Exploring pharmacological interventions in benign prostate hyperplasia: the role of cost-effectiveness analysis in daily practice and future directions.

Introduction: Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) significantly impacts men's health and quality of life, with its prevalence rising with age. This review critically examines the cost-effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for BPH to optimize patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilization.

Areas Covered: This review explores the integration of cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) into clinical practice, balancing clinical efficacy with economic efficiency in BPH management.

Effectiveness of N95 Mask in Preventing COVID-19 Transmission.

N95 mask has emerged as a potential measure to mitigate the airborne transmission of respiratory disease such as COVID-19. Herein, we experimentally investigated the impact and interaction of pure water droplets as surrogate to respiratory droplets with the different layers of a commercially available N95 mask to demonstrate the penetration and passage-capability of respiratory fluids through the different layers. The penetration of an impacting droplet through the mask layers was characterized by elucidating the ejection of secondary droplets from the rear-side surface of the target mask material.

Investigating the therapeutic options for diabetes-associated male infertility as illustrated in animal experimental models.

Diabetes is a rising global health concern and an increasingly common cause of male infertility. Although the definitive pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning the association between diabetes and infertility is unclear, there are several animal studies showing diabetes to be a detrimental factor on reproductive health through apoptosis, oxidative stress and impairment of steroidogenesis. Furthermore, as reflected in animal models, antidiabetic strategies and relevant treatments are beneficial in the management of infertile men with diabetes as the recovery of euglycemic status affects positively the spermatogenesis.

Incidental testicular masses and the role of organ-sparing approach.

Objectives: The widespread use of ultrasonography for the investigation of common urological conditions, such as infertility or pain, has resulted in an increased incidence of incidental non-palpable testicular masses. The majority of these are expected to be benign therefore a conservative approach, either active monitoring or organsparing approach, is recommended. However, there are no clinical or radiological parameters which define the exact nature of such lesions and optimal patient selection criteria are lacking.

The usefulness of elastography in the evaluation and management of adult men with varicocele: A systematic review.

Objective: To review the role of elastography in the evaluation and decision-making of adult, infertile men with varicocele.

Methods: A systematic search using the terms (Elastography) AND (Varicocele), (Stiffness) AND (Varicocele), (Elastography) AND (Male infertility) was performed in Pubmed/Medline. Studies reporting a) elastographic characteristics in varicocele-bearing comparing to normal testicles, and b) the correlation of elastography with varicocele grading, parameters of spermatogenesis, and outcomes of varicocele treatment were selected.