Analysis of Suprapubic and Transrectal Measurements in Assessment of Prostate Dimensions and Volume: Is Transrectal Ultrasonography Really Necessary for Prostate Measurements?

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation of suprapubic ultrasonography and transrectal ultrasonography in measurements of prostate dimension and volume.</p><p><strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>One hundred consecutive patients with lower urinary tract symptoms were examined by suprapubic and transrectal ultrasonography modalities in a same session. Measurements of the 3 dimensions of the prostate (anteroposterior, transverse, and craniocaudal) and its volume performed by suprapubic ultrasonography were compared with the corresponding measurements by transrectal ultrasonography in order to determine the correlation of the measurements. Prostate volumes were calculated using the ellipsoid formula. Data were further analyzed in subgroups according to prostate volumes smaller or larger than 50 mL, measured by suprapubic ultrasonography.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The mean prostate volume of the 100 patients, measured by suprapubic and transrectal ultrasonography were 65.9 ± 35.8 mL and 62.5 ± 32.0 mL, respectively (r = 0.94; P < .001). The craniocaudal diameters had the strongest correlation among dimension measurements (r = 0.89; P < .001). Suprapubic and transrectal ultrasonography measurements also showed significant correlations for both prostates smaller or larger than 50 mL. Eighty-five percent of the patients had both volume measurements under or above this limit.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> There was strong correlation between suprapubic and transrectal ultrasonography measurements of the prostate sizes, including both for volume or specific dimension measurements.</p&gt

Characteristics of sildenafil erections in healthy young men

Abstract Aim: To determine the effect of sildenafil citrate on the nocturnal penile erections (i.e. time to onset, the duration of erection, and the interval between first and second erections) of healthy young men. Methods: Twenty-two potent men, 23-29 years old, were recruited for the study. All subjects completed three sessions over consecutive nights using the RigiScan monitoring device (Dacomed, Minneapolis, USA). After a first night of adaptation, night 2 records were their baseline values, and on night 3 they received 100 mg of sildenafil citrate. Statistical comparisons were done between the second and third night data. Results: The mean time to onset of the first erection with sildenafil citrate was (34 ± 18) min, whereas it was (74 ± 24) min (P < 0.001) without sildenafil citrate. The number of erections observed during the first 5 h after sildenafil citrate medication was 3.6 ± 0.5 in contrast to 2.4 ± 0.5 with no medication (P = 0.001). The interval between first and second erections was shorter with sildenafil citrate: (52 ± 26) min vs. (85 ± 34) min (P = 0.01). The duration of the last erection was statistically significantly longer with the sildenafil citrate: (64 ± 33) min vs. (42 ± 28) min (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Healthy young men achieved erection within 34 min after sildenafil citrate administration, which is shorter than the 1 h interval proposed by the manufacturer. The interval between the first and second erections was shorter and the duration of the last nocturnal erection was longer. (Asian J Androl 2005 Dec; 7: 395-398

Male Oxidative Stress Infertility (MOSI): Proposed Terminology and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Idiopathic Male Infertility

Despite advances in the field of male reproductive health, idiopathic male infertility, in which a man has altered semen characteristics without an identifiable cause and there is no female factor infertility, remains a challenging condition to diagnose and manage. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress (OS) plays an independent role in the etiology of male infertility, with 30% to 80% of infertile men having elevated seminal reactive oxygen species levels. OS can negatively affect fertility via a number of pathways, including interference with capacitation and possible damage to sperm membrane and DNA, which may impair the sperm’s potential to fertilize an egg and develop into a healthy embryo. Adequate evaluation of male reproductive potential should therefore include an assessment of sperm OS. We propose the term Male Oxidative Stress Infertility, or MOSI, as a novel descriptor for infertile men with abnormal semen characteristics and OS, including many patients who were previously classified as having idiopathic male infertility. Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) can be a useful clinical biomarker for the classification of MOSI, as it takes into account the levels of both oxidants and reductants (antioxidants). Current treatment protocols for OS, including the use of antioxidants, are not evidence-based and have the potential for complications and increased healthcare-related expenditures. Utilizing an easy, reproducible, and cost-effective test to measure ORP may provide a more targeted, reliable approach for administering antioxidant therapy while minimizing the risk of antioxidant overdose. With the increasing awareness and understanding of MOSI as a distinct male infertility diagnosis, future research endeavors can facilitate the development of evidence-based treatments that target its underlying cause

Compressive strength development of calcium aluminate cement-GGBFS blends

The compressive strength development of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) blends that were subjected to different curing regimes are investigated. The blends had GGBFS/CAC ratios between 0% and 80%, by mass. Mortar specimens, prepared with a water:binder:sand ratio of 1:2:6, were subjected to seven different curing regimes and the compressive strengths were monitored up to 210 days. In order to understand the effect of temperature on compressive strength development, XRD analyses were also conducted on paste specimens of CAC-GGBFS blends at 28 and 210 days. The experimental analysis results revealed that in CAC-GGBFS combinations, particularly where GGBFS was the main constituent, the formation of stable straetlingite (C(2)ASH(8)) instead of calcium aluminate hydrates hindered the unwanted conversion reactions

Tadalafil rehabilitation therapy preserves penile size after bilateral nerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the change in penile size r bilateral nerve sparing retropubic radical prostatectomy (BNSRRP) and possible effect of Tadalafil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 65 patients underwent BNSRRP and they were evaluated prospectively for a whole year of follow-up . The patients were randomized to control without rehabilitation (Group 1) or Tadalafil rehabilitation group (Group 2). The patients were evaluated at months 3, 6 and 12 postoperatively for erectile function, penile measurements (flaccid penile length, penile length at maximum erection, penile circumference at flaccid status, and penile circumference at maximum erection), penile abnormalities and general health status. Statistical analysis was performed by Chi-Square test and significance was defined as p value < 0.05. RESULTS: In Group 1 there was significant decrease in penile measurements at month 3 compared to preoperative measurements. There was decrease in all parameters at month 6 compared to month 3 but only the decrease in penile length at maximum erection was significant. There were no significant differences between postoperative months 6 and 12 for all measurements. In Group 2 there was a tendency to decrease in all measurements at month 3 compared to baseline. There was no significant difference for penile measurements between postoperative 3rd and 6th months and between 6th month and the first year. CONCLUSION: Although further large sampled trials are needed to describe the possible positive effect of tadalafil or other PDE5-I's on penile size after BNSRRP, tadalafil rehabilitation is effective in preserving penile size especially in the early postoperative period after BNSRRP

Serum testosterone levels, testis volume, and the risk of prostate cancer: are these factors related?

Objective: Inconclusive results have been published in the literature regarding the relationship between free and total serum testosterone levels and prostate cancer. We investigated the relationship between total and free serum testosterone levels, testes volume, and prostate cancer in our patient population. Material and methods: Total and free serum testosterone levels and serum PSA levels were recorded for 102 consecutive patients. All of the patients underwent transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy due to an abnormal digital rectal examination finding and/or a serum PSA level of >4.0 ng/mL. All of the transrectal and testis US examinations and prostate biopsies were performed by the same radiologist. The testis length, width, and height were measured from transverse and longitudinal gray scale images, and the testis volume was calculated. Results: Prostate cancer was detected in 32 of 102 patients (31.3%) who underwent prostate biopsy (prostate cancer group). The remaining patients had benign histopathological findings (prostate cancer-free group). The prostate cancer and benign histology groups were compared for age, total and free testosterone, PSA values, and testis volume. The patients with prostate cancer were found to have a higher mean age (p=0.04). There were no significant differences in serum PSA levels, free or total testosterone levels, or testis volumes between the two groups (p>0.05). A binary logistic regression analysis showed that neither free nor total testosterone was a predictor of prostate cancer (p=0.315 and p=0.213, respectively). Only age was found to be a significant risk factor for the development of prostate cancer (p=0.02). Conclusion: Our study failed to show a relationship between total or free serum testosterone levels, testis volume, and the risk of prostate cancer. Therefore, monitoring serum testosterone levels for prostate cancer prediction does not appear to add an advantage over PSA screening