Erectile Dysfunction: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment: An Update.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is defined as "recurrent and persistent inability, partial or complete, to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse in the presence of proper erotic stimuli"; the concept of ED replaced the previous definition of "impotence" [...

Sperm culture and bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics in a large andrological population: prevalence and impact on seminal parameters.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate (i) the prevalence of subjects with a positive sperm culture (SC) for bacteria in subjects with or without genitourinary tract inflammation (GTI); (ii) the actual distribution of the species analysed, according to Gram stain; (iii) the impact on sperm parameters; and (iv) the actual bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics.

Methods: A total of 930 subjects (18-55) years, were retrospectively studied. All the patients underwent SC and in the case of positive tests (CFU > 10), a microbiological susceptibility analysis.

Effect of sex hormones on human voice physiology: from childhood to senescence.

The aim of the present literature review is to describe the influence of sex hormones on the human voice in physiological conditions. As a secondary sexual organ, the larynx is affected by sex hormones and may change considerably over the lifespan. In the current review, sex hormone-related voice modifications occurring during childhood, puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and senescence are described.

Psychotropic Drugs Levels in Seminal Fluid: A New Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Analysis?

The aim of this observational study was to develop a new quantitative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for Therapeutic-Drug-Monitoring (TDM) of psychotropic drugs in seminal fluid to investigate potential gonadotoxic effects in patients with reduced fertility. After the validation of the LC-MS/MS method for psychotropics' levels determination in seminal fluid, we included 20 male partners of infertile couples with idiopathic and/or unexplained male infertility, treated with psychotropic medications for more than 3 months and 10 untreated fertile controls. General and andrological clinical examination, semen analysis and seminal drugs, and metabolites levels determination were performed for each subject.

Association between type 1 diabetes and female sexual dysfunction.

Background: This study aims to evaluate: 1) the prevalence of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) in women affected by type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and the control group; 2) the correlation between duration of DM, HbA1C levels and sexual life quality; 3) the relationship between different methods of insulin administration and sexual life quality; 4) the correlation between FSD and diabetes complications.

Methods: We selected 33 women with type 1 DM and 39 healthy women as controls. Each participant underwent a detailed medical history and physical examination and completed the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire (FSFI-6).

Adolescence and andrologist: An imperfect couple.

Objective: The aims of this research were to study: a) the prevalence of male adolescents, aged between 10 and 19 years of age, referred to our Unit for an andrological assessment; b) the reasons (stated and subsequently modified) for referral; c) the prevalence of clinically diagnosed diseases.

Materials And Methods: A total of 2.855 subjects, referred to the Andrology Unit for a first examination, were retrospectively studied.

Erectile dysfunction in patients taking psychotropic drugs and treated with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of patients with Erectile Dysfunction (ED) receiving psychotropic drugs, the impact of these drugs on hormonal profile, and the efficacy of PDE5-i in these patients.

Materials And Methods: We recruited 1872 patients referring for ED to our Andrology Unit. Assessment included serum testosterone, gonadotropins, TSH, prolactin, and PSA, and the IIEF-5 questionnaire for ED diagnosis.

Testosterone replacement in 49,XXXXY syndrome: andrological, metabolic and neurological aspects.

Unlabelled: We report the case of a 19-year-old boy, presenting several congenital malformations (facial dysmorphisms, cardiac and musculoskeletal abnormalities), mental retardation, recurrent respiratory infections during growth and delayed puberty. Although previously hospitalised in other medical centres, only psychological support had been recommended for this patient. In our department, genetic, biochemical/hormonal and ultrasound examinations were undertaken.

Sexual dysfunction in diabetic women: prevalence and differences in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of diabetes on female sexuality and to highlight any differences between sexuality in the context of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: The subjects selected were 49 women with type 1 DM, 24 women with type 2 DM, and 45 healthy women as controls. Each participant was given the nine-item Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire to complete.

Impact of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator (CFTR) gene mutations on male infertility.

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of most common mutations and intron 8 5T (IVS8-5T) polymorphism of CFTR gene in Italian: a) azoospermic males; b) non azoospermic subjects, male partners of infertile couples enrolled in assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs. Material and methods.

Impact of long-term and short-term therapies on seminal parameters.

Aim: The aim of this work was: i) to evaluate the prevalence of male partners of subfertile couples being treated with long/short term therapies for non andrological diseases; ii) to study their seminal profile for the possible effects of their treatments on spermatogenesis and/or epididymal maturation.

Methods: The study group was made up of 723 subjects, aged between 25 and 47 years. Semen analysis was performed according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines (1999).

Comparative study of seminal parameters between samples collected in 1992 and samples collected in 2010.

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative study of semen quality in two large populations; one evaluated in 1992 and another in 2010, in order to evaluate any possible decline in male fertility due, at least in part, to environmental factors.

Material And Methods: A total of 701 subjects in 1992 (TOTAL group 1992) and a total of 626 subjects in 2010 (TOTAL group 2010) were enrolled in our Andrology Unit. Each group was subdivided into 3 subgroups: Subfertile, Pathology and Control.

Testicular adrenal rest tumors in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia: prevalence and sonographic, hormonal, and seminal characteristics.

Objective: Testicular adrenal rest tumors have been described in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). The aim of this work was to (1) evaluate the prevalence of testicular adrenal rest tumors in patients with CAH; (2) study the hormonal profile; (3) define the sonographic features; (4) assess the seminal profile; and (5) initiate a longitudinal study on the possible role of corticotropin (ACTH) plasma levels in the induction and persistence of testicular adrenal rest tumors.

Methods: Eighteen patients affected by CAH, aged 21 to 41 years, were studied.

Retrograde ejaculation and abnormal hormonal profile in a subject under treatment with valproate and phenytoin.

Anti-epileptic drugs may have negative effects on sexual function and hormonal profile. The exact mechanisms involved, however, have yet to be completely understood. We report a case of ejaculation failure and abnormal hormonal profile in a patient affected by epilepsy.

Intratesticular isolated anechoic areas: prevalence, seminal profile, and longitudinal study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of intratesticular isolated anechoic areas (ITIAAs) in a large population, the seminal profile, and follow-up of patients with ITIAAs.

Methods: A total of 2223 patients underwent an andrologic examination and scrotal sonography. In the patients with ITIAAs, a hormonal profile was obtained, and screening for neoplastic markers was performed.

Morphological sperm defects analyzed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and their correlation with sperm motility.

Objectives: To compare sperm defects as assessed by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and to correlate them with sperm motility.

Methods: A cohort of 40 male partners of infertile couples was selected. Group 1 (n = 31) included subjects with motility >5 and <50%, group 2 (n = 9) included those with motility <5% and the control group consisted of 10 normospermic subjects.

Human semen hyperviscosity: prevalence, pathogenesis and therapeutic aspects.

The aims of this study were (a) to determine the prevalence of subjects with semen hyperviscosity (SHV) in a large population of male partners of subfertile couples; (b) to identify any correlation between SHV and infections or inflammation of the genital tract; (c) to assess the effects of therapeutic approaches for treating SHV; and (d) to assess sperm kinetic parameters after successful treatment of SHV. A retrospective study of 1 833 male partners of subfertile couples was conducted. Next, clinical, seminal, bacteriological and ultrasound studies involving 52 subjects suffering from SHV were performed, and the SHV was classified as being mild (length of thread > 2 cm and 4 cm and 6 cm).

Seminal profile of subjects with testicular microlithiasis and testicular calcifications.

Two hundred eighty-one male partners of infertile couples were studied to determine the prevalence of subjects with testicular microlithiasis (TM) or testicular calcifications (TC) to define the seminal profile of this population and to initiate a longitudinal study to evaluate the significance of TM and TC as predictive markers of cancer. The prevalence found was 4.6% and 3.

High frequency of (TG)mTn variant tracts in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene in men with high semen viscosity.

Objective: To evaluate a possible correlation between abnormal semen consistency and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations and variant tracts.

Design: Study of CFTR mutations and variant tracts in men with high semen viscosity as compared with normospermic men.

Setting: University-based centers for andrology, clinical biochemistry, and cystic fibrosis.