Attitude towards active surveillance: a cross-sectional survey among patients with uroandrological disorders

OBJECTIVES: We looked at subjective attitude towards active surveillance (AS) as the first option for cancer management in a cohort of patients seeking first medical help for uroandrological disorders prior to a formal discussion with a caregiver. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Uroandrological outpatient clinic of a European academic centre. PARTICIPANTS: Data of 1059 patients at their first access for uroandrological purposes from January 2014 to December 2016 were analysed. INTERVENTION: Patients were invited to complete a survey with closed questions investigating their attitude towards AS, prior to any clinical evaluation. Likewise, patients were invited to score the importance given to different aspects of personal life in the case of a cancer diagnosis, using a 10-point Likert scale. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES MEASURES: The reported opinion towards AS management for cancer was assessed. Logistic regression analyses tested participants' sociodemographic characteristics associated with a positive opinion on AS. RESULTS: Positive, negative and doubtful attitudes towards AS were observed in 347 (33%), 331 (31%) and 381 (36%) patients, respectively. Female patients were more likely to report a negative attitude towards AS (38.7% vs 29.6%, p=0.04) while patients with previous parenthood more frequently reported a positive opinion on AS (37.2% vs 29.9%, p=0.005). Patient age emerged as the only predictor of a positive attitude towards AS (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.04, p<0.001), with a 46% and 33% probability of being pro-AS for a patient aged 65 and 45 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: One out of three patients would express positive feedbacks on AS in the unfortunate case of tumour diagnosis, only according to his/her baseline personal opinion and prior to any discussion with a cancer caregiver. The older the patient, the higher the probability of being compliant with a conservative management for cancer

The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy among patients undergoing radical cystectomy for variant histology bladder cancer: A systematic review

Objective: To systematically review the evidence about the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) with pure urothelial carcinoma (pUC) in radical cystectomy (RC) candidates affected by variant histology (VH) bladder cancer. Methods: A review of the current literature was conducted through the Medline and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) PubMed, Scopus databases in May 2020. The updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed for this systematic review. Keywords used were ‘bladder cancer’, ‘bladder carcinoma’, ‘bladder tumour’ and ‘bladder cancer variants’ and ‘neoadjuvant chemotherapy’. Only original articles in English published after 2000 and reporting oncological outcomes a series of more than five patients with VH were included. We excluded series in which the oncological outcomes of patients with pUC and VH were undistinguishable. Results: The literature search identified 2231 articles. A total of 51 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, with 17 eventually considered for systematic review, for a cohort of 450,367 patients, of which 5010 underwent NAC + RC. The median age at initial diagnosis ranged from 61 to 71 years. Most patients received cisplatin-gemcitabine, methotrexate-vinblastine-adriamycin-cisplatin, or carboplatin-based chemotherapy. Only one study reported results of neoadjuvant immunotherapy. The median follow-up ranged from 1 to 120 months. The results showed that squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is less sensitive to NAC than pUC and that SCC predicts poorer prognosis. NAC was found to be a valid approach in treating small cell carcinoma and may have potential benefit in micropapillary carcinoma. Conclusions: NAC showed the best oncological outcomes in small cell variants and micropapillary carcinoma, while NAC survival benefit for SCC and adenocarcinoma variants needs further studies. Drawing definite considerations on the efficacy of NAC in VH is complicated due to the heterogeneity of present literature. Present results need to be confirmed in randomised controlled trial

Patients' perceptions of quality of care delivery by urology residents: A nationwide study

Objective To present the results of a nationwide survey among urological patients to evaluate their perception of the quality of care provided by residents. Methods An anonymous survey was distributed to patients who were referred to 22 Italian academic institutions. The survey aimed to investigate the professional figure of the urology resident as perceived by the patient. Results A total of 2587 patients were enrolled in this study. In all, 51.6% of patients were able to correctly identify a urology resident; however, almost 40% of respondents discriminated residents from fully trained urologists based exclusively on their young age. Overall, 98.2% patients rated the service provided by the resident as at least sufficient. Urology trainees were considered by more than 50% of the patients interviewed to have good communication skills, expertise and willingness. Overall, patients showed an excellent willingness to be managed by urology residents. The percentage of patients not available for this purpose showed an increasing trend that directly correlated with the difficulty of the procedure. Approximately 5-10% of patients were not willing to be managed by residents for simple procedures such as clinical visits, cystoscopy or sonography, and up to a third of patients were not prepared to undergo any surgical procedure performed by residents during steps in major surgery, even if the residents were adequately tutored. Conclusions Our data showed that patients have a good willingness to be managed by residents during their training, especially for medium- to low-difficulty procedures. Furthermore, the majority of patients interviewed rated the residents' care delivery as sufficient. Urology trainees were considered to have good communication skills, expertise and willingness

Male infertility as a proxy of the overall male health status

INTRODUCTION: Male infertility (MI) has been widely associated with different comorbid conditions. The aim of this review is to summarize the available evidences investigating the link between MI cancer, chronic non-malignant conditions and overall health. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A literature search has been conducted using the MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus databases for English-language original and review articles and selecting publications from January 2007 to June 2017, although highly regarded older publications were also considered. The following key words and MeSH terms were combined: "male infertility," "semen analysis," "health," "comorbidities," "cancer," "metabolic syndrome," "diabetes," "hypertension," "cardiovascular diseases," and "mortality." EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Several studies supported a higher risk of testis cancer for patients with MI; conversely, controversial findings have been reported on the association between prostate cancer and MI. Beside urogenital malignancies, melanoma, bladder, thyroid and hematological malignancies have been also more frequently reported among infertile men. Large cohort studies supported a significant association between diabetes mellitus, metabolic disorders and MI. Similarly, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases appears to be higher among infertile men. Of note, a significant association between semen alterations and the overall burden of comorbidities, as well as the overall mortality, has been reported. A common genetic background appears as the main pathophysiological link between infertility and other comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Male infertility is a proxy of the overall male health status. Physicians should comprehensively assess men presenting for couple infertility and properly followed-up these patients given their higher risk of developing cancer

Unrecognized Prediabetes Is Highly Prevalent in Men With Erectile Dysfunction-Results From a Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: The association between prediabetes (PreDM) and erectile dysfunction (ED) has been analyzed scantly. AIM: To assess the association between PreDM and erectile function (EF) in a cohort of white European men with ED. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data from 372 consecutive men were analyzed. Health-significant comorbidities were scored with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Patients were invited to complete the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-EF domain questionnaire. The EF domain was categorized according to Cappelleri's criteria. Men were defined as having PreDM according to the criteria defined by the American Diabetes Association (2015). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models tested the association between clinical variables and PreDM status and severe ED. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed the prevalence of PreDM in our cohort of men with ED and the potential association of PreDM and sexual health within the same cohort. RESULTS: Of 372 men, +PreDM was found in 86 (23.1%) patients. Men with +PreDM had lower total testosterone (tT), higher triglycerides, and higher total cholesterol values (all P < .03) than those without PreDM. Likewise, +PreDM patients had a higher rate of CCI ≥1 (P = .03) and more frequently had severe ED (P = .013) compared with -PreDM. Age (OR 1.03; P = .01); lower tT (OR 0.81; P = .02); and severe ED (OR 3.37; P = .004) were associated with +PreDM status, after accounting for BMI, CCI, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking. Similarly, age (OR 1.02; P = .02) and +PreDM (OR 2.02; P = .02) were associated with severe ED, after accounting for other clinical variables. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Identifying +PreDM status in ED men is clinically relevant in order to adopt preventive strategies to attempt and reduce risk of developing DM and subsequent cardiovascular diseases. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the prevalence of unrecognized PreDM and the association of PreDM and ED severity in a real-life setting. Limitations are the retrospective nature of the cross-sectional study and the lack of haemodynamic parameters for every patient. CONCLUSIONS: 1 in 5 men seeking medical help for new-onset ED showed glucose values suggestive for unrecognized PreDM and +PreDM status was associated with worse hormonal and metabolic profiles, along with a higher risk of severe ED than -PreDM. Boeri L, Capogrosso P, Perderzoli F, et al. Unrecognized prediabetes is highly prevalent in men with erectile dysfunction-results from a cross-sectional study. J Sex Med 2018;15:1117-1124

Sexuality during COVID lockdown: a cross-sectional Italian study among hospital workers and their relatives

In March 2020, the Italian Government introduced measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 infection. Between 8th April and 2nd May 2020 we investigated levels and correlates of sexual activity and depression during COVID-19 lockdown in a sample of hospital workers and their acquaintances by an online survey on SurveyMonkey. Socio-demographic data, International Index of Erectile Function, Female Sexual Function Index, and Beck Depression Inventory were recorded. Multivariable logistic regression analysis (MLRA) was used to test predictors of depressive symptoms and low sexual desire and satisfaction. A statistically significant difference in age, change in working habit, sexual satisfaction, sexual desire, and depressive symptoms was found between males and females. A statistically significant higher proportion of health care workers had low sexual desire (65.3% vs 56.8%, p = 0.042). At MLRA, age, being female, being a health care worker, having children at home, living with the partner, and having low sexual satisfaction were predictors of low level of sexual desire. To our knowledge, this is one of the few studies using validated questionnaires for both males and females to assess sexual well-being and psychometric alterations during COVID quarantine

The fight between PCNL, laparoscopic and robotic pyelolithotomy: do we have a winner? A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide an updated comparison between the currently available minimally invasive approaches (PCNL, laparoscopic [LP] and robotic pyelolithotomy [RP]) for the management of large renal stones. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION An electronic search of the current literature was conducted through the Medline and NCBI PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Collaboration Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials databases in March 2021. Studies about minimally-invasive treatment for kidney stones were considered. Inclusion criteria were: studies evaluating patients with large renal calculi (≥2 cm); the comparison of at least two of the three approaches (PCNL, LP, RP), and reporting data suitable for meta-analysis evaluation. Patients with concomitant management for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ-O) were excluded. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Overall, 17 reports were considered for qualitative and quantitative synthesis, for a total cohort of 1079 patients, of which 534 with PCNL, 525 treated with LP, and 20 with RP. Of those, 16 compared PCNL with LP, while only 1 study compared LP with RP. PCNL mean operative time was statistically significantly shorter than LP and RP while mean estimated blood loss was statistically significantly higher for PNCL. No statistically significant differences were recorded among the three surgical approaches. Finally, PCNL demonstrated slightly, albeit statistically significant lower stone free rate when compared with LP. CONCLUSIONS PCNL, LP and RP may be safely and efficiently used to manage large renal stones. All three procedures showed reasonably low rate of complications with a satisfactory stone clearance rate

Temporal Trend in Incidental Prostate Cancer Detection at Surgery for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE To assess changes in the rate of incidental prostate cancer (PCa) after benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) surgery over the last decade. MATERIALS AND METHODS We identified 1177 patients surgically treated for BPH (open prostatectomy, transurethral resection or holmium laser enucleation [HoLEP] of the prostate) in 2007-2016 at a single European academic center. Local polynomial regression was used to explore changes in the rate of incidental PCa detected after BPH surgery and of preoperative biopsy performed over time. Logistic regression analyses tested the association of incidental PCa diagnosis with year of surgery and preoperative biopsy. RESULTS Incidental PCa was found in 6.4% (74) of cases, 67(91%) with Grade group 1 disease. We observed an increased incidence of PCa diagnosis after BPH surgery over time (odds ratio [OR]: 1.12; 95%confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.24, P = .02) along with a concomitant decrease in the rate of preoperative prostate biopsies (OR: 0.83; 95%CI: 0.79-0.88, P < .0001). Patients undergoing a preoperative biopsy showed a lower risk of being diagnosed with PCa after surgery (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.72 P = .007). Patients treated with HoLEP had a higher chance of incidental PCa detection (OR: 2.28; 95%CI: 1.30-4.00; P = .004), although this may be related to the significantly higher number of HoLEP performed over the last years. CONCLUSION The increased rate of low-risk PCa detected after BPH surgery in the last decade reflects the clinical practice changes in PCa screening and diagnosis leading to a reduced number of unnecessary biopsies and indolent cancer diagnosis

High-risk human papillomavirus in semen is associated with poor sperm progressive motility and a high sperm DNA fragmentation index in infertile men

STUDY QUESTION: Does the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in semen impact seminal parameters and sperm DNA quality in white European men seeking medical help for primary couple's infertility? SUMMARY ANSWER: HPV seminal infections involving high-risk (HR) genotypes are associated with impaired sperm progressive motility and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) values. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: HPV is commonly present in semen samples. However, whether the presence of HPV in semen is actually associated with impaired sperm parameters and SDF values have yet to be elucidated. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: In this cross-sectional study, complete demographic, clinical and laboratory data from 729 infertile men were analysed. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Health-significant comorbidities were scored with the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Serum hormones and SDF index (measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay [SCSA]) were measured in every patient (SDF ≥30% was defined as pathological). Semen analysis was based on 2010 World Health Organisation reference criteria. Amplification by nested PCR was used to detect HPV-DNA sequences in semen samples. Descriptive statistics and linear regression models were used to test the association between the presence of HPV and clinical and seminal characteristics in the whole cohort. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The overall rate of HPV positivity was 15.5% (113/729). Overall, 78/729 (10.7%) and 35/729 (4.8%) patients had HR HPV+ and low-risk HPV+, respectively. HPV16 was the most prevalent type (22.1%), followed by HPV43 (10.6%), HPV56 and HPV42 (both 8.8%). No differences were found in terms of clinical and hormonal characteristics between patients with or without seminal HPV. Sperm progressive motility was significantly lower (P = 0.01) while SDF values were higher (P = 0.005) in HPV+ men compared to those with no HPV. In particular, HR HPV+ men had lower sperm progressive motility (P = 0.007) and higher SDF values (P = 0.003) than those with a negative HPV test. Univariable analysis showed that HR HPV+ was associated with impaired sperm progressive motility (P = 0.002) and SDF values (P = 0.003). In the multivariable analysis, age, FSH levels and testicular volume were significantly associated with impaired sperm progressive motility (all P ≤ 0.04). Conversely BMI, CCI, smoking habits and HPV status were not. Only age (P = 0.02) and FSH (P = 0.01) were significantly associated with SDF, after accounting for BMI, CCI, testicular volume, smoking habits and HPV status. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Main limitations are the cross-sectional design of our study and the relatively small sample size of the subgroups. Additional limitations are the lack of a control group of normal fertile men and the lack of follow-up testing to check the clearance or the persistence of HPV in semen after a 6-12 months. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Overall, these observations point out the importance of an accurate investigation of seminal HPV presence in everyday clinical practice in the diagnostic work-up of infertile men