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Erectile dysfunction (ED) poses a significant challenge in clinical practice, necessitating accurate diagnostic strategies to distinguish between organic and psychogenic causes. Current guidelines advocate a comprehensive approach involving medical history, physical examination and blood tests, with second-level analyses like the intracavernous injection of vasoactive drugs (ICI test) and penile duplex ultrasound (PDU) reserved for specific cases. A survey involving 24 urologists experienced in ED was conducted to assess their opinions on the appropriateness of the ICI test and PDU in six clinical scenarios. Results were analyzed using pie charts, revealing varied preferences among experts. The responses indicated diverse viewpoints, with preferences for the ICI test or PDU depending on the patient’s age, comorbidities, response to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) and concomitant Peyronie’s disease. In some cases, a significant proportion of experts opted for neither test. The study highlights the lack of consensus among experts regarding the routine use of PDU in ED management. Despite its diagnostic capabilities, the clinical utility of PDU remains unclear, and its role may be more justified in certain populations with anatomical abnormalities or specific conditions. The need for rigorous research to determine the impact of PDU on ED management decision-making is emphasized.

Objective: To compare the safety profile and clinical outcomes of Altieri-modified Nesbit corporoplasty using two different anesthesia methods including spinal anesthesia and local anesthesia. Materials and methods: A total of 40 patients with congenital penile curvature (CPC) and Peyronie’s disease (PD) underwent Altieri-modified Nesbit corporoplasty. Group 1 (n = 20) received spinal anesthesia, and Group 2 (n = 20) received local anesthesia. The patients were categorized into age groups (< 30 years, 31-45 years, 46-60 years, and 61-75 years) for analysis. Clinical outcomes, post-operative complications, hospital stay, pain levels, and other parameters were assessed. Results: The results showed that 2 patients (10%) reported postoperative complications, including headache, arterial hypotension, and penile foreskin necrosis from the spinal anesthesia group. Whereas, in the local anesthesia group, 1 patient (5%) reported scar phimosis. Further, post-operative pain was predominantly very mild, with 16 patients (80%) in the spinal anesthesia group and 14 patients (70%) in the local anesthesia group experiencing minimal discomfort. Age did not significantly impact hospital stay, post-operative intestinal disorders, constipation, lower urinary tract symptoms, voiding burning, or dysuria. Conclusions: Spinal anesthesia may lead to more post-operative complications and longer hospital stays compared to local anesthesia. Age does not significantly affect most clinical outcomes but can influence post-operative pain in patients receiving local anesthesia.

Peyronie’s disease (PD) is a condition of penile connective tissue affecting up to 10% of men worldwide. In the complexity of its management, nonsurgical treatments, such as intraplaque injections, are gaining attention. The current literature shows data on the efficacy of intraplaque injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) mainly in acute-phase PD. However, data on injections of HA in stable-phase PD are lacking. Data for this retrospective study were derived from a prospectively maintained database of private patients presenting at a private medical practice affiliated to the University of Naples “Federico II” (Naples, Italy) with stable-phase PD between January 2020 and March 2023. Patients underwent a standard protocol of three injections, each administered at a two-week interval. During the intervals, patients performed vacuum device therapy, penile stretching, and modeling exercises. All patients compiled the Peyronie’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ) and Global Assessment of Peyronie’s Disease (GAPD) at baseline and 2 weeks after the third injection. A penile Doppler ultrasound was performed 2 weeks after the last injection to record the final curvature. Overall, we recruited 62 patients with stable-phase PD and a mean (±standard deviation [s.d.]) curvature of 52.7° (±9.7°). After 6 weeks, eight (12.9%) patients did not experience any curvature improvement. The remaining 54 patients had a final mean (±s.d.) curvature of 40.3° (±9.1°) with P < 0.001, compared to that before treatment. We found improvement in all PDQ domains (all P ≤ 0.01), and 50 (80.6%) patients reported subjective improvement of the penile curvature according to the GAPD. In conclusion, we demonstrated that after three injections of HA administered according to the adopted protocol, patients with stable-phase PD could experience significant improvements in penile curvature, and physical and psychological consequences of the disease without significantly relevant side effects.

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the effects of ejaculatory abstinence on sperm parameters.MethodsThis analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023472124). We performed a search on PubMed using the following text terms: ((“sperm parameters” OR “sperm analysis” [Mesh]) AND (“sperm DNA fragmentation” OR “DNA fragmentation” [Mesh]) AND (“sexual abstinence” [Mesh] OR “abstinence”)) and an advanced search in Scopus using the terms (“sperm parameters” OR “sperm parameters” OR “DNA fragmentation”) AND (“abstinence”). The sperm parameters that were investigated were sperm volume, total sperm motility, progressive sperm motility, sperm concentration, sperm morphology, and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). A two-day cut-off as a “short” or “long” abstinence period has been defined.ResultsThirteen studies published between 2013 and 2022 were included in this meta-analysis. A total of 2,315 patients, ranging from 6 to 836 from each cohort, were enrolled in the study. We showed that longer abstinence time was associated with greater sperm concentration (mean difference [MD]: 8.19; p

Objective: To evaluate the telemedicine information published on the most popular social media platforms, during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We queried the BuzzSumo tool to identify related telemedicine article links that were shared most on social media, from February 2021 to February 2022. The PEMAT-P was used for the quality assessment of the most shared links. Results: 125 links were eligible for the analysis. Facebook was the most used social media platform for sharing articles (median engagement: 1000). Most of the articles were published by magazines (n = 82, 65.6%) and the main topic addressed was general information (n = 49, 39.2%). In the subgroup analyses of the 34 most shared articles, Facebook was the most used social media platform (median engagement:1950), most of the articles were published by magazines (n = 24, 70.6%), whereas the main topic addressed was the prescription of the abortion pill (n = 9, 26.5%). According to the PEMAT-P tool, the median understandability and actionability score was 63.8 and 20%, respectively. Conclusions: The interest in telemedicine has increased all over the world, as evidenced by the high engagement in social media articles, recorded during the last year. However, the access to digital health services is still limited, the information provided is often not verified by an official entity and unable to fill the digital divide exacerbated by COVID 19 pandemic crisis. Hence, health policy should be developed or modified to ensure a more egalitarian Internet access for all citizens. Official medical institutions should standardize telemedicine regulation and online content to reduce the widespread of misleading information.

Background: Management of penile cancer patients has its grey zones. In particular, no strong evidence or recommendations exist regarding the timing of prophylactic lymphadenectomy. Here, we aim to review the impact that the timing of inguinal and pelvic prophylactic lymph node dissection has on patient outcome. Methods: All relevant databases were searched following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines. A narrative review of indications for lymph node dissection and pathological considerations precede a systematic review of the impact of prophylactic lymph node dissection timing on prognosis. The primary endpoint is disease-free and overall survival in patients undergoing early or late lymph node dissection after penile cancer diagnosis. Results: Four clinical trials, all focusing on the role of inguinal lymph node dissection, are included. Despite the lack of randomized and controlled trials, this review suggests that lymph node dissection should be performed as soon as possible after diagnosis, with 3 months as a realistic cut-off. Conclusions: Survival of penile cancer patients is strictly related to the timing of prophylactic pelvic lymph node dissection. All patients at high risk of nodal metastasis should be offered lymph node dissection within three months of diagnosis, until new predicting tools are validated.

Background: Peyronie’s disease (PD) represents a challenging urological disease, due to not optimal post-operative surgical outcomes. We aim to retrospectively evaluate if vacuum erection device (VED) treatment before penile curvature surgery is able to improve post-operative surgical outcomes. Methods: All enrolled patients were assigned to the following groups: (a) the treatment group: VED treatment (three times per week) starting 3 months before surgery and (three times per week) one month after surgery; and (b) the control group: VED treatment (three times per week) one month after surgery. Follow-up urologic visits were scheduled for 3 and 6 months after surgery, and the two groups were compared. Results: A total of 38 patients were enrolled (median age 67 years, 57–74, IQR): 20 in the treatment group and 18 in the control group. At the follow-up visits, the two groups were different in terms of IIEF-5 (26 vs. 24; p = 0.02), “yes” to SEP2 and 3 (85% vs. 55%; p < 0.001, 85% vs. 50%; p < 0.001, respectively), and PDQ (−16 vs. −11; p = 0.03). Complete correction of penile curvature was achieved in 36 patients (94.7%). In the treatment group, no hourglass deformity was reported, whereas one patient reported a mild hourglass deformity in the control group. In the treatment group, we obtained a longer total penile length (median +1.5 cm). The overall satisfaction rate was 98% in the treatment group and 96% in the control group. Conclusions: The VED treatment before penile curvature surgery in patients affected by PD was able to improve surgical outcomes.

Peyronie’s disease is a condition characterized by the formation of fibrous plaques in the tunica albuginea, which can cause pain, curvature, and erectile dysfunction. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of hyaluronic acid in treating Peyronie’s disease, including antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and proangiogenic effects, although more research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms of action. Clinical studies have shown promising results, with hyaluronic acid injections leading to improvements in plaque size, penile curvature, and erectile function, and being well tolerated by patients. The findings suggest that HA injections could be a viable and safe treatment option for Peyronie’s disease, particularly in the early stages of the disease. However, more research is needed to determine the optimal dosage and treatment duration for HA injections, and to confirm its efficacy in the stable phase of Peyronie’s disease. Overall, hyaluronic acid is a potentially effective therapy for Peyronie’s disease, with the ability to inhibit fibrosis and promote angiogenesis, and low risk of adverse effects, making it an attractive option for patients who are unable or unwilling to undergo surgery.

Background: Penile shortening, frequently resulting from end-stage Peyronie’s disease (PD), has a negative impact on patients’ sexual activity and overall quality of life, especially when accompanied by Erectile dysfunction (ED). Various surgical techniques have been described to manage concomitant ED and penile shortening through penile prosthesis (PP) implantation. Objectives: To evaluate the benefits and risks of different penile length preservation techniques during PP implantation. Design: A systematic review of the available literature on the use of penile length preservation maneuvers in conjunction with PP implantation was conducted. Data sources and methods: For this systematic review, three databases (Medline, Embase and Cochrane) and clinical trial.gov were queried for relevant publications from 1 January 1990 to 1 September 2022. The review process followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Results: The qualitative analysis included 15 relevant articles involving 1186 adult patients who underwent penile length preservation techniques during PP implantation. Penile lengthening of 1–7 cm was reported. Overall, postoperative complications were described in up to 21.7% of cases. Only five studies reported functional outcomes, showing a significant improvement in postoperative period based on the administered questionnaire (e.g. IIEF – International Index of Erectile Function, EDITS – Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction). Conclusion: Penile length preservation procedures appear to offer a viable option for managing acquired penile shortening, particularly in cases of PD. However, they are associated with a significant risk of complications. Proper patient selection, thorough discussion of risks and benefits, and referral to high-volume centers are mandatory to achieve optimal outcomes and minimizing complications. Trial registration: PROSPERO database registration CRD42022360758.

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first implant of an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP). The authors of this paper want to celebrate the event with a narrative review of the current literature. The main scopes are antibiotic prophylaxis, patient satisfaction, and future developments. The implant of the first IPP in 1973, performed by Branteley Scott was a turning point in the history of penile prosthesis, revolutionizing the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Since then, the idea of an inflatable device has not changed much. However, the innovations in design, materials, surgical techniques, and perioperative management led to a more natural, durable, and reliable device featuring fewer complications and greater patient satisfaction. Currently, IPP is associated with high patient satisfaction and excellent long-term outcomes, remaining the gold standard for men with refractory ED. Several strategies are under investigation to improve the technology of penile prosthesis, and we expect in the next future the introduction of new devices that are easier to activate, discreet, comfortable when deflated, and durable in time, mimicking a more physiological erection.

Objective: To assess the quality content of YouTube™ videos on telemedicine during COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: First, the frequency of worldwide YouTube™ and Google™ searches for telemedicine was analyzed. Second, we queried YouTube™ with telemedicine-related terms. Third, the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials (PEMAT A/V), the Global Quality Score (GQS), and the Misinformation tool were used for the quality assessment. Results: According to selection criteria, 129 videos were collected for the analysis. From January 2018 to January 2022, the peak relative interest on YouTube™ and Google™ occurred in March 2020. Of all, 27.1 and 72.9% were uploaded before (Jan 2018-Feb 2020) and after (Mar 2020-Mar 2022) the COVID-19 outbreak, respectively. According to the PEMAT A/V, the overall median understandability and actionability was 50.0% (33.3 [IQR 0-66.7] vs 50.0 [27.1-75], p = 0.2) and 66.7% (63.6 [IQR 50.0-75.7] vs 67.9 [50.0-79.2],p = 0.6), respectively. According to GQS, 3.9%, 17.8%, 24.0%, 26.4% and 27.9% were classified as excellent, good, medium, generally poor, and poor-quality videos, respectively. The highest rate of poor-quality videos was recorded in videos uploaded before COVID-19 pandemic (37.1 vs 24.5%). According to overall misinformation score, a higher score was recorded for the videos uploaded after COVID-19 pandemic (1.8 [IQR 1.4-2.3] vs 2.2 [1.8-2.8], p = 0.01). Conclusions: The interest in telemedicine showed a significant peak when the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. However, the contents provided on YouTubeTM were not informative enough. In the future, official medical institutions should standardize telemedicine regulation and online content to reduce the widespread of misleading information.

Despite technological progress in instrumental diagnostic investigations of the last decade, prostate cancer remains one of the most frequent malignant tumors and the second leading cause of cancer death among men. Although prostate biopsy remains the reference among all diagnosis procedures, it still exposes patients to the risk of developing complications. In this paper, the authors present a novel robotic system for prostate cancer diagnosis aimed at improving the current diagnostic procedures and reducing their undesired effects. The purpose of this work is to validate the proposed methodology by considering experimental analysis on both phantom and ex-vivo prostate tissues.

Objective: To evaluate the impact on erectile and ejaculatory function following transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsies of the prostate (TRUS-Bx) in sexually active men. Methods: Monocentric prospective study from May 2021 to January 2022 of consecutive patients with suspected prostate cancer [elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) level and/or abnormal digital rectal examination] undergoing TRUS-Bx. The 15-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15), Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PDET) and short form of Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ-EjD Short Form) were assessed before, one and three months after TRUS-Bx. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the risk of temporary post-biopsy erectile and/or ejaculatory dysfunctions. The statistical significance was set as p value < 0.05. Results: A total of 276 consecutive patients were included in the study. The median age, PSA and biopsy cores were 65 years (IQR 59-69), 7 ng/ml (IQR 5-9.7) and 16 (IQR 12-16), respectively. We compared the IIEF subdomains before TRUS-Bx vs. one or three months: the erectile function (EF) decreased after one month (p

Introduction: Telemedicine is a most used tools in various medical and surgical scenarios. The aim of the present study was to explore attitudes and perceptions by urologic patients toward the use of telemedicine in the context of patient-physicians communication during the post-operative follow-up in a large academic tertiary urology referral department in Italy. Materials and methods: An anonymous questionnaire consisting of 15 multiple choice questions was designed including three sections: respondents’ demographics, attitudes, and perceptions towards the use of telemedicine. Invitations to participate to this anonymous questionnaire was given to outpatients attended at Urology Department, University of Naples Federico II. Results: In total 697 responses were received (participation rate 73%). The frequency of telemedicine use was described as frequently, occasional, rarely, and never by 41.6%, 30.4%, 15.1%, and 12.6% of respondents, respectively. WhatsApp messenger used by 59.5% of respondents and telephone call (34.3%) were the most common type of tools. Satisfaction in using telemedicine was reported as very satisfied, satisfied, neutral, dissatisfied, and very dissatisfied by 39.6%,41.4%,10%,7% and 2% of respondents respectively. Overall, 43.7%% of participants individuated limited interaction and risk of misdiagnosis as the major limit of telemedicine. Conclusions: Telemedicine represents the future of medical practice due to several benefits as well as convenience, increased access to care and decreased healthcare costs.

Objectives: To assess YouTube™ videos’ quality on prostate checks, especially on the digital rectal exam (DRE), and to investigate if they can inform patients correctly and eradicate their beliefs and myths. Methods: A search using as keywords “digital rectal exam for prostate cancer” was performed on the YouTubeTM platform. We selected the first 100 videos. To assess video quality content, Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for audio-visual content (PEMAT A/V) and Misinformation tool were used. Results: Seventy-three videos were suitable for the analyses. The median PEMAT A/V Understandability score and PEMAT A/V Actionability score were 46.2% (interquartile range [IQR]: 30.8-76.9) and 50.0% (IQR: 25.0-75.0), respectively. The medi-an PEMAT A/V Understandability and Actionability scores were 69.2% (IQR: 46.2-88.5) vs 46.2% (IQR: 30.8-61.5) (p = 0.01) and 100.0% (IQR: 87.5-100.0) vs 25.0% (IQR: 25.0-68.8) (p < 0.001), for healthcare workers vs patients, respectively. According to the Misinformation tool, the median misinforma-tion score of the overall videos was 2.2 (IQR:1.7-2.8). According to the target audience, the misinformation score was 2.8 (IQR: 2.4-3.5) vs 2.0 (IQR: 1.5-2.8) (p = 0.02), for healthcare workers vs patients, respectively. Conclusions: Currently, based on our analyses, YouTubeTM videos’ quality on DRE resulted unsatisfactory according to the PEMAT A/V score and the Misinformation tool. Videos targeted to healthcare workers got higher quality scores if compared to videos targeted to patients. Therefore, YouTubeTM videos’ may not be considered a reliable source of information on DRE for patients.

Introduction: Nowadays numerous mobile health applications (MHA) have been developed to assist and simplify the life of patients affected by erectile dysfunction (ED), however the scientific quality and the adherence to guidelines are not yet addressed and solved. Materials and methods: On 17 January 2022, we conducted a search in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.We reviewed all mobile apps from iTunes App Store and Google Play Store for ED and evaluated different aspects as well as their usage in screening, prevention, management, and their adherence to EAU guidelines. Results: A total of 18 apps were reviewed. All apps are geared towards the patient and provide information about diagnoses and treatment of ED. Conclusions: MHA represent an integral part of patients’ lives, and apps providing services for male sexual dysfunction are constantly increasing. Despite this the overall quality is still low. Although many of these devices are useful in ED, the problems of scientific validation, content, and quality are not yet solved. Further work is needed to improve the quality of apps and developing new accessible, user designed, and high-quality apps.

Background and Objectives: To describe the predictors of cribriform variant status and perineural invasion (PNI) in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) histology. To define the rates of upgrading between biopsy specimens and final histology and their possible predictive factors in prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing RARP. Material and Methods: Within our institutional database, 265 PCa patients who underwent prostate biopsies and consecutive RARP at our center were enrolled (2018–2022). In the overall population, two independent multivariable logistic regression models (LRMs) predicting the presence of PNI or cribriform variant status at RARP were performed. In low- and intermediate-risk PCa patients according to D’Amico risk classification, three independent multivariable LRMs were fitted to predict upgrading. Results: Of all, 30.9% were low-risk, 18.9% were intermediate-risk and 50.2% were high-risk PCa patients. In the overall population, the rates of the cribriform variant and PNI at RARP were 55.8% and 71.1%, respectively. After multivariable LRMs predicting PNI, total tumor length in biopsy cores (>24 mm [OR: 2.37, p-value = 0.03], relative to p = 0.01) and total tumor length in biopsy cores (>24 mm [OR: 2.47, p = 0.01], relative to p = 0.01) was an independent predicting factor. Conclusions: RARP represents a tailored and risk-adapted treatment strategy for PCa patients. The indication of RP progressively migrates to high-risk PCa after a pre-operative assessment. Specifically, the PIRADS score at mpMRI should guide the decision-making process of urologists for PCa patients.

Objective: The Internet is an important and easily accessible source of information. The aim of the current study was to investigate the quality of YouTube videos on cystoscopy and to establish if they can be used as a reliable information tool for internet users. Materials and methods: The search term “cystoscopy” was used on YouTube platform and the first 120 YouTube videos were analyzed. To assess the video quality Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) for Audiovisual (A/V) Materials (Understandability and Actionability sections), Misinformation score and Global Quality Score (GQS) were used. Results: Of all 120 videos, 72 were included in the analyses. Of all videos, 59.7% (n = 43), and 40.3% (n = 29) were targeted to General Public and Healthcare Workers. Moreover, “technical aspects” was the main topic addressed (n = 29, 40.3%). The median PEMAT A/V Understandability and Actionability scores were 50.0% (IQR: 39.1-70.0) and 66.7% (IQR: 33.3- 100.0), respectively. The median Misinformation score ranged from 1.0 to 3.0. According to GQS, 22 (30.6%), 26 (36.1%), 16 (22.2%), 8 (11.1%) videos were poor, generally poor, moderate, and good, respectively. No video was evaluated as excellent. Conclusions: Today, YouTube videos on cystoscopy are more frequently uploaded by healthcare workers, who share information about specific aspects of this procedure. However, the quality of YouTube contents on cystoscopy is still poor. Therefore, currently users interested in cystoscopy cannot rely on YouTube to get good informative material on this topic. In consequence, future authors should focus on improving the quality of video contents on cystoscopy

Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (LiESWT) represents a promising treatment for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). We investigated the efficacy of LiESWT combined with tadalafil 5 mg once daily in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and ED and compared LiESWT protocols administering different number of shockwaves. We performed a retrospective matched-pair comparison using data from a prospectively maintained database. Seventy-eight patients who received tadalafil 5 mg once daily for 12 weeks + LiESWT performed with an electrohydraulic source for 3 weeks (Group A) were matched 1:1 to patients who received tadalafil 5 mg once daily alone for 12 weeks (Group B). A subgroup analysis was performed according to the number of shockwaves delivered during each session (1500, 1800, and 2400 in subgroup A1, A2, and A3, respectively). The mean International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score variations with respect to baseline recorded at 4, 12, and 24 weeks after the end of the treatment were investigated as treatment outcomes. The mean IIEF-5 scores significantly improved in all groups and subgroups at 4-week follow-up without intergroup differences. At 12- and 24-week follow-up, the mean IIEF-5 improvement was significantly higher among patients in the A3 subgroup (+5.0 ± 2.1 [P < 0.001] and +4.7 ± 2.3 [P < 0.001], respectively). The combined approach with tadalafil 5 mg once daily and LiESWT with a protocol involving 2400 shockwaves provides significant advantages in terms of IIEF-5 improvement and durability compared to tadalafil 5 mg once daily alone in patients with T2DM and ED.

The purpose of this mini review is to provide data about pre-clinical and clinical evidence exploring the impact of circadian desynchrony on spermatogenesis. Several lines of evidence exist demonstrating that disruption of circadian rhythms may interfere with male fertility. Experimental knock-out or knock-down of clock genes, physiologically involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms, are associated with impairments of fertility pathways in both animal and human models. Moreover, disruption of circadian rhythms, due to reduction of sleep duration and/or alteration of its architecture can negatively interfere in humans with circulating levels of male sexual hormones as well as with semen parameters. Unfortunately, current evidence remains low due to study heterogeneity.

Introduction: Telemedicine has been adopted successfully in various urological scenarios. The aim of the present study was to explore attitudes and perceptions by urology residents toward the use of telementoring in the context of residents-faculty physicians communication for patient-related care. Methods: An online survey consisting of 19 multiple choice questions was designed including three sections: respondents’ demographics, attitudes and perceptions towards the use of telementoring. Invitations to participate in this anonymous survey were e-mailed to urology residents at University of Naples Federico II. Results: In total 60 responses were received (participation rate 86%). The frequency of telementoring use was described as occasional, frequent, very frequent, and rare by 51,3%, 41.0%, 5,1%, and 2,6% of respondents, respectively. WhatsApp messenger was used by 89.5% of respondents and photos were the most common type of media content shared (73.7%). Most of respondents declared a moderate and a strong agreement with respect to the utility of telementoring in improving the communication in relation to the interpretation of clinical, radiological, endoscopic, and functional findings. Overall, 78% of participants individuated risks of information flow distortions and misinterpretations as the major limit of telementoring. Conclusions: The use of telementoring is widespread and perceived as useful by urology residents in the context of residentsfaculty physicians communication in multiple settings of patientrelated care.

Background: YouTubeTM is an open-access source for mass information. Several previous studies of YouTubeTM videos showed a high rate of misinformation in the urological field. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the quality of information on immunotherapy (IMT) for urological tumors uploaded to YouTubeTM. Methods: YouTubeTM videos were searched using nine keyword combinations. The PEMAT, the DISCERN tool, and the Misinformation scale were used to assess the quality of information in YouTubeTM videos about IMT for urological tumors. Descriptive statistics and Kruskal–Wallis, Chi-square, proportion, and Pearson’s tests were performed. Results: According to the selection criteria, 156 YouTubeTM videos were suitable for the analysis and stratified according to topic (urothelial carcinoma vs. renal cell cancer vs. prostate cancer vs. general information on IMT). According to PEMAT A/V, the overall Understandability score was 40% (Inter-Quartile Range [IQR]: 20–61.5) and the overall Actionability score was 0% (IQR: 0–25). According to the DISCERN tool, the overall DISCERN score was 44 (IQR: 39–53.2), defined as “fair”. According to the Misinformation scale, we recorded the lowest median overall score for item 4 (“IMT in multimodality approach”) and item 5 (“Future perspective”). Conclusions: YouTubeTM cannot be recommended as a reliable source of information on IMT for urological malignancies. In addition, YouTubeTM videos contributed to the spread of misinformation by underestimating the role of IMT in a multimodality approach and missing the findings of published clinical trial results.

Background and Objective: Blood loss represents a long-standing concern of radical prostatectomy (RP). This study aimed to assess how red line cell values changed following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer (PCa). Materials and Methods: The blood panels of 453 consecutive PCa patients undergoing RARP at a single tertiary academic referral center, from September 2020 to April 2022, were reviewed. Data from 363 patients with the blood panel available for the following timeframe: within seven days before surgery, six hours after surgery, and the first three postoperative days, were analyzed. Specifically, hemoglobin (Hb, g/dL), red blood cells (RBCs, ×106/μL), and hematocrit (HCT, %) trends were collected. Results: Considering the Hb trend, the median values in the preoperative day, postoperative day (POD) 2, and POD 3 are 14.7 (interquartile range (IQR) = 13.9–15.4), 12.1 (IQR = 11.2–12.9), and 12.2 (IQR = 11.2–13.1), respectively. The ∆ between preoperative day and POD 2 is 2.5 (IQR = 1.8–3.2) (p < 0.001). Considering the RBCs trend, the median values in the preoperative day, POD 2, and POD 3 are 4.9 (IQR = 4.7–5.3), 4.1 (IQR = 3.8–4.4), and 4.1 (IQR = 3.8–4.5), respectively. The ∆ between preoperative day and POD 2 is 0.9 (IQR = 0.6–1.1) (p < 0.001). Considering the HCT trend, the median values in the preoperative day, POD 2, and POD 3 are 44.4 (IQR = 41.7–46.6), 36.4 (IQR = 33.8–38.9), and 36.1 (IQR = 33.5–38.7), respectively. The ∆ between preoperative day and POD 2 is 7.8 (IQR = 5.2–10.5) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Overall, patients undergoing RARP experience a significant, but clinically limited, decline in red line cell values between the preoperative time and the second day post-surgery. These observations are important to provide physicians with knowledge of the expected postoperative course and, thus, to improve the quality of patient care.

ItalyPurpose: In this study, we aimed to determine the role of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in the management of Peyronie’s disease (PD). Materials and Methods: A total of 325 patients suffering from PD were enrolled in this single-arm clinical study. All patients were received ESWT using a schedule of 1 treatment/wk. Penile curvature was measured by a goniometer after intracavernosal drug-induced erection using Alprostadil. Plaque size was measured with a ruler and sexual function assessed by the international index of erectile function (IIEF)-15 score. Severity of erectile dysfunction was classified as severe (IIEF-15 ≤10), moderate (IIEF-15 between 11 and 16), or mild (IIEF-15 between 17 and 25). Results were evaluated at baseline and 3 months after the treatment.Results: All the patients completed the study protocol. Median age was 59.0 years (55.0–64.0 years). After treatment, the median (interquartile range, IQR) plaque size reduced from 1.78 cm2 (1.43–2.17 cm2) to 1.53 cm2 (1.31–1.96 cm2) (p

The management of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and previous or synchronous colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a challenging issue. A systematic review was performed in May 2022 to summarize available evidence about the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of these patients. Twenty-seven studies involving 252 patients were identified. Overall, 163 (64.7%) and 89 (35.3%) patients had synchronous and metachronous PCa and CRC, respectively. In patients with synchronous diseases, PCa treatment involved active surveillance in 1 patient, radical prostatectomy (RP) in 36 patients, radiotherapy (RT) in 60 patients, RP plus RT in 1 patient, proton beam therapy in 1 patient, and cryoablation in 1 patient. In patients with previous CRC treatment, prostate biopsy was mostly performed by transrectal approach (n = 24). The trans-perineal and suprapubic approaches were adopted in 12 and 6 cases, respectively. Surgical PCa treatment in these cases involved endoscopic extraperitoneal RP, robot-assisted RP, and not otherwise specified RP in 30, 15, and 2 cases, respectively. Biochemical recurrence rates ranged from 20% to 28%. Non-surgical PCa treatment options included brachytherapy, RT plus androgen deprivation therapy, and RT alone in 23, 2 and 4 patients, respectively. PCa specific survival was reported by one study and was 100%.

The Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) classification is based on a scale of values from 1 to 5. The value is assigned according to the probability that a finding is a malignant tumor (prostate carcinoma) and is calculated by evaluating the signal behavior in morphological, diffusion, and post-contrastographic sequences. A PI-RADS score of 3 is recognized as the equivocal likelihood of clinically significant prostate cancer, making its diagnosis very challenging. While PI-RADS values of 4 and 5 make biopsy necessary, it is very hard to establish whether to perform a biopsy or not in patients with a PI-RADS score 3. In recent years, machine learning algorithms have been proposed for a wide range of applications in medical fields, thanks to their ability to extract hidden information and to learn from a set of data without previous specific programming. In this paper, we evaluate machine learning approaches in detecting prostate cancer in patients with PI-RADS score 3 lesions via considering clinical-radiological characteristics. A total of 109 patients were included in this study. We collected data on body mass index (BMI), location of suspicious PI-RADS 3 lesions, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, prostate volume, PSA density, and histopathology results. The implemented classifiers exploit a patient’s clinical and radiological information to generate a probability of malignancy that could help the physicians in diagnostic decisions, including the need for a biopsy.

Objective: We aimed to assess the attitudes and perceptions towards multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the prostate among Italian urologists. Material and Methods: A national, web-based survey was performed. A questionnaire composed of 18 multiple choice questions was e-mailed to 941 currently active urologists, members of the Italian Society of Urology. Preserving anonymity, respondents’ demographics were collected (e.g. geographic region, type of workplace, prostate procedures performed) as well as data concerning their attitudes and perceptions towards mpMRI (e.g. indications deemed appropriate, degree of confidence in mpMRI results). Data were expressed as raw numbers and percentages of survey answers. Results: In total, 98 responses were received (participation rate = 10.4%). Respondents mostly worked in urban areas (96%) and primarily in hospital settings (89%), while 48% of them worked in southern Italy. 97% of respondents considered mpMRI useful to detect Prostate Cancer (PCa) in patients with prior negative biopsy, 64% in biopsy-naïve patients and 60% for PCa pre-operatory staging. About half (42%) of the participants declared that mpMRI results frequently lead them to change PCa management strategy. Standardization of mpMRI acquisition and reporting was partially unsatisfactory. Reported waiting time for mpMRI scans was longer than 4 weeks for 51% of respondents. The major limitation of this survey includes the small number of participants. Conclusions: Prostate mpMRI is used by Italian urologists mainly for detection and for pre-operative staging of PCa. Further improvements in terms of mpMRI availability and report standardization are required.

Background: We aimed to compare the efficacy of tamsulosin 0.4 mg once a day alone and the combination therapy involving tamsulosin 0.4 mg once a day plus the complementary and alternative medicine consisting of vitamins (C and D), herbal products (Cucurbita maxima, Capsicum annum, Polygonum capsicatum) and amino acid L-Glutamine bid in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). Methods: We performed a retrospective matched paired comparison. The clinical records of LUTS/BPH patients who underwent medical therapy with tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day plus the complementary and alternative medicine consisting of vitamins (C and D), herbal products (Cucurbita maxima, Capsicum annum, Polygonum capsicatum) and amino acid L-Glutamine bid between January 2019 to September 2019 were reviewed (Group 1). These patients were compared in a 1:1 fashion with LUTS/BPH patients who underwent therapy with tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day alone (Group 2). Total, storage, voiding and Quality of Life (QoL) international prostate symptom (IPSS) score, as well as overactive bladder (OAB)-v8 score and treatment- related adverse events recorded at 40 days follow-up in both groups were compared. Results: At 40 days follow-up mean total, storage, voiding and QoL IPSS sub-scores as well as OAB-v8 score significantly improved in both groups. Intergroup comparison showed statistically significant lower mean total IPSS score (11.6 vs 12.4, p = 0.04) mean storage IPSS sub-score (6.5 vs 7.5, p = 0.01), and mean OAB v8 score (16.7 vs 18.8, p = 0.03) in patients in the Group 1. Conclusions: The combination of tamsulosin 0.4 mg/die plus the complementary and alternative medicine consisting of vitamins (C and D), herbal products (Cucurbita maxima, Capsicum annum, Polygonum capsicatum) and amino acid LGlutamine bid provides statistically significant advantages in terms of storage LUTS improvements in patients with LUTS/BPH compared to tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day alone. These findings are preliminary and further prospective studies on a greater number of patients are needed to confirm it.

Background: Bladder cancer is the eleventh most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. The recurrence rate of this cancer can be very high, up to 45%. Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) is more sensitive than standard procedures for the detection of malignant tumours. The aim of the study was to evaluate oncological outcomes in white light TURB (WL-TURB) and hexaminolevuninate blue light TURB (Hal-TURB). Patients and methods: This was a retrospective longitudinal single-center study. In the period between January 2016 and October 2016 WL-TURB was the only therapeutic option available. From November 2016 until April 2017 all TURBs were fluorescence-guided (Hal-TURB). Kaplan-Meier curves have been used to estimate recurrence free survival rates. Results: One hundred and eleven patients underwent Hal- TURB and 137 underwent WL-TURB. Recurrence rate after 12 months was 19.8% (22 out of 111 patients) and 37.2% (51 out of 137 patients) in HAL-group and WL-group respectively (p < 0.01). The recurrence-free period was longer in HAL-group rather than WL-group (8.9 months vs 7.3 months, p < 0.05). Moreover, the recurrence rate during the first 6 months was 3.7% in patients who underwent HAL-TURB and 16% in those who received WL-TURB (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The results of the study show that recurrence-free survival was longer in patients undergoing HAL-TURB compared to the patients who received standard WL-TURB.

Treating oxidative stress through antioxidant therapy has been considered an appealing strategy in the management of male infertility. However, evidence regarding the toxicity of antioxidant therapy is controversial. We summarized the available clinical evidence on the toxicity associated with the use of antioxidants in infertile males. A systematic review was performed in March 2021. We included randomized controlled trials evaluating the incidence of adverse events in male patients with infertility receiving antioxidant therapy. Thirteen studies involving 1999 male patients were identified. Antioxidant supplementation in patients with male factor infertility was associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of nausea (Odds Ratio: 2.16, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.05–4.43, p = 0.036), headache (Odds Ratio: 3.05, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.59– 5.85 p = 0.001), and dyspepsia (Odds Ratio: 4.12, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.43–11.85, p = 0.009) compared to a placebo. Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events was not significantly higher in patients taking antioxidants compared to a placebo (Odds Ratio: 2.29, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.76–6.88, p = 0.139). When antioxidant supplementation is considered, a more accurate risk/benefit analysis is warranted.

Patients suffering from hematological malignancies are at increased risk of Fournier’s gangrene (FG) due to immunosuppression caused by the disease itself or by disease-related treatments. A systematic review of PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus databases was performed in June 2021. We included full papers that met the following criteria: original research, human studies, and describing clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of FG in patients with oncohematological diseases. We identified 35 papers published from 1983 to 2021 involving 44 patients (34 males, 8 females) aged between 4 days and 83 years. The most common malignant hematological disorders were acute myeloid leukemia (n = 21) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (n = 9). In 10 patients FG represented the first presentation of hematological malignancy. Scrotum (n= 27) and perineum (n = 11) were the sites most commonly involved. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 21) and Escherichia coli (n = 6) were the most commonly isolated microorganisms. Surgery was performed in 39 patients. Vacuum-assisted closure and hyperbaric oxygen therapy were adopted in 4 and in 3 patients, respectively. Recovery was achieved in 30 patients. FG-related mortality was observed in 11 patients. FG should be carefully considered in patients with oncohematological diseases.

Even if oral type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE5i) seem an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), the drop-out is high among patients. For this reason, pharmaceutical companies are encouraged to develop new administration routes, such as the orally disintegrating film. The aim of this study was to analyse the prescription habit of Italian andrologists affiliated to Italian Society of Andrology (SIA) in the era of new oro-dispersible formulation of sildenafil. A 12-items dedicated questionnaire has been distributed to 77 urologists andrologists. As a result of the questionnaire, sildenafil is still the preferred drug of Italian andrologists as it is considered the safest and the most effective. It combines the speed of action and the discretion of the intake that are very important issues for the adherence to the treatment according to the Italian sample. Physicians have also reported the positive feedback of the patients taking sildenafil film as they consider the oro-dispersible formulation either comparable or superior to the old tablet. In conclusion this new formulation has given a new life to an old molecule like sildenafil, and Italian andrologists considered this new pharmaceutical formulation as a good tool to improve the patient’s adherence to the treatment and quality of life.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed analysis of surgical and functional outcomes after correction of acquired buried penis in the adult. Materials and Methods: From 2006 to 2016, we retrospectively reviewed 47 patients undergoing surgical treatment for the correction of buried penis. Functional and surgical outcomes, as well as patients’ satisfaction were the main endpoints. Results: The most common complains at presentation were recurrent uro-genital infections, sexual dysfunction, voiding dysfunction and Lichen Sclerosus (LS). Surgical management steps included: circumcision (27.66%), scrotoplasty (19.14%), V-Y skin plasty (4.25%), split thickness skin graft (STSG) 12.76%, full thickness skin graft (FTSG) 36.17%, suprapubic fat pad excision (57.44%), abdominoplasty (25.53%), division of the suspensory ligament (36.17%). Postoperative complications were recorded in 15% of patients. Vaginal penetration and erectile function ended up being more effective in 97.87% (46/47) and 42.55% (20/47) of patients. Improvement in penile erogenous sensation was in 6.38% (3/47). Aesthetic appearance of genitalia fully satisfied 36.17% of patients (17/47). Overall patients’ satisfaction rate resulted 76.59% (36/47). Conclusion: Management of adult acquired buried penis still remains a challenging task to achieve, however excellent cosmetic results can be obtained by surgical reconstruction.

Retinal, choroidal and optic disc vascularity has never been evaluated in patients taking PDE5is long-term. The aim of our study was to evaluate the neurostructural and vascular changes after long-term use of tadalafil, using spectral domain (SD)-optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). In the present clinical trial, 27 patients who have been taking tadalafil 20 mg on alternate days (OAD) for at least 6 months (Group A) were enrolled. The matched group consisted of 27 healthy men (Group B). Both groups of patients underwent SD-OCT to study ganglion cell complex (GCC), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and choroidal thickness and OCTA for the evaluation of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), choriocapillaris (CC) and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC). A reduction in SCP, DCP and RPC vessel density was found in patients using tadalafil long-term. Retinal and optic disc toxicity may be detected using modifications of capillary vessel density. Further studies are needed to investigate the possibility of a causal association.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a multisystemic complex genetic disorder related to the lack of a functional paternal copy of chromosome 15q11-q13. Several clinical manifestations are reported, such as short stature, cognitive and behavioral disability, temperature instability, hypotonia, hypersomnia, hyperphagia, and multiple endocrine abnormalities, including growth hormone deficiency and hypogonadism. The hypogonadism in PWS is due to central and peripheral mechanisms involving the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. The early diagnosis and management of hypogonadism in PWS are both important for physicians in order to reach a better quality of life for these patients. The aim of this study is to summarize and investigate causes and possible therapies for hypogonadism in PWS. Additional studies are further needed to clarify the role of different genes related to hypogonadism and to establish a common and evidence-based therapy.

Bladder cancer (BCa) is an endocrine-related tumour and the activation of androgen signalling pathways may promote bladder tumorigenesis. We summarized the available preclinical and clinical evidence on the implications of the manipulation of androgen signalling pathways on the outcomes of BCa therapies. A systematic review was performed in December 2020. We included papers that met the following criteria: original preclinical and clinical research; evaluating the impact of androgen signalling modulation on the outcomes of BCa therapies. Six preclinical and eight clinical studies were identified. The preclinical evidence demonstrates that the modulation of androgen receptor-related pathways has the potential to interfere with the activity of the Bacillus Calmette Guerin, doxorubicin, cisplatin, gemcitabine, and radiotherapy. The relative risk of BCa recurrence after transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT) is significantly lower in patients undergoing therapy with 5 alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) or androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) (Relative risk: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30–0.82; p = 0.006). Subgroup analysis in patients receiving 5-ARIs revealed a relative risk of BCa recurrence of 0.46 (95% CI: 0.22–0.95; p = 0.040). A significant negative association between the ratio of T1 BCa patients in treated/control groups and the relative risk of BCa recurrence was observed. Therapy with 5-ARIs may represent a potential strategy aimed at reducing BCa recurrence rate, mainly in patients with low stage disease. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data.