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Background: Black men residing in Western countries are more likely to develop prostate cancer (PCa), have higher mortality and are younger than the general population at initial diagnosis. In addition to genetic and environmental factors, the reasons for these racial disparities can also be attributed to social determinants of health such as low health literacy of this population and poor awareness of health services. Little is known about laboratory tests for PCa in black men., Methods: In this preliminary study. we investigated whether ethnicity affect PSA molecular forms, PHI, estradiol and testosterone levels in healthy men., Results: We found that healthy black men had lower PHI, [-2]proPSA/fPSA and testosterone/estradiol ratios., Conclusions: Our findings even if on a small study population could have a relevant clinical impact. since PCa screening is particularly relevant in black men who are at high risk of clinically significant PCa. PSA-based screening is needed and overdiagnosis must be avoided. Our findings could be particularly impactful. Future research on larger population needs to consider whether ethnicity specific laboratory tests thresholds could help to reduce the ethnic inequalities in prostate cancer diagnosis.

Objectives: To investigate the distribution of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) values and their association with clinical and seminal parameters in idiopathic infertile men., Design, Patients, Measurements: Data from 3224 primary infertile men (belonging to couples having failed to conceive a pregnancy within 12 months) who underwent a thorough diagnostic work-up were analysed. A SDF value ≥ 30% (according to Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay) was considered pathologic. We excluded: (1) men with genetic abnormalities; (2) men with history of cryptorchidism; (3) men with biochemical hypogonadism; (4) men with clinical varicocele; and (5) men with other possible known aetiological factors. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to describe the whole cohort., Results: Of all, 792 (23%) men with at least one abnormal WHO semen parameter but without any identified aetiologic factor for infertility, were considered as idiopathic infertile men. Of 792, 418 (52.7%) men had SDF ≥30%. Men with pathologic SDF were older (p = .02), had higher Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (p = .04) but lower total testosterone (p = .03) values than those with SDF <30%. The homoeostatic model assessment index for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was higher in men with SDF ≥30% (p = .01). Idiopathic infertile men with SDF ≥30% presented with lower sperm concentration (p < .001) and lower progressive sperm motility (p < .01) than those with SDF < 30%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that older age (OR: 1.1, p = .02) and higher HOMA-IR score (OR: 1.8, p = .03) were associated with SDF ≥ 30%, after accounting for FSH and sperm concentration values., Conclusions: Approximately half of infertile men categorized as idiopathic had pathologic SDF values. Idiopathic infertile men with pathologic SDF showed worse clinical, hormonal and semen parameters than those with normal SDF values. These results suggest that including SDF testing could be clinically relevant over the real-life management work-up of infertile men., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: To date, the benefit of image guidance during robot-assisted surgery (IGS) is an object of debate. The current study aims to address the quality of the contemporary body of literature concerning IGS in robotic surgery throughout different surgical specialties., Methods: A systematic review of all English-language articles on IGS, from January 2013 to March 2023, was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane library's Central, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases. Comparative studies that tested performance of IGS vs control were included for the quantitative synthesis, which addressed outcomes analyzed in at least three studies: operative time, length of stay, blood loss, surgical margins, complications, number of nodal retrievals, metastatic nodes, ischemia time, and renal function loss. Bias-corrected ratio of means (ROM) and bias-corrected odds ratio (OR) compared continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively. Subgroup analyses according to guidance type (i.e., 3D virtual reality vs ultrasound vs near-infrared fluoresce) were performed., Results: Twenty-nine studies, based on 11 surgical procedures of three specialties (general surgery, gynecology, urology), were included in the quantitative synthesis. IGS was associated with 12% reduction in length of stay (ROM 0.88; p = 0.03) and 13% reduction in blood loss (ROM 0.87; p = 0.03) but did not affect operative time (ROM 1.00; p = 0.9), or complications (OR 0.93; p = 0.4). IGS was associated with an estimated 44% increase in mean number of removed nodes (ROM 1.44; p < 0.001), and a significantly higher rate of metastatic nodal disease (OR 1.82; p < 0.001), as well as a significantly lower rate of positive surgical margins (OR 0.62; p < 0.001). In nephron sparing surgery, IGS significantly decreased renal function loss (ROM 0.37; p = 0.002)., Conclusions: Robot-assisted surgery benefits from image guidance, especially in terms of pathologic outcomes, namely higher detection of metastatic nodes and lower surgical margins. Moreover, IGS enhances renal function preservation and lowers surgical blood loss., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: In absence of predictive models, preoperative estimation of the probability of completing partial (PN) relative to radical nephrectomy (RN) is invariably inaccurate and subjective. We aimed to develop an evidence-based model to assess objectively the probability of PN completion based on patients' characteristics, tumor's complexity, urologist expertise and surgical approach., Design, Setting and Participants: 675 patients treated with PN or RN for cT 1-2 cN 0 cM 0 renal mass by seven surgeons at one single experienced centre from 2000 to 2019., Outcomes Measurements and Statistical Analyses: The outcome of the study was PN completion. We used a multivariable logistic regression (MVA) model to investigate predictors of PN completion. We used SPARE score to assess tumor complexity. We used a bootstrap validation to compute the model's predictive accuracy. We investigated the relationship between the outcomes and specific predictors of interest such as tumor's complexity, approach and experience., Results: Of 675 patients, 360 (53%) were treated with PN vs. 315 (47%) with RN. Smaller tumors [Odds ratio (OR): 0.52, 95%CI 0.44-0.61; P < 0.001], lower SPARE score (OR: 0.67, 95%CI 0.47-0.94; P = 0.02), more experienced surgeons (OR: 1.01, 95%CI 1.00-1.02; P < 0.01), robotic (OR: 10; P < 0.001) and open (OR: 36; P < 0.001) compared to laparoscopic approach resulted associated with higher probability of PN completion. Predictive accuracy of the model was 0.94 (95% CI 0.93-0.95)., Conclusions: The probability of PN completion can be preoperatively assessed, with optimal accuracy relaying on routinely available clinical information. The proposed model might be useful in preoperative decision-making, patient consensus, or during preoperative counselling., Patient Summary: In patients with a renal mass the probability of completing a partial nephrectomy varies considerably and without a predictive model is invariably inaccurate and subjective. In this study we build-up a risk calculator based on easily available preoperative variables that can predict with optimal accuracy the probability of not removing the entire kidney., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest A. Necchi reports honoraria from Roche, Merck Sharp & Dohme, AstraZeneca, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Foundation Medicine; has served as a consultant or advisor for Merck Sharp & Dohme, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Rainier Therapeutics, Roche, Bayer, AstraZeneca, Clovis Oncology, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Incyte, Seattle Genetics, Astellas Pharma and Rainier Therapeutics; has received research funding from Incyte, Merck Sharp & Dohme (institution), and AstraZeneca (institution); and has received travel funding from Roche, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Astra Zeneca, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals outside the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Injection of exogenous material into the penis and scrotum has been performed for augmentation purposes. Complications include cosmetic dissatisfaction, penile necrosis and lymphoedema. We report the complications and outcomes from a single centre with an updated systematic review of the literature. A retrospective review of all cases presenting with foreign substance injection into the genitalia, over a 10-year period was performed. Thirty-five patients with a mean (standard deviation (SD); range) age of 36.9 (±9.1; 22-61) years at presentation were included. The mean (SD; range) time between injection and presentation was 7.8 (±5.8; 1 day-20 years) years. The most common injected substance was silicone (n = 16, 45.7%) and liquid paraffin (n = 8, 22.9%). The penile shaft (94.3%) was the most injected site. The most common presentations were cosmetic dissatisfaction (57.1%) and pain and/or swelling (45.7%). Surgery was required in 32 (91.4%) cases. Primary procedures included local excision and primary closure (n = 19, 59.4%), circumcision (n = 5, 15.6%), excision with a split skin graft or a scrotal flap reconstruction (n = 5, 15.6%). Three (8.6%) patients presented with necrosis and required acute debridement. Overall, 18 patients had more than 1 procedure, and 8 patients required 3 or more procedures. A systematic search of the literature identified 887 articles of which 68 studies were included for analysis. The most common substance injected was paraffin (47.7%), followed by silicone (15.8%). The majority of patients (77.9%) presented with pain, swelling or penile deformity. 78.8% of the patients underwent surgical treatment, which included excision and primary closure with or without the use of skin grafts (85.1% of all procedures), the use of flaps (12.3%) and penile amputation (n = 2). Complications of foreign body injection into the male genitalia can be serious resulting in necrosis and autoamputation. Surgical intervention is often required to excise abnormal tissue to manage pain and improve cosmesis., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Hydroxyurea (HU) is a cytoreductive agent used as standard treatment option for sickle cell anaemia/disease (SCD), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and polycythaemia vera (PV). Despite its overall good safety profile, its use also in relatively young patients raises an interest on its potential impact on spermatogenesis. To perform a systematic review of all published articles investigating fertility in male patients affected by SCD, ET, and PV and treated with HU. Two paradigmatic case reports of patients affected by PV and ET, respectively, have been also reported., Materials and Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were queried for all the published studies indexed up to November 15th, 2022. A combination of the following keywords was used: "hydroxyurea," "fertility," "male," "sperm," "sickle cell anaemia," "sickle cell disease," "essential thrombocythemia," "polycythaemia vera.", Results: Of 48 articles identified, 8 studies, involving 161 patients, were eligible for inclusion. Overall, the number of spermatogonia per round cross section of seminiferous tubule were decreased in patients with SCD compared to healthy males. HU treatment was always associated with a worsening of semen parameters, even up to azoospermia. Notably, treatment discontinuation was associated with an improvement of semen parameters and a trend toward normalization in the case of PV and ET, with a less clear amelioration in men with SCD. In both our patients with either PV or ET, HU discontinuation was associated with a significant improvement of spermatogenesis with successful spontaneous pregnancies., Conclusions: Published evidence do not consistently report normalization of spermatogenesis after HU discontinuation in SCD cases. Conversely, the literature almost consistently reported an improvement of semen parameters at the discontinuation of HU therapy in PV and ET cases. Our real-life two cases confirmed those findings. The willing of fatherhood and the need for effective fertility treatment warrant further research to improve work-up management in men with hematological disorders., Competing Interests: The authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology.)

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., Competing Interests: The authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology.)

Background: Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is characterised by stepwise lymphatic dissemination. Skip metastases (SkMs) are rare metastases in the corpus cavernosum or spongiosum without continuity to the primary tumour or its resection site., Objective: To assess the distinct pattern of spread in SkM + patients and the effect of SkM on prognosis., Design, Setting, and Participants: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with SkM + PSCC at ten high-volume international referral centres between January 2006 and May 2022., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: We evaluated histopathological data, primary lymph node (LN) staging, and metastatic spread. We included a cohort of patients matched for pT stage, LN status, and grade who did not have SkM (SkM - ) to compare the SkM prognosis and predictive value for cancer-specific mortality (CSM)., Results and Limitations: Among the 63 SkM + patients who met our inclusion criteria, the SkM diagnosis was synchronous in 54.0% and metastases were mostly located in the corpus cavernosum. SkM was symptomatic in 14% of cases, was detected on imaging in 32%, and was found incidentally on pathological examination in 27%. Fifty-one patients (81%) presented with positive LNs and 28 (44%) developed distant metastases. Seven patients (11%) presented with or developed distant metastasis without displaying any LN involvement. The 2-yr cancer-specific survival estimates were 36% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25-52%) for SkM + and 66% (95% CI 55-80%) for matched SkM - patients (p < 0.001). On multivariable Cox regression analysis, SkM presence was an independent predictor for higher CSM (hazard ratio 2.05, 95% CI 1.06-4,12; p = 0.03)., Conclusions: PSCC-related SkM is associated with aggressive disease behaviour and poor survival outcomes. Palpation of the entire penile shaft is essential, and distant staging is recommended in patients suspected of having SkM owing to the tendency for distant metastatic spread., Patient Summary: We investigated outcomes for patients with cancer of the penis who had metastases in the tissues responsible for erection. We found that metastases in this location were associated with poor prognosis, even in the absence of more typical spread of cancer via the lymph nodes., (Copyright © 2023 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: No clear-cut markers for predicting positive sperm retrieval (+SR) at microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) have been identified thus far. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the ability of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B (InhB), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) to predict +SR in men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) undergoing mTESE., Methods: We performed a search in the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis statement. Thirty-four publications were selected for inclusion in the analysis., Key Findings and Limitations: Overall, the mean +SR rate was 45%. Pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) values revealed significant hormonal differences between the +SR and -SR groups, with lower FSH (SMD -0.30), higher InhB (SMD 0.54), and lower AMH (SMD -0.56) levels in the +SR group. Pooled odds ratios (Ors) revealed no significant prediction of +SR by either FSH (OR 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.06) or InhB (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02), despite variations in baseline levels and study heterogeneity. Conversely, AMH had significant predictive value (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73-0.92), with lower baseline levels in the +SR group. InhB and FSH levels were higher in the +SR group, while InhB exhibited the opposite trend., Conclusions and Clinical Implications: Despite study heterogeneity, our meta-analysis findings support the ability of AMH to predict +SR for men with NOA undergoing mTESE., Patient Summary: We conducted a review and analysis of results from previous studies. Our findings show that for men with an infertility condition called nonobstructive azoospermia, blood levels of anti-Müllerian hormone can predict successful extraction of sperm using a microsurgical technique. Levels of two other hormones did not predict successful sperm extraction., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Context: Penile shaft sparing (PSS) surgery for localised penile cancer (PeCa) aims to balance oncological and functional outcomes., Objective: To summarise the published evidence on different PSS approaches., Evidence Acquisition: We performed a systematic review adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. The systematic search was performed on PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases up to February 14, 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed retrospective or prospective studies including patients ≥18 yr of age with localised PeCa treated with different PSS approaches, classified as laser ablation, circumcision, wide local excision, glansectomy with or without split skin graft, glans resurfacing, and mixed technique excision. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A quantitative synthesis was not performed due to anticipated data heterogeneity and a lack of comparative studies., Evidence Synthesis: Out of 4343 articles identified, 47 met our inclusion criteria, including 10 847 patients. The year of publication ranged between 1983 and 2021. Nine studies were prospective case series, while the remaining studies were retrospective. No comparative studies were identified. Most of the cases included in these studies were Ta and T1. The oncological outcomes were good for all the approaches, with cancer-specific mortality ranging between 0% and 18%. Sexual and cosmetic outcomes, despite being under-reported, were good for all the approaches, with almost all patients being satisfied with their quality of life after surgery. The Newcastle and Ottawa scale revealed a high or severely high risk of bias in all the included studies., Conclusions: PSS approaches were safe and had good functional outcomes, considering however the overall low quality of the studies on this issue., Patient Summary: The perioperative, function, and oncological outcomes of penile shaft sparing approaches are good. However, high-quality studies are needed to determine whether these approaches benefit patients with localised penile cancer., (Copyright © 2024 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Up to 15% of patients with locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) harbors tumor thrombus (TT). In those cases, radical nephrectomy (RN) and thrombectomy represents the standard of care. We assessed the impact of TT on long-term functional and oncological outcomes in a large contemporary cohort., Methods: Within a prospective maintained database, 1207 patients undergoing RN for non-metastatic RCC between 2000 and 2021 at a single tertiary centre were identified. Of these, 172 (14%) harbored TT. Multivariable logistic regression analyses evaluated the impact of TT on the risk of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). Multivariable Poisson regression analyses estimated the risk of long-term chronic kidney disease (CKD). Kaplan Meier plots estimated disease-free survival and cancer specific survival. Multivariable Cox regression models assessed the main predictors of clinical progression (CP) and cancer specific mortality (CSM)., Results: Patients with TT showed lower BMI (24 vs. 26 kg/m 2 ) and preoperative Hb (11 vs. 14 g/mL; all-p < 0.05). Clinical tumor size was higher in patients with TT (9.6 vs. 6.5 cm; p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, the presence of TT was significantly associated with a higher risk of postoperative AKI (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.49-3.6; p < 0.001) and long-term CKD (OR: 1.32, 95% CI 1.10-1.58; p < 0.01). Notably, patients with TT showed worse long-term oncological outcomes and TT was a predictor for CP (2.02, CI 95% 1.49-2.73, p < 0.001) and CSM (HR 1.61, CI 95% 1.04-2.49, p < 0.03)., Conclusions: The presence of TT in RCC patients represents a key risk factor for worse perioperative, as well as long-term renal function. Specifically, patients with TT harbor a significant and early estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decrease. However, despite TT patients show a greater eGFR decline after surgery, they retain acceptable renal function, which remains stable over time., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5is) represent a first-line pharmacological therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED). Men could obtain PDE5is for recreational purposes without any proper medical prescription., Objective: We aimed to analyze clinical characteristics of patients who already used any PDE5i for ED without previous formal medical prescription., Materials and Methods: Data from 2012 heterosexual, sexually active men seeking first medical help for ED at our outpatient clinic between 2005 and 2022 were analyzed. All patients were assessed with a comprehensive sexual and medical history and completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) at baseline. Comorbidities were scored with the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Thereof, according to exposure to any PDE5i before their first visit, patients were subdivided into: PDE5i-naïve and non-PDE5i-naïve patients. Descriptive statistics tested the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of both groups. A logistic regression model predicted the likelihood of being PDE5i-naïve at the baseline. Linear regression analysis (LRA) estimated the likelihood of being PDE5i-naïve versus non-PDE5i-naïve over the analyzed timeframe. Lastly, local polynomial regression models graphically explored the likelihood of being PDE5i-naïve at the first clinical assessment over the analyzed timeframe, and the sensitivity analyses tested the probability of being PDE5i-naïve at baseline., Results: Overall, 1,491 (70.9%) patients were PDE5i-naïve and 611 (29.1%) were non-PDE5i-naïve at the first assessment. PDE5is-naïve patients were younger, with a lower prevalence of CCI ≥ 1 and of normal erectile function (EF) than non-PDE5i-naïve men (all p < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression found that patients with lower BMI (OR: 0.99), higher IIEF-EF scores (OR: 1.02), lower rates of severe ED (OR: 0.94), and who had been assessed earlier throughout the study timeframe (OR: 1.27) were less likely to be PDE5i-naïve at baseline. Univariate LRA revealed that younger patients (Coeff: -0.02), with lower CCI (Coeff: -0.29) and higher alcohol intake per week (Coeff: 0.52) were more likely to be PDE5i-naïve over the analyzed timeframe. Moreover, for the same IIEF-EF score, patients with higher CCI had lower probability of being PDE5i-naïve., Conclusions: Self-prescription of PDE5is is an attitude presents in the general population, despite this phenomenon has decreased overtime. Current data outline the importance to keep promoting educational campaigns to promote PDE5is as effective and safe medicinal products, while avoiding their improper use., (© 2024 American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.)

Background: Multiple and heterogeneous techniques have been described for orthotopic neobladder (ONB) reconstruction after robot-assisted radical cystectomy. Nonetheless, a systematic assessment of all the available options is lacking., Objective: To provide the first comprehensive step-by-step description of all the available techniques for robotic intracorporeal ONB together with individual intraoperative, perioperative and functional outcomes based on a systematic review of the literature., Design, Setting, and Participants: We performed a systematic review of the literature, and MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify original articles describing different robotic intracorporeal ONB techniques and reporting intra- and perioperative outcomes. Studies were categorized according to ONB type, providing a synthesis of the current evidence. Video material was provided by experts in the field to illustrate the surgical technique of each intracorporeal ONB., Surgical Procedure: Nine different ONB types were identified: Studer, Hautmann, Y shape, U shape, Bordeaux, Pyramid, Shell, Florence Robotic Intracorporeal Neobladder, and Padua Ileal Neobladder., Measurements: Continuous and categorical variables are presented as mean ± standard deviation and as frequencies and proportions, respectively., Results and Limitations: Of 2587 studies identified, 19 met our inclusion criteria. No cohort studies or randomized control trials comparing different neobladder types are available. Available techniques for intracorporeal robotic ONB reconstruction have similar operative time, estimated blood loss, intraoperative complications, and length of stay. Major variability exists concerning postoperative complications and functional outcomes, likely related to reporting bias., Conclusions: Several techniques are described for intracorporeal ONB during robot-assisted radical cystectomy with comparable perioperative outcomes. We provide the first step-by-step surgical atlas for robot-assisted ONB reconstruction. Further comparative studies are needed to assess any advantage of one technique over others., Patient Summary: Patients elected for radical cystectomy should be aware that multiple techniques for robotic orthotopic neobladder are available, but that current evidence does not favor one type over the others., (Copyright © 2023 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To assess the relationship between clinical and semen characteristics and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes with different birth weight (BW) categories in a cohort of infertile men., Materials and Methods: Data from 1,063 infertile men were analyzed. Patients with BW ≤2,500, 2,500-4,000, and ≥4,000 g were considered as having low BW (LBW), normal BW (NBW), and high BW (HBW), respectively. Testicular volume (TV) was assessed with a Prader orchidometer. Serum hormones were measured in all cases. Semen analyses were categorized based on 2021 World Health Organization reference criteria. Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) was tested in every patient and considered pathological for SDF >30%. ART outcomes were available for 282 (26.5%) patients. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses detailed the association between semen parameters and clinical characteristics and the defined BW categories., Results: Of all, LBW, NBW, and HBW categories were found in 79 (7.5%), 807 (76.0%), and 177 (16.5%) men, respectively. LBW men had smaller TV, presented higher follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) but lower total testosterone levels compared to other groups (all p<0.01). Sperm progressive motility (p=0.01) and normal morphology (p<0.01) were lower and SDF values were higher (all p<0.01) in LBW compared to other groups. ART pregnancy outcomes were lower in LBW compared to both NBW and HBW categories (26.1% vs. 34.5% vs. 34.5%, p=0.01). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, LBW was associated with SDF >30% (odd ratio [OR] 3.7; p<0.001), after accounting for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), FSH, and TV. Similarly, LBW (OR 2.2; p<0.001), SDF >30% (OR 2.9; p<0.001) and partner's age (OR 1.3; p=0.001) were associated with negative ART outcomes, after accounting for the same predictors., Conclusions: LBW was associated with impaired clinical and semen characteristics in infertile men compared to both NBW and HBW. SDF and ART outcomes were significantly worse in the LBW group., Competing Interests: The authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology.)

Background: Undertreatment of otherwise healthy men in their seventies with prostate cancer has been reported previously., Material and Methods: Using information in a Swedish prostate cancer research database, patterns of management and cancer-specific mortality were compared across age groups in over 70,000 men diagnosed with intermediate- or high-risk nonmetastatic prostate cancer between 2008 and 2020. Crude probabilities of death were estimated non-parametrically. Staging procedures, primary treatment, and cancer death were compared using regression models, adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics., Results: During the study period, the proportion of men treated with curative intent increased in ages 70-74 (intermediate-risk from 45% to 72% and high-risk from 49% to 84%), 75-79 (intermediate-risk from 11% to 52% and high-risk from 12% to 70%), and 80-84 years (intermediate-risk from < 1% to 14% and high-risk from < 1% to 30%). Older age was associated with lower likelihoods of staging investigations and curative treatment, also after adjustment for tumor characteristics and comorbidity. Men treated with curative intent and those initially managed conservatively had lower crude risks of prostate cancer death than men receiving androgen deprivation treatment (ADT). In adjusted analyses, ADT was associated with higher prostate cancer mortality than curative treatment across ages and risk groups. Among men managed conservatively, prostate cancer mortality was higher in ages 70 and above., Interpretation: Use of curative treatment increased substantially in older men with prostate cancer between 2008 and 2020. Our findings suggest reduced age-bias and under-treatment, likely reflecting improved individualized decision-making and adherence to guidelines recommending more active management of older men.

Mucins are a family of high-molecular-weight glycoproteins. MUC1 is widely studied for its role in distinct types of cancers. In many human epithelial malignancies, MUC1 is frequently overexpressed, and its intracellular activities are crucial for cell biology. MUC1 overexpression can enhance cancer cell proliferation by modulating cell metabolism. When epithelial cells lose their tight connections, due to the loss of polarity, the mucins become dispersed on both sides of the epithelial membrane, leading to an abnormal mucin interactome with the membrane. Tumor-related MUC1 exhibits certain features, such as loss of apical localization and aberrant glycosylation that might cause the formation of tumor-related antigen epitopes. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 3% of adult malignancies and it is the most common kidney cancer. The exact role of MUC1 in this tumor is unknown. Evidence suggests that it may play a role in several oncogenic pathways, including proliferation, metabolic reprogramming, chemoresistance, and angiogenesis. The purpose of this review is to explore the role of MUC1 and the meaning of its overexpression in epithelial tumors and in particular in RCC.

Background: Orgasmic phase disorders in men worsen the burden of erectile dysfunction on sexual satisfaction., Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of and predictors of unreported orgasmic phase disorder in a cohort of men looking for their first urological assessment for new-onset erectile dysfunction in a real-life setting., Materials and Methods: Data from 1107 heterosexual, sexually active men consecutively assessed for new-onset erectile dysfunction were analysed. Throughout a comprehensive medical and sexual history, all patients were asked to self-report any orgasmic phase disorder and to complete the International Index of Erectile Function and the Beck's Inventory for Depression (depressive symptoms scored as Beck's Inventory for Depression ≥11). Men self-reporting orgasmic phase disorder during the interview were excluded from further analyses. The median value of the International Index of Erectile Function-orgasmic function domain was arbitrarily used to categorise men with (International Index of Erectile Function-orgasmic function ≤5) and without unreported orgasmic phase disorder (International Index of Erectile Function-orgasmic function >5). Circulating hormones were measured in every patient. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to test the association between clinical variables and unreported orgasmic phase disorder., Results: Of 1098 patients with non-self-reporting orgasmic phase disorder, 314 (28.6%) had International Index of Erectile Function-orgasmic function ≤5. Patients with erectile dysfunction + unreported orgasmic phase disorder were older (median [interquartile range]: 58 [44-66] years vs. 51 [40-60] years), had higher body mass index [25.8 (23.7-28.1) kg/m 2 vs. 25.2 (23.3-27.4) kg/m 2 ], higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes (36 [11.5%] vs. 45 [5.7%]) and lower International Index of Erectile Function-erectile function scores (6 [2-10] vs. 18 [11-24]) than men with erectile dysfunction-only (all p < 0.05). Patients with erectile dysfunction + unreported orgasmic phase disorder depicted higher rates of severe erectile dysfunction (75.5% vs. 25%) and Beck's Inventory for Depression ≥11 (22.6% vs. 17.9%) (all p < 0.05). In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, older age (odds ratio: 1.02) and lower International Index of Erectile Function-erectile function scores (odds ratio: 0.83) were independently associated with unreported orgasmic phase disorder (all p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Almost one in three men seeking first medical help for erectile dysfunction depicted criteria suggestive of unreported orgasmic phase disorder. Men with unreported orgasmic phase disorder were older and had higher rates of severe erectile dysfunction and concomitant depressive symptoms. These real-life findings outline the clinical relevance of a comprehensive investigation of concomitant sexual dysfunction in men only complaining of erectile dysfunction to more effectively tailor patient management., (© 2023 The Authors. Andrology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.)

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the relationship between follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B (InhB)., Materials and Methods: Data from 1,230 consecutive men presenting for primary couple's infertility were analyzed. Health-significant comorbidities were scored with Charlson comorbidity index. Quartiles of FSH and InhB were considered to determine threshold values. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models tested association between FSH and InhB values., Results: Overall, 1,080 (87.8%) men had concordant FSH and InhB values. Conversely, 150 patients (12.2%) had discrepancies in FSH and InhB, with 78 (6.3%) and 72 (5.9%) men reporting both low and high FSH and InhB values, respectively. Infertile men with discordant values were younger (median [interquartile range] 38.0 years [34-41 years] vs. 36.0 years [31-40 years]); had smaller testicular volume (TV) (12 mL [10-15 mL] vs. 15 mL [12-20 mL]); and, had more frequently a sperm DNA fragmentation test >30% (179 [59.1%] vs. 40 [78.4%]) than those with concordant values (all p<0.05). Moreover, a higher frequency of previous cryptorchidism (27.3% vs. 11.9%), lower sperm concentration (3.0 million/mL [0.9-11.0 million/mL] vs. 13.8 million/mL [3.1-36.0 million/mL]), lower progressive sperm motility rates (12.0% [5.0%-25.3%] vs. 20.0% [7.0%-36.0%]), and greater rates of non-obstructive azoospermia (36.4% vs. 23.9%) were found in men with discordant FSH and InhB values (all p≤0.005). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, higher body mass index (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; p=0.001), smaller TV (OR, 0.91; p<0.001), and a history of cryptorchidism (OR, 2.49; p<0.001) were associated with discordant FSH and InhB values., Conclusions: More than one out of ten infertile men had discordant FSH and InhB values in the real-life setting showing worse clinical profiles than those with concordant levels. Smaller TV and history of cryptorchidism could be used as clinical markers to better tailor the need to test InhB., Competing Interests: The authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology.)

Penile cancer (PeCa) is rare, and the oncological outcomes in younger men are unclear. We aimed to analyse and compare oncological outcomes of men age ≤50 years (y) and >50 years with PeCa. A retrospective analysis of men ≤50 y with penile squamous cell carcinoma managed at a tertiary centre was performed. A propensity score matched cohort of men >50 y was identified for comparison. Matching was according to tumour, nodal stage and the types of primary surgery. Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and metastasis-free survivals (MFS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier plots and compared using log-rank tests. Between 2005-2020, 100 men ≤50 y (median (IQR) age, 46 y (40-49)) were identified and matched with 100 men >50 y (median (IQR) age, 65 y (59-73)). 10, 24, 32, 34 men age ≤50 y were diagnosed in 2005-2007, 2008-2012, 2013-2016 and 2017-2020 respectively. Median (IQR) follow-up was 53.5 (18-96) months. OS at 2 years: ≤50 y, 86%>50 y, 80.6%; 5 years: ≤50 y, 78.1%, >50 y, 63.1%; 10 years: ≤50 y, 72.3%, >50 y, 45.6% (p = 0.01). DSS at 2 years: ≤50 y, 87.2%>50 y, 87.8%; 5 years: ≤50 y, 80.9%>50 y, 78.2%; 10 years: ≤50 y, 78%, >50 y, 70.9% (p = 0.74). RFS was 93.1% in the ≤50 y group (vs. >50 y, 96.5%) at 2 year, and 90% (vs. >50 y, 88.5%) at 5 years, p = 0.81. Within the ≤50 y group, 2 years and 5 years MFS was 93% (vs. >50 y, 96.5%), and 89.5% (vs. >50 y, 92.7%) respectively, (p = 0.40). There were no statistical significance in DFS, RFS and MFS in men age ≤50 y and >50 y. PeCa in younger patients is fatal, public awareness and patient education are crucial for early detection and management., (© 2024. Crown.)

The interrelationship between male sexual desire and erectile dysfunction (ED) has been scantly investigated. Thus, we aimed at investigating the prevalence of and the predictors of unrecognised low sexual desire/interest (uLSD/I) in a cohort of men with new onset ED. Complete data from 1587 men seeking for first medical help for ED between 2010 and 2021 were analysed. Comorbidities were scored with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). At entrance, all patients were asked to self-report low sexual desire/interest and completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (depressive symptoms scored as BDI ≥ 11). The IIEF-erectile function (IIEF-EF) domain was categorised according to Cappelleri's criteria. The median value of the IIEF-sexual desire domain (IIEF-SD) was used to dichotomise men with uLSD/I along with ED (IIEF-SD < 7) vs. ED-only (IIEF-SD ≥ 7). Circulating hormones were measured in every patient. Hypogonadism was defined as total testosterone (tT) <3.0 ng/mL. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models tested the association between clinical variables and uLSD/I. Of 1197 patients not self-reporting LSD/I, 369 (30.8%) had IIEF-SD < 7. Patients with ED + uLSD/I were older [median (IQR) 54(41-63) vs. 49(36-59) years], had lower IIEF-EF [10.5(5-22) vs. 22(11-28)] but higher BDI [6(3-12) vs. 4(1-8)] and lower tT [4.3(3.2-5.7) vs. 4.8(3.2-6.3) ng/mL] compared to ED-only men (all p < 0.05). Overall, ED + uLSD/I men had higher rate of severe ED (49.9% vs. 23.9%), and of BDI ≥ 11 (30.6% vs. 18.2%) (all p < 0.05). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, lower tT (OR: 0.82), lower IIEF-EF scores (OR:0.95) and BDI ≥ 11 (OR:2.51) were independently associated with ED + uLSD/I, after accounting for age (all p < 0.05). Almost 30% of men seeking first medical help for ED-only had also uLSD/I. Men with both conditions were older, had higher rates of severe ED and more depressive symptoms. A detailed investigation of sexual desire should be always included in men self-complaining only of ED., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Objective: To investigate the association between immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and oncological outcomes in patients with advanced urothelial cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and whether the administration of systemic corticosteroids diminishes therapeutic impact., Patients and Methods: The association between irAEs occurrence and clinical progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) was tested by means of multivariable Cox or competing-risks regression, when appropriate. Patients experiencing irAEs were further stratified based on systemic corticosteroids administration. A sensitivity analysis was conducted by repeating all the analyses with median time to irAE as landmark point., Results: We relied on individual participant data from two prospective trials for advanced urothelial cancer: IMvigor210 and IMvigor211. A total of 896 patients who received atezolizumab for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer were considered. Overall, irAEs were recorded in 195 patients and the median time to irAEs was 64 days. On multivariable analysis, irAEs were inversely associated with the risk of disease progression (hazard ratio [HR] 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40-0.61; P < 0.001), overall mortality (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.41-0.64; P < 0.001), and cancer-specific mortality (subdistributional HR [sHR] 0.55, 95% CI 0.45-0.72; P < 0.001). Moreover, our results did not refute the supposition that the administration of systemic corticosteroids does not impact oncological outcomes (PFS: HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.62-1.34, P = 0.629; OS: HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.51-1.64, P = 0.613; CSS: sHR 0.90, 95% CI 0.60-1.36, P = 0.630). The sensitivity analysis confirmed our findings., Conclusions: The development of irAEs while receiving atezolizumab treatment was associated with improved oncological outcomes, namely overall and cancer-specific mortality, and PFS. These findings seem to not be substantially affected by administration of systemic corticosteroids., (© 2023 BJU International.)

A range of drugs have a direct role in triggering ischaemic priapism. We aimed at identifying: a) which medications are associated with most priapism-reports; and, b) within these medications, comparing their potential to elicit priapism through a disproportionality analysis. The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database was queried to identify those drugs associated the most with priapism reports over the last 5 years. Only those drugs being associated with a minimum of 30 priapism reports were considered. The Proportional Reporting Ratios (PRRs), and their 95% confidence intervals were computed. Out of the whole 2015-2020 database, 1233 priapism reports were identified, 933 of which (75.7%) were associated with 11 medications with a minimum of 30 priapism-reports each. Trazodone, olanzapine and tadalafil showed levels of disproportionate reporting, with a PRR of 9.04 (CI95%: 7.73-10.58), 1.55 (CI95%: 1.27-1.89), and 1.42 (CI95%: 1.10-1.43), respectively. Most (57.5%) of the reports associated with the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) were related with concomitant priapism-eliciting drugs taken at the same time and/or inappropriate intake/excessive dosage. Patients taking trazodone and/or antipsychotics need to be aware of the priapism-risk; awareness among prescribers would help in reducing priapism-related detrimental sequelae; PDE5I-intake is not responsible for priapism by itself, when appropriate medical supervision is provided., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Sleep quality and duration have been investigated for their association with health. Insomnia affects up to one-third of adults and may impact male erectile function. In addition, medical treatments for insomnia (many of which are sedatives) may also affect erectile quality., Objective: To investigate the association of erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients diagnosed with and treated for insomnia., Design, Setting, and Participants: We utilized the IBM MarketScan (2007-2016) Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Databases (v 2.0). Age- and enrollment-matched controls were selected among patients without insomnia diagnosis or treatment., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the risk of incident ED (ie, diagnosis alone, or diagnosis and treatment with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors [PDE5i], intracavernous injection (ICI)/urethral suppositories, and penile prosthesis) after the diagnosis or treatment of insomnia while adjusting for relevant comorbidities., Results and Limitations: In total, 539 109 men with an insomnia diagnosis were identified. Of these men, 356 575 were also medically treated for insomnia. The mean (±standard deviation) follow-up times for patients diagnosed with insomnia and those diagnosed with and treated for insomnia were 2.8 ± 1.6 and 3.1 ± 1.8 yr, respectively. Men with insomnia were more commonly smokers and had a higher number of office visits and comorbidities than controls (p < 0.001). On an adjusted analysis, both untreated and treated insomnia were associated with increased risks of ED diagnosis (hazard ratio or HR [95% confidence interval {CI}]: 1.58 [1.54-1.62] and 1.66 [1.64-1.69], respectively; p < 0.001). Similarly, men with treated insomnia had a higher risk of having ED treated with PDE5i (HR [95% CI]: 1.52 [1.49-1.55]; p < 0.001) and ICI (HR [95% CI]: 1.32 [1.14-1.54]; p < 0.001) when compared with controls. A limitation of this study was that a lack of granularity regarding patient clinical characteristics (eg, severity of disease, laboratory data, etc.) is inherent to insurance claims data. In addition, the follow-up was limited and may affect associations at longer time points., Conclusions: In the current report, a consistent association between insomnia and ED diagnosis was identified. Men diagnosed with insomnia only were found to have a higher risk of developing ED. Moreover, men with pharmacological insomnia treatments were more often prescribed treatments for ED. Given the prevalence of insomnia, future studies are warranted to delineate the association of insomnia and its treatment with erectile function., Patient Summary: Insomnia affects up to one-third of adults and impact male erectile function. Men only diagnosed with insomnia were found to have a higher risk of developing erectile dysfunction (ED). Moreover, men with pharmacological insomnia treatments were more often prescribed treatments for ED., (Copyright © 2023 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)