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Background: While various treatment modalities exist, penile prosthesis (PP) implantation offers a permanent solution for patients that do not respond to or are not suitable for other treatment options for erectile dysfunction., Aim: The aim of this study was to establish stretched penile length before surgery as a reliable determining factor of penile length after penile implant surgery., Methods: For this study, data on penile length before and after PP surgery from three European centers was analyzed. Penile length measurements were conducted preoperatively and postoperatively in different conditions using standardized techniques. Only virgin cases were included and a complete case analysis was performed., Outcome: The outcome of this study was the comparison of stretched penile length before and the inflated penile length after PP surgery., Results: Data on penile length before and after PP of 361 patients was analyzed. Preoperative stretched penile length was equal to postoperative inflated penile length in 33% of patients. The absolute mean difference between pre-surgery stretched and postoperative inflated lengths was 1.1 cm. No correlation was found between implanted cylinder length and postoperative penile length. Additionally, the choice of implant type did not significantly affect postoperative penile length outcomes., Clinical Implications: Our findings confirm the reliability of preoperative stretched penile length as a tool for proper patient counseling before PP surgery., Strengths & Limitations: Although our study is overpowered, our results show that preoperative stretched penile length serves as a reliable predictor of postoperative penile length outcomes after PP surgery. By providing clinicians with a tool for patient counseling, our findings contribute to enhancing satisfaction and quality of life outcomes in patients undergoing PP implantation., Conclusion: Preoperative stretched penile length serves as a reliable predictor of postoperative penile length outcomes after PP surgery., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Sexual Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Quality control indicators (QCIs) can be used to objectively evaluate guideline adherence and benchmark quality among urologists and centers., Objective: To assess six QCIs for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) using a prospective registry of transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) procedures., Design, Setting, and Participants: Clinical data for TURBT cases were prospectively collected using electronic case report forms (eCRFs) embedded in the electronic medical record in three centers during 2013-2017. Pathological data were collected retrospectively. Patients with T0 disease or prior T2 disease were excluded., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: We assessed six QCIs: complete resection (CR) status, presence of detrusor muscle (DM), re-TURBT, single instillation of mitomycin C (MMC), start of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy, and therapy ≤6 wk after diagnosis. We assessed the quality of reporting on QCIs and compliance with QCIs, compared compliance between centers and over time, and investigated correlation between compliance and recurrence-free survival (RFS)., Results and Limitations: Data for 1350 TURBT procedures were collected, of which 1151 were included for 907 unique patients. The distribution of European Association of Urology risk categories after TURBT was 271 with low risk, 464 with intermediate risk, and 416 with high risk. The quality of reporting for two QCIs was suboptimal, at 35% for DM and 51% for BCG. QCI compliance was 97% for CR, 31% for DM, 65% for MMC, 33% for re-TURBT, 39% for BCG, and 88% for therapy ≤6 wk after diagnosis. Compliance with all QCIs differed significantly among centers. Compliance with MMC and re-TURBT increased significantly over time, which could be attributed to one center. Compliance with MMC was significantly correlated with RFS. The main study limitation is the retrospective collection of pathology data., Conclusions: A TURBT registry consisting of eCRFs to collect pathology and outcome data allowed assessment of QCIs for NMIBC. Our study illustrates the feasibility of this approach in a real-life setting. Differences in performance on QCIs among centers can motivate urologists to improve their day-to-day care for patients with NMIBC, and can thus improve clinical outcomes., Patient Summary: Our study demonstrates that quality control indicators for treatment of bladder cancer not invading the bladder muscle can be evaluated using electronic medical records. We assessed results for 1151 procedures in 907 individual patients to remove bladder tumors between 2013 and 2017 at three centers in Belgium. Compliance with the quality control indicators differed between centers, increased over time, and was correlated with recurrence of disease., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background and Aims: Treating beyond endoscopic remission, aiming for histological remission, is an emerging target in ulcerative colitis [UC]. Patient-reported outcome measurements [PROMs] become increasingly important, but their association with histology is unclear., Methods: Multiple PROMs were prospectively collected in UC patients undergoing colonoscopy. Mayo endoscopic sub-score [MES] and ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity [UCEIS] were determined, as well as the Nancy histological index [NHI] of the most affected area. Endoscopic remission was defined as MES and UCEIS 0, histological remission as NHI 0, and histo-endoscopic mucosal remission [HEMR] as a combination of both., Results: A total of 109 assessments were collected in 80 patients with endoscopic and HEMR remission rates of 24.8% and 16.5%, respectively. Patients with HEMR had a significantly lower overall inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] disability [p <0.001] and disease activity score [p <0.001] as compared with patients without. In line, NHI correlated with the overall IBD-disk [r = 0.36, p <0.001] and simple clinical colitis activity index [SCCAI] score [r = 0.44, p <0.001]. Many individual components of both differed significantly between patients with and without HEMR. Although the overall accuracy of the IBD-disk [0.78] or SCCAI score [0.83] for HEMR is lower [p <0.005] than the MES or UCEIS [0.95], a cumulative IBD-disk score >35.5 and an SSCAI score >3.5 have a high negative predictive value [98.6% and 100.0%, respectively] to exclude HEMR., Conclusion: Histo-endoscopic inactive disease is associated with reduced IBD disability, but not with complete absence thereof. PROMs for disability and clinical disease activity cannot fully replace histo-endoscopic findings, and should be considered complementary in patient-centred endpoint discussions. Nevertheless, PROMs have a high negative predictive value to rule out HEMR., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: To provide a scoping review of the available literature for determining objectively the effect of cochlear implantation on vestibular function in children., Methods: A literature search was performed and the following criteria were applied: vestibular tests that were performed on subjects within the range of 0-18 years old before and after cochlear implantation. The papers conducted at least one of the following tests: (video) head impulse test, caloric test, cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials or rotatory chair test. Included papers underwent quality assessment and this was graded by risk of bias and directness of evidence., Results: Fourteen articles met the selection criteria. The included studies showed that cochlear implantation leads to a decrease in vestibular function in a proportion of the patient population. This loss of vestibular function can be permanent, but (partial) restoration over the course of months to years is possible. The pooling of data determined that the articles varied on multiple factors, such as time of testing pre- and post-operatively, age of implantation, etiologies of hearing loss, used surgical techniques, type of implants and the applied protocols to determine altered responses within vestibular tests. The overall quality of the included literature was deemed as high risk of bias and medium to low level of directness of evidence. Therefore, the data was considered not feasible for systematic analysis., Conclusion: This review implicates that vestibular function is either unaffected or shows short-term or permanent deterioration after cochlear implantation in children. However, the heterogeneity of the available literature indicates the importance of standardized testing to improve our knowledge of the effect of cochlear implantation on the vestibular function and subsequent developmental consequences for the concerned children., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Gerdsen, Jorissen, Pustjens, Hof, Van Rompaey, Van De Berg and Widdershoven.)

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate studies dealing with driving performance of dizzy patients or patients with a vestibular disorder., Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines. (1) PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library. (2) Study selection: articles about driving ability and reported driving difficulties in patients with dizziness, or a diagnosed vestibular disorder, were included. (3) Data extraction was performed by two independent authors using predefined data fields: patient's characteristics, diagnostic criteria, sample size, and type of evaluation of driving ability and outcome of the study., Results: Eight out of 705 articles matched the inclusion criteria but varied widely regarding the study population, study design, and outcome measures. The majority of studies reported a negative impact of dizziness and/or vestibular disorders on self-reported driving ability and car accidents. Yet several studies could not identify any impairment of driving ability., Conclusions: Driving ability was negatively affected by dizziness or a vestibular disorder in the majority of included studies with low risk of bias. This systematic review revealed a significant heterogeneity in studies reporting driving performance and contradictory results. We were, therefore, unable to identify a causal relationship between dizziness and driving ability. There is a need for prospective studies in populations with different vestibular disorders using subjective and objective outcome measures that have been validated to evaluate driving performance., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A 79-year-old patient, with a history of redoendoscopic ampullectomy (low grade dysplasia), was referred to our hospital with cholestatic liver function abnormalities and dilation of the common bile duct. Diagnostic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was performed (Figure 1, left), as well as upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (Figure 1, right). What is the final diagnosis and which treatment would you propose?, (© Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica.)

Importance: Given the rising prevalence of patients with dementia and those at risk for it, early identification is prioritized. As vestibular dysfunction is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may contribute to its onset, vestibular assessment may yield an opportunity in early dementia screening., Objective: This systematic review structures and compares the different raw outcome measures used to assess vestibular function while comparing older adults with preserved cognition to individuals with cognitive impairment, either suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD., Design: Two investigators independently and systematically searched publications performing objectively measured vestibular testing in a patient population consisting of either MCI or AD, compared with a control group of older adults with preserved cognition. No limitations regarding language or publication date were applied. References of the retrieved articles were hand searched for relevant articles., Results: Seven articles were included for analysis. A total of 235 older adults with impaired cognition (150 AD, 85 MCI) were compared with a control group of 481 older adults with preserved cognition. Evaluation of the peripheral vestibular function included video head impulse test (vHIT), videonystagmography (VNG), electronystagmography (ENG) including bithermal caloric irrigation and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP). The VEMP test, assessing otolith function and the elicited vestibulocollic reflex (VCR), was able to differentiate subjects with AD and its prodromal stage from healthy controls, with p13 latency (p < 0.05) and amplitude (p < 0.05) having the most discriminating power.No correlation between cognitive decline and vestibulo-ocular reflex measurements in different frequency ranges of the semicircular canals (using vHIT, rotatory chair testing, and caloric irrigation) was found. Because of the limited number of available studies and the large heterogeneity in outcome measures, these results have to be interpreted with caution., Conclusions: Measurements of the VCR, as evoked by the VEMP test, discriminate between patients with cognitive impairment (MCI and AD) and older adults with preserved cognition, whereas measurements of the vestibulo-ocular reflex do not. More studies are needed to further elaborate on these findings., Competing Interests: The authors disclose no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Ear & Hearing is published on behalf of the American Auditory Society, by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including perfluoroalkylated acids (PFAS), are chemicals with a bioaccumulative potential that are detected in wildlife around the world. Although multiple studies reported the pollution of the aquatic environment with these chemicals, only limited data is present on the environmental pollution of Tanzania's aquatic environment and the possible risks for human health through consumption of contaminated fish or invertebrates. In the present study, we examined the distribution of metals and POPs in fish, invertebrates, sediment and water, collected at two different years at multiple important water reservoirs for domestic and industrial purposes, in the aquatic environment near Morogoro, Tanzania. Furthermore, we assessed the possible risks for human health through consumption of contaminated fish and shrimp. Metal concentrations in the water, sediment, invertebrates and fish appeared to increase in sites downstream from Morogoro city, likely caused by the presence of the city as pollution source. Significant differences in accumulated concentrations of metals and POPs were observed between species, which was hypothesized to be caused by dietary differences. Concentrations of multiple metals exceeded water and sediment quality guidelines values. Only Cu (2.8-17 μg/L) and Zn (

Introduction: Superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS) is a condition characterized by a defect in the bone overlying the superior semicircular canal, creating a third mobile window into the inner ear. Patients can experience disabling symptoms and opt for surgical management. Limited data are available on the impact of SCDS on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disease-specific HRQoL more specifically. Objective: To perform a prospective analysis on generic HRQoL in SCDS patients compared to healthy age-matched controls. Methods: A prospective study was performed on patients diagnosed with SCDS and who did not undergo reconstructive surgery yet. Patients were recruited between November 2017 and January 2020 and asked to complete the Health Utility Index (HUI) Mark 2 (HUI2)/Mark 3 (HUI3) questionnaire. For the control group, age-matched participants without otovestibular pathology or other chronic pathology were recruited. The multi-attribute utility function (MAUF) score was calculated for the HUI2 and HUI3. Results of both groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: A total of 20 patients completed the questionnaire. Age ranged from 37 to 79 years with a mean age of 56 years (45% males and 55% females). The control group consisted of 20 participants with a mean age of 56.4 years and ranged from 37 to 82 years (35% males and 65% females). For the case group, median HUI2 MAUF score was 0.75 and median HUI3 MAUF score was 0.65. For the control group, the median scores were 0.88 and 0.86 respectively. There was a statistically significant difference for both HUI2 ( p = 0.024) and HUI3 ( p = 0.011). SCDS patients had a worse generic HRQoL than age-matched healthy controls. One patient with unilateral SCDS had a negative HUI3 MAUF score (-0.07), indicating a health-state worse than death. Conclusion: SCDS patients have significantly lower health utility values than an age-matched control group. This confirms the negative impact of SCDS on generic HRQoL, even when using an instrument that is not designed to be disease-specific but to assess health state in general. These data can be useful to compare impact on HRQoL among diseases., (Copyright © 2020 Ocak, Topsakal, Van de Heyning, Van Haesendonck, Jorissen, van de Berg, Vanderveken and Van Rompaey.)

Introduction: Dementia is a prevalent disease affecting a growing number of the ageing population. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Previous research investigated the link between hearing loss and cognition, and the effect of vestibular dysfunction on cognition. Hearing loss and, to a lesser extent, vestibular decline both result in a decreasing cognitive function. However, their interaction should not be underestimated. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of hearing loss, vestibular decline and their interaction on cognition in people suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia due to AD (ADD)., Methods and Analysis: We designed a prospective longitudinal study to assess the effect of hearing loss and vestibular decline on cognition. A total of 100 cognitively impaired elderly (between 55 and 84 years of age), consisting of 60 patients with MCI due to AD and 40 patients with ADD will be included. The control group will consist of individuals with preserved cognition group-matched based on age, hearing level and vestibular function. A comprehensive assessment is performed at baseline, 12-month and 24-month follow-ups. The primary outcome measure is the change in the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status adjusted for Hearing-impaired individuals total score, a cognitive test battery assessing different cognitive domains. Secondary outcome measures include additional neuropsychological assessments, cortical auditory-evoked potentials, and evaluation of general and disease-specific health-related quality of life. Variables include cognitive, audiological and vestibular evaluation. Variance analyses will assess the effect of hearing loss and vestibular decline on cognition. More precisely, the link between hearing loss and non-spatial cognitive functioning, the effect of vestibular decline on spatial cognition and the impact of both factors on the rate of conversion from MCI due to AD to ADD will be investigated., Ethics and Dissemination: The study protocol was approved by the ethical committee of the Antwerp University Hospital on 4 February 2019 with protocol number B300201938949. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations., Trial Registration Number: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04385225)., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common disorder, which affects at least 50% of males aged 50-70 years. According to EAU Guidelines on male sexual dysfunction, implantation of an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is a valid, third-line therapeutic option for treatment of ED., Objective: We conducted a retrospective single centre study to analyze mechanical reliability, complication rate, patient satisfaction and quality of life after penile prosthesis implantation., Materials and Methods: A total of 126 electronic patient files after primary implantation of an IPP during a 5-year period were investigated. A structured telephone interview concerning patient and partner satisfaction was conducted at least 1 year after implant surgery., Results: We found that 15 patients (11.9%) had revision surgery for various reasons. Mechanical failure occurred in 7.14% of the patients and was the main reason for revision surgery. Other major complications and complaints were loss of penile length (18.53%), postoperative pain (11.9%) and altered sensation (8.73%). No patients required explantation for infection, and 1 patient (0.79%) underwent revision surgery for an imminent erosion. One year or more after surgery, the patient and partner satisfaction rates, were 83.2 and 85.4%, respectively. We observed very high patient and partner satisfaction rates for the implantation of an IPP, with improvement of the general quality of life. These rates are negatively influenced by the occurrence of postoperative complications and complaints such as postoperative penile length shortening, pain and floppy glans syndrome. Most patients regain sexual function 6 weeks after surgery with no or minimal effect on the orgasm., Conclusion: The implantation of a 3-piece IPP has proven an effective, third-line treatment for patients with ED., (Copyright © 2019 by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Despite the existence of international guidelines, vaccination in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been integrated optimally. We developed a thorough education program, and compared its influence on vaccination rates with routine clinical practice in a tertiary IBD center., Methods: Between December 2014 and March 2015, we included 505 consecutive patients with IBD visiting our outpatient clinic (53% men, 72% Crohn's disease, median age 44 years). Vaccination data, including hepatitis B, influenza, pneumococcus, tetanus, and varicella zoster virus, as well as demographic data, were collected by a fellow in training or a certified gastroenterologist. Thereafter, patients were randomly assigned to group A receiving routine clinical practice or intervention group B receiving additional education by the IBD nurse with help of an information brochure and vaccination card. Vaccination status was reassessed 8 months later., Results: At baseline, 32% of patients were vaccinated according to the guidelines. The remaining 346 patients were randomized to group A (n = 206) or intervention group B (n = 140). Eight months after randomization, 33% of intervention group B versus 6% of group A followed vaccination recommendations and differences were significant for each vaccine (all P < 0.001). A higher educational level was independently associated with better compliance to pneumococcal vaccination (P = 0.008) and to the guidelines overall (P < 0.001). However, the educational intervention was the only consistent factor independently associated with improved compliance to each individual vaccination recommendation (all P ≤ 0.023)., Conclusions: Introduction of thorough vaccination education significantly increased compliance to vaccination guidelines. However, further education of patients and health care providers remains necessary.