The number of spermatozoa collected with testicular sperm extraction is a novel predictor of intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome in non-obstructive azoospermic patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between monitors of spermatogenesis and predictors of the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) undergoing testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Seventy-nine patients with NOA (mean age: 43.6±5.

Open preliminary randomized prospective clinical trial of efficacy and safety of three different verapamil dilutions for intraplaque therapy of Peyronie's disease.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy and safety of three different dilutions of verapamil used in intraplaque injections in an attempt to reduce Peyronie's disease symptoms.

Methods: A total of 77 patients (age 48 +/- 9 years) with chronic Peyronie's disease were randomized into three groups, each receiving 12 intraplaque injections (1 injection every 2 weeks) of 10 mg verapamil in different dilutions. Group 1 (27 patients) received verapamil 10 mg/4 mL, group 2 (24 patients) received verapamil 10 mg/10 mL, and group 3 (26 patients) received verapamil 10 mg/20 mL.

Acetyl-L-carnitine plus propionyl-L-carnitine improve efficacy of sildenafil in treatment of erectile dysfunction after bilateral nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Objectives: To determine whether propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) plus acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) improves the effectiveness of sildenafil in restoring sexual potency after bilateral nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Methods: We analyzed the data from 96 patients who had undergone bilateral nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy: 33 were given placebo (group 1), 32 used PLC 2 g/day plus ALC 2 g/day plus sildenafil 100 mg when needed (group 2), and 35 used sildenafil alone (group 3). The studied variables were sexual function (assessed through sexual behavior interviews and the International Index of Erectile Function), peak systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity of cavernosal arteries (assayed by dynamic echo-color Doppler), the percentage of patients able to achieve a positive intracavernous injection test, and side effects.

Cinnoxicam and L-carnitine/acetyl-L-carnitine treatment for idiopathic and varicocele-associated oligoasthenospermia.

The objective of this study was to detect a therapy for idiopathic and varicocele-associated oligoasthenospermia (OAT). Idiopathic and varicocele OAT patients were randomized into 3 groups. Each group was composed of varying degrees of left varicoceles (graded into 5 grades with echo-color Doppler) and of idiopathic OATs.

Fertility in male patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for osteosarcoma.

Purpose: To evaluate fertility in male patients with osteosarcoma after chemotherapy including high doses of alkylating agents.

Patients And Methods: Postchemotherapy fertility was evaluated in 96 male patients who received chemotherapy at the authors' institution from 1976 to 1996 for localized bone osteosarcoma of the extremities. Four drugs were administrated (doxorubicin, cisplatin, methotrexate, ifosfamide) at different doses according to six different protocols.

Dyspermia and testicular artery peak systolic velocity.

Objective: To compare reliability of peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistivity index (RI) of testicular arteries, folliculostimulating hormone (FSH) and testicular volume in the differential diagnosis of dyspermias.

Patients And Methods: Testicle volume, FSH, PSV, EDV, and RI were compared with analysis of variance among the following patients or controls: 9 obstructive azoospermic (OA), 20 non obstructive (NOA), 17 oligoasthenospermic varicoceles + male accessory glands inflammation (MAGI), 38 undetermined oligoasthenospermic, 19 MAGI, 11 varicoceles, 32 subjects with normal sperm analysis who recently fathered (fertile controls), and 15 subjects with normal sperm analysis with varicocele who recently fathered.

Results: Only PSV and RI proved to be selective for the different classes of patients, while EDV, FSH and testicle volume did not.