Comparison of the gut microbiome composition between men with erectile dysfunction and a matched cohort: a pilot study.

Background: To-date there have been minimal studies to investigate an association between the gut microbiome and erectile dysfunction. There have been many inflammatory diseases linked to gut microbiome dysbiosis; such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. These same inflammatory diseases have been heavily linked to erectile dysfunction.

Evidence for the integration of total and free testosterone levels in the management of prostate cancer.

Objective: To comprehensively assess total and calculated free testosterone levels in a consecutive group of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and any potential impact on disease aggressiveness and recurrence outcomes.

Participants And Methods: The study included a single-centre prospective cohort of 882 patients presenting for radical prostatectomy from 2009 to 2018. Data on total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and calculated free testosterone (cFT) were prospectively collected.

Comparison of Outcomes for Hypogonadal Men Treated with Intramuscular Testosterone Cypionate versus Subcutaneous Testosterone Enanthate.

Purpose: Intramuscular testosterone cypionate (IM-TC) is known to cause significant rises in estradiol (E2), hematocrit (HCT), and prostate specific antigen (PSA) due to its supraphysiological testosterone peaks, whereas a novel subcutaneous testosterone enanthate autoinjector (SCTE-AI) was designed with a lower testosterone peak-to-trough ratio to mitigate these reactions. We compare the total testosterone (TT), E2, HCT and PSA response to treatment with IM-TC versus SCTE-AI.

Materials And Methods: A total of 234 hypogonadal men were treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) via IM-TC 100 mg weekly or SCTE-AI 100 mg weekly.

Comparative assessment of outcomes and adverse effects using two different intramuscular testosterone therapy regimens: 100 mg IM weekly or 200 mg IM biweekly.

This study aimed to compare the change in levels of several laboratory values and the development of adverse events using two commonly used intramuscular testosterone therapy regimens. Men were included if they were 18 years or older and received one of the following testosterone therapy regimens: 100 mg intramuscular once weekly or 200 mg intramuscular once every other week. Primary outcomes were relative changes in total testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol, prostate-specific antigen, and hematocrit at 6 months after initiation of testosterone therapy.

Post-market safety and efficacy profile of subcutaneous testosterone enanthate-autoinjector: a cohort analysis.

A subcutaneous testosterone enanthate-autoinjector (SCTE-AI) was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for patient-administered weekly testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). From January 2019 to October 2019, 110 hypogonadal men were treated with SCTE-AI at two institutions. Patients were assessed in a pretherapy visit prior to receiving SCTE-AI and re-assessed 6 weeks after treatment initiation.

A Systematic Review of Literature Regarding Whether Immediate Preoperative Hemoglobin A1c or Serum Glucose Are Risk Factors for Infection Following Penile Prosthesis Implantation.

Defining risks associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients undergoing penile prosthesis (PP) implantation remains controversial. This systematic review seeks to assess whether preoperative hemoglobin a1c (HbA1c) or serum glucose have been shown to predict infection following PP implantation in diabetic men. A stepwise literature search was performed.

Hypogonadism and its treatment among prostate cancer survivors.

Adult-onset hypogonadism (AOH) is associated with sexual dysfunction, poor bone mineralization, decreased muscle mass, metabolic syndrome disorder, and cognitive suppression. Historically, testosterone has been contraindicated in men with a history of prostate cancer. However, there has been a modern resurgence in re-evaluating this belief.

Impact of Antimicrobial Dipping Solutions on Postoperative Infection Rates in Patients With Diabetes Undergoing Primary Insertion of a Coloplast Titan Inflatable Penile Prosthesis.

Background: Modern-day penile prostheses use infection retardant coating to decrease rates of postoperative infection, subsequently reducing explantation and revision rates as well. The Coloplast Titan models are dipped into antimicrobial solutions right before implantation, and the components used for dipping can be tailored toward the patient.

Aim: To compare infection, explantation, and revision rates among different dipping solutions used before implantation for patients with diabetes receiving a Coloplast Titan implant.

Organic Diet and Intermittent Fasting are Associated With Improved Erectile Function.

Objective: To explore associations between dietary habits and erectile dysfunction (ED) in a cohort of patients presenting to a high-volume men's health clinic.

Materials And Methods: All patients presenting to a high-volume men's health clinic between July 2018 and May 2019 were evaluated for their dietary habits and screened with the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males (ADAM). The primary outcome measure was the impact of dietary habits on ED, defined as IIEF-5 <22.

Intralesional Injection Therapy and Atypical Peyronie's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Peyronie's disease (PD) is an inflammatory disorder of the tunica albuginea causing fibrotic changes including abnormal penile curvature, pain, and erectile dysfunction. Approximately 10% of PD patients will have atypical features including ventral plaques, hourglass deformities, unilateral indentations, severely shortened penile length, and multiplanar curvatures. Currently, the only intralesional treatment approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration is considered off-label for atypical PD.

Treatment-related Outcomes for Patients With Atypical Peyronie's Disease Using Xiaflex Injections.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) for the management of penile deformities in patients presenting with different categories of atypical Peyronie's disease (PD).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of charts of patients who presented to a men's health clinic with atypical PD between October 2016 and June 2019. We included patients in the stable phase of the disease, had completed a penile duplex Doppler ultrasound before any intervention, and proceeded with CCH treatment.

A Multicenter Investigation Examining American Urological Association Recommended Antibiotic Prophylaxis vs Nonstandard Prophylaxis in Preventing Device Infections in Penile Prosthesis Surgery in Diabetic Patients.

Purpose: American Urological Association (AUA) antibiotic prophylaxis recommendations may be insufficient for covering organisms commonly found in penile prosthesis infections. In this study we assess the difference between AUA recommended antibiotic prophylaxis and nonstandard prophylaxis in preventing device infections in penile prosthesis surgery performed in diabetic patients.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study of diabetic patients undergoing primary penile prosthesis surgery was performed between April 2003 and August 2018.

Immediate preoperative blood glucose and hemoglobin a1c levels are not predictive of postoperative infections in diabetic men undergoing penile prosthesis placement.

Defining the risks associated with diabetes mellitus in patients undergoing penile prosthesis implantation remains controversial. Our study aims to assess whether preoperative hemoglobin a1c and preoperative blood glucose levels are associated with an increased risk for postoperative infection in diabetic men. We performed a retrospective review of 932 diabetic patients undergoing primary penile prosthesis implantation from 18 high-volume penile prosthesis implantation surgeons throughout the United States, Germany, Belgium, and South Korea.

Prospective analysis of cultures from the Furlow insertion tool: a possible etiology for penile prosthesis infections.

The most dreaded complication of penile prosthesis (PP) implantation is device infection. We sought to assess whether inadequate cleaning and sterilization of the reusable Furlow inserter may represent one of the last etiologies of infection in PP patients. We performed a prospective analysis of cultures of the Furlow inserter used for PP surgeries from seven centers between May 1st and June 30th, 2019.

Testosterone replacement therapy reduces biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

Objective: To evaluate risk of prostate cancer biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) in men receiving vs not receiving testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

Patients And Methods: A total of 850 patients underwent RP by a single surgeon. All patients had preoperative testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin levels determined; free testosterone was calculated prospectively.

A Multi-institutional Assessment of Multimodal Analgesia in Penile Implant Recipients Demonstrates Dramatic Reduction in Pain Scores and Narcotic Usage.

Introduction: Despite the pain associated with inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation, there has been a lack of standardized, nonopioid pain control regimens described to date.

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of a multimodal analgesic regimen in patients undergoing implantation of an IPP compared with patients treated with an opioid-only regimen.

Methods: A large, multicenter patient cohort undergoing IPP implantation whose pain was managed using a multimodal analgesia (MMA) protocol (preoperative and postoperative acetaminophen, meloxicam orcelecoxib, and gabapentin and intraoperative dorsal and pudendal nerve blocks) was compared with a matched cohort of patients managed via an opioid-only protocol.

Intraoperative methods for residual curvature correction during penile prosthesis implantation in patients with Peyronie's disease and refractory erectile dysfunction.

Peyronie's disease, or fibrous transformations of the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa that cause penile curvature, is estimated to affect 3.2-8.9% of the male population.

A qualitative analysis of Internet forum discussions on hard flaccid syndrome.

Hard flaccid (HF) syndrome is a complex symptom that significantly impacts a man's sexual and social life. Since there is currently only one case series available in the literature regarding HF syndrome, it has not been recognized as a real medical condition. HF syndrome has mostly been reported in several patient forums and its exact definition, prevalence, etiology, and treatment are unknown.

Management of Peyronie's disease with collagenase Clostridium histolyticum in the acute phase.

Introduction: Peyronie's disease (PD) can affect men of all ages and is associated with penile pain as well as curvature and erectile dysfunction. Treatment modalities for PD include conservative, less invasive and surgical treatments. Choice of treatment depends on the disease's phase.

Penile Girth Enlargement Strategies: What's the Evidence?

Introduction: Most men seeking penile girth augmentation have physiologically normal penises but may suffer from severe preoccupation with penis size known as penile dysmorphophobic disorder.

Aim: To describe the medical, procedural, and reconstructive techniques available for penile girth enhancement and to review the success and complications of each modality.

Methods: A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed publications on the topic was performed through a PubMed search.

Assessing the referral of clients with respiratory symptoms to general physicians: a survey of community pharmacists in Beirut.

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to assess the ability of community pharmacists practicing in Beirut to identify red flag respiratory symptoms, and therefore to adequately refer clients to a general physician when warranted. Secondary objectives included determining whether demographic factors affect the odds of referral, and to qualify degree of agreement of community pharmacists with a panel of expert physicians.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, pharmacies were randomly selected and invited to complete a self-administered survey, each containing 10 clinical vignettes that combined different characteristics (age group, gender, presenting symptom, duration of symptoms).