spermia and infertility between January 1(st), 2002 and January 1(st) 2013 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria for the patients were the following: Sperm count improvement and fathering a child after an uneventful left varicocelectomy; 745 patients were considered. Patients who had undergone three assessments for (in-) fertility: Before surgery, before the first fathering and after the first fathering were included in the study. Each assessment included: Clinical history, physical examination, two sperm analyses, bilateral scrotal Duplex scans, blood hormonal levels [follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and prolactin (PRL)]. RESULTS: Forty patients were finally studied; they all had an improved sperm count and had fathered once after surgery. Fifteen had fathered twice and still had their sperm count increased after the second fathering. Twenty-five patients could not father twice; 13 patients had their sperm count decreased after the first fathering and 12 did not. A decrease in testicular volume and an increase in FSH paralleled the worsening of sperm concentration, motility and morphology after fathering. No other differences could be observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicated that the beneficial effects of a varicocelectomy might be transitory in some cases.

Mutations in the SPINK1 gene in idiopathic pancreatitis Italian patients.

Idiopathic chronic and acute recurrent pancreatitis (IP) have been associated with mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Mutations in the serine protease inhibitor Kazal 1 (SPINK1) have been described in some idiopathic chronic patients and it has been suggested that mutations in this gene could be responsible for a loss of trypsin inhibitor function. In this study, the 5'UTR region, and the four exons and exon-intron boundaries of the SPINK1 gene in 32 IP patients have been analyzed. Three IP patients (9.3%) and one control/100 carried the N34S mutation of the SPINK1 gene (Fisher's exact test, P=0.044). No other mutation that could be associated with an altered function of the SPINK1 protein was observed. The N34S mutation was present in two patients who carried the CFTR-IVS8 5T variant and in one who carried the L997F variant in the CFTR gene. The association of SPINK1 with CFTR gene mutations in IP patients is statistically significant (3/32 IP cases and 0/100 control individuals carrying mutations in both genes; Fisher's exact test P=0.01).

Obesity and gastro-esophageal acid reflux: physiopathological mechanisms and role of gastric bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Controversial findings about the relationships between obesity and gastro-esophageal reflux have been reported, as well as about the effects of weight loss and bariatric surgery on reflux. The aims of this study were to evaluate esophageal motility and gastro-esophageal acid circadian patterns in obese patients and to test the effects of vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) on these parameters. METHODS: 14 obese subjects (BMI 36-53 kg/m2), 4 men, 10 women, 27-61 years old, admitted for elective bariatric surgery, underwent clinical evaluation, upper endoscopy, esophageal manometry and gastroesophageal pH monitoring. Evaluations were repeated 6 to 12 months after gastric surgery that consisted of a VBG (7 patients), accompanied in the other 7 patients with an anti-reflux procedure (fundoplication). Manometric and pH-metric findings in the obese patients were compared with a normal-weight control group before and after the two different surgical treatments. RESULTS: Gastro-esophageal reflux was significantly more frequent in obese (57.1%) than in control group (7.1%). Esophageal motility in obese subjects was not different from controls. After VBG alone, we found a reduction in basal lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and an increase of acid reflux. When VBG was accompanied by fundoplication, basal LES pressure increased and acid reflux frequency decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is associated with gastroesophageal reflux. VBG reduced weight, but not gastro-esophageal acid reflux. Therefore, in our population, this operation cannot be considered as an antireflux procedure.

Histopathological features of diagnostic and clinical relevance in autoimmune pancreatitis: a study on 53 resection specimens and 9 biopsy specimens.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Autoimmune pancreatitis seems to be a disease with a heterogeneous appearance. Our intention was to establish key diagnostic criteria, define grades of severity and activity, identify features of potential subtypes and evaluate the diagnostic relevance of biopsy specimens. METHODS: Histopathological criteria and clinical features were recorded in pancreatic resection specimens from 53 patients who were found to have chronic pancreatitis lacking pseudocysts, calculi, irregular duct dilatations, pancreas divisum and/or duodenal wall inflammation. The severity of the chronic inflammation was graded, and the activity of the acute inflammatory component and the granulocytic epithelial lesion (GEL) were determined. Additionally, pancreatic biopsy specimens from 9 patients with suspected AIP were assessed. RESULTS: Periductal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration was identified in all cases, followed in order of frequency by periductal fibrosis and venulitis. These changes were absent in 147 pancreatic specimens that showed chronic pancreatitis associated with pseudocysts, calculi, pancreas divisum and/or duodenal wall inflammation. In 90% of the cases, these chronic changes were graded as 3 or 4. In 81%, the inflammatory process resided in the head of the pancreas and involved the common bile duct. GELs were present in 42% of the patients, who had a mean age of 40.5 years, an almost equal male-female ratio and a high coincidence of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Patients without GELs were older (mean age 64 years), showed a male preponderance, commonly had Sjogren's syndrome and often developed recurrent bile-duct stenosis. Diagnostically relevant lesions were present in two of five wedge biopsy specimens and three of four fine-needle specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Periductal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and fibrosis, preferential occurrence in the pancreatic head and venulitis characterize autoimmune pancreatitis. GELs predominantly occur in a subset of patients who are younger, more commonly have ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and seem to have fewer recurrences than patients without GELs. Pancreatic biopsy material proved to be a very helpful adjunct for establishing the diagnosis.

Cinnoxicam and L-carnitine/acetyl-L-carnitine treatment for idiopathic and varicocele-associated oligoasthenospermia.

The objective of this study was to detect a therapy for idiopathic and varicocele-associated oligoasthenospermia (OAT). Idiopathic and varicocele OAT patients were randomized into 3 groups. Each group was composed of varying degrees of left varicoceles (graded into 5 grades with echo-color Doppler) and of idiopathic OATs. Group 1 used a placebo, group 2 used oral L-carnitine (2 g/d) + acetyl-L-carnitine (1 g/d), group 3 used L-carnitine/acetyl-L-carnitine + 1 x 30-mg cinnoxicam suppository every 4 days. Drugs were administered for 6 months. The groups were composed as follows: group 1, 71 varicoceles and 47 idiopathic OATs; group 2, 62 varicoceles and 39 idiopathic OATs; group 3, 62 varicoceles and 44 idiopathic OATs. Sperm concentration, motility, and morphology before during and after treatments were assessed. Pregnancy rates and side effects were recorded. Group 1 did not have modified sperm patterns during treatment. Group 2 had significantly increased sperm patterns at 3 and 6 months into therapy in idiopathic patients and in patients with grades I, II, and III varicocele, but not in grades IV and V. Group 3 had significantly increased sperm parameters in all patients, with the exception of grade V varicocele. Group 3 sperm patterns proved significantly higher during therapy than group 2. All sperm patterns fell to baseline after therapy suspension. Minor side effects occurred. Pregnancy rates were 1.7% (group 1), 21.8% (group 2), and 38.0% (group 3) (P <.01). L-carnitine/acetyl-L-carnitine + cinnoxicam suppositories proved a reliable treatment for low-grade varicoceles and idiopathic OATs.

Dyspermia and testicular artery peak systolic velocity.

OBJECTIVE: To compare reliability of peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistivity index (RI) of testicular arteries, folliculostimulating hormone (FSH) and testicular volume in the differential diagnosis of dyspermias. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Testicle volume, FSH, PSV, EDV, and RI were compared with analysis of variance among the following patients or controls: 9 obstructive azoospermic (OA), 20 non obstructive (NOA), 17 oligoasthenospermic varicoceles + male accessory glands inflammation (MAGI), 38 undetermined oligoasthenospermic, 19 MAGI, 11 varicoceles, 32 subjects with normal sperm analysis who recently fathered (fertile controls), and 15 subjects with normal sperm analysis with varicocele who recently fathered. RESULTS: Only PSV and RI proved to be selective for the different classes of patients, while EDV, FSH and testicle volume did not. Varicoceles, varicoceles + MAGI and fertile varicoceles showed the highest PSV and RI; fertile controls, OAs and MAGIs displayed similar PSV and RI; undetermined patients displayed significantly lower PSV and RI, NOAs' PSV and RI proved to be the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: RI and PSV proved to be a reliable tool to be routinely used in the clinical study of infertile/dyspermic males, whereas EDV, FSH and testicle volume did not.

Improvement of chronic Peyronie's disease symptoms after diabetic compensation: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To look for a link between compensation of diabetes in patients with uncompensated/undiagnosed diabetes with chronic Peyronie's disease (PD) and improvement of their PD symptoms. METHODS: Thirty-six nonsmoking patients with uncompensated diabetes and PD were studied. The plaque area and pain (ie, PD symptoms) were compared before and after a strict control of hemoglobin A1c and of glycemia at a timeframe of 37 ± 13 weeks. Thirty-two nonsmoking nondiabetic patients with PD who had their PD symptoms assessed twice with a mean time lag of 39 ± 11 weeks were used as controls. The differences in PD symptoms between the 2 assessments were evaluated using the Wilcoxon test. A Spearman rank correlation test was used to identify any correlation between glycemia before diabetic compensation and the percentage of decrease in the size of plaque of patients with diabetes. RESULTS: Plaque area and pain diminished in patients with diabetes, coincidentally with diabetes compensation and antidiabetic therapy administration. On the other hand, the controls had their plaque area significantly increased while their pain was not modified. The Spearman tests found a significant correlation between glycemia before diabetic compensation and the percentage of decrease in the size of plaque of patients with diabetes. CONCLUSION: Diabetes compensation and/or antidiabetic therapy improved PD symptoms.

Clinical evaluation of natural history of Peyronie's disease: our experience, old myths and new certainties.

Several studies describing the "natural history" of Peyronie's disease (PD) (Chronic Inflammation of the Tunica Albuginea-CITA) showed that untreated patients with PD seem to have spontaneous improvement. Because of these articles many physicians found to have a non-therapeutic behavior in case of PD. This paper tries to define the natural history of PD using penile dynamic duplex ultrasound evaluation in function of factors able to elicit fibrosis of the penis. Eighty-two patients have been studied, the mean time being between PD onset and diagnosis was 9.6 ± 3.8 months, mean age was 52.6 ± 10.69. Each patient underwent to two clinical assessments for PD, with a time-lag of 18.08 ± 9.2 months. Each assessment comprises: measurement of: plaque volume in cm(3) (with dynamic echocolor Doppler ultrasonography), penile curvature in degrees (with Kelami method), pain (with Pain Intensity Numerical Rating Scale/PINRS) and sexual function (with IIEF15 scale). The following clinical and laboratory assessments were carried out on each patient: body-mass index (BMI), blood pressure measurement, blood count, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, blood sugar, glycated haemoglobin and total testosterone. We assessed whether PD plaque volume, penile deformity, pain and modify by time, in function of risk factors of fibrosis (aging, smoking habit, erectile failure, number of comorbidities, BMI, radical prostatectomy) and/or of the severity of symptoms (plaque area, penile deformity and calcifications). Qualitative-quantitative non parametric multivariate analysis has been used as statistical test. The analysis indicated that PD symptoms increase by time in the majority of the patients, and that the increase is not linked to the severity of symptoms, but to the risk factors for developing fibrosis, with the exception of age that is inversely related. PD is a progressive disease, whose progression is linked to young age and to risk factors of fibrosis.